Thu, Feb 26th - 9:00AM

Psalm 32:5 (NKJV)

 ⁵ I acknowledged my sin to You,
         And my iniquity I have not hidden.
         I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,”
         And You forgave the iniquity of my sin.  Selah

I know, not much, but it is what I have to offer today...

Blessings,

Mel

Sun, Feb 22nd - 6:42PM

The Death of Herod Agrippa

 ²⁰ Now Herod was very angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon. So they sent a delegation to make peace with him because their cities were dependent upon Herod’s country for food. The delegates won the support of Blastus, Herod’s personal assistant, ²¹ and an appointment with Herod was granted. When the day arrived, Herod put on his royal robes, sat on his throne, and made a speech to them. ²² The people gave him a great ovation, shouting, “It’s the voice of a god, not of a man!”

 ²³ Instantly, an angel of the Lord struck Herod with a sickness, because he accepted the people’s worship instead of giving the glory to God. So he was consumed with worms and died.

Acts 12:20-23 (NLT)

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/first100days/2009/02/21/poll-obama-popular-jesus-gandhi-king/

 ¹⁰"Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. ¹¹The Pharisee stood up and prayed about (or to) himself: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. ¹²I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.'

 ¹³"But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, 'God, have mercy on me, a sinner.'

 ¹⁴"I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."

Luke 18:10-14 (NIV)

I advise a further reading of the Book of Isaiah Chapter 2, especially the second part.  If the time is not now, then the Judgement will still come to all.  Those who refuse to humble themselves will be laid low.  I think this message is clear.  This is not just for one man.  This message is for all.

AMEN,

Mel

Mon, Feb 9th - 1:36AM

TRUTH

Truth (with a capital 't') is something I would define as:

"An accurate description of all that is, even beyond that which can be known or comprehended."

I say this because the Truth is Infinite.  Not one mortal mind can encompass it all.  Even the sum of all mortal minds could not.  Even that is finite.  And the finite cannot bind the infinite within itself.

¹⁴And God said to Moses, I AM WHO I AM and WHAT I AM, and I WILL BE WHAT I WILL BE; and He said, You shall say this to the Israelites: I AM has sent me to you!

Exodus 3:14 (AMP)

It is not in our minds capacity to totally understand this.  We can only begin to scratch the surface, and the depths of this are great, indeed.  I will now say this:

I define truth (without the capital 't') as a subset of Truth, being consistent with Truth, reasonably accurately depicting Truth, but not Truth itself.  This is what you and I can understand, and you need to acknowledge that there is something beyond what you or I can understand.  Truth reveals itself, in part, as truth, where you may be shown something different than I am shown.  Is it truth?  You do need to question that, and it is Good for you to do so.  We often buy into "truths" from this world which are something that has no part of the Truth.  It is vital for you to do this, and where you do understand the truth, not to stand against it. Vital.  We fail in this and do nothing to stand against the lies of this world, we are instead allowing an unchallenged blasphemy against the Truth.  If we do this, ask yourself:  Do we thus participate in that blasphemy itself?

I am not trying to play word games here.  This is not philosophical exercise for me.  I am confronted, face on, with something I must speak about, for not to do so would be perilous to my soul!

The journey is short, by my standards, but this may be long winded, from your point of view.  I try to condense this down as much as I can, and if I am not clear, please pray for understanding, and by all means, question me.

    ²⁶But when the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Advocate, Intercessor, Strengthener, Standby) comes, Whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of Truth Who comes (proceeds) from the Father, He [Himself] will testify regarding Me.

    ²⁷But you also will testify and be My witnesses, because you have been with Me from the beginning.

John 15:26-27 (AMP)

Let me point something out to you quite clearly here.  The Holy Spirit is not known as the Spirit of Truth and referred to that way for no reason.  We need to understand this about the nature of the Holy Spirit.  It is important for you to know that the Holy Spirit does not lie to you.  However, I will also point out the following:

 ¹Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. ²This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, ³but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.

1 John 4:1-3 (NIV)

I acknowledge Jesus is exactly who he said he was and still is.  He is not a prophet.  He is not just a man.  Many people say many things about him.  What do you say?  If questioned, do you freely speak the truth you have been given?  Or do you hide it in shame, acting as if you do not believe it is the truth?  I do not ask you to expound at length, but say the truth as simply and plainly as you can.

This is the Truth.  Christ Jesus is God and He came down in human form to suffer and die that we might live and live richly in a way this world cannot understand.  His resurrection  is not a lie.  It is a sign for us, that we might bond and participate in that renewal.  This is a forever and everyday thing.  If I live, then Christ Lives in me!  Every day and for eternity.  And I am a pretty crappy house for something that magnificent.  I am in awe of the implications of that gift.  Are you?

But if a spirit or a person does not acknowledge this, are they to be trusted at all?

⁶ Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me..."

John 14:6 (NKJV)

The way, the truth, the life, not a way, a truth, a life, is that pretty clear?  How about No one?  I am constantly assailed by those who are willing to say that you can follow many roads to heaven and they are all as good as the other.  Hogwash!  Pure human crap and lack of conviction of any worthy sort!  I will say to those who do not believe as I do, that such is my belief, understanding that they may believe something different.  However, I will not acquiesce and say that they are right in what they believe.  I will only admit that they don't agree with me, which is the pure truth.  That is what we are all called to do, dear friends.  We are to oppose these ideas, gently, yes, but oppose them none-the-less.  Frankly, I greatly respect an unbeliever who sincerely seeks the truth than a professed believer who no longer respects or fears the truth, but is completely bound by lies and deception.  I feel anger at their deception and sorrow for what they have lost.

    ²⁸Truly and solemnly I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever abusive and blasphemous things they utter;

    ²⁹But whoever speaks abusively against or maliciously misrepresents the Holy Spirit can never get forgiveness, but is guilty of and is in the grasp of an everlasting trespass.

    ³⁰For they persisted in saying, He has an unclean spirit.

Mark 3:28-30 (AMP)

Plain and simple.  They understood the truth and stood against it.  They called the truth a lie.  They stood with the Father of Lies and denied the truth.  Knowingly.  Willingly.  They chose their side, and there is no forgiving that one thing.  There are not many roads.  Choose wisely!

 ¹In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ²He was with God in the beginning.
 ³Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.

John 1:1-3 (NIV)

God's Word is God!

²⁰For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities -- his eternal power and divine nature -- have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.

Romans 1:20 (NIV)

No Excuse.

 ¹⁰ A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. ¹¹ Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. ¹² For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.
 ¹³ Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. ¹⁴ Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. ¹⁵ For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. ¹⁶ In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. ¹⁷ Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Ephesians 6:10-18 (NLT)

The Truth is a defense and an offense.  Trust in the Power of God, which is the Power of Truth.

 ¹²For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

Hebrews 4:12 (NIV)

The Truth cuts.  People are torn apart by the truth, at times.  It can be rough!

¹¹Whenever you are arrested and brought to trial, do not worry beforehand about what to say. Just say whatever is given you at the time, for it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit.

Mark 13:11 (NIV)

The Truth defends.  Even the world understands that the Truth is the Best Defense.  Say the truth, as it is given to you, and don't worry about it if the world crucifies you for it!  That is what the Spirit will do, if you let it!

I think I am trying to make these Points:

God is Truth.

Trust in Truth.

Participate in Truth.

In Truth,

Mel