God is..........

I believe in Love:
I believe that Love never fails.
I believe that Love heals.
I believe that Love covers a multitude of sin.
I believe that Love cares.
I believe that Love is kind.
I believe that Love gives purpose.
I believe that Love promotes hope.
I believe that Love is Life.
I believe that Love is all these things because:
"God is Love."
"God is good."
"God cannot fail."
"God cannot change."
"God does not withhold His promises."
"God will not leave or forsake us."
"God our Father is attentive to our needs."
"God "completes" us."
We invite defeat in our lives when this list is not enough to satisfy our longings.
I believe that my Heavenly Father "is" the answer to all my questions, and the solution to all my problems.
Of all that I have need of, my greatest need is more of Him.
I must decrease, He must increase.
If He is the "way, the truth and the life":
Than I am the "traveler, the seeker, and the one embraces."
Because "all things are possible in Him", then He can conform me to His image and likeness as I walk this vale.
My mission is to do the things that He did and greater because He has gone to the Father and promises to answer prayer in accordance with His will, to glorify His Father in Heaven.
My life is valuable to Him, me and others equally to His "filling" and using me.
Consider the above truths
Walk in Love.
J&E

What to love

God do I love life.
Thanks you Jesus for life and that more abundantly.
The love of God and the love of life go hand in hand.
What is there left to love if God has not provided it?
Savior, life, wife, family, friends, benefits, are all a gift from God.
Love those things you have been given, not those things you want.
Love
J&E in Tn

Waking up

If you wake up this morning then know:
You have been given another one of Gods gifts, another day.
I you wake up today joyful:
You have been given another one of the blessings God bestows on us.
If you wake up next to the one you love:
You have been given one of Gods many examples of His love.
If you wake up in a home with a car:
You have received "above and beyond" His promises.
And if you wake up with hope for the day:
You have gained grace in your heart for the purpose of service.

So what's the best part of waking up?
Waking up!

Love
J&E in Tn

The daily needs of a wife.

I am convinced that the husband can either "lift up" his wife or "despair" his wife.

A good wife is the product of her husbands words, actions and treatment.

Scripture says to "love your wife as yourself".

Here is a couple of life observations that have a great effect on your wife realizing she is "priceless."

The level you set for participation in any area of your wife's life, is the same level that she feels appreciated at.
What ever is more important than her defines her importance.
Hold hand often.
Kiss frequently.
Hug with feeling.
Be one in all things.
Be happy to participate in each others interests.
Never let romance die.
Tell her you love her many times a day. (Best while looking into her eyes.)
Sigh together.
Laugh with each other (not at each other) often.
Weep together supporting each other in difficult times.
Protect her at all cost.
Provide for her more than just carnal things.
Be helpful.
Love, Love, Love, Love her, always and all ways.

If you do this in ever increasing frequency you will always have a growing relationship that will be the best witness that your children can have of what really matters in a marriage. Children are mirrors of their parents.

Love
J&E in Tn

True Love with a capital T and L

True Love covers a multitude of sins", it doesn't allow them, it doesn't accept them, it doesn't indulge in them, it covers them. As the Love of Christ did ours. He didn't allow, accept, or indulge, He covered and forgave. There is a big difference in what Christ did and what we do. No laws can legislate sins acceptance. Any and all sin whether "legal" by man or not is still sin. Love nor law can make them "legal" or acceptable during any period of time throughout creation. If any of the sins of the early creation could of been eliminated and called moral, righteous, or legal, than Christ would not have gone to the cross as time would of eradicated our "transgressing God's Word." Most people don't realize that the written Word (Scripture) was written so that there would be an eternal witness against those who would change right to wrong and wrong to right. "God changeth not." His Word changes not! We, His followers, should realize that it is us who make excuse for our "sin" not God changing in agreement with us. "Let God be true and all men liars." This is true no matter how you want to argue in favor of sin. We think that our opinion matters but it doesn't. God doesn't care for our opinion based on our maturity. He cares for and honors His Word, to the point that in due time it became flesh and dwelt among'st us as an irrefutable proof of His unchanging design. His Word "was and is" the perfect sacrifice for all man kinds sin as a propitiation once and for all. If we say we Love God and honor not His Word we lie. If we say we Love God and not our brothers we lie and know Him not. Nothing can take us from the Love of God. Nothing! What this says is that no matter what we do He will keep on Loving us, because God is Love. But that does not mean that our "sin" will not have consequences. Consequences are what God set in place as a blessing or curse depending on our decisions. Make right decisions and gain blessings, make wrong ones and gain gentle correction that leads to repentance. God would have "None" to perish but all to have eternal life. That means sinners and saved. All means all. "God would have" shows us His will in the matter of redemption by the blood of Christ.  All means that "none should perish", everyone is included in this "Free Offer." Those who know Christ as their Savior and continue in sin, knowingly, are on the path of consequence that will not be profitable. But be convinced of this: He will never leave the one lost sheep to his own destruction, He will find him and bring him back into the fold. He was the original "none left behind" force. He cannot fail. He will not fail with those called His own. Named by His name. Created for His purpose. Who Is created for His purpose? All were created for His purpose. What is "His purpose"? Glorifying His Father in Heaven.
What are His called's purpose? Glorifying our Father in Heaven.
How do we do that?
With Love........Unconditional Love.
As we have received so we should give.
And who has not received the Love of the Father?
All have received, but only "believers" can give back.
"For the Love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit."
Only the believer has the Love of God shed abroad in their hearts. Both back to God and back to all mankind.
Love covers.
Do you have Love? (Capital L in Love because it's Gods Love, not mans love.)
Does your Love cover?
Or is there someone or something that is the fault present when you take your offering before the alter?
Worship is an offering! Love forgives so that the offering of worship can be lifted up. If you have "ought" against your brother you might not be able to worship as you are intended to. Do you make excuse about how you worship? Maybe it's the "ought" that's holding you back?
Maybe it's your love (small l) and not the Love (capital L) that you make excuse for?
If you desire a real sense of worship and the "moral" freedom to express it, maybe you should look hard into your heart about the "ought" that might be holding it back. The ought is sin and sin is the lie that says "you can't worship because.............".
The Truth will set you free, (capital T God's Truth), not small t (mans idea of truth).
Little Children I would that you would Love one another.........and be set free in your spirit to worship in the Spirit.
God bless and keep.
Love
J&E

I am staggering at times....................

I am staggering at times at the immaturity of man (men) in today's society so as to cast off, not only their "first Love", but also their second love which is the appreciation (by showing) of their "help meets", their wives.
There is much to say in Scripture about the importance of the "help meet" of our creation but at this time I would like to put it into my own words.
So many men today, and through all mankind have never embraced the depth of "completion" that can be experienced with our wives.
I speak of the completion of "oneness" between a man and a woman "as it was in the beginning." I adhere to no other application of marriage as being shown in the Scriptures.
But even in this God proven necessity, of a man and a woman clinging to one another, leaving their parents for that sole purpose, most the time selfishness is shown and to the greatest extent by the man, to cause "lack of real intimacy" in the union.
Scripture tells us to "Love our wives as ourselves" and that "no man hateth himself but feedeth and nurisheth his own body", such should he do for his wife.
Most problems arrive in the marriage when the husband can't seem to grasp how to treat his wife as he treats himself. There seems to be a dual expectation that lifts up the man and sets down the woman.
"If my wife wants to be with me she has to enjoy the things I do, because I am going to do them whether or not she likes it."
"House chores are her job, I provide for the family!"
"Football season is here.........what does she expect me to do...........the game is on."
"As a man thinks in his heart so is he."
So if "ANYTHING" is more important than your wife then your heart has been revealed and you fail "Marriage 101" according to Scripture.
"But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God."

First God gave us Jesus Christ to prove His Love for us and redeem us from the transgression of his creation. (Changing of His design for creation.) 

Then He gave us our "help meet" to pour into them that same Love that we experience from Him. "To esteem others better than ourselves" that we might have and transfer that legacy of Love to our future generations...........His heritage!

Because of this "creation design" we will never be complete without both Christ and woman. We cannot be complete with same sex marriages because we cannot embrace God opening the womb to continue (fill up the earth) procreation.

We cannot also satisfy "creation design" when the woman is looked at as a subordinate to the man.

Paul said, "As women was created from man ..........Man comes from woman." Oneness by necessity of procreation.

I believe that the roles of man and woman are different in application but equal in support.

By that I mean that man is the provider and protector, and woman the mother, wife, and help meet. Both completing the design of life and thereby "complimenting" one another with only "logistical" differences separating their performances.

So how does a man "think in his heart" the "right" things about his wife and then put them into practice? 

Here is some ideas: 

A true woman takes from her husband her completeness. Meaning that unless she gets that from him she will never be complete. Sorry that's not my idea it's Gods design. But at the same time man is complete by the becoming one with his wife. First physically, then spiritually and emotionally. The physical "makes them one" then the "Love of God shed abroad in our hearts" unites body, soul and spirit into complete "oneness."

I believe that the only way for a man to show his wife her value is to be a leader in the expression of Love and understanding in the relationship. Sure some of this will be backwards in many marriages but this is not the design of God.

Man will give account to God for all his wife's, and children's training.

He will lead them or he will destroy these precious gifts by his "godliness" or lack there of.

How does a man "inspire his wife?"

First: by "growing up." No explanation needed here. If one is than you are not ready for this preaching.

Two: By starting with his heart to put her equal with him in care and consideration.

How?

You can put your wife first not only in her presence (and whether you believe it or not, they notice who or what you put first) but in her absence.

Here is what I do as oft as I am going before to do:

Make a special breakfast (what she enjoys) on the weekends. Getting up earlier than her to make sure it is ready for when she wakes.

Turn down her side of the bed to show invitation.

Do the dishes without being told, the dry them and put them away.

Helping her with dusting or floors, without her asking, with a smile, willingly.

Making intimate times for her first not yourself. Your a man it takes her longer and she deserves that extra time and attention after a day of "pleasing everyone else" by being the Mom.

Finding arousal only in her because she is God's perfect gift for you.

Controlling wandering eyes and loose lips about how someone else is attractive to you. If you truly love your wife you will not be able to say that someone else has any attraction what so ever to you. Showing other wise demeans her and causes distrust in your love and motives.

Love everything about her.........every thing. Her eyes, her smile, the way she smells, laughs, feels, and responds. Know her better than you know yourself.

Constantly reaffirm to her your Love both verbally, physically, and with reaffirming actions meant just for her.

Tell her you Love her (from the heart) many times a day..........many!

Kiss her tenderly as oft as the opportunity presents itself........and that without always having expectation of "more". The more will never be a problem if the now is sincere and without expectation. Let her respond to the out pouring of love and expression in her own time. Who can say no to Unconditional Love?

Compliment her with out cause or end. Sincerely. Cover everything about her from her smile to the way she looks, whether in pajama's of going to a wedding. She should be the desire of your heart. Let here know, everyday.

Become the man she can "lean on" literally! She should be able to "rest in your", your love, your compassion, your commitment. She should feel that there is nothing that she can't talk to you about or express in your presence that you would react to. Even when that means expressing a different opinion. Right or not ill response is not way to show your wife she is precious, at any time.

She should always feel welcome and safe in your arms.

She should always want to "be there in them" resting, breathing, trusting and receiving.
This is just a start to what "being one" means and how to begin the journey to that command. There is so much more to add and instruct in this matter. If you let your heart lead and treat the way you want to be treated you will grow in grace and love for one another, both feeling satisfied in the balance thereof.
Love one another......as Christ Loved His church and gave His life for it. So you should love one another.
Remember that other eyes are on you for reason of practice whether good or evil being your example.
Love in Christ
J&E

Life is short but love is eterenal

Friends:
"The night is far spent and the day is dawning"........
Love one another.
Life is waning and time is passing.........
Love one another.
Tomorrow is promised to no one......
Love one another.
Embrace life with love..........
Love one another.
The only surety in life we have is to.........
Love one another.
Cast off the sin which so easily besets.........
Love one another.
Put to rest malice, condemnation, bitterness and...........
Love one another.
"He who loveth God loveth others!"
"He who loveth not his brothers loveth not God"
Love one another.
Love J&E in Tn

I have lived long enough to:

I have lived long enough to:
Get past the living of life and on to the loving of life.
Embrace pain and sorrow to see the joy and love of what it brings.
Weep with those who are weeping and laugh with those who are laughing.
Know that we are not all alike but to embrace the person not the practice.
To forgive and to ask to be forgiven.
To apply passion in the right area's and control in the other area's.
Enjoy simplicity and marvel at the magnitude that it represents.
Have faith in God and His Word and practice what it preaches.
To realize that death comes to us all and not to be feared if the destination is clear.
That Wife, Children, Grandchildren, and Friends are blessings of a "good life."
Hope for 1 more day, every day, so that love and life might continue a little longer.
Love
J&E inTn

Fear Mongering vs Faith

I believe I know why the news is so full of "fear mongering" these days.
Man wants you to believe that we are on a hopeless landslide of disease, disaster, and dependency.
It all goes against what God has created us for which is: faith, family, and friends.
The winnowing fork is in the chaff separating out those who believe and perform and those who don't believe and protest.
Faith is supposed to be by design natural, fear (or the lack of faith and it's fruits) is unnatural.
To many for too long have bought into the old adage of "God doesn't care anymore." Just because you haven't seen Him working doesn't mean He is not there.
If you don't sense His presence then: "Who moved" you or Him?
We don't need all the answers, all we need is faith in Him who is the answer!
Love
J&E in Tn

Just a little faith............

Just a short report on one of the latest miracles that God has manifested Himself in.
Back in May I was prepping for my wife's mothers memorial. Those preparations included making sure that the dress pants, shirt, and jacket would fit then getting a haircut.
I have been going to this barber for several years and immediately struck off on a conversation in the direction of Christ. He too identified himself as a Christian which to me was a sign to "throw open the doors" and preach God in all His glory.
As I am on this blog I am in life so there is no limit to the imagination of what was discussed as topics throughout our relationship thus far.
Faith, miracles, healing's, signs and wonders, preaching of meat and other sound doctrine that is seldom touched by preaching now a days. At first he was quiet and over the years only offered cursory remarks to the conversations. But "God be true and every man a liar" he could only admit to a rather limited experience to the performance of faith or actual validity of the Bible.
Sound familiar?
Most Christians practice the same doctrine: I haven't heard that, seen that, or experienced that, so it must of at sometime ended. Sad epitaph of preaching today.
Having vigorously over the past engaged him in most of what I have written here I was ready to "prove" his faith and the faithfulness of God when he announced last August that he was going in for some serious tests having to do with intestinal and esophagus cancer.
That day I sat in the "chair of cogitation" and engaged him in another conversation of healing having to do with a woman that used to be in our home church that had MS. How having been put in the hospital for treatment (wheel chair ridden) as that her legs were failing her and therapy was to be made. We were coming up to our old home state for a reason that I cannot remember now and on our leaving our home we decided to swing by her house and deliver some salami we had made specifically for her (lacking cures because it aggravated her MS). As we came close to her area I called her to see if she would be at home so that we could drop off the product of promise. She said that she was at the hospital and gave us the room number.
We arrived there shortly and engaged in a conversation at her behest about her condition and what might have caused the flair up, then continued into God's Word and healing. When Elise and I set out on this journey we had no "anointing" as to prayer or outcome for her. We just knew that if we were to know God's will in this it would be by "being obedient" to the command to "go out", pray in Jesus name, and preach the Truth and the Truth will set free.
As she talked I could see that she was beset by much confusion over the who, what, when, where and why of faith and healing. She had a pen and pad to write down what might be said so that she could "remember" it for later. After she had made her points and doubts we prayed then "opened our mouths wide that God would fill it with Words", and "thinking not what to say before times but letting the Holy Spirit instruct us in what to say."
As utterance was made to encourage her and build her faith I noticed that she would say: "I never seen that in this wise" and start to write it down. At this point I stopped her from writing down the words we were speaking and instead to listen with her heart not her mind, thus entrance would be made into her heart and she would be "reminded of all things that Jesus said" by the Holy Spirit.
Note: If all you know of Scripture is what you have assessed with your mind then you know nothing as it is to be know. God's Word is Spirit and must be taught by the Holy Spirit, better put in this wise: "I will take your heart of stone and replace it with a heart of flesh, where in I will write my Word with my finger." Not of the mind but of the "finger" of God, not by carnal knowledge but "by Revelation of Jesus Christ."
Once we cleared that hurdle she leaned forward in her wheel chair and listened with her heart, not struggling to "hold on to what was said" but treating it as "real meat to be eaten by the Spirit".
Most of the "walls" I have encountered in many Christians seem to be about the question: "what is the real Truth about Scripture" and "what should I really believe?" Negating the "power" of "promise and command" with "how do I feel about that?" and "if it were true, why haven't I or any of my fellow worshipers experienced this?" They become the judge of Truth instead of being obedient to the Truth!
As I have said in the past and repeat again: "Let God be True and every man a liar", what is written is Truth whether or not "you or I" have experienced it. If the promise of God for signs and wonders has met an end then so has salvation, because He cannot fail, and He cannot lie. As He has said in His word: "if you break the least of these commandments you have broken them all!" He is bound by His Word as "He swore and shall not rescind", and "because there was no greater to swear by He swore by himself " making the oath unbreakable and eternal. Enough said.
Back to the woman........
All hurdles being cleared for the promotion of faith, with no other leading but the "command to pray" we humbled ourselves before our God and prayed in the name of Jesus for healing.
Upon the end of prayer we gave thanks then blessed and left.
Elise and I hadn't traveled very far when a text came in that she was standing out of her wheel chair and ringing for the aid to witness that she was able to walk on her own. Praise God who is the Savior and provider for all our needs. He loves to show himself "mighty" on our behalf. Thereby validating her testimony that she had been speaking during her stay.
Back to the barber:
Having shown all this forward to the barber I asked if he would mind that prayer be made for him an another man there waiting who had cancer with no hope of intervention of man.
We formed a circle in the shop and prayed "in the spirit" not knowing God's will.
Yesterday I went back for another hair cut and he announced that he was healed of his infirmities. The other man hadn't been back yet. The barber now has greater faith and God is good.
Summary:
You won't always sense the "anointing" to do the will of God, but you will always have the "commands and promises" to be obedient to.
You won't always hear the voice of God to "speak what you hear Your Father in Heaven saying" but you will always have the "commands and promises" to be obedient to.
You won't always be going down a path well traveled by yourself or others, not to fear if "it is written" than you should apply it.
You won't always know the outcome of what you pray for, but you will know it after you pray remembering that "it's Gods will you are seeking, not your own!"
Remember that do "everything in Love" (capital L in love because God is Love) for everything done in Love is done in God.
Remember that "to learn in your heart" the Word of God is to give God's Word it's rightful place.
The carnal mind will forget but the spiritual heart will always have the Holy Spirit to "teach us and remind us of all things that He (Jesus) has said and done."
Have faith children. Seek real meat in His Word. Eat bread that "the others know not of."
Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Love
J&E in Tn

Song written by our daughter: Attention

https://soundcloud.com/sarah-stankiewicz/these-are-children

The link above is a song that our oldest daughter Sarah has written and entered it into a contest having to do with songs about children for a chance of publication. Please listen to the song then like it and share it forward so she can get credit in the count. I know that it will bless you. I would like to support my daughter in her ministry of writing meaningful Christian music.
Thanks you for your participation.
Love
J&E

Grace, Faith

Faith is the "conduit" for grace.
One cannot receive grace lest one believes in the One who give's grace.
The more a person believes (has faith) the more that person can receive grace because he is convinced His help is in God.
Grace is God's "unconditional Love toward us." 
Unmerited favor.
Rely on this:
When adversity comes,
God's grace is sufficient for those who believe.

Applying Love to life........my practices.

I woke up this morning then looked around, took in a deep breath then exhaled a grateful prayer, turned to my left and watched my wife sleeping while taking in the preciousness of her being my "help meet", planned carefully for the day then stretched my legs out and swung them towards the floor.
"Thinking life" is good falls short of being grateful for a "good life."
Love is the main ingredient of a "good life."
Christ has taught me the deep intimate meaning of the word "Love", and has revealed it's application to me for all souls. Family, Friends, everyone can be shown Love and needs Love.
Love is the answer to every question and the building block to all foundations.
Love cannot fail.
God is Love.
God (and His Christ) cannot fail (they are one).
If Love is not the foundation of all your relationships tear down what you have now and start over using Love as the building blocks and mortar.
If you do this you will: sleep better, weep more tenderly, speak more kindly, act more passionately, and be more complete.
Life will no longer be "mundane" or tiresome, but fresh and full of grace everyday, worth getting up for and living.
Those around you will be blessed and so will you.
Love
J&E in Tn

Faith the foundation of Scripture: How about you?

Milk is the  common fair for most of the Christian Church.
Meat is for the mature and full of age (faith) growing Christian.
Without faith we cannot please God...........because without faith in His word, we say we know Him in His word with our lips and mind but deny Him in our hearts.
How can that be?
We are saved by faith correct?
We claim by faith our Salvation in Christ and His finished work: death and Resurrection.
But the very same Scriptures we "pull" that Truth out of we deny the rest of the "whole" of Scripture that it is real or valid for today.
He saves us but there is no practiced application of the healing promise.
He promised us that "we shall do these things that I do and greater" but that has been dispensated also.
He sent "them" out to heal the sick, raise the dead and cast out demons, but "OUR" churches are made of brick and mortar, immobile, not "full of the Spirit, with a heart ready to "Go"!
We say we have "The Holy Ghost" and speak in enough tongues to fill up the world, but bury our dead without even a whispered prayer to know God's will about the matter.
Our own pride and "show" disallow the very commands that Jesus gave not only his disciples but "for those afar off, as many as may come."
"Only believe" were the Words of Christ to many of those who sought His "miraculous" help.
"According to your faith" was His catch phrase that proceeded "a miracle."
I challenge "YOU" to at this time "renew" in your mind your thoughts on this.
Here is one of the few times I will quote something that is not from Scripture, but it begs the question needed to be asked here: "is you with us or is you aint?"
I don't know if anyone has ever mentioned to you that "the Word became flesh and dwelt amongst us for a while". If that is true of Christ and His salvation then what about the rest of the Word that made Him up? "Not one dot or one tittle" means "ALL" the written Word: Jesus Christ! One Word, one Man, one God, one Hope.
Do you see now why you don't have hope when you need it? Why it is so hard to "stand" after having done all?
Are you really looking for "from whence your hope comes from?"
Are there dots and tittles missing from your faith?
Is Christ incomplete because it's just too hard to believe......"everything" in scripture?
Who's responsibility is it to wean you from milk to meat?
The pastors? (If he is still on milk: "it is enough for the student to be as his master", right?
The Sunday school teachers? Again "it is enough."
I do disagree that these two are very important for the teaching of doctrine, but if they are not "full of faith and the Holy Ghost" you have a one course meal instead of a Spiritual Banquet.
The only God ordained Minister of His Word "IS" the Holy Spirit.
Is it a surprise to you that "with the witness of 2 or 3 shall all things be established"?
So here is a question that begs answering: "Should a Bible Study be new revelation or a "confirmation" to what the Holy Spirit has already seeded in your heart?
Another question: Are there jokes or tales in Scripture? Did Jesus or His disciples need to "put the crowd at ease", or cozy up to them for them to listen?
The Scriptural way to "get the crowds attention" is to "HEAL THE SICK, RAISE THE DEAD, AND CAST OUT DEMONS!"
It is Scriptural to do this in churches and in public preaching.
Did you catch that?
Preaching the Word is the prerequisite to performance by the Holy Spirit. Does God move because you have a "great come on" or because you have "THE TRUTH"? Does the Holy Spirit manifest God's power because you have a "reputation" as a great preacher? Or because you have a Great God to preach about.
By the way: Is preaching about elegance and ability or about anointing and humility?
Doesn't the Scriptures say: "He uses the simple to confound the wise?"
Is preaching about Phd's or an anointed calling and election? "Not many wise........have been called" is the slap in our faces and the faces of all those who, through all time, have waived a banner of righteousness and support of man to "prove" our "preach worthiness."
FAITH, FAITH IN GOD'S WORD (JESUS CHRIST AND HIS WRITTEN WORD) is what it takes to "get saved", "get filled with the Holy Spirit", and "get going to the "anointed" work of God with signs and wonders following.
Only faith can "deliver the whole "God presentation" the way God ordained it "in the beginning."
Abraham is the "Father of Faith". Why? Because "he believed God!" Period. He believed His "every Word" having not known Him "from the beginning". He heard the Word and without question "believed" acting on what he was told.
There is no difference for the believer today. "Today if you here my voice," unites all of us to the "full" Word of God in every venue and time of history up until the "return" of Christ.
That means that there is not a "time stamp" on Scripture to vindicate it or disallow "one dot or one tittle." God is His Word! He is "eternal in the heavens" thus so is His Word (Scripture, Christ), eternal, without beginning of time or end of the same.
So as His Word is eternal so are the blessings and curses, commands and rebukes, actions and accounts that are in it, (Him).
If they are eternal then they are repeatable by those who BELIEVE! Even His Resurrection will be repeated by those who have passed on before at His coming. Yes as He died even we will die (except for those who are taken in the rapture), and those who will rise to meet Him in the sky will be changed from their mortal body into an immortal body, resurrected.
So with this little prep work lets get on to the meat:
"COMPLETE FAITH", mature faith, God honoring and God relying on faith.
Do you know that there is no action on earth who's response is not covered in the Scriptures?
Do you know that "if it be God's will for you" He will replicate any action that He has revealed in His Word for you, to manifest His glory and to prove His Truth.
If we have faith and "hear His Voice" life as a Christian would be very exciting in God's will and timing.
Does that mean that "all things are possible for those that believe?" Yes absolutely. But to the mature Christian a recognition is given to "according to God's will." Sometimes God's will is different than what we know or imagine. Does that make the asking wrong........absolutely not. Some time the disciples "seen that he had faith to be healed" other times "according to your faith", other times "this was done for the glory of my Father in Heaven". I would rather say "in Jesus name" than walk away not knowing for a certainty that the bondage couldn't be broken. In such a matter I have no pride in how it will look if God's answer is not what I asked for. He is Omniscient and has a reason for all timing of all things, I am hopeful for a Divine intervention for the better of the one oppressed. That's the true application of faith. He commands/empowers we pray and act on His commands. The rest is in His hands.
Can you just envision what God could do in us, for us, and through us if we just believed (without excuse) the Scriptures?
Praying to stop the rain for years.
Calling down fire on an alter to manifest the reality of a One True God.
Having fire fall from the sky to eliminate those set against you. (Old and New Testament verses.)
Raising the dead.
Healing the sick.
Casting out demons.
Multiplication of food.
Walking on water.
Experiencing the hand of God to deliver in self deference or better yet sending an angle to "put to rest those who would surround you.
Pouring the last of your oil into jars till you ran out of vessels to hold it.
Fishing for your taxes.
Casting over on the right side of the boat to get a fill that you need help pulling in.
Commanding the storm to "be still."
Have an angel sent to instruct you.
Be translated from place to place.
Having a vision.
Jesus appearing to you.
Praying in the Spirit when no one else is there to be impressed.
And the best one yet:
"you will do all these things and more because I go to My Father."
There is no end of possibility for "THOSE WHO BELIEVE" and ask in Jesus name according to God's will.
How do we know God's will? We hear His voice! If we don't know or hear we still obey His commands "which are not grievous" and let the rest to Him.
This is just a scratch and sniff of what the possibilities are :
FOR THOSE WHO BELIEVE.
Be encouraged
God is alive and moving in His people of faith and maturity.
God bless and keep.
Love
J&E

What I love

Know this:
I love my wife Elise A. Cavasin
I love all my family,
I love a good salami,
I love a challenge,
I love hard work,
I love good food,
I love a busy day followed by a nap,
But don't ever perceive that I love any of these things above God, Christ, the Holy Spirit, faith, hope and joy.
These last are the foundation that my "heart" is built on and all the rest find place (with passion) after the "first" foundation is built and made sure. Because of Christ as a foundation; wife, and all that compose my application of life have order and precedent with an excellent application for success.
If what drives your life is not Christ and His Word then you are driven by uncharted winds, and, at best, your destination is unknown.
Those that journey with Christ as their "tillerman" travel a known course with a sure destination.
Love
J&E in Tn

My fb page is open to the public.
You can find all these applications mentioned on there at random times.
You might also find practices that would offend some Christians, such as the mention or picture of a glass of wine. If so don't be offended, don't go there.
Some of my friends will use foul language in their posts, but on my site but I believe that "the whole need not a doctor."
Some of my posts have nothing to do with God, Christ or the Holy Spirit but have to do with making salami, capicola or sausage, possible some project that I am currently trying to get done. If that offends: don't go there. I have preached the gospel without cost for as many years as I have been saved with signs and wonders following. I boast not but would encourage all that God is still the same as He was in the Book of Acts. Sinful Apostles and disciples were obedient to God's voice and calling and had the same results. So can you!
I am a sojourner in a strange land looking for a city whose builder and maker is God.
I posses the land that I am given until a new and better land is acquired by the hand of God.
I am not so "spiritually minded that I can't be of any earthly good." In all I do I lift up Christ so that He can call all people unto Himself.
I make no excuse for my current state for "I am a work in progress." Being conformed into the image and likeness of Christ.
Life is good..........because "GOD IS BETTER" for in Him is Life Eternal.
Because God is "most excellent" my life shall reflect excellence in all practices there of.
Everything in Christ should be done excellently..............He is worthy of the effort. He told Moses: "what do you have in your hand", even a staff used by God becomes excellent for His purpose.
You are who you are today because He is molding you for His purpose for tomorrow. "Today is the day", if you hear His voice today and obey, then "If the Lord wills" that you are here tomorrow, you will be meet for His use.
Take this all in and "let go and let God."
Love
J&E

Preaching

There are two types of preaching the way I see it:
1. Prophetic........which is the Word of God uninterpreted, pure, undefiled.
2. Cosmetic........which is the Word of God for a personal following. Basic Truth without real meat. Milk that     never allows for responsibility on the part of the believer, never challenging, without spirit. Relying on the promise that "My words shall not come back void" as an only hope, not the "promises" of Christ that come with preaching the Word.........
You are what you eat:
1. My flesh is real meat, or: Christ without "being made in His image and likeness."
2. My blood is real drink, or: ''never hungering and thirsting after righteousness.''
You are what you believe by faith. "Faith without deeds is dead".
Run from "old wives tails and endless arguments" and "sciences", but become simple and teachable by the Holy Spirit. "He will teach you and remind you all things that I (Jesus) have said." You can't go wrong with that.
Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, spirit, and soul and then be set free by Truth.
Love
J&E

More on faith............

Most people would claim some association with religion, The strength of their commitment will be rated on the scale of faith with which they practice.
To some it's just the hope of "escaping eternal damnation", not really sure but hoping that what they believe and practice will get them a "fire pass." All the while living life like there were no tomorrow or judgement for their actions.
Some have a literal faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ, His blood, His death and Resurrection which "promises" eternal life after death in a place prepared for "all who believe" in heaven. Because of this promise many who believe on this scale actually hold precious the practice of worship. Daily thankful for all the blessings God (Our Father) has bestowed on them both seen and unseen.
But what about this third group? Who believe on the finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ, enter into not only the profession of that work, but also into the worship that it inspires, while praying all the time that He would manifest His promises through them and "Glorify His Name."
Matthew 17:20 And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.
Faith in what? Faith in Who?
All the above questions can be answered in this one name: Jesus Christ. Why? Because He is the "what", "the Word" (who became flesh), He is the "Who", because He gave us precious promises while He was alive on several occasions: "Ye shall do these things I do and greater", and "these signs shall follow those who believe."
James said that "Faith without works is dead".
Many "believers" look for the church to "manifest" the works of God not realizing that "they" make up the church body that they look to for these things to take place.
Here is a clue to the question "why"? What you don't do in your personal, private walk you cannot add to the manifestation of God in the service. If all in the church do "nothing" in the preaching of the Gospel and performance of the promises, then when all come together the whole body will be weak and unable to encourage the "babes" in Christ as to inspiring growth and maturity.
"According to thy faith" is the defining command here.
Does your faith follow Scripture? Or does it follow "what you believe?" And that of what? Your own carnal practices or thoughts unsupported by the Scriptures. Or there is always the "do as I say not as I do" philosophy.
Most of us readily see where we are at and whether we add to the church. it's gathering together as a service, or it's personal representation of strength and truth in the public eye. Must we be reminded that all the miracles of Jesus and His followers were public or at least before multiple members of His disciples.
Faith is a mustard seed (that can move mountains), to start with, then grows into a tree that "the fowl of the air can rest in." That means that if our faith produces "nothing" it is smaller than a mustard seed and we are at best "worshipers with lips as our hearts are far from Him."
God meant for the church to be a grove of trees that give hope and deliverance to the "lost and dying", as we have claimed it to be for us.
Have a "worshipful" Sunday and enjoy the Word and presence of God.
God bless and keep.
Love
J&E

An experience of the moment

Just a post from fb that had me in tears:
This evening:
Great dinner of cheesy potato's and exquisitely seasoned pork cutlets.
Accompanying music:
Travis Cottrell's "Jesus Saves Live" 
I wept, literally wept.
What can be better than Great Worship and good food with family?
Life is good.
Love of Christ is better.
Tears while Worshiping of God is best.
Love
J&E in Tn

Comment:
Me:
Hands and heart lifted up, grace flowing down, spirit nourished, intimacy with Christ renewed, life fulfilled. Inspired to wait on His coming, unworthy but ready to arise and meet with Him in the air. My hope, my King.

God is good, all the time.

Sunday June 29, 2014: A vision in the morning, twice.

You will experience of God the things that you have set free in your heart for Him to do in your life according to the Scriptures. Scriptural faith is the conduit to bring about the "manifestations and promises" of God in accordance with His will, and convenient for that day.
He is ever present to facilitate His will in our life through the "Name of Jesus" only needing that we ask in faith, believing as already having received. How can you "believe as though having already receive?" By knowing the will of God for that time, day, and hour. Many times that comes by a "word of wisdom. word of faith, word of knowledge," but for sure it is part of "today is the day if you hear My voice harden not your hearts."
So what does that boil down to in everyday practice on the hearts of Christians?
Reading Scripture, Prayer in the Holy Spirit, Divine Revelation, and waiting on the Word of God continually whether active or at rest. With such daily practices one can do anything and still be in tune with his Father in Heaven, seeing Him doing His works and doing them also, enjoying His presence, and apt to "speak as though speaking the very Word of God" every time he opens his mouth.
Mine is such a practice. Encouraged by God and honed over the years of Intimacy we share as Father and son.
This brings me to my "expectations" of God in my life on a daily basis and His "cooperation" with His promises and interactions "as is meet for that day and time."
If you pray for God's will in your life and then in your heart don't believe that He will "preform" His promises, then you pray outside of faith, and that is an abomination, sin, because everything done outside of faith is sin.
It is always safe to say that we can believe, trust and expect, that all promises in Scripture are true, and that God Our Father is poised to manifest them "according to His will" at the moment of asking.
Thus is my practice of nightly prayer, (and a never ending daily looking for), that God will "meet" me through out the day and in the night "watches", as He sees fit to continue my revelation of Him (and I might add all of yours as well as you seek Him,) in His time.
Such it was on the morning of Sunday, June 29, 2014:
I awoke at approx 6:28 am and as I lay there I closed my eyes for prayer and rejoicing that a new day had been granted me, with mercies new every morning and grace convenient for that day.
That's when the vision was given.
As I laid there I could see the ceiling, the fan, and the upper room that I was in but as I closed my eyes I began to see "another place", a field set in sharp contrast of objects, at dusk, in a mid darkness. As I stood in the field I noticed that the grass was tall and very wide bladed, almost like a cartoon overlay on a field of darkness. As I looked upon this scene a large black wolf came out from behind me and leaped into the field as though attacking something in the tall grass. I could not tell what he was attacking because of the high grass, but he was furious in the attack and meant for slaughter. Soon after him another wolf came out followed by others and started attacking on the same wise. Soon in the fury of the attacks the wolves started tossing up the objects of there frenzy and they were lambs. So here in the dark silhouettes lambs were being destroyed mercilessly.
I opened my eyes and again the sight of the upper part of our bedroom. I closed them again and again the vision the same as the first.
I pondered the meaning of the vision and prayed for understanding but could only muster "my own interpretation" of the matter. Either an attack on my family (for the devil wonders about seeking whom he may destroy) of having to do with the church or God's people in general as we can all agree that we are fully entrenched in the beginning of the end times. So I prayed for family, church and Faithful of God that He would "deliver from evil for thine is the Kingdom, Power and Glory." Then I had breakfast and went on to church for worship.
During the service, as it was upon the time to preach the Pastor announced that he had put aside his message and decided to take time for an invitation for salvation. He wept with passion as he said "the Holy Spirit is thick here, now."
After the invitation the service ended and I approached the Pastor to share the vision with him. He spoke these words as I discussed the vision: "there are a lot of lambs being devoured here".
So I cannot put just a single application on this vision but I thought to let the Holy Spirit work His interpretation in your hearts as He sees fit.
I know that I have a lot of praying to do for the proper action to take on my part.
May the Lord Jesus Christ be with you and give you wisdom, meeting all your needs and granting His manifestation of the promises in your life for His Glory.
Love
J&E

Marriage and a prayer experience...........complete.

A story about "What Christ in a marriage can do through real intimacy."
"And they shall become one flesh"..........
Yesterday Elise A. Cavasin and I finished up a particularly grueling stint on the retaining wall project and were both exhausted beyond words. As we looked for a way to relax a cold drink and pool side chair came to mind. Elise set up the chairs and I readied the beverages. Soon we were pool side cooling down and chatting about what we could do next. We fell upon the idea of pulling back the pool cover and taking a dip to assuage our tired bodies, maybe a few laps or just some float time. We chose both and soon we were chasing each end of the pool then floating in the sun talking about how blessed we have been and the many Divine interventions we have had in our lives especially the past few years. The hour and a half soon past and we needed some nourishment so dinner was next at hand.
Having prepared some salad and left overs we held hands and bowed to "pray a blessing on the fare."
That's when the beginning of this post became "a Divine Intervention."
We had just finished talking about all the blessings we have received and I started offering the blessing prayer for the food and "it happened."
I started out praising God and Thanking Him for His immeasurable blessings, Elise joined in and soon we were overcome by "His presence." As prayer was to be made "in the name of Jesus" I began to weep in my spirit "praying quietly to God in the Holy Ghost", words not being found to speak and express the gratitude we had in our hearts for all His goodness to us. As the verbal pause became longer Elise took over and started to pray and finished the prayer, "help meet" becomes comforter, man and woman become one in the flesh and in the spirit, prayer offered completed by both husband, wife and Holy Spirit, Gods perfect design blessed beyond measure, completed in prayer, "God in us the hope of Glory."
I truly believe that this was God's intentioned plan for man and woman in the union of marriage made complete in Him.
This "Divine intervention" was no less powerful than the most beautiful of all the miracles that we have seen to date.
Where God is there is Love, Joy and Peace in the Holy Spirit, whether at service, in your prayer closet, blessing a meal, or any time He meets you where you are.
Have a blessed day.
Love
J&E in Tn

New week how are we going to start?

To all those who are reading this here is something to think about:
You just made it through another week O'Life, and in your reflections back over that week you need to ask yourself "did I make a difference this week?"
This could be to others, could be in offering something that helped out materially, could be an attitude?
What ever you did or didn't do, willingly or not, is now set in the concrete of time and cannot be taken back or changed in its original format.
So?
Today starts another "week" anew.
Whats it going to be?
Positive? Negative? Loving? Rude? Self seeking? Seeking to help others by thought, word, or deed?
Now is a good time to make the resolution to "do unto others as you would have them do unto you."
Your week starts here and "today is the day if you hear My voice harden not your hearts." If we listen to God daily we will have a "productive week" both physically and spiritually and "be a blessing to many." Your wife or husband will appreciate it, your children will run to see you, your co-workers will admire your attitude, and your boss will find you an invaluable asset to the work field.
Yes today is the day lets start this week anew full of faith that we can make a difference. Remember that the world changes one person at a time and you can only effect "those whom God has put around you". If you are not responsible in the little things who will entrust unto you greater things?
Responsibility resides in the moment but is shown effective over a lifetime.
"Love one another, for love covers a multitude of sins and never fails."
Today your feet are in the starting blocks to do good this week and "redeem the time for the days are evil".
The starting gun is in the air and the shot ready to go off.
My starting blocks are pointed toward starting this week with church serves's. That way I know that I am starting off on the right foot and in the right direction.
You?
Love in Christ
J&E in Tn

The Passion........

The Passion (mutilating and beating before the Crucifixing death of Christ) came before the Resurrection to set what was taking place:
The sinless became sin,
The One who in no guile was found, became cursed. Cursed is every man who dies on the cross.
The only one truly obedient to the Fathers will, was forsaken.
The spotless Lamb, became the ever cleansing blood.
That unrecognizable corps was laid to rest in a tomb of stone and sealed, then guarded by soldiers.
Death could not hold Him.
Hell could not overtake Him. "He descended below to lead captive captivity."
He rose again to the Glory of the Father and for the eternal life of all men.
He ascended on high and gave gift to men.
All that can be said is:
Hallelujah hallelujah hallelujah..............
And so we rejoice in Christ our savior.
Love 
J&E in Tn

Resurrection Day.............One day or for life?

Well Easter/Resurrection Day has past, but is it really?

To me it was like a seed planted afresh, which will sprout up, and the beauty of its blooms will continually bless thru out the year.

This is a reminder that we belong to someone greater than our earthly forms, that both the physical and spiritual has hope "because He lives".

We are the "sheep of His pasture, He is the "Good Sheppard", we know His voice and we are known by Him".

He cares enough about us to "know the very hairs of our head" yet He "stands at the right hand of His Father in Heaven" and "makes intersession for us".

We are eternally blessed to be "His people and called by His name."

Every day that we live we can rejoice in "Christ our Savior" because "each day is a new day, a new day in the Lord."

I lay hold to the "mercy's that are new every morning", and "grace convenient for today" for "He is faithful to deliver, and will."

Life without Him is hopeless regardless of success or failures, but life "in Him" is full of hope that gives purpose and direction as "He leadeth me" and "directs my paths."

With every "Resurrection Day" that I experience in my life I know that I am drawing neigh to the "Eternal Resurrection" that awaits for all who are "called by His name."

For those who "look for His coming" the promise is secure, as are all the promises that are in Him. Promises that "follow" those who believe as signs and wonders, and those promises that "will be made manifest" on the other side when we arrive.

He fills the long life with blessing, and He redeems the short life with the sweetness of His presence early on.

"In Him" life is best, without Him life is difficult at best.

His presence in our lives brings with it bountiful riches regardless of our "state." Blessings and Love is our surety, and "newness of life" is what we experience daily as we "abide" in Him.

His Resurrection is proven in us every day that we "arise" with praise, and our hearts full of thanksgiving. As our feet hit the floor we "will go out with joy and are lead forth with peace."

When we enter into His rest at night our "sleep will be sweet", and "He will keep us".

I count that there is no greater joy in life than being "found in Him", and "growing in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ."

The Resurrection has not "just passed" but lives on in us daily as we abide in Him.

Love

In Christ

J&E in Tn

Short thoughts

The "expectations" of Christianity is no longer based on Scripture as a general rule, it's based on whats practiced by it's participants.

If your life (consisting of all your thoughts, words, and deeds) was the only witness of the Gospel someone was to receive, would they find it "necessary" or "inspiring", and want to believe?

Do you have "Divine" expectations from "your Father in Heaven" or are you "satisfied" with your own applications of faith, however powerless?

John 20:29
Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.
This is the proper "expectation", Scripture is True in every aspect whether or not you have seen or experienced it in your "faith" walk. You are not the standard of Scripture, Christ is! 

Blind Bartimaeus never experienced a miracle but that didn't stop him from crying out.

A true saying

Miracles are only as uncommon as they are unexpected!

We are made in His image and likeness.......Not the other way around

But because of the flesh we all have sinned and fallen short of the Glory of God. Note to those who believe otherwise, sin is not an occurrence in God but us. We are in His image and likeness.....not the other way around. It is our nature to sin and fall short not His. I can't emphasis this truth enough, God is Divine, never changing, ever. He cannot change. We can and will. He cannot be tempted, we can. He cannot sin, we will.

Clear enough?
Then let me query this......why do we believe that He somehow has our personality traits and falls under the same comparisons?

The point:

God is love, right? But God is also holiness, righteousness, judgement, and truth. Right? So which is He more? Is His Love greater than His judgement? Holiness greater than His righteousness? Again the answer is He is not in our image and likeness we are in His. And we are to be conformed to His image and likeness as we follow Jesus, decreasing so He may increase, and dying to self so He can live through us. We are being conformed to His image and likeness. So we are lower (baser) than He but He is working a work in us to change us to His image and likeness to Glorify Himself in all the work.

So what character is greater? Love, Holiness, righteousness, or judgement? None of the above is greater. In His divinity they all have the same level of importance. His Love will never override His judgement, nothing will ever change with God, only our thinking sets up a "priority scale". The Love of God was shown through the coming of Christ (His promise), to show His absolute Holiness (sin can't stand before Him), to set the bar of His righteousness (we couldn't approach His throne), and to eliminate His judgement by the blood of Christ. God is Divine without fault and with no level of participation more important than the rest of the levels.

So what is the problem?
Us + sin!
We (man) has the odd ability to take perfect Divinity and drag it down to the level we ourselves are on. We are a needy people and our greatest need is not judgement, holiness, or righteousness, it's Love. All of the woes of man can be laid to rest by Love......especially Divine love. So Love becomes the blanket to cover all our blinding to the whole message of the Gospel. Now don't get me wrong, the Gospel is God's greatest show of Love to all mankind over all time but it is not the only thing that God has revealed of His character. We focus on this because it gives us leave to ignore the rest of His Word and the warnings therein. Jesus is Love incarnate, but even He talked and warned more about Hell than He did heaven. He preached the message of Gods Love and redemption but He also warned about damnation and eternal torment, "where their worms never die and their flames never go out." So here we have Love and Damnation with damnation on a greater scale coming from He who is Love.

What does Gods Love save us from and put us in relationship with? Judgement, righteousness, and Holiness. All at once just as He has all these applications at the same time. But because His judgement, righteousness, and Holiness scares us (though it is slow (on our part) to keep us from sinning, we have to focus on the only thing that we want God to hold us accountable to and that's His Love. Many use Love (Christ) to leverage God when we continue to sin. Is there forgiveness for continued sin? Yes. But sin is easier to continue in when we say Love is greater than judgement, righteousness and Holiness. Even though Christ has settled all these issues with His blood we focus on God's Love as the only proprietary condition. We can better understand God's Love toward us if we better understood what real judgement, righteousness, and Holiness is. What we really deserve and what Jesus's blood saved us from. How He leveled the playing field between Divinity for Humanity and gave us the right to stand before and supplicate a Divine God.

So then seeing this we can "as through a glass darkly" begin to see "face to face" and gain a full appreciation of who our Father in Heaven is and why His love is so unconditional and incomprehensible. We were created in His image and likeness but now we are being conformed to His image and likeness now.

He is in the heavens and we are on the earth. He is Divine and we are carnal. He is the Redeemer of all things and we are what needs to be redeemed. Christ brings us into His presence and the Holy Spirit works in our lives to conform us to His image and likeness the way we were before sin entered in so we can walk and talk with Him as in the beginning. He is the Master Potter we are the clay of His making. We have confidence in judgement because we have Christ and His sacrifice as our mediator. Christ is both our righteousness and Holiness.

This should change our thinking on how we perceive our God and give Him His rightful place in our hearts and minds.

He doesn't have our weaknesses, He doesn't have our failures, He doesn't have our needs, He is the answer to all these human afflictions.

Maybe this will help with our present dilemma of who God is and who we are so we can worship the King in love and truth.

Love
J&E in Tn

Today's fb post. Not the usual fare for this blog but good content as to how I live and apply faith

Welcome Monday! 
The night seemed so long but you finally arrived.
I woke up to your overcast sky's and brooding coolness, but that won't keep me from gaining all I can from you.
"Weeping may last the night but joy comes in the morning."
The Master of "my day" assures me that there will be "grace sufficient" and "mercy's new every morning" to jump start my joy. 
I have arisen once again to the love and voice of my wife, and a breakfast (Mediterranean style, fruit and toast), that is fit for a king.
Weather may clear enough to start cutting the lawn, and the Psalms will be entering into my heart through my ears while the chore is being put to rest.
During the last cutting/weed whipping adventure 32 Psalms were "ingested" via ipod, and if the "Lord is willing" by staying the weather, more will be covered as I partake of His written feast.
No other big plans to implement for today unless the weather doesn't clear except to "bless the Lord O' my soul with all that is within me, bless His Holy name."
One thing for sure is this: I am convinced that there is no way to separate life and worship (praise) once they are united by the finished work of Christ in our hearts. Worship is our life from henceforth and forever more.
We live as encouraged by our "eternal promise" and "each day is a new day, a new day in the Lord, each days a new day to offer up His praises, forgetting those things which are behind us, looking unto those things before us, each days a new day a new day in the Lord."
Faith has already claimed the Might Works of God for this day and gives focus to the path that forms before me, "He leadeth me in paths of righteousness," "He directs my feet."
Make your day a "singular" one today, draw strength and direction vertically first from "your Father in heaven" then manifest His Love "horizontally" toward others. A good place to start is with your own household and expand out from there.
Have a Super Day.
Love
J&E in Tn

Whats wrong with Scripture?

NOTHING..........

Psalm 19:7-10
The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul;
The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple;
8 The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart;
The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes;
9 The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever;
The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.
10 More to be desired are they than gold,
Yea, than much fine gold;
Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.

There is no problem with Scripture back then or today. God has not changed and He is the same from beginning to end, (of this creation), and in heaven: from forever to forever, "He changeth not."
So it would go then that what was, is, and will be forever, Himself, His Word, Christ and the Holy Spirit all have eternal presence. They are all one with three distinct applications in God's plan so that we can "return to God through Christ led by the Holy Spirit."

As Psalm 19:7-10 proves, everything about God's communication with man through His written/spoken/manifested (in Christ) Words are for our (mans) blessing and hearty continuance. If "let God be true and every man a liar" is true (and it is), then where does the fault come in with the interpretation and manifestation of it? How come it fails to give real and assured hope for our day and needs?

The fault relies on the "ears that hear" to "hear aright the Word of the Lord." There was a period of 400 yrs back in the OT where there was no Word of the Lord being spoken by prophet or "man of God." No guidance from God to man at all. Nothing. 

Why? Because man had hardened his heart to His Word and until there was a starvation in the land "for that Word" then the speaking of it was useless. No one obeyed, sought after, cared about, or remembered its value. Like the seed sown on the different soils. After a farmer sows seed on poor ground enough times, he gives up hope for a harvest there, then lets nature (the applications of life) take its course of changing it's germinating condition. Seed will once again be broadcast when the ground is ready for germinating a harvest.

So we are today. People have been so long without "manifestation" of God's promises and deliverance that the common practice is to "turn a deaf ear to them." All of this comes from man's personal/or instructed interpretation of Scripture which of course becomes weaker with time and lack of faith.

So as not to beat a dead horse, here's what I propose for a personal application:
Become familiar with God and all His glory. The way Scripture describes Him! Then whenever you read those Scriptures don't base the interpretation on "what you have seen or experienced" but what the Word says and promises. Learn to pray as with great passion, like your situation depends on Divine Intervention, "EXPECTING" great things to be done in your behalf by God. Let God be God in your life. Not questioning but "believing" that what He has done in the past He will do for you today. 

Believe in who God is and since He sent His Son to redeem you by His blood, then everything else is not only true but guaranteed. "We are closer now than when we first began," is what Paul said about His coming again. Jesus said: "When I return will I find faith on the earth?" 

Faith produces fruit in keeping with repentance, good fruit, God honoring fruit, sinner convincing fruit. Scripture is the Word of God to "show us the way" and quell all our fears, meeting all our needs.  

Everyone who "calls on the name of the Lord" not only shall be saved but with seeking, "filled with the Holy Spirit" to "Glorify our Father in Heaven" according to their faith. 

I feel it's more important to read Scripture and believe them than to read and understand them in that order. Understanding will come "in God's time and in accordance with His will." Believing will open the doors of heaven to pour out a blessing that you will hardly be able to take in and empower the believer to be effective in the kingdom of God.

Love 
J&E

Just a short thought on why marriages fail

Since I have been saved the Bible has been the answer book to all my questions. I don't mean that I would think of a question then look up what the Scriptures said, but before the questions came I covered myself with mass portions of Scripture until the entirety of it became one, the Holy Spirit writing them on my heart. 
I believed then, and so now, that "he would reveal His Word and wisdom to me in due time (His time) in that day that it was needed along with the grace to understand, teach or perform what was shown. I am thoroughly convinced that "to walk with Him we need to wait on Him, His timing, His anointing." All knowledge comes from Him, as does wisdom and faith," but all according to His will "on that day." Don't perceive that you can't gain Scriptural wisdom by just reading the Bible but know that the Word is Spirit and it is "the Mind of Christ", so we need to be full of that self same Spirit in order to "unlock the mysteries of Christ."
If, when I was a babe in Christ, someone would ask me a question, and I had not been revealed an answer that would "deliver or set free" then I would simply say "I don't know, I can pray about it but for now I can't make a supposition about that until I am sure that God has shown me the answer." 
I believe this is the correct way to proceed with Scripture as one "in Christ." Don't know? Don't wing it! If your not part of the answer, don't become part of the problem. If your answer doesn't give hope through faith then it's causing confusion. 

Now to lasts night question that the Holy Spirit put in my heart.

Why do marriages fail?   

The direction this took is about false love having to do with a lack of faith. An emotional, carnal need for companionship instead of real Love "that's shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit." We know that the Love of God (for God is love) is given to us along with faith to believe and receive. Jesus Christ is "the Love of God" "no man cometh to the Father but by Me" "by grace (unconditional Love) we have believed through faith, so now we have the "outline" to know and receive real Love from the vertical and direct it horizontally to others. First we must receive it from above (freely you have received)  then we must release it to others, (freely give). I truly believe that salvation is True Love to us and inspires us to Love God for His great deliverance from hell (justly ours) into His Eternal Promises.....Life and that more abundantly here and then eternally there. Because real Love is all encompassing, (God fills His creation and we, all men, live and move and have our being in Him), included in this is body, soul, mind, emotion, passion, compassion, and controls our thoughts, words and deeds, it fills every fiber of our completeness and makes us whole. 
Companionship (outside of True Love, God) can become a deception from True Love, and have the same effect on both the non believer and ignorant believer, as it fills all the above "emptiness" of man but is only there to meet the needs that are left unsatisfied by True Love. So there is a "need, emptiness" in man that will be filled one way or another, but God only provides one answer and the Scriptures bear out that this True Love is Jesus Christ......the purest expression of "the Love of God." 
At every decade since the beginning of creation, man has tried to replace God, or the gifts of God, (this discussion, Love), with something that would take away the need to be obedient, and obey His commands. The Hebrews wanted Moses, then they wanted a King, some religions need a priest, others need a pastor, (not that Christianity doesn't have structure in God's design), but that Christ is our High Priest, King, and Shepard, He is who we look to and the other ministerial anointing's: pastor, prophet, teacher ect., under His direction, nurture the Body of Christ. It was never meant (then or now) for man to replace the personal communion/intimacy with God by placing someone else between the two. We are the body, Christ is the Head. We are all under Him, all ministries equal, different functions, all necessary to complete the body. 
So there should be no one taking the singular place of Christ but all connected to each other forming His Body supports (lifts up) the Head, Christ. 
Because of the carnal practice of needing a mediator among men we have disconnected ourselves from the True source of Love and the intimacy and completeness that this brings. 
Now both detached believers and non believers have lost hold of the True Source of Love and have fallen into "companionship" to be the answer, mans answer not God's.

So then why do marriages fail?

Any believer (who chooses) or non believer (who doesn't know any better), that feels the emptiness inside them will have a desire to fill the emptiness. If that person doesn't want to "obey God" and turn fully (for the believer) or firstly (non believer) back to God then they will "go the way of the world" and embrace the secular humanistic answers of man. They will embrace companionship with the false hope that it will fill in all the holes left by the absence of "their Creator." They will put the same expectations on companionship (which can and will fail) as they would on True Love (which never fails) with tragic results. This practice in both the church and in the secular realm has a failure rate of at least 50% first time and over 70% second time marriages. Remember that the big difference between True Love and companionship is the presence of God and Unconditional Love instead of an "effort to make function" based on a need to continue. True Love never fails because it always forgives, (70x7 daily), and is blessed by grace through faith, whereas companionship, not out of True Love, can only  become exhausted by unequal effort by one or both sides and fail. Yes companionship can an does exist in True Love but it's existence is based on Gods Love and anointing through Christ it's originator.

Marriages fail because of the root problem.........lack of faith. Not just faith in anything but faith given by God to every man to find True Love and be made complete, as was God's purpose "in the beginning". Some may perceive that there are many things we can have faith in. This is a lie. Man cannot have faith in anything but God. He give it freely for us to find Him and return to His Lordship through Jesus Christ. He is the originator of faith for the purpose of our reuniting with Him for worship, meeting of needs, and Eternal Life.
To have faith in anything or one else is to practice idolatry. Nothing or no one else can insure that what you believe in will be performed according to your need. Nothing nor anyone can replace God for your needs the first one being salvation. That non optional stepping stone of Christ to God. 
This must be understood in it's fullest and deepest context in order to receive the "grace that comes through faith" convenient for each day. Do you have faith in your new car? Then why are new cars broken down on the side of the road, and what does that do to your faith.
Christian faith is based on the promises of God to perform what He said according to His will, and His will is that "what God has joined together let no man set asunder." 
Faith in the "True Love" supplies power to prevail by grace without end........never failing.
Companionship, outside of True Love, is the road map to failure.

Let God be True and every man a liar.

There are more facets to the sin that causes marriages to fail do to the lack of True Love being part of the marriage so more on that later.

For now this will suffice as the root problem to the massive failures in marriages today. Lack of True Love caused by lack of faith to know and receive that True Love.

Love in Christ
J&E