Today seems to be a day that's rife with doubt, emotion, concern and everything that goes against what God promises victory over. In the comforting sometimes words just fall short of getting the job done. But the "Word" cannot fail because the Word is Truth and only the Truth can set you free. Nothing can be added to the Word to make it more effective.

But compassion is the other "hand" that Jesus gives us to help others receive the Truth. It's the "presentation platform" on which Truth is made real to the carnal side of comfort.

So, today, for all you out there who are drowning under the waves of adversity, loss, pain, doubt, hopelessness, fear, and weariness, here is my/our measure of compassion offered to you:

This picture representing God's beauty, grace, abundant life, Unconditional Love, hope for a full completion of development, and satisfying of every promise He has for you through His Word in Christ Jesus.

"Let those who are weary come into Me and I will give you rest".

And:

"Cast all your cares upon me for I care for you".

Be healed in the powerful name of the Lord Jesus Christ!

Right now in Jesus name, I command healing to go forth into the hearts, spirits, minds, bodies, and lives of all those who are reading this, to the glory of God the Father.

"And they defeated the devil by the "blood of the Lamb" and the "Word of their testimony".

What is the Word of their testimony? It's what can be assuredly spoken about of what God has intimated in your life. Causing others that hear to glorify God in their hearts for His power and mercy that has been preformed in your life.

His blood has already defeated the devil at the cross, he only need to add our testimony to complete this Scriptural formula.

May your testimony, from this day forward increase until the "day of Christ Jesus" having His blood as the ground on which we have victory in this battle.

Love

Jerry and Elise

2Frank Sharpy and Shelly Addison

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Our comments on social media show our real hearts.

 Body of Christ riddle me this:

Why is it when a comment is made on a post about those who would destroy our country, many Christian replies are centered on the dissident going to hell or facing some horrible judgement?

To be broad about it, anyone who doesn't have Jesus as their Savior will be there with them. But those harsh, hate filled, and vengeful responses are not supposed to come from us. We are commanded to pray for those in authority "that we might lead quite and peaceful lives", "that things might go well with us". We are also commanded to be a witness and to witness the Gospel to all creatures giving hope to the lost, so what ever happened to "pray for those who persecute you?"

Jesus said: Mathew 15:10, 11

"Hear, and understand: 11. not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man.

Again: Mathew 15:16-19

"Are ye also yet without understanding? 17. Do not ye yet understand, that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught? 18 But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. 19. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: 20. these are the things which defile a man".

Do these comments made against our tormentors rile up hate in our hearts? If so then "we know not God" according to John 4:8

"He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is Love."

In 1 Corinthians Paul mentions both "unlearned and unbelievers" grouping them together and that for a reason. As the "unbeliever" is ignorant to spiritual things so is the "unlearned believer." Ignorance in a believer is the pulpit of the devil. The devil loves it when we make such crass statements that shows an unregenerate heart. They feed the mockery he can bring before to God.

"Know ye not that ye are the temple of the Holy Spirit?". Can water and oil mix"? Can light and darkness "abide" together? If we are "children of Love" (God's children) How can we abide in (darkness) hate?

Pray for those who torment us. Work out your salvation with trembling and fear. Love one another fervently from the heart!

Remembering:

The fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

Is it so that there are no more "righteous men" amongst us?

Jesus nailed all the sins of all mankind on the cross to forgive.

That none should perish but all should have eternal life.

Many believers want to see miracles manifest before their eyes but the miracle of salvation is the first one to be seen in "their lives."

Lets move on to the solid meats in Scripture and let the milk for "babes", setting the example of Love for those we hold at bay for not being where we think they should be both spiritually and politically.

Love

Jerry and Elise

Praying in the Spirit

1 Thessalonians 5:16-19

16Rejoice evermore. 17Pray without ceasing. 18In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. 19Quench not the Spirit.

Colossians 4:2

Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving;

What wonderful habits to get into. Practicing these two examples of prayer and thanksgiving till they become as natural as breathing, will open up the "experience" of "praying in the Spirit" a new level of prayer for most. 

Most people only ever get as far as "praying" a list, a carnal type of participation that was ingrained in us by whomever was responsible for our "religious" upbringing. That usually doesn't change unless we become "students" of Scripture coming across verses like the above and being challenged by posts like these. 

Rejoicing ever more, praying without ceasing, in everything giving thanks, and quenching not the Spirit, is being obedient to God's will in Christ Jesus as it concerns us elevating and deepening our "spiritual awareness" to new heights. We will actually begin to "pray through", have satisfaction in prayer, grow our faith because we "receive" answers to our prayers, and become confident that "Emmanuel, God with us", really is. To say the least that entering into prayer with rejoicing, thanksgiving, and praise is the fastest way to "get into the Holy Spirit" letting Him "pray through you" with groans and utterances that one cannot know. That's the most powerful type of prayer there is. All prayer is effective and necessary but praying in the Spirit is most humbling, edifying, faith building, and powerful application that can be made. Not only that but it also encourages one to "pray" more so as to receive the blessing of the Holy Spirit "coming along side" to participate with you.

And yes here is where I add my latest experience of both "entering in" and "participation" with "praying in the Spirit." 

It can happen anywhere and anytime as this "sharing" will attest too.

Most of my deep prayer experiences usually happen between 4 am and 7 am and sometimes will also include new revelation in Scripture: an explanation, or application that I have not known before.

But, this time it took place while Elise and I were watching tv and I felt the Holy Spirit beckoning me into His presence and prayer.

Starting out with praise then moving quickly into thanksgiving with rejoicing, I was drawn into prayer for my wife Elise. My eyes were open but I lost cognizance of the tv and started "praying" with my mind as God gave the words, repeating them quietly, Elise not knowing. Soon, as the Apostle Paul states, "pray with your mind and also with your spirit" this transformation started to take over "mind to spirit". Words began to flow without thought or effort and my heart broke for the privileged of being allowed to participate in such a "sacred oneness" with the Holy Spirit. I was most aware of His leading and "joined" my heart and spirit to His, noting all that was said deep in my heart. I experience, at one time, both prayer, praise, thanksgiving, rejoicing and worship, again all at once, simultaneously. It was a perfect mixture of "participating" with Him, His Spirit, just as I can imagine that it would be like in heaven. In that prayer moment, (I don't know how long it lasted but for sure many minutes), I could see His hand in the "continuance" of my wife, how God has used her to glorify His name, how many people were (and will be) effected by her testimony, not counting the impact this has had on our children, their spouses, and grandchildren, friends and relatives. It was (in the form of a vision/premonition) like trying to take a drink from a tidal wave, to capture it all. Although it consisted only of words given and prayed it also was in form like a canvas coming to life with those words to form a visual presentation. I could not help but to silently weep humbled by the presence of God and His Unconditional Love for not only Elise and I but also for all of mankind from Adam and Eve till "Kingdom come". How that He, the God of all creation, would fulfill His promise to be "Emanuel, God with us" including me, a broke down bricklayer who has nothing more to offer than humbly to serve Him at His behest.

As I have stated before: "this is only a beginners participation" in Christianity. Our faith should be a continuing "experience" in the communing with God our Father. Man with his Creator. As Father and son. Always growing daily in intimacy and familiarity with Him on earth till we are reunited with Him in heaven. 

I exhort you all who read this put this to a challenge. Take time to spend with Him quietly, waiting on Him to move in your heart and reveal His presence to you. 

Invite Him to be your "Emanuel", God with you.

I hope you have been encouraged. I have.

Love in Christ

J&E in Tn

Merry Christmas: A gift from us to you!

Our Christmas gift to you!

Love Unconditionally.

Love Fervently.

Love Deeply.

Love even if not returned.

Love without reason.

Love without knowing.

Love surpasses all time.

Love surpasses all human gifts.

Love surpasses all spiritual gifts.

It outlasts hope and faith.

Love forgives.

Always and without reason.

Love never fails.

God is Love.

We are His children.

So should we Love as He does.

Loving as God does brings us joy.

Joy is spiritual.

Joy is not controlled by feelings.

Joy is centered in God.

Be spiritual, be joyful, be in God!

Merry Christmas

May you be filled by Love, Joy and Peace in the Holy Spirit.

Love

Jerry and Elise

What's plaguing the Church in these end times!

This post is odd to my normal sharing of revelation with those who read them.
My heart is deeply troubled "in these end times", (let there be no doubt that they are upon us), and the passive condition of the Body of Christ in general. So as not to "blanket" all Christianity with a cover of "futility" I will state at this time that there has always been a "remnant" of believers who have not succumbed to the "doctrines of man" in other words the "lies of the devil". I will also state at this time that many, (most, except for the aforementioned remnant), have gladly and comfortably sat back and accepted these weakened doctrines and teaching do to the "lack of experiencing" the gifts of the Holy Spirit made available to all who believe. Those "promised" gifts which come from above, are given to PROVE that the Word of God is True, (the Gospel), and to do so Divinely so as to show the Supreme power and hand of God are not of man but of God Himself!!! This is His plan to prove the Truth of His Word both to the believer and non believer. To the believer so that he might be encouraged and convinced that the Gospel is Divine and True, and to the unbeliever so that He would be speechless to comment otherwise having "SEEN" the Divine manifestation of God. 
For those who would argue in there heads right now let me make this clear:
Faith in the Gospel (Jesus's death and Resurrection) is the only way one can be saved. Period!
"And", like it or not "THESE SIGNS SHALL FOLLOW".
Mark 16:15-18

 “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. 16Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. 17And these signs will accompany those who believe: In My name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues;b 18they will pick up snakes with their hands, and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not harm them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will be made well.”

As we see in the Scripture above the Gospel is a finished work for Salvation but not a finished experience for the one who is saved. Hence the "practice" of "I'm saved so that's it" falls short of both the Truth and life experience of what is written and promised of those in His service. I have read the Bible and agree with all that it says, completely, questioning nothing, but embracing all of it's Words as the very Words of God. 

When you strip away all the promises due us through salvation, you strip away all the "God given excitement" out of the Christian "EXPERIENCE" that was put there by our "all knowing Father", which was meant to make walking by faith a daily new experience. Giving us joy and expectation in our hearts of Emmanuel "God with us", watching and praying daily for Him to "glorify" His name locally and in all the earth. 
Faith is the key to keeping God alive in our hearts thereby keeping Christ alive in our lives, actions, words, motives and attitudes that are witnessed by all around us. 
I again say Faith, not carnal understanding! Faith gives us the hope of experiencing God in the very real sense that He meant us to as shown in Scripture. We must "walk by faith", we must "live by faith", we must "season every conversation with salt by faith", in the hope of seeing the evidence of faith being manifested in it's "promised substance". 
Faith is the fundamental "necessity" of our Christian experience, some having forsaken and by so shipwrecking their potential as "witnesses" for Christ. 
It's by faith we are saved, it is by faith we embrace the Sovereign Truth of His Word, it is by faith we lay hold of every precious promise of God to us ward in Christ Jesus. Remember that anything outside of faith is sin! Sin! That element of Christian service that robs us of our precious intimacy with our Father in Heaven. Sin, which causes us to loose excitement about Emanuel "God with us" because it blinds us from the Truth "which sets free", free indeed. 
God's design for "His people" was to experience and walk in the "full measure" of His Salvation, (Jesus Christ). The full measure, not partial measure, the distinct fullness and power of the "Living God" so we can be seen as "set apart", a "holy priesthood", a "peculiar people", a representation of faith, hope, and power like no other people exhibited before. So let me set this in stone: faith is the doorway to the most unimaginable joy and excitement that one can experience in this life. The word Salvation is not just limited to "a ticket to the golden streets", a guarantee of a heavenly home, it is a promise to receiving "ALL" that the Scripture holds for the believer. It is obvious that those who do not give Scripture full place in their hearts by faith, will struggle with what they base their beliefs on and try to find some other way to secure Scriptures validity. We are the "living" proof that God's Word is True because of the change He made in our lives through Salvation in Jesus Christ. And this is an effortless manifestation on our part as we "by faith" follow His commands written in His Word. If you lack the followup that God has promised by faith then what you believe about Scripture is wrong! Scripture is not wrong, you are wrong, you have believed a lie and will go searching for some other way to validate scripture. 

Note: Scripture needs no validation because it is Truth, Truth so powerful that it sets free. Free from the need of our help to prove it's True. Free from the need of our explanation. God said it and that should be enough. Needing to add more to prove it outside of "more Scripture" weaken's "Who" it is; the very deity of God. Paul said something like "in that our gospel did not come to you merely in words, but in power and in the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction", and "For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power." Just speaking the Word of God by faith is all that is needed to bring God's power to witnesses. By saying this lets make it clear that the Word of God can be preached without faith even doubting that it will have any effect at all. This is why God set it's redeeming power with this Word: "my Word will not come back void until it has accomplished what I have sent it to do." (Paraphrased). How does this happen? When a preacher doesn't "wait on the Holy Spirit" for a "Word" for that time, instead he looks up someone else's sermon that sounds good.  The Scriptures say "today is the day if you hear my voice harden not your hearts". Yesterdays messages were meant for yesterday, "today is the day" to hear His voice and speak the given Word to the people given for them that are present. We are to "walk by faith" today! We are to "season every conversation with salt" today! We are to "speak as though speaking the very Word of God" today! "Today is the day, "IF"you hear my voice". I find it very challenging that word "if". Do you think that the "all wise Father" knew the slim possibility that we would want to hear? Never a word so powerful as the way this "if" is used. Explains a lot doesn't it? Reveals a lot doesn't it? Says a lot, yes? 

The deception and lie in many church's today is that half truths and incomplete Scriptures used in doctrines are a standard now in many cases. Why? Because as society has become more sensitive to being offended so has believers. Many believers today are contentious about what the Scriptures say about the Baptism in the Holy Spirit. They believe that they have received it as part and parcel with Salvation but argue about the proof that it has taken place. Like it or not there are proofs that you have received the baptism in the Holy Spirit: Tongues is one of them, prophesy is another, gifts of healing is another, being endued with "power from on high" is another, great boldness is another, and yes mighty rushing winds or tongues of fire have happened too. Whether you like it, accept it, believe it or not, your thoughts don't count here. Jesus said: “O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you?" and this to His disciples! Are we looking in a mirror here? God's Word commands us but we debate as to whether or not we should do it. Sorry brothers and sisters. No I'm not! Wake up. If we claim Salvation through Christ then we have claimed the entire Word of God to be as True as the Salvation we claim. In fact the very Word which opens the door to our salvation is the same Word that became flesh for our Salvation. If we claim one, by nature we claim it all. God cannot be divided. He is whole, complete, True. If you are saved then you have already received every precious promise that God has for us in Christ all we have to do is embrace them. Doing so "glorify's our Father" and proves the power of His redemption. To not embrace and employ them is to embrace a "half truth" and makes us liars by our incomplete lives. To not preach these gifts is to rob believers of the God ordained power promised them. To not challenge their activity in the believers lives is to encourage lethargy over time and lack of excitement, even failure, in their walk/faith. For we "walk by faith" brings a looking/excitement for God manifesting His promises in our lives so that we will "ask for things above what we can think or imagine", knowing that God has the power and heart to answer those seemingly impossible prayers. We seem to forget that it was mentioned in the OT that God told "His people" that when the peoples of other lands see the great provisions that God has given them they will say: "who's god is like unto their God"? Nothing has changed. We are still his people and He is still God like no other only needing a chance to "manifest" that Truth. We either give or deny this longing for God to "call all men unto Himself. That's His purpose isn't it? "That none should perish" is His goal? If that be so lets "lay aside" all vain jangling and old wives tales along with weak or false doctrines of man, then once again pick up the "joy of our salvation" with the expectation of actually seeing God move in and through us that others will believe with hope also inspired by our faith.

Stick to the Word. Prove everything that is said to be Scripture by searching the Word itself. Don't let anyone deny you the experience, joy, and expectation that are promised you "with power" from the Scriptures. 

These are evil days, but rejoice that Jesus has already given us the victory if we walk by faith. Only by faith can these be the best time to live in.

"Redeem the time for the days are evil!"

Love

J&E

Man, wife, cleaving, Loving each other, becoming one. Condensed version.

This is a condensed version of Biblical Love man and woman/wife with a few comments as the text reads clearly for itself. "Be ye doer's of the Word not just hearer's."

Genesis 2:23-25 King James Version (KJV)

23 And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.

24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.

God took man's help meet out of his side. She was "part" of him in the beginning, and now he is to cleave to her and once again become one! Ever think of that? Your wife was "grafted" back into you as soon as you cleaved to one another, having "left your parents" and become one. Remember, Jesus always said when there was confusion with the law, "in the beginning", then quoted the Truth to clear up the matter. So it is the same today. "In the beginning" gives clarity and Truth in the matter.

Colossians 3:18,19

18 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord.

19 Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them.

Now here in this verse's above is two very key phrases used to "give" warning and clarity. Did you ever notice them before? Can you see them now? Number one: as is fit in the Lord" and two: "be not bitter against them!" 

As "fit in the Lord", what does that mean? It means that they are only to submit to the husbands demands "as in the Lord" meaning if God (and He is) was present there, he would approve of all the husbands "thoughts, words, and deeds/actions" towards the husbands help meet. And then the second (mostly ignored) phrase "be not bitter against them" warns of an attitude that if they don't agree on what is being desired of her because it doesn't fit "as in the Lord" then the husband shouldn't be bitter against the wife's refusal. Husbands should realize that the wife is safeguarding her spirit and responding to whether or not the request is out of Unconditional Love or self seeking control or desire. 

Ephesians 5:32-33 King James Version (KJV)

32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.

33 Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.

The reason "as in the Lord" applications are so important is because of verse 32 directly above says "concerning Christ and the Church." When others look at your "becoming one" they judge whether or not "who you represent" Christ, is faithful to His bride on the same scale. They don't even have to know you are a Christian because the marriage of Christ and His Church is a universal concept "from the beginning." The fact that the Christian community has equal or more divorce in it than the "unbelievers" is common knowledge. A fact that is a poor representation of His Unconditional Love. This gives the unbeliever just another reason to believe that Christianity is weak or useless. If we cannot offer hope of a better marriage then "how will salvation" be viewed by them?

Now lets tackle "see that she reverence her husband." Notice that it didn't say "love her husband!" Only the husband is "COMMANDED" to love his wife, she is commanded to "reverence" her husband, Why????? Because as the husband learns to "die to himself and let Christ arise in him" he will be less bitter against his wife and more "as in the Lord" with his treatment of her. Now we all know that "as in the Lord" is the best way to be treated and embraces the most loving expectations. Reverence your husband will then become "love" your husband in return for being honored, lifted up, appreciated, and truly cherished. Now doesn't that sound like a response to Unconditional Love? The absences of that "WILL" end up in health robbing bitterness or divorce or both.

James 1:19-20

19 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:

20 For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.

You just "heard" through Scripture, as the above verses have stated in James so what are you going to do? "Are you swift to hear" and practice or will you reap the whorl wind of "wrath" which will never work the righteousness of God?

Deuteronomy 30:19

I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:

Love 

Jerry and Elise