Scriptural based with no scripture added...........Men and Wives

What I discovered about getting the projects your wife wants done and the future.................
The faster you get them done the more future you will have to do other things.
Hey lets realize the truth here.........
You do enough of them and she will sooner or later run out.
Right?
I don't know about you but I always like a challenge. When I don't put off doing the things we can get done when I can, Elise A. Cavasin​ is all to happy to help, making the sense of accomplishment that much more enjoyable.
Remember that "two shall become one?" It works. A task done by two is twice as easy!
I think that many times we men work harder getting out of work than if we would of just done the job.
Over the last several months we have accomplished many things together to "take off the list." Not only was it fun but it was a great relationship building act.
Feels like it's part of growing up to me.
More like "being intimate."
Real intimacy isn't limited to a physical relationship, its the process of "two becoming one" in every sphere and application of life. It includes but not limited to: Love, conversation, concerns, needs, expectations, laughing, crying, caring, sharing, satisfying, responsibility's, "touching, hugging, kissing", (oops I think I already said that this wasn't the only part), again "becoming one."
"Real Men" make their wives experience their "priceless value" by making their dreams come true not just in the big things but in the little, seemingly meaningless (to us) things.
Hang that dang picture for her!
Fix the faucet like it was your boat, truck, or chainsaw.
Then when that is caught up take time to:
Look into her eyes.........I mean really look.
Sigh when you do that like she is the most precious gift God has given you (after Jesus Christ.)
While doing that whisper "I love you!"
Remember when you were "dating?"
Remember how her hair felt in your hands?
How it was so fragrant it drove you crazy?
News flash: "same hair, same woman." Times don't change anything. Time is just an excuse to not make the same effort because you "got what you want now."
I guarantee "taking the time" now will mean just as much today as it did "back then."
A pat on the butt, brushing by, tender, appreciative words and actions will go far in "crossing some tasks" off of your "to do list!"
If you can't learn something new about your wife just about every day, then your just not "becoming one" on all levels of this great experience called marriage.
We men all think that being men means doing some great, dangerous, expensive, unreachable thing. Like somehow our greatness will be "magnified" by our "outward deeds."
The greatest accomplishment any married man can have is to have his: smiling, admiring, content, loved wife holding onto his arm, proud of the "I do" she made years ago.
Life is lived one decision at a time:
Start with the one to Love Unconditionally!
Living haply and lovingly with my wife in Tn
J&E

Why are you a Christian?

Sunday morning thoughts:

Why are you a "Christian?"
For what reason are we to be called "the son's and daughter's of God?
And what is the heart of "Christianity?"

Are we supposed to "experience" more than just the "knowledge" that our "sins" are forgiven and the streets of gold have now been guaranteed us? Is our "profession" of faith just a feeble "proclamation" of our agreement with "Scripture?"

Is there more than just "guidelines", almost certainly unmeetable commands, and a struggling to "walk the walk?" Have we really desired to know the "heart" of God in this living the Christian faith?
What does it mean to "live the Christian Faith" and "how do we do that, how is it expressed?" Is it beyond our ability to be "totally committed to God through Jesus Christ?"

Lets start with this statement:
"If you are a Christian (a follower of Jesus Christ) you have to believe in the (what I call) fantasical." Not a word? Sorta. What does that mean?
First of all it means that God through the Holy Spirit has to "call you unto Christ" whom He has lifted up for such a purpose we realizing that God is unapproachable when we are "in our sins."
Second you have to agree with His Word that Christ is the only Savior for our sins. By no other means can we "obtain" forgiveness and be perfect in His sight.
Third (this is the hard one), that Christ then becomes our righteousness, salvation, and sanctification. Our hope of, and answer to, being able to "approach the throne of God, spotless, undefiled." When we truly "confess with our mouth and believe in our hearts that Jesus is Lord (He died for our sins and rose from the dead), then the above "Truth's" become fact and are etched in our "hearts", (not our heads), and we become son's and daughter's of God.

Ok, you know all that. You got it! Life is good. You have your "Free ticket to the streets of Gold.

Then answer this one question:
Why is it then so hard to "walk in the spirit", "keep all the commands", "receive all the promises", "have peace like a river and joy in the Holy Spirit" all the time or at least most of it?

Is it a matter of "increasing in faith?" Is it "help me though my unbelief?" Is it a matter of "studying the Scriptures daily?" Fasting enough, praying enough, going, doing, preaching, or some other thing out of a list of thousands of Christ like replications?
No. All the above desires are necessary, to an ever "increasing" degree but they are not "the beginning" of what is needed most for the foundation of our answer "Why are we Christians?"

Lets take an "out of the box" approach to this question, like a Biblical one, Scriptural one. Not the pleadings of man but a calling of the Holy Spirit. Not the common teachings of man (beyond the Gospel set forth in Scripture), but "how Scripture" shows us the how and the why's of being a Christian.

I'm going to ask you at this point, before I go on to pray about what is being written and ask that you "listen/read with your heart not your head." The vilest application of understanding Scripture come from the practice of "head knowledge" instead of heart knowledge. Period. If God gave us the ability to "understand "the Mind of Christ" with our heads then He would of eliminated the Holy Spirit. Lets go on.
Understand first: that salvation through Christ is a MIRACLE!
A miracle is a "Divine Intervention of God to Man to Manifest His Glory." God works miracles for one reason and one reason only: To prove the Truth of His Word (Jesus Christ) to those whom He touches and to those whom He uses to do so. If you didn't get that the first reading read it again!
You were born a sinner with an inheritance of "hell." If you are not convinced of that statement then you cannot and will not be saved. The very fact that "The Holy God" (in whose presence can be no sin), out of His Unconditional Love, gave us a way to be "cleansed" and made whiter than snow, so that we can "come unto His throne, into His presence," THIS IS A MIRACLE! All things God does towards man is a miracle! Not divided by small or large.......everyone is a divine intervention.
More than that He also "gave us of His Spirit" after being "redeemed" by the blood of His Son, so that we might have the "power and boldness" to do so. With this "imparting of the Holy Spirit" He made all things possible that are written in His Word the Holy Bible, nothing being out of reach, all the promises and commands "doable" by faith and faith alone.
Again this takes place in the heart not the head. If you "think" you know these Truth's but do not witness them on a regular basis, then your head has taken over for your heart, and there in, your faith will be week and your walk will also. You will be "plagued about by many questions" not seeing the fruits of faith spoken in the Scriptures. Sadly these "symptoms" are a prewarning that the teachings of man have been made more acceptable than the Word of God. As it might be called a "holy excuse" to "claim the name of Christ but "deny the power there of."

So where is this going and when will I answer the question of: "Why are we Christians?"
What does God expect?

Let me start here:
Since the day of "my Salvation" I believed! I mean everything that Scripture said. I will add here that from the beginning of this journey for me, the Holy Spirit was "given without measure" in my "growning in faith and the knowledge of Christ." This is not to set some sort of brag or "I am so righteous" presentation, but to state clearly that: myself, you or anyone else, who has not "received the Holy Spirit" (baptism of the Holy Spirit, not water baptism) after believing in Jesus Christ "he cannot know the things of God." Period. He can listen and learn what man has to say, but he cannot "listen to the Spirit" and be able to know and compare the two (often opposed to each other), to "study to show thyself approved." He who has the Holy Spirit has the "Mind of Christ," he who doesn't have the Holy Spirit "has not the mind of Christ." Because of the later we are in the present state, church, country, and heart.
That is not to say that "at the day of salvation" the Holy Spirit doesn't "come along side" to teach, guide and direct, but Scripture clearly shows that there, (like salvation), must be a specific time when we are "filled with the Holy Spirit" and endued with "power from on high." Remember here, that we are talking about Scripture here, not mumbling, thoughts, emotions, and comparisons. Not feel good preaching that gives hope but no power to serve. Man's word, man's strength to accomplish.

So how do we wrap this up and answer the question first asked?
My heart, since the day of salvation, has been to "honor God" by obeying His Word, not with strength of my own but by the "power of the Spirit." This same Holy Spirit has been active since that point in my prayer life. Yes there are tongues but that's not what I am talking about. Paul said: "though I pray in the Spirit I pray also with my conscious," so it is a wise thing when praying to also "listen" to what you are praying "as the Spirit leads."
This morning was one of those mornings. Pray, listen. Letting the Holy Spirit "lead."
Here is what came about the question of "why are we Christians?"
Lets not go over again faith, baptism, the laying on of hands but on to better things these all being understood!

The simple answer is this:
To gain by God's Spirit the revelation that we, being just flesh and blood, we're desired by God to be His people, that He might "manifest" His Truth, His Power, His Love, to us and through us so that all creation would see and believe on His Name. Having promised so we can turn our hearts to Him and freely invite His will to be done in us.

While I was praying this morning the "manifestation of the Spirit" was both in vision form and heart prayer form that simply "renewed my mind" to the "high calling we have of God in Christ Jesus." I understood the impossibility of what God asks us to do daily, and the imponderable power that He gives us for it's accomplishment. From beginning (salvation), to end (our lives) He has expected nothing from us but to be an "open vessel" for Him to use "that no man would have excuse" to deny His existence, Love, power, and plan.

Simply put: to be obedient to His will, as laid out in Scripture and performed by the Holy Spirit. To passionately "desire" to do so. Not to beat oneself up over whether or not "I compare to someone else" and what God is doing through them, but to be open both through prayer and the "we small voice" to be "led by the Spirit." The best way to be that is to "eat and drink" the right things! Gotcha but it's True. His flesh is real meat and his blood real drink." Did you ever think about that "diet"? To "feed off His Word and to have our "thirst" satiated by His blood? This the foundation of "His will." When we rely on "His Presence" more than that of carnal food, then He, through His Spirit, feeds our "inner man" with the True Manna from heaven, the only real food from God.......His Word (the Mind of Christ), and His Spirit.
Praying this morning I believe that God guided my prayer to be such: "Holy Father, glorify your name in all the earth. By the blood of Jesus help me to see and do, by faith, those things that are your will convenient for this day. Not by my strength or understanding, but by Your strength and Spirit through the name of Jesus Christ. Lift Him up to call all men unto You. Empower your people to preach the Gospel of Truth with signs and wonders following because the "Truth shall set them (and us) free." Teach us to Love as you do "Unconditionally." Work in us to "conform us unto the image and likeness of your Son Jesus Christ." Help us to decrease and Jesus to increase in us so that all that remains is the reflection of our Savior and our Father in heaven. I thank you and praise you, in Jesus name!
This is why we are Christian's.

Via con Dios

Love
J&E in Tn

Love of life

Life is good,
Love is better,
Life with Love is best!
I choose Life,
I choose Love,
I choose what's best.
It isn't without effort, (ask Elise A. Cavasin​)
It doesn't start out perfect,
It does get better all the time,
And those that see it through will reap the rewards.
We have done that,
And the rewards are beyond imagination.
Love, Joy and Peace in the Holy Spirit.
If you haven't stuck through with this.......
Then you will ever know the joy that hope brings,
And the peace that passes all understanding in Christ our Lord!
Love
J&E inn Tn

Worship 2

WORSHIP............
How powerful is it?
There are many church's around the world that meet in the name of Jesus Christ.
There are various teachings, preaching's, singing, and practices.
So what is more effective in bringing people from all denominations together?
Think about this:
No one church anywhere in the world is "prominent" with overwhelming participants.
No one church directly controls the growth of all participants.
What does?
WORSHIP............
Have you ever thought about how many people are touched by just one worship song written by one worship song writer?
Now multiply that attraction and participation to thousands of writer/singers all over the planet who "sing praises unto our God."
Simply put: "Worship carries more participants then church's do in bringing people of faith together for one cause."
John 4:23,24 says:
But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him."
"God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
Worship above all else begins in a "humble and contrite heart." With that beginning place it then can take on true thanksgiving, praise, adoration, and supplication, (supplication is the making intersession for others and ourselves, showing need for Divine Intervention. The highest form of worship.)
So by now I have the attention of many asking "is worship greater than the communal gathering of believers, the church?"
No; but there are no "scriptural functioning church's" without worship.
Worship is powerful on it's own in the believers life and many more times powerful when exercised corporately.
Church's can be open without it but not functional! But a believer can function with it (worship) even outside the church.
In the Book of Acts we see individual believers who worshiped Christ do mighty works in His name, but we see the most powerful manifestations when they were "all together."
Alone they affected the lives of individuals, but together they affected the lives of thousands.
Even when Jesus sent out "His disciples" he sent them out by two's. Because two bore true witness and could support each other, worship together as when Paul was in prison with Silas (Acts 6:25) and they sang praises unto God (worship) a mighty movement of God took place and effected many. Both prisoners and guard.
Church (the corporate coming together of believers in Christ) and worship should go hand in hand.
Really.......what is the corporate meeting of believers for but to "worship in Spirit and Truth", that then leading into the "necessary" manifestation of "Spirit" led "feeding of the sheep."
True preaching is an "anointing" and a ministry gift given to pastors to again "feed the flock." Show me a pastor who doesn't participate in personal worship and I will show you a pastor who "cannot preach" or has a starving congregation.
On the other hand:
Show me a congregation that individually or corporately doesn't "worship in Spirit and Truth", and I will show you a people that even when lead to the table of feasting, will reject the "feeding" and sit there starving.
Who more should know "worship" but those "redeemed of the Lord." Who have been "saved from their sins by His blood" and have been guaranteed His precious promises as "sons and daughters."
Those who have been saved "by a price" and "called according to His purpose" to glorify His name, should be so humbled that worship is just part of their daily lives having "His Word written in their hearts by the Holy Spirit.
The viability and life of the church and it's members (representatives) is manifest in it's worship.
Worship brings power'
Manifests the "Truth of God's Word,"
And sets the individual worshiper free to "draw neigh to God so that He can draw neigh to you."
By ourselves let us "wait on the Lord while we worship in Spirit and Truth.
Corporately let us "come together" to worship our King in Spirit and Truth and be partakers in the manifestation of His glory.
Love
J&E

What do you carry with you to service on Sunday

Here it is again......Sunday!
Heading out to church?
Are you bringing the right stuff with you?
Did you know that what you did all week having to do with your relationship with Christ will be what you "pack up" and bring to share?
So how was your week?
Did you find yourself daily in praise, worship, joyful thanksgiving, prayer, and supplication?
OR: Did you find yourself only aggravated, annoyed, condemning, not "drawing neigh to God" or finding place for Him in your daily routine?
Whichever question you answer yes to represents what you are bringing to your "church service."
Another thought:
How many others are bringing the same thing?
A "worship service" or "Sunday meeting" can only be the accumulation of everyone's weekly experiences with God.
If they are all "passionate" rife with "Emanuel, God with us" then the time corporately together will be blessed, and all who participate will leave there "lifted up."
If all who participate are "Godless" in their weekly relationship
then the "gathering" will be pointless and legalistic.
Because God is in His temple (people) He is either there because we all bring our share of Him or missing because the "temple" is Godless in practice.
We are bringing "Him" with us this Sunday! We have called upon His name throughout the week praying, seeking, reading His Word, rejoicing in His presence, and thanking Him in all things.
That's what we are bringing to share at our church service.
We are bringing the "wine", like the wine that was water changed by Jesus. We being common place (like water) but touched by the Master's Hand. Converted to a "higher calling", better quality than when we started.
When you pack your heart for service today include: Love, Joy, and Peace in the Holy Spirit.
Love
J&E in Tn

Steps to be a viable Christian

Did you ever think seriously about what Faith in Christ is really all about?

Is it just some comforting form of meditation that we rely on when things are tough or rejoice in when things are good?

Lets use a simple comparison to explain:

Faith in Christ is like a person standing on a sidewalk in front of a great stairway.

He's on the sidewalk (not a believer) looking up the stairway (to better things).

His first decision has to be "get on the stairway" or believe in Jesus Christ.

Most people will at some point come to that decision and either continue walking down the sidewalk content in their lives, or will decide by the calling of the Holy Spirit, that they will take the stairway, (put their faith in Christ), and take the first step.

Remember this is the first step, (the most important one), but after that there are many more. Like in Jacobs ladder. Starting at the earth and ascending all the way to heaven. So are the steps we are talking about.

What is the second step? Like a newborn babe it is feeding on the Word of God so that the new believer can be nourished.

Being that I believe that the Holy Spirit must illuminate the Scriptures and thereby guide in it's truth, then this is how we must be instructed in "the Way."

The third step, as the Spirit leads is baptism. As we read the Word we notice that there are two kinds of baptisms: Water and the "Holy Spirit". There is no points to argue here as to what comes first but both should be accomplished in a timely manner after "Faith in Christ" has taken place, otherwise questions in our struggles will plague us and weaken us as to the validity of our Faith. We want to go up the stairs not down.

The fourth step awaiting our rise is prayer: All prayers are heard of God but prayer takes on a new meaning and direction once step #3 has been taken. It becomes less selfish, broader, deeper, more passionate, and more effective. "Led of the Spirit." And like anything else "better with use." The more we pray the faster we become "entering into the spirit of prayer."

There are two types of prayer: (and that is Biblical whether you believe it or not, whether you experience it or not, in fact like it or not "you have nothing to say about it!), praying with your mind/heart and praying in the Spirit or tongues. Now there are two types of tongues: A prayer language "between you and God" (unknown by man) and a language that is not a prayer language for the "promotion of the Gospel" with two parts to that side. Some times a tongue is given to the one speaking (for the promotion of the Gospel), so that the hearers will understand and be enlightened to the Faith in Christ, and the other is the "anointing" that the hearers receives in his native tongue of the preaching of the Gospel from someone who doesn't know the language of the people he is preaching to.

So that step #4 covers all about and all the types of prayer. As we walk back and forth on step #4 we will begin to experience "spiritual awareness, praying without ceasing, and answer to prayers which will "increase our Faith" that will cause us to "grow in the faith and grace of our Lord Jesus Christ" daily.

The fifth step is: Growing in the "Revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ."

What does that mean??????

That means having a personal Revelation of Christ that continues to develop over the years which is an experiencing of His presence, personality and character in your life that continually "conforms you to His image and likeness." Remember that "I must decrease, He must increase." That's what the Revelation of Jesus Christ will, and must, accomplish in your "growing in grace and understanding of Him" in your life. Some people only want Faith in Christ as a "ticket to those streets of gold" but Faith in Him comes with a responsibility back to Him. He didn't die for our salvation to become a "get out of jail card" only. He gave us faith so that we could do as He did, "glorify our Father in heaven as He did, by "seeing the works He (Jesus) did and doing them also plus greater things". Again just to "Glorify our Father in Heaven." If we haven't been led by the Holy Spirit and haven't claimed that the Word of God is true and timeless, then we will not experience the promises of God in our life, and at some point we will look around and realize that we are no different than anyone else and begin to doubt that Christ and the Holy Spirit are worth following after. We are to be a "peculiar people, a royal priesthood." That happens when God bears witness to the Truth (the Gospel of Christ) with signs and wonders following the preaching of the Gospel. Whether you can acquiesce to that or not, in terms of Scripture it doesn't matter as you are the only one who looses in that scenario.

God's work will go on, (and has, just look around you), with or without your co-operation in the matter. Yes He will always love you but He can only use you if you believe and obey Him following His ways! The Scripture says "let God be true and every man a liar." Like it or not you and I are men and like it or not "we are liars." Scripture overrides all men's fables, teachings, preaching's, or whatever is taught or practiced that does not come clearly from Scripture. So if your church says there is no "baptism in the Holy Spirit" or the gifts no longer exist, or that all the ministry positions have been eliminated, then flee that church and get into the Word of God to know the Truth that sets free, before you go and try to find another place of worship.

Step #6 and upward: All these are a continuing of the Revelation of Jesus Christ, a deepening of the Love of Christ to others, a maturing (few do) into thought, words and deeds of Christ, and a deepening of the intimacy we have with our Father in Heaven, the Holy Spirit, and Jesus Christ.

Well there you have it in a small nutshell.

Hope it was of help to someone.

Remember that the Love of God is key in all this.

Grow in the Love of God and in the Lord Jesus Christ.

See you on that set of steps...........

Love

J&E

Men: Your "help meet!"

MEN!
What do you think "she" is thinking when you:
Greet her with a smile in the morning?
Ask her how she slept?
Made her a special breakfast?
Hold her hand while you shop together?
Come up along side her at the kitchen counter with a towel?
Embrace her tenderly at "unexpected" moments?
For now reason tell her you "love her" with no expectation?
Pat her on the butt as she passes by?
Hold her and sigh just because she is yours?
Roll down the bed just for her arrival?
Look into her eyes with love, passion, emotion, that she can see?
Tell her how beautiful she is........always and all ways?
Listen to her diligently as she talks?
Pray for her health, needs, cares, and concerns daily?

Let me tell you what she is thinking:
I am unconditionally loved!
I am valuable!
I am appreciated!
I am desired!

Priceless................

God gave all mankind Jesus Christ, He gave you your "help meet", your wife. The one who "makes you whole," complete!
He designed her just for you as a gift, precious, valuable.

He told you to "love your wife" as Christ loves the church."
He told her to "respect your husband."
Just like God loved us and bestowed "His Love" on us so should we love our wives. If we do that their "respect" will turn to "love" and we will be complete in Gods design.

Life is good!
Love is better!
But a life with love is best!

God bless and keep this new year.
May you grow in Love and Grace through the Lord Jesus Christ daily so that your life will bear witness to His gospel, first at home then to others.

Love
J&E in Tn