As a Christian, A Disciple of Christ: You Have Personal Influence!

I wrote the following note three years ago
for my church

when we were exploring Personal Influence, Community Influence, and Global Influence~~~ as the church, and as individuals~ disciples of Christ. My friends there, include, as well as others from school, work and throughout life- people who have had a fantastic impression and imprint upon my life as they show their faith in a variety of ways- helping others; holding up and holding on in tragedy and hard times; keeping their beliefs in the Lord when all looks grim; seeing the beauty in others and in the earth; praying and receiving (seeing) the answers that are only attributed to God.

 I want to make the point that Christians are not to spend time only with other Christians. Jesus spent time with sinners (which Christians are, we are simply and greatly saved, forgiven individuals: redeemed and reconciled to God and being sancified, all to the glory of the Lord, when one day as soon as this life ends, we will join Him and others who have accepted and loved him, forevermore in Heaven).   

After the original asking for forgiveness and taking Christ into our hearts and lives as we have accepted Salvation, we ask God for forgiveness as we go along and have made errors. 

As Disciples of Jesus Christ, the Lord God, we are to spend good, fellowship time with the body of believers and,

more assuredly,

time and worship with Him,

while having relationships and influence with others

who may not know or have not chosen Jesus yet,

but are seekers of the Living God.

We are to spread the Good News, the Gospel, of Jesus Christ,

Who is the Son of God, the One and Only Way to

God the Father...as the Holy Spirit helps us each day!               

~~~Personal Influence~~~

 Having Jesus as my Savior and Lord means everything to me.  I ask Him to help me daily: to light my path, to guide and direct my actions, and to order my steps.  Some people begin their day after thanking Him for life with, “What can I do for You today, Lord?”  When God brings someone to my attention, I try to help in a small way, and then I always feel enriched. 

My mother’s personal influence over my sister and me, her family, in church, at work, and in the neighborhood made a great difference in my faith and walk with the Lord.  Many things that I do, I attribute to my mother.  To the day my mom passed on to be with the Lord (absent from the body, present with the Lord for true believers in Him), Jesus gave her influence in others’ lives.  Late in life, having Alzheimer’s, she would ask people as they walked by her, “Do you know Jesus?”  She would pat her chest up high near her throat and say, "Jesus!  Jesus, Jesus!" and- "Are you happy?"  One time I asked my mom for whom should we pray that day.  She said, "Let's pray for the people!"

  Years ago, Mom would give extra pillows and some bed clothes to the woman who did cleaning in our home from time-to-time; Mom gave extra food, also, when this dear woman, Mrs. Freeman, needed items. Mrs. Freeman then, in turn, passed items on to others in need!  Mom gave neighbors rides and extra money even though she was a single mom herself for half of my childhood.  It was typical of Mom, while driving in town, to see a lady walking who had heavy grocery bags, another lady walking in inclement weather, or a mother walking with her children.  Mom would always stop to offer these folks rides to get them where they were going.  It didn't matter if Mom had to be somewhere at a certain time; it was her priority to help someone in need first. These examples and now who God brings to me each day reinforce my faith and guide me day-to-day with Christ. When I look through His eyes, I see people differently.

Treating others with respect, kindness, and love goes a long way in living like our Precious Savior! "Treat others as you want to be treated." (Mark 12:30-31) This is what my mother said was The Golden Rule- it is to love your neighbor as yourself, the second greatest commandment that Jesus told the Pharisees and the other people in the crowd that day.... the first and greatest commandment is to...

³⁰Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ ³¹ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”

Have you had a difficult day, and then someone shows you kindness by letting you get in line ahead, picks up something you dropped, or genuinely asks how your day is going? Little things can turn a person’s day completely around for the good. The cost of a smiling face or a helping hand is free, yet invaluable.

 Reaching Out to Other People~~~ in openness and genuine concern for their lives, needs, and their salvation and faith in Christ~~~Sometimes, Even When It Seems Uncomfortable

Early on in attending Community Life Church, I was driving in a neighborhood, and I had gotten off track where I was headed and was slightly lost. Driving into a cul-de-sac to turn around, I saw a large sign on a family’s house that said,“Welcome Home from Iraq, Dad!” There was a young family outside a house, and they were washing the car. As I pulled through the cul-de-sac, I heard in my mind- “Stop and give them $20 for a meal.” In my mind, I thought 'okay' and parked the car. I felt a bit silly, but I walked toward them introducing myself and said that I wanted to thank them for their sacrifice and service, and here was a small gift of thanks to go to a restaurant. They were so happy that I would thank them!  I told them about our church, Community Life Church in Shawnee, Kansas (see the note at the top of this posting to the left for more details): the great sermons focused on Jesus Christ and the Bible, our pastor and his wife, our whole team and safe kids’ environments and programs, and then I gave them our church’s card. They were interested, so I told them that they were very welcome at 10 o’clock on Sunday mornings and that I would look for them. That family graced our church for about a year or so, and I knew their children where I served in Kidzlife. I also heard that each in the family had accepted Christ as their Savior!  That was absolutely thrilling to me- and still is today.

During this past spring, I had the opportunity to overhear two women talking about how difficult it had been to find a church in the area, and they were still looking for a church to attend.  I apologized for overhearing and gave each one a church card.  One young lady, Chelsea George, eagerly took the card and promptly said that she would bring her family that Sunday.  She was so enthusiastic and excited that I believed she would really come!  That Sunday, I waited in the hallway, and, sure enough, Chelsea, Tony, and daughter Riley George arrived!  They became involved right away in community group and other activities.  They had a new baby, Rowan, not long after their arrival.  What a blessing they are to us.  (We were able as a church to see this lovely, committed couple and their darling children grow and give within the church- miss you guys!!!)

It is very easy, to find people throughout each day who are open to be asked to church!!

     Often I strike up a conversation with someone serving me lunch, and after getting the waiter’s name, it is easy to ask during the meal or at the end of it if that individual is looking for a church.  Through casual conversation, I may learn that there are children or teenagers in the family, so it is natural to talk about what is happening for youth at CLC and also easy to tell about our excellent sermons and worship services.  It is uncanny how many times people are interested!  I honestly can say that it is highly unusual for a person not to take our card. 

 There have been cashiers at gas stations or grocery stores, people in my neighborhood, friends of friends, people asking for directions, and the list continues for offering church cards or special invitations we have at CLC from time-to-time.  Although I try not to hesitate when God gives me a time to spread the Good News, I admit that I have not taken every single opportunity that God has given me and still have much to improve.  I feel very disappointed when I realize I had an opportunity with someone and did not follow-through in conversation with that individual...it makes me be more aware to speak to a person the next time.

There are times I have gone back to give a woman or man our card and an invitation to attend a Sunday service.  There was a woman standing with a sign of need for food recently, and I gave her the one-dollar bills that I had handy in my purse.  After driving away, I realized that I should have given her the card to find the church later or to call in for resources and assistance.  Before I left for church that morning, the Lord had given me the thought to keep those cards in my side pocket, but that day, uncharacteristically, I had decided to be tidy, so I put the church cards within my billfold!  I drove back to try to find the woman who had been standing with the sign, and she had already left the area, so I prayed that her needs would be met, and that she would have other opportunities to gather with God’s people.  (Now I keep in the compartment of the car handy information my husband gave me that has local food pantries and other area services/resources so it is easy to hand someone.) My conscience has been awakened lately that I need to be handing out more cards in my neighborhood- new neighbors to meet and neighbors I have known for awhile, anyone I am unsure if they are looking for a good church to grow in.

Praying with someone, visiting and just sitting together- giving of your self and showing that you truly care is oftentimes the best thing to do for someone who is lonely, sad, feels forsaken, or who has lost a loved one, as in passing on/passing away. 

This~~~is testament of the Living Word!!

     
Each of us in Christ Jesus have the gifts of the Spirit and the fruit of the Spirit to offer to others, and I hope that I have encouraged you today.  Our personal spheres of influence are as endless as our personalities, our walks of life, where we work, where our children go to school, where we shop or go for entertainment.  The possibilities are as endless as the unique nature of people God created each of us to be.  Jesus speaks to each of us individually; we are saved individually- and so, we speak to one person at a time!

Please read in 1 Corinthians 12 about the gifts of the Holy Spirit:
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Corinthians+12&version=NIRV

(The writing is editted from the original of October, 2010, for my church, Community Life Church, Shawnee, Kansas, U.S.A.  You are heartily welcomed to join us at the Westglenn Theatre at 10 A.M. every Sunday morning, I-435 at the Midland Exit.   Check us out at: www.communitylifechurch.com )

 Should I take credit for anything good that I do?

All the glory, honor, and praise go to Christ Jesus, Who is the Lord and Savior of my life- now and forever. Any character goodness~ worshiping and loving God; helping others and loving them, and taking care of myself (which I am working upon) comes from the goodness He placed within me and the fact that I look to Him daily to make my path straight and to be pleasing in His sight. 

(I do not wish to do so, but I do make mistakes, constantly wanting to improve to be more like my Savior, Best Friend in the whole wide universe, and the Lord of my life- He is Jesus.  Is this a pressure?  Absolutely not.  I can do all things in Jesus Christ Who strengthens me ~~~Philippians 4:13~~~ and I want to do well, but He takes the pressure off, and I am at peace because of Him.) 

He showed me His Life in The Holy Bible, so I have many stories of what happened, how he behaved, what he did. He died to self for us so that we can have eternal life because He took on the cross every single thing wrong that any of us had done, were doing, and would be doing in the future. Can you imagine? The billions of human throughout history- each and all of that sin was placed upon Him by His Father so that His Son, Jesus, the only Perfect Lamb could atone for what we had done. By that, Jesus died, was buried, and arose again, then ascending into Heaven, telling us that He is preparing a very special place for those of us who love Him and believe in Him~~~ we place our lives under and with His Salvation and Lordship.

This freedom is the best mountaintop experience you can ever have and is available to every human being, no matter what.  Each person needs to be genuine and repentant and want Him in their lives for now and for always. This is The Gospel of the Bible,

The Good News,

the Message of Jesus Christ!!

In this weary-old, fallen world, He continues to show us that He is very much alive and well and in ultimate control!

He continues to show the magnificent Beauty He created when He made the universe and everything in it~ all life, including animals~ also plants, planets, space, and His most beloved, human beings, whom He has made us in His Image!~ absolutely everything was created by God~~~the Lord Jesus Himself.

How could anyone look at the incredible array of nature and life! and not feel moved to see the structure, the ingenuity, the multiplicity, the ultimate Intellect~ eons away from what man or woman or even the whole earth of folks together could create!? 

In other words, since the Lord God made me, I take no credit for any things I do in His Name for the good.

The only credit I can take is that I chose to believe in Him and to live for Him each day on a certain summer day when I was 25 years old. 

Truly, I am so thankful that I responded to Him; it was really quite a happening, and I am writing about it by the end of January. The Holy Spirit wooed me in such a powerful way that I had to respond- but I could have chosen not to accept Christ. How glad I am that I did choose Him!! 

Sometimes I fall very short, and God still loves me. Even with that, it takes His help each day to help me in my walk of faith and in my work for those I love and those He places in my life~ even those whom I see as an enemy~ or those who see me as an enemy. Fortunately, I don't see many at all that way, especially since God has put in me the great, great desire to see everyone saved
Picture above courtesy of: Copyright Free Images of Jesus Christ.

We will talk another time about the fruit of the Spirit :)

Donna M.- Jesus blesses us so magnificently!

"A Solitary Way" Jesus, the Messiah~~~ the King of kings and Lord of lords!

Sent by A Precious Disciple of the Lord,

~~~Kim Darling~~~

(She and some other sweet folks will be highlighted in a new posting that is forthcoming on:

"The Suffering of Christ and How It Relates to Your Suffering")

 

Here is what this saint says:

This is just a little poem I stumbled across during a very difficult and long illness.

It was such an encouragement to my heart

and I wanted to share it with others. The

author is "unknown."

I hope that it will bless your heart as much

as it has mine.

God bless,

Kim

 A Solitary Way

There is a mystery in human hearts,
And though we be encircled by a host
Of those who love us well, and are beloved,
To every one of us, from time to time,
There comes a sense of utter loneliness.
Our dearest friend is “stranger” to our joy,
And cannot realize our bitterness.
“There is not one who really understands,
Not one to enter into all I feel,”
Such is the cry of each of us in turn.
We wander in “a solitary way,”* (Psalm 107:4)
No matter what or where our lot may be;
Each heart, mysterious even to itself,
Must live its inner life in solitude.
And would you know the reason why this is?
It is because the Lord desires our love.
In every heart He wishes to be first,
He therefore keeps the secret key Himself,
To open all its chambers, and to bless
With perfect sympathy and holy peace
Each solitary soul which comes to Him.
So when we feel this loneliness it is
The voice of Jesus saying, “Come to me”;
And every time we are “not understood,”
It is a call to us to come again:
For Christ alone can satisfy the soul.
And those who walk with Him from day to day
Can never have “a solitary way.”
And when beneath some heavy cross you faint
And say, “I cannot bear this load alone,”
You say the truth. Christ made it purposely
So heavy that you must return to Him.
The bitter grief, which “no one understands,”
Conveys a secret message from the King,
Entreating you to come to Him again.
The “Man of sorrows”* (Isaiah 53:3) understands it well,
“In all points tempted,”* (Hebrews 4:15) He can feel with you;
You cannot come too often, or too near.
The Son of God is infinite in grace,
His presence satisfies the longing soul;
And those who walk with Him from day to day
Can never have “a solitary way."

Kim further says:
Jesus says in Revelation 3:20

BEHOLD, I stand at the door and knock. If any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in

to him, and sup with him, and he with Me.

 

What does this mean?

Jesus lovingly invites us to let Him in, He wants full possession of our heart and life.  But He does not force Himself on anyone.  He wants joyful surrender.

This is my testimony:

I received Christ when I was 13 years old.

Jesus says that He is the Way, the Truth and the Life.  No man comes to the Father but by Him (Christ).

To me, that was a blessed verse to stumble across when I

so desperately wanted to know God's solution for eternal life.  After all these years, I not only have complete assurance and perfect peace that I will spend eternity in God's Heaven but I've also been able to have the benefit of a wonderful, wonderful

relationship with my Savior even now while on this

earth!

There is such an awesome resolve to know why we exist.

It is an awesome privilege to have the power of an endless life!

~~~by Kim Darling~~~

~~~How to Accept Christ as the Lord of Your Life and Your Savior~~~

The One True God- God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit know your thoughts and your heart.  If you sincerely want to know God, to be accepted in His family and His kingdom (beginning now, continuing through death, and being immediately with Jesus- living in Heaven for eternity), then please talk to Him to tell the Lord that you are taking his already free Gift of Love when Jesus died on the cross and rose.

Here is a prayer you may want to say or whatever is on your heart and spirit in truth to Jesus, our Lord and Savior, the Creator of the earth and everything in it...most including you and me:

 

A Prayer for Salvation for You

Dear Father in Heaven, I have sinned against You and have not always been the way that You would have me to be.  I believe that Jesus Christ, Your Son, is the Only One, Fully God and Fully Man, Whom You sent to die on the cross for all my sins; they were paid in full because Jesus is the perfect Lamb of God, completely holy and without sin.  He took my place.  He died, was buried, and then arose from the grave, fully alive!  He spent time with His disciples and apostles, was seen by over 500 people, and then arose to sit at the right Hand of the Father, where He intercedes for me to the Father.  I am a co-heir with Jesus.  He loves me, and I want You, Jesus, to be Lord and Savior of my life from now on.  Thank You! 
Amen.
(So be it.)

You are now a daughter or son of the Living God, and no one can ever take that away from you.  Find a good Christ-believing, Bible-believing and teaching church where people welcome you. 
Be reading God's Word, The Holy Bible, regularly/daily and be in fellowship with the Body of Christ, other true believers.  Pray and learn as much about the Lord as you can.  Try to do the right thing, if you fall short at times, talk to God about it.  You are His saint, and He forgives you.  Ask Him to help you and to protect you each day- the Holy Spirit will guide you because He sealed you the moment you accepted Christ.  Through thick or thin, bad and good times, plenty and little, no matter what, He is at your side...remember: 

^"And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose." 
[Romans 8:28, (ESV) English Standard Version]

(This verse has held me up, kept me going, and encouraged me many, many times!  It is my Life Verse :)
You have instant access to God's heavenly throne because Jesus, His Son, sits at His right side interceding for you.  Pray for others- that is a great calling and will enrich you and help others.

Honor the Lord God above all with no false gods or deities.  Put Him first, then Love one another, as yourself.  Do the right thing.

You will be utterly amazed at how the Lord helps you every day and in so many ways. 
Talk to Him any moment of the day or night.
He is always on-call, never sleeps or shirks
His Love for you and His responsibility to you.

The last thing Jesus said to us before He departed for Heaven
after He had arisen
and was with us on earth for 40 more days:

 “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
(Acts 1:8, ESV)

Jesus also said that He was going to prepare a place for us, and if it were not true, He would have told us so.  The Lord Jesus is preparing a place of many mansions for us. 
 Jesus Comforts the Disciples…2"In My Father's house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. 3"If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also. 4"And you know the way where I am going."
(John 14:2-4, unsure of translation/transliteration/version)
Jesus then ascended to Heaven to be with God, the Father, and by Jesus' leaving us, the Holy Spirit of God was enabled to come join us to help us, to direct, to guide, and to comfort us; He lives within each of us who have asked Him into our hearts forever learning more of the glories and characteristics of the Lord, happy beyond description where there is no more sorrow, crying, devastation, or want.  It is an incredibly beautiful place of Joy, Acceptance, and Love!!!

God bless you in the riches of glory
Who is Christ Jesus!! 
He will never fail you.

Blessings, 

Donna M.

Jesus, the Good Shepherd~~~Christ, the Soon-Coming King is Returning!

(Reposted for Easter of 2020)
 Every knee will bow, every tongue confess that He is LORD!!

He was humble and walked the path of obedience all the way to death—
his death on the cross.
For this reason God raised him to the highest place above
and gave him the name that is greater than any other name.
And so, in honor of the name of Jesus
all beings in heaven, on earth, and in the world belowwill fall on their knees,
and all will openly proclaim that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.

(Philippians 2:8-11, Good News Translation)
RESENT for Easter, 2020)

If you and I, she and he, and everyone is kneeling and then proclaiming that Jesus is Lord, why would we want to say those words and not be saved?! Those who refused to believe and take that first step will be completely inconsolable and will have remembered the times that they could have accepted the Lord, yet they will still be testifying with their mouths because Jesus' Lordship will be exceedingly obvious. You and I have the choice to be saved! 

Oh, how God:

the Father, the Son, and the

Holy Spirit

~the Trinity~

our One God, the Lord

~oh, how He loves you!! 

Christ knew that He would give Himself on the cross to save us~ before time, before He made the earth as we now know it to be, and before He made us in His image. You have either made the choice to accept Him as Lord and Savior, or you have not taken Him into your heart. If you are still reading this blog and have not made the choice to accept Christ, then you still have time! Accept Him now.

Will you be amongst those on His right side, the sheep of His fold, or will you be on the left, the goats, who will be separated from Him forever?

I pray with every fiber in my being that you will be on the right side of Jesus, with the sheep of His flock.

“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’
 “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’
 “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”

(Matthew 25:31-46, NIV, New International Version)

Those whose names are in the
Lamb's Book of Life
will be the ones saved and live with God
for ever and ever.

Do you know how you can be in
the Book of Life?

He writes the names there, but it is your decision that makes it so. If you will take that step of faith in Christ, and tell Him that you ask forgiveness of your mistakes, that you believe that He died on the cross for your sins, that He is the Son of God and rose to Heaven to be at the right side of the Father, you will have stepped over that line of faith into forever with Jesus Christ!!

Keep close to Him.

Make sure He is the Lord of your Life as well as your Savior.

He knows when you are sincere in your acknowledgement of Him. No one can take your salvation away once it is secure in Christ. And then, continue in your faith in Jesus Christ as the LORD and SAVIOR of your life...keep going to the Mark that is Jesus Himself~ to the very end of your life here on earth.

I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.

Philippians 3:14, (NIV)

(Jesus said:)

“Very truly I tell you Pharisees, anyone who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.”

Jesus used this figure of speech, but the Pharisees did not understand what he was telling them.

Jesus is the Gate for His Sheep

Therefore Jesus said again,  “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them. I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.

“I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that are not of his sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.”

The Jews who heard these words were again divided. Many of them said, “He is demon-possessed and raving mad. Why listen to him?”

But others said, “These are not the sayings of a man possessed by a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?"

Further Conflict Over Jesus’ Claims

Then came the Festival of Dedication at Jerusalem. It was winter, and Jesus was in the temple courts walking in Solomon’s Colonnade. The Jews who were there gathered around him, saying, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.”

Jesus answered, “I did tell you, but you do not believe. The works I do in my Father’s name testify about me, but you do not believe because you are not my sheep. My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.”

Again his Jewish opponents picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus said to them, “I have shown you many good works from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?”

“We are not stoning you for any good work,” they replied, “but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God.”

Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your Law, ‘I have said you are “gods”’? If he called them ‘gods,’ to whom the word of God came—and Scripture cannot be set aside— what about the one whom the Father set apart as his very own and sent into the world? Why then do you accuse me of blasphemy because I said, ‘I am God’s Son’? Do not believe me unless I do the works of my Father. But if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me, and I in the Father.” Again they tried to seize him, but he escaped their grasp.

Then Jesus went back across the Jordan to the place where John had been baptizing in the early days. There he stayed, and many people came to him. They said, “Though John never performed a sign, all that John said about this man was true.” And in that place many believed in Jesus.

(John 10, NIV)

So, the question begs to be asked, do you know your Master's voice?  Do you recognize Him?

Jesus of Nazareth, The Son of the Living Lord God Jehovah longs for you.  He wants a personal relationship with you.  (He is jealous over you.)  He wants you to want to talk with Him, to study His Word, The Holy Bible, and He wants you to fellowship in the body of believers, the Church, of which He is the Capstone, the Cornerstone, the Foundation.

There are some things that you cannot understand until you take the step of faith, trusting that He will never leave you nor forsake you.  His promises are 100%, they fail not.  No Christian knows and understands everything about God, but there are some things that you cannot grasp until you ask Jesus into your heart to abide in you, and then the Holy Spirit comes in and seals you to the Lord forever. 

Grow each day and keep your faith, making each day count for your Savior, upholding your beliefs until you die and pass on (pass away, go) to Jesus in Heaven, forever!! 

 No one can ever take your salvation away from you.  Many exciting, surprising and fun things are to come.  Joy and Love are two major components found in the body of Christ amongst the fellowship, the members!  Then, the understanding and wisdom can flow when you read The Bible and study helpful Christian books, talk and share with your pastor; lady friends if you are a woman; and male friends if you are a man.  Mixed groups for lively discussions on Scripture and Bible-based books are stimulating and maturing in the faith.  Believe that God will walk with you each day; spend time with Him in prayer and listening, listen to good Christian music, and He will, indeed, walk with you and guide you in your efforts, answering your prayers to Him.  Let us not grow weary in praising God and in being obedient to Him, walking the path of righteousness to the best of our ability, daily asking of forgiveness of sins- errors of omission, ill thoughts or poorly chosen words, etc.  He will walk with you each day. Listen for His leading about your tasks for the day and how you may help another; He will bring people to mind, people upon your same path, individuals whom you are lead to or are particularly interested in  helping.  Remember, our precious Jesus is sitting at the right hand of the Father, interceding for us!

Watch now:

Where did God come from~~~THIS IS MY MOST FAVORITE YOUTUBE ABOUT THE LORD- ENJOY OUR AMAZING GOD AND THIS PASTOR'S WORDS OF TRUTH AND THE WONDERFUL VIDEO WORK HERE WITH JESUS' OUR SAVIORS BEAUTIFUL PERSON/COMPLETE HOLINESS: S. M. Lockridge's Unforgettable answer...   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L8N3js6KhUI 

Donna M., Re-sharing before Easter, 2020. Easter this year is April 12, 2020.  Come to Jesus' Flock- He will never leave you, nor forsake you.  He is the GREATEST in the earth, above and below- the whole universe and beyond- He is our/your Creator and Savior!  Here is a Salvation Prayer to tell God how you feel~~~A Salvation Prayer for You! (or tell Him in your own words...either way is equal and true and works...) 

 A Salvation Prayer

Dear Father in Heaven, I want to know You and to be with You forever one day when I leave this first part of my Life.  I believe that Your Son, Jesus, died to take away my sin.  You are Holy, and Jesus is the Lamb of God, the Only ever Perfect God and yet fully Perfect Man.  He came to die on the cross, to be resurrected, then to be with many people here before He ascended to Your right hand to intercede for each of us.  I have made mistakes, and I want Your forgiveness.  I know that the Holy Spirit Who came- that is why Jesus ascended to Heaven- will be in my heart and mind and give me help, guidance, and comfort, understanding of the Word.  The Holy Spirit literally lives within me.  Thank You!  In Jesus' Name, Amen!

Heaven, God's Will for Your Life! Hell, Satan's Greatest Desire for You.

 

Greetings and Love in Christ!

  God will never force His salvation upon you or anyone.  He can make circumstances that certainly lead us to Him, and He moves mountains for us, undoubtedly!

It is the Holy Spirit of God Who draws you to salvation.  God can do all things, above anything we can imagine.  He works in little and big ways; nothing is too hard for Him, especially when it comes to us!  Working in situations and people's lives, the Lord is omnipotent and unlimited in abilities, strength, resources and creativity. 

Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen. 

Ephesians 3:20-21 (NKJV)

 

Ask, Seek, Knock

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you." 

Matthew 7:7 (NIV)

Jesus Christ is the Door of Life.  He stands, ready to answer you and to open the door.  He wants none to perish.

"The Lord does not delay and is not tardy or slow about what He promises, according to some people’s conception of slowness, but He is long-suffering (extraordinarily patient) toward you, not desiring that any should perish, but that all should turn to repentance."

2 Peter 3:9 (AMP)

Almighty God

The Lord God is Creator of everything in the world and universe, including us, Whom He loves dearly~ above everything else that He created. 

He is holy. 

All people have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.  The payment of sin is death.  That is why only the perfect Lamb of God, His Son Jesus, Who was and is without sin, paid the full and heavy price for each one of us, so that we who ask Jesus into our hearts and lives will be forgiven and live in eternity with God and Jesus~ the One God, the Triune God, Who includes the Holy Spirit. When you tell the Lord God that you believe Jesus Christ is the Lord and Savior, then ask for forgiveness of your sins, He will forgive you.  It is as though He has forgotten all sin whatsoever; to Him, the sin is gone as far as the east is to the west. 
Ask Jesus to be the Lord of your life now and forever.  Make that decision...it is a choice, and it affects your destiny from now, forward into eternity.

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.”

Jesus the Way to the Father

Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?”

 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”

John 14:1-7 (NIV)

 

God is bigger than any sin you have committed. 

Read about the apostle Paul:

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%2022&version=GNT

 

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.  I will be found by you, declares the Lord, and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and all the places where I have driven you, declares the Lord, and I will bring you back to the place from which I sent you into exile.
Jeremiah 29:11-14 (ESV)

Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
and do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make straight your paths.
Be not wise in your own eyes;
fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.
Proverbs 3:5-7 (ESV)

 

 

 Do you know who wants you to go to hell? 

The devil- his name is Satan.

Satan is the greatest Deceiver; he is a master of confusion, evil, and the counterfeit.

Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings. And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.

1 Peter 5:6-11 (NIV)

 
There are various aspects to get yourself to Hell, but the end result is eternal separation from God. It is horrible, beyond my ability to describe. Whatever you have seen in horror movies, those scenes most likely pale to the reality of being in the place called Hell forever and ever, with no reprieve and no way out.  The only beings there will be Satan, his demons, and other people who did not choose Heaven. 
What is the most horrifying, other than the fact of this place of evil itself, is that the person herself or himself chose Hell by ignoring or refusing
Christ, the Messiah. 
Please, do not let yourself be kept from God forever by stepping over and on Jesus Christ, ignoring the free gift He has given to us.  Please, do not let the way you were brought up, or the way you were not brought up, something someone said or did that devastated you, or even the way the world laughs in God's face all the time- trivializing and joking about our Creator, Giver, Healer, Protector, Provider, and the Lover of our Lives- let none of these factors keep you from the love of the Lord. 

 

Almighty God Wants You to Choose Life!

The One sure Way to go to Heaven for Eternity is to Believe the Truth Who is Jesus Christ! 

Does Jesus want you to be separated from Him forever? 
Absolutely NOT!  
Both the means and the manner whereby this Salvation is accomplished are clearly revealed in the Scriptures many, many times
(over a span of more than 1,500 years, Old Testament and New Testament, genuine prophets of God and other individuals pointing to Christ alone). 

"This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus Who gave Himself a ransom for all to be testified in due time" (1 Timothy 2:3-6). "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved."
(Acts 4:12) 

~SALVATION PRAYER~

Talk to God in your own words and tell Him from your heart that you want to be in His Kingdom and that you accept His gift of Life Eternal.  You may say this prayer, from your heart, if you like:

Dear Heavenly Father, I know I have sinned, and I want to be saved and live now and forever in true freedom.  When I pass on, I want to be in eternity with You.  I believe that Jesus, the Son of God, died on the cross for my sins; He took my place.  You spared not Your own begotten Son for me.  He arose from the grave and was with the disciples and other people who saw and believed in Him, then He arose from us to be with God, the Father, in Heaven to sit at Your right side to intercede for me.   Jesus also said that He must go in order to send the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, to help me.  I give my life to You, and I will follow You.  Thank You, Lord, in Jesus' Name, Amen.

 

I am writing a new post very soon to continue this subject- namely, to discuss the wonderful, exciting things of Heaven for which to look forward!  The goodness and greatness of it is magnificent! 

I ask the Lord to continue to help me in writing on the subject of Heaven as well as other topics of Jesus Christ that come in
"The Healing is Always Christ."

In Christ Alone, may I continue to write helpful and necessary postings.

 

In memory of a special Christian lady and friend, Carol G.

My beloved son edited this posting! Thank you.

Also, thank you very much to my advisers: my special pastor~ Chris Winn and dear, precious friends at church~ Nancy W. and Jan B. 

 Resources: The Holy Bible, Heaven by Randy Alcorn, 21 Most Amazing Facts about Heaven by Dave Earley