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You may be standing at the crossroad of decision, exhausted, tired and ready to give up. But, as an act of your will, determine to be strong and finish what the Lord is giving you to do. He will help you and he will bring it to Pass. - gene

“This is what the LORD of Heaven’s Armies says: Be strong and finish the task!”  “So don’t be afraid. But this is what you must do: Tell the truth to each other. Render verdicts in your courts that are just and that lead to peace. Don’t scheme against each other. Stop your love of telling lies that you swear are the truth. I hate all these things, says the LORD.” (Zachariah 8:9, 15-17)

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The world in which we live today has become toxic in many ways. People seeking their own advantage step on the weaker ones to rise to the top. But I say that there is a better way…God’s way. - gene

“This is what the LORD of Heaven’s Armies says: Judge fairly, and show mercy and kindness to one another. Do not oppress widows, orphans, foreigners, and the poor. And do not scheme against each other.” (Zachariah 3:9-10)

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Remember the song from Children’s Church, ”The Joy of the Lord is My Strength,” and the verse of laughter when they sing, “Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha,” and so on. What a blessing, hearing the pure unadulterated joy and laughter coming from those precious children as they rejoice in the Lord. Yes, the joy of the Lord is our strength. Nehemiah 8:10 (NLT)

But do we, as adults, share the joy? How long has it been since we’ve recognized His joy in our own lives, and how does that joy manifest itself? 

I remember the story in the Bible when King David was returning the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem. The joy King David felt as he ushered in the presence of the Lord was almost more than he could contain. 

“And David danced before the Lord with all his might, wearing a priestly garment. So David and all the people of Israel brought up the Ark of the Lord with shouts of joy and the blowing of rams’ horns.” 2 Samuel 6:14-15 (NLT)

It goes on to say that King David leaped and danced before the Lord. In those days, the presence of the Lord, the God of the universe, rested upon that one spot, the Ark of the Covenant. Today, that same presence of the Lord rests within us. Oh, the joy that comes when we recognize this fact.Allow the fruit of joy to grow and manifest itself in your life. Your joy in the Lord is your great source of strength, and no bad report, circumstance, or person can take it away from you!

“So rejoice in the Lord and be glad, all you who obey him! Shout for joy, all you whose hearts are pure!” Psalm 32:11 (NLT)

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“You have built great cities says the lord. The power and might which you have developed has created cities, devices, technologies, wonders that mankind has never seen before. The earth which I created, in all beauty and splendor by my glory, is there for you to enjoy and you have turned much of it into the glory and splendor of mankind by your creation. There is coming a day when the glory and splendor of mankind‘s creation will fail the foundation will crumble and yet my creation of the mountains, the rivers, the oceans, the sky, the moon and the stars will remain for my creation is everlasting. So seek not the power and might of mankind and what he can do for you, but seek the Power and might of what your God, the creator of all things can do for you, for I am with you I will never leave you. For those who are determined to be independent from me, your dependence is not well placed, for you who turn away from me, refuse to believe in me, your faith is misplaced and you will see the foundations of your faith crumble before your eyes.”

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“Gather before judgment begins, before your time to repent is blown away like chaff. Act now, before the fierce fury of the LORD falls and the terrible day of the LORD’s anger begins. Seek the LORD, all who are humble, and follow his commands. Seek to do what is right and to live humbly. Perhaps even yet the LORD will protect you—protect you from his anger on that day of destruction.“ (Zephaniah 2-3)

Seek the Lord while He may be found.

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 Let’s have some meat. Babes in Christ need milk but mature Christians need meat, so today we share the meat of the Gospel. 

“Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality,impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander,and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewedin knowledge in the image of its Creator. Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.” (Colossians 3:1-11) 

Prayerfully meditate on these words. -gene

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When I think about the supreme sacrifice that Father God offered of His only begotten Son to pay for my sin with the pain of torture and death, my mind finds it incomprehensible. Why did He love me enough to die for me? You might ponder this question as well but we’ll never know. All we know is that it was because of His great love for us that it happened.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” (John 3:16-17)

Rejoice on this Good Friday

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“I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message. I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me. I have given them the glory you gave me, so they may be one as we are one. I am in them and you are in me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me. Father, I want these whom you have given me to be with me where I am. Then they can see all the glory you gave me because you loved me even before the world began! (John 17:20-24)

To be in Christ and He in you is more than just being in agreement. It’s your spirit made alive by being merged with his Spirit. 

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 “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.” (John 12:32)

Jesus described the death that He would suffer. Many didn’t believe Him. But in a few days they would see and believe. He died for our sins and rose to fulfill that promise. 

 

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 Dear Reader,

Through suffering, our humanity becomes more prevalent. We go through life feeling indestructible as though we’ll live forever. When God created mankind He created man to live forever and to dominate this planet. However, when Adam fell we all fell and will surely die. Yet there’s still something inside of us that longs for eternal life. That longing can only be fill by Jesus Christ, who died that we might have eternal life, instead of eternal death and damnation. The older I get, the more of my weakness I see. The answer is to depend upon the Lord, who is ready and willing to be there for us, to comfort, guide, advise, and share our life with us. Ask Him and allow Him to be all that He desires to be for you. - gene

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Wherever you are in the world today, remember that God, the Lord of Heaven’s armies has His eye on you. Look at what He has done in the past to deliver His people. Whether you are in war torn Europe, or a disease ridden city, His eye is upon you. You may live in safety but are tormented mentally with the cares of this life. Remember He sees and will help, even if you brought it upon yourself. He’s good that way.- gene

“I have heard all about you, LORD. I am filled with awe by your amazing works. In this time of our deep need, help us again as you did in years gone by. And in your anger, remember your mercy. (Habakkuk 3:2)

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“The LORD is in his holy Temple. Let all the earth be silent before him.” (Habakkuk 2:20)

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As I sit and gaze at the outdoors, I am reminded how it is God who gives the rain to water the plants, the fields and the trees. No man can do this like God. He gives the wind which moves the trees and it seems like the trees are breathing in the wind, deep breaths of fresh air. That same fresh air that we have the privilege to breathe. And yet as we observe nature, does it call us to reflect on the creator who gave us that nature? I hope so. Because the Lord of heavens armies deserves credit and praise for the good he has done, And is doing for us every day. The good that we take for granted because it’s always been there…as he’s always been there. Take a moment today to thank him and reflect on his greatness.