6-12-2019 – A Word to the Wise: It is so often we hear unwise statement and we believe and are seduced by them. Example, I hear it all the time: “You must love unconditionally.

This lie only benefits the addict, the selfish, the self-serving. Love is not based on who or what a person is rather on their creation. Love should not be expected, nor demanded.

Moreover, the Lord God does not love unconditionally He does not expect his children to love unconditionally.. Remember, “If you love me you will obey my commandments.” That is not unconditional.

It should be apparent that we ought to discern wisely the things we hear, and proclaim.

6-11-2019 – A Word to the Wise: FORGIVENESS – What is forgiveness? It is difficult to explain? Why? Because we tend to take it so lightly when it is required for us, but a scathing, scalding bitter pill when it is required of us. The more serious the offense against us the more searing the pain to forgive.
So how does one obtain the humility, and the humanity to forgive serious ills against? Perhaps it takes a deeper personal awareness of what Jesus did for us on the cross. See, it is the same forgiveness we give, that we receive.
It is knowing to the depth of our being that suffering for another builds character and stamina within ourselves. This new found character leads to awareness of just how deep the Fathers love is for His children.
It does not make forgiveness of others any easier. Really, it makes it even harder, but then perhaps by some small chance we discover how great the sacrifice of the Son of God for our misdeeds.

6-11-2019 – FORGIVENESS What is forgiveness? It is difficult to explain? Why? Because we tend to take it so lightly when it is required for us, but a scathing, scalding bitter pill when it is required of us. The more serious the offense against us the more searing the pain to forgive.
So how does one obtain the humility, and the humanity to forgive serious ills against? Perhaps it takes a deeper personal awareness of what Jesus did for us on the cross. See, it is the same forgiveness we give, that we receive.
It is knowing to the depth of our being that suffering for another builds character and stamina within ourselves. This new found character leads to awareness of just how deep the Fathers love is for His children.
It does not make forgiveness of others any easier. Really, it makes it even harder, but then perhaps by some small chance we discover how great the sacrifice of the Son of God for our misdeeds.

5-20-2019 – How is the spirit of a person rekindled? When worn down by the daily grind. When life’s burdens press down and leave the soul crushed and splintered beyond hope. How does one revived the spirit? For the godly person, the Christ centered individual it is a multi-level experience.

Most often it begins with a walk in the wilderness. This is the difficult part. Most of us avoid it like a fearsome experience. However the Lord needs to separate us from others. Cause us to part ways with the distractions of the world. This is accomplished either by physically distancing us from others, or seeing that we find no comfort in them. For most this is a lengthy process because we find solace in the company of others, or social media, games, or even addictions.

Once these distractions no longer pull away then the next level commences. Here is where man intervenes with a diagnoses of depression and provides a handful of pills, and quaint advice.

Yet the Lord wants his child to draw closer. To meet with Him and discover the difference between walking with Him and walking with the world. During this period one is confronted with past sins which require repentance. Once proper repentance is achieved then one must forgive self. Next one forgives others. These steps are necessary to cleanse the spirit of all impurity.

Next comes a deep awareness of the past and all of the times the Lord has intervened and blessed. How the Lord has blessed through the work and abilities of others, and the sacrifices others have made on your behalf. From the care giver who changed all of those dirty diapers to the work of teachers, friends, ministers, and at times even strangers the Lord has sent your way. Thankfulness for all of this has to consume the heart and refresh the soul.

As one becomes compliant, and even dependent on this walk with the Lord changes take place in the heart. His holiness replaces the world.
But now it is coming to a close. It is time to leave, and the Lord has a job for you to do, a road for you to walk, a task to complete.

When confronted with the impossible scope of the task, beholding what appears as a hopeless endeavor recognition comes, I cannot do this myself. It is only with the spirit of the Lord may I even begin much less finish the task set before me.

What task? It varies from individual to individual. For some it may mean healing the sick, mending the spirit with words of encouragement, or a comforting hand.
For others it may mean taking up the weapons of war to attack the enemy whether mental, physical, or spiritual. To fight for the right without question or pause, accepting no appeasement, no treaties, nothing less than complete total surrender of the enemy at hand.

Still another may be called upon to walk among the poor, the helpless souls needing redemption and revealing the good news of the gospel.

Whatever the task, whatever the road, the path requires utter dependence on the Lord and knowledge of His grace and unyielding power to accomplish any work, any task, overcome any barrier. This is how the soul of man is rekindled and set afire.

5-20-2019 – How is the spirit of a person rekindled? When worn down by the daily grind. When life’s burdens press down and leave the soul crushed and splintered beyond hope. How does one revived the spirit? For the godly person, the Christ centered individual it is a multi-level experience.

Most often it begins with a walk in the wilderness. This is the difficult part. Most of us avoid it like a fearsome experience. However the Lord needs to separate us from others. Cause us to part ways with the distractions of the world. This is accomplished either by physically distancing us from others, or seeing that we find no comfort in them. For most this is a lengthy process because we find solace in the company of others, or social media, games, or even addictions.

Once these distractions no longer pull away then the next level commences. Here is where man intervenes with a diagnoses of depression and provides a handful of pills, and quaint advice.

Yet the Lord wants his child to draw closer. To meet with Him and discover the difference between walking with Him and walking with the world. During this period one is confronted with past sins which require repentance. Once proper repentance is achieved then one must forgive self. Next one forgives others. These steps are necessary to cleanse the spirit of all impurity.

Next comes a deep awareness of the past and all of the times the Lord has intervened and blessed. How the Lord has blessed through the work and abilities of others, and the sacrifices others have made on your behalf. From the care giver who changed all of those dirty diapers to the work of teachers, friends, ministers, and at times even strangers the Lord has sent your way. Thankfulness for all of this has to consume the heart and refresh the soul.

As one becomes compliant, and even dependent on this walk with the Lord changes take place in the heart. His holiness replaces the world.
But now it is coming to a close. It is time to leave, and the Lord has a job for you to do, a road for you to walk, a task to complete.

When confronted with the impossible scope of the task, beholding what appears as a hopeless endeavor recognition comes, I cannot do this myself. It is only with the spirit of the Lord may I even begin much less finish the task set before me.

What task? It varies from individual to individual. For some it may mean healing the sick, mending the spirit with words of encouragement, or a comforting hand.
For others it may mean taking up the weapons of war to attack the enemy whether mental, physical, or spiritual. To fight for the right without question or pause, accepting no appeasement, no treaties, nothing less than complete total surrender of the enemy at hand.

Still another may be called upon to walk among the poor, the helpless souls needing redemption and revealing the good news of the gospel.

Whatever the task, whatever the road, the path requires utter dependence on the Lord and knowledge of His grace and unyielding power to accomplish any work, any task, overcome any barrier. This is how the soul of man is rekindled and set afire.

3-14-2019 – A Word to the Wise

Lord God:
Cause us to know your ways
Make us see that our freedom
Is not the right to do as we please
But the opportunity to please to do as we ought.

Press on your servants a sense of responsibility
And remind us lest we become filled with pride
A day of reckoning will be required of us.

Lord of life we would know thee
That we might love thee
And thus be kinder to our fellow man.

Let us not forsake any of yesterday’s promises
Nor leave unrequited any of yesterday’s wrongs.
Help us to make this a better world for others to live in.

Make us mindful of the price that was paid
To obtain freedom
And the cost that must be paid
By us to keep it.
Give us the courage to stand up for it,
Loyal may we be willing to defend it.

Increase our faith till we no longer are overwhelmed by difficulties,
And terrified by problems.
Hold us by thy Mighty hand
Until fear cease
And we begin to believe
Nothing is too hard for thee.

Cause us to delight in
Righteousness,
Justice
And equality for all.

Lord God Almighty

3-4-2019 – A Word to the Wise – A PRAYER ON THE BEHALF OF PRESIDENT TRUMP:

The Lord says to you President Trump:
You are my servant,
I have chosen you and not cast you off,
Fear not, for I am with you
Be not dismayed, for I am your God
I will strengthen you, I will help you,
I will uphold you with my victorious right hand
Behold all who are incensed against you
Shall be put to shame and confounded,
Those who strive against you
Shall be as nothing
You shall seek those who contend with you
But you shall not find them:
Those who war against you
Shall be nothing at all.
For I the Lord your God
Hold your right hand:
It is I who say to you, “Fear not,
I will help you.
Cause, O Lord these words to come to pass quickly.

2-2-2019 – A Word to the Wise – Lately I have been pondering suffering. Much has been written yet I think one element never touched on is addressed by Jesus in John 9. Jesus and His disciples come on a man born blind. He must have been well known. The general consensus was that either he , or his parents sinned. Jesus says not so, rather he was this way that God might be glorified. I think that should have meaning for us. Some suffer for years and years and we will they would just pass to stop the suffering, or we, or they say to themselves what sins have I done that justify so much suffering.

I think there is a different reason. They are actually bearing the sins of others that God might be glorified. Their suffering cleanses the souls around them. If they only would comprehend this, and rejoice in their anguish for how the Lord perceives it then their fear, anxiety, self incrimination would cease.

Their suffering has purpose. A righteous purpose, noble, and courageous.

So the next time you behold a suffering one ponder the purpose. Is it the Lords way of cleansing me of unrighteousness?

1-18-2019 – A Word to the Wise – On occasion I feel compelled to address a problem in the sexual area. Some are uncomfortable with this so I give you forewarning so you may turn aside. Ready?
For those of you that have a spouse struggling with pornography I want to suggest a test. I say struggle because I would suspect that you wish to be rid of it. I will give you a good reason.
Has it occurred to you that your struggle with lust may be physical, emotionally, and spiritually affecting your spouse? To put it a different way, perhaps you are making your spouse sick with this practice. If that is happening let’s try a simple test.
Perhaps you do not want your spouse to know it, so you do not speak of it. Under these circumstances keep the results to yourself.
Here is the test and its justification. Test three different areas for degree of mental, physical, or spiritual distress.
On a scale of 0 to 5 (0 the least, 5 the greatest) degree anxiety/frustration experienced today/yesterday. Question 2. On a scale of 0 to 5 a similar scale, the degree of physical pain experienced today/yesterday.
Same scale disturbance in the spiritual life or avoidance of spiritual things. I would suggest that you run the test for 30 days unless it is obvious that the pain is intense.
The possibility may exist that the spouse is actually sexually involved with someone else, if that is the case the outcome will be the same.
Here is the reasoning behind the test. Scripture makes it clear that a married couple is one flesh. That means what one experiences the other experiences the consequences as well.

Proverbs 5-7 clearly state the physical consequences for sexual sin.

Anxiety, anger, build up and even the most naïve counselor will tell you the results are illness. But one may say what of the spouse male or female that withholds a sexual relationship does this not cause illness as well? Yes, but that is a topic for another day.

1-12-2019 – A Word to the Wise – For those drenched in feelings of loneliness it is important to understand that one has an open invitation from the Lord
to walk with Him.

1-8-2019 – A Word to the Wise: HUMILITY
The highest kind of love has its root in humility. It is not difficult to learn the first part of mature love. That love which is able to deny self and care for the welfare of others. Particularly does this love come naturally when expressed for loved ones. Some even may feel genuine love and concern for humanity in general.
But when we get to the kind of love that is able to love our enemies, we find we are over our heads. Here we find it necessary to have a deeper, stronger character than we have ever imagined. This type of love demands strength that is only acquired through humility.
Who is my enemy one might say. Everyone who opposes the cross of Christ Jesus. Whether that be husband, child, mother or father, or even self at times. Every attitude or behavior regardless the owner that challenges the Lord is an enemy of the Lord. How is that enemy to be treated? Better than mother, or father, brother and sister. Where does one get the strength, the courage, the stamina, to stand against evil? Those traits flow from the quality of humility.
Humility can only be established by our personal relationship with God. When I behold God as my creator and really feel the significance of being the created, the honor of God becomes real; the acceptance of self inevitable. Out of all of this comes the humility that enables me to love my enemy.
Humility gives one a sense of worth, because it has its roots in ones’ relationship with God. Now many confuse feeling worthless with being humble. However, there is no spiritual relationship between worthlessness and humility. Every man has his own gifts of God. To deny them, to call them worthless would be to defame God. Humility is knowing whom and what you are before God.
Test what I say. Love your neighbor as yourself. Now if you are worthless you would see him also as worthless, but if you see your worth then you can also acknowledge his. This is a very basic step in gaining humility
Many people have such a case of inferiority though that they are afraid to approach humility. Inferiority like worthlessness is unrelated to humility. God never said man was worthless — he said he was helpless. He never said we were inferior rather he created us superior to all of his creatures. That superiority is not for the purpose of ruling over but to care for and protect.

12-21-2018 – A Word to the Wise:

As mentioned earlier several weeks ago I ask the Lord to give I mentioned earlier that the Lord has given other gifts besides the Motivational Gifts. Since it is the season for gift-giving I will summarize 10 major areas His gifts to mankind may be observed. A fuller description will be posted on my website a little later. The names given for the most part are ones I have chosen.

1. The Motivation Gifts. Romans 12:4-7 (RSV)

Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; he who teaches, in his teaching; he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who contributes, in liberality; he who gives aid, with zeal; he who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.

The gift is discernable for those who study the evidences of the traits readily visible. The seven gifts, one per person are distribuend by the heavenly Father among all people at conception. The purpose for that person is chosen by the Father and His future purpose for that person. The gift is strengthen by use and ones commitment to the Lord, weakened by disuse and misuse. Everyone receives one of these gift at conception. In depth study is available on my web site or from other sources.

To summarize the seven: Prophet, Teacher, Organizer, Exhorter, Mercy, Server, and Giver.

2. Another set of gifts are described in I Corinthians 12. These gifts are called Spiritual gifts and are limited to those who are Christians.

Notice please the passage spells out the source and the purpose of each of the gifts being assigned. That is the general purpose is for the common good, and the source is the Holy Spirit. Also it is apparent that again we find seven in number.

1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be uninformed. 2 You know that when you were heathen, you were led astray to dumb idols, however you may have been moved. 3 Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking by the Spirit of God ever says “Jesus be cursed!” and no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except by the Holy Spirit. 4 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit;

5 and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; 6 and there are varieties of working, but it is the same God who inspires them all in every one. 7 To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. 8 To one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. 11 All these are inspired by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills. 12 For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ.(RSV)

3. Ministerial gifts are described for us in Ephesians 4:

And his gifts were that some should be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers,

12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; (RSV).

4. Desire of the Heart Gift. This is a gift assigned to a special group.

The Lord sees losing one’s chief source of authority in childhood as a great loss. Because of the severity of this loss, God compensates the child. Who fits into this group? It would seem that whenever a person loses his father, regardless of age, then he becomes a part of this group. It would also appear that the age of loss determines the severity and level of compensation.

5. Protector Gifts That gift is reserved for the widows.

“Father of the fatherless and protector of widows is God in his holy mountain.” This is a quote from Psalms 68. All through the Bible Gods’ special concern for widows is referenced. The high point of the Lord’s concern for them is summed up in James 1:27. “Religion that is pure and undefiled before God is this: To visit the orphans and widows in their affliction…”

6. Talent Gifts

Based on Parable of the Talents Matthew 25:14-46 English Standard Version (RSV). I go into detail with this group later.

7. Birth Gifts determined even before birth.

These gifts by the Heavenly Father are determined even before birth and given to those He determines beforehand to further His purpose and direction. Usually the gift has to do with the persons place in history and set to accomplish a specific task or goal. Examples may be

John the Baptist, David, Esther, prophets like Isaiah, Jeremiah which scripture points were called before birth.

A more recent example would be gifted children who are born with exceptional traits. Usually these individuals have high IQ’s and may be observed with the following characteristics usually beginning in infancy: Alertness, curious rapid learning ability, problem solving ability, self-taught, highly sensitive, daydreamers, exceptional memories, intense feelings, wide interest, excellent attention span, broad vocabularies at early age, wide interest, to name a few of the traits.

8. Another group those who have ask the LORD FOR A GIFT

This group is special in the sense that the person believes in the Lord and based on this belief makes a request of the Lord.

Matthew 7:7 Ask and you will receive, seek and you will find, knock and it will be opened to you. The person has to be aware of the Lord. That the Lord is able to grant the request, and the person must believe in the Lord. So what does this mean? In some circumstances one may be asking or healing which scripture has many examples. In other circumstances the person is asking the Lord to intervene in an impossible situation. What is unique here is that life circumstances has the person asking for a specific act or help in some impossible situation.

9. Another group are those given Random Gifts

Text: Parable of the Sower. Lk. 8:11-15, (RSV)

11 Now the parable is this The seed is the word of God. 12 The ones along the path are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, that they may not believe and be saved. 13 And the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear the word, receive it with joy; but these have no root, they believe for a while and in time of temptation fall away.

14 And as for what fell among the thorns, they are those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature. 15 And as for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bring forth fruit with patience.

10. Compensatory Gifts

Those gifts distributed because of loss of normality. When a person is born with certain problems whether it be low intelligence level, some physical problem, mental difficulty, or emotional genetic difficulty caused by a loss or deformation of nature. They may be of two types; Congenital or at birth, or they maybe acquired, usual by and accident or injury.

If acquired at or prior to birth then most frequently the person may be autistic, or have Asperger’s. Often these children have IQ’s below 70, and yet may be genius in a specific area like in memory, music, art, or other fields. However some may be actual genius with exceptionally high IQ’s. Sometimes this group may be referred to as savant syndrome individuals

Those individuals who acquire this gift after an accident, brain damage, or with a physical or mental problem might be referred to with the term savant syndrome Sometimes this group may be referred to as savant syndrome individual.

These are short summaries of the different sets of gifts the Heavenly Father gives. Each group has traits specific to that group, and given with certain conditions. Further details will be given later.