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Scripture says that Christ was made perfect through sufferings. Hebrews 5:7-8, 9 [Christ] Who in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto Him that was able to save Him from death, and was heard in that He feared; though He were a Son, yet learned He obedience by the things which He suffered; and being made perfect, He became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him What is this perfection? Many say no one is perfect only Christ is perfect, as if it were impossible for us to come into perfection being destined to remain subject to sin. However, that is not the case. Let us review some of the definitions of perfect as found in the Merriam-Webster dictionary: being entirely without fault or defect satisfying all requirements : accurate legally valid pure, total lacking in no essential detail : complete [obsolete definition] mature [obsolete definition] certain, sure : contented, [verb]: to bring to final form: to make perfect : improve, refine Synonyms: absolute, faultless, flawless, ideal, immaculate, impeccable, indefectible, irreproachable, unblemished Now let us look at the scriptures to see what God tells us about coming to perfection, because if it were impossible for the people of God to come to Perfection, He would not have put in His word things like: Ephesians 4:11-13 And He gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: When we look back at the definition of perfect, we see these words: accurate, mature, refined, lacking in no essential detail. When applied to the scripture it will read: for the maturing,or refining of the saints, till we all come in the unity of the faith...unto a total, complete, sure man - one who is stable and not carried about with every wind of doctrine. Ephesians 4:14-16 - that we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; but speaking the truth in love, may grow up into Him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: from whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love. The instruction to be perfect was not a new concept in the New Testament, but was also given in the Old Testament where it states that there were people who walked with a perfect heart before the Lord. That is to say, before the Lord, their heart satisfied all His requirements of how their heart should be towards Him, they were sure, and contented before Him. (See the example of David, Asa and Hezekiah) God instructed Abraham: Genesis 17:1 - And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the Lord appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before Me, and be thou perfect. Hebrews 6:11-15 - And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end: 12 that ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises. For when God made promise to Abraham, because He could swear by no greater, He sware by himself, saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee. And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise. Perfection has much to do with being patient. In order to attain perfection in any given area, one must patiently continue to become better in their given talent or responsibility. In today's world of instant this or there's an app for that, many are accustomed to getting things quickly without putting forth much effort in the field of patience. So patience in itself may be a strange concept, however there is much to be gained from patience. Christ teaches us: In your patience possess ye your souls (Luke 21:19). As we read in the beginning, Christ learned obedience and through the practice of obedience, He was made perfect, complete, entire, lacking nothing. He practiced obedience to his earthly parents which trained Him in obedience to His Heavenly Father. Revelation 14:12 - Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus Philippians 1:3, 6 - I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, 6 being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ: [till Christ's coming] Christ is the One who makes us complete, He perfects us as we allow Him to work in us: by His teaching us and our learning to submit to Him in obedience as He left an example for us to do. James 1:4 - But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. In Him we are complete, legally valid, IF we continue to abide in Him. In Him we are taught how to avoid sin and He gives us the power to do so in order to keep our heart (spiritual garments) clean. Colossians 2:9-11 - For in Him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in Him, which is the head of all principality and power: in whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: 1 Thessalonians 3:12-13 - And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you: to the end He may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints. Being Patiently obedient, we come into Perfection and Holiness through Christ Jesus our Lord. Glory Hallelujah! Hebrews 10:35-39 - Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. For yet a little while, and He that shall come will come, and will not tarry. Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, My soul shall have no pleasure in Him. But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul. May the name of Jesus be praised both now and forever more. Amen and amen

The servants of Christ, serve Him in humility because they know I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. Philippians 3:13-14 - Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Jesus taught that we are to keep our focus on doing what is right before God and not on making a name for ourselves or having a title. We have one Master, that is Christ from whom we are to learn, who we are to exemplify, be representatives of Him; and one Father which is God. Matthew 23:8-9 - But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren. And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven. Matthew 23:23 - And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cumin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone. All the righteous acts (good works), most elaborate praises (whether in song or in speech), the most scripture memorized and/or copied by a person are like the tithes of the best spices offered by one who is blind to one's own actions behind closed doors. It is for this reason that Christ said to cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter (clean out your own vessel – this is you) in order to become a vessel that truly honors GOD, not only in word but in deed also. Galatians 2:16-17 - Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid. We are to show that we are walking in the faith of the Lord Jesus, by our testimony of daily conduct. I recall the Lord rebuking me because of things I was allowing to be out of order in my house. I say allowing, because I knew to do it, but I was procrastinating and not getting it done. What He showed me through this experience was fearful, and made me to realize even more: In order for God to be honored through my life, I have to give every part of my life over to His order. Everything must be brought under the order of God. My life has to be lived as an example of the Order of God. What I have (whether it is house, land, belongings, etc) is not mine, but God's and I am just taking care of it. I must take this responsibility, not as a joke or something to be taken lightly, but VERY SERIOUSLY. 1 Corinthians 4:2 “Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.” Once I repented of this, and began to be obedient to Him, I had to persevere, be strong and courageous – nothing was ever gained by one who gave up. GOD made me know that He was with me, He strengthened me all the way, and that is how I can be here today sharing this with you. All Glory to GOD!!! In taking this action, I am sealing myself within and without for the Lord's work by obedience and being a keeper of the house that God intended me to be since the beginning of time. During this process, I have had several encounters where Satan has tried to hinder me in a dream, or tried to wear me down physically by bothering my children, through dreams or ailments in the night. Through these situations, I knew that it was not what it may appear to be on the outside (just organizing the home), it was for me spiritual warfare. He showed me also, that each one of us have to seal ourselves and our homes, our families both inside and outside – just as He instructed Noah to do when he was preparing the Ark of Safety. We will not be safe unless we come under full obedience to God. He placed it on my heart to share Noah's experience. Genesis 6:12-14 - And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth. And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth. Make thee an ark of gopher wood; rooms shalt thou make in the ark, and shalt pitch it within and without with pitch. Here we see God's vexation with the wickedness on the earth. Noah was in that day, the man who kept himself and his family from evil. By adding action to his faith through his obedience to God, he destined himself for Salvation on the Ark. God's instructions to Noah for the Ark in sealing it inside and outside serves as an example to us. Genesis 7:1 - And the Lord said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation. Genesis 7:5 - And Noah did according unto all that the Lord commanded him. Genesis 7:16 And they that went in, went in male and female of all flesh, as God had commanded him: and the Lord shut him in. Here we see the Salvation of the Lord in the life of Noah's family. What he did was because of his faith and loyalty to GOD. Hebrews 11:7 - By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith. He moved in the fear of God, knowing that God is true to His word. What He says is what He will do. In all things He is faithful that promised. 1 John 3:1-3 - Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew Him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see Him as He is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as He is pure. As children of God, though we do not know the end result of the work God is doing in us, we will see it in the end. In the mean time, because of the hope in us we purify ourselves because as He is pure, so we also must be pure. As He brings to mind things of which we need to be aware to stop or start doing, we do this, knowing that the end result is for our good. Praise be to God! 1 John 3:6 - Whosoever abideth in Him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen Him, neither known Him. When we have seen and know the Lord, we see and know that He is holy, then we are impulsed, because we are His children, to be as He is, that is: holy, pure. (Just as natural children, many of them, want to be like their parents). 1 John 3:8 - He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. We will not want to be disobedient to God, because in doing so we would not be like God, but would be as the devil who lives in complete rebellion to anything that is of God. So these scriptures should be encouraging to us, prodding us on to do what is of God that we may be children of God not only in word but in actions that resemble those words. For example: If someone says 'I am a student' then you would expect their actions to back up that statement. The student would be faithfully studying to achieve a degree in whatever it is that they are studying - or otherwise, if it is taken lightly, all their time would have been in vain. So also this applies to us. 1 John 3:18-21 - My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him. For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God. Let us not love God in word only, but in actions as well. 1 Samuel 2:3 - ... for the Lord is a God of knowledge, and by Him actions are weighed. We must be pure from sin, abstain from sin, hating even the garment spotted by the flesh (see Jude. Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of the Lord Jesus said this: 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 - Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: but I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway. The Son of man came not to condemn the world but that the world through Him might be saved (see John 3:17). See and know the Salvation of the Lord. Cleanse your heart from sin and be sealed for the Kingdom of Heaven !! We have so much to look forward to. Ordering the heart and home has to do with discipline. When learn discipline in the physical, it helps us understand and learn discipline in the spiritual. We can learn much through this daily practice. May God's name be praised for ever and ever, who alone does wondrous things!! AMEN.

Notes taken: December 17, 2019 Psalm 106 Verses 1-12 – Praise ye the Lord. O give thanks unto the Lord; for He is good: for His mercy endureth for ever. 2 Who can utter the mighty acts of the Lord? who can shew forth all His praise? 3 Blessed are they that keep judgment, and he that doeth righteousness at all times. 4 Remember me, O Lord, with the favour that Thou bearest unto Thy people: O visit me with Thy Salvation; 5 That I may see the good of Thy chosen, that I may rejoice in the gladness of Thy nation, that I may glory with Thine inheritance. 6 We have sinned with our fathers, we have committed iniquity, we have done wickedly. 7 Our fathers understood not Thy wonders in Egypt; they remembered not the multitude of Thy mercies; but provoked Him at the sea, even at the Red Sea. 8 Nevertheless He saved them for His name's sake, that He might make His mighty power to be known. 9 He rebuked the Red Sea also, and it was dried up: so He led them through the depths, as through the wilderness. 10 And He saved them from the hand of him that hated them, and redeemed them from the hand of the enemy. 11 And the waters covered their enemies: there was not one of them left. 12 Then believed they His words; they sang His praise. God delivered with a powerful hands and brought them safely out of Egypt and through the Red Sea on dry land. Then they believed His Words and sang His praise. This is the same as our salvation. Verses 13-18 – They soon forgat His works; they waited not for His counsel: 14 But lusted exceedingly in the wilderness, and tempted God in the desert. 15 And He gave them their request; but sent leanness into their soul. 16 They envied Moses also in the camp, and Aaron the saint of the Lord. 17 The earth opened and swallowed up Dathan and covered the company of Abiram. 18 And a fire was kindled in their company; the flame burned up the wicked. How quickly they forgot His salvation!! How soon the salvation of our God is forgotten. 1- They did not wait on the counsel from the Lord, they were hasty 2- Because of this, they gave themselves over to unlawful desires in the desert (the time of temptation, trying their faith) (see also Galatians 1:6-7, Romans 1:21-32) 3- They also became envious of Moses and Aaron – God's leadership through them, their connection with God Don't be partakers of their sin. (Ephesians 5:5-12) Verses 19-23 – They made a calf in Horeb, and worshiped the molten image. 20 Thus they changed their glory into the similitude of an ox that eateth grass. 21 They forgat God their Saviour, which had done great things in Egypt; 22 Wondrous works in the land of Ham, and terrible things by the Red Sea. 23 Therefore He said that He would destroy them, had not Moses His chosen stood before Him in the breach, to turn away His wrath, lest He should destroy them. Moses stood in the breach, meaning he asked God to have mercy on them, and then rebuked the people and made them to know their sin before the Lord so they would repent, and instead of yielding to the weakness of sin they would be strong in the Lord and overcome by keeping the commandments of God. The only way God would turn from His wrath is if the people turned away from their sin. We also, who are made living stones (in Christ Jesus) in the spiritual house must not have any breaches (because of sin). If there are breaches/ spaces in the building, it will break apart because of weakness (1 Peter 2:5). Psalm 106:24-31 – Yea, they despised the pleasant land, they believed not His word: 25 But murmured in their tents, and hearkened not unto the voice of the Lord. 26 Therefore He lifted up His hand against them, to overthrow them in the wilderness: 27 To overthrow their seed also among the nations, and to scatter them in the lands. 28 They joined themselves also unto Baalpeor, and ate the sacrifices of the dead. 29 Thus they provoked Him to anger with their inventions: and the plague brake in upon them. 30 Then stood up Phinehas, and executed judgment: and so the plague was stayed. 31 And that was counted unto him for righteousness unto all generations for evermore. What is the sin of Baal-Peor? When I looked into the history of this idol this is what I found: The word Baalpeor is named in the Bible five times (three times in reference to incidents, twice in remembrance of the incidents). It is the name of a god of the Moabites (Numbers 25:3) worshiped by obscene rites. So called from Mount Peor, where this worship was celebrated, the Baal of Peor meaning: lord of the opening. —In Rabbinical Literature: The worship of this idol consisted in exposing that part of the body which all persons usually take the utmost care to conceal. Baal Peor is a Moabite god, which service specifically included sexual acts.- The name Baal Peor consists of two parts: Firstly, the word Baal a common word meaning owner, husband: The second segment is the name of a mountain in Moab: Peor. This name comes from the Hebrew verb פער (pa'ar) meaning open wide: This sheds some insight on this god/idol by which the Lord GOD was provoked to such great anger as to cause a plague to be in the camp of His people the Israelites, bringing about the death of 23,000 people. He said, I, the LORD, AM a jealous GOD (Exodus 34:14, Deuteronomy 32:16) and MY glory will I not give to another (Isaiah 42:8). The name Baal-Peor may not be used today, but these actions are still being done (exposing the parts of the body which should be covered, among other obscene acts) which the Lord wants us to recognize and reject fervently. Sacrificing their sons and daughters to idols, shedding innocent blood – like many have done to this day by abortion and other means, the land has become polluted with the blood of many innocent. This, God sees and is angered. Psalm 106:39-48 - Thus were they defiled with their own works, and went a whoring with their own inventions. 40 Therefore was the wrath of the Lord kindled against His people, insomuch that He abhorred His own inheritance. 41 And He gave them into the hand of the heathen; and they that hated them ruled over them. 42 Their enemies also oppressed them, and they were brought into subjection under their hand. 43 Many times did He deliver them; but they provoked Him with their counsel, and were brought low for their iniquity. 44 Nevertheless He regarded their affliction, when He heard their cry: 45 And He remembered for them His covenant, and repented according to the multitude of His mercies. 46 He made them also to be pitied of all those that carried them captives. 47 Save us, O Lord our God, and gather us from among the heathen, to give thanks unto Thy holy name, and to triumph in Thy praise. 48 Blessed be the Lord God of Israel from everlasting to everlasting: and let all the people say, Amen. Praise ye the Lord. Phinehas rose up and executed judgment – not so the people would be condemned, but to cut off sin so they would not be destroyed! This was counted to him for righteousness (see Ps. 106:30-31) and by his doing the work of the Lord that was required, the people would be able to praise God for His holiness and to give Him thanks for His merciful deliverance. Psalm 149:5-9 - Let the saints be joyful in glory: let them sing aloud upon their beds. 6 Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a two-edged sword in their hand; 7 To execute vengeance upon the heathen, and punishments upon the people; 8 To bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron; 9 To execute upon them the judgment written: this honour have all His saints. Praise ye the Lord. Hebrews 4:12 - For the Word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a Discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Ephesians 6:12-18 - For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 13 Wherefore take unto you the whole Armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with Truth, and having on the breastplate of Righteousness; 15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the Gospel of Peace; 16 Above all, taking the Shield of Faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 17 And take the helmet of Salvation, and the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God: 18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; 1 Corinthians 10:4-6 - (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) 5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; 6 And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled. In other words - we are to use the weapons of our warfare to bring all every thought within us under the obedience of Christ, AND THEN be ready to stand up against all disobedience when our obedience is fulfilled - when we have become obedient. (see also Matthew 7:3-5) Take up the SWORD of the Spirit and use it to cut off sin from your life. It will be counted as righteousness to you, and the Lord will bless you and He will keep you and His face will shine upon you and you will have His Salvation. Numbers 6:24-26 - The Lord bless thee, and keep thee: 25 The Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: 26 The Lord lift up His countenance upon thee, and give thee peace. Praise ye the Lord!

1 Corinthians 2:1 And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. 2:4 And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: 5 That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.6 Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought: 7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: Paul was careful not to preach with the words of wisdom that were pleasing to man, but he preached only the powerful words of the Holy Spirit, in order that their faith would be founded on the Rock Christ Jesus who is the Wisdom of God. 1 Corinthians 1:23 -24 - but we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; but unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. Paul preached of the mysteries of God as they were made known / understandable to him by God through the testimony of Jesus Christ the Son of God. The more he sought the Lord, the more the Lord made him understand the mystery of God, so that it was no longer a mystery (something that is difficult or impossible to understand or explain), but an assurance (a positive declaration intended to give confidence; a promise / certainty about something). Like the song says, Blessed Assurance, Jesus is mine, O what a foretaste of glory divine, heir of Salvation, purchase of God, born of His Spirit washed in His blood. This is my story this is my song praising my Savior all the day long. (See also Ephesians chapter 3:1-12) 1 Corinthians 2:11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. 13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 1 John 2:27 But the anointing which ye have received of Him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him. This anointing was the anointing of the Holy Spirit of God. Paul continues on to say that it was given so we can know what has been freely given to us by God. Again, he confirms, the apostles did not use words of the wisdom taught by man, but the wisdom which is taught by the Holy Spirit of God, because man in his nature cannot receive the things that are of God, because they are only discerned by the Spirit of God. Sadly, many today are using the “wisdom” of man try to discern or define the things of God. Grace as described by Paul is not the “merciful favor of God” as many have determined it to be. As I looked further into the definition of grace as defined in Merriam-Webster's dictionary, I come to this definition: virtue. What is virtue? I find the definition for virtue is (in the 3rd definition) manly courage or strength. This is more in line with what was needed for Paul to fulfill the work God had given him to do – STRENGTH; it also makes much more sense when we read God's reply to Paul when he asked Him three times to take away the “thorn in the flesh”. God said to him: My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Paul goes on to say, Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. How can grace defined be “undeserved favor” when God, not Paul used it in the context of strength? We must look into words as God defines them, not as man sees it. Words such as Love, Virtue, Grace, Faith, and Wisdom, have such greater value to them once they have been researched through God's manner of thinking rather than man. You have no need that man teach you (1 John 2:27)... How was John the apostle assured of that? Because Christ (the Anointed One) told them this: But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in My name, He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you (John 14:26). Jesus who is the Son of God, was True and Faithful, and thus made them sure of this anointing that would come upon them to supply them with all they would need (including and especially the Strength / Power) to fulfill the work He had called them to do. Paul told Timothy: But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; and that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus (2 Timothy 3:14-15). Timothy was taught by Paul, whose wisdom and understanding came from the Lord Himself, and he was assured of these things because he saw that everything he learned was confirmed in the life of Jesus and through the holy scriptures – this would be the law and the prophets – which he knew being taught from childhood, not to mention his own salvation experience. He was one of those who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ and was saved. Glory to God! May the Lord raise up more such teachers who, like Paul are not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, and will boldly teach people to walk in what they know from reading and studying the Bible and HAVE BEEN ASSURED OF – not through doctrines of men in place of truth, but in Christ the Wisdom of God and Power of God unto Salvation. Romans 1:16-17 - For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith. May the Lord be praised and His name glorified both now and forever. Amen Psalm 51:6 Behold, Thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part Thou shalt make me to know wisdom. James 1:5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

Psalm 8:2 – Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of Thine enemies, that Thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger. Jesus spoke to those who wanted to stop the people, the children, from offering praises to Him – in response He said, “And said unto him, Hearest thou what these say? And Jesus saith unto them, Yea; have ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise? Matthew 21:16 The Lord has said these things because of the simple fact that it is true. The truest form of praise will come from a child because little children are honest in their opinion and innocent in their intentions. They have no ulterior motives in their natural state, and this is how GOD created them. There is much to be learned from this simple fact. Matthew 11:25-26 - At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes. Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in thy sight. In these scriptures, Jesus is speaking of those who had heard the message of repentance preached by John the Baptist in those days and had refused to listen and take heed (do something about it). He said if the presence of the mighty works done in those places had been done in Tyre, Sidon, and Sodom (cities where the people were highly esteemed for their skill and were always focused on Self.) they would have repented. However, to everything there is a purpose and a time to every season. All these things were done in order that we may learn from the lessons of times before us and take heed to the message of the LORD. The Word of the LORD is today, even as it was before, repent for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand. Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make His paths straight; the coming of the LORD draws nigh, yea, He is even standing at the door. 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 will sup with him, and he with me. Revelation 3:20 He calls to all, the rich and poor, sick, and healthy, young, or old – it does not matter age, race, size. His greatest desire is that all would know Him, the TRUTH, and the Truth will set them free and the blind will see; but not many really care. The LORD wants those who come to Him to really and truly care about their decision they make to join with Him and follow Him in all His ways as does a little child. Paul said, in 1 Corinthians 1:26-29, For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in his presence. It is because HE IS GOD ALONE and there is none like Him, that He is worthy of all glory honor and praise, because it is HE that has made us and NOT WE OURSELVES. However, those that are lifted up in themselves want to receive glory and honor for themselves, and therefore will not inherit the Kingdom of Heaven for they desired not to receive it as does a little child – with honesty, humility, and the desire to receive the Wisdom that comes from GOD alone. They are rich in themselves. Therefore Jesus said to His disciples, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. One can be rich in many ways and not just in money or property alone, it could be prestige, fame, self-discipline, achievement, etc. - it is when one puts their trust in these things that they go wrong; then it is not “In God we Trust” but 'In [any of the above] I trust'. And they were astonished out of measure, saying among themselves, Who then can be saved? And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible. Mark 10:26-27 If any man (or woman) will humble themselves and will follow me, I will teach them my ways. If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. 1 Chronicles 7:14 And when the Lord saw that they humbled themselves, the word of the Lord came to Shemaiah, saying, they have humbled themselves; therefore, I will not destroy them, but I will grant them some deliverance; 1 Chronicles 12:7 This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. Hebrews 10:16-17 I will hear what God the Lord will speak: for He will speak peace unto His people, and to His saints: but let them not turn again to folly. Psalm 85:8 So will I make My holy name known in the midst of My people Israel; and I will not let them pollute My holy name any more: and the heathen shall know that I am the Lord, the Holy One in Israel. Ezekiel 39:7 God will not be mocked and will not allow the people – His creation - to make a mockery of Him. We must become as little children, to inherit the Kingdom of Heaven – become a sincere, truly repentant people in order to honor God and then honor Him by giving Him glory, honor and majesty in our lives. To show that He alone reigns in us and not we ourselves, for we are HIS creation – not the other way around. Our God is a jealous God, He said to Isaiah, I am the Lord: that is my name: and My glory will I not give to another, neither My praise to graven images. Isaiah 42:8 Glory be to His Holy name. May His name be praised in Heaven above and on earth beneath. To His name be all Glory, Honor, and Praise from this time forth and even forevermore. AMEN.

Jesus came not to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. (John 3:17) Abraham believed GOD and it was imputed to him for righteousness. (James 2:23) David described the blessedness of the forgiven man saying: “Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man to whom the LORD will not impute (to lay the responsibility or blame for) sin” (Psalm 32:1-2) God is not the God of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles – HE is one GOD – both Jews and Gentiles will be justified by faith. (justify: to show to be just, right, or reasonable. To free from blame or guilt). Romans 4:14-25 For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect: … 15b - for where no law is, there is no transgression. Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace [power]; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; … 18 Who against hope believed in hope, … 19 And being not weak in faith, … 20 He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; 21 And being fully persuaded that, what He had promised, He was able also to perform. 22 And THEREFORE [this is why] it was imputed to him for righteousness. 23 Now it was not written for his sake alone, … 24 But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on Him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; 25 Who was delivered for our offenses, and was raised again for our justification. Righteousness was counted to Abraham because he, not only believed initially, but continued to believe through all the years of waiting for the promise to be accomplished. He was fully convinced that because God promised, He was very capable of doing it. The promises of God will be fulfilled to us IF we believe as Abraham did - completely convinced that God will do what He said He would. Righteousness will be counted to us, as it was to Abraham, if we believe on Him who raised up Jesus Christ from the dead. John 1:12 But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name: Romans 5:1-2 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Romans 6:1-2 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? Romans 6:6-7 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin. Romans 6:12-13, 16 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? Romans 6:22-23 But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. God, in His Wisdom and mercy, made a distinction between two groups of people: those who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and those who do not believe on Him. Now, every human being has a choice which is left available for them: to be saved or not. Galatians 3:22 But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe. What will you do? Will you be saved? Are you willing to believe? If so, ask Jesus Christ into your heart and to wash you clean from your former sins by His blood that was shed on the cross. Believe on His name, that He was raised from death to life, and that through Him we have life eternal. Glorify God and live for Him in thankfulness for what He has done, looking forward to what He is going to do. Read His word and He will teach you all that you need to know and will lead you in the right path for His name's sake. 2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. To the Lord's name be praise, glory, honor and power forever. Amen.

April 2, 2019 notes (posted 11/4/2020) I read this morning (as the Lord put it on my heart to read) from Genesis chapters 28-29 and have seen: when God blesses you, it is much more worthwhile than anything man can give to you. His blessings are so much greater and carry so much more weight. They carry more significance than anything man can ever think to give. God's gifts reach to the heart, the very core of our innermost being. A dear sister recently shared with me Psalm 37:4, Delight thyself also in the Lord and He shall give thee the desires of thine heart. I read this entire Psalm not long afterwards. It is quite refreshing, in fact, full of promise. God's name be praised for ever and ever. When God gives blessing to His people, His Word says: The blessing of the Lord, it maketh rich, and He addeth no sorrow with it (Proverbs 10:22). God gave His promise of blessing to Jacob in a time when he needed it most. God promised him prosperity and to be with him: And behold, I Am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of (Genesis 28:15). This is a beautiful thing, especially when considering that God knew Jacob's heart, therefore He knew Jacob only wanted the basic necessities and protection, and he said if God would be with him and supply those needs, then the Lord shall be my God (see Genesis 28:20-21). God, when He looked down from Heaven, saw Leah (Jacob's wife) in her time of affliction when she felt that no one cared for her soul and no one could give her what her soul longed for, except the Lord; the Lord blessed her and gave her children. She knew the Lord was ministering to her deepest heartfelt needs. She said: Surely the Lord hath looked upon my affliction Because the Lord hath heard that I was hated, He hath given me [a second] son also. By the time the fourth son came, Leah said: Now will I praise the Lord! Psalm 34:1, 2, 3 – I will bless the Lord at all times: His praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make her boast in the Lord: the humble shall hear thereof and be glad. O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together. May the Lord be praised from this time forth and even forevermore! Amen and amen. Psalm 66:4 – All the earth shall worship Thee, and shall sing unto Thee; they shall sing to Thy name. Selah. Psalm 113:5-9 Who is like unto the Lord our God, who dwelleth on high, Who humbleth Himself to behold the things that are in heaven, and in the earth! He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth the needy out of the dunghill; That He may set him with princes, even with the princes of His people. He maketh the barren woman to keep house, and to be a joyful mother of children.

Unto Thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul. 2 O my God, I trust in Thee: let me not be ashamed, let not mine enemies triumph over me. 3 Yea, let none that wait on Thee be ashamed: let them be ashamed which transgress without cause. 4 Shew me Thy ways, O Lord; teach me Thy paths. 5 Lead me in Thy truth, and teach me: for Thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day. 6 Remember, O Lord, Thy tender mercies and Thy lovingkindnesses; for they have been ever of old. 7 Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions: according to Thy mercy remember thou me for Thy goodness' sake, O Lord. 8 Good and upright is the Lord: therefore will He teach sinners in the way. 9 The meek will He guide in judgment: and the meek will He teach His way. 10 All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth unto such as keep His covenant and His testimonies. 11 For Thy name's sake, O Lord, pardon mine iniquity; for it is great. 12 What man is He that feareth the Lord? him shall He teach in the way that He shall choose. 13 His soul shall dwell at ease; and His seed shall inherit the earth. 14 The secret of the Lord is with them that fear Him; and He will shew them His covenant. 15 Mine eyes are ever toward the Lord; for He shall pluck my feet out of the net. 16 Turn Thee unto me, and have mercy upon me; for I am desolate and afflicted. 17 The troubles of my heart are enlarged: O bring Thou me out of my distresses. 18 Look upon mine affliction and my pain; and forgive all my sins. 19 Consider mine enemies; for they are many; and they hate me with cruel hatred. 20 O keep my soul, and deliver me: let me not be ashamed; for I put my trust in Thee. 21 Let integrity and uprightness preserve me; for I wait on Thee. 22 Redeem Israel, O God, out of all his troubles. May the name of God be praised and glorified forevermore. Amen

Question: How do we overcome and conquer sin? Answer: By becoming sick and tired of doing it, Repent, and become willing and determined to get rid of it once and for all 1 John 5:5 - “Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?” What we believe is reflected in what we do. God does not will for us to be servants to sin, but to overcome and conquer sin. Romans 6:12-13 "Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God." If we do not realize the power to which we submit when we enslave ourselves to sin, then we are blind also to the realization of the necessity to be rid of it. In other words, if we don't see how evil sin is and the ugliness of it, then we also will not understand the importance of pushing it as far away from us as we can and doing all we can with the power and authority GOD has given us to keep it out of our lives. The Bible compares sin to vomit, mire (heavy, often deep mud or slush) and other filthy things. 2 Peter 2:20-22 - "For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.  For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire". You see, God gave us the commandments which we know commonly as the Ten Commandments, so we will know the basics of God's Law; but His will and desire is that we will Understand them, because the one who seeks to know and understand them will be the one who actually keeps them – walking in the fear of the LORD all day, applying them in every aspect of our lives, thus going much deeper than what is on the surface. The first commandment establishes who God is, His position, His greatness, and what our duty is towards Him. Exodus 20:2 - "I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage." Deuteronomy 10:12 - "And now, Israel, what doth the Lord thy God require of thee, but to fear the Lord thy God, to walk in all His ways, and to love Him, and to serve the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul." Matthew 22:36-37 - "Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind." The second commandment establishes that He is not a god to be placed alongside idols, but HE IS THE GOD, the Almighty, Alpha and Omega -the beginning and the end, the first and the last. There is none like Him, nor will there ever be. His people are to hold Him and His name with the highest respect - in fear and in reverence of who He is. Exodus 20:3-5 - "Thou shalt have no other gods before Me. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate Me;" Deuteronomy 6:14-15 - "Ye shall not go after other gods, of the gods of the people which are round about you; (For the Lord thy God is a jealous God among you) lest the anger of the Lord thy God be kindled against thee, and destroy thee from off the face of the earth." 2 Kings 17:36 - "But the Lord, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt with great power and a stretched out arm, Him shall ye fear, and Him shall ye worship, and to Him shall ye do sacrifice." Exodus 20:7 - "Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh His name in vain." WE MUST HATE THE SIN NOT THE SINNER – JUST LIKE CHRIST DID. The Holy Spirit in Him is exactly what caused Him to be moved so strongly to go into the temple to overturn the money changer's tables and beat out those who bought and sold in the temple. It was the rage of GOD, the fervor in HIM to get rid of the sin in the temple of GOD, and this is how we must react to the sin or the temptation to sin that presents itself to us. “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God? (1 Corinthians 3:16) CAST IT OUT! “GET THEE BEHIND ME SATAN, for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve” (Luke 4:8). Hebrews 12:18-19 - “For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest, And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice they that heard entreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more:” Hebrews 12:22-26 - “But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, And to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel. See that ye refuse not Him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused Him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from Him that speaketh from heaven: Whose voice then shook the earth: but now He hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven.” Hebrews 12:28-29 - “Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: For our God is a consuming fire.” Jesus said, I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. Repent means: to turn from sin and dedicate oneself to the amendment of one's life. 2 a :to feel regret or contrition. b :to change one's mind. This is to completely turn around not going back, but rejecting what was in the past to walk in newness of Life in Christ. That is what makes the difference in all those who seek after GOD and HIS righteousness. Romans 6:1-4 - “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into His death? Therefore we are buried with Him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.” Colossians 1:21-23 - And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath He reconciled In the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in His sight: If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;” Hebrews 2:1-3 - “Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip. For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward; How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard Him;” This is one of the most important reasons why we must be very cautious as to how we hear, and why pastors and teachers of the Word must take great care to preach the whole Word of God (not giving the flock the fast-food, over-processed version of the Bible) so they will receive the nourishment and sometimes prescribed medicine in time of need. May God Bless you all. Deuteronomy 6:4-5 "Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might." Deuteronomy 30:6 "And the Lord thy God will circumcise thine heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, that thou mayest live."

On Children Psalm 61 The Lord gave the job of educating our children to us, their parents, if we do not do this who will? We cannot leave this to others. We must to the best of our ability be good overseers of our children. Although there are many people who have spoken suggestions to parents, we are going to begin to understand what our position is and why, today. The Lord told us He is our Good Shepherd, our Teacher, Our Father who teaches us all things. We mothers and fathers must take care to teach our children just as the Lord teaches us. They need to know from our experiences as well: how has the Word of God been our guide, how has it helped us or instructed us,etc? God tells it to us this way in Deuteronomy 6:6-7:  And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. Verses 20-25: And when thy son asketh thee in time to come, saying, What mean the testimonies, and the statutes, and the judgments, which the Lord our God hath commanded you? Then thou shalt say unto thy son, We were Pharaoh's bondmen in Egypt; and the Lord brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand: And the Lord shewed signs and wonders, great and sore, upon Egypt, upon Pharaoh, and upon all his household, before our eyes: And He brought us out from thence, that He might bring us in, to give us the land which He sware unto our fathers. And the Lord commanded us to do all these statutes, to fear the Lord our God, for our good always, that He might preserve us alive, as it is at this day. And it shall be our righteousness, if we observe to do all these commandments before the Lord our God, as He hath commanded us. There is a fear that has been put into the minds and hearts of mankind, the parents of today the fear of correcting children of teaching them to keep their place as God would have them to do. Ephesians 6:1 - Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Children are being taught in today's world to turn on their parents to make independent decisions (without parental knowledge or consent in some cases). They're being thrown away from parental guardianship because of the many deceptive teachings of man. In one instance, “Follow your heart” when scripture says, Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child... We must learn to recognize what these teachings are so we do not fall into that manner of thinking. 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Because there is so much conflict and confusion, many people have difficulty governing their household because they struggle with how to go about doing it. The ways of the Lord (the old ways) are considered “out of date”, “not in style”, “old fashioned”, and not applicable in today's world. People say we are coming to a new age, a new frame of mind, a new way of thinking, etc., among other things. However, the Lord tells us: Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein (Jeremiah 6:16) (see also Jeremiah 18:15-16). Consider: to think about carefully: such as - to think of especially with regard to taking some action - to take into account - to gaze on steadily or reflectively Dust off the Bible that's been sitting unused on the shelf and see what the ways of the Lord are. This is His teaching for our lives, the order of creation, how He designed for us to live. Any way outside of God's way is false, is deception, leads us in the way of evil. May the name of the Lord be praised because He leads us into Life Everlasting. Glory to God! John 12:48-50 He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not My words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day. For I have not spoken of Myself; but the Father which sent Me, He gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. And I know that His commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto Me, so I speak. The Lord molds us and trains us in the way we ought to go and guides us; so also we, being given charge of our children BY GOD, not by man, must teach them in the way that they ought to go, for their benefit, as unto the Lord. In Judges 13:8-14, we can see how Manoah asked the Lord to instruct him and his wife how they were to raise the child Samson and the Lord answered him, even instructing them about the mother's diet during the pregnancy. This is a wonderful example showing us God's concern for children before and after birth. This is more than a great concept, it is the reality that even what the mother does before the child's birth matters and will have an affect on her child. Note the Wisdom of the Almighty God who is Creator of the universe, who knows all things... Children are a heritage of the Lord and the fruit of the womb is His reward (Psalm 127:3). They are part of His treasures, His blessings to us. Now, we can either take these treasures and train, nourish, guard, prune, and support them, like a well-tended garden, or we can let them go the way they will, grow wild, unruly, and unguarded due to lack of training. We only have a short period of time to raise these children in the way they ought to go. I was talking to my husband about this one day and was impacted by this thought: 'I only have one chance at raising them; I want to do the best I can because I don't want to mess this up'. Honestly, it kind of scared me, to think that whatever I instill in these children that God has given us is what they will have with them for the rest of their lives. We as parents are to teach in order to equip these children to follow these guides for their lives. Every seed you plant: every thought, everything you teach them is important; they take it in and it will either do them good, or it will harm, just like a plant. It is not always easy, we make mistakes, but we learn from those mistakes and move forward. It is a learning and refining process both for the parent and the child. What we learn from our Father, who is God, we pass it on to our children. God be praised!!! 1st Peter 5:2-4 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being examples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away. In the scripture, as God (through the apostle Peter) speaks to the elders of the church, it applies well to fathers and mothers. Teach them out of love - most importantly for their soul, not because you are forced or because you HAVE TO, but willingly. Don't do the work looking for some reward or for praise, but with the mind set to do it as unto the Lord. Teach them patiently... If you don't have patience, ask God, and put patience into practice. Correct them as is needed; not too much as it will tend to suffocate them or could cause damage; but not too little to where they have no boundaries or limitations. Either extreme (just as in a recipe or in gardening) may have not so good results, there must be BALANCE. Ask God for guidance. Remember: these are not our children to do with as we will, they are God's. Each child has a different gift or talent each child learns differently. Teach them in the way that they will learn most effectively. This will take trial and error. Most importantly: Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not on thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes, fear the Lord, and depart from evil. It shall be health to thy navel and marrow to thy bones. (Proverbs 3:5-6, 7) God bless and may His name be praised from this time forth and even forevermore. Amen and Amen. Without Him I would be lost; With Him I have Life and that more abundantly. Glory to the Almighty Living God!! I love you Lord, for ever and always. You are all I have and You are all I need.

God is not the God of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles (non-Jews) – He is one God – both Jews and Gentiles are justified through faith in Jesus. Justify: to prove or show to be just, right, or reasonable. Romans 4:14-25 “For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect: ... for where no law is, there is no transgression. Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace [power]; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; ... Who against hope believed in hope, … And being not weak in faith, … He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; And being fully persuaded that, what He had promised, He was able also to perform. And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness. Now it was not written for his sake alone, … But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on Him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; Who was delivered for our offenses, and was raised again for our justification.” Romans 5:1-2 “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.” The Lord's will is that men would be saved and we are justified by faith, have peace with God and have access to Him by faith – this is the assurance of hope by which we are able to stand. This is what we must hold onto, as God's Word tells us: Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses. I give thee charge in the sight of God, who quickeneth all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession; That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Timothy 6:12-14). It is by His great power that God has redeemed us. Romans 6:1-2 “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? Romans 6:6-7 - “Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin.” Romans 6:12-13 - “Let not sin, therefore, reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.” Romans 6:22-23 - “But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” “Gather the people together, men and women, and children, and thy stranger that is within thy gates, that they may hear, and that they may learn, and fear the Lord your God, and observe to do all the words of this law:” (Deuteronomy 31:12). Jesus said, “Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls (Matthew 11:29). God is merciful, but God is not lenient towards sin. He will not give in to permit a little sin because of the weakness of man, it is the power of God to Salvation when the gospel (the Word of God) is believed. Therefore, when we choose to believe His Words over man's words and man's weakness, then we will know His Word is true when He says, “My grace IS sufficient for thee, for My strength is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9). This was not spoken idly, but with great power and authority by God. Paul knew this and chose to believe God and he saw God's power made manifest. If God is mighty enough to give us His Salvation, is He not powerful enough to keep us in the way of Life eternal? Does He not live in us by His Spirit, will He not continue to guide us even till the end of our lives? Will He not show us how to endure temptation while not yielding to sin? Does He not show us this way giving us His Word by which to live? It is then up to us to follow His way. In doing so we will have rest for our souls, not having fear of condemnation because of sin; but we will rest knowing that we are abiding in Him (not submitting to sin). In Him we have life and life abundantly. “But whoso hearkeneth unto Me shall dwell safely and shall be quiet from fear of evil” (Proverbs 1:33). “Every Word of God is pure; He is a Shield unto them that put their trust in Him” (Proverbs 30:5).

Our life is like a vapor of smoke that is scattered by wind and disappears. James 4:13-14. We have a beginning, we also have an end of life here on this Earth. This life is only temporary. We must begin to think about all we have done and all we plan to do because the end of our lives is nearing. 1st Peter 1:24-25 says, “For All Flesh is as grass and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth and the flower thereof falleth away, but the word of the Lord endureth forever. And this is the word by which the gospel is preached unto you.” The scripture reference is 1st Peter 1:24, and I look at the numbers and see that we have 1 day at a time, 24 hours in the day; how are we going to use these hours? People use the phrase 'you have your whole life ahead of you'. The Book of Ecclesiastes was written just for the purpose of calling all things into perspective. We are born, we live, make money, plant a vineyard, etc., some men make a name for themselves. God gave us these things on earth so that we can enjoy them but if that is all for which we live, then it is all vanity. (James 4:14-15) “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter; fear God and keep HIS Commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.” Ecclesiastes 12:13 Every single person who died and is buried in the cemetery or some other place had to give account before God. “For God shall bring every work into judgment with every secret thing whether it be good or whether it be evil.” Ecclesiastes 12:14 We are among those who are alive now, and what will we do with our lives? Many things will come and go: fashions, cars, jobs, etc. We may move from one home to another; but at the heart of it all who will you be found to be when you stand before the Lord? Will you be able to say honestly 'I have fought the good fight, I have finished my course I have kept the faith?' And will there be the response to you, “Come in thou good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of thy Lord”? This is a personal walk between you and God. Examine yourself: are you sincere in your commitment to God? Do you make the effort on your own to seek God through prayer and reading His Word? No one is too young or too old to die, just be sure you are ready for that day when it comes. The power and wisdom of God is that we become mature in Him. It doesn't matter how old you are now, but that you would allow HIM to live in you more fully with the understanding that this life of service to the Lord does not go unrewarded. “Be sober” He tells us. (1 Peter 4:7, 5:8) It is not for you, nor for myself, but for HIM and by HIM that we live and move and have our being. (Acts 17:28) When we have a complete understanding of this point made so many times in scripture we begin to understand the fullness and of the value in serving the LORD CHRIST. To HIS name be the glory honor and praise forever. Amen. May God bless you all. If you want to know the LORD JESUS CHRIST as you LORD and SAVIOR, ask Him into your heart today and He will come in (Revelation 3:20). Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. (Acts 16:31) Confess your sins to God, and ask Him to forgive you and cover you in the precious blood of JESUS His Son (1 John 1:9).Go and sin no more. (John 8:11) Take up your cross and follow Him in the way that leads to Life Eternal. (Luke 9:23)“I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.” John 10:9 Please feel free to contact us with any questions you have about having a new life in Christ or about what it means to walk with the Lord. May God bless you.