Mood:  celebratory

I could not help but post a snippit from this CNN/Yahoo net news article about  "Stressful Jobs That Pay Badly". Having been in a couple of those positions, I understood yet laughed also at this one;

"Every now and then you'll get a strange request," said Dan Fenn, Music Ministry Director at St. John's Lutheran Church in Northfield, Minn. "A couple of years ago I got a request to play the Beer Barrel Polka at a funeral. You have to ask yourself, is this appropriate for a worship service?" 

I guess if your church is large enough, then you pay your worship leader/minister....yet on the other hand ministry in general can be stressful...It is an interesting article and here is the url:

 http://finance.yahoo.com/career-work/article/108148/stressful-jobs-that-pay-badly?mod=career-salary_negotiation

Blessings Brother Tim 

Mood:  a-ok

Forgiveness.....not a "buzzword" but a "mustword"......

God requires it ....sorry it is what it is.......

Whatever the reason for you incurring the hurt , God has the remedy. It may take time even a lot to come to a point of releasing it into His hands... Even if it does take a lot of  God will teach you from it and make good come out of it when you reach that point. 

Matthew 6:

7 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.

8 Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.

9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

11 Give us this day our daily bread.

12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

14 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:

15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Read the whole chapter of Matthew 6 in context it is one that deals with hypocrisy.....so if you look at unforgiveness in that light then it is meaning you are holding a grudge, unforgiving, going around acting so blessed, so holy  and all is well in Muddville....hypocrisy.......

Sometimes it is that way, but other times the hurt is deep within us and it takes the cleansing of the Holy Spirit to point it out to us.....

Proverbs 20:27 The spirit of man is the lamp of the LORD, searching all his innermost parts. (esv)

I did not agree with my go-to modern translation God's Word which translated it soul instead of spirit because the hebrew word is "nashamah" spirit or breath,and I think spirit conveys it better. See the clarity comes from Romans:

Romans 8:16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

and

Roman 8: 26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

In closing since He knows what's inside us He will bring it to our attention, so that we can give it to Him, and get the obstacle moved out of the way. 

Hebrews 12:

12 Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees;

13 And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.

14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:

15 Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled; 

God just wants us in a more perfect communion with Him and his children, as you can see above! We are called to humble ourselves in His Hand. Blessings In Him, Brother Timothy

Mood:  a-ok

As I have stated in previous postings at times, that I have learned so much about God's Fatherly relationship with us with through my relationship as a Master to Buster. Buster is my ADHD 75lb. Golden Retriever....and since I am a bit ADD it makes for an interesting combination.....LOL!!!..when I am spending time with him and I drift...he is bouncing all over the place....usually there is never a dull moment.....

Tonight as we walked, he was tugging away, until I straightened him, and then he started to tug again..then after the first near half mile then he settled down ...to the point that he followed in and was a bit worn out when we got home. I have our route strategically set up as if he is not acting right then I quit battling him and just take him home....he knows if he goes home quickly he has done. Yet tonight as we reached past the 1/4 mile mark hes was starting to settle in so I took him for the long walk.....

Buster has an amazing memory...really....we walk in areas we have not walked in for over a year, yet he remembers where every cat lives, though he has not been there in front of that house in a year and looks for them...it is pretty amusing.

Though we are not dogs there is a good illustration in all this of how God deals with us....God keeps going to lead us and we tug and and try to lead ....then we get sent back to the patio of our life..... inactive and knowing we are corrected. Yet when we follow His leading , being submissive to what we know is His will, then His yoke is easy and His burden is light. The journey is very enjoyable and we grow.......

The children of Israel had that same problem which happens with us....they miraculously were delivered from bondage in Egypt yet because of their bucking God's leading they circled Mt. Sinai for forty years..... now they probably were like Buster is in his remembrance towards the cats....every so often they remembered what happened at a certain spot because they had been by there before...yep that's a truth there...they probably wondered how much longer will this keep going on....when will we get to that land He has promised??? Sadly many of the peoples that started out did not make it in..

1 Corinthians 10: 

1 Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;

2 And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;

3 And did all eat the same spiritual meat;

4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.

5 But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness. 

Now I am not talking about losing one's salvation....what I am talking about is not being as profitable for God to use us, not bearing the fruit we should. Many of us including myself have missed out on a lot of peace and joy because we forgot! We wanted our way...........

Memory is a good thing...God wants us to remember the lessons we learn, so we follow Him and not make those same mistakes. He works with us. He is perfect in His ways, and His judgement is non arguable. Sometime we see a quick correction and other times it is delayed, yet when you look back and connect the dots so to say you see how far He has brought you, and hopefully how much you have grown....... 

James, Jesus' brother addressed that in encouraging us in our faith walk that we do not forget but to keep our focus.....not to be spiritually ADD so to say.....

James 1:

2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,

3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.

4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.

6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.

7 For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord;

8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

9 Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation,

10 and the rich in his humiliation, because like a flower of the grass he will pass away.

11 For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. So also will the rich man fade away in the midst of his pursuits.

12 Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.and

22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.

23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror.

24 For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like.

25 But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing. 

 You know when it is all over with I want to be like Buster was tonight, as I post this picture of him...it is just how he is when he has had an enjoyable long walk.......he plops down and I see that tail of his slowly wagging......I want to stand before God one day and say My Lord  Jesus, that was great!....

Blessings To You In Him, Brother Tim!

P.S. The Beauty of God is that He know we are bust dust, and His mercy is enduring, and He is long suffering beyond measure. His grace is so great and wonderful that we can start fresh in a split second if we are truly serious about it, just by asking and accepting His empowerment to change. here is a promise I have camped out on quite a bit in my life, and will stand on again...hopefully not too soon.......

1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 

Mood:  sharp

In a day and age where your average human world wide feels ripped off, leveraged to the hilt, and as many have groaned before God, as I have also. In the natural I can stand on a soapbox that has more validity than most yet it is not my right excepting to take it to the Lord, and ask Him to lead me through these things and what is He expects me to do as my part to handle things.....and trust in Him to do the rest!

It all comes back to Kingdom living....now I am not talking about modern theology, that definitely God is shaking to its roots...where we are supposedly building His Kingdom here on earth! Hmmm? I always thought it was about populating Heaven?  His Kingdom is in Heaven, and is resident in ourselves when we are born from above.and let His presence in us radiate out to others....Because of all this varied and wrongly emphasized theologies, we have extravagances in areas that need not be, and the world has pointed it's finger in judgement for things that God has be trying to point out to His children for a long while.

When we finally wake up, to His call....we ask God how do I get back, what is is that you require of me?  I believe it is all summed up in what we call the "Beatitudes" or what is well know as the "Sermon on The Mount"

Here are two different translations for you to prayerfully consider today.

 Matthew 5:

1    And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him:

2    And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,

3    Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

4    Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.

5    Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.

6    Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

7    Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.

8    Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.

9    Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.

10  Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

11  Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.

12  Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

13  Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.

14  Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.

15  Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.

16  Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

17  Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.

18  For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

19  Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

20  For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

21  Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment:

22  But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.

23  Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee;

24  Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.

25  Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison.

26  Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing.

27  Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:

28  But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.

29  And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.

30  And if thy right hand offend thee, cut if off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.

31  It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement:

32  But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.

33  Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths:

34  But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God’s throne:

35  Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King.

36  Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black.

37  But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.

38  Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:

39  But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.

40  And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also.

41  And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.

42  Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.

43  Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.

44  But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

45  That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

46  For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?

47  And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?

48  Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

 Now The Message Translation

 1.     When Jesus saw his ministry drawing huge crowds, he climbed a hillside. Those who were apprenticed to him, the committed, climbed with him. Arriving at a quiet place, he sat down

2.     and taught his climbing companions. This is what he said:

3.     “You’re blessed when you’re at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule.

4.     “You’re blessed when you feel you’ve lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you.

5.     “You’re blessed when you’re content with just who you are - no more, no less. That’s the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can’t be bought.

6.     “You’re blessed when you’ve worked up a good appetite for God. He’s food and drink in the best meal you’ll ever eat.

7.     “You’re blessed when you care. At the moment of being ‘carefull,’ you find yourselves cared for.

8.     “You’re blessed when you get your inside world - your mind and heart - put right. Then you can see God in the outside world.

9.     “You’re blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight. That’s when you discover who you really are, and your place in God’s family.

10.   “You’re blessed when your commitment to God provokes persecution. The persecution drives you even deeper into God’s kingdom.

11.   “Not only that - count yourselves blessed every time people put you down or throw you out or speak lies about you to discredit me. What it means is that the truth is too close for comfort and they are uncomfortable.

12.   You can be glad when that happens - give a cheer, even! - for though they don’t like it, I do! And all heaven applauds. And know that you are in good company. My prophets and witnesses have always gotten into this kind of trouble.

13.   “Let me tell you why you are here. You’re here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth. If you lose your saltiness, how will people taste godliness? You’ve lost your usefulness and will end up in the garbage.

14.   “Here’s another way to put it: You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill.

15.   If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand.

16.   Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand - shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.

17.   “Don’t suppose for a minute that I have come to demolish the Scriptures - either God’s Law or the Prophets. I’m not here to demolish but to complete. I am going to put it all together, pull it all together in a vast panorama.

18.   God’s Law is more real and lasting than the stars in the sky and the ground at your feet. Long after stars burn out and earth wears out, God’s Law will be alive and working.

19.   “Trivialize even the smallest item in God’s Law and you will only have trivialized yourself. But take it seriously, show the way for others, and you will find honor in the kingdom.

20.   Unless you do far better than the Pharisees in the matters of right living, you won’t know the first thing about entering the kingdom.

21.   “You’re familiar with the command to the ancients, ‘Do not murder.’

22.   I’m telling you that anyone who is so much as angry with a brother or sister is guilty of murder. Carelessly call a brother ‘idiot!’ and you just might find yourself hauled into court. Thoughtlessly yell ‘stupid!’ at a sister and you are on the brink of hellfire. The simple moral fact is that words kill.

23.   “This is how I want you to conduct yourself in these matters. If you enter your place of worship and, about to make an offering, you suddenly remember a grudge a friend has against you,

24.   abandon your offering, leave immediately, go to this friend and make things right. Then and only then, come back and work things out with God.

25.   “Or say you’re out on the street and an old enemy accosts you. Don’t lose a minute. Make the first move; make things right with him. After all, if you leave the first move to him, knowing his track record, you’re likely to end up in court, maybe even jail.

26.   If that happens, you won’t get out without a stiff fine.

27.   “You know the next commandment pretty well, too: ‘Don’t go to bed with another’s spouse.’

28.   But don’t think you’ve preserved your virtue simply by staying out of bed. Your heart can be corrupted by lust even quicker than your body. Those leering looks you think nobody notices - they also corrupt.

29.   “Let’s not pretend this is easier than it really is. If you want to live a morally pure life, here’s what you have to do: You have to blind your right eye the moment you catch it in a lustful leer. You have to choose to live one-eyed or else be dumped on a moral trash pile.

30.   And you have to chop off your right hand the moment you notice it raised threateningly. Better a bloody stump than your entire being discarded for good in the dump.

31.   “Remember the Scripture that says, ‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him do it legally, giving her divorce papers and her legal rights’?

32.   Too many of you are using that as a cover for selfishness and whim, pretending to be righteous just because you are ‘legal.’ Please, no more pretending. If you divorce your wife, you’re responsible for making her an adulteress (unless she has already made herself that by sexual promiscuity). And if you marry such a divorced adulteress, you’re automatically an adulterer yourself. You can’t use legal cover to mask a moral failure.

33.   “And don’t say anything you don’t mean. This counsel is embedded deep in our traditions.

34.   You only make things worse when you lay down a smoke screen of pious talk, saying, ‘I’ll pray for you,’ and never doing it, or saying, ‘God be with you,’ and not meaning it. You don’t make your words true by embellishing them with religious lace. In making your speech sound more religious, it becomes less true.

35 & 36 not listed 

37.   Just say ‘yes’ and ‘no.’ When you manipulate words to get your own way, you go wrong.

38.   “Here’s another old saying that deserves a second look: ‘Eye for eye, tooth for tooth.’

39.   Is that going to get us anywhere? Here’s what I propose: ‘Don’t hit back at all.’ If someone strikes you, stand there and take it.

40.   If someone drags you into court and sues for the shirt off your back, giftwrap your best coat and make a present of it.

41.   And if someone takes unfair advantage of you, use the occasion to practice the servant life.

42.   No more tit-for-tat stuff. Live generously.

43.   “You’re familiar with the old written law, ‘Love your friend,’ and its unwritten companion, ‘Hate your enemy.’

44.   I’m challenging that. I’m telling you to love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer,

45.   for then you are working out of your true selves, your God-created selves. This is what God does. He gives his best - the sun to warm and the rain to nourish - to everyone, regardless: the good and bad, the nice and nasty.

46.   If all you do is love the lovable, do you expect a bonus? Anybody can do that.

47.   If you simply say hello to those who greet you, do you expect a medal? Any run-of-the-mill sinner does that.

48.   “In a word, what I’m saying is, Grow up. You’re kingdom subjects. Now live like it. Live out your God-created identity. Live generously and graciously toward others, the way God lives toward you.

In Closing cut and paste these verses, and prayerfully study them....get your pride out of the way, and get back to the beauty of Kingdom Living!

 Colossians 3:

1      If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.

2      Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

3      For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.

4      When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.

Be Blessed always in Jesus' Name! Brother Timothy 

Mood:  caffeinated

Aloha In Christ!

The thought that I share today is from Malachi Chapter 1. I think every Christian knows of Malachi Chapter three...maybe not in truth but how they have been flogged with it in church....and just to make things clear, if you go to a church, and are ministered to meaning i/e you are Spiritually fed or physically attended to, then you need to help out...plain and simple. The Lord owns it all anyway and its on loan to you so pray about it....and do something even if it is giving of your time....it multiplies in blessings of which God chooses.....we are not under the law so it is not 10% thing here...but as you do in the Lord you will grow..but as you see in the verses to come, give and do your best!.

I guess that was a good lead-in to what I really wanted to share....what are you offering? Now from the scriptures I will share, God is talking about the offerings at the Old Testament Temple, but if you really think about it now....since the temple is The Body of Christ, and your own body is a temple (1 Corinthians) You now have to apply in your own personal terms....but on the other hand if you say well He is talking about priests here....oh well, lets just still include us... because as Peter said in 1Peter 2:9-10: But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:10 Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

 Ok so now we have clarity on where we are in this dispensation of grace! 

Malachi 1:6-14 :"A son honors his father, and a servant his master. If I am a father, then where is my honor? And if I am a master, where is the respect due me? Says YAHWEH of Armies to you, priests, who despise my name. You say, 'How have we despised your name?'7 You offer polluted bread on my altar. You say, 'How have we polluted you?' In that you say, 'YAHWEH's table contemptible.'8 When you offer the blind for sacrifice, isn't that evil? And when you offer the lame and sick, isn't that evil? Present it now to your governor! Will he be pleased with you? Or will he accept your person?" says YAHWEH of Armies.

9 "Now, please entreat the favor of God, that he may be gracious to us. With this, will he accept any of you?" says YAHWEH of Armies.

10 "Oh that there were one among you who would shut the doors, that you might not kindle fire on my altar in vain! I have no pleasure in you," says YAHWEH of Armies, "neither will I accept an offering at your hand.11 For from the rising of the sun even to the going down of the same, my name is great among the nations, and in every place incense will be offered to my name, and a pure offering: for my name is great among the nations," says YAHWEH of Armies.12 "But you profane it, in that you say, 'YAHWEH's table is polluted, and its fruit, even its food, is contemptible.'13 You say also, 'Behold, what a weariness it is!' and you have sniffed at it," says YAHWEH of Armies; "and you have brought that which was taken by violence, the lame, and the sick; thus you bring the offering. Should I accept this at your hand?" says YAHWEH.

14 "But the deceiver is cursed, who has in his flock a male, and vows, and sacrifices to the Lord a blemished thing; for I am a great King," says YAHWEH of Armies, "and my name is awesome among the nations."

As you can see from the scripture here that God was not pleased with the priests , here because they had taken the best part, and given junked out sacrifices. Now I know  there will be no one that can say I always gave God my best.....they had better repent. We ALL have come up short, and not given our best at times. That is usually where He starts to work with us to get us to grow.

I know that I have learned to do it on my own, and trust in Him. When you give you give something that costs you something....What the priests above were giving were things that were not as valuable or costly as they should.

David dealt with the same issue when purchasing the threshing floor...that threshing floor  where the temple was to be built, and also a place of holy history...which I urge you to study on later.....

2 Samuel 24:18 Gad came that day to David, and said to him, "Go up, build an altar to YAHWEH on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite."

19 David went up according to the saying of Gad, as YAHWEH commanded.20 Araunah looked out, and saw the king and his servants coming on toward him. Then Araunah went out, and bowed himself before the king with his face to the ground.21 Araunah said, "Why has my lord the king come to his servant?"

David said, "To buy your threshing floor, to build an altar to YAHWEH, that the plague may be stopped from afflicting the people."

22 Araunah said to David, "Let my lord the king take and offer up what seems good to him. Behold, the cattle for the burnt offering, and the threshing instruments and the yokes of the oxen for the wood:23 all this, king, does Araunah give to the king." Araunah said to the king, "May YAHWEH your God accept you."

24 The king said to Araunah, "No; but I will most certainly buy it from you for a price. I will not offer burnt offerings to YAHWEH my God which cost me nothing." So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver.25 David built an altar to YAHWEH there, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. So YAHWEH was entreated for the land, and the plague was stayed from Israel. 

Here though David had sinned and was doing as commanded...He still was a man after God's own heart. Here is a glimmer of His integrity ...."No; but I will most certainly buy it from you for a price. I will not offer burnt offerings to YAHWEH my God which cost me nothing."

This is what God sees...the heart of the believer....it is the heart of the matter where blessing or cursing is decided...that inner place where no one sees except for The Spirit of God...(The Spirit of Truth)!

Having been a minister now for over 20 years of my life..off and on...quit and start...quit and restart etc etc....I can say that what the brethren usually give to one another is something that is of no loss to them. I can attest that many have wanted of me yet given paltry in return. I used to have to guard my heart at times to not let a root of bitterness spring up. Something given second or third or fourth hand, and broken that you have to fix...they always have something else to do and forget you until they need something from you....ministry is alot that way. Missionaries get it the worse, I have heard the stories of the crap that Believer's give and it is shipped to them in the mission fields. But people there...God's Children I might add, do what they can with it. That is a good word for young pastoral want to's to think long and hard about.   

Jesus covered it well when He pointed out the widow's mite: Mark12:27-31:37 Therefore David himself calls him Lord, so how can he be his son?"

The common people heard him gladly.38 In his teaching he said to them, "Beware of the scribes, who like to walk in long robes, and to get greetings in the marketplaces,39 and the best seats in the synagogues, and the best places at feasts:40 those who devour widows' houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. These will receive greater condemnation."

41 Jesus sat down opposite the treasury, and saw how the multitude cast money into the treasury. Many who were rich cast in much.42 A poor widow came, and she cast in two small brass coins, which equal a quadrans coin.43 He called his disciples to himself, and said to them, "Most certainly I tell you, this poor widow gave more than all those who are giving into the treasury,44 for they all gave out of their abundance, but she, out of her poverty, gave all that she had to live on."

Jesus pointed that out ...about this woman's integrity of sacrifice, or offering...this is not just a money thing, or substance thing, it is a life and lifestyle thing!

Colossian 3:17- Whatever you do, in word or in deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father, through him.

God wants you to look at how He has blessed you and be thankful....if He asks something of you, a releasing of what is in your heart or hand or both...do it.....think about what He has done! Who in their right mind would want their kids miserable? Definitely not our Father in Heaven. As a believer the only time you will be miserable is when you are wrestling with Him!

Just know this: Luke 7:47 Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.

Luke 12:48 But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.

Mood:  surprised

I keep getting all these political emails...some are very annoying, some have a grain of truth and some are down right malicious. I do believe that 98% of the motivation behind it all is that we have a BLACK President...it is just prejudice plain and simple as it seems...Those who do not like it need to GET OVER IT!...and if not then work hard to get him voted out the next term....thats the American way!..For those that have a problem with people of different colors they had better get used to it because Heaven will be like that ...a multitude of the races...AMEN! 

As for one's faith I am not  commenting on the President or anyone else's.I am sharing so that the truth is brought home... 

We in the US do have rights and the right to be vocal....not the right to be malicious gossipers. As for Christian believers that goes twice over because we in our decisions have to answer to The Lord about it.

Here is what God's Word says about it: Please read it and as we all need HEED it. If it applies then return to Jesus, and walking in His LOVE! These are principles for anywhere you live!

² For which reason everyone who puts himself against the authority puts himself against the order of God: and those who are against it will get punishment for themselves.

³ For rulers are not a cause of fear to the good work but to the evil. If you would have no fear of the authority, do good and you will have praise;

⁴ For he is the servant of God to you for good. But if you do evil, have fear; for the sword is not in his hand for nothing: he is God’s servant, making God’s punishment come on the evil-doer.

⁵ So put yourselves under the authority, not for fear of wrath, but because you have the knowledge of what is right.

⁶ For the same reason, make payment of taxes; because the authority is God’s servant, to take care of such things at all times.

⁷ Give to all what is their right: taxes to him whose they are, payment to him whose right it is, fear to whom fear, honour to whom honour is to be given.

⁸ Be in debt for nothing, but to have love for one another: for he who has love for his neighbour has kept all the law.

⁹ And this, Do not be untrue in married life, Do not put to death, Do not take what is another’s, Do not have desire for what is another’s, and if there is any other order, it is covered by this word, Have love for your neighbour as for yourself.

¹⁰ Love does no wrong to his neighbour, so love makes the law complete.

¹¹ See then that the time has come for you to be awake from sleep: for now is your salvation nearer than when you first had faith.

¹² The night is far gone, and the day is near: so let us put off the works of the dark, arming ourselves with light,

¹³ With right behaviour as in the day; not in pleasure-making and drinking, not in bad company and unclean behaviour, not in fighting and envy.

¹⁴ But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not give thought to the flesh to do its desires. (King James Version)

Really if we believers will look at the times , we need to understand that the time is now more than ever where we need to be living what we preach, and loved like Jesus loves....sharing His Good News and bringing in the HARVEST!

Blessings, Brother Timothy

P.S. No emails please...I do not care whether you like what has been posted...talk to God about it...it's HIS Word, and beside when you think about it this was written by The Holy Spirit through Paul the Apostle to the Church in Rome! Romans 1:7 says :To all those who are in Rome, loved by God, marked out as saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Mood:  sharp

Aloha in Christ!

I get more than a fair amount of spam emails daily. On Facebook I get twice as much in needless threads....People seemingly inconsiderate, often times not in a mean manner, but not thinking about better ways to communicate, and keep friends, You end up getting all kinds of meshugeneh. Yet you love them, and politely ask them to not include you on such enriching jewels shared...like vegetarian spiders or why the Anti-Christ is rampant or who he is for that matter..cats behaving badly... .why A-Rod has gone 0 for 8 in the first two games of the world series...you catch my flow here I hope...

My quote on all this...."I love my friends and family too, as long as they are not on my doorstep every moment of the day!"  

This all prompted me to write about it , when I spotted a posted request by a 17 year old Young Lady on Christianster from the Phillipines. She was asking for an old posting with the stats listed below. I took it upon myself to google it and share. I was impressed because here she is 17 and wanting this info which she had lost a bookmark on. I thought what if all 17 year olds took note of these stats and applied them along with what I also figured. How much would they have accomplished if they had applied good time usage and got to my old fart age? Hmmm I dared not too look back at my years...ouuuch! Read on..............

Mood:  sharp

The Calling That is Yours!

It’s Your Call?
Many times we do menial work that provides money for sustenance, but no joy! One day turns into the next and you find yourself driving to work on Monday morning already looking forward to Friday at closing time.
I have two quotations to share, one from a Minister I heard recently on T.V. and the other I copped off of a Ministry Site headed by three people I greatly admire in the Lord.

The first quote:

“Your career is what you are paid for, but your calling is what you were made for!”

There is a difference between the two, excepting that you are blessed to have them both in one job.

The other:

“The place where God calls you is the place where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet.’”
Frederick Buechner (Theologian)

I think of the Apostle Paul who supported himself regularly, and in his other time ran himself ragged to preach “The Good News”….he did not seemingly mind burning the candle at both ends knowing that in light of eternity, this life we have is but a short speck. I guess modern ministers would have a hard time with that with all the demands….The Church should have a competitive wage and benefits scale with the world right? Yet where is your calling?

Is there any clarity here? I believe so!

Does what you do as work meets these criteria?

For many people menial jobs by our own standards are ok and they the right people for them. It is good honest work whatever a Child of God can do and clear heartedly perform. All should be done unto Him, our provider! Many love their work and perform the tasks joyfully as some do what they do as a way of giving back to God out of thanksgiving. Others do their job in a mechanical way of just doing. Still others are called and out of joy with their communion with Christ excitedly move in Christ to fulfill their calling. Those are in their element so to say… what they were created to do, it is their purpose their calling and they know it.

Are you in yours?

If you are saved meaning “Born From Above” (literally) being filled with His Spirit and seeking Him for guidance then look no further than within, because He has placed it there, and He will show you!  He is faithful, and will not lead you astray; He will lead you in spite of any apprehensions or concerns you have.

Mark 16:19-20 So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.

Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

NOW It’s Your Call…. To Follow!
In Christ,
Brother Tim

Mood:  sharp

My view about denominationalism , has always been this, and I believe the History of The Church will clearly speak for itself.......Seems like Every Major Move of The Holy Spirit always seems to end up a Denomination...go back a read a Church History and see if I am wrong? Then what happens? The Holy Spirit brings out more revelation, and the groups put Him in a box and form a Denom...which does bring accountability to a certain degree for awhile .and then.. it's like they say "that's How God is and He won't do that , and we have always done it this way"...this is a pattern all the way back to the book of Acts....What believers have eventually done is not following the Leading Of God's Spirit as closely as they should! Eventually a comfort zone was set up...and like in Revelation 2 and the Church at Ephesus......
 
Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks;2 I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars:3 And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.4 Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.6 But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitanes, which I also hate.7 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.

I was at a revival meeting recently when someone quipped that a young minister was like a chip off the Old Block in refering to him being like his father a minister also. The man is in my prayers because I could see differently...he loves the Lord....and eventually he will do as God leads, and not what Dad did....because Dad dealt with things in a way that how he felt he was led or seemingly apropo for his time..and his time has not been the time in how it will be for his son....
 
So where do we go from here? I think Mark Driscoll makes good points here.....Be Blessed In Him, Brother Timothy
 
P.S. Going to church does not make you a part of the church! Church is "The Body of Christ" cross denominational ineter or non denominational.
The grk in the New Testament (koine) Ekklesia means "Assembly"...not Assembly of God, Church of God in particular or anything else......but it stems from the Classic Greek "a called out assembly of citizens...where when a Military offical visited a town there were those Ekklesia called out ones much like the Minutemen (be ready in a minute) in the US Revolution. Also when a representative from the Goverment would show...there were those who were "Ekklesia" to come and review governmental changes etc etc...We are Christ Jesus' called out ones.....not of any particular Denomination but "The Church Ekklesia" "called out from the "World" and our Leader is The Head...Jesus The Christ! Just look at your "Church Building like it was a Sheep Shed" (Like my Pastoral Mentor used to say) The "Sheep" are "The Church!" "Some are scattered, and some are gathered but Jesus knows where they all are!" (my quote)

Mood:  a-ok

Aloha!    Here at this time of year in the US people take pumpkins to make Jack-O-Lanterns...truly the roots of Halloween are in pagan rituals, and the Modern Church started having "Hallelujah Parties" instead which is nice, and when rooted in preaching the word/ sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ and keeping kids off the streets, and planting Good Seed...so I received this email today with a different view on Jack-O-Lanterns...a nice illustration....
Be Blessed! In Him, Brother Timothy

From one pumpkin to another!!!!!!!

A woman was asked by a coworker, "What is it like to be a Christian?"
The coworker replied, "It is like being a pumpkin."  God picks you from the patch, brings you in, and washes all the dirt off of you.  Then He cuts off the top and scoops out all the yucky stuff.
He removes the seeds of doubt, hate, and greed.  Then He carves you a new smiling face and puts His light inside of you to shine for all the world to see....