Paul Email -30August2013- Luke 23 (2 Kinds of People)

How you doin? A very strange night last night. I was up from 2am to 3am with wandering thoughts of nothing important. I tried to pray, but my prayers were a cry out for sleep. We are asking for prayer for our transition into home schooling. I received a word from God to, "guard against resentment". Expectation are the prelude to resentments. That's an AA thing. Resentments require forgiveness and reconciliation. Stacey and I need to be conscious of our expectations. Luke 23 today.

When Herod saw Jesus, he was greatly pleased, because for a long time he had been wanting to see him. From what he had heard about him, he hoped to see him perform a sign of some sort. (Luke 232:8)

That day Herod and Pilate became friends—before this they had been enemies. (Luke 23:12) I found these verses interesting. Neither of these men could find fault in Jesus. I wonder if Jesus Presence made these 2 men become friends. Their agreement that Jesus did nothing wrong may have created the friendship. Either way, it's RAD!!!!!!! Neither man was in agreement with the Religious Leaders.
⁵⁰ Now there was a man named Joseph, a member of the Council, a good and upright man, ⁵¹ who had not consented to their decision and action. He came from the Judean town of Arimathea, and he himself was waiting for the kingdom of God. ⁵² Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body. ⁵³ Then he took it down, wrapped it in linen cloth and placed it in a tomb cut in the rock, one in which no one had yet been laid. ⁵⁴ It was Preparation Day, and the Sabbath was about to begin. (Luke 23:50-54)
COME ON!!!!!!! These verses got me the most. The description of Joseph really made clear to me how relevant Biblical times are to present times. Joseph was not in agreement with the decision to crucify Jesus. He was "waiting for the Kingdom of God". AWESOME!!!!!!! Through this email, I often encounter criticism, mocking, and people trying to disprove Biblical truths. I just experienced this on Weds. I usually will try to defend and argue what the Holy Ghost has revealed to me. This time I felt pulled back. I felt sorry for the men I was speaking with. The Holy ghost showed me how these men weren't after me, they were after Jesus, because of their lack of understanding of Him and believe in Him. Their are 2 kinds of people, those in agreement with the decision to crucify Jesus and those who are waiting for the Kingdom of God. Those who are in agreement to crucify Him, mock, beat, accuse, challenge, and try to disprove Him. They tend to do this through His followers. Those waiting for the Kingdom like Joseph should be trying to put Him in a pure tomb or temple (23:53). As followers of Jesus, we are temples of His Spirit. RAD!!!!!!! Wait on the Kingdom of God today.

Paul Email -29August2013- Luke 22 (Peter's Present Future)

How you doin? Luke 22 is thick. My journal entree sounded like it was written by insanity. I was overwhelmed by the depth of Luke 22. I will try to spare you the agony of my insanity for Jesus. Stacey wasn't so lucky. I am in love with a man... Jesus.

³¹ “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. ³² But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”
³³ But he replied, “Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death.”
³⁴ Jesus answered, “I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me.” (Luke 22:31-34)
So Jesus gives Peter some present future. In a time of darkness, ^"But this is your hour—when darkness reigns.” (Luke 22:53), Jesus let's Peter know that Satan will be after him. Jesus also tells him that He will pray on his behave. DIG IT!!!!!!! So, the prophecy is that Peter will fail, but he repents to become the rock the church is built on. COME ON!!!!!!! Of course Peter thinks he's got it going on, verse 33.

The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times.” ⁶² And he went outside and wept bitterly. (Luke 22:61-62) So, Satan gets after Peter and "The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter". I can imagine the awakening Peter had at that moment. I would have "wept bitterly" as well. We know how Peter turns out. He worked through his salvation to become a prominent figure in the body of Christ. He's one of my favorites, because he messes up more then anybody and yet he was so full of the Holy Ghost that his shadow heal people. AWESOME!!!!!!! This indicates hope for me. The Biblical kind. Look for the Lord looking straight at you today.  

Paul Email -28August2013- Luke 21 Jesus Sandwich

How you doin? A late start today. Life is going to be different with Stacey being home from work. We have Biblical hope for what God has in store for us. As a reminder, Biblical hope is - eager anticipation of something great. Human (natural) hope is - a wish. We read Luke 21. I love it when the Holy Ghost shows me a Jesus sandwich.

1st piece of bread-
As Jesus looked up, he saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. ² He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. ³ “Truly I tell you,” he said, “this poor widow has put in more than all the others. ⁴ All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.” (Luke 21:1-4) I love how Jesus looks at percentages instead of dollars. Those of you in the business of profitability understand this completely. The rest of you trust that we to give God ALL that we have.

Meat (end of times)-
 “As for what you see here, the time will come when not one stone will be left on another; every one of them will be thrown down.” (Luke 21:6)
He replied: “Watch out that you are not deceived. For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am he,’ and, ‘The time is near.’ Do not follow them. ⁹ When you hear of wars and uprisings, do not be frightened. These things must happen first, but the end will not come right away.” (Luke 21:8-9)
But make up your mind not to worry beforehand how you will defend yourselves. ¹⁵ For I will give you words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict. ¹⁶ You will be betrayed even by parents, brothers and sisters, relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death. ¹⁷ Everyone will hate you because of me. ¹⁸ But not a hair of your head will perish. ¹⁹ Stand firm, and you will win life. (Luke 21:14-19) COME ON!!!!!!!

At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. ²⁸ When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” (Luke 21:27-28) WOW!!!!!!! This is some hearty meat. I left out all the wrath, hardships to none believers, and signs of the second coming. Stacey pointed out verse 14, "But make up your mind not to worry beforehand". That's a good word. Verse 15 makes it easy to do,"I will give you words and wisdom". AWESOME!!!!!!!  I love verse 19. As we know through Ephesians, there are 3 positions of a follower of Jesus- 1) sitting, 2) walking, 3) standing. "Stand firm, and you will win life." I love how the the benefit of standing is winning life. COME ON!!!!!!! Again in verse 28, "stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near." For so many years, I believed that facing Jesus was going to be the most horrific event in life. Verse 27 and 28, are contrary to that believe. This prophecy is comforting. Facing Jesus is my redemption. SAY WORD!!!!!!!

2nd piece of bread-“Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you suddenly like a trap. ³⁵ For it will come on all those who live on the face of the whole earth. ³⁶ Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man.”
Each day Jesus was teaching at the temple, and each evening he went out to spend the night on the hill called the Mount of Olives, ³⁸ and all the people came early in the morning to hear him at the temple. (Luke 21:34-38) DIG IT!!!!!!! Luke's version of keeping watch is much more detailed. It tells us what to keep watch for and how to keep watch. Verse 36 gets me. Again, standing before Jesus is redemption or in this verse escape. We will face Jesus eventually. His 2nd coming or our dying. I receive this prophecy that it will be redemption and escape... not embarrassing and horrific. I love Luke's instruction/reminder in verse 38, "all the people came early in the morning to hear him". We do need to come to Him. The nice part is that He's near us all the time. COME ON!!!!!!! That's a good word. Stand and face Jesus today... it's good.

PS Make up your mind beforehand not to worry... today.

Today is the Day... Stacey did WHAT??

So today was my last day in the full time position of my role as Education Coordinator for the ER.  I will still be around about once a week in some capacity... but today I move on to a new journey in my career! 

I always dreamed about being able to stay home with my kids... even before I HAD kids I dreamed about it.  When my first marriage of 8 years ended suddenly my dreams of having children devastatingly came crashing down.  My dreams of having a marriage that was centered around serving God and others came to an end as well.

But most of you know how this story turned out!  By the grace of God I have been blessed beyond my wildest dreams with such a wonderful family and such amazingly serious and calm children (lol)! 

And today is the day that my dreams of staying home with the kids and homeschooling them happens.  I have interviewed many generous homeschooling moms and I feel prepared to begin the 2013 school year.  Our school's name is "The Third Story Academy" after the idea that we share as a family to bring Heaven here to earth (Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven).  We want the kids to learn how to live with the love of God in their hearts... such a great challenge!

They had a little lunch for me at work today and everyone was so kind wishing me well.  I feel very blessed with a husband that is on board, two blank canvases in the children, and a desire to do this with everything I've got!  Keep me in your prayers as I make this transition.

Stacey

Paul Email -27August2013- God Digs us Anyway

How you doin? WOW!!!!!!! God is some kind of AWESOME!!!!!!! Alone time with Him is going great. Stacey's working her last day of full time work today. Praise God for the way He has strengthened her.  I read an great devotional today from Ravi Zacharias. It was called "Jars of Clay". Of course I was drawn to it because of my love for the band "Jars of Clay". By the way, their new album "Inland" is available today. The devotion lead me to 2 Corinthians 4.

⁴ The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. ⁵ For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. ⁶ For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.
⁷ But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. ⁸ We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; ⁹ persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. (2 Corinthians 4:4-9)

Check your pulse if you didn't just give God a shout of praise. Verse 4 is an incredible scouting report on our enemy and of Christ in us. Verses 6 & 7 are extraordinarily encouraging. These verses play into the thoughts of us that are in God's mind. I'm trying to get these thoughts in my mind. He knows we aren't perfect and fragile like jars of clay. Check this out-

"Skeptics and critics of Christianity might still have well-reasoned arguments and legitimate issues to raise with the faith (and with the faithful), but what cannot be denied is that the God on display in the Bible is not afraid or averse towards humanity, nor does that God shy away from making heroes out of those many would consider undesirable.
And if all of that weren’t enough, the biblical writers speak of God loving humanity so much that human flesh became a temple. God became one of us—filling jars of clay with immeasurable treasure. It is the uniqueness of the divine-human allegiance that keeps me believing. Even in the face of hard critique, it is the prevalence of humanity in the narrative of Scripture that keeps me believing in the truth and relevance of the God willing to come near."

YES & AMEN!!!!!!! COME ON!!!!!!! DIG IT!!!!!!! I need some tissues. I love it when, through scriptures an other writings, God reveals who He is in me and who I am in/to Him. In our society we need to identify ourselves in a ridiculous way. Anyone who has been to the DMV lately can testify to that. I've always said standing in front of someone isn't enough to prove you exist. If we only spent equal time proving our identity in Christ as we do in our society... we would better understand God's thoughts of us. In my life time, I've identified myself of several things. It's been in my adolescence and adulthood that I choose my identity. I've chosen things like- dead head, stoner, drunk, womenizer, loser, addict and more things based on lies. Today I know that God digs me anyway. In the past 3 years, my identity has changed. I now choose- husband, father, family member, and most of all son of the Most High. Praise God for His love. Let God fill you with immeasurable treasure today.

Paul Email -26August2013- Luke 18 (Religious Leaders Response)

How you doin? What an amazing message yesterday at church. Spike knocked it out of the park. We also had an AWESOME!!!!!!! prayer tunnel. DIG IT!!!!!!! I'm very tired today. My lack of sleep has caught up to me. Luke 20 this morning. This chapter starts with the religious leaders questioning Jesus' authority and ends with Jesus warning the disciple against the religious leaders. I noticed the religious leaders responses the most today.

But if we say, ‘Of human origin,’ all the people will stone us, because they are persuaded that John was a prophet.” (Luke 20:6)
The teachers of the law and the chief priests looked for a way to arrest him immediately, because they knew he had spoken this parable against them. But they were afraid of the people. (Luke 20:19)
They were unable to trap him in what he had said there in public. And astonished by his answer, they became silent. (Luke 20:26)
³⁹ Some of the teachers of the law responded, “Well said, teacher!” ⁴⁰ And no one dared to ask him any more questions. (Luke 20:39-40)

All of these responses show fear of man and submission to Jesus' authority. The religious leaders are trying to trick Jesus into saying something wrong. They are questioning His authority. While reading this morning, the Holy Ghost brought to my mind the instruction that Jesus gives us about fear.
⁴ “I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. ⁵ But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after your body has been killed, has authority to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him. (Luke 12:4-5)
²⁶ “So do not be afraid of them, for there is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. ²⁷ What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs. ²⁸ Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. (Matthew 10:26-28)
These are some of many verses on fear. I read these and think, "Ok, I got it". It's easier said then done. We have help.

 ²⁶ But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. ²⁷ Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. (John 14:26-27)

I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.

The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him,

and he delivers them.

(Psalm

34:4,7)

Trust in the Lord with all your heart
    and lean not on your own understanding;
⁶ in all your ways submit to him,
    and he will make your paths straight.⁷ Do not be wise in your own eyes;
    fear the Lord and shun evil.
⁸ This will bring health to your body
    and nourishment to your bones.

(Proverbs 3:5-8)

COME ON!!!!!!! Again, Jesus' authority and great love for us and our Father in Heaven, offers us instructions that make it possible for us to fear the right person. What a great deal. I received a 80's rock prophetic word this morning... "Don't fear the reaper". This may still sound easier said then done. There's more.

Jesus called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out impure spirits and to heal every disease and sickness. (Matthew 10:1)

When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, ² and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. (Luke 9:1-2)

According to Webster's dictionary, a disciple is, "one who accepts and assists in spreading the doctrines of another: as

a : one of the twelve in the inner circle of Christ's followers according to the Gospel accounts

b : a convinced adherent of a school or individual." According to the dictionary in my Bible, disciple means, "follower of some doctrine or teacher". By definition we are disciples. The same authority given to the 12 and the 72 is the same authority given to us. COME ON!!!!!!! I hope you are jumping up and down right know. If not, tell me so I can call 911. DIG IT!!!!!!! Fear the right person today.

Paul Email - 25August2013- God is Good

How you doin? I owe everyone a short one. God has such a work in me and Stacey. She's been sleeping in lately. We've been starting our devotions later in the morning. We are still in Luke. We'll read chapter 19 shortly. I never thought I'd say this, but I miss the Old Testament. My daily devotion, "A Slice Of Infinity", that's emailed to me referenced this scripture recently.

  Do you not know?
    Have you not heard?
Has it not been told you from the beginning?    Have you not understood since the earth was founded?
²² He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth,
    and its people are like grasshoppers.
He stretches out the heavens like a canopy,
    and spreads them out like a tent to live in.
²³ He brings princes to naught
    and reduces the rulers of this world to nothing.
²⁴ No sooner are they planted,
    no sooner are they sown,
    no sooner do they take root in the ground,
than he blows on them and they wither,
    and a whirlwind sweeps them away like chaff.

²⁵ “To whom will you compare me?
    Or who is my equal?” says the Holy One.
²⁶ Lift up your eyes and look to the heavens:
    Who created all these?
He who brings out the starry host one by one
    and calls forth each of them by name.
Because of his great power and mighty strength,    not one of them is missing. (Isaiah 40:21-26)

COME ON!!!!!!! These verses precede very famous verses, Isaiah 40:29-31. I can't get enough of God's glory and splendor. I love His victory over the things of this world (verse 23). I love God's love for His creation (verse 26). I love how he loves me. RAD!!!!!!! Love Him today.

Paul Email -24August2013- Watching Jesus

How you doin? I saw something very sad last night. My testimony and faith was tested. I received a phone call to come help a friend. My friend from the past just returned home from rehab and drank on his 2nd day home. I sat in this house full of unbelievers. I saw the harshness of Godless living. I often talk about worldly solutions for worldly problems leave you in a worldly situation or state. As I sat there, I was asked a very desperate question, "what can/do we do for him?". So me knowing this family my entire life and being extremely blessed with social graces said, "has anyone prayed for him?". All eyes turned down to the floor, cell phones, other people then me, and anything else in the room. I thought WOW! I feel like I just stepped into Luke 10:5-6, “When you enter a house, first say, ‘Peace to this house.’  If someone who promotes peace is there, your peace will rest on them; if not, it will return to you. What a sound of one hand clapping. I'm just glad I didn't hear crickets. I wasn't done yet, I convinced my friend to let me pray for him. I held his hand and prayed for faith, believe, and healing. I prayed for forgiveness, grace, and mercy. I prayed for the spirit of addiction, suicide, and fear to get in Jesus' name. I prayed for the Holy Spirit to fill my friend and to protect him. It's a good thing I held his hand or he to would have left the room along with everyone else. As I left the house I felt the need to wipe the dust from my flip-flops. I did say to them all that there is only one way to solve worldly problems... King Jesus. Nothing happen there last night except, I past my test. No one in that house welcomed the Spirit of God that is in me. They were glad to see me as a life long friend, but they did not welcome Jesus who is in me. I still saw Jesus working. He protected me from the thick influence in that house. He taught me a priceless lesson in welcoming the Spirit. Nothing happen for my friend that I know of, but without these "failures" it's hard to learn anything. Seeds where planted no doubt. I did see the, "unwanted influences", back down to the Holy Ghost in me. I got the sense that they wanted to say something in rebuke, but they just stayed quit. I experienced authority for the 1st time. I presented my peace in such a way that, no one or no thing rebuked me. These scriptures came to mind this morning.  

⁴⁰ Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?” (John 11:40)
¹² As you enter the home, give it your greeting. ¹³ If the home is deserving, let your peace rest on it; if it is not, let your peace return to you. ¹⁴ If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, leave that home or town and shake the dust off your feet. (Matthew10:12-14)
⁷ As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ ⁸ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy,^[a] drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give. (Matthew 10:7-8)
²⁶ “So do not be afraid of them, for there is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known.²⁷ What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs. ²⁸ Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. ²⁹ Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. ³⁰ And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. ³¹ So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. (Matthew 10:26-31)
Stacey slept in this morning. We are about ready to start our devotions. I may add to this or send out a double dip. If not... watch for Jesus at work today.

Paul Email -23August2013- (Identity)

How you doin? So I can finally say I'm a published writer. One of my emails (Tues. 8/6) was published in the Herald that came out on Weds. 8/21. I didn't title it, but that's ok. Stacey had to leave early for work today. Her last day is Tuesday 8/27. WOW! It's here. The Spirit's willing, but the flesh is weak. I feel all the peace imaginable Spiritually, but occasionally my human condition kicks in and nerves result. Rarely though. I had the privilege of visiting with an old friend yesterday who is experiencing God's love for the 1st time at age 48. He's a friend from my past. He's covered in tattoos, curses like a sailor, drinks like a fish, and he's never met a drug he didn't love. He was a good friend of mine, lol. Over a month ago he tried to commit suicide with booze. A few mornings after, I had called him out of the blue. We spoke for less then a minute, because he was working. 2 weeks later he sent me a text message saying, "thanks for calling me... God bless". I've never heard him say "God bless" before. So I called him. He said that something was going on and he's been going to church. Yesterday he said that when he was in church, "everyone was so nice to him. He was expecting to be shun and criticized for his appearance and life style. He said he felt loved. I kept asking him questions about that day in church and he finally said, "everyone was so happy there (hope) and I thought to myself 'maybe they are right'" (repentance). He hasn't been fully delivered YET. This story sounds very familiar to me. He said that it was a miracle that I called him, because he thought I hated him. I asked why he thought that and he said, "your life is so beautiful and mine's sh..". While talking to him the Holy Ghost was showing me you he is in Christ. I continued to tell him who he really is. I told him that the lies he's believed for his entire life are... lies. God is truth. Needless to say our visit was AWESOME!!!!!!! My friends name is Joe. Please be praying for him. I see my friend's struggle with his identity. He believes lies. God revealed enough of Himself to start Joe's process. COME ON!!!!!!! This story makes me think of Psalm 8.    

¹ Lord, our Lord,
    how majestic is your name in all the earth!

You have set your glory    in the heavens.
² Through the praise of children and infants
    you have established a stronghold against your enemies,
    to silence the foe and the avenger.
³ When I consider your heavens,
    the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars,
    which you have set in place,
⁴ what is mankind that you are mindful of them,
    human beings that you care for them?^[c]

⁵ You have made them^[d] a little lower than the angels^[e]
    and crowned them^[f] with glory and honor.
⁶ You made them rulers over the works of your hands;
    you put everything under their^[g] feet:
⁷ all flocks and herds,
    and the animals of the wild,
⁸ the birds in the sky,
    and the fish in the sea,
    all that swim the paths of the seas.

⁹ Lord, our Lord,
    how majestic is your name in all the earth! (Psalm 8)

1. Psalm 8:4 Or what is a human being that you are mindful of him, / a son of man that you care for him?
2. Psalm 8:5 Or him
3. Psalm 8:5 Or than God
4. Psalm 8:5 Or him
5. Psalm 8:6 Or made him ruler . . . ; / . . . his

The footnotes wouldn't allow me to change the letters. These footnotes are c., d., e., f., and g. The important footnote is e. in the text, c. on the list.

Know who you are in Christ today.

PS If you see someone with me at church named Joe covered in tattoos... please don't mention this email. Just love on him.

Paul Email -22August2013- Luke 17

How you doin? Though very tired, we had good devotions today. I love the concept of God being present future. It makes sense. It explains the importance of prophecy and action activating faith. I saw in today's scripture. Luke 17.

¹¹ Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. ¹² As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance ¹³ and called out in a loud voice, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!” ¹⁴ When he saw them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed. (Luke 17:11-14)
Here Jesus saw them healed and instructed them to "go". They went and were healed. They went. Their action activated their faith for the healing. They believed Jesus.

¹⁵ One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. ¹⁶ He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan.
¹⁷ Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? ¹⁸ Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?” ¹⁹ Then he said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.” (Luke 17:15-19)

Again, the Samaritan's actions or his act of praise earned him favor.
²⁰ Once, on being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, “The coming of the kingdom of God is not something that can be observed, ²¹ nor will people say, ‘Here it is,’ or ‘There it is,’ because the kingdom of God is in your midst.” (Luke 17:20-21) [my Bible said, "because the kingdom of God is in you"]

²⁶ “Just as it was in the days of Noah, so also will it be in the days of the Son of Man. ²⁷ People were eating, drinking, marrying and being given in marriage up to the day Noah entered the ark. Then the flood came and destroyed them all. ²⁸ “It was the same in the days of Lot. People were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building. ²⁹ But the day Lot left Sodom, fire and sulfur rained down from heaven and destroyed them all.
³⁰ “It will be just like this on the day the Son of Man is revealed. ³¹ On that day no one who is on the housetop, with possessions inside, should go down to get them. Likewise, no one in the field should go back for anything. ³² Remember Lot’s wife! ³³ Whoever tries to keep their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life will preserve it. (Luke 17:26-33)

This was the part that stood out the most. In the example of Noah and Lot, life was as normal as could be for those who didn't believe the prophecy Noah & Lot were sharing. Right up until it wasn't. Noah and Lot were following God. They believed what God was telling them about their future in their present. They followed the prophecy. In the past, I've heard verse 33 as a lose. But, as Spiritual paradox are, it's not loosing my life on earth, it's gaining life in the Kingdom of God. RAD!!!!!!! The Bible is full of prophecy. Believing every word helps me not look back as Lots wife did. It helps me not go in from the housetop or field to gather things I don't need. By believing and understanding that God is present future and that faith is activated by action, I don't see verse 33 or any other verse of it's like as a lose, but a tremendous gain... even while still alive. COME ON!!!!!!! Listen closely for glimpses into your future today. Listen closely to Jesus.

Paul Email -21August2013- Luke 16 (Do You think you know God?)

How you doin? A late start today because I'm crazy. Crazy in love with Jesus. I'm not sure where this is going today. We read Luke 16 today. This chapter tells 2 of the most confusing stories in the Bible. For me at least. The parable of the shrewd manager and the rich man & Lazarus. I will be praying for understanding of these stories. It may be because I'm so preoccupied with what happen Sat. morning... "Jesus Came To Breakfast". I can't stop thinking about Jesus and how much He loves me. When I think or reflect on what I saw... all I come with is, "He was SO beautiful and He loves me". I'm trying to receive the comfort spoken of in 2 Corinthians 1:3-11, all the time. Right now I can't think about much other then my visitation. I did read a devotional that I receive from Ravi Zacharias on Mon 8/19 that was AWESOME!!!!!!! It was titled, "Unsearchable Things", written by Jill Carattini.

"Common is the sentiment among recent college graduates that they went in feeling like they knew something, and leave realizing, in fact, how little they know."

Jill starts her email with this statement. I love it. My main man G.B. says, "I thought I knew, I thought I knew, and then I found out".

"In the stories of Scripture where God is encountered, we find men and women who, having come in contact God, find themselves blown away by the notion that they didn’t know all that they didn’t know. As Jacob lay dreaming, he saw God appear above a great ladder where God was introduced as the God of his ancestors. Upon waking, Jacob’s his first words were filled with astonishment: “Surely the LORD is in this place, and I was not aware of it.”(Genesis 28:16 ) Hagar, the maidservant of Sarah, had a similar reaction after she encountered God in the desert. Having run away from Sarah’s abuse, Hagar was resting beside a spring when God spoke to her and told her to return. We read that she was amazed: “And she gave this name to the LORD who spoke to her: ‘You are the God who sees me,’ for she said, ‘I have now seen the one who sees me.’” (Genesis 16:13)

I love how Jill words the Biblical response of those who encountered God. I love the Bible verses as well.

Christianity and its stories introduce a God who makes known God’s surprising presence again and again, a God whose revelation is both piecemeal and profound. “O LORD,” proclaims David, “for your servant’s sake and according to your own heart, you have done all this greatness, in making known all these great things. There is none like you, O LORD, and there is no God besides you, according to all that we have heard with our ears.”(1 Chronicles 17:19,20) God is well worth our efforts in learning to see. Whether in Jacob’s dream or in Hagar’s distress, God seeks to be known and seeks to gather. The Spirit seeks to surprise and comfort. The Son seeks to be near. Says the LORD, “Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.”(Jeremiah 33:3)

C

OME ON!!!!!!! God stands in the middle of whatever road we're on to make sure He's seen. RAD!!!!!!!

There is something relieving in knowing that there is much that we do not know. It keeps us grounded in reality. It keeps us with a grateful eye toward things of mystery and beauty and kindness. It keeps us looking to the one who wills to be known.

Confronting the reality of all that he did not know brought Job to a deeper certainty of God and himself. “My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you,” he said. There is no more grateful, honest cry before the God who sees.

I

know there's a considerable amount of plagiarism going on here, but I did just see Jesus 4 days ago. I highly recommend the daily devotional, "A Slice Of Infinity", from Ravi Zacharias International Ministries.

K

eep your ears, eyes, and mind open today.

Paul Email -20August2013- Ephesians 2 (God's Thoughts)

How you doin? We had a super charged dinner last night. A couple and their 1 year old, that just planted a church in our area, came over last night. So much God inspired energy. It was... AWESOME!!!!!!! Today is the 1 day of the week that Stacey & I don't do devotions together. So I sat down at the computer and asked God for scripture for today's email. I wanted Him to send me to John, some where in the teens. Apparently, He didn't hear my prayer. He said go to Ephesians 2. I'm not too surprised after Spike's great sermon on Sunday. I mentioned yesterday about something that Bill Johnson has been saying a lot lately, "I don't want one thought in my mind about myself that's not in God's mind about me". As I was reading Ephesians 2 this morning, I couldn't help but to think about God's thoughts of me.

As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, ² in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. ³ All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh^[a] and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. ⁴ But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, ⁵ made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. ⁶ And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, ⁷ in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. ⁸ For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— ⁹ not by works, so that no one can boast. ¹⁰ For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. (Ephesians 2:1-10)

It seems to me that thinks very highly of me. COME ON!!!!!!!

But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. (Ephesians 2:13) Remember from yesterday how the father was filled with compassion even while the son was "still a long way off". DIG IT!!!!!!!

¹⁴ For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, ¹⁵ by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, ¹⁶ and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. ¹⁷ He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. ¹⁸ For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit. (Ephesians 2:14-18)

Here Paul's talking about Jews and Gentiles being reconciled to God through Christ. So, again He thinks highly of me. Jesus came to reconcile us to our Father in Heaven. Even though I know that, I tend to lose that thought in my mind.
¹⁹ Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, ²⁰ built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. ²¹ In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. ²² And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.(Ephesians 2:19-22)

So what does God think of me? He thinks highly enough of me to send His Son so that He may dwell in me. RAD!!!!!!! I couldn't help to notice the words "being built". The word "being" indicates a process. I'll say it again... I love God's process. God is present future. To me, this is a glimpse into my future here in the present.   Reading and believing this scripture gives me hope. Biblical hope... eager anticipation of something great. The FULLNESS of the Spirit of God dwelling in me is the something great. COME ON!!!!!!! Ask the Holy Ghost to transform your thoughts about yourself to be the same as His thoughts about you today.

Paul Email -19August2013- Luke 15 (He came to his senses)

How you doin? I have a HUGE praise today. Stacey has tolerated me for 6 years of marriage as of today. If anyone believes that miracles are things of the past... I'm here to testify that your theology is well off the mark. Praise God for Stacey, marriage, our marriage and our family. I can honestly say that I've never received anything so clearly from God then Stacey as my wife. She is truly a gift and blessing from God. She's off to work, but not before we did devotions. We read Luke 15 today. Luke 15 is 3 parables. I love the one about the lost son, or as I like to call it, "The awesome Father and the 2 nitwits".

¹⁴ After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. ¹⁵ So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. ¹⁶ He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything. (Luke 15:14-16)

This sounds like a description of the world to me. The world without God.

¹⁷ “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! (Luke 15:17)

"

When he came to his senses", really stood out to me today. It made me think of awakening or waking up. You know how when you first wake up in the morning you can't see right, hear right, talk, think, taste, or feel right. But after you've been awake for while all those things right themselves. You come to your senses. It's like our senses are always there and in the same spot and we walk, come, and awake to them. DIG IT!!!!!!!

²⁰ So he got up and went to his father.“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.

(Luke 15:20)

T

his verse always brings on the "Sonny".

 

The son comes up with this repentant & humble plan to approach his father. "But while he was still a long way off", the father was, "filled with compassion". COME ON!!!!!!! We can all relate to being a long way off. I heard a sermon on this parable that pointed out that in those times, fathers didn't run due to the robes they wore and that by hugging and kissing the son, the father publicly forgave him and reestablished his son as an heir to his estate. RAD!!!!!!! After Saturday's visitation, I can't stop thinking about how beautiful Jesus is. He is love. He is glorious. He is a perfect reflection of the Father. We heard a sermon from Bill Johnson last night on IBethel TV and he spoke of this. He said that we shouldn't loose sight of the fact that God is good... really good. Bill also said something he's been saying a lot lately, "I don't want one thought in my mind about myself that's not in God's mind about me". DIG IT!!!!!!!

Come to, walk to, awake to your Spiritual senses today.

Paul Email -18August2013- Jesus Came for Breakfast & Luke 14

How you doin? So I recently tried to explain how these emails affect me as much as any of you reading them. Yesterday, maybe more so. We were enjoying our Saturday morning family breakfast and listening to a worship service on IBethel TV. This is about 10 minutes after I had sent Saturday's email. As I had indicated in the email, I struggle with experiencing things NOT of God and watching other people being bound by Satan. This has been going on for a long time. Lately, it's been more bothersome then normal. I've been asking the Holy Ghost, "how do I deal with this stuff?". At the end of the worship service on IBethel TV, this dude comes on and gives testimony about his brother revealing a struggle of his that was very personal and hard to hear. The dude went on to say that he didn't know what to say or how to respond. While praying, God him lead him to 2 Corinthians 1. The dude read it out loud. Then came Jesus... literally. I'm sitting there and I felt my mind shift to the point that it jarred my head. After 2 or 3 jerks of my entire head, He had my attention. I can't remember anything about what was happening at the breakfast table. All I could see was Jesus. He was beautiful. He was comforting me and telling me, "This is how". Needless to say I kept eating, but I was uncontrollably weeping at Jesus' compassion for me and His glory. DIG IT!!!!!!! I'm sure the kids think I'm a nut case by now. Most likely some you think the same. I hope you realize the risk I'm taking by sharing this stuff with you. I could easily be ridiculed for sharing these encounters with Jesus. I pray for encounters with Him regularly, but today was not only timely, but WAY more visual then I'm used to. I literally saw Him. It makes me cry every time I think about what I saw. RAD!!!!!!! So powerful, I can't even explain it. The testimony coupled with the scripture opened my mind to receive His glory and encounter Him. COME ON!!!!!!!

 ³ Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, ⁴ who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. ⁵ For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ. ⁶ If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer. ⁷ And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort. ⁸ We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters,^[a] about the troubles we experienced in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired of life itself. ⁹ Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. ¹⁰ He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us again. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, ¹¹ as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many.

Y

ES & AMEN!!!!!!! All morning, even at work, it felt like my cheeks were going to burst into flames. His Presence is overwhelming.

¹⁶ But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. ¹⁷ Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. ¹⁸ And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. (2 Corinthians 3:16-18)

¹⁶ But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. ¹⁷ Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. ¹⁸ And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate^[a] the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
COME ON!!!!!!! I can't read or reference this scripture enough.

We read Luke 14 this morning. In the interest of time, I'll just point out 4 verses. Please read this chapter. It's way RAD!!!!!!!

For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” (Luke 14:11)
“But they all alike began to make excuses. (Luke 14:18)
I tell you, not one of those who were invited will get a taste of my banquet.’” (Luke 14:24)

“Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.” (Luke 14:35)

Be comforted today.

Paul Email -17August2013- Luke 13 (It's satan's Fault)

How you doin? Luke 13 is loaded. I love the Bible and it's author. No time to spare today... right to it.

²⁴ “Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to. (Luke13:24)  I wonder if, "every effort", means seeking understanding of Him and closeness to Him. Pursuing His love, grace, mercy, blessing, and favor. SAY WORD!!!!!!!

³² He replied, “Go tell that fox, ‘I will keep on driving out demons and healing people today and tomorrow, and on the third day I will reach my goal.’ ³³ In any case, I must press on today and tomorrow and the next day—for surely no prophet can die outside Jerusalem! (Luke 13:32-33)  COME ON!!!!!!! Every time I hear, "the third day", I think of the resurrection. Here Jesus is warned of Herod's plan to kill Him and He tells, "that fox", His plan of the 3 greatest days in the history of the world. We know who wins. OH SNAP!!!!!!! I hope you are a little bit excited. If not, this may work.

¹⁰ On a Sabbath Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues, ¹¹ and a woman was there who had been crippled by a spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not straighten up at all. ¹² When Jesus saw her, he called her forward and said to her, “Woman, you are set free from your infirmity.” ¹³ Then he put his hands on her, and immediately she straightened up and praised God. (Luke 13:10-13)
¹⁵ The Lord answered him, “You hypocrites! Doesn’t each of you on the Sabbath untie your ox or donkey from the stall and lead it out to give it water? ¹⁶ Then should not this woman, a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has kept bound for eighteen long years, be set free on the Sabbath day from what bound her?”
¹⁷ When he said this, all his opponents were humiliated, but the people were delighted with all the wonderful things he was doing. (Luke 13:15-17)

F

or real? Okay, calm down. This scripture is... AWESOME!!!!!!! I don't want to get into the Sabbath. I've resolved my curiosity about the Sabbath with the fact that it too is Jesus'. I love this clear scripture about where sickness, disease, lameness, and anything else that doesn't come from God comes from... it comes from Satan. Jesus sets the woman free from what bounds her. COME ON!!!!!!! Take a second to jump out of your chair and give God some praise. I dig freedom. Here's a brief look at some other examples of Jesus'/God's goal spoken of in verses 12,13, & 32.

 

The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me,
    because the Lord has anointed me
    to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
    to proclaim freedom for the captives
    and release from darkness for the prisoners,^[a]
2 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor
    and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn,

 

(Isaiah 61:1-2) DIG IT!!!!!!!

Piggy backed on that scripture Jesus says:
He began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” (Luke 4:21) God sent the prophets 1st, then He sent the big gun... Jesus. SAY WORD!!!!!!!
“I, the Lord, have called you in righteousness;
    I will take hold of your hand.
I will keep you and will make you
    to be a covenant for the people
    and a light for the Gentiles,
⁷ to open eyes that are blind,
    to free captives from prison
    and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness. (Isaiah 42:6-7) COME ON!!!!!!!

 ¹⁸ Let this be written for a future generation,

    that a people not yet created may praise the Lord:
¹⁹ “The Lord looked down from his sanctuary on high,
    from heaven he viewed the earth,
²⁰ to hear the groans of the prisoners
    and release those condemned to death.”
²¹ So the name of the Lord will be declared in Zion
    and his praise in Jerusalem
²² when the peoples and the kingdoms
    assemble to worship the Lord. (Psalm 102:18-22)
I couldn't high light anything, because I would have high lighted everything. I love being free. It really hurts me to see people, including myself, living life bound by Satan. Jesus has set me free from several things and is setting me free from the rest of it as I, "make every effort", to open my heart and mind to Him. COME ON!!!!!!! Let Jesus finish His goal today!

Paul Email -16Augut2013- Luke 12 (Worry and Watching)

How you doin? I'm finding that every heading, paragraph, story, verse, and word in the Bible could be a study. I'm trying to read through the Bible to take God in without studying, interpreting, breaking down, or dissecting every heading, paragraph, story, verse, or word. Luke 12 makes that hard to do. Luke's gospel is just AWESOME!!!!!!! We as a family are over scheduled more then normal this week. V.B.S., Dr. appointments (before we no longer have insurance), relatives birthdays, and so on. Please be praying for us. We are in major transition. God has been and will continue to give us grace for this. Back to Luke 12.

²⁹ And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. ³⁰ For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. ³¹ But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.³² “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. ³³ Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. ³⁴ For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
³⁵ “Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, ³⁶ like servants waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him. ³⁷ It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes. Truly I tell you, he will dress himself to serve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them. ³⁸ It will be good for those servants whose master finds them ready, even if he comes in the middle of the night or toward daybreak. ³⁹ But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. ⁴⁰ You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.” (Luke 12:29-40)

I

n the interest of time, I've selected these verses. Please don't let my lack of time short the value of this scripture... read around these verses. I love how Luke takes us from worry into watching. I don't think it's a coincidence. 

"

Your Father knows that you need them". OH SNAP!!!!!!! We often laugh at our prayers of petition. We pray as though God doesn't know anything about us. Silly human condition.

  

I love verse 32. "Do not be afraid... your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom

 

.

" AWESOME!!!!!!! It's ok to receive His Kingdom. DIG IT!!!!!!! So it goes from talking about God providing all that we need, cloths included, to "Be dressed and ready". Some times even I can figure it out. Verse 37 get's me the most. If the master finds the servant watching when he returns, it will be good for the servant. Good because the master "will dress himself to serve". So let me get this straight, God provides us with the means to be pleasing to Him and then rewards/serves us for it. COME ON!!!!!!! That's a great deal. Gods compassion and love for His children is over whelming. Dress yourself in God's love today.

Paul Email -14August2013- Luke 11 (How to Pray)

How you doin? Please be praying for us as the kids (especially Paulie) are grow into a new stage and there are necessary adjustments in our conduct with him. We're praying for instructions and direction from the Holy Ghost. After all, we share the greatest Father of all with the kids. There's something to be learned from watching Him. COME ON!!!!!!!!!!!! That's a tremendous segue into today's scripture, Luke 11. Luke's report tells the disciples what to pray, but the verses immediately following tells how to pray and what's to be gained by praying that way.

⁵ Then Jesus said to them, “Suppose you have a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; ⁶ a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have no food to offer him.’ ⁷ And suppose the one inside answers, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is already locked, and my children and I are in bed. I can’t get up and give you anything.’ ⁸ I tell you, even though he will not get up and give you the bread because of friendship, yet because of your shameless audacity he will surely get up and give you as much as you need.

⁹ “So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. ¹⁰ For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

¹¹ “Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? ¹² Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? ¹³ If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” (Luke 11:5-13)

AWESOME!!!!!!! My NIV Bible has verse 8 like this, "I tell you, though he will not get up and give him the bread because he is his friend, yet because of the man's boldness (persistence) he will get up and give him as much as he needs." Boldness comes from authority.  Authority is given to us by Jesus. Jesus prays to the Father for us. DIG IT!!!!!!! This set of scripture explains the attitude, authority and believe we should be praying in. God's not into behavior modification. He just wants to be our Father. He wants to protect us, shower us with favor & blessings & things of Him & His Kingdom. He wants to love us. SAY WORD!!!!!!!!!! (that's for you T.J.) We make this relationship harder then it needs to be. Pray BOLD today and believe. 

Paul Email -13August2013- What comes 1st?

How you doin? Speaking to a friend of mine last night facing calamity, reminded me of a familiar question... "how can I hear God and stay hearing Him". It sounded all too familiar. I've pondered this question for years (3). It's easy to see that we need God in crisis. When crisis hits, we tend to scramble around trying to make sure we're praying enough, well behaved enough, tithing enough, & living a Christian life enough in hopes that God will show up and help us. My friend reminded me of something I wrote on Sun. 8/11, "Perhaps I can't hear Jesus' call. I believe He calls ALL believers. There's no special prayer, church attendance quota, tithe, behavior criteria, or deeds that turns our Heaven cell phone on. Jesus calls... it's up to us to answer, respond, and receive "power and authority"'. So what do I/we do to hear Jesus? I suggest that we love Him and seek Him 1st.

²⁵ “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? (Matthew 6:25)
³¹ So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ ³² For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. ³³ But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. ³⁴ Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. (Matthew 6:31-34)

This sounds great, but still doesn't answer how. These verses tell us what we need to do. Seek Him 1st... got it! Here's how.

¹⁵ “If you love me, keep my commands. ¹⁶ And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— ¹⁷ the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. ¹⁸ I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. ¹⁹ Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. ²⁰ On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. ²¹ Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.” ²² Then Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, “But, Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?”
²³ Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. ²⁴ Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.
²⁵ “All this I have spoken while still with you. ²⁶ But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. ²⁷ Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
²⁸ “You heard me say, ‘I am going away and I am coming back to you.’ If you loved me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. ²⁹ I have told you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe. ³⁰ I will not say much more to you, for the prince of this world is coming. He has no hold over me, ³¹ but he comes so that the world may learn that I love the Father and do exactly what my Father has commanded me.
“Come now; let us leave.
COME ON!!!!!!! AWESOME!!!!!!! YES & AMEN!!!!!!! OH SNAP!!!!!!! DIG IT!!!!!!! If your not weeping right now you may be dead. Audrey and Paulie are bringing me tissues and asking me if I'm alright. This scripture is the most incredible promise, invitation, instruction, display of authority, power, & compassion I've ever read. I can't help but to know who I am after reading verse 20. Loving Jesus and seeking His kingdom sounds easy. When I hear that I think to myself, "ok, I'll do that", but then, as I have pointed out before, "why doesn't my life look like this". I have more undoing to be done. I still believe the lies I've been taught that steals my identity in Christ. I want Kingdom solutions for worldly problems. "Seek first his kingdom". "Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching". The Holy Ghost will make this possible. I cry reading these verses, because the Holy Ghost shows me how God sees me in these verses. He also shows me the ridiculously extravagant love that God has for me. COME ON!!!!!!! What comes 1st... the love of/for Jesus or the lies of the world? Jesus 1st today.

Paul email-12August2013-Luke10 (I Want Peace)

How you doin? So my desire to have God show me His face while I sleep may not be the smartest idea for rest. I've had several nights of broken sleep. I'm up 2 or 3 times a night. It may be the fact that I'm getting old. I've received some encouraging responses to the emails lately. I just want everyone to know that I'm affected by the word of God while writing just as much as those reading. I say YES & AMEN!!!!!!!!!!!! to the responses, because I'm in agreement with them. Stacey's and my devotional time in the morning is daily renewal and an amazing time of growth, revelation, and closeness with the Holy Ghost. I often need to go back and read my journal entrees and emails. It's as though I'm reading them for the first time. It's that 3rd person affect. The Holy Ghost works/connects to my spirit and later my mind/soul reads what they did. DIG IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I love Jesus!!! Luke 10 today. 

After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go. (Luke 10:1) I love the fact that there are so many more then 12. I also love that Jesus appoints. It's not our doings.

“When you enter a house, first say, ‘Peace to this house.’ ⁶ If someone who promotes peace is there, your peace will rest on them; if not, it will return to you. (Luke 10:5-6) Jesus often says, "go in peace" or "peace be with you". Here Jesus is telling the 72 to send out their peace. I think you must have peace to send it out. This verse is loaded because someone in the house must promote peace in order for to rest on them. COME ON!!!!!!!!!!!!! It's about receiving, expecting, and welcoming peace.

“When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is offered to you. ⁹ Heal the sick who are there and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’ ¹⁰ But when you enter a town and are not welcomed, go into its streets and say, ¹¹ ‘Even the dust of your town we wipe from our feet as a warning to you. Yet be sure of this: The kingdom of God has come near.’ (Luke 10:8-11) I love how the point, "The Kingdom of God has come near", stays the same whether or not you're welcomed. The difference is healing. Those you welcome the word of God are healed. Otherwise, even dust is wiped from feet. OUCH!!!!!

“Whoever listens to you listens to me; whoever rejects you rejects me; but whoever rejects me rejects him who sent me.” (Luke 10:16) This verse is incredible. What connection to Jesus and the Father. AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!

¹⁷ The seventy-two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.”
¹⁸ He replied, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. ¹⁹ I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. ²⁰ However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”
²¹ At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do.
²² “All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and no one knows who the Father is except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.”
²³ Then he turned to his disciples and said privately, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see. ²⁴ For I tell you that many prophets and kings wanted to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.” (Luke 10:17-24)

Pulse checking time. YES & AMEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!! COME ON!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!! This set of scripture is too much. Demons submit to men or the authority that Jesus gave man. DIG IT!!!!!!!!!!! Don't let go to your head. Sound advice/instruction. As we say in the kitchen, "heard". What a thrill to see Jesus "full of joy" and noticing what His Father in Heaven takes pleasure in. COME ON!!!!!!!!!

Verses 21-24, give us a look at how we should respond to the Father. AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!! I pray that you/I receive this in full. I can't get over this scripture. I hope you can spend some time on it today. I pray that you/I can receive it like a child. AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!! Be appointed by the Lord today. WOW!!!!!!!!!!

Paul email-11August2013-Luke 9 (Welcome/Follow)

How you doin? WOW!!!!!!!!!!!! Luke just keeps getting better. God just keeps getting greater. The Holy Ghost is creating this Holy snowball. He highlights certain words, concepts, teachings, and they are connecting to each other creating this glorious Holy snowball. Those words, concepts, teachings are too many to mention, but the past few years God has had quite a work in me/us. Luke 9 today.

When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, ² and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. (Luke 9:1-2)

I

can't read these verses without wondering why my life looks the way it does. Perhaps I can't hear Jesus' call. I believe He calls ALL believers. There's no special prayer, church attendance quota, tithe, behavior criteria, or deeds that turns our Heaven cell phone on. Jesus calls... it's up to us to answer, respond, and receive "power and authority". AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!! Help me receive Jesus. The Holy Ghost is quite the tutor. As I was reading today He was highlighting words. 

Peter and his companions were very sleepy, but when they became fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men standing with him. (Luke 9:32) I love this verse. Repetitions work on me. I need to hear it several times before it gets to a place in my brain where it will stay.

If people do not welcome you, leave their town and shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.” (Luke 9:5)

He welcomed them and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who needed healing. (Luke 9:11)

The next day, when they came down from the mountain, a large crowd met him. (Luke 9:37)

Then he said to them, “Whoever welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. (Luke 9:48)

⁵³ but the people there did not welcome him, because he was heading for Jerusalem. (Luke 9:53) I almost have it. Welcome Jesus. Welcome each other. Leave if we are not welcomed. Check!

¹¹ but the crowds learned about it and followed him. (Luke 9:11)

Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. (Luke 9:23) I just threw "daily" in there.

As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” (Luke 9:57)

He said to another man, “Follow me.” (Luke 9:59)
Still another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say goodbye to my family.” (Luke 9:61)

For those of you who are reading this before you coffee... "welcome" and "follow" are mentioned a lot in this chapter and in the entire Bible. RAD!!!!!!! Part of the outer layer of the Holy snowball reads like this... repent, receive, pay attention, keep watch, stay awake, welcome Jesus, and follow Jesus. COME ON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thank you Holy Ghost for teaching me. Welcome Jesus today.