HE WILL DO IT AGAIN!!!

As I sit here today, I have no idea what I will write.  But what I do know is that GOD always comes through for me, and HE will do it again!!!



(Last night, after I wrote the words above, and posted them, I went to bed.  I knew that GOD would make a way for me and HE DID!!!)


GOD IS SO GOOD TO ME!!!


Here’s what HE gave me today to add to my post!!!   



Philippians 4:19 (KJV) …my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.



My GOD always makes a way for me!!!  And HE ALWAYS supplies ALL my needs!!! 




I know that no matter what, I CAN TRUST GOD TO WORK EVERYTHING OUT FOR ME!!!  I know that my GOD will perfect those things which concern me!!! 



Psalm 138:8 (KJV) The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me: thy mercy, O Lord, endureth for ever: forsake not the works of thine own hands.



Psalm 138:8 (NKJV) The Lord will perfect that which concerns me; Your mercy, O Lord, endures forever; Do not forsake the works of Your hands.



I love this scripture!!!



GOD gave me 2 scriptures a long time ago to let me know how much HE LOVES ME and to let me know that HE was truly concerned about the things that I was concerned about!!! 



HE let me know that HE knew exactly how many hairs I had on my head!!!!  (HE knows how many hairs are on your head, too!!!) 



Luke 12:6-7 (NKJV)

⁶ “Are not five sparrows sold for two copper coins? And not one of them is forgotten before God.

⁷ But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.

And then HE told me that HE knows when the little birdie falls from its nest!!!    



Matthew 10:29-30 (CEV)

²⁹ Aren’t two sparrows sold for only a penny? But your Father knows when any one of them falls to the ground.

³⁰ Even the hairs on your head are counted.



So, today when I needed to finish writing my post for yesterday before it was sent out in email, HE KNEW how very important it was to me!!!



When I sat down, GOD began to speak to me about how much HE CARES ABOUT THE THINGS WHICH CONCERN ME!!!



HE even reminded me that He has good plans for my life; and NOT evil ones!!! 



Jeremiah 29:11 (NKJV) For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.

THE ONE TRUE GOD!!!

 
I heard this song and I was struck by the words!!!

I know that some folks don’t believe in GOD, and still others do believe, but they choose NOT to serve HIM!!!

I may NOT totally understand why they believe as they do or why they make the decisions that they make, but GOD has given us FREE WILL!!! 



And FREE WILL means that everyone has the right to choose how they want to live their lives.



I do understand FREE WILL!!!  

And so, I say this. 




As for me and my house, WE WILL SERVE THE LORD!!!  Joshua 21:15




That is the decision that I have made!!!



I will raise my children to LOVE GOD!!!  I will instruct them in HIS WAYS!!!  I will teach them to serve the ONE TRUE AND LIVING GOD!!!  Eph. 6:4




My GOD is the creator of the Universe!!!  HE formed me and made me!!!  HE knew me before I was a twinkle in my pappa’s eye or a thought in my momma’s mind!!!  Jeremiah 1:5




And I will serve HIM till I die!!!




What I don’t understand and refuse to even try to make sense of, is how someone can make an image or a statue with his own hands, and worship it!!!  Or better yet, buy one, and then worship it!!!



I’m sorry folks, but that just doesn’t make sense to me!!!



My GOD breathes life into all living things!!!  HE spoke and the earth was created!!!  Gen. 1:1  HE took a rib out of Adam and from that rib HE made Eve!!!  Gen. 5:21-22



And you are going to tell me that you made or molded an image, and you are going to worship it?



You bought that wooden, stone or metal thing at the store, and you are going to worship it?



ARE YOU NUTS????




That may NOT sound nice, but let’s get real!!! 



There is nothing made by human hands that can save a man or give him eternal life!!!



ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!!! 


Surely you know and realize that that thing-that image-you made has no life in it!!!  Surely, you don’t really think that you can buy something at a store and worship it!!!



Well, now I know that I am wrong, because you can choose to worship any thing that you want to worship!!! 



That is FREE WILL!!!   



But that JUST ISN’T SMART!!!! 


Of course, you can choose to go to HELL, if you want!!! 



But that isn’t too smart either!!!


Why would anyone want to worship a dead thing?  Something cold and lifeless.  An image, or even a picture!!! 



Did that thing that you are choosing to worship die for you???



Does it have the power to take away your sins???




JESUS DIED ON THE CROSS TO PAY FOR OUR SINS!!!  WITH HIS ONE TIME SACRIFICE HE PAID IT ALL!!! 



Matthew 27:50-54 (KJV)
⁵⁰ Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.
⁵¹ And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;
⁵² And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose,
⁵³ And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.
⁵⁴ Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God.

JESUS WENT TO THE GRAVE!!! 




Mark 15:42-46

⁴² Now when evening had come, because it was the Preparation Day, that is, the day before the Sabbath, ⁴³ Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent council member, who was himself waiting for the kingdom of God, coming and taking courage, went in to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus.

⁴⁴ Pilate marveled that He was already dead; and summoning the centurion, he asked him if He had been dead for some time. ⁴⁵ So when he found out from the centurion, he granted the body to Joseph.

⁴⁶ Then he bought fine linen, took Him down, and wrapped Him in the linen. And he laid Him in a tomb which had been hewn out of the rock, and rolled a stone against the door of the tomb.



AND 3 DAYS LATER, HE CAME OUT OF THAT GRAVE!!!!  AND HE WALKED ON THIS EARTH!!! 




Matthew 27: 62-66 (KJV)
⁶² Now the next day, that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate,
⁶³ Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again.

⁶⁴ Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first.

⁶⁵ Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as ye can.
⁶⁶ So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch.

MY GOD AROSE FROM THE DEAD!!! 

Matthew 28:1-8 (KJV)

28 In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre.

² And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.

³ His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow:

⁴ And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men.

⁵ And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified.

⁶ He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.

⁷ And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you.

⁸ And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word.

MY GOD LEFT HIS GRAVE CLOTHES IN A BORROWED TOMB because HE DIDN’T NEED THEM ANY MORE!!! 



John 20:6-18

⁶ Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie,

⁷ And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself.

⁸ Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw, and believed.

⁹ For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead.

¹⁰ Then the disciples went away again unto their own home.

¹¹ But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre,

¹² And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.

¹³ And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him.

¹⁴ And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus.

¹⁵ Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away.

¹⁶ Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master.

¹⁷ Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.

¹⁸ Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these things unto her.

MY GOD LIVES!!!!!



Matthew 28:9-20 (KJV)

⁹ And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him.

¹⁰ Then said Jesus unto them, Be not afraid: go tell my brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me.

¹¹ Now when they were going, behold, some of the watch came into the city, and shewed unto the chief priests all the things that were done.

¹² And when they were assembled with the elders, and had taken counsel, they gave large money unto the soldiers,

¹³ Saying, Say ye, His disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept.

¹⁴ And if this come to the governor's ears, we will persuade him, and secure you.

¹⁵ So they took the money, and did as they were taught: and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day.

¹⁶ Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them.

¹⁷ And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted.

¹⁸ And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

¹⁹ Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

²⁰ Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

I DON’T SERVE A DEAD GOD!!!



John 20:26-31

²⁶ And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, “Peace to you!” ²⁷ Then He said to Thomas, “Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.”

²⁸ And Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!”

²⁹ Jesus said to him, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

³⁰ And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; ³¹ but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.

I SERVE A RISEN SAVIOR!!! 



John 21:1-14 (NKJV)

21 After these things Jesus showed Himself again to the disciples at the Sea of Tiberias, and in this way He showed Himself: ² Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of His disciples were together.

³ Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.”They said to him, “We are going with you also.” They went out and immediately got into the boat, and that night they caught nothing.

⁴ But when the morning had now come, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. ⁵ Then Jesus said to them, “Children, have you any food?”They answered Him, “No.”

⁶ And He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast, and now they were not able to draw it in because of the multitude of fish.
⁷ Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment (for he had removed it), and plunged into the sea.

⁸ But the other disciples came in the little boat (for they were not far from land, but about two hundred cubits), dragging the net with fish.

⁹ Then, as soon as they had come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid on it, and bread. ¹⁰ Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish which you have just caught.”
¹¹ Simon Peter went up and dragged the net to land, full of large fish, one hundred and fifty-three; and although there were so many, the net was not broken.

¹² Jesus said to them, “Come and eat breakfast.” Yet none of the disciples dared ask Him, “Who are You?”—knowing that it was the Lord. ¹³ Jesus then came and took the bread and gave it to them, and likewise the fish.

¹⁴ This is now the third time Jesus showed Himself to His disciples after He was raised from the dead.

HE IS… LORD OF ALL THE EARTH!!!  MAKER OF EVERY THING!!!  HIS NAME IS THE LORD GOD ALMIGHTY!!!



HE IS THE ONLY ONE who can help you out of a jam!!!  ONLY HE CAN GIVE YOU PEACE OF MIND!!!  ONLY HE CAN HEAL YOU when you are sick!!!  ONLY HE CAN DELIVER YOU from the enemy!!!  ONLY HE CAN GIVE YOU JOY!!!! 



HE THE ONE TRUE GOD OF ALL THE EARTH!!!
HE IS...   THE REAL THING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



***Below are the words to the song that inspired this post!!!


One True GOD  -  Mark Harris  

I don't have a God I can put on a stand
Or a God I hold in the palm of my hand
I have a God that's holding me

And I don't have a God that I can create
In the place I live with the money I make
I have a God, HE made everything

So I don't need a temporary man-made deity
When I got The Real Thing,
I got THE REAL THING

HE's the Lord of all the earth,
The maker of all things
HE Alone is The One True God


Kingdoms rise and fall
But even through it all
HE remains The One True God

I don't have a thing that I got on my own
I don't have a care that I carry alone
But I have a God who's carrying me

And I don't have a sin that HE doesn't forgive
And I don't have a heart that is worthy of HIS
But I have a God who still loves me


So I don't need a temporary man-made deity
When I got The Real Thing,
I got THE REAL THING!


Lord of all the earth,
The maker of all things
HE Alone is The One True God


Kingdoms rise and fall
But even through it all
HE remains The One True God


Who is this King of Glory? The Lord strong and mighty
Who is this King of Glory? The Lord strong and mighty
Who is this King of Glory? Who is this King of Glory?

HE's the Lord of all the earth,
The maker of all things
HE alone is The One True God


Kingdoms rise and fall
But even through it all
HE remains The One True God


HE's the Lord of all the earth,
The maker of all things
HE alone is The One True God


Kingdoms rise and fall
But even through it all
HE remains The One True God


HE IS…
HE IS…
The One True God


I know,
I know,
HE IS…


I don't have a God I can put on a stand
And I don't have a God I can hold in my hand
But I have a God
And HE’s holding me

GOD WILL TEACH US!!!

Psalm 32: 8-11 (NKJV)

⁸ I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
I will guide you with My eye.



GOD SAYS THE HE WILL TEACH US AND SHOW US WHERE WE ARE TO GO!!!  We just need to listen to HIM!!!  We must pay close attention to HIM!!!

I believe that if we listen closely to GOD, we will begin to see things thru HIS EYES!!!  WE will begin to see things as HE SEES them!!!


⁹ Do not be like the horse or like the mule,
Which have no understanding,
Which must be harnessed with bit and bridle,
Else they will not come near you.



Don’t be strong-headed like the horse that always wants his own way and doesn’t want to be lead anywhere!!!  And don’t be like the mule who is hardheaded and stubborn, that pulls back when you try to lead him!!!  They have to have bridles in their mouths, so that they can be lead in the way that they should go!!!  They have no understanding of GOD nor of HIS WAYS!!!



¹⁰ Many sorrows shall be to the wicked;
But he who trusts in the Lord, mercy shall surround him.



Bad things happen to the wicked and because they don’t have GOD, they have no one to turn to during those times!!!  But those who trust in GOD can run to HIM.  HE is a high tower!!!  GOD’s mercy NOT only surrounds HIS CHILDREN, it covers them!!! 



¹¹ Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, you righteous;
And shout for joy, all you upright in heart!



Be glad in THE LORD, Child of GOD and rejoice!!!  PRAISE HIS NAME!!!  For you are saved and you are right with GOD!!!  Shout with a happy heart, full of praise and joy, Child of the MOST HIGH; Child of GOD!!!  SHOUT AND SING HIS PRAISE; FOR HE IS WORTHY TO BE PRAISED!!!!

DON’T BE DISMAYED!!!

Sometimes, I am dismayed by all the things that I want to do and can’t seem to get done!!!




I start out with a simple To-Do-List!!! 





And then the next thing I know, I feel like I am suffocating!!! 





It is because I have piled all this stuff on my list!!! 





That’s when I find myself dismayed!!!





Isaiah 41:10 (KJV)

¹⁰ Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee… 




The answer is so simple!!!   





I can hear GOD saying, You don’t have to do ALL THAT!!!

I can hear GOD saying, DON’T TRY TO DO SO MUCH!!!

I WILL GO BEFORE YOU…

Do whatever GOD has called you to do!!!



If GOD has called you to sing, then sing, sing, sing!!!



If GOD called you to dance, then dance, dance, dance!!!



Whatever GOD has called you to do, then do it with ALL your might!!!



Do whatever GOD has called you to do “as unto the LORD!!!”




In my case GOD has called me to preach the gospel!!! 




So, I say to myself, PREACH, KATHY, PREACH!!!  Don’t let anyone stop YOU!!!  Don’t let anyone stand in your way, PREACH THE WORD!!!



When something or someone blocks my path, and I feel that I can’t continue on, I cry out unto THE LORD, MY GOD and HE ANSWERS ME!!!



Here is what GOD TOLD ME!!! 



Isaiah 45:2 (KJV) I will go before thee, and make the crooked places straight; I will break in pieces the gates of brass, and cut in sunder the bars of iron.



You know, I trust GOD, but I just never really understood what GOD meant when HE said, I will break in pieces the gates of bronze and cut the bars of iron. 



I guess I just never really took the time to think about it!!!




Anyway, the other night I heard John Gray preach about these same verses, so I looked them up.




And when I read them, I finally understood what GOD was saying!!! 




Isaiah 45:1-3 (NKJV)

45 “Thus says the Lord to His anointed,
To Cyrus, whose right hand I have held—
To subdue nations before him
And loose the armor of kings,
To open before him the double doors,
So that the gates will not be shut:

² ‘I will go before you
And make the crooked places straight;
I will break in pieces the gates of bronze
And cut the bars of iron.

³ I will give you the treasures of darkness
And hidden riches of secret places,
That you may know that I, the Lord,
Who call you by your name,
Am the God of Israel.




GOD WAS SAYING TO CYRUS, and HE IS SAYING TO ME, I WILL GO BEFORE YOU!!! 




I, THE LORD, will make your crooked places straight!!!  I will break in pieces the gates of bronze and cut in pieces the bars of iron!!!




And what does GOD mean by that? 



GOD means that HE WILL REMOVE WHATEVER STANDS IN MY WAY, even if those things are gates of bronze, even if HE has to cut or break in pieces bars of irons!!!



HE WILL GO BEFORE ME AND HE WILL LEVEL THE MOUNTAINS, IF THEY ARE IN MY WAY!!!  (Isaiah 45:2 AMP)


 
So, look out, devil, here I come!!! 



GOD says, “HE’S NOT GOING TO ALLOW ANYTHING OR ANYONE, NOT EVEN YOU TO STOP ME!!!” 



So, get out of my way!!!    

Don’t Despise Small Beginnings

 
Some days I feel like I can whip the world!!!



Then there are other times, like today, when I feel small; inconsequential.

Maybe insignificant or unimportant would be better words!!! 



But it is in these times that GOD reminds me that I do NOT and cannot see myself through HIS EYES!!!



In MY FATHER’S EYES, that’s what matters!!!  It’s what GOD thinks of me that matters!!!



Proverbs 30:24-33 (NKJV)

²⁴ There are four things which are little on the earth,
But they are exceedingly wise:

²⁵ The ants are a people not strong,
Yet they prepare their food in the summer;

²⁶ The rock badgers are a feeble folk,
Yet they make their homes in the crags;

²⁷ The locusts have no king,
Yet they all advance in ranks;

²⁸ The spider skillfully grasps with its hands,
And it is in kings’ palaces.



You know, I never really thought of it before, but spiders are indeed even found in King’s Palaces!!! 



And although ants seem to aggravating, pesky little creatures, GOD calls them wise because they are smart enough to store up food for the winter.  



You can knock an ant hill down and they will build it back one small piece at a time, and before you know it they have rebuilt the whole mound.



Don’t despise small beginnings!!!



I have heard it said many times over the last couple of years that we should NOT despise small beginnings, but I had no idea where this scripture was in the Bible. 



I don’t really remember ever hearing anyone preach about this.  So, tonight I looked this up and was amazed at what I found!!! 



Zechariah 4:6-14 (KJV)

⁶ Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the Lord unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts.

⁷ Who art thou, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain: and he shall bring forth the headstone thereof with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace unto it.

⁸ Moreover the word of the Lord came unto me, saying,

⁹ The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also finish it; and thou shalt know that the Lord of hosts hath sent me unto you.

¹⁰ For who hath despised the day of small things? for they shall rejoice, and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel with those seven; they are the eyes of the Lord, which run to and fro through the whole earth.

¹¹ Then answered I, and said unto him, What are these two olive trees upon the right side of the candlestick and upon the left side thereof?

¹² And I answered again, and said unto him, What be these two olive branches which through the two golden pipes empty the golden oil out of themselves?

¹³ And he answered me and said, Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No, my lord.

¹⁴ Then said he, These are the two anointed ones, that stand by the Lord of the whole earth.



I found that this scripture was speaking of Gideon, who GOD renamed Zerubbabel; and made a great leader in Israel.  IN GOD’S EYES, GIDEON WAS TRULY A MIGHTY MAN OF VALOR!!!



This is the same Gideon who hid by his father’s winepress to thresh wheat because he was scared of the Midianites.   



Judges 6:11-16 (KJV)

¹¹ And there came an angel of the Lord, and sat under an oak which was in Ophrah, that pertained unto Joash the Abiezrite: and his son Gideon threshed wheat by the winepress, to hide it from the Midianites.

¹² And the angel of the Lord appeared unto him, and said unto him, The Lord is with thee, thou mighty man of valour.

¹³ And Gideon said unto him, Oh my Lord, if the Lord be with us, why then is all this befallen us? and where be all his miracles which our fathers told us of, saying, Did not the Lord bring us up from Egypt? but now the Lord hath forsaken us, and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites.

¹⁴ And the Lord looked upon him, and said, Go in this thy might, and thou shalt save Israel from the hand of the Midianites: have not I sent thee?

¹⁵ And he said unto him, Oh my Lord, wherewith shall I save Israel? behold, my family is poor in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father's house.

¹⁶ And the Lord said unto him, Surely I will be with thee, and thou shalt smite the Midianites as one man.



Gideon couldn’t see himself as GOD saw him!!!  GOD saw him as a mighty man of GOD, one who would bring victory and deliverance to Israel!!!




Judges 7:15-25 (KJV)

¹⁵ And it was so, when Gideon heard the telling of the dream, and the interpretation thereof, that he worshipped, and returned into the host of Israel, and said, Arise; for the Lord hath delivered into your hand the host of Midian.

¹⁶ And he divided the three hundred men into three companies, and he put a trumpet in every man's hand, with empty pitchers, and lamps within the pitchers.

¹⁷ And he said unto them, Look on me, and do likewise: and, behold, when I come to the outside of the camp, it shall be that, as I do, so shall ye do.

¹⁸ When I blow with a trumpet, I and all that are with me, then blow ye the trumpets also on every side of all the camp, and say, The sword of the Lord, and of Gideon.

¹⁹ So Gideon, and the hundred men that were with him, came unto the outside of the camp in the beginning of the middle watch; and they had but newly set the watch: and they blew the trumpets, and brake the pitchers that were in their hands.

²⁰ And the three companies blew the trumpets, and brake the pitchers, and held the lamps in their left hands, and the trumpets in their right hands to blow withal: and they cried, The sword of the Lord, and of Gideon.

²¹ And they stood every man in his place round about the camp; and all the host ran, and cried, and fled.

²² And the three hundred blew the trumpets, and the Lord set every man's sword against his fellow, even throughout all the host: and the host fled to Bethshittah in Zererath, and to the border of Abelmeholah, unto Tabbath.

²³ And the men of Israel gathered themselves together out of Naphtali, and out of Asher, and out of all Manasseh, and pursued after the Midianites.

²⁴ And Gideon sent messengers throughout all mount Ephraim, saying, come down against the Midianites, and take before them the waters unto Bethbarah and Jordan. Then all the men of Ephraim gathered themselves together, and took the waters unto Bethbarah and Jordan.

²⁵ And they took two princes of the Midianites, Oreb and Zeeb; and they slew Oreb upon the rock Oreb, and Zeeb they slew at the winepress of Zeeb, and pursued Midian, and brought the heads of Oreb and Zeeb to Gideon on the other side Jordan.



And because GOD used a man called Gideon, Israel was indeed delivered from the hands of the Midianites and they had rest for 40 years!!! 

Judges 8:28 (KJV) Thus was Midian subdued before the children of Israel, so that they lifted up their heads no more. And the country was in quietness forty years in the days of Gideon.



Gideon was a mighty man of God because that is what GOD said he was!!! 



Who does GOD say you are? 



Who are you in the FATHER’S EYES???

We Are How We Treat Each Other

You can’t fool people!!! 




The world knows THE TRUTH when they see it!!!




It won’t take long before they’ve got your number!!! 




Just give those around you a little time, and they’ll know whether you LOVE others or NOT!!! 




Just open your mouth and you’ll let the cat out of the bag!!!




That’s why JESUS told his disciples, that people would know them by the LOVE that they showed for one another.




John 13:34-35 (ESV)

³⁴ “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.

³⁵ By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”





That’s the very reason that GOD told us that we can’t say we LOVE HIM, when we hate those around us!!!




1 John 4:20 New Century Version (NCV) If people say, “I love God,” but hate their brothers or sisters, they are liars. Those who do not love their brothers and sisters, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have never seen.

We can show others how much we LOVE Christ, by showing them kindness.  Sometimes, just a smile will do!!! 




That’s how we show others that we are truly followers of Christ!!!  We show the people that we meet every day and the folks that we are around every day, our LOVE for them and others!!!




Galatians 5:22-23 (ESV)

²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 

²³ gentleness, self-control…

If you want other people to treat you right, then you have to treat others right.  When you treat others with kindness and show that you care for them, you’ll get kindness in return!!!  And you’ll find that others care for you, as well!!!





Luke 6:31 (NCV) Do to others what you would want them to do to you.

As the song says, We are how we treat each other and Nothing More!!!

Nothing More – The Alternate Routes

To be humble, to be kind.
It is the giving of the peace in your mind.
To a stranger, To a friend
To give in such a way that has no end.

We are Love
We are One
We are how we treat each other when the day is done.
We are Peace
We are War
We are how we treat each other and Nothing More

To be bold, to be brave.
It is the thinking that the heart can still be saved
And the darkness can come quick
The Dangers in the Anger and the hanging on to it.

We are Love
We are One
We are how we treat each other when the day is done.
We are Peace
We are War
We are how we treat each other and Nothing More

Tell me what it is that you see
A world that’s filled with endless possibilities?
Heroes don’t look like they used to, they look like you do.

We are Love
We are One
We are how we treat each other when the day is done.


We are Peace
We are War
We are how we treat each other and Nothing More

***I’m a fan of NCIS, and heard this song tonight as I watched one of their reruns.  Here is a little information about this song and why it was written. 



In their video introducing Nothing More, Tim Warren and Eric Donnelly talk about the story behind the song.  They tell tat it was written in honor of Charlotte Bacon, one of the students who died at Sandy Hook Elementary School.  The band’s goal was to raise awareness and funds to help those that were devastated by the shootings and deaths at the school and to help those in the surrounding community.    

“In an effort to raise awareness for the organization Newtown Kindness, the Alternate Routes took to the task of writing some music for the organization's video to be placed on their website. The music became something much more than that…”




”New Single from The Alternate Routes. Nothing More was written for and inspired by the work of our friends at Newtown Kindness. The Nothing More single was featured on the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, as well as the December 17th 2013 NCIS episode titled 'Homesick' (Season 11 Episode 11).”




The video is taken from some old 8mm home movie footage that Tim found of his sister Katie.  Tim Warren is the leader singer of The Alternate Routes.  The original family footage was made in 1981 when Katie was 3 years old. 

THOSE WHO WAIT UPON THE LORD…

Have you NOT known?  Have you NOT heard how great my GOD IS???  HE IS THE ONE AND ONLY TRUE GOD!!!  HE IS THE EVERLASTING GOD; THE CREATOR OF THE HEAVENS AND THE EARTH!!! 




Isaiah 40:28 (NKJV)

²⁸ Have you not known?
Have you not heard?
The everlasting God, the Lord,
The Creator of the ends of the earth,
Neither faints nor is weary.
His understanding is unsearchable.





Even tho we are HIS children, we at times get tired, because we are made of flesh and blood, and, sometimes we feel worn out or weary.  But THE LORD IS NOT flesh and blood, and HE DOES NOT get tired, nor does HE get weary!!! 





The New Century Version explains it this way.  




Isaiah 40:28 (NCV)

²⁸ …The Lord is the God who lives forever,
    who created all the world.
He does not become tired or need to rest…





Psalm 121:4 (NKJV) Behold, He who keeps Israel
Shall neither slumber nor sleep.

HIS understanding is unfathomable!!!  And we will never know HIS GREAT WISDOM!!!!





Isaiah 40:28 (NCV) …No one can understand how great his wisdom is.

 



When we will feel weak and tired, HE gives us HIS power!!!  HE strengthens us. 

Isaiah 40:29 (NKJV) He gives power to the weak,
And to those who have no might He increases strength.




HE tells us in HIS WORD that the joy of the Lord is our strength.  Nehemiah 8:10




Even those that are strong and young get tired and need rest.  Even young men with great strength and energy grow weary and become worn out!!! 





Isaiah 40:30-31 (NKJV) Even the youths shall faint and be weary, And the young men shall utterly fall





BUT THOSE THAT WAIT UPON THE LORD SHALL RENEW THEIR STRENGTH!!!





NOT maybe!!!  NOT sometimes!!!  But THEY SHALL RENEW THEIR STRENGTH!!! 




What does WAIT UPON THE LORD mean???




It means to seek HIM and HIS WILL!!!  It is referring to those who are seeking HIM and who want to know HIS WORD and want to do HIS WILL, no matter what anyone else says!!!





This verse is talking about THOSE WHO WANT TO PLEASE GOD and no one else!!!  It’s talking about THOSE WHO WOULD RATHER SIT AT HIS FEET AND LISTEN TO HIM rather than spend time with anyone else!!!





And because we are more interested in GOD’s WILL and in WHAT GOD WANTS than anything else, GOD PROMISES us that we shall mount up with wings like eagles, we shall run and not be weary, and we shall walk and not faint.

Isaiah 40:31 (NKJV)

³¹ But those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.




The Amplified Bible explains it this way!!!





Isaiah 40:31 (AMP)
But those who wait for the Lord [who expect, look for, and hope in Him]
Will gain new strength and renew their power;

They will lift up their wings [and rise up close to God] like eagles [rising toward the sun];

They will run and not become weary, They will walk and not grow tired.




We are to run our race; accomplish the task that GOD has given us; with patience!!!  And we are to ever be focused on JESUS!!!   





Hebrews 12:1-2 (KJV)

¹ …let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

² Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith





We can do whatever GOD has called us to do as long as we keep our eyes on HIM!!!  As long as we set our face as a flint and we don’t allow our attention to be moved from HIM!!! 





Isaiah 50:7 (KJV) For the Lord God will help me; therefore shall I not be confounded: therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed.





WE CANNOT BE DERAILED AS LONG AS KEEP OUR EYES ON JESUS AND WE REMEMBER THAT WE SERVE THE ONE TRUE AND LIVING GOD!!!