"Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the Light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life."
Yes, Follow Jesus - darkness flees!
~dkg
My heart is inditing a good matter: I speak of the things which I have made touching the king: my tongue is the pen of a ready writer. ~Psalm 78
Jesus Christ is Lord!
Light
Darkness vs Light - I could not believe my ears...The preacher said, "God won't come into your heart until the darkness is gone...you have to get rid of the darkness first..." I said to myself, What? That's impossible! There is no other way to get rid of darkness in our hearts and souls, apart from God doing it... "God is Light and in Him is no darkness...." This is how to get rid of darkness - Let the Light of God in!
"Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the Light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life."
Yes, Follow Jesus - darkness flees!
"Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the Light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life."
Yes, Follow Jesus - darkness flees!
Truth
Where there is Truth, there is: Light...Life...Faith...Freedom...Hope...Peace...Love...and Lies. Yes, lies! Lies are the arch-enemy of Truth. Where there is Truth, lies follow close behind in order to discount the truth.
"Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." That there is another way to the Father, other than through Jesus, is the biggest lie in the universe.
To alter truth is the purpose of all lies. Lies say there is no definitive truth, no pure light, no eternal life, no permanent freedom, no blessed hope, no true faith, no lasting peace, no unconditional love, and No Lies, only variations of subjective truth.
"Do not lie against the truth."
When Jesus says, "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me," truth-seekers WILL recognize the Truth, because they are people seeking "after God's own heart."
"Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." That there is another way to the Father, other than through Jesus, is the biggest lie in the universe.
To alter truth is the purpose of all lies. Lies say there is no definitive truth, no pure light, no eternal life, no permanent freedom, no blessed hope, no true faith, no lasting peace, no unconditional love, and No Lies, only variations of subjective truth.
"Do not lie against the truth."
When Jesus says, "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me," truth-seekers WILL recognize the Truth, because they are people seeking "after God's own heart."
~dkg
Willingness
God wants to use us. Does He need to? No. He can do it by Himself. But He wants to use us. Are we willing? All it takes is simple willingness to be used, and God will use us, our past, our shortcomings, our mistakes, our failures, our lost opportunities, our failed relationships and even our successes, to bring others to Himself.
There's someone that only you or I can reach for the Lord, and IF we are not willing to "Go" then God's Spirit will go all by Himself. That's how God got ahold of me. I wouldn't listen to anyone and people gave up on me. I'm glad God didn't give up on me. He came and got me all by Himself.
"No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him..."
God is the one doing all the work anyway, but, He wants to use us in the same way a loving father and farmer wants his young sons and daughters to help him out in the field. It's all about the fellowship they share and the joyous celebration when the harvest is done. It's a Family working together kind-of-thing.
~dkg
There's someone that only you or I can reach for the Lord, and IF we are not willing to "Go" then God's Spirit will go all by Himself. That's how God got ahold of me. I wouldn't listen to anyone and people gave up on me. I'm glad God didn't give up on me. He came and got me all by Himself.
"No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him..."
God is the one doing all the work anyway, but, He wants to use us in the same way a loving father and farmer wants his young sons and daughters to help him out in the field. It's all about the fellowship they share and the joyous celebration when the harvest is done. It's a Family working together kind-of-thing.
~dkg
Our Heritage
Heritage = noun. "inheritance, birthright, something transmitted by or acquired from a predecessor" <---I really like that one, because our "predecessor" is Jesus, our inheritance is from Him. So when God says...
"...No weapon formed against you shall prosper, And every tongue which rises against you in judgment You shall condemn. This is the Heritage of the servants of the Lord, And their righteousness is from Me...."
...God is saying that We Inherit Jesus' Inheritance! Did people take up weapons against Jesus? Yes! Did tongues rise up in judgment against Jesus? Yes! The religious rulers judged Jesus "guilty as sin." Beside their weapons of lies and vicious words against him to destroy his reputation and credibility, they used fists, whips, hammers, and nails and crucified him to a cross. Jesus died. What was His inheritance? Read it one more time very closely. It is our inheritance, too:
"...No weapon forged against you will prevail,
and you will refute every tongue that accuses you.
This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord,
and this is their vindication from me,”
declares the Lord." (Isaiah 54:17 NIV).
"...No weapon formed against you shall prosper, And every tongue which rises against you in judgment You shall condemn. This is the Heritage of the servants of the Lord, And their righteousness is from Me...."
...God is saying that We Inherit Jesus' Inheritance! Did people take up weapons against Jesus? Yes! Did tongues rise up in judgment against Jesus? Yes! The religious rulers judged Jesus "guilty as sin." Beside their weapons of lies and vicious words against him to destroy his reputation and credibility, they used fists, whips, hammers, and nails and crucified him to a cross. Jesus died. What was His inheritance? Read it one more time very closely. It is our inheritance, too:
"...No weapon forged against you will prevail,
and you will refute every tongue that accuses you.
This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord,
and this is their vindication from me,”
declares the Lord." (Isaiah 54:17 NIV).
~dkg
Our Sword
Swords cut. Swords Divide. Swords Kill. Swords Protect. Swords Conquer. Swords mean War.
The best swords are razor sharp. There is a Sword that is so sharp that when it cuts, it heals! A Sword so sharp that even though it divides, it unites! A Sword so sharp that even though it kills, it gives Life! A Sword so sharp that it protects and conquers All. "For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart."
Now, there is only room in Life for one sword. Having two swords leads to division, leads to battle, leads to war, leads to death. "Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword." Beside a literal sword, this verse is referring to our own personal sword to defend oneself, like our words, our devices, and our strategies to win in life.
When we have The Sword, the Word of God, in our lives, it is the only "offensive weapon" we need to win in life, to be Victorious!
"Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with Truth, and having on the breastplate of Righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of Peace; Above all, taking the shield of Faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of Salvation, and the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God."
The best swords are razor sharp. There is a Sword that is so sharp that when it cuts, it heals! A Sword so sharp that even though it divides, it unites! A Sword so sharp that even though it kills, it gives Life! A Sword so sharp that it protects and conquers All. "For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart."
Now, there is only room in Life for one sword. Having two swords leads to division, leads to battle, leads to war, leads to death. "Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword." Beside a literal sword, this verse is referring to our own personal sword to defend oneself, like our words, our devices, and our strategies to win in life.
When we have The Sword, the Word of God, in our lives, it is the only "offensive weapon" we need to win in life, to be Victorious!
"Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with Truth, and having on the breastplate of Righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of Peace; Above all, taking the shield of Faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of Salvation, and the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God."
~dkg
The Master Potter
What is more Beautiful, a smooth clay lamp that hasn't be "fired" or a mosaic, ceramic lamp?
Hands down, it is the mosaic, ceramic lamp with it's broken pieces arranged into unique patterns, (some may feel that the unfired lamp is more desirable, but a fired mosaic, ceramic lamp is more striking, stronger, more durable, and reflects light from more faceted surfaces than any unfired lamp).
In ceramics, a potter begins a lamp at the potter's wheel, creating a lamp from clay, molds it by hand, shapes it into being, then leaves it to harden. He will then pick it up, decorate it, and fire it in a hot furnace to melt into glass. Surprisingly, after a lamp has cooled, and perhaps due to its flaws, a Master Potter may sometimes let a lamp fall to his feet to be Broken. He picks up its pieces and uses them to make a more Beautiful lamp. Why would a master potter make a mosaic lamp out of the broken pieces versus just sweep them in the trash and start another lamp. Why? Because the master potter Created the lamp, He invested time, love, memories, thoughts, intentions, and plans into the lamp to make it great and beautiful. He has invested himself in the lamp, it reflects him (who he is as a lamp maker). His very name as a Master Potter is at stake. He doesn't want to discard the lamp because it is a part of himself.
God is a master potter. God created us and He Loves us. He lets us be broken, we fall at his feet worthless (but we are not worthless to God), God picks us up, plans our future piece by piece, recreates us into Beautiful lamps that reflect His Light. Believers in Jesus Christ recognize that they are "flawed" but also realize that they've been remade into beautiful mosaics. Yes, we have been "fired" in the hot furnace of trials and tribulations, we have fallen and laid broken at Jesus' feet in prayer. We have been recreated by the very hand and Spirit of God. Let your light shine!... "Thank you Lord."
~dkg
Hands down, it is the mosaic, ceramic lamp with it's broken pieces arranged into unique patterns, (some may feel that the unfired lamp is more desirable, but a fired mosaic, ceramic lamp is more striking, stronger, more durable, and reflects light from more faceted surfaces than any unfired lamp).
In ceramics, a potter begins a lamp at the potter's wheel, creating a lamp from clay, molds it by hand, shapes it into being, then leaves it to harden. He will then pick it up, decorate it, and fire it in a hot furnace to melt into glass. Surprisingly, after a lamp has cooled, and perhaps due to its flaws, a Master Potter may sometimes let a lamp fall to his feet to be Broken. He picks up its pieces and uses them to make a more Beautiful lamp. Why would a master potter make a mosaic lamp out of the broken pieces versus just sweep them in the trash and start another lamp. Why? Because the master potter Created the lamp, He invested time, love, memories, thoughts, intentions, and plans into the lamp to make it great and beautiful. He has invested himself in the lamp, it reflects him (who he is as a lamp maker). His very name as a Master Potter is at stake. He doesn't want to discard the lamp because it is a part of himself.
God is a master potter. God created us and He Loves us. He lets us be broken, we fall at his feet worthless (but we are not worthless to God), God picks us up, plans our future piece by piece, recreates us into Beautiful lamps that reflect His Light. Believers in Jesus Christ recognize that they are "flawed" but also realize that they've been remade into beautiful mosaics. Yes, we have been "fired" in the hot furnace of trials and tribulations, we have fallen and laid broken at Jesus' feet in prayer. We have been recreated by the very hand and Spirit of God. Let your light shine!... "Thank you Lord."
~dkg
Life-changing
"My Experience trumps your opinion."
For instance, I'm a mother, and I've experienced having a baby, times four. I know the pain of childbirth. I saw my babies be born and I bonded with them instantly. I held them and loved them more than I did prior to their births. I heard their first cries and comforted them. We communicated. They recognized my voice and turned their heads toward mine. Becoming a mother is a life-changing experience. What if someone said to me, "it didn'thappen" or "it wasn't real" or "it was just your imagination" or "you're deluded" about being a mother. I'd say, "My experience trumps your opinion. And beside, I speak with my kids everyday!"
Now, let's compare that to the "Christian experience." It doesn't matter what anyone's opinion is when you have met God. When you have heard his voice, when you have turned your head toward His Word; when you have bonded with Him; When you have cried out to Jesus and he has comforted you. No one can tell you, "God is not real," or "God doesn't speak to you," or "There is no God." That's about as silly sounding as someone telling me that I didn't give birth. No one understands parenthood until they become one. It's the exact same thing when you become a Christian.
For instance, I'm a mother, and I've experienced having a baby, times four. I know the pain of childbirth. I saw my babies be born and I bonded with them instantly. I held them and loved them more than I did prior to their births. I heard their first cries and comforted them. We communicated. They recognized my voice and turned their heads toward mine. Becoming a mother is a life-changing experience. What if someone said to me, "it didn'thappen" or "it wasn't real" or "it was just your imagination" or "you're deluded" about being a mother. I'd say, "My experience trumps your opinion. And beside, I speak with my kids everyday!"
Now, let's compare that to the "Christian experience." It doesn't matter what anyone's opinion is when you have met God. When you have heard his voice, when you have turned your head toward His Word; when you have bonded with Him; When you have cried out to Jesus and he has comforted you. No one can tell you, "God is not real," or "God doesn't speak to you," or "There is no God." That's about as silly sounding as someone telling me that I didn't give birth. No one understands parenthood until they become one. It's the exact same thing when you become a Christian.
~dkg
Judging Others
Here's an interesting insight in Romans 2:1: "“Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things.”
Let's take this Bible verse at face value (not digging for deeper spiritual meaning which God's Word always has) and look at it's face value first and foremost. We read that those who judge others are ironically guilty of the very thing they judge others for! So, if you want to really know what's deep in someone's heart, pay close attention to the words they speak and the judgements they make against others.
Let's take this Bible verse at face value (not digging for deeper spiritual meaning which God's Word always has) and look at it's face value first and foremost. We read that those who judge others are ironically guilty of the very thing they judge others for! So, if you want to really know what's deep in someone's heart, pay close attention to the words they speak and the judgements they make against others.
Pay very close attention indeed.
~dkg
Symbols
Why does seeing 777 fill us with winning vibes, but when we see see 666, we think of evil? God did that. The Bible sets apart 666 as "the mark of the Beast." 666 has symbolic meaning. Mankind was created on the sixth day. Man is a triune being: body soul, spirit.
Why is it that many people gravitate to 666 and embrace it in art, music, literature, even though it has negative connotations? It's something to think about. Maybe some people do not take it seriously. However, 666 is a warning to "Beware."
"For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil."
Surely God's number is 777. He always wins over evil!
"And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God."
"Holy! Holy! Holy! is the Lord!"
~dkg
"For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil."
Surely God's number is 777. He always wins over evil!
"And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God."
"Holy! Holy! Holy! is the Lord!"
~dkg
Idols
I remember the day Elvis died. He was 42. His mother had died at age 42, and Elvis walked around confessing that he was going to die at the same age his mother did. He managed to pull it off.
Elvis was "The King" but I hadn't worshiped him; his music wasn't special to me, except for "Blue Christmas" which came on the radio during the holidays. I loved that song! But after Elvis died, I was awed with him, and listening to his songs was like discovering hidden, rare diamonds, there were only so many. "There is no hope of going to an Elvis concert now," and I kicked myself for not paying any attention to him when he was alive. Shortly afterward, Elvis became my idol.
Imagine having a "dead idol" with no chance of ever seeing them alive in person. Well, all idols are dead, even if your idol is living and breathing now, he or she or it, is essentially dead in the end. We're all "the walking dead." Idols do nothing for us, except remind us of our mortality. When I hear an Elvis song now, in the back of my mind I think of his death. And that goes for other's songs, movies, and works of art of the dead.There is something about artists in that their death (especially an untimely death) magnifies their works.
Jesus was very popular when he was on earth. He had crowds following him, as many as 5,000 men, not even counting the women and children. Many more people never paid any attention to his life or message....until after he died. Then Boom! The news spread out. He was only 33, and died just like he said he would. But God, Rose Jesus from the dead. "Jesus is alive!"
Jesus is the "King of Kings." He is not an idol, he is not someone whom we worship who can do nothing for us, or whom we will never see alive. .....We all will!
"That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."
~dkg
Elvis was "The King" but I hadn't worshiped him; his music wasn't special to me, except for "Blue Christmas" which came on the radio during the holidays. I loved that song! But after Elvis died, I was awed with him, and listening to his songs was like discovering hidden, rare diamonds, there were only so many. "There is no hope of going to an Elvis concert now," and I kicked myself for not paying any attention to him when he was alive. Shortly afterward, Elvis became my idol.
Imagine having a "dead idol" with no chance of ever seeing them alive in person. Well, all idols are dead, even if your idol is living and breathing now, he or she or it, is essentially dead in the end. We're all "the walking dead." Idols do nothing for us, except remind us of our mortality. When I hear an Elvis song now, in the back of my mind I think of his death. And that goes for other's songs, movies, and works of art of the dead.There is something about artists in that their death (especially an untimely death) magnifies their works.
Jesus was very popular when he was on earth. He had crowds following him, as many as 5,000 men, not even counting the women and children. Many more people never paid any attention to his life or message....until after he died. Then Boom! The news spread out. He was only 33, and died just like he said he would. But God, Rose Jesus from the dead. "Jesus is alive!"
Jesus is the "King of Kings." He is not an idol, he is not someone whom we worship who can do nothing for us, or whom we will never see alive. .....We all will!
"That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."
~dkg
The Rapture
"Thou crownest the year with thy goodness" ~Psalm 65
"Happy New Year!" 2016
This may be the year of the Lord's return . . . .
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