Mercy Triumphs Over Judgement.

James 2:13b, "Mercy triumphs over judgement." This was said after comparing how we treat the rich verses the poor. "When a rich man comes in and you say, no, sit here, verses a poor man, no, you sit here..." We know that God's mercies are new every morning. (Lamentations 3:22-23) We also know that they endure forever. (Psalms 136) So we as Christians must have so much mercy that it flows freely, without hinderance, and with abundance, to everyone we know! Mercy can be defined as having compassion, or forgiveness on someone you have the power to harm or judge. We must have more mercy if we are to show the world that our God has mercy on us!

Gnats are like thoughts, they just don't want to go away!

Every morning I try and go for a walk, very sweet time with the Lord. Lately their have been gnats that are relentless. (Interestingly I am helping at an FCA camp with the title Relentless right now!) They fly in my mouth, eyes, ears & nose. There seems to be nothing I can do to get them to stop. Outside of a fire emanating from my head in every direction, I don't see them going away. When the Holy Spirit was first given to us, it came like tongues of fire above the heads of all who were waiting in the upper room, as Christ instructed them to after rising form the dead. (Acts 2:3) That's what we need when faced with our days, the thoughts, the situations that surround us. We need to "Take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ." (2 Corinthians 10:5) Also I've noticed it helps a lot when we crucify the flesh daily with it's passions. (Galatians 5:24-25) But we need to be relentless in Christ, in our pursuit of Him, as He is of us. I will continue on my walks, even if I have to wear a hat! I will praise Him in everything. I will pray, fast, I will live for Him and not for me. He is my God, and I will praise Him, my Father God and I will exult Him! Thoughts swirl around my head daily like gnats. I must have the power of The Holy Spirit at work in me, walking daily in The Spirit, so He can have all the glory! In Jesus Name, Amen!

Bonhoeffer

Here's some observations I posted on Facebook after reading the new Bonhoeffer book. When Germany's youthful generation was considering the Fuhrer, because of their lack of trust in the previous leadership of both the government and the Church; it came out of a search for meaning, and deliverance from it's troubles, looking for a savior, they elected Hitler. Out of this came this quote, "the difference between real leadership and false leadership of the Leader was this: real leadership derived it's authority from God, the source of all goodness. The Fuhrer was submitted to nothing." Bonhoeffer "Confirmands (young Christian disciples) today are like young soldiers marching to war, the war of Jesus Christ against the gods of this world. It is a war that demands the commitment of one's whole life. Is not God, our Lord, worthy of this struggle?" Dietrich Bonhoeffer around the time the Nazies were stopping the church from speaking against Hitler and the killing of the Jews When Japan attacked Pearl Harbor, Hitler had just suffered his first military defeat at the hands of the Russians. He took Japan's Pearl Harbor attack as a sign of Providance encouraging him in his mass killing spree. We must listen to the voice off God and surround ourselves with people who hear The Lord as well. I have been trying to work with friends now for over 90 days, all they seem to want to do is stop me from feeding the starving, and they believe they are hearing from God. Lord, please let us serve only You, and not our own kingdom building ways. Forgive us of our pride, please save us from the voice of the enemy. Another attempt at Hitlers life was made at an operation code named Valkyrie. After this failed bomb attempt Hitler, after a very thick table leg miraculously saved his proclaims, "It was providence that spared me. This proves I am on the right track. I feel this is a confirmation of all my work." This is really sad to me because there are so many who actually believe they are doing the will God, but are being used as tools of the enemy. "Lord save us from deception, let us be tools of peace in Your hands instead of tools of destruction in the enemy's arsonal. " Like · · Share Tim Stromer After surviving the failed bomb attempt on Hitlers life, he mailed his tattered uniform to Eva Braun, again stating about Providence, "Proof that Providence protects me and that we no longer have to fear our enemies." A radio address at midnight again stating, "I see this as another sign from Providence that I must and therefore shall continue my work." Goring of his staff then came on and said; ..."saved by a miracle...whom almighty God so visably blessed on this day." Not to be outdone, the head of the German Navy then stated, "Holy rather...has filled our hearts...Providence guarded and protected...Providence did not desert our German Fatherland..." So deceived, now this will be used as ammunition to kill even more, all credit given to Providence. Save us Lord from the terany that still stalks the hearts and minds of those given over to their evil intentions, forgive us. Friday at 10:04am via mobile · Like Tim Stromer Even a German "church" newspaper stated, " ...for this we thank God (for saving Hitler) with all our hearts and pray...for God's assistance and help in the grave tasks that (Hitler) has to perform in the most difficult times." Paul say rightly, " Even if an angel appears before you, but teaches a different doctorine than hat I have preached, DON'T LISTEN!" In these last days we must stand in The Word of God and not depart from it in anyway, we must not allow compromise of even the smallest of things if we are to stay true to His Word, every jot and tittle must be obeyed, in Jesus Name, if we are to see the glory of God. Friday at 10:15am via mobile · Like Tim Stromer The date of the failed attempt on Hitler was July 20th, on that day Bonhoeffer's readings were, Some trust in chariots and some in horses; but we will boast in the name of The Lord our God. (Psalm20:7) and If God is for us who can be against us? (Romans 8:31) next days readings were, The Lord is my Shepherd. I shall not not want. (Psalm 23:1) and, I am the Good Shepherd; I know My own, and My own know Me." (John 10:14) Friday at 10:25am via mobile · Like

His kingdom come, His will be done...

Sometimes God uses the natural things to speak about spiritual things. Hosea was a man of God, a prophet. God told him to marry a prostitute to show how unfaithful Israel was to God. My wife had a dream years ago that she was the bride, she was in the ceremony, and Jesus was the bridegroom. Recently she had cancer, she is now cancer free, but not from a miraculous healing, but through a painful sugary that was like a car wreck, and left her badly damaged. My mom a few years before had cancer and they gave her chemo, and she dies a slow painful death. This is never God's will, but we in the Church are such a mutilated, disjointed mess, that we have lost sight of the intimacy we are to have with Christ, where, "His kingdom come, His will be done, on earth as it is in heaven," is actually fulfilled. If His prayer is a prayer that is actually true, then are we supposed to be living in this world as if we are of this world? Or are we simply in this world, and not supposed to be of it? Is there cancer in heaven? Do people get mutilated in heaven? If we suffer for Christ, and die because we believe in Him, then we are blessed because we suffer for His Names sake, but if we contract some kind of deadly disease, and we die a slow painful death, that is not the same, nor is it God's will according to scripture. In James it teaches us to call together the elders of the church and pray for the sick that they may be healed. "And the prayer in faith will heal the sick." Mark 16, "and these signs will follow...they shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover..." that's the Lords will, so what has happened to the Church, His body that is supposed to be doing these things? What if the church is in need of a healing. What if the structure is so dismembered that we can't, and aren't being that body that God intended, "from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love." (Ephesians 4:16) So why are we not fitly joined together? We are so busy building our own version of His kingdom, we have left His building site and gone onto our own. Leaders are supposed to be servants, not kingdom builders. We live as if we are the ones to be served, and not the ones to be serving. Like the rich young ruler who came to Jesus and asked, "What must I do to inherit eternal life?" Jesus responded, "You know the commandments...." " I have kept them from youth." The ruler said. Jesus respond, knowing his heart, "One thing you lack, go and sell all you have, and give to the poor." (Mark 10:17-27) But the rich young ruler went away for he was very rich. Most of the leaders in the church are rich when compared to others in the world. Many of our famous preachers drive fancy cars and live in mansions, while many of their flock live in poverty. This is not the root of all evil, but it is the root of much of it. (1 Tim 6:10) We in leadership have become fat and lazy, gluttony not one of the things you hear preached about in our churches. (I am as guilty as anyone, loving my coffee flavored Haagen Dazs ice cream way to much) So if we are an undisciplined, train wreck, that brings diseases on His body, then what else should we see, but rampant sin, sickness and the like that has befallen His body? Maybe we've been building the wrong kingdom all along. Now let it be "His Kingdom come, His will be done, on earth as it is in heaven." Then we can ask, "Give us this day our daily bread, (What we need, and there are so many starving in the world) forgive us our trespasses, (We seem to be holding on to a lot of sin) as we forgive those who trespass against us. (We seem to not be such a forgiving church when we live for ourselves) Let us pray, "Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven." And then, let us live it.

It is Enough

This morning I was reminded of the tree we just had to take down in our back yard, it was going to fall on our house! Lisa had cancer, it had to be taken out, or it would kill her. The sin in me has to come out, or it will kill me. Visits by the angel of death, warnings from people I don't even know. I need to declare, IT IS ENOUGH. Enough of my flesh, enough of me. He is the potter, I am the clay. He alone is wise in understanding, He alone is good. And yet He saved me,so He alone will I serve. No more GOd's of self, only The One True, Holy God, Jesus Christ, Lord of All! He is now the sole King of my heart, the only occupant. You are Lord of Lords, and King of Kings. In Jesus Name, amen.

Fatty be gone.

Fatty be gone. When ever I eat more than I need, personally, I am eating for my pleasure. Not for my good, but for my indulgence. If I cater to my flesh, there is never anything good in that, ever. If I feed my flesh, my flesh will grow in ways I've never wanted it to. If I walk by the Spirit however, I will not fulfill the desires of my flesh, yes, flesh be gone! (Galatians 5:16) We all know that if we eat too much we can eventually eat ourselves to death. Obesity kills more Americans than any other single health issue. If you do a quick google search you will find obesity kills more people than cancer, smoking, starvation & hunger, drug use, and a host of others. If we eat too much, we are no longer eating to our health, but to our death, and, it's really selfish of me! Why do I personally eat too much? Because I like food, and I don't discipline my flesh, I go to a buffet for my body instead of buffeting my body, I will never walk in the discipline of the Lord fully! (1 Corinthians 9:27 New King James Version (NKJV) 27 But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.) One of the fruits of the Spirit is self control. (Galatians 5:22) If I am not having self control, I am not walking in the Spirit in that area of my life, and it does and will effect my hearing in most if not all the areas of my life. But if I deny my self, take up my cross and follow Him (Matthew 16:24) then I will not focus on me, I will focus on Him, the author and finisher of my faith, ( Hebrews 12:2) the great and mighty one, the holy King of Kings and Lord of Lords! I want to finish well, I want to walk in faith, but I know that if I walk in me, and not in Him, if I live to please me, and not live completely to please Him, I will find it very hard to walk by faith. He is so good, and it is so good to live the please Him instead of me. If I take the ih from the word faith, I have fat. If I am not In Him, IH, then I am In Me, fat, instead of faith. If I want His kingdom come, His will be done, which I do, then I must follow after Him, and not cater any longer to me, but to Him alone will I serve. My works in the flesh will never profit me anything, but if I sow to the Spirit I will reap life. Matthew 16: 21 From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day. 22 Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, “Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You!” 23 But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.” Take Up the Cross and Follow Him 24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. 25 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. 26 For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? 27 For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works. Peter attempted to correct Jesus in the flesh, wow, do I do that? If I walk in the flesh, I am actually potentially correcting, walking, choosing, all based on my flesh. It taints everything I do. If Peter thought he needed to correct Jesus, do I not do the same thing when I walk in the flesh. "Whatever you do to the least of these you've done to me." (Matthew 25:40) So if I, and I have, correct my kids in the flesh, then I have done what Peter has done. Even if I feel like I haven't been guilty of that, just like with God all things are possible, by the Spirit, in the flesh the end is death, for "There is a way that seems right to a man, but it's end is in death." (Proverbs 14:12) "Help me Lord in the small simple things, to hand it over to You. If YOu are to author me, my faith, then I will let You do the writing on my heart, so instead of adding fat to my heart, You can add faith to my heart. In Jesus Name, amen."

God's saving grace, Job style

Ever have a " Job" experience? This is like a renewed version of that. On my walk this morning, I was feeling like a Job experience was coming on. Pictured here is our grandbaby on the bus, you can see her in the window. Inches below her is where the SUV caved into the bus, just missing her, the paramedic said it was inches. She's OK, wouldn't stop shaking, but is now running around asking for donuts. She said to her mommy, "I didn't die, Mommy!" She was slammed against the window, but no injuries. Victory. Within minutes, a friend called and wanted the car back he was letting us use. We only own a 15 passenger van, and that has approx $1,500 worth of front end repairs that need to be done right now, that literally just got worse, all of a sudden. Then I got a letter from a lawyer that says we owe them a sum of money that they said they were donating to help us form our new non profit. At the same time, I was being attacked by someone we know who stole money from us, and is now being belligerent about it. The world has a phrase that talks about, "When it rains, it pours." The Biblical account about Job had all these terrible things happen to him within minutes, losing almost everything he had. We haven't lost everything, but this all happened, or was going on, within minutes of each other. Some, like my wife having cancer, have been a few weeks, but some of the details we're dealing with are having to happen now. Even though we have not yet seen the victory of all of this, we know in the end we will. With Job, Satan asked God if he could try Job, and God agreed. Please pray with us, as we pray, as Job did, "Even if He slay me, yet I will praise Him." The victory in ours, when the battle is The Lord's. Hosanna, Amen.