The Sun Rises and the Rain Falls on both the Just and the Unjust

     "Whoever then relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but he who does them and teaches them shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven."  ~Matthew 5:19

     And Elohim spoke all these Words, saying, "I am God your Elohim, who brought you out of the land of Mitsrayim, out of the house of slavery.  

1. You do not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of that which is in the heavens above, or which is in the earth beneath, or which is in the waters under the earth.  You do not bow down to them nor serve them.  For I, God your Elohim am a jealous El, visiting the crookedness of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, but showing loving-commitment to thousands, to those who love Me and guard My commands.
2. You do not bring the Name of God your Elohim to naught, for God does not leave the one unpunished who brings His Name to naught.
3. Remember the Sabbath day, to set it apart.  Six days you labour, and shall do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of God your Elohim.  You do not do any work-you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates.  For in six days God made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day.  Therefore God blessed the Sabbath day and set it apart.
4.  Respect your father and your mother, so that your days are prolonged upon the soil which God your Elohim is giving you. 
5.  You do not murder.
6.   You do not commit adultery.
7.  You do not steal.
8.   You do not bear false witness against your neighbour. 
9.   You do not covet your neighbour's house, you do not covet your neighbour's wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey,
10. or whatever belongs to your neighbour.  ~Exodus 20:1-17 

       And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.  Therefore, go and make taught ones of all the nations, immersing them in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Set-apart Spirit, teaching them to guard all that I have commanded you.  And see, I am with you always, until the end of the age."  Amen.  ~Matthew 28:18-20 

What do you think about fasting for spiritual/religious reason?

 A brother minister in the Lord invited us to a global 3 day fast recently.  So I decided to join in the 3 day fast.  I chose to go without food of any kind for 3 days and only drink water to sustain me.  I teach zumba dance fitness 4 days a week, in which 2 of those were on the fasting schedule.  I suffered hunger.  I was sad to deprive myself of food.  But, I chose to do so, to deny my flesh the food it wanted.  I watched a video on an Esther study.  I also read the book of Esther.  Then I read through Revelations, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd John, 1st and 2nd Peter, and the book of James.  

I never even attempted to do a 3 day fast before today.  The most I ever did was a one meal a day fast for 10 days, but I drank smoothies on the workout days, because I was in fear that I would faint or damage my body if I were to do otherwise.  That was last year in September 2022.  This year, in March 2023, I decided to try.  I still can't believe that I did the 3 day fast.  With Christ all things are possible.

I spent some time examining my heart during this time.  I was not happy to be fasting, to be choosing to go without food for a 3 days period of time.  But, I chose to humble myself in doing this; I died to my flesh in giving up eating for a period of time.  I had to rely upon the Lord for strength to endure, and for the strength from Him to even be able to do it.  Even though I suffered physically by going without foods for a limited amount of time, Christ Jesus suffered way more than that when He gave up His majesty in becoming human, and carrying His cross on the way to his death by crucifixion!  Yet, for the JOY set before Him (that would be me, and every person who would come to believe in Him for salvation, that can include you if you are not yet a believer) He endured the cross.  Thank You dear Lord Jesus Christ of Nazareth for Your sacrificial love for me! 

During this fast, I also had a dream.  In one of my dreams I was holding a microphone and waiting for my turn.  I think I was going to be speaking (not singing, but who knows).  So I seemed to be waiting for my turn to speak by holding the microphone.  I imagine that God would want me to speak HIS THOUGHTS, and HIS HEART and HIS MIND to the listeners.  Also, during the fasting period, one thought that came to mind is I gained a desire to take and post pictures, with a word or life lesson attached to it; another way of saying it is teaching through word picture.  A few other ideas also came to my heart and mind that were probably of God as well.

My body is a temple for the Holy Spirit.  Now that I've emptied it out of foods, I only want to put clean things into it!  I want to keep my temple clean!  Oh Lord, please help me!

I am also developing a relationship with the Holy Spirit.  I am becoming more aware of what His Voice sounds like to me in my mind and heart.

I highly recommend fasting for anyone who wants to draw near to God.  Maybe start with one day a week fasting one meal a day.  Take time to build up to one day, two days, and so on.  Seek God in the prayer closet, the secret place, meet with Him through prayer and Bible study.  Confess and forsake any sins that you've done.  I want to live my life for the glory of Jesus Christ in all that I think, say and do.  How about you?  

May Jesus Christ bless anyone reading this blog today.

Connect the Dots

Introduction

What we believe or don't believe about the Bible, the Living Word of God, is of utmost importance.  I cannot stress that enough.  What we think, and what we believe, matters.  One's eternal life, where they will spend eternity, forever and ever and ever, may hinge on whether he/she believes truth or lies.  While right now I don't have time to explain as fully as what might be needed in order for another to understand, here are a few topics of extreme importance when it comes to eschatology (end times understanding).

What You Need to Know

1. Genesis account of creation
2. God created mankind as male and female
3. Giants in the land!
4. The Tower of Babel
5. Noah and the Flood, why did God destroy mankind at that time?
6. God did not give us a spirit of fear...
7. Species and GMOs...in the beginning God created...and declared that it was good
8. Did God create GMOs?
9. Matthew 24 Jesus said concerning the end of the age...be not deceived!
10. Who controls the banks?
11. Who owns the media?
12. Is it real news or propaganda?
13. Study to show yourself approved...is it Bible only or are other topics included?
14. Should we, as believers, have a wide range of knowledge?
15. Is the "science" the mainstream media promote true science?
16. What about witchcraft today?
17. What is the fastest growing religion of today?  
18. What is universalism?
19. Did Jesus really say He is the ONLY way to the Father?  (Hint:  read John 14:6)
20. How is the book of Revelation relevant today?
21. What promise does book of Revelation give to the reader and listener of it?  (Hint: read Revelation 1:3)

To Be Continued...

I hope that some of these topics and questions will get your mind stirring as you seek truth for today.  Time is short.  Getting the gospel out to as many people as possible, that they would be saved, is of utmost importance at this time.  Jesus Christ gave us this commandment, if you love me you will obey my commands.  Jesus Christ commands us to teach everyone everywhere to obey all that He said to do.  (Hint:  see Matthew 28:16-20).  We must obey God rather than man, when they are in conflict.  To do otherwise could have eternal consequences.  

The sin issue is the most important issue today.  Jesus said all have sinned.  We all have sinned.  Go back and read the Ten Commandments in Exodus, the 2nd book of the Bible.  What is the 1st commandment?  Honor the Lord your God and serve Him only; have no other gods besides the One True God Jesus Christ.  Honor your father; honor your mother.  Do not steal; do not commit adultery.  Do not covet your neighbor's wife; do not covet your neighbor's belongings.  To break even just one commandment, Jesus says we're guilty of all.  Even just thinking dishonorably (lustfully) at another woman (or man) God considers sin inside the heart.

So, we must be cleansed from our sin, or else the penalty of our sin is death.  For no unrighteousness will inherit the kingdom of God.  See Revelations for more on a list of who doesn't get to get into heaven, and make sure you're not on that list!  The "good news" is that God has provided an acceptable way of getting to the Father, and that is through belief and acceptance of His only begotten Son Jesus Christ, for salvation and deliverance.  Call on His name today, the name of the Lord Jesus Christ of Nazareth.  Confess your sin to Him, and ask Him to forgive you and cleanse you from ALL unrighteousness.  Know that God IS FAITHFUL and JUST to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Then, go be a do-er of the Word, as Christ commands us in the book of James.  Read God's Holy Word, and seek to obey all that He says to do.  Sit at the feet of Jesus in worship.  Go out and serve others.  Tell people about Jesus; pray for others. 

I hope this was helpful to anyone reading.  Jesus Christ loves you more than you might ever know.  For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son that whoever would believe might have eternal life.  Put all your hope and faith in the One True God of the Universe, Jesus Christ of Nazareth.  Please, do it TODAY.

To be continued, if the Lord allows.  May Jesus Christ richly bless you.