​Love you all, praying for you.
 
I just love God’s Word.  It gives secret weapons.   One of these – A thankful heart.  Something like this doesn’t come naturally, it must be chosen repeatedly.   How thankful are you?  It’s a choice.  Have you ever noticed someone who is thankful.  First they live an awesome life.  Even if it sucks, they’re still thankful.  But more than that – it draws favor.  If someone is thankful  - you want to be around them.  They are just positive people.  They remind you of the blessings you have.  If they are thankful for you and the things you do for them, you want them as a friend, and you’re prone to do more.  You’ll also want to do everything you can for them.  A thankful heart draws favor like a magnet, whether from God or other people.  What does God say about thankful?  How important is it to God?  First what is it?  Thankful – grateful; impressed with a sense of kindness received, and ready to acknowledge it.  Grateful – having a sense of benefit; kindly disposed towards someone from whom a favor has been received.  Thankful is a sense of what you have received, and being drawn to acknowledge it with gratitude.  Gratitude, an emotion of the heart, excited by a favor or benefit received.  A sentiment of kindness or good towards a benefactor; thankfulness.  An agreeable emotion, consisting of or accompanied by good will to a benefactor, and a disposition to make a suitable return of benefits or services, or when no return can be made, with a desire to see that benefactor prosperous and happy.  Gratitude is a virtue of the highest excellence, as it implies a feeling and generous heart, and a proper sense of duty.  That’s Webster 1828.  What does God say?    I Thessalonians 5:18 – In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.  Ephesians 5:20 – Always give thanks to God, the Father for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.   Hebrews 13:15 – Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God the sacrifice of praise, that is the fruit of our lips giving thanks.  What is the fruit of your lips? How thankful are you.  Are you thankful on purpose?  Do you purpose to be thankful!  Not doing it is dangerous.  God said the Israelites forgot to be thankful, and when they did, they started grumbling and complaining, it cost them the promised land.  Romans 1:21 talks of those who knew God but didn’t glorify him, and failed to be thankful, their minds became futile, and their hearts were darkened, thinking themselves wise, they became fools.  God has a different habit, life and future for you.   Colossians 2:6 – So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as your were taught and overflowing with thankfulness.   What do you overflow with? What comes out of your mouth constantly, without thinking.  What do you want to be – in light of what God has given you.  Psalms 92:1 – It is good to give thanks to the LORD and to sing praises to your name, O Most High.  To proclaim your love in the morning, and your faithfulness at night.  Praying that you will grow a thankful heart – it enters you in his presence.  If thankfulness overflows from you – you stay in his presence, you will draw his favor and the favor of others.  Praying that God grows in you a thankful heart, a heart of thanksgiving.  Psalms 140:13 – Surely the righteous will give thanks to your name, the upright will dwell in your presence.  Praying that you will overflow with a thankful heart, so you continually live in His presence.  Praying that you will review the PRISM Topic – Thankful, Thanksgiving, and Thankful 100 – one hundred things to be thankful for – that are not money or stuff.  If God commands us to be thankful, He has a purpose in it.  It draws you to Him, and it draws Him to you. 
 
Love you all,
dad

​Love you all, praying for you,  
(Praying that you will stay with me on this one.  His Word can change your life.)
 
 I just love God’s Word – it calls you out. And then, it gives you a way out!   If you are a Christian, and have given your life to Christ…  Have you ever struggled with sin in your life?  Are you right now?  What is sin?  Anything different than what God said  Any violation of God’s laws of how people should live and treat one another. Anything not holy, man’s way not God’s way.  Anything less than His Word, His will or His best.  That’s sin.  First things first.  Let’s just tell the truth.  Sin is not a struggle, it’s a choice.  You didn’t struggle with it, it wasn’t much of a struggle.  You just got tempted, and did it - again.  Like a bull with a ring through its nose, it didn’t take much, you have no power over it, it has power over you.  You choose sin, because you love sin, more than you love God.  You prefer the natural tendency of the flesh, the passions and the temporary pleasures of the world, more than the praise and blessing of God.  You’re not struggling with sin, you’re doing it, you’re choosing it.  And you don’t know exactly how to stop. 
 
Maybe it’s the sin that so easily besets you, or a whole list of new ones that you don’t know how to resist.  You’re hanging out with the wrong people, or in the wrong places, or feeding your eyes and mind with the things of the world, the influences of this sinful culture.  You’re not fixing your eyes on Jesus, renewing your mind with His Word, and moving your feet.  Rather than separating yourself from it, and feeding your spirit over your flesh, you’re indulging it and the results are predictable.  Like Paul said, Romans 7:15, 24-25 - The things I want to do, I don’t do, and the things I don’t want to do, those are the things I keep on doing...  What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?  Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our LORD!  Rom 6:11-18 – Count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.  Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires.  Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness.  For sin will not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace.  Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him as slaves, you are slaves to the one whom you obey – whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or slaves to obedience, which lead to righteousness?  (Bob Dylan was right, “Ya gotta serve somebody, it may be the devil or it may be the LORD, but ya gotta serve somebody.)  But thanks be to God that though you used to be slaves to sin, you wholeheartedly obeyed the teaching to which you are devoted.  You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness… Just as you used to offer the parts of your body in slavery to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer them in slavery to righteousness leading to holiness…  Paul shared that Jesus died so you could be free from sin, so it doesn’t control you anymore!  He goes on to ask.  In verse 20 – When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the control of righteousness - but what did that get you?  Those things result in death.  But now that you have set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. (And life more abundantly.)  For the wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our LORD.  So what is life?  Being a slave to obedience which leads to righteousness, rather than slaves to sin, which leads to death.  So how do you walk in victory over sin in your life?   
 
First, if you haven’t been saved yet, if you haven’t put your faith in Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and committed to Him leading your life, you’re not really concerned with sin.  You are just living a life on the path that leads to destruction.  Doesn’t matter how good you think you are… You’re either ignorant of your sin, and the wages of it – which is death and eternal separation from God…  Or you have rationalized your sin – saying it’s not really sin (It is), or saying “God is ok with it” (He’s not), or I’m not that bad, not as bad as that person (Irrelevant),  Or you’ve just given up hope, I can’t stop it, so why fight it.  The Ostrich method of dealing with sin, burying your head in the sand, is what you’re going with.  But reality is, the sin problem you have is not about being good or bad.  God said there is no one good, not even one.  All have sinned and fallen short of the glory (the Holiness) of God – which disqualifies you from heaven.  That’s why He had to die for your sin.  You need a Savior!  Your problem is, one sin made you a sinner, unholy not holy, disqualified from heaven, no matter what else you do.  If you murder someone, you are a murderer.  Just cause you haven’t done it for over a week now, or love your Mom, doesn’t remove what you did.  Murderers don’t get into heaven, they are disqualified.  Whether murderers, liars, the lustful, the prideful, the greedy, if you stole something, or took the Name of the LORD in vain, slandered someone, caused division instead of unity.  But you haven’t done this just once, you’re got a record when it comes to sin, just like that life-long criminal and it ain’t pretty.  If you did just one sin, and only did it one time, you’re a sinner.  The Ten Commandments alone, much less the law of Moses, or the Commands of Christ – reveal you’re disqualified from Heaven, you have no chance to be in the Presence of a Holy God – completely pure, and without sin – the requirement of heaven.  The brightest light that anyone has ever seen, you can’t even look into it – He’s that pure and Holy.  You’re disqualified, your sin condemns you, not God.  He’s just the Judge – who died himself for you.  What will send you to hell is actually not just sin, it’s the rejection of Jesus, God himself, who died for you, your only chance, the only way, but you won’t choose Him.  You couldn’t pay for your sin anyway – you aren’t the sinless Lamb of God sent to take away the sin of all the world.  So you couldn’t even die for yourself, you are dead in your sin.  What you think about sin doesn’t matter.  The truth is - Sin separates you from Holy God – and if you die, you will be separated from Him for eternity in a place called hell.  You need a Savior, Jesus Christ, and you’ll be a new creature, forgiven, and reconciled to God in relationship with Him as His Son and Daughter.  You can do that right now.  A: Admit you’re a sinner, repent, think differently about it, it’s not ok!  Repent and turn to him,  B: Believe Jesus died in your place to cover your sin, that God raised Him from the dead, and then! C:  Commit your life to Him from this day forward, to live as He commands, and He’ll help you!  If you do that, you will be saved, you’ll live in heaven with Him, for all of eternity, He promised in His Word.  If you did that, please call me, I’d love to pray for you, and encourage you in your new life journey.   
 
But today’s daily huddle is for those who have already been Saved, but find themselves still struggling with the sin that wants them back…  Let’s say you got saved, maybe a year ago already.  You are now a new creation in Christ!  But the old life wants you back.  Leave sin in the past, or it will control you again.  The devil wants you to sin, even after you become a Christian – so it causes a wedge to come between you and God - so you will be separated in your relationship with God, under His correction, His wrath, or ultimately, His judgment.  The devil wants to entice you back onto the merry-go-round of guilt, so he can bring you to ruin, and steal the fruit that God has for your life, and keep you from the purpose He created you for. 
 
So if you’ve been choosing sin first, not God first, in some areas in your life… How do you overcome that sin nature that wants to control you – even after you have become a child of God through faith in Jesus Christ as your Savior?  How do you truly live by that salvation commitment to living life with Him as your LORD.  He’s not your LORD if you’re still stuck in sin, it’s still lording it over you.  If your sin nature is too strong, how do you resist the devil, so he flees from you, so you can leave sin behind, so you walk in the righteousness that God has for you.   This is not a formula, these are just some things that if you follow God’s Word in doing them, God will give you the power to overcome sin.  Your choice, but these will surely help you – to walk in victory – in that newness of life! 
 
Eleven Things To Overcome Sin  
 
.1 Salvation – without Jesus, you cannot escape sin, it owns you.  You are a slave to it. 
 
.2 Baptism of the Holy Spirit – it’s the power God promised to help you overcome sin (witness means martyr – dying to the old life, so you can live the new life in Christ).  It’s the power that helps you choose His Grace!  Your choice, but with the Filling of the Holy Spirit - you’ll have the power.  That’s why God said, “Don’t leave Jerusalem til you get.”
 
.3 The Fear of the LORD – Love what God loves, hate what God hates.  He hates sin.  People sin because there is no fear of God before their eyes, they love sin, more than they love God.  Learn the Fear of the LORD.  The Fear of the LORD is to turn from evil, fully obey, say nothing harmful, seek peace and pursue it.  See the Fear of the LORD packet.  If you learn the fear of the LORD, you’ll hate sin.  It will be repulsive to you.  You won’t go back. 
 
.4 A More Powerful Law!  The law of righteousness that now controls you is infinitely more powerful than the law of sin that used to control you.  You are the righteousness of God in Christ, you’re just still submitting your members to sin, instead of submitting them to Christ.  Adam sinned once, and it enslaved everyone after him.  That’s the law of sin that controlled you.   But Jesus didn’t just die for one sin, Adam’s sin - that’s controlled everybody all these years…  Jesus died once for every sin ever committed by every one ever!  So Righteousness could reign over you like sin used to. The law of sin that controlled you – came from just one sin.  The Law of Righteousness that controls you now if you let it - came from every sin ever - forgiven!  Past present and future, cancelled by the Blood of Jesus.  Paul said if the law of sin that came from one sin controlled you, how much more will the law of righteousness that came from ‘every sin forgiven’ now control you!  The Law of Righteousness from Jesus, is infinitely more powerful than the law of sin from Adam.  A trillion times stronger.  Every human sin forgiven, is way bigger than Adam’s one sin.  All you need to do is walk in His Law of Righteousness.  Submit your members to it.  Like a chain saw versus a hand saw.  Start the engine! 
 
.5 God’s Word – How can a young man cleanse His way by taking heed according to your Word.  Your word I have hid in my heart, so I won’t sin against you.  His Word brings victory over sin.  Ephesians 4:13 - It is God who works in you - both to will and to act according to his good purpose.  He even gives you the want to, the Grace to Choose Grace, the way out.  Soak in God’s Word, and your mind will be transformed.  PRISM and PRISM Topics will help you!  You will get the mind of Christ – which is righteousness, not the mind of man – which is slave to sin. 
 
.6 PiVAT Daily – Get God’s Plan for you today, and do it, and you won’t be walking down her street near her house!  You’ll be nowhere near there, you’re busy doing better things – that God planned for you today!  Sin isn’t one of them.  Learn to obey what He told you today, be faithful to obey His plans for you in this hour - and you’ll be distanced from anything that leads to sin. 
 
.7 Confess – confess your sin to God and He will forgive you, ( I John 1:9) and confess your sins one to another and pray for each other that you may be healed. (James 5:16)  If you choose wrong, and you confess and forsake it, God will forgive you.  But God also says, confess your sin to one another and pray for each other, that you may be healed.  Few Christians actually do this.  They’re embarrassed, they don’t want others to know what they did, and the devil tells them “better just keep this one to yourself.” Keep this in the dark, rather than bring it into the light.  Things in the dark usually remain undealt with, so they remain. 
 
.8 Daily Call – Exhort one another daily while it is called today, so that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.  If you get hardened to it, you’ll go back.  You need a Daily Call – Hebrews 3:13.  Start obeying God’s plan for you, and transforming your mind with His Word, and overcoming (the devil and sin) by the blood of the Lamb and the Word of your testimony.  This is a tool that God prescribed to walk in the law of righteousness. Exhort one other daily.  Ask God who He wants you to walk with in a Daily Call.
 
.9 Resist – Choose Grace.  The next time temptation comes.  Choose Grace to say no to ungodliness.  You make that choice now, not in the heat of the moment.  David said, “I have inclined my heart to obey your word.” Decide now, commit to choose Grace now!  So you will when you need to.  Speak with your mouth, and move your feet.  Leave your coat behind if you have to.  Choose Grace.  The power God gives – to say no to sin.    
 
.10 Declare – David’s Declarations, Declare what you will do! Obey every time! And what will God do?  He’ll bring victory!   Psalms 101:2-3 - I will walk in my house with blameless heart, I will set before my eyes no unclean thing, the deeds of unfaithful men I hate, they will not cling to me.  David knew the power of God’s Word, and the power of his word in agreement – the power of declaration. 
 
.11 Intervals – In an area of your life, if it's un-surrendered, shorten the interval. If you can’t go a day without cussing, start with an hour.  Shorten the interval, Ask God for help this hour.  Let Jesus do the work, He’s already done it.  He’s done it for you!  Declare God’s Word, Your Obedience, His faithfulness, and Praise Him for delivering you!  You can declare by faith – He promised.  Then start filling your mouth with Praise, and truth and life.  If you’re praising, you’re not cussing.  Celebrate every hour the Victory God just gave you over sin.  Share your testimony!  Get some obedience momentum.  Resist the devil and he will flee from you.  He’ll come at you with the kitchen sink, but if you start getting that obedience momentum, He’ll back off – He doesn’t like taking the “L.”  He’ll try again later, but you’re ready, God’s Word is making you stronger!  God will help you see Him coming.  You’ll Choose Grace – cause the Law of Righteousness that now controls you is infinitely more powerful than the law of sin that once did.  You’ve got some momentum, you’ve got a testimony that you overcome with.  And more testimonies are coming!  Every day is a new victory.  It’s that law of righteousness that now controls you!
 
Note: If you ever fail to choose Grace to Say No to sin.  Confess immediately, To God and a friend.  And turn from it.  I John 1:9 – God will forgive you.  Get back on your horse – and obey this hour!  Shorten the interval to fifteen minutes of you have to.  Start a new string of obedience momentum.  Get busy with God’s plan for you today – just fully obey what He told you to do in this hour.  Thank Him for His mercy and forgiveness.  Soak in the Word that tells you what He did to free you, and cleanse you.  The Bible says He even forgives the guilt of your sin.  The devil will try to throw that back on you, decline, resist him.  That isn’t for you to carry anymore.  God forgave you, so the guilt the devil tries to put on you – is fake.  If you aren’t turning from sin, it’s not fake guilt, you’re guilty.  But if you confess, repent, and forsake it, God will forgive you for sure. Thank Him for it, and just choose grace in this hour. Celebrate every victory over sin. It’s a big deal!  God is faithful!  The Law of Righteousness now at work in you.  The Holy Spirit whom you are walking in. Pray in the Spirit, build yourself up in your most holy faith,  Speak God’s Word, Declare that you are choosing His Way out, and you will choose it the next time, and every time!  Move your feet, Get about your business what He told you to do in this hour, and praise Him for His mercy and grace – His victory in your life, that takes you from victory to victory, from glory to glory. 
 
If you have Jesus in you, the Holy Spirit filling you, you have a new law controlling you, the law of righteousness infinitely more powerful than the law of sin that once controlled you.  Submit your members to Christ, not sin, and do these things that His Word says.  And you will walk in victory over sin, in newness of life.  The fear of the LORD will be a shield for you.  Read the PRISM Topic – You’re not fearing God for nothing.  It will encourage you.  Learn the Fear of the LORD, and you’ll choose the grace that comes with that law of righteousness.  You will gain victory over sin, it will no longer control you, you are now controlled by a much higher power – the law of righteousness.  Far more powerful than the law of sin ever was.  Because of Jesus, your Savior and your LORD.  The One who gives you power to overcome.  Christ in you, the hope of glory!
 
Love you all,
dad

Love you all, praying for you,

​I just love God’s Word – it is so practical.  It is truth and life, and instruction for life.  God reveals practical ways to walk in His Word, so you walk in His success...  My prayer is that you will from this day forward, for the rest of your life – that you will use a PiVAT Journal - where you write down what God tells you.  Just download a 3-Day PiVAT Journal, from hearwelldone.org.  Or get a full month PiVAT Journal. (Text me, we’ll send you a printed one). or use any notebook for a PiVAT, PRISM and Conversations page.   Has God ever spoken to you?  Have you ever received a Word from God?  How important to you was it?  Do you remember what He said?  Did you write it down?  If not, you probably won’t remember.  The Bible says Samuel didn’t let one word from God fall to the ground.  He wrote it down – that’s how.  He came back to it, meditated on it, so He could be sure to obey it.  Samuel didn’t let one Word fall to the ground.  If God says something, how valuable is it to you?  You could live for a year, even a lifetime, on just one word from the LORD, but He wants to speak to you every day! Abraham lived 25 years on a promise, before the next time was recorded that God spoke to him.  If God speaks and you value it, then treasure it! Keep it in your mind and heart, and do it, repeatedly.  Some people say that verse means that the Israelites didn’t let one word from Samuel fall to the ground.  Hardly, the Israelites were a stiff-necked people. Samuel’s word wasn’t good enough for them, they wanted a king… This was talking about Samuel not letting one word from God fall to the ground.  A verse or so later, it said “And God continued to appear to Samuel at Shiloh.”  Why did He do that?  Because Samuel valued what He said. He wrote it down. So God gave him more.  Same thing with you.  Where is your Shiloh? Where God appears to you?  Interesting… Shiloh means tranquil, secure, successful, be happy, prosper, be in safety. Tranquil, Shiloh is that quiet place that God speaks to you. That place where you meet with God.  That place where God calls you to meet with Him.  For Jesus, it was often Gethsemane.  There are three quiet places where you can meet with God.  (Or more… He can appear to you anywhere at any time He chooses.)  But here are three quiet places you can go, to meet with Him - to hear His voice.  #1 PiVAT before dinner. Praying that quiet place is your never miss habit, the most important one of your life, by far.  It’s where you get His plans for you for tomorrow, so you can do them!  Otherwise, how would you know? It’s where you write down the testimony you overcome with – that He did so far today as you’re obeying.  It’s that place where you remember what He told you to do, so you can finish strong, share with your spouse, get counsel in the night season, and where you receive His plans for you for tomorrow - so you can hit the ground running in the good that He has planned for you.  To be a doer and not a hearer only, you need to first be a hearer.  The second quiet place you can go.  #2 PRISM time with Him.  Those five things you can do in God’s Word every day.  Where you transform your mind, learn to think like He thinks, where He can reveal his love for you, His confirmation of the plans He laid out for you, (Romans 12:1-2) instruction for your success today.  Hope and encouragement that you need, and a seed deposit into your spirit, so you can share with others the truth and life of His Word for them, at the divine appointments that God sets.  Those conversations God will bring you to today – to share the love of God for them, the life, wisdom, and hope of God, and the good that He has for them.  And the third quiet place you can go.  #3 His Presence.  Just sitting at His feet, stilling your mind and heart before him, listening to what He has to say, and being ok if He doesn’t say anything yet.  Just to be with Him.  It might be silent, it might be in the atmosphere of worship – The quiet place belongs to Him, so He’ll lead you – in what it looks like this time.  Praying that you, like Samuel will have a PiVAT Journal, where you write down what God told you.  So like Samuel, you will not let one word fall to the ground. 
 
Love you all,
dad

Love you all, praying for you.
 
I just love God’s Word.  It gives hope.  Have you ever lost hope, or felt like you were running short?  Maybe you’re under attack, have been struggling recently, or have been waiting a long time for God to answer, and it seems like He’s forgotten?  Maybe you’re facing a mountain, a great challenge, or just wondering if it’s all worth it?  A little discouraged, or even tempted to thrown in the towel altogether?  How do you get hope?  God has it, He gives it, He is the God of hope.  What is hope?  An expectancy.  A desire of something good, with an expectation of obtaining it, a belief that it is obtainable, the feeling that something wanted, can be had, or will turn out for the best.   So how do you get hope? 
 
Eleven Ways To Get Hope. 
 
#1  Set the LORD always before you – His Word with your mouth.  Psalm 16:8 – I have set the LORD always before me, because He is at my right hand, I will not be moved.  Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest in hope. 
 
#2  Fix the eyes of your heart.  Speak His Word with your mouth to fill your heart.  Ephesians 1:18 – I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order to know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints and his incomparably great power for us who believe. 
 
#3 Chose joy about hope.  Romans 12:12 – Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.  Proverbs 10:28 – The hope of the righteous brings joy, but the expectation of the wicked will perish.  Psalm 146:5 – But joyful are those who have the God of Israel as their helper, whose hope is in the LORD their God.  Rom 5:2 – Through whom we have gained access by faith in which we now stand.  And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.  Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance, perseverance, character; and character, hope.  And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. 
 
#4 Soak in His Word.  More Word, more hope.  Romans 15:4 – For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope. Psalm 78:5 For he established a testimony in Jacob… That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God. 
 
#5  Believe that God is the God of hope, and pray in the Spirit.  Romans 15:13 – May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. 
 
#6  Put your hope in God.  With your mouth.  Learn to declare what you believe and what you will do.  Psalm 119:114 – You are my hiding place and my shield:  I have put my hope in your word.  Psalm 119:149 – Remember your word to your servant, for you have given me hope.  My comfort in my suffering is this: Your promise preserves my life.  Psalm 130:7  O Israel, put your hope in the LORD, because his love is constant, and He is always willing to save. 
 
#7 Tell yourself and Tell God  Psalm 71:14-15 – As for me, I will always have hope, I will praise you more and more.  My mouth will tell of your righteousness and of your salvation all day long, though I know not its measure.   Psalm 71:5  For you are my hope, O Lord God, you are my confidence from my youth.
 
#8 Choose Courage in hope.  Psalm 31:24 – Be of good courage, and he will strengthen your heart, all you who hope in the LORD. 
 
#9 Wait patiently. Fear God. Remember your testimony.  Psalm 33:17 – A horse is vain hope for deliverance, despite all its great strength it cannot save.  But the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love, to deliver them from death and keep them alive in famine.  We wait in hope for the LORD; he is our help and shield.  In him our hearts rejoice for we trust in his holy name.  May your unfailing love rest upon us, O LORD, even as we put our hope in you.  Psalm 78:5,7 For he established a testimony in Jacob (fill in your name)… That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commands.  Lamentations 3:21 – Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope;  Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.  They are new every morning.  Great is your faithfulness.  I say to myself, “The LORD is my portion therefore I will wait for him.  The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD.
 
10 Decline discouragement, praise instead.  Psalm 42:5 – Why am I discouraged?  Why is my heart so sad?  I will put my hope in God!  I will praise him again and again, my Savior and my God.  Psalm 42:11 – Why are you in despair, O my soul?  And why have you become disturbed within me?  Hope in God, for I will still praise him, the help of my countenance and my God.  Psalm 43:5 – Why are you downcast, O my soul?  Why so disturbed within me?  Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.
 
11 Pray in the Spirit and learn the fear of the LORD.  Romans 8:24 – For in this hope we were saved.  But hope that is seen is no hope at all.  Who hopes for what he already has?  But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.  In the same way, The Spirit helps us in our weakness.  We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.  And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will.    Psalm 147:11  The Lord delights in those who fear Him, who put their hope in his unfailing love. 
 
Praying for you today.  That your hope would not fade, but get stronger.  Praying that you will set the LORD always before you, that you will fix the eyes of your heart, and choose joy in hope.  Praying that you will soak in God’s Word, believe that He is the God of hope, and put your hope in God.  Praying that you will tell yourself, and tell God.  That you will choose courage regarding hope, so he can strengthen your heart.  Praying that you will wait patiently and remember your testimony, decline discouragement and choose praise instead.  That you will pray in the spirit, fear the LORD, and put your hope in his unfailing love.  
 
Love you all,
dad 

Love you all, praying for you. 
 
I just love God’s Word, it builds character.  What is character?  What marks you and defines you.  What you’re known for – that’s reputation, character is even broader than that.  Character is who you are and what you do when no one is looking, whether at peace or under pressure.  Your reputation eventually will match your character.  Reputation without matching character will eventually alter your reputation. Time will make sure they match.  When I was a kid, a popular candy was Now & Later’s - tangy flavors of little squares in a packet.  But in life, most things aren’t now and later, they start with - Now or Later.  First you decide that, and after you get good at the now, you will also get good at the later – as it just becomes the now, of a different time.  One of the great choices that reveal character is now or later.  What do you do now? and what do you leave til later?  God is a now God, he’s also a later God.  In life, timing is everything.  There is a time and season for everything under the sun, just as there is a time and procedure for every matter.  Jesus promised that he would return, that has not happened yet.  It will come later, suddenly in the twinkling of an eye, when people least expect it. It will be as it was in the days of Noah.  God’s promises are for later – in the fullness of time.  But what about the things that are right now?  When it comes to personal character and responsibility – what are you?  Are you a now person, or a later person?  Even the world has figured this out.  It might have been Benjamin Franklin who said, Do not put off til tomorrow what you can do today.  That is good counsel.  God is a now, God.  Today is the day of Salvation.  Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts.  God hates a perverse tongue.  Perverse is not perverted, the latter address morality, the former address obedience.  Perverse means to delay instead of obey.  The first example of perversity in the Bible.  The serpent asked Eve, did God really say that?  When the resounding yes, returned, he then said, that’s because God knows that…  and he followed it with a half-truth – the strategy of deception.  God hates a perverse tongue – any words that put a delay in your obey.  Turning it over in your mind, until you justify doing what God didn’t say, or God said not to.  PiVAT before dinner – helps you get God’s plan for you for today.  Do it – before dinner.  But throughout the day, the Holy Spirit prompts you – He leads you and guides you.  When that happens, how quickly do you obey?  Is your character now or later?  Do you obey now? or later...  Not just big things… when something needs to be done, are you a person who does it now, or waits until later?  Whether the trash needs to be taken out, something needs to be done before tomorrow.  Do you do it now? or wait until this afternoon, or after dinner, and then - before you go to bed.  Do you ask God when?   Do you Do It Now?  Abraham was a now person.  Obedience is for now.  Praise is for now – when times are hard, when you’re going through something.  Abraham obeyed immediately, “Early in the morning, he saddled his donkey and took Isaac with him and started off for Mount Moriah.  He didn’t think about it, he didn’t gather opinions, He did it now.  Joseph’s character was now.  He didn’t wait around – he ran  - leaving his coat in her hand.  Boaz character was now.  Naomi told Ruth, Boaz?  Don’t worry, it will be done today, he will not rest until it is done.  Wow.  Is that what people say about you?  "Oh she’ll it do it now.  He’ll do it today, don’t worry..."  Did Naomi talk to him?  Is that what he told her.  No, she knew his character, there was no doubt as to what he would do.  Is that you?  Is your character that of Boaz?  What do people say you are – A now person, or a later person?  Proverbs said chapter 6:  Let no sleep come to your eyes – do it now, get out of debt (it’s a curse).  The Ethiopian Eunuch when He heard the gospel, said, is there anything stopping me from being baptized right now? Obeyers have the now gene, disobeyers have the later gene.  Herod kept John alive because he liked to listen to him. He was offended, but he knew it was the truth, he liked to hear it, he just didn’t obey it.   Festus told Paul – after being convicted of the truth, I’ll call for you at a later time.  God said the sluggard turns over on his bed, like a door turns on its hinges.  The sluggard has a later gene, not a now gene.  What about you? What has God told you to do?  He only tells you to do two things. What He wants you to do today, and what He wants you to do every day.  What is your character?  When do you praise?  Now or Later?  When do you obey, now or later?  When do you steward, work hard, share with others, give to those in need, encourage a brother, walk in daily relationship, get God’s plan for you?  What is your character?  Now or Later?  Praying that you will do PIVAT before dinner, to get God’s plan for you today.   And if you didn’t, that you would do it right now, its never to late to obey.  Most people need gene therapy, to replace the later gene with the now gene.  It just takes one decision at a time.  Just do it now.  Every time you obey right now, every time you do what needs done now instead of wait til later, you are growing in obedience and resisting the devil, walking in victory – and joy always comes with it.  Praying that your PRISM time with God would start with Praise the Word first thing in the morning.  Praying that you would do everything that God told you to do today.  My wife always has her clothes laid out the night before – so in the morning when it’s time for work – she is ready, not delayed.  What do you do now?  And what do you leave for later?  What is your character and therefore unavoidably your reputation?  Do you steward God’s things well?  Do you put it away before you do something else?  Or do you do something else before you put it away?  Is it finished?  Or is something always undone?  Do you hear and obey? Or hear and delay?  Praying that your character will be like Abraham – who did it now, like Joseph, and Boaz and Daniel, and Phineas, and Esther.  People of character are now people, not later.  Because if they are now, they will also be later.  They know what needs to be done now, they do it immediately, so later – they are free to do what God tells them.  If God speaks and you do it now, He can tell you something else.  If not, He can’t.  He’s still waiting on you to do what He told you.  Most things aren’t big things.  How many times did God tell Abraham to leave the Ur of the Chaldees, or sacrifice his son?  Not many.  If you’re faithful in the little, you’ll be faithful in the big.  Do you make your bed in the morning? Do you praise even before you see the answer?  Do you finish before resting, or rest before finishing?  What are you known for?  What is your character? Praying that every time people speak of you, it will be like Naomi spoke of Boaz.  “Oh, he won’t rest until it’s done.  He’s just like that”.  He’s just an obeyer, He’s just excellent, she’s just completely trustworthy, dependable, you can count on him, you can count on her.”  Now is the day of Salvation, now is the perfect time to obey, now is the time to move your feet, to say I will bless the LORD at all times, His praise will continually be in my mouth.  As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.  And we will start right now! Praying that you will always be instant in obedience, that you won’t delay anything God will say.  That your character and your reputation is now, not later.  So you are always ready for what God will say next so He can use you - to do what He wants to do! 
 
Love you all,
dad   

Love you all, praying for you.
 
I just love God’s Word, it is the source of every good thing.  What if you had joy?  How do you get it?  So you can become joyful.  Why is joy so important?  First, it’s a fruit of the Spirit, it comes from God.  He gives it.  And if you have it, the rest doesn’t matter, you’re good, no matter what you’re going through.  The Bible says Jesus, for the joy set before him, endured the cross.  Joy separates you, if you have it, you can face whatever comes – in the Joy of the LORD.  What is joy?  Exceeding gladness, feelings or emotions caused by success, the prospect of possessing what you desire, a delight of the mind from considering the present possession of something good.  Where does joy come from?  How do you get it?
 
Eleven Ways To Get Joy 
 
#1 Be filled with the Spirit, pray in the spirit, walk in the spirit – and you will experience joy.  Joy is a fruit of the Spirit.  Galatians 5:22
 
#2 Be humble.  The humble will be filled with fresh joy from the LORD.  Isaiah 29:19  Not the prideful, the humble.  See the Relationship Topic – How To Be Humble. 
 
#3 Get in His presence.  You get there with thanksgiving and praise (Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise.)  Just shut off the noise, and get in His presence.  You stay in His presence whenever you want!  He’s always there, you don’t have to schedule an appointment, just come!  Once you’re there, you get it - in your presence is fullness of joy – Psalms 16:11. 
 
#4 Consider every trial you face – a joy!  (Including this one that you’re going through right now).  Count it all joy when you face trials of many kinds. James 1:2 The testing of your faith develops perseverance in you so you mature, so God can complete you – so you lack nothing! 
 
#5 Steward well what you have been given.  Time, Thoughts, Money, Testimony.  Matt 25:21 Well done, good and faithful servant, you’ve been faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge over many things, enter into the joy of your LORD.   Good stewards always have joy.
 
#6 Remain in His love – by obeying.   Obedience always brings joy.  Know his plans for you today and walk in them.  Acts 2:28 – you have made known to me the paths of life, you will fill me with joy in your presence.  John 15:9-11 – If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my father’s commands and remain in his love.  I’m telling you these things so that my joy may be in you, and your joy will be full (complete) Obedience brings joy.  It starts with PiVAT for today – obey what He told you.  Obeyers always get joy!
 
#7 – Ask according to his will.  And your joy will be full.  John 16:23 - I tell you the truth, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name (according to my authority and will).  Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.    
 
#8 – Put your trust in Him! And joy comes with it.  Roman 15:13 – May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him…  As you trust in Him, He fills you with joy – and peace.  Put your trust in Him.  Get in His Word, and put your trust in Him, with your words.  Tell yourself, tell Him, He hears you.  When I am afraid I will trust in you.  What can man do to me.  You have been my trust since my youth.  I will always praise you, I will always trust in you!
 
#9 – Take Joy.  Psalms 5:11  - But let all those who put their trust in you rejoice.  (Rejoice means to take joy again.)  Let them ever shout for joy, because you defend them.  Let those that love your name, be joyful in you.   Sometimes joy is a choice.  Choose to rejoice.  Take joy again, and the God who gives joy will fill you.   The king rejoices in your strength.  How great is his joy in the victories you give!  He’s still waiting for this next one… but he’s got joy in the LORD!
 
#10 Stay in the Spirit Romans 14:17 – For the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.   Be filled with the Spirit, Pray in the Spirit, and you’ll stay in the Spirit.  Obey in the Spirit.  Righteousness, peace and joy come from the Holy Spirit, let Him be in full control, and your joy will be full.
 
#11 Stay in the Word.  Jer 15:16 – When your words came, I ate them; and your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart.  I John 1:4 – And these things we write to you, that your joy may be full.  The more you are in God’s Word, the more your joy will be full.  His truth, His promise, and remembering everything He has done – will increase your joy. 
 
Praying that you will be filled with the Spirit, that you will choose humility, that you will get in His presence with thanksgiving and praise, that you will consider this trial – a joy!  Praying that you will steward well what He has entrusted to you, that you will remain in His love, by obeying.  Praying that you will ask according to His will, and put your trust in Him.  Praying that you will take joy again and again, that you will stay in the Spirit and stay in His Word.  – So His joy will be in you, and your joy will be full.
 
Praying that you will listen to the PRISM Topic Joy – The power of His Word that will bring joy to your heart.  God sets you apart with joy.  Psalms 45:7 – You love righteousness and hate wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy.  It’s what the world doesn’t have, the joy of the LORD.  Praying that God will anoint you with His oil of Joy, that your life would be a city set on a hill, distinct, that draws people to the love of Jesus and the hope He gives – that brings joy!
 
Love you all,  
dad

Love you all, praying for you,
 
I just love God’s Word – it tells the truth.  Let’s talk about money.  Why?  Because you will love God, or you will love money.  You cannot do both - God said.  What do you think about money?  Is it important to you? It’s important to God.  Just not for the same reason.  Some people say, “Money is just not important to me.”  Others view money like Lombardi viewed winning… “(It’s) not everything, it’s the only thing.”  Most people want money because they think it measures something - how successful you are, and how many options it affords you.  But that’s not what it measures according to God.  His view of success with money - is not what man thinks success is.  According to God, money does measure something, success, only not in accumulation, but distribution.  According to God, it’s not how much you get, it’s how much you obey with what you’ve been given.  The goal isn’t to get more money, God said to the rich fool, tonight your very life will be required of you, then who will get all that you have stored up for yourself?  Neither is the goal to do things that make money.  Sometimes what God wants you to do, will produce money.  And sometimes, the better you do it, the more money it will produce.  But other times what God calls some people to do doesn’t produce money, it’s fruit is of a different kind.  Either way, God brings the increase, you just plant the seed - (which also came from Him).  The goal isn’t even to be a steward.  You are one already.  You’re either a good one, or a poor one.  What’s a steward?  Someone who cares for another’s possessions.  Whose money is it?  God’s.  The silver and gold are mine says the LORD, and the cattle on a thousand hills.  Do I need a bull from your stalls, or a goat from your pens?  If I were hungry I wouldn’t tell you, because the cattle on a thousand hills are mine.  “But I earned it.” Did you?  It doesn’t matter, when you’re a steward whatever you earn, still belongs to the owner, it’s not yours.  God told the Israelites, you cannot sell the land, the land is mine, you’re just renters.  Every fifty years at Jubilee – all the land in Israel went back to the original owners – the tribes and families of Israel who by inheritance were assigned their portion of the promised land.  So real estate prices were predicated on the number of years until Jubilee – when it was all returned.  They were just renters, not owners.  Whatever you earned was just labor, not ownership.  Did you make the grass grow? Or the crops grow? Did you make the raw materials that comprise the product you produce? Did you make it rain, did you protect it from drought, did you stop inflation, government interference or regulation, or shutting down your industry?   Did you stop thieves from stealing what you have? Did you keep yourself from getting sick and being unable to work? Did you give yourself good health, did you give yourself the next breath? What about waking up in the morning in your right mind, did you do that? Was that great business idea yours?  Did it come from you? All of these things God did.  Did you keep your company from going bankrupt? No, God did.  You just labor.  God said the laborer is worthy of his wages, but the ability to work, the ideas to increase production and spare from loss, all come from somewhere.  Not you.  There is nothing new under the sun.  Anyone who said “I did that!” Is not only ignorant, but perhaps borderline narcissistic.  It’s God who did all these things.  Have you ever noticed our tendency to take credit for what someone else did.  Money is the measure of the heart.  It is God who gives you the power to gain wealth.  It is God who holds health together, nations apart, and the economy together.  Solomon spoke of a grievous evil under the sun, wealth stored to the detriment of the owner, or war or calamity, that sweeps it away, so a man never gets to enjoy what his own hands produced.  When it comes to money - God owns it, you’re a steward.  It’s not how much you get, it’s how you obey with what you have, and everything you have or did comes from God.  So what about money?  It’s just a byproduct of labor if you work for it, or ideas if it works for you.   Far more important… What does God want you to do?  Then, whatever money that labor produces, what does He want you to do with it?  Some people say our job is to get more, because of the parable of the talents.  That wasn’t the point, they missed the first sentence… “the kingdom of heaven… is like.  God said don’t overwork to get rich, have the wisdom to show restraint.  Some people decry money disadvantage, they’re part of the ‘money is success’ camp.  So Lebron’s kids have an advantage over your kids, what does that matter?  It’s not what you have, it’s how you obey with what you have.  Someone once said, “More money, more problems.”  Those with money have often reflected, “Money doesn’t change you – it just makes you more of what you are.”  More money definitely is more responsibility… it’s more to obey with.  Money perhaps is just a tool that God uses to test us, and to teach us obedience.  Some people obey money – not God, it’s a god to them.  They love it and obey it.  Your god is who you obey.  They make all money decisions based on how much money it will get them, not on what God tells them.  Sometimes God will tell you to do something that doesn’t make money, but loses it.  Everything you give – appears at face value- to be a loss.  Only in God’s kingdom, everything you give that God directed you to give, is a gain, not a loss.  Work for the Lord, not for money, wealth, fame, or to please someone else, your spouse or your boss.  Money is a measure of work, sometimes a measure of productivity.  It’s definitely a measure of priority.  God said it’s a measure of the heart.  It’s what you obey with, or not.  So how do you learn to obey with money? Know God’s Word, Know where it is, and Know God’s Voice.   #1 Know God’s Word, what God says about it.  Learn to think like God thinks about money, not the way man thinks.  (See The Money Packet – to learn what God says about money).  #2 Know Where It Is, give an account of it, (Start a 4C’s Accounting Tool, or get current with yours – you can’t obey with money, if you don’t first know where it is.) #3 Know God’s Voice, what He tells you to do with it.  (4C’s daily will make it a regular conversation with Him). Then you will learn to obey with money – the Holy Spirit will teach you.  You’ll learn to love God, not money.  Money won’t control you, you will just steward it – however God tells you.  And when you are faithful with a few things… you will be entrusted with many things – and enter into the joy of your LORD.  Money brings a cheap joy, a temporary joy.  But the joy of the LORD is a different level, it’s eternal not temporal, it doesn’t depend on money, it is given by God.  Praying that you are faithful in 4C’s – a Godly pattern of stewarding money.  Praying that you are current in your 4C’s tool, whatever tool you use.  Praying that you are obeying with time, with thoughts, and money, overcoming with your testimony!  So your joy can be full!  So you hear well done today!  Then – you’ll hear “Well Done!” on that day. 
 
Love you all,
dad  

Love you all, praying for you.
 
I have never done this before for Daily Huddle.  I am sending a video clip – that I pray that each one of you will watch in its entirety, and then take it to the LORD in prayer.  And examine yourselves. To see if ye be in the faith.  God told his people, the church, those who have believed in His Name, who have received Salvation in the Name of Jesus, for the forgiveness of their sins, and the Salvation of their souls.  God warned of a terrible time coming on the earth, that He wants to save us from.  He said that we are to watch and wait for his return.  He said it would be as it was in the days of Noah.  He said He was coming in the clouds for his bride the church.  This is the rapture of the saints foretold in the Scriptures.   In my entire life, I have never felt such a present sense of the LORD’s return.  I came across a video that perhaps is the most important video I have ever seen.  It tells of the coming rapture of the church.  These two men I’d never heard of before a week ago...  They are not prophets, they say so.  They are watchers and waiters for the Salvation of the Lord, for the promised return of Christ.  And while the Scriptures say – no one will know the day or the hour.  It says it will come unexpectedly, when no one expects it.  Therefore we should be ready with our lamps lit, waiting for the bridegroom to come.  If there ever was a time, to be sure you are right with God, the time is now.  These men speak of God’s miraculous power in fulfilling prophecies to the letter, to the time, to the day and even the hour.  God is a math genius.  He is perfect in all his ways.  And from their study of prophesies fulfilled throughout, there is a massive amount of evidence, not only of Christ’s imminent return.  It literally could be today, it could be this week.  And they give prophecy example after example of what God did, and could be doing in this hour.  God said the hour will come upon you unexpected.  But those of us who are waiting for His return will see the day approaching.  I implore you to be ready for His return, it could be this week, it could be this Wednesday, the 9th of the month of the Jewish Calendar.  If God decides to return this week, this month, or this year – the times are in His Hands, not ours.  But we are to be ready, so that day doesn’t come upon us unawares. He is warning you now.   Be sure your Salvation is in Jesus, in faith in Him alone.  Make sure your lamps are lit, confess every known sin in your life, ask him to reveal any that you are unaware of.  And turn from them.  Turn away from every evil thought and deed.  Choose His grace, believe on the LORD Jesus Christ, share the hope that is within you, and wait expectantly for his return.   Please watch this video in its entirety.  So we are not ignorant of what God is doing in our day.  The time is so very short, Jesus is coming soon, to take those of His true church with him.  The rest will be left behind.  God said he doesn’t do things without first revealing them.  God is revealing things for these days, for this hour.  If anyone has ears to hear.  Let Him Hear.    The video link is included below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mhI67fLad6o
 
Love you all,
dad

 Love you all, praying for you.
 
I just love God’s Word – it tells you what keeps you from God, and the life you were created for.  Sin.  What is sin?  Hamartano – to miss the mark, and so not share in the prize.  Sin is anything less than what God said, anything less than his will or his best.  Sin is something that comes naturally – you were born in it.  Sin is falling short of God’s standard of holiness.  Because Adam sinned, that seed passed down through every generation.  You don’t have to teach a baby how to disobey what you say, they do it naturally.  Instead ,you have to train your children to obey what you tell them – for their own good. And to do things that they don’t want to do, that will teach them responsibility and train them to live a life of respect for others; to be humble, kind, and treat others in the way they would like to be treated.  These are common denominators of a civil society. Or everyone would only cause harm to others.  But they need something more.  You need to train them in what God’s Word says, so they will live eternally with God, not separated from him.  So they will live a life that will receive his reward.  Sin is easy to fall into, impossible to escape without God’s grace, and the desire to turn from sin, and turn to him.  What’s wrong with sin?  It separates you from God.  It destines you for hell.    Sin always separates you from God, it strains your relationship.  Because He is Holy, completely without sin, He hates it.  The Gospel of Jesus Christ is good news, because it is the only remedy for sin, the only way to be reconciled to God.  Reconciled means to be brought back into friendship – or right relationship with someone you had formerly been at enmity with.  Sin makes you an enemy of God.  God is holy, completely without sin, He hates it.  There is no sin in him, no darkness at all. (I John 1:5) He is light, and there is no darkness in him.  Nor in heaven where He lives. Whoever wants to live in heaven with God, will have to be sinless like He is. (Matthew 5:20) That is impossible.  But what is impossible with man, is not impossible with God. (Mark 10:27)  God wants to restore a relationship with you that has been broken by sin.  Not only so you will you no longer be eternally damned, destined for destruction and eternally separate from God in a place called the lake of fire, created for the devil and his demons.  But tragically will also be the destination of those who refuse God’s gift of Salvation through his Son Jesus.  God wants you to be qualified as Holy like Him, so you can live in heaven with Him forever; cleansed by the blood of Jesus – to remove your sin, and make you righteous, with a righteousness that wasn’t yours, but Jesus’ righteousness given to you.  The greatest trade ever!  He took your sin, He paid the price for it, and you get His righteousness, that you didn’t earn, and you don’t deserve, but He gave it to you anyway – because He loves you, and longs to be with you forever.  He longs to save you from the judgment of sin, so you can be with Him!  The only requirement is you must Admit, Believe, and Commit.  Admit your sin, that you’ve sinned against God.  God said whoever says he has not sinned, is a liar and the truth is not in him. (I John 1:8)  Second, you must believe that Jesus died in your place, for your sin.  That He took the penalty you deserved on himself, so you could be set free from sin.  And now qualified to live in Heaven for eternity – with a Holy God, in whose presence, sin will never dwell. Only with your sins forgiven and removed by the blood of Jesus – could you ever get to heaven. (Rev 21:27)  Jesus said, I am the way, the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father, except through me. (John 14:6) The price of sin is death and eternal separation from God.  Romans 6:23 – For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life.   Romans 10:9 – that if you Commit with your mouth (to make Jesus the LORD of your life – that means you turn from your old life of sin, to live your life from now on for Him), and you believe in your heart, that God raised Jesus from the dead – you will be saved – from the control of sin in this life, and eternity apart from God.  You have just been reborn, of the spirit.  Your old sin nature has been defeated, your sins have been forgiven, and the forgiveness of sin through the blood of Jesus is available for you the rest of your life.  I John 1:9 – If we will confess our sin, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sin, and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  But even more than that.  After Salvation two things are important and powerful.  First Receive the Holy Spirit – just like the apostles and first Christians did.  Jesus said, “Don’t leave Jerusalem without it.”  (Luke 24:49) The promised Holy Spirit – who will give you power to overcome sin, who will lead you in all truth, and show you things to come. (John 16:13) He will lead you in God’s plans for you.  God said, walk in the Spirit and you will not fulfill the lusts of the flesh… (Gal 5:16)  That old sin nature that is now defeated by Jesus death and resurrection.  But it’s still around – until one day when Christ returns in the rapture of the church.  And we are caught up together in the clouds, to forever be with the Lord.  Or when you die, and your body is laid in the grave, and you are free from the body of sin, that still tries to control you – it wants you back.  But you now have power to overcome it – where you didn’t before.  It's still a choice you make, sin or Jesus.  But He gives you grace.  When you get saved, and then filled with the Holy Spirit – by just asking God to fill you with His Holy Spirit – just like He did the disciples at Pentecost.  Luke 11:13 - 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.  Finally the third thing, get water baptized.  It was God’s command for Christians, who believed in Him and received His Salvation from sin – and eternal life in heaven.  It is the symbol of you dying with Christ – being buried with him in His death, and rising with Him in his resurrection.  It symbolizes your old life, that old sin nature being now dead, and your new life beginning.  Being raised with him in righteousness.  This is another part of that huge transfer that occurs in Salvation.  Not only are you saved for eternity in heaven with God, your sins are washed away, removed, and now the old law of sin – from Adam’s sin that formerly controlled you, has no more power, unless you give it back.  You now are under a new law of righteousness – far more powerful than the law of sin that once controlled you.  If that was powerful – and if you’ve ever been stuck in sin, you know how powerful that law was.  That law came from Adam’s one sin.  How much more powerful is the new law of righteousness.  It came not from one sin, but from every sin ever, now completely forgiven by the blood of Jesus, His death and resurrection so you could live in newness of life – free from the power of sin.  Just walk in the Spirit, choose the grace that is now yours to say no to sin, so you resist the devil - he has to flee from you.  It is through Christ that you gain victory over sin – forever.  It’s always there, the body of sin, but your spirit is now under new management and greater power!  You now have power to walk in righteousness that is yours in Jesus Christ.   Scripture warns many times, don’t go back to the sin that once bound you, you now have power to overcome it!  Every time you say yes to Jesus, and His wonderful plan for you, you say no to sin, and you resist the devil who wants you back, but will never get you.  You will go from victory to victory, glory to glory.  God promised no temptation has ever overtaken you except that which is common to man, and God is faithful, He will give you a way out, so you can stand up under it. (I Cor 10:13)  He gives you the power of the Holy Spirit, and grace to say no to ungodliness, the old life. (Titus 2:11-14)  And yes to His plans for you, and the joy of righteousness.  That’s the new law of righteousness that now controls you, that if you submit the members of your body to it, instead of to sin, you will walk in freedom from sin.  Paul said, when you used to be enslaved by sin, you were free from the restraints of righteousness, but what did that get you?  What benefit did you receive, all of those sins separate you from God, and lead to death.  (Romans 3:20-23) But now as a slave to righteousness, all of the acts of righteousness, simply walking in God’s plans for you! These all lead to life, abundant life, joyful life and fruitful life!  A life that pleases God, and a life that God rewards.  God gives us the power to Love Him, and hate sin.  So that what once was your master, no longer has any control over you.  Paul said, Galatians 2:20 – I have been crucified with Christ (that is my old sin nature that once controlled me) and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.  The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.   God has victory for you – new life – completely free from the old life.  Just say yes to Him every time.  Choose His grace to say “No” to sin, and yes to the righteousness that now controls you.  The Bible gives you ways to walk in him.  This new law of righteousness is far more powerful.  You can still choose: life or death, sin or Jesus, but He gives you power to choose life, power to overcome sin, and by walking in His plans for you – your old life will be left behind.  You will walk in grace, and power, and in the joy of knowing Him, and His Word, and His ways, His plans for you which are so, so very good.  You can trust Him.  He saved you at first, He will save you to the uttermost.  He will keep you blameless as you turn to Him.  God is faithful.  Choose Him every time, and see the victory that He has destined for you.  He left to prepare a place for you, and He will come again, He promised.  To take you with Him, so that where He is, you will be also. (John 14:2-3)  He is coming back soon! For His bride, the church – those who believe in Him, who are walking with Him, and waiting for him.  He has victory for you every day.  And joy always comes with obedience.  It’s a journey!  He goes with you.  He will be faithful every day of your life!  And heaven awaits you! 
 
Love you all,
dad

Love you all, praying for you,
 
I just love God’s Word.  It tells the truth.  Someone has to - God is the One who does.  He is the God of truth.  Here’s a question that many people struggle with…  Who determines your identity?  Do you? by your thoughts, feelings, opinions or the brainwashing of the godless?  Your identity has nothing to do with you, or your opinions.  You were born with it.  You are fearfully and wonderfully made, created in God’s image, but bound by a curse.  Do you identify as a sinner?  Because that’s what you are – you were born in sin.  You’re a sinner, whether you identify as one or not.  Sin clouded your identity at birth, but God has a new identity for you.  Forgiven!  He changed your identity permanently, the only identity change ever, and by far the biggest change that could ever occur.  Your identity as a sinner – was changed to your new identity – the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus.  You remain that way by abiding in Christ, (His Word) letting Him control your life, rather than the sin that once controlled you.  And His righteousness is much more powerful than the sin nature was.  How much more – means  - way more, no comparison!  You have a new identity – the righteousness of God in Christ.  You are righteous in the sight of God if you have become His child.  If you received His Son Jesus as your Savior.  He saves you from sin – your old sin nature, the death that sin always leads to, and the punishment of sin and death- hell itself…  If you received Him as your LORD – the bossa you – you now walk in your new nature, by the Holy Spirit.  So righteousness reigns in you, like sin once did - but so much more.  You don’t always feel like your new identity, feelings have nothing to do with it.  Truth does.  What God said - does.  Sinners can sear their conscience, and the righteous can doubt their Salvation.  And they should if their righteousness depended on them, but it doesn’t.  You are the righteousness of God in Christ, not the righteousness of you in you.  There is none.  His death made you righteous, if you received the Gift of Salvation…  If you reject it – your old identity remains – a sinner condemned to death because of sin, not the righteousness of God paid for by the blood of Christ – saved by Grace.  Praying that you would know who you are, That you will receive Christ and His Gift of Salvation – if you haven’t.  And if you have.  Praying that you will know who God made you to be, and the power to live like what He made you!   Praying that you’ll remember that the control of the law of righteousness is far more powerful than the control of the law of sin once was…  Just choose Grace – Walk in the Holy Spirit!  God said His grace is sufficient.  That means His power is enough for you – to overcome whatever you are facing, self-inflicted, or outside influence.  The Holy Spirit is the power that God gave you, to help you do it.  So His righteousness reigns in you, so your identity is sure and your future is secure.  Your identity now, is far more powerful than your identity before.   Why identify as anything else?  It’s not true.  You’re forgiven, and you have power to walk in this new life – just choose it, and God is faithful, He will help you.  God’s Word is true, He has a plan for you!  It’s Good!  Walk in it!  Secure your identity through His Word, and the Grace to say no to sin, and walk in the righteousness that you are, the law of righteousness that now controls you – in Christ Jesus. 
 
Love you all,
dad