But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man the things that God has prepared for those who love Him.” 1 Corinthians 2:9 NKJV
 
Do you love God? If you do it is because He revealed Himself to you. When we get even a limited understanding of His love we are overcome with love for Him. God pursues us with His love. His love is irresistible.
 
There are many people who do not love God. They do not love God because they do not know Him. There were many People who did not know God when He walked among them. They had a misconception of who God really is. It is the same today. 
 
Most people do not know that God’s greatest desire is for us to love Him with all of our hearts, souls and minds!
 
If you have not received Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior He is waiting for you today. He is waiting to show you how much He loves you. God wants you to experience the inexpressible joy of receiving what only He can give you, perfect love.
 
In the quietness of your own heart ask Jesus Christ to reveal Himself to you. Ask Him to be your Lord and Savior. Ask Jesus to show you how much He loves you. Confess your sin and ask Him to forgive you. Ask the Lord to give you a new life in Jesus Christ!
 
If you have questions or need help talk to a Christian neighbor, friend or family member. You can also reply to this e-mail.
 
If you know Jesus and love Him with all of your heart He wants to bless you!
 
Jesus wants you to know the peace that surpasses all understanding. The Lord wants you to know He will never leave you. He will never turn His back on you. Jesus wants you to know He loves you unconditionally!
 
No eye has ever seen the great rewards God has in store for people who love Him today. No ear has ever heard the things Jesus will say to people who love Him today. Our finite minds cannot comprehend the blessings that await us in the eternal kingdom of God! 
           
Pray for people who do not know Jesus. Ask the Lord to reveal His love to them!
 
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For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, And bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent”. 1 Corinthians 1:18-19 NKJV
 
Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. 1 Corinthians 1:25 NKJV
 
God reminded me of a young lady who visited our church years ago. Her name was Gianna. She came to share the story of her life with us. Her mother attempted to abort her.
 
God had his hand upon Gianna. She stepped out in faith. She limped to the pulpit. She gave glory to the God who saved her from death. Her testimony is that abortion does not terminate a fetus. It kills a person! 
 
I have heard people say a Christian should never pray for patience. They say God will answer your prayer but you will not enjoy the process. God simply does not do things the way we would. 
 
In the flesh I am a selfish inpatient person. I do not get angry easily. When I do it is not pretty. 
 
God is teaching me to control my anger by trusting Him with the people places and things that anger me. He is teaching me to express my anger in appropriate ways. The Lord is teaching me not to act out in anger but wait for Him to move in my heart.
 
God teaches me to deal with my anger by giving me more practice than I want. He rocked my world by allowing me to see myself in the mirror of truth. To see the pain my sin caused. God brought about great transformation in my life. He did not do it my way! 
 
God is going to bring about the most amazing transformation in our world. One day Jesus will take us with Him. We will live in unending joy. The Lord is going to reward us for the good works He chooses to accomplish through us.
 
God is going to create a new heavens and a new earth. We will never experience pain or sorrow again. That is our hope and future. It is reality! 
 
The process of getting from here to eternity will not be easy. If we trust God He will make our paths straight. He will be our strength and wisdom. He will lead us home! 
 
Put your faith in the Word of God. Do not trust people who are wise in their own eyes. They are perishing.
 
You have the hope of eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ!
 
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And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying, “Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain!” So God granted him what he requested. 1 Chronicles 4:10 NKJV
 
Some of us were not raised in Christian homes. Our families did not teach us about Jesus. Jabez was raised among people that knew of God. There was something about Jabez that set him apart from his brothers and extended family members.
 
What set Jabez apart was a sincere desire to know God. He wanted to be blessed by the Lord for the purposes of God. Jabez had a burning desire to walk humbly and uprightly before the Lord. Jabez had the faith to ask for God’s blessing and the wisdom to know prosperity breeds temptation!
 
Jabez asked God to place limits on his authority. He called on God to take control of his life so he could serve the Lord. He asked God to be his Lord in all ways at all times!
 
There was a time when Christians all over the world were reading books on the prayer of Jabez. People were reciting the prayer of Jabez as if it was a magic formula that would move God’s heart. I had a copy of it in my office. 
 
The Lord delivered me from the trials and temptations of living for the almighty dollar. He brought me to a place of greater dependency on Him. What did I learn? There is no magic formula that moves God to bless us.
 
Gold old does not always glitter. Everything that glitters is not of God.
 
God is able to bless us in the midst of trial and hardship. He is able to bless us in the midst of financial crisis and collapse. The God of Abraham Isaac Jacob and Jabez can bless us in ways we can’t see with our eyes!
 
Jabez is a good example of the attitude God wants us to have today. Jesus wants us to look to Him to bless our lives. He wants us to remember prosperity can bring temptation. Jesus wants to be our Lord in all things at all times! 
 
It was God who gave Jabez the heart to be more honorable than his brothers. He was more honorable than his brothers because he desired God’s will for his life! 
 
If you desire God’s will for your life you have the same honorable heart Jabez had. It does not matter if you come from a long life of faithful Christians or if you are the first follower of Jesus in your family.
 
God will bless you in ways you cannot imagine if you honor Him with your life. The Lord will use you to bless other people if you trust Him with your life. God will grant your request if you call on Him to keep you from evil!
 
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“Render to Caesar the things that are Caesars, and to God the things that are God’s.” And they marveled at Him. Mark 12:17 NKJV
 
Religious leaders and secular authorities asked Jesus, “Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?”
 
In Israel money bore the stamp of Caesar. The Jews were created in the image and likeness of God. The money we use bears the image of our political leaders. You were created in the likeness of Almighty God. Do you marvel at that?
 
The people who asked this question were trying to trick Jesus. They were looking for something they could use against Him. They wanted to know if He would lead the people against them. They were leading people away from Christ.
 
I heard a radio commentator say it is now acceptable to use a racial slur that many people consider offensive. Doesn’t he have anything better to say? Don’t we have better things to do than listen to him?
 
There is a moral decline taking place today. The right to murder unborn children is protected and encouraged by our government. Our tax dollars pay for it. The definition of marriage is being distorted. The acceptance of homosexuality is forced upon us.
 
Atheists are building monuments next to the Ten Commandments. Caesar is enforcing his will upon us in the guise of security measures. These things cause fear and anxiety. Jesus wants us to trust Him now more than ever!
 
God is not calling us to abandon our Christian heritage. He is not calling us to surrender to the coming darkness. He is calling us to remember the Lord. Jesus told us the end times would be like the days before the flood.
 
Men and women will commit all manner of evil and call it good. People will abandon truth and gather around them those who teach what their itching ears want to hear. That is happening today.
 
God gives us leaders after our own hearts. The politicians are tickling the ears of the majority. Just as the people cried out for a false god in the desert people are calling out for a god of their own making today. It will end when Jesus returns!
 
God is calling us to give our hearts minds and bodies to Him. The Holy Spirit is drawing people to the Lord. He is holding back the darkness so that our world doesn’t descend into total chaos. Jesus will use these dark times to save people and give glory to God.
 
Almighty God will use His people to accomplish His good and perfect will!
 
Render unto Caesar what is Cesar’s. Give God what rightfully belongs to Him!
 
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And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive you your trespasses. Mark 11:25-26 NKJV
 
I love gathering together with God’s people to worship the Lord. I love singing to Jesus. I love singing about Him. God inhabits the praises of His people. Worship brings us into His presence. 
 
I love making a joyful noise unto the Lord. If you heard me sing you would call it noise.  Within me beats the heart of a true worshiper. It just does not sound the same when it comes out of my mouth! 
 
God is so blessed when I sing to Him. He is so pleased when I worship Him. He loves to hear my voice. God does not judge the quality of my voice. He receives the worship that comes from my heart. 
 
Once after a time of worship I said out loud “I am a man and I love Jesus Christ.” I said it in a loud voice. By the looks of the people around me I don’t think they understood what I meant.
 
I have spent most of my life trying to be a tough guy. That day I wanted to stop pretending. I wanted to get real. I wanted to show Jesus how much I love Him!
 
God was speaking to my heart. He has forgiven me for so much. Jesus loves me despite all that I have done. How can I stand in His presence, ask for His blessing and not forgive people who sin against me?
 
God is speaking the same words to you today. He sees straight into our hearts. He sees the things we do in secret. He knows our thoughts. He knows the motives for the things we do. Jesus knows when we harbor bitterness, resentment and un-forgiveness. 
 
Worship is not just singing songs. The Lord calls us to worship Him in spirit and in truth. What does it mean to worship God in spirit and truth?
 
It means to worship the True and Living God revealed to us in the bible. It means to worship Jesus Christ (the Living Word of God). It also means to worship God in the way we live. It means taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ!
 
We will be judged by the same measure we use to judge other people. Worshiping God in spirit and in truth means remembering we once lived in bondage to sin. It means offering the same love and forgiveness to other people God offers us!
 
Jesus knows your struggles. He knows your weakness. God wants you to remember that other people experience similar struggles and weakness! 
 
When Jesus walked among us He demonstrated His authority to forgive sin. The Lord gives you the authority to forgive people who sin against you today!
 
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So Jesus answered and said to him, “What do you want me to do for you?” The blind man said to Him, “Raboni, that I may receive my sight.” Then Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus on the road. Mark 10:51-52
 
When Bartimaeus heard Jesus was near he cried out for healing. He believed Jesus could restore his sight.
 
The first voice Bartimaeus heard in response was not Jesus calling him. Other people warned him to be quiet, why? Maybe they thought the blind beggar was not worthy of Jesus’ time and attention. Maybe they thought Jesus had more important things to do.
 
When Jesus heard Bartimaeus he saw a man of great faith. He saw a man who was seeking what only Jesus could offer him. His sight was restored. He followed Jesus. The Lord also opened his spiritual eyes. Bartimaeus was born again into everlasting life!
 
Do you believe Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God? Have you received God’s free gift of Salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ?
 
If your answer to these questions is yes and amen Jesus wants you to seek Him today. You may hear other voices warning you to be quiet. Do not listen. Cry out all the more to the God who loves you! 
 
Maybe other people look down on you. Maybe you think you are not worthy of Jesus’ time and attention. Jesus does not care how much money you have. He does not care where you live. It does not matter to Him what you have done in the past. He loves you!
 
Today is a new day. You have an opportunity to seek the Lord in fresh new ways! 
 
Jesus wants you to cry out to Him. He wants you to believe He is a re-warder of people who diligently seek Him. Cry out to Jesus in faith. Seek Jesus in faith!
 
Tune out the voices of the unbelieving multitude. Listen for the voice of the great Shepherd who restores sight to the blind, hope to the brokenhearted and freedom to those of us living in bondage to sin!
 
When Bartimaeus heard that Jesus was calling he threw aside his garment, stood up and went to Jesus. Jesus asked Bartimaeus, “What do you want me to do for you?” Bartimaeus made his need known to the Lord. He was healed and followed Jesus!
 
Jesus is calling you today. Toss aside any hindrance. Go to Him in prayer. Make your needs known to Him. Receiving your healing in faith. Follow Jesus wherever He leads you!
 
Perhaps you have not yet had your spiritual eyes opened. Jesus is calling you today. Stand up in faith. Answer His call. Receive eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ!
 
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Now they came to Jericho, As He went out of Jericho with his disciples and a great multitude, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the road begging. 
And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” 
Then many warned him to be quiet; but he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” 
So Jesus stood still and commanded him to be called. 
Then they called the blind man, saying to him, “Be of good cheer. Rise He is calling you.” 
And throwing aside his garment, he rose and came to Jesus. 
So Jesus answered and said to him, “What do you want Me to do for you?” 
The blind man said to Him, “Rabboni, that I may receive my sight.” 
Then Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your faith has made you well.” 
And immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus on the road. Mark 10:46-52
 
Bartimaeus represents all of us!
 
Bartimaeus sat by the road of life begging. He became aware Jesus was near. He cried out for mercy. The multitude tried to silence him. He would not be silent. Jesus commanded Bartimaeus be brought to Him.
 
What a blind man needs more than anything else is to see. We are all born blind to spiritual matters. We begged and fought for crumbs and fool’s gold.
 
Sin sex wealth and the admiration of the multitudes never satisfies our souls. The things we use to self medicate only increase the pain! 
 
Jesus made His presence known though Bartimaeus was blind.
 
Bartimaeus responded in faith by crying out to the Lord. The voices of opposition sought to silence Bartimaeus but he continued to call out. He called out to the Lord because Jesus gave him spiritual eyes to discern spiritual matters. 
 
When Jesus told Bartimaeus to go his way Bartimaeus chose to follow Jesus. Bartimaeus would need to make that decision to follow Jesus daily. 
 
Has Jesus revealed Himself to you? Have you responded to His call? Has Jesus given you spiritual eyes to discern spiritual matters? Have you chosen to follow Jesus?
 
If your answers to these questions are yes and amen you must choose to follow Jesus today. The voices of the multitude and opposition will seek to distract you. Continue to follow Jesus. The pleasures and treasures of this age will fade away. 
 
The love of God brings peace and healing to our souls. His love completes us. It transforms us. Jesus wants to meet your true needs.
 
Turn away from the multitude of sins that war against your faith. Follow Jesus!
 
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“I have compassion on the multitude, because they have continued with Me three days and have nothing to eat. And if I send them away hungry to their own houses, they will faint on the way; for some of them have come from afar.” Mark 8:2-3 NKJV
 
How far have you come in your walk with the Lord? Where were you when God plucked you out of the darkness and brought you into the glorious light of His love?
 
Great multitudes brought people to Jesus so He could heal them. They saw mute people speak, blind eyes opened and lame people walk. They glorified God. The Lord called His disciples and instructed them to provide for His people.
 
Jesus fed four thousand men plus women and children. It was a miracle on the grandest scale. The story has been repeated in every corner of the world for over two thousand years.
 
Jesus would serve up a meal of miraculous provision even if only one of His followers was needy. He’d provide healing and provision even if you were the one and only disciple on a lonely mountain top. Would you tell the story everywhere go?
 
Jesus sees into the deepest crevasses of our hearts and minds. He knows our innermost thoughts dreams and desires. He knows how far we have come. He knows how far we can go. He knows exactly what it takes to have His way with us!
 
Years ago God called me His servant. The Lord said He would enable me to speak for Him. He told me to teach and share His Word with people. Ten years have come and gone since God said He would appoint me to the nations.
 
All the while I have prayed for God to put His desires in My heart and mind. So that on the day He grants the desires of my heart they would be the same as His!
 
I wait in faith for God to move in my heart and open the right doors. There are times when I wonder if I have gone through the wrong doors and can’t go back. Have I disqualified myself from serving the Lord? I know God is faithful. I also know I am not.
 
Do you ever wonder if you have walked through the wrong doors? Do you ever wonder if you have disqualified yourself from serving God? Have you given up hope the right doors will ever open for you?
 
God has compassion on the unbelieving multitude the sick and people with broken hearts spirits and bodies. He called you to be His disciple so you can meet their needs!
 
Continue to follow Jesus. He will give you what you need when you need it if your hopes dreams and desire are found in Him!
 
You have come too far to turn back. Keep your eyes on Jesus. He will feed you when you are hungry, house you when you need a place to sleep and keep you from fainting so you can serve Him!
 
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But He said to them, “How many loaves do you have? Go and see.” And when they found out they said, “Five, and two fish. Mark 6:38 NKJV
 
The Apostles came to Jesus. They told Him all the things they had done and what they taught. Jesus said to them, “Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest awhile.” 
There were a lot of people coming and going, they didn’t even have time to eat. They left in a boat to a deserted place by themselves.
The people saw them leaving and followed them. Jesus came out and saw a great multitude of people. He was moved with compassion for them. They were like sheep without a shepherd.
He began to teach them. It got late and the disciples told Jesus to send the people away so they can go buy themselves some bread.
Jesus answered and said, “You give them something to eat.”
The disciples said to Jesus, “Shall we go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread and give them something to eat?”
And Jesus said to them, “How many loaves do you have?” “Go and see.”
When they found out they said, “Five and two fish.”
Jesus looked up to heaven blessed and broke the bread and the fish and distributed them among the people.
When everyone had eaten they had twelve baskets full of leftovers. The bible tells us there were five thousand men who had eaten and even more counting women and children.
 
There are no second class citizens in the Body of Christ! The bible does not count the women and children in this account but Jesus died for them. Every promise God made is for all people who call on the name of the Lord!  
 
I am God’s favorite! When He looks at me He sees a beloved child. Every interaction and aspect of our relationship is based on God’s great love for me. 
 
Do you believe you are God’s favorite? You should. The Lord is not like us. He has no limitations. He has the capacity to love all each of us in a special way!  
 
We are all God’s favorite. God’s favor rests upon you. Walk in it! 
 
I tell my wife all the time, “I’m God’s favorite”. I’m not trying to convince her I’m God’s favorite child. I am reminding myself!  
 
If we really believed God’s favor rests upon us it would change the way we live. It would change the way we treat people!
 
Jesus taught His disciples to serve His people. He wants you to serve people. So many of us wander around like sheep without a shepherd. Do not ask what Jesus would do. Look around and see what He is doing.
 
Spend time alone with the Lord. Then go and see what needs to be done so Jesus can meet the needs of His people!
 
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Now He could do no mighty work there, except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them. Mark 6:5 NKJV
 
Jesus marveled at the unbelief of the people in His hometown. Unbelief in Jesus is the dominant religion of our time!
 
Mathew 13:58 says; Now He did not do many mighty works there because of their unbelief.
 
Does this mean Jesus can only do mighty works when He is supported by the faith of His followers?
 
People believe in the theory of evolution even though there is no real evidence to support it. People believe a great explosion created the heavens and the Earth even though they cannot explain what caused the explosion.
 
People do not believe in the God of the Bible for two primary reasons. Either they do not want to believe (bias against God) or they have been deceived.
 
Unbelievers influence other people and we find ourselves living in a world that opposes the transforming work God wants to accomplish in us and through us!
 
God created the heavens and the Earth without the support of human faith. Jesus created Adam and Eve without anyone around to believe He could. 
 
Jesus performs a miracle every time someone responds to Him in faith. There is one miracle Jesus cannot perform unless we believe in Him. Jesus cannot bring a person born dead in trespasses and sins to newness of life without faith in Him!
 
What is God’s will for people who live in this age of unbelief? The Lord wants us to believe we have been born separated from His love and protection by sin. He wants us to repent of our sin. He wants us to live by faith in Jesus Christ!
 
Jesus did no mighty works in His hometown because He knew the hearts of His people. He knew they would not respond in faith regardless of the miracles they witnessed.
 
Jesus is God. He does not need our help. He does want us to join Him by praying for people who are in bondage to unbelief. He wants us to trust Him enough to believe He can save our friends and family members. He wants to use us to share the message of salvation with people who have not born again unto everlasting life! 
 
Can Jesus perform miracles even in the midst of unbelief? Yes He can. He can use you to perform the greatest miracle of all. He can use you to bring people out of bondage to unbelief!
 
Ask Jesus to give you a believing heart!
 
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