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15 For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God.

16 So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. 17 For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, 18 as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. ~ 2 Corinthians 4:15-18 ESV

I just got home from a trip that I affectionately call my grandbaby tour. Although I love my children and grandchildren and enjoy visiting them and spending time with them, it is always good to get home. How many of us after a long trip, whether it is for work or vacation feel or say, it is good to be home? Whether it is a vacation in the Bahamas, Europe or the most beautiful places in the world, or a work trip to Detroit, L.A., Chicago, Dallas or Cincinnati. Why do you think that most of us feel that way?

Is it the familiar surroundings, comfortable bed, close to friends and family, etc., etc. These are all good reasons, but I wonder if maybe we are perhaps seeking something? Maybe a level of comfortableness that helps to feel safe and secure. Safe and secure from what? The unknown, the uncontrollable, the unseen, secure from the outside world of the unknown. Maybe seeking financial security, known and familiar relationships, I do not know. But, as I pondered these things I was drawn to Jesus words:

“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” ~ Matthew 6:33 ESV

“But seek first the kingdom of God” I see this as His personal invitation to us to set our hearts and desires on our home. No not the place we call home here in this world, but the home He has gone to prepare for us:

“In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?” ~ John 14:2 ESV

Understand that in God’s plan it is all about the King and His kingdom. God wrote the script, He built the sets, directs the actors, and knows the final act! An everlasting kingdom! We can see that this is God’s plan:

7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, 8 which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight 9 making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ 10 as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. ~ Ephesians 1:7-10 ESV

At the right time He will bring everything together under the authority of Christ — everything in heaven and on earth.

So what should we do? We reach for it! 
As with my trip to visit the grandkids, the trip was very nice, but the destination of getting to see the grandkids was the goal and the purpose for the trip. The same is with our earthly journey to our kingdom home. The journey is nice, we get to hang out with fellow believers and we get to do God’s work here and now. We are blessed to raise families, enjoy God’s creation, along with many, many others blessings on this journey, along with some hardships and sorrows, however the journey is not the destination.



Those of us who are content with nothing more than joy in the journey are settling for too little satisfaction. Our hearts tell us there is more to this life than this life. Who remembers the movie E.T.? Remember when he raised his bent finger to the sky and so feebly said, phone home… He was on a journey but knew that he wanted to reach the final destination, HOME. Well we may not know where to point, but we know not to call this world our home.

He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man's heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end. ~ Ecclesiastes 3:11 ESV

God has planted eternity in our hearts. —

In the Creator’s narrative, life on earth is but the beginning: the first letter of the first sentence in the first chapter of the great story God is writing with your life. – God’s Story, Your Story.

Now it is your turn to set your sights on your Home. Your eternal Home. Today, let us remember that this world is not where we belong and not where we will be forever. Heaven awaits us! If that be on a recreated earth, in glorious heaven, who knows, but we do know that we were not created to die and we are not created to live in this imperfect world for eternity, but to be with Christ Jesus in paradise forever!

Father in Heaven, we are so blessed to have a life that You have so graciously give to us. We ask Father that You instill in us the desire to set our sight on the home that You have go to prepare for us. We know Lord that as long as we are alive here and now that we have the blessing of serving You and Your people. You have blessed us with so much and have no idea where our home will be or what it will be like, but we know that nothing here could ever compare to what You have in store for us in our eternity home.  Abba, Father that you for loving us, taking care of us, protecting us and for creating us to be forever with You in Paradise! In the name of our Lord and Savior, Your Son the King of all things, Jesus Christ… Amen! <><

Rich Fool or Trust God?

13 Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” 14 But he said to him, “Man, who made me a judge or arbitrator over you?” 15 And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” 16 And he told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man produced plentifully, 17 and he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’ 18 And he said, ‘I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods.19 And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.”’ 20 But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ 21 So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.” ~ Luke 12:13-21

I find it curious when God keeps putting the same scripture in front of me for a period of time. This month we have been teaching the youth at our church the concept of “contentment” and the lesson for Sunday was on this very scripture. Then lo and behold on Monday morning I open my devotion and here it is again. So I am thinking ok Lord what is it that you want me to understand here? I try to live my life according to this principle. When I receive something I try to think, “how can I use this for God’s purpose?” Somehow I must be either not living up to what I think I am or there is another point that God wants me to glean from this. I think it may be a little of both… So let’s go over this together and see if we can understand the full value of this parable of the rich fool.

First I think we need to look closely at verses 15 and 21, verse 15 Jesus says: “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” In Jesus day, the custom was that the first-born son received a double portion of the family inheritance and from Jesus response; this man was not the first-born. While Jesus refuses to mediate this argument, He stabs right at the motive behind this dispute, “Covetousness!” Jesus speaks plainly and to the point and warns this man, and all of use for that matter, that our lives are not to be about gathering wealth. Although it is not wrong in of itself to have position and wealth, we must know that our lives are so much more than what we have and what we collect.

Then Jesus immediately tells a story, parable, of a Rich Fool. God blessed a man with an abundant crop. (v16) As God blessed this man instead of using the abundance that God provide him to extend God’s will and bless those around him he is consumed with managing and keeping his new found wealth. So this man builds bigger barns in place of the ones he already had and begins to plan his early retirement. Side note, I have read the bible many times and have never seen the word retirement, just food for thought. All the planning and “hoarding” this man was doing he did not know that this was his last night on earth. Jesus ends his story with, “So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.” (v21) In the verse before however God calls this man, “Fool!” Ouch, that hurts even to read. Can you imagine standing before God and the first word He speaks to you is “Fool!” More food for though…

As I ponder this parable, I discover two points that I would like to convey. First, we are to devote our lives to God’s will for our lives, to be content with what He provides for us and to use it for His will not just our own benefit. A word that comes to mind is to not be selfish with what He has blessed us with but to bless others with God’s provisions. Looking at verse 20 God says to the man, “the things you have prepared, whose will they be?” Compare what God says here to Ecclesiastes 2:18 ~ “I hated all my toil in which I toil under the sun, seeing that I must leave it to the man who will come after me.” This can be seen everyday people whose only purpose is to amass wealth. When they die all they worked for gets left behind for those who did not work for it and will not respect nor appreciate what they have gained. Now look at Matthew 6:24 ~ Jesus says: “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.” In other words, if your master is wealth God is not!

Which brings me to my second point, we are never blessed by God to hoard what He has provided for us to store up for ourselves. We are blessed to be a blessing to others. We are blessed to extend the Kingdom of God, here and now! Psalm 62:10 ~ “Put no trust in extortion; set no vain hopes on robbery; if riches increase, set not your heart on them.” If our riches increase we are not to set our hearts upon them! Proverbs 11:24 ~ “One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want.” Proverbs 3:9-10 ~ “ 9 Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the first fruits of all your produce; 10 then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine.” I think God’s point is clear, if we honor El Shaddi with what He has so lovingly provide us, He will bless us with more so we can honor Him even more.

Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 9:6-15 ~ “6 The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. 9 As it is written, ‘He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.’

10 He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. 11 You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God. 12 For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God. 13 By their approval of this service, they will glorify God because of your submission that comes from your confession of the gospel of Christ, and the generosity of your contribution for them and for all others, 14 while they long for you and pray for you, because of the surpassing grace of God upon you. 15 Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!”

We, Elohim’s children are blessed so we can “abound in every good work” and be a blessing in the lives of others who so desperately need El Yeshuati. So if God has given you and blessed you with material abundance “set not your heart on it” but “be rich toward God.” This is what God has spoken to me in Jesus parable of the Rich Fool, so I ask Rich Fool or Trust God?

Loving and gracious Yahweh-Channun, tank you for Your Words that speak truth and love into our hearts and lives. Grant in us the spirit of giving make us cheerful givers, helps us to remember that our hope lies in and with You Lord and not in the things that you have blessed us with. Make our spirits to be bright shinning lights that point to You Oh El-Moshaah not braggarts of the things we have but in the knowledge that You are with us. We know that we can never repay the love You have rained down upon us. Make us to love You in return and be the people You created us to be by extending Your Kingdom here and now. Make us to live now for eternity and not for today. All this thing we lay at Your feet, Almighty El Elyon in the name of Your Son, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!! Amen <><

When Will Christ Return?

36 “No one knows when that day or hour will come. Even the angels in heaven and the Son don’t know. Only the Father knows. 37 “When the Son of Man comes again, it will be exactly like the days of Noah. 38 In the days before the flood, people were eating, drinking, and getting married until the day that Noah went into the ship. 39 They were not aware of what was happening until the flood came and swept all of them away. That is how it will be when the Son of Man comes again. Matthew 24:36-39 (ESV)

Time to open our eyes and pay attention to what is happening around us locally and globally. I do believe that we cannot and should not attempt to predict the return of Jesus, but I also believe that we cannot ignore, fain ignorance, to the signs and struggles happening around the world right now. Jesus did not give us a date but He did tell us what to look for so open your eyes and see.

3 As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, his disciples came to him privately and said, “Tell us, when will this happen? What will be the sign that you are coming again, and when will the world come to an end?”

4 Jesus answered them, “Be careful not to let anyone deceive you. 5 Many will come using my name. They will say, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and they will deceive many people.

6 “You will hear of wars and rumors of wars. Don’t be alarmed! These things must happen, but they don’t mean that the end has come. 7 Nation will fight against nation and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8 All of these are only the beginning pains of the end.

9 “Then they will hand you over to those who will torture and kill you. All nations will hate you because you are committed to me. 10 Then many will lose faith. They will betray and hate each other. 11 Many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. 12 And because there will be more and more lawlessness, most people’s love will grow cold. 13 But the person who endures to the end will be saved.

14 “This Good News about the kingdom will be spread throughout the world as a testimony to all nations. Then the end will come.

15 “The prophet Daniel said that the disgusting thing that will cause destruction will stand in the holy place. When you see this (let the reader take note), 16 those of you in Judea should flee to the mountains. 17 Those who are on the roof should not come down to get anything out of their houses. 18 Those who are in the field should not turn back to get their coats.

19 “How horrible it will be for the women who are pregnant or who are nursing babies in those days. 20 Pray that it will not be winter or a day of rest—a holy day, when you flee. 21 There will be a lot of misery at that time, a kind of misery that has not happened from the beginning of the world until now and will certainly never happen again. 22 If God does not reduce the number of those days, no one will be saved. But those days will be reduced because of those whom God has chosen.

23 “At that time don’t believe anyone who tells you, ‘Here is the Messiah!’ or ‘There he is!’ 24 False messiahs and false prophets will appear. They will work spectacular, miraculous signs and do wonderful things to deceive, if possible, even those whom God has chosen. 25 Listen! I’ve told you this before it happens. 26 So if someone tells you, ‘He’s in the desert!’ don’t go out looking for him. And don’t believe anyone who says, ‘He’s in a secret place!’ 27 The Son of Man will come again just as lightning flashes from east to west. 28 Vultures will gather wherever there is a dead body.

29 “Immediately after the misery of those days, the sun will turn dark, the moon will not give light, the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the universe will be shaken.

30 “Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky. All the people on earth will cry in agony when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds in the sky with power and great glory. 31 He will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and from every direction under the sky, they will gather those whom God has chosen.

32 “Learn from the story of the fig tree. When its branch becomes tender and it sprouts leaves, you know that summer is near. 33 In the same way, when you see all these things, you know that he is near, at the door.

34 “I can guarantee this truth: This generation will not disappear until all these things take place. 35 The earth and the heavens will disappear, but my words will never disappear. ~ Matthew 24:3-35 (ESV)

Take heed my brothers and sisters, these are the very Words of our Lord and Savior!

Loving Father of all created things, please surround us with Your protection, Your peace and Your love. Give us Father your wisdom in our daily ministries. Show us how to reach the lost for Your kingdom before it becomes too late. Allow us Lord to be that mighty introduction to You that changes hearts and lives for all eternity. We know that one of Satan’s biggest lies to us is that we have no worth and no value and that You do not truly love us. Use us Abba to be Your love to the world so they might see through this lie. The second greatest lie Satan uses against us Father is that we have plenty of time. Please give us a since of urgency that we are doing Your work to save others lives, its not about me I know who I belong to, its about those poor souls that have not found their way to You Father that we need to be enthusiastic to reach. We ask these things in the name above all names, Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Amen <><

Is “I AM” In Control Of You?

6 As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, 7 rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.

8 Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. ~ Colossians 2:6-8 NKJV

When we were saved by Jesus Christ, when He made us a part of His first fruit, "I AM" the very Spirit of the Creator came to reside in our heart. Christ is now the center of our lives creating movement in us for Him. Our every thought, every action all our virtues are produced from a renewed and redeemed mind, a new heart, born from and commissioned by the very presence of "I AM" We begin to start this transformation into a new being, one formed in the image of Christ. We think like Christ, we believe like Christ, be become more and more like Christ with every breath we take.

The questions we now must research: What are the paramount beliefs of Christianity that when I embrace them within my mind and heart? What is it that Christ has changed in me that causes me to authentically make central changes in my life, in the life of the church and in the community? What is the unifying truth that all Christians embrace?

Do you believe enough to take Christ truths deep into your heart? Do you believe enough to live it out in your life, strengthened and empowered by “I AM” the very presence of the Creator in your life? <>< Amen.

Love Is...

1 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.

4 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. 7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

8 Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. 11 When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. 12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.

13 So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love. ~ 1 Corinthians 13:1-13 (ESV)

Love mentioned 684 times in the ESV, 442 times in KJV, 484 times in NASB and 686 times in the NIV. I would say that it is safe to assume that this is an important concept. As a matter of fact Jesus tells us, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the law and the Prophets.” Matthew 22:36-40

With this much emphasis on love in God’s Word why do we find it so hard to love? We often find it difficult to love ourselves much less someone else. In order to love we must be willing to forgive, to look past the ugliness of our self and others. How was Jesus so readily able to love? Jesus knew before the disciples even opened their mouth what they were thinking and what they were going to say and still loved them. Jesus knew Peter would doubt when he walked on the water with Him but still loved him and reached out to save him. Jesus knew Peter was going to deny Him yet afterward Jesus went looking for Peter, (John 21). Jesus entire mission here on this earth was to teach us about love, to teach us how to love and we ignore it.

There is an exercise that I was taught many years ago, reread 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 slowly, but this time replace the word “love” with your name. Kind of stings some does it not? Now read it again this time replace “love” with “Jesus” makes more sense that way. If we are truly seeking to be “Christ like” then we should be seeking to love unconditionally. This does not mean we should accept ones sin, or condone sin, but to love the sinner while rejecting the sin. I am sure that Jesus did not love it when Peter denied Him but still loved Peter.

Pray 1 Corinthian 13:4-8 asking God to instill in you the traits that Jesus so elegantly displayed all the way to and through the cross. Another saying that I have come to cherish, “God Loves You And So Do I!” Amen <><