The Lord will perfect you through his mercy

The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me: thy mercy, O Lord, endureth for ever: forsake not the works of thine own hands.

Psalm 138:8 KJV

This verse alone is enough to lift up your spirit and give you a joy to make you step a little higher.  David knew that God WOULD fix whatever was wrong in his life.  He knew that God's great MERCY would endure forever.  We are the work of God's own hands and he WILL NOT forsake his people.  Have you ever really thought about how God formed man.  When God created the heavens and the earth, he simply spoke them into being.  When he created the animals, the fish, the birds of the air, he simply spoke, but when he made man, it was different.  He looked over at his son, Jesus and said, Let us make man in our image.  God wanted someone in his own image that he could love and have a relationship with.  He could have just spoken man into existence, but man was going to be special.  Man was created by the touch of God's own hand!  He formed you and made you just the way he wanted you to be.  And when he was finished, he gave you his own breath so that you might live.  God never intended for man to die!!  When Adam and Eve brought sin into the world that changed God's plan but it did not change his great love for what he had created.  It did not change his MERCY. Sin brought with it the need for a sacrifice because without the shedding of blood there would be no forgiveness of sin and man would be separated from God forever. 

Hebrews 9:22

And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.

The blood of animals was never enough so God sent the one thing he loved most into the world he had created to be an ultimate sacrifice in order to redeem mankind from sin so that once again he could spend eternity with him.  

John 3:16

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

God made a way to perfect me by the sacrifice of his own son. His great mercy endures forever and he did not forsake the work of his own hands. He loves you today and he has not forsaken you. He is just a breath away. All you have to do is speak his name. He said with the heart believe and with the mouth confess that he is...It's that simple to reconcile your soul to God and be able to spend eternity in his presence. 

Romans 10:10

For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Kathy Wellman

Reference:  King James Bible

Be Obedient and Choose Wisely

When God sets something in motion and tells you to do a thing, he expects you to do what he says to do. Just like when you tell a child to do something, if they don't obey you then there will be consequences because of their disobedience.

The children of Israel were encamped about by the Syrians and the kings of Syria demanded all of their silver, gold, and even their women and children, King Ahab agreed to this, but when they pushed harder the children of Israel so NO...and the Lord sent a prophet to Israel to let them know that Syria would be delivered into their hands. They defeated the Syrians because it was in God's will, but they only pushed them back. The kings of Syria stood up and told the people that the God of Israel was only a God of the hills and not a God of the valleys and they planned another battle in the valley.

The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob is God over all things...he created the heavens and the earth and the Syrians were about to find this out. God will not be mocked. When the Syrians came up against Israel, they had to pay for their actions with their lives because of that statement! 

1 Kings 20:27-28
27 And the children of Israel were numbered, and were all present, and went against them: and the children of Israel pitched before them like two little flocks of kids; but the Syrians filled the country.
28 And there came a man of God, and spake unto the king of Israel, and said, Thus saith the Lord, Because the Syrians have said, The Lord is God of the hills, but he is not God of the valleys, therefore will I deliver all this great multitude into thine hand, and ye shall know that I am the Lord.

Israel was greatly outnumbered, but they had God on their side. With God all things are possible, but God also expects total obedience to his word.  He WILL NOT bless you and then allow you to disobey his word.  Just like a disobedient child, you will be punished.  God delivered the Syrians into Israel's hand even though they were greatly outnumbered for his own Glory, to show them that He was God and there is no other, but the king of Israel failed to obey God.  He made a covenant with the enemy.  

1 Kings 20:34
34 And Ben-hadad said unto him, The cities, which my father took from thy father, I will restore; and thou shalt make streets for thee in Damascus, as my father made in Samaria. Then said Ahab, I will send thee away with this covenant. So he made a covenant with him, and sent him away.

God will not have it.  You CAN NOT serve God and dally with the devil.  God WILL NOT BLESS SIN.  God said be either hot or cold.  If you try being both, he will cast you aside.  

Revelations 3:15-16
15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.
16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.

Because of King Ahab's disobedience to God, he was destroyed. God gave him a choice and he decided his own fate by his disobedience.  

1 Kings 20:42
42 And he said unto him, Thus saith the Lord, Because thou hast let go out of thy hand a man whom I appointed to utter destruction, therefore thy life shall go for his life, and thy people for his people.

God is giving you a choice today.  Will you accept Jesus Christ as your savior and choose God or be like King Ahab and give up your soul for a few earthy pleasures that will soon vanish away.  Jesus said come unto me all ye that are heavy laden and I will give you rest.  Eternity is just one breath away. Choose wisely. 

Revelations 3:20-21
19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

Romans 10:9-10
9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Kathy Wellman

Reference: King James Bible

Why is my prayer not being answered?

This morning I am thinking about all the prayers we send up to God. We put all our wants and needs into these prayers, and we know that God said to ask anything and we could have it, then we wonder why our prayers seem to go unanswered. God's word is true and he WILL give us what we ask for, but there are stipulations that apply.

1. We must BELIEVE and have FAITH
2. We must not ask amiss just for the sake of having it, it should be a need, not a want
3. We must do good to others in order for God to do good for us.

Here in Mathew, Jesus told them the key to answered prayers. FAITH AND BELIEVING.

Mathew 21:21-22
21 Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done.
22 And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.

Here, James taught the people that they could not be constantly bickering among each other and still expect to see their prayers answered and he let them know that they should be asking for things of need, not just wants or things they could enjoy having. God will provide food for your table, Clothes for your back, but he may not be so quick to give you a pickup truck when you have a perfectly good one sitting in the yard.

James 4:1-3
1 From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?
2 Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.
3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.

Finally, Paul taught us that there are things that God's people should be doing in order to see prayers answered. He taught that children need to be obeying their parents and that parents should be patient with their children and not provoke them. He taught us that we should honor our parents and that servants (employees) should do a good job for those they work for. Paul plainly points out that in order for God to give us good things, we must in turn do good things for others.

Ephesians 6:8
8 Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free.

These are only a few scriptures that teach us about why we don't see every prayer answered, but the bottom line is that we need to love more and do more good for our fellow man. It goes right back to my previous post. Love is the key.

Kathy Wellman

Reference:  King James Bible

Love is the Key

As I sit and contemplate all the problems in the world and wonder where it all went wrong, it dawns on me that there is not enough LOVE.  Love is the KEY to it all.  If mankind could ever wrap his mind around what love really is and embrace it, this world could be an amazing place to live. As Paul taught the people in the early church and told them all about all the wonderful spiritual gifts that God had given to the church, he saved the best gift for last.  The gift of LOVE.  If we do not have THIS GIFT then we can't have the others.  The other gifts can't operate or be present without THE GIFT OF LOVE. Paul tells us all about this wonderful gift in 1 Corinthians 13.  He starts out like this.

1 Corinthians 13

1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.
3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.

Paul is not speaking of charity as in giving to the poor.  He makes that clear in verse 3.  Each time he says "have not charity"  he is saying "have not love"  No matter what you do in this life if you don't have "LOVE" then you are nothing.  You can have more money than you know what to do with and you can give to the poor until your pockets are empty, but unless you love them, it will not help you in any way.  The key is love.  We must learn to love one another.  Paul goes on to teach us what the attributes of love are.  

4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,

5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;

6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;

7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

8 Charity never faileth:

It's easy to love someone that loves you back, but it's all the others that we must love if we are to please God.  When we see that performer on stage doing things that would make the devil blush, or that prostitute on the corner that you know is spreading disease, or that drunkard that maybe caused the death of a loved one...it's these that we must love.  We can't look at them with revulsion but we must look at them through the eyes of Jesus Christ and see beyond the horrors of their lives and see a soul that God loves. We must learn to love them and pray for their souls to be saved.  We are all so quick to say how bad those things are that these type of people are doing, but very seldom do I hear anyone say anything about that poor, lost soul.  Jesus taught us that unless we become as little children, we will not enter into his kingdom.  A little child will love anybody.  They are trusting and have the faith that could move a mountain.  If only we could be that way. 

I don't know where my thoughts are taking me right now. I just know that this world is in desperate need of LOVE.  LOVE is the KEY that will unlock the windows of heaven and allow BLESSINGS to fall.  Love your enemies and pray for them, it may be your prayer that saves their soul from hell.  Leave the vengeance to God, it is his job, not ours.  We are only to LOVE...

Romans 12:9-21 

9 Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.

10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;

11 Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;

12 Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;

13 Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.

14 Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.

15 Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.

16 Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.

17 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.

18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.

19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.

20 Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.

21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

Kathy Wellman

Reference: King James Bible

Spiritual Gifts

Good morning everyone....God is so good.  I am not going to have a long post this morning because to really tell you what's on my mind would take too long but I want to talk just a little bit about "Spiritual Gifts".  These gifts are spoken of in many places in the word of God but First Corinthians 12 gives us so much knowledge concerning these gifts and then chapters 13 and 14 goes on to teach all about them. There are many people in the world and even in the churches today that accept some of the spiritual gifts as being real and in the same breath they will reject the others.  They may accept the gift of "Faith" or "Healing" but tell you that the "Gift of Tongues" has ceased to exist.  God gave man these gifts to go out among the people that he might be glorified.  If you have a gift, you are blessed and should never take any credit upon yourself, but give God the glory.  

What are the "Spiritual Gifts?  There are many spiritual gifts God has blessed us with but Paul only tells us about nine of them in First Corinthians chapter 12. 

1. Spirit of Wisdom
2. Word of Knowledge
3. Gift of Faith
4. Gift of Healing
5. Working of Miracles
6. Gift of Prophecy
7. Discerning of Spirits
8. Divers kinds of Tongues
9. Interpretation of Tongues

These nine gifts were of significance to what Paul was teaching the people about that day and the point I want to bring out today is that these same exact gifts are still with us today and will not cease to be with us until Jesus Christ steps foot back upon this earth to reign as Lord of Lord and King of Kings.  The reason we don't see them manifest like we should is because "MAN" has failed God and failed to "BELIEVE".  After teaching of these gifts, Paul told us all about charity in the very next chapter of Corinthians and how important it was.  Now hears what causes people to start believing the gifts no longer exist in the church today.  While pointing out the importance of charity (LOVE) Paul also told them that PROPHESY would fail, TONGUES would cease and KNOWLEDGE would vanish away.  Satan takes that one little verse and causes utter confusion in the Christians lives but let me tell you that Satan is a LIAR...READ A LITTLE FURTHER...Paul continued and he told the people we do things in part...in other words, we just do a very little bit of what the Holy Ghost empowers us to do and hears SOME GOOD GOSPEL NEWS FOR YOU....He said "BUT"...there's that wonderful little word, BUT when that which is PERFECT is come, then that which is in part shall be done away with.  Paul is talking about Jesus Christ second coming.  He is explaining to the people that we have the spiritual gifts to help us now but one day Jesus Christ will come again and when he does the Holy Ghost as we know it will no longer be here on earth and there will be no need for the spiritual gifts any longer so they too will cease. 

Don't let Satan lead you down a path of lies. God is not mocked and his word is true.  He does not give you something and then take it away.  The spiritual gifts that he gave to mankind was to help us until Jesus Christ himself comes again to live and rule this earth for eternity and THEY WILL NOT CEASE UNTIL HE COMES AGAIN.  Paul made this clear when he told them, when that which is perfect is come.  Jesus Christ is the only one that is PERFECT .

I Corinthians 12:9-10
9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.
10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.

Suggested reading:  Corinthians chapters 12, 13 and 14.

Kathy Wellman

Reference:  King James Bible

The Shofar

I am so thankful to awake in the mornings with a song upon my heart and Jesus on my mind.  This morning I want to talk a little about "The Shofar".  The Shofar is a unique musical instrument often referred to as a trumpet.  It was most often made from a ram's horn  and was used by the Hebrews to sound the alarm in times of battle and for various other religious purposes. The first mention of the Shofar was in Exodus when God spoke to the people from Mt. Sinai.

Exodus 19: 17-19

17 And Moses brought forth the people out of the camp to meet with God; and they stood at the nether part of the mount.

18 And mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, because the Lord descended upon it in fire: and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly.

19 And when the voice of the trumpet sounded long, and waxed louder and louder, Moses spake, and God answered him by a voice.

In order for the Shofar to make a loud, clear sound, it must always be free of any obstructions.  If anything were clogging it up, then the warning may not be loud enough for all the people to hear the alarm.  Have you ever considered that we as Christian's are God's living, breathing "Shofars".  If you are a born again Christian, then the Holy Ghost dwells in you and you have become a "Shofar". God will use you to sound the alarm, to warn the people that a battle is coming and in order for God to use you for his purpose you too must be free of all obstructions in your life such as bitterness, hatred, anger, un-forgiveness, or any other thing that draws you away from God. You must become a vessel of honor and God will use you for his purpose.  Timothy told the people to clear themselves of anything that would clog them up so they would be prepared for God's use.  

II Timothy 2:20-21

 20 But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour.

21 If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work.

As a Christian, I want to be all that God has called me to be.  I want to be used in his service as I'm sure you do.  We must strive to clear our lives of anything that is not of God and fill our lives with the fruits of his spirit and he will use us to be his "Shofar".

Galatians 5:22-23

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

Kathy Wellman

Reference: King James Bible

God's Mercy

My thoughts this morning are upon the great mercy that God shows to mankind.  God is love in the purest sense and will not look upon sin, he forgives us and blots it out to never be spoken of again. Through Adam, sin came into the world, but God never intended it to be so.  Through Jesus Christ the affects of sin was destroyed.  The bible teaches us that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.  You may sin, but he is faithful and just to forgive those sins.

The bible teaches us in Romans 6:23
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Because of the sin of Adam and Eve, death came into the world.  It is appointed unto man once to die and to die in sin is to be separated from God for eternity.  Jesus loved us so much that he died to make a way for that to change. Man must still die but because of Christ's ultimate sacrifice of his own life we do not have to suffer the affects of sin.  Through his GREAT MERCY God has made a way for mankind to have a second chance at living forever in his presence!  This is something to praise him for....if you never have another thing in the world to be thankful for, this is enough!!

His MERCY amazes me every day.  What makes it so GREAT and so WONDERFUL is that it never ceases.  The bible teaches us that his mercy is new every day.  God knows we are human and it is impossible for mankind to be perfect, therefore man will sin and he will makes mistakes, but thank God for his enduring mercy.

We are taught this in Lamentations 3:21-23
21 This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope.
22 It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.
23 They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.
The bible even teaches us that God's mercy is so GREAT that even when judgement is being carried out that through prayer and fasting his mercy can come forth and his plans can be changed.  He loves his creations and his mercy is without end.  I believe we are living in days of judgement but I know his mercy is so much greater.

Joel 2:11-14
11 And the Lord shall utter his voice before his army: for his camp is very great: for he is strong that executeth his word: for the day of the Lord is great and very terrible; and who can abide it?
12 Therefore also now, saith the Lord, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning:
13 And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the Lord your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil.
14 Who knoweth if he will return and repent, and leave a blessing behind him; even a meat offering and a drink offering unto the Lord your God?
If you have not experienced God's  mercy in your life, let me invite you to pray.  Seek him while he may be found.  His mercy endureth forever and he loves you.

Here are just a few scriptures to tell you of his GREAT MERCY towards you.

Psalms 86:5
For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee.

1 John 1:9

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness

Hebrews 4:16

Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

Ephesians 2:4-5

But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)

Ephesians 2:8
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

His GRACE is so WONDERFUL and I could continue to expound on it so much more but I will stop here for now and leave you with this thought, that God's GRACE is sufficient.

2 Corinthians 2:9

And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Kathy Wellman

Reference:  King James Bible

Blessed or Cursed?

God told Abraham a long time ago that he would bless those that bless Israel and he would curse those that curse them.
Genesis 12: 1-3 teaches us that if we want to be blessed, then we must stand by the Jewish people and bless them.
1 Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee:
2 And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:
3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.

America has prospered because we have stood by the Jewish people.  Today America is in a state of decline because we are failing to stand up for Israel.  The bible is the infallible word of God.  Holy men wrote the book as the Spirit of God moved them.

2 Timothy 3:16
16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

2 Peter 1:20-21
20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost
 Nothing will turn America back into the country she once was unless we have Godly leaders that will defend God's people, Israel.  We are on a path of destruction and rolling downhill fast.  Prophesy is being fulfilled daily and still our eyes are blinded to the truth.  The only thing we as Christians can do is pray that the scales fall off the eyes of our leaders before God sends his angels to start blowing trumpets.

2 Chronicles 7:14 teaches us that God can change his mind if we pray.  He tell us:
   If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

Kathy Wellman
RE:  King James Bible

Know those that Labor Among you

Thought for today:  My thoughts this morning are on knowing those that labor among you. I briefly touched on this subject awhile back but thought it important to expand on what I had said.  We go to church and sit beside our neighbors, but do we know them. Do we know how they live their lives day by day? It's very important to know those that labor among you or in other words those that are leading you, worshiping in church with you, those that are laying hands on you in the prayer line, those that are giving you a word from God.

1 Thessalonians 5:11-13 teaches us:
11 Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.
12 And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you;
13 And to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. And be at peace among yourselves.

This is clearly teaching us that we need to know the leaders in our church and the people we worship with.  That we are to love them and be appreciative of the work they are doing for the Lord.  We need to know how they live outside the church.  It's for this reason that James told us to call the elders of the church to pray over us if we were sick. Because we know them!!  They've been around a long time and we know their lives.  This is not necessarily the oldest person in the church, but rather the ones that have been serving God the longest.  You are not supposed to have strangers coming into your church and laying hands on people and praying for them.  They may be Christians, but it is not scripture.  It is wonderful to have visitors come to the church to worship together but when it comes to praying for the sick, James clearly tells us who should be doing that job in the church.  It should fall to the elders in the church and not just to whoever decides they want to do it.  This sounds harsh, but it is scripture and it's the way it is supposed to be.  

James 5:14-15
14 Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:
15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.

Some people will come to church just to see what is going on.  You have some that will come and live a double life.  You can't just be a Christian inside the walls of the church house.  This is why we are told to try the spirit, see if it be of God. The devil will walk into your church and sit down right beside you. Be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.  Pray for the gift of discernment and let God lead you in all things.  We are to beware of false prophets or anyone that comes into our church and proceeds to give us a word from God.  They are not all of God and if we can't get to know the person, then we can't know what kind of fruit they bare or in other words what kind of life they live unless the Holy Ghost reveals it through discernment.  This is why this particular spiritual gift is so important.  

Mathew 7:15-18
15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.

1 John 4: 1-4 teaches us:
1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.
4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

In conclusion, if you are a member of a church, then I believe it's is of utmost importance to know your brothers and sisters in Christ both in the church and in their everyday lives.  Know those that labor among you.

KWellman

RE: KJV Bible

Our Dwelling Place

Thought for today:  Our Dwelling Place.  Have you ever just sat and thought about your dwelling place?  There are different ways to see it.  You may have a beautiful home that you dwell in physically and you call that your dwelling place.  But there is also a dwelling place for your soul to find rest.  A dwelling place where your heart can be at peace and where the thoughts of your mind can be turned to joy!  The great thing about this dwelling place is that you don't have to be rich to obtain it.  This place is in the presence of the most High God.  In his presence your soul finds rest and peace that is beyond understanding.  It's a spiritual paradise.  

Moses knew all about this dwelling place.  He knew that being in God's presence was the most important place to dwell.  His heart longed to see God's glory because he knew such joy when in his presence.  God placed him in a cleft of a rock and allowed him to see his back.  

Exodus 33:14-15
 14: And he said, My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest.
15:  And he said unto him, If thy presence go not with me, carry us not up hence.

17: And the Lord said unto Moses, I will do this thing also that thou hast spoken: for thou hast found grace in my sight, and I know thee by name.
18: And he said, I beseech thee, shew me thy glory.
19: And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the Lord before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy.

20: And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live.
21: And the Lord said, Behold, there is a place by me, and thou shalt stand upon a rock:
22: And it shall come to pass, while my glory passeth by, that I will put thee in a clift of the rock, and will cover thee with my hand while I pass by:
23: And I will take away mine hand, and thou shalt see my back parts: but my face shall not be seen.

Just imagine being in his presence.  Moses only saw his back and the sheer magnitude of his presence changed his countenance so that his face could not be looked upon.  He had to put a veil over his face.  

Exodus 34: 

29: And it came to pass, when Moses came down from mount Sinai with the two tables of testimony in Moses' hand, when he came down from the mount, that Moses wist not that the skin of his face shone while he talked with him.
30: And when Aaron and all the children of Israel saw Moses, behold, the skin of his face shone; and they were afraid to come nigh him.

King David also knew about this place.  He wrote psalms and praise about this dwelling place.  He called it a "Secret Place".  Friend, if your soul is in turmoil and you have searched for answers in this world to bring you peace and joy, you need search no further than the presence of God.  Once you build a relationship with the Lord, your soul will have found it's dwelling place.  Our souls are only at peace when in his presence!!

Psalms 90:1-2
1: Lord, thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations.
2: Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.

Psalms 91:1

1: He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

Kathy Wellman

Reference: King James Bible

Stay Rooted

Thought for today:  Stay Rooted.   In our journey through this life we often stumble and fail God, but God would have us to dig our roots deep and therefore be able to withstand all things.  When you come to know who Jesus Christ truly is and acknowledge that he is the "Son of God" and begin living for him you have planted yourself on a sure foundation.  

The bible teaches us in 

Romans 10:9 

That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

There was once a great king whose name was Nebuchadnezzar.  During his reign as king over the great city of Babylon he learned a lot of things from a few little Jewish boys that he held in captivity.   The one great thing he learned was that there in only "One True God".  King Nebuchadnezzar dreamed a dream that disturbed him and made him afraid.  None of his wise men could interpret the dream, but he remembered Daniel and called him in.  The king had dreamed of a great tree that stood tall.  The birds rested in the branches and the animals took shelter under the tree.  

Daniel 4:10-12

10 Thus were the visions of mine head in my bed; I saw, and behold a tree in the midst of the earth, and the height thereof was great.
11 The tree grew, and was strong, and the height thereof reached unto heaven, and the sight thereof to the end of all the earth:
12 The leaves thereof were fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it was meat for all: the beasts of the field had shadow under it, and the fowls of the heaven dwelt in the boughs thereof, and all flesh was fed of it.

Daniel let the king know that this great tree represented the king.  It was the rest of the dream that made him so afraid. King Nebuchadnezzar saw an angel come down and cut down the tree.  It was destroyed, but Daniel saw a little hope in the dream because God told the angel to cut down the tree but leave the stump in the earth.

Daniel 4:13-15 

13 I saw in the visions of my head upon my bed, and, behold, a watcher and an holy one came down from heaven;

14 He cried aloud, and said thus, Hew down the tree, and cut off his branches, shake off his leaves, and scatter his fruit: let the beasts get away from under it, and the fowls from his branches:
15 Nevertheless leave the stump of his roots in the earth, even with a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts in the grass of the earth:

The king was about to lose his kingdom.  He would become as an animal and eat grass as an oxen.  He would become a lunatic, but there was hope because no matter how many gods the king served and worshiped, in his heart he knew that there was only "One True God"  and after all his suffering, one day he lifted his eyes to heaven and his mind came back to him and he praised the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.  The God of Daniel...

Daniel 4:34

And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured him that liveth for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation:

He knew of a kingdom that would last forever.  When Jesus Christ sets up his kingdom, it will have no end.  

Luke 1:32-33

32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:
33 And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end

You see, because King Nebuchadnezzar knew in his heart who God really was, in his great mercy, God left the stump in the ground.  With the stump in the ground, there was a chance for the tree to grow again and before his death the king had his mind restored and he once again gave glory to the most high God.  He was rooted in the truth but just could not live the life.  He was like many Christians today.  They know the truth but let the things of this world draw them away from God.  

Friends, we need to get ourselves grounded deep and know that Jesus Christ is the only way.  His is the only name given under heaven that we might be saved.  Paul also taught us of the importance of staying rooted in Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 3:17-19 

17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,
18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;
19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.

We need to stay rooted and grounded in Jesus Christ and know that he is the only way to eternity.  He told us "I am the way"  

John 14:6

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Kathy Wellman

Reference:  King James Bible

  

Enjoy Today

Thought for today:  I am thinking that God gave us good advice when he said to live for today and take no thought of tomorrow.  We are sons and daughters of God.  We know what is taking place in the world because we serve a God that has not left us in darkness, but rather has taught us what to watch for.  We are children of light and as such we should enjoy every day we are blessed with and live it to the fullest knowing that God could call us home at any moment and knowing that his coming is not going to surprise his children.  We are to be wise and prepared.  What a day, glorious day that will be..Satan is excited right now, he thinks he has the bull by the horns, but you see, Satan is a liar and the Father of lies.  he also knows how the story ends, but in his arrogance he wants to fool mankind as long as he can.   

1 Thessalonians 5  (KJV)
1 But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.
2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.
3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.
4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.
5 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.
6 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.

Kathy Wellman
Reference:  King James Bible

His mercy endures

Thought for today:

1 Chronicles 29:11 KJV
Thine, O Lord is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O Lord, and thou art exalted as head above all.

Psalms 46:10 KJV
Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.

This world can go crazy and they can legalize sin.  They can persecute God's people.  They can say everyone should have one religion and serve a God, but whose God is what I ask?  With this one great religion do we serve God Almighty, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob or do we serve Allah, Baal, or some other God made of wood or stone that has no life.  Throughout the ages God has showed the kings of the earth how mighty he was and time and again they have known that Jehovah God was mighty and true, but their wickedness have turned them back to false Gods.  God Almighty will not have it.  King  Nebuchadnezzar knew that the God of Daniel was the one true God but he couldn't turn from his wicked ways for very long and because of this he was made to live like an animal driven insane, but still God in his great mercy brought him back to reality and gave him a another chance to know the REAL GOD.  

Daniel 4:34-35 KJV
34 And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured him that liveth for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation:
35 And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?

He will do the same for you.  Have you drifted away from God and feel that you have lost your way?  He said he would never leave you nor forsake you.  You may have stumbled and lost your way, but he is standing with outstretched arms waiting to welcome you back into his grace.  He loves you and his mercy endures forever.  

Psalms 100:5
For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.

This verse tell us that God's mercy is for all generations, that's you and I.  He has never stopped showing mercy to his children and he never will.  King David said surely Goodness and Mercy shall follow me all the days of my life.  Psalms 136 tells of his great mercy 26 times.  

Psalm 136 King James Version (KJV)

1 O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.

2 O give thanks unto the God of gods: for his mercy endureth for ever.

3 O give thanks to the Lord of lords: for his mercy endureth for ever.

4 To him who alone doeth great wonders: for his mercy endureth for ever.

5 To him that by wisdom made the heavens: for his mercy endureth for ever.

6 To him that stretched out the earth above the waters: for his mercy endureth for ever.

7 To him that made great lights: for his mercy endureth for ever:

8 The sun to rule by day: for his mercy endureth for ever:

9 The moon and stars to rule by night: for his mercy endureth for ever.

10 To him that smote Egypt in their firstborn: for his mercy endureth for ever:

11 And brought out Israel from among them: for his mercy endureth for ever:

12 With a strong hand, and with a stretched out arm: for his mercy endureth for ever.

13 To him which divided the Red sea into parts: for his mercy endureth for ever:

14 And made Israel to pass through the midst of it: for his mercy endureth for ever:

15 But overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red sea: for his mercy endureth for ever.

16 To him which led his people through the wilderness: for his mercy endureth for ever.

17 To him which smote great kings: for his mercy endureth for ever:

18 And slew famous kings: for his mercy endureth for ever:

19 Sihon king of the Amorites: for his mercy endureth for ever:

20 And Og the king of Bashan: for his mercy endureth for ever:

21 And gave their land for an heritage: for his mercy endureth for ever:

22 Even an heritage unto Israel his servant: for his mercy endureth for ever.

23 Who remembered us in our low estate: for his mercy endureth for ever:

24 And hath redeemed us from our enemies: for his mercy endureth for ever.

25 Who giveth food to all flesh: for his mercy endureth for ever.

26 O give thanks unto the God of heaven: for his mercy endureth for ever.

This chapter alone should convince you that the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob is Lord of Lord and King of Kings.  He loved us so much that he gave his only son to die for our sins so that we could enter into eternity with him.  Jesus Christ said in Mathew 11:28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Our God is a jealous God.  He wants all or nothing.  
Jesus told us that if you've seen me, you have seen the Father.  Jesus was right there in the very beginning when God said let "US" make man in "OUR" image.  

John 1 KJV
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 The same was in the beginning with God.
3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

Jesus Christ came to seek and to save that which was lost.  He loves you today.  If you ever want to find peace in this world and beyond it will be through his name and no other.  Paul taught us that there is no other name, except Jesus Christ that will save us. My prayer is that you come to know this truth before it's to late.

Acts 4:10-12
10 Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.
11 This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.
12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

Blessed be the name of the Lord!

Kathy Wellman
Reference:  King James Bible