A Word of Reconciliation

Hey bloggers,

I’m getting ready to go to the airport…ministering tomorrow in Roanoke, VA at Church Alive International (Pastors Carey and Vannie Harrell)...it’s an awesome church, and a part of our network (Now Ministries)…any of you readers who live in the area should come visit us tomorrow…log on to www.churchaliveintl.com for directions…

Debye will be preaching at CITN, and I’m sure she has a great word for you…

Thanks for your insightful comments yesterday about unconditional love…I want to post one of them here…since I have no idea who this person is, I will assume that they won’t mind me drawing attention to what they posted:

"Would unconditional love be like if someone left the church because of some unfamiliar teaching and some time later this someone decided to come back to the church they left because deep down they really loved the church they left and when they came back they were loved unconditionally because everyone loved them and would never hold it against them that they left the church they loved because they didn't understand the unfamiliar teaching? if that is unconditional love then that is the coolest thing I have ever heard of.
- me"


I have been told by several people that many of our blurkers are ex-CITN members who come here every day to maintain a connection with us, and that even some of the participants are people who used to be a part of the church, and now are here under assumed blog names…

Let me just say to any of you who fall into one of those categories, if CITN is your church and I am your pastor (whether or not you agree with everything that I believe and teach), don’t let pride stand in the way of you being fully re-connected here. We are church Church IN THE NOW…whatever happened in the past is in the past…this is a new day…

If BLOGINTHENOW has provided a safe place for you to re-connect at your own pace…fine…but don’t let it stop here…

The presence of God is manifesting in a very powerful way right now at CITN, and you shouldn’t cheat yourself out of experiencing it just because of some paradigm you had in the past. And I don’t require (and never have) that everyone interpret the Scriptures as I do, so listen to my message with your heart, and trust what your heart tells you. As the lyric to the song says, “From a distance, I just cannot comprehend what all this fighting is for…”

The blog is great, but it can’t replace church.

All is forgiven.

Come back home.

Unconditional Love

Matthew 5:7, in the King James Version, says -
"Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.".

Matthew 5:7, in the Khaboris Manuscript (in Aramaic, the language that Jesus actually spoke), says -

"A heavenly attitude is theirs, those whose love is without conditions; they will therefore receive unconditional love."


At the end of the day, love is all that matters. Love is the only thing that makes things make sense. Love is the answer. Love is the purpose of creation. Love rules. Love never fails. Love is what validates the Gospel. I don't always walk in it, or manifest it as I would like to think that I do, but I am never unaware that it's the most important thing. When I walk in love, I am truly happy...

Here in the Khaboris Manuscript, Jesus reveals the concept of "Agape"...the idea of unconditional love. With man this idea is impossible, but not with God. With God (Who is love) ALL things are possible...

Today I am praying for a manifestation of love in the earth...


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John, Chapter 13:1-35 (John In The Now)

1. It was right before the Feast of Passover, and Jesus knew that the time had come for Him to physically leave the earthly dimension and return, full-time, to the spirit realm to be with His Father in the now. And having loved His own who were in the world, He continued to love them right up to the very end of His existence as the Word made flesh. He loved those twelve men with an intense and unfailing love, as much as any human being could possibly love another. He didn’t simply have divine affection for them as an almighty Creator would have for His creation. His connection with them was more complex…more than that of God benevolently loving mankind…He actually cared for them with the very vulnerable, heart-felt emotion of a man who enjoyed their company and depended on them as His partners in the ministry. They were His friends, they were His confidants, they were His brothers, they were His sons. They had worked together, prayed together, fished together, changed people’s lives together. They had all become a part of each other.
2. But as the evening meal progressed, Judas became increasingly adversarial toward Jesus in his attitude, giving in to his dark side in a way that made it seem as though the devil had entered him and had prompted him to betray Jesus. On another occasion, Jesus had referred to Judas as a devil (which simply means adversary), and now His prophetic words were coming to pass.
3. But Jesus, being completely confident in the fact that God had put Him in charge of everything that was happening, and everything that was about to happen, was not intimidated by what was going on inside Judas’ mind. He was focused on the knowledge that, in the same way that He had come from God, He was about to return to God.
4. So He got up from the table, stripped down completely, and wrapped a towel around His waist. In so doing, He girded Himself in the manner that servant boys did at that time when they waited on houseguests.
5. Then He poured water into a basin and began to humbly and deliberately wash His disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that He had wrapped around His waist.
6. But when He got to Simon Peter, Peter objected, saying, “Lord, surely You do not intend on washing my feet!”
7. Jesus replied, “You aren’t able to comprehend what I’m doing right now, but later it will make perfect sense to you.”
8. “No!” Peter said emphatically. “It’s not right. I will never permit You to be subservient to me in this way. I absolutely will not allow You to ever wash my feet!” Jesus answered, “Let Me put it to you this way, Peter. Unless I wash you, you have no part with Me.”
9. “All right, then,” Peter finally said. “If that’s the way it is, if it is that important, then go ahead and do it, but don’t just wash my feet...wash my hands and my head, as well!”
10. But Jesus answered him, saying, “Those who have had a bath only need to wash their feet after walking on a dirty floor, because the rest of their body is clean. This act is symbolic in that you, as a group, are clean, but not every one of you.”
11. He said this because He knew who was going to betray Him, and that was why He said that not every one of them was clean.
12. When He had completed washing the feet of each disciple, He put His clothes back on and returned to where He had been sitting at the table. Then He asked them, “Do you have any idea why I have done what I just did?
13. “Let Me explain: You call Me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and it is appropriate that you do so, because that is what I am.
14. “But the point is this: now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you should also serve one another in this same way. You should take every opportunity to wash one another’s feet just as I have washed yours.
15. “I have set the example for you – the example of unconditional love, of covering one another, of serving one another, and honoring one another. This is a kingdom principle, and you should continue to do for one another as I have done for you,
16. “because the truth is that servants are not greater than their master, and those who deliver a message are not greater than the one who sent them to deliver it.
17. “And now that I have demonstrated these principles to you, you are responsible for them, and you will be blessed if you do them.
18. “And you need to know that what I am saying applies to every one of you. I know those that I have chosen, and I never second-guess My choices. But what is happening, even as I speak, is the fulfillment of the Scripture that says ‘He who shared My bread with Me has lifted up his heel against Me.’
19. “I am prepared for this, but I am telling you about it now, before it happens, so that when it comes to pass you will have another reason to believe that I am who I am.
20. “Always remember how this truth works in this dimension: Whoever accepts anyone that I send, ultimately accepts Me, and, likewise, whoever accepts Me accepts the One who sent Me.”
21. But as soon as He said this, the reality of what was happening dawned on His human nature, and He became troubled and depressed in His spirit. The God part of Him was fully in control of the situation, even emotionally detached from it, in a way. But the part of Him that was a man – the part that loved Judas as a friend and a brother – suddenly cried out in sorrow, ‘The painful truth is that one of you sitting right here is going to betray Me!”
22. His disciples were so dumbfounded at this that they just stared at one another in disbelief. No one knew what to say.
23. But one of them, the one known as the disciple that Jesus loved, was reclining so close to Jesus that he was actually leaning on Him.
24. And Simon Peter motioned to this disciple and said to him, “Lean in a little closer, so that He can whisper to you who He’s talking about.”
25. So leaning back even closer into Jesus’ personal space, he asked, “Lord, who is it? Who is going to betray You?”
26. Jesus responded to him, saying, “The one to whom I give this piece of bread after I have dipped it into the dish.” Then He dipped the bread and handed it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot.
27. As soon as Judas took the bread, a sense of darkness overtook him and he completely surrendered to the devilish plan to betray Jesus. And, being fully aware of what had just taken place in Judas’ heart, Jesus said to him, “Don’t put off what you are going to do any longer; go ahead and get it over with, quickly.”
28. But the disciples were so in denial of what was actually transpiring in that moment, that not one of them was able to understand what Jesus was talking about. It was too unthinkable for them to grasp that anyone in that room, including Judas, was capable of actually turning against Jesus.
29. So, since Judas was in charge of the finances, they just assumed that Jesus was telling him to buy what was needed to celebrate the festival or to give something to the poor. That was the end of it as far as they were concerned.
30. But nothing was ever the same after Judas took that bread from Jesus, and they both knew it. There were no other words that needed to be said, so he just got up and quietly went out into the shadows of the night.
31. As soon as the door closed behind him, Jesus turned to the remaining disciples and said, “Now the Son of Man is glorified, and God is glorified in Him.
32. “And if God is glorified in Him, He will glorify the Son in Himself, and He will glorify Him in the now.
33. “Listen, My sons, I am only going to be with you a little while longer. You will look for Me,and, as I told the people in the temple, so I tell you now, ‘Where I am going you cannot come.’
34. “So this is what I need to leave with you – these are My last words to you – what I want, more than anything, for you to remember. I have given you many instructions and insights during our time together, but here is the new commandment, the new order, the thing that is superior to every other thing: in a word, LOVE ONE ANOTHER. In the way that I have loved you, so you must love one another. Do you understand?
35. “You see, this is the only way that people will know that you are My disciples. Your love for one another is the solitary thing that will validate My message in the long run – not the miracles, not the signs and wonders, not the teaching – but your unconditional love for each other. It is not optional.”

INTERCESSION IN THE NOW II!

Hey bloggers,

Thanks for your response to the article about intercession. It seems to me that every time I talk about prayer here on the blog, I get a lot of really exceptional feedback on the subject, and I’m very glad that BLOGINTHENOW, while being decidedly unconventional in its approach to theological and spiritual matters, is consistently so prayer-friendly. Today’s entry from AYITN is about EXPECTANCY, which is certainly an important aspect of prayer, and in light of that, I want to encourage all who are a part of this blog community to maintain an attitude of expectancy today that keeps faith and vision at a high level. Keep looking forward, regardless of any recently experienced disappointments, and believe in the probable occurrence or appearance of something good coming in to your world today, because something good is due for you. Here's some more about prayer...

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Praise God from whom all blessings flow;
praise him, all creatures here below;
praise him above, ye heavenly host:
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

Thomas Ken - 1674

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Father, Mother, God,
Thank you for your presence during the hard and mean days.
For then we have you to lean upon. Thank you for your presence during the bright and sunny days, for then we can share that which we have with those who have less. And thank you for your presence during the Holy Days, for then we are able to celebrate you and our families and our friends.For those who have no voice, we ask you to speak. For those who feel unworthy, we ask you to pour your love out in waterfalls of tenderness. For those who live in pain,we ask you to bathe them in the river of your healing.For those who are lonely, we ask you to keep them company.
For those who are depressed, we ask you to shower upon them the light of hope. Dear Creator, You, the borderless sea of substance, we ask you to give to all the
world that which we need most—Peace.

- Prayer by Maya Angelou

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Violence never again! War never again! Terrorism never again! In God's name,
may all religions bring upon earth justice and peace, forgiveness, life and love!

Prayer by his holiness Pope John Paul II - 01.24.2002

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Make us worthy, Lord, to serve our fellow men throughout the world who live and die in poverty and hunger.Give them through our hands this day their daily bread,
and by our understanding love, give peace and joy.

- Prayer by Mother Teresa

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Prayer for the National and Local Election (from Prayers That Avail Much)

Father, in Jesus' name, I give thanks for the United States and its government. I hold up in prayer before You those people who are seeking a position of authority in political office. I pray that the Spirit of the Lord rests upon them.

I believe that skillful and godly wisdom has entered into the heart of everyone whom you have appointed to lead us and that knowledge is pleasant to them. Discretion watches over them; understanding keeps them and delivers them from the way of evil and from evil men.

Father, I ask that You surround everyone in authority with men and women who are attentive to godly counsel and do that which is right in Your sight. We pray that our leaders will be people of integrity who are obedient concerning us that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. I pray that only the upright shall be elected to govern over us...that only a person who is blameless and complete in Your sight, Father, shall obtain these positions of leadership. In the name of Jesus we pull down the wicked from this election and the treacherous shall be rooted out of it. I also pray that the media who proclaims any news about this election, will clearly speak and write truth that prevails, and their influence will be for good and not evil.

Your Word declares that blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord (Ps. 33:12). I receive Your blessing, Father, for my country. You are our refuge and stronghold in times of trouble (high cost, destitution, depression and desperation). So I declare with my mouth that Your people shall dwell safely in this land, and we prosper abundantly. We are more than conquerors through Christ Jesus!

It is written in Your Word that the heart of the king is in the hand of the Lord, and you turn it whichever way You desire. I believe the hearts of our leaders are in Your hand and that their decisions are divinely directed by You, Lord.
I give thanks unto You that the good news of the gospel is proclaimed and published in our land. The Word of the Lord prevails and grows mightily in the hearts and lives of the people. I give thanks for this land and the leaders You will give to us, in Jesus' name.

Jesus is Lord over the United States of America!






Scripture References:
Scripture References

Deuteronomy 23:5 (NIV) Deuteronomy 28:10, 11 (NIV)
Psalm 9:9 (NIV) Proverbs 2:10 - 12, 21, 22 (NIV)
Proverbs 9:9 (NIV) Proverbs 11:14 (NIV)
Proverbs 15:22 (NIV) Acts 12:24 (NIV)
Romans 8:37 (NIV) Revelation 3:18 (NIV)


Without going into any detail, if you had to make a list of the top 5 people who most need our prayers today, who would be on that list?

INTERCESSION IN THE NOW!

Hey bloggers,

This post started out many hours ago as just one word - INTERCESSION. But the anointing for prayer on me today has caused it to evolve into a labor of love, and into something that I think is very important right now, for many reasons. It's very lengthy, and at the time of this addition there are 8 comments already posted; but I'm going to leave it here through tomorrow (which is Body Builders day, by the way), and I would like to get a lot of feedback on it. Please take the time to read it over the next couple of days, and add your AMEN if you are on the page with me...and feel free to add your own personal prayer requests. Let us pray...

I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one mediator between God and human beings, Christ Jesus, himself human, who gave himself as a ransom for all people. This has now been witnessed to at the proper time. (I Timothy 2:1-6 – TNIV)

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Pray for the peace of Jerusalem! May they prosper who love you [the Holy City]!

(Psalms 122:6 – AMP)

We pray for the conflict between Palestine and Israel, and for many on both sides who are broken and anxious in body, mind and spirit. We pray for a political solution in Israel and Palestine based on truth and justice...for mutual recognition of Palestinians and Israelis, and for reconciliation between the two peoples. We pray for Israelis and Palestinians, and especially their leaders, for a new determination to build bridges of hope rather than fortresses of dogma. We pray for peace activists who courageously stand against injustice, terrorism and human rights violations...for openness and mutual respect among all the Children of Abraham...
Christians, Jews and Muslims. We pray that people all over the world may encourage the people of the Holy Land to make peace.

In the Name of Jesus, the Prince of Peace

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Don't read more into this part than is my intention...
I absolutely believe and confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, and that every tongue will eventually believe and confess that, as well, as every knee eventually bows to him in worship ("All the earth shall worship You..." - Psalms 66:4). I believe that as He was lifted up on the cross, He began the process of drawing all peoples to Himself, and that His Spirit will be poured out on all humanity. But in light of what I said about the religions of the world this past Sunday, and because of what is in my spirit today about intercession, I want to post these prayers for peace from various religions (in alphabetical order). I pray that you will hear me by the Spirit, and that you will agree with me today in prayer for our world...

BAHA'I PRAYER FOR PEACE...
...Be generous in prosperity, and thankful in adversity.Be fair in thy judgement, and guarded in thy speech. Be a lamp unto those who walk in darkness, and a home to the stranger. Be eyes to the blind, and a guiding light unto the feet of the erring. Be a breath of life to the body of humankind, a dew to the soil of the human heart, and a fruit upon the tree of humility.

BUDDHIST PRAYER FOR PEACE...
...May all beings everywhere plagued with sufferings of body and mind quickly be freed from their illnesses.May those frightened cease to be afraid, and may those bound be free. May the powerless find power, and may people think of befriending one another. May those who find themselves in trackless, fearful wildernesses— the children, the aged, the unprotected---be guarded by beneficent celestials, and may they swiftly attain Buddhahood.

CHRISTIAN PRAYER FOR PEACE...
...Blessed are the Peacemakers, for they shall be known as the Children of God. But I say to you that hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. To those who strike you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from those who take away your cloak, do not withhold your coat as well. Give to everyone who begs from you, and of those who take away your goods, do not ask them again. And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.

HINDU PRAYER FOR PEACE...
...Oh God, lead us from the unreal to the Real. Oh God, lead us from darkness to light. Oh God, lead us from death to immortality. Shanti, Shanti, Shanti unto all. Oh Lord God almighty, may there be peace in celestial regions. May there be peace on earth. May the waters be appeasing. May herbs be wholesome, and may trees and plants bring peace to all. May all beneficent beings bring peace to us. May thy Vedic Law propagate peace all through the world. May all things be a source of peace to us. And may thy peace itself, bestow peace on all, and may that peace come to me also.

JAINIST PRAYER FOR PEACE...
...Peace and Universal Love is the essence of the Gospel preached by all the Enlightened Ones.The Lord has preached that equanimity is the Dharma. Forgive do I creatures all, and let all creatures forgive me. Unto all have I amity, and unto none enmity. Know that violence is the root cause of all miseries in the world. Violence, in fact, is the knot of bondage.
"Do not injure any living being." This is the eternal, perennial, and unalterable way of spiritual life. A weapon howsoever powerful it may be, can always be superseded by a superior one; but no weapon can, however, be superior to non-violence and love.

JEWISH PRAYER FOR PEACE...
...Come let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,
that we may walk the paths of the Most High. And we shall beat our swords into ploughshares, and our spears into pruning hooks. Nation shall not lift up sword against nation — neither shall they learn war any more. And none shall be afraid,
for the mouth of the Lord of Hosts has spoken.

MUSLIM PRAYER FOR PEACE...
...In the name of Allah, the beneficent, the merciful. Praise be to the Lord of the Universe who has created us and made us into tribes and nations, that we may know each other, not that we may despise each other. If the enemy incline towards peace, do thou also incline towards peace, and trust in God, for the Lord is the one that heareth and knoweth all things. And the servants of God, Most Gracious are those who walk on the Earth in humility, and when we address them, we say "PEACE."

NATIVE AFRICAN PRAYER FOR PEACE...
...Almighty God, the Great Thumb we cannot evade to tie any knot; the Roaring Thunder that splits mighty trees: the all-seeing Lord up on high who sees even the footprints of an antelope on a rockmass here on Earth. You are the one who does not hesitate to respond to our call. You are the cornerstone of peace.

NATIVE AMERICAN PRAYER FOR PEACE...
...O Great Spirit of our Ancestors, I raise my pipe to you. To your messengers the four winds, and to Mother Earth who provides for your children. Give us the wisdom to teach our children to love, to respect, and to be kind to each other so that they may grow with peace in mind. Let us learn to share all the good things you provide for us on this Earth.

SHINTO PRAYER FOR PEACE...
...Although the people living across the ocean surrounding us, I believe, are all our brothers and sisters,
why are there constant troubles in this world? Why do winds and waves rise in the ocean surrounding us? I only earnestly wish that the wind will soon puff away
all the clouds which are hanging over the tops of the mountains.

SIKH PRAYER FOR PEACE...
...God adjudges us according to our deeds, not the coat that we wear: that Truth is above everything, but higher still is truthful living. Know that we attaineth God when we loveth, and only that victory endures in consequence of which no one is defeated. Know that we attain God when we love, and only that victory endures in consequence of which no one is defeated.

SUFI PRAYER FOR PEACE...
...O Almighty Sun, whose light clears away all clouds, We take refuge in you. Guide of all people, God of all deities, Lord of all angels, We pray you to dispel the mists of illusion from the hearts of the nations And lift their lives by your all-sufficient power, Your ever shining light, your everlasting life, Your heavenly joy and your perfect peace.

ZOROASTRIAN PRAYER FOR PEACE...
...We pray to God to eradicate all the misery in the world: that understanding triumph over ignorance, that generosity triumph over indifference, that trust triumph over contempt, and that truth triumph over falsehood.



THE ULTIMATE PRAYER FOR PEACE
John, Chapter 17 (John In The Now)

1. After Jesus had finished speaking to his disciples, He looked up toward the infinite sky and said, “Father, the time has come for You to bring glory to Your Son, so that Your Son may glorify You.
2. “You have granted Him full authority over all the people of the earth, and You have given them to Him so that He might give them all eternal life.
3. “And this fulfills the purpose of eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the manifestation of Your physical presence on the earth.
4. “I brought glory to You in this dimension by doing everything that You told Me to do.
5. “And now, Father, bring Me back into the eternal now, so that I may exist in the glory that We shared before the world began.
6. “I have told these men who have followed Me all about You. Their perception was limited, having been shaped by the current world’s system, but You gave them to Me and now they have been freed from the smallness of their previous mindset by obeying Your word.
7. “They know that everything that I have came from You.
8. “I just told them exactly what You told Me, and it convinced them that I came from You and that You sent Me here.
9. “Right now I am not praying for the whole world, but for those whom You have given to be My followers, because they know that they belong to You.
10. “All that I have is Yours, and all that You have is mine, and the glory of that connection has now included them in its manifestation.
11. “I will no longer remain in this dimension or in this physical incarnation, but they are still in the physical realm of space and time. I am returning to the eternal now to be reintegrated with and in You, but I pray, Holy Father, that You keep through Your name those whom You have given Me. I pray that, even though they continue to live and move in the physical world, they will be able to transcend its finite limitations and be one with each other, even as We are.
12. “While I was with them in the physical world, I kept them safe and intact in Your name. I carefully guarded them, and not one of them was lost to My circle of influence, except for that one who just seemed bent on destruction. But his rebellion only served to fulfill the Scriptures.
13. “I am on My way back into the eternal now, but I want to say these things while I am still in this physical incarnation. If I say these things as the Son of Man, it will make it possible for them to also say these kinds of things, so that they can know the joy of being manifested as Sons of God.
14. “I have told them Your message, but they are hated by those mental prisoners of the world-system, because they don’t belong to that system in any way, just as I don’t.
15. “Father, I don’t ask that you take My followers out of the world, because it would defeat the entire purpose of My coming here if You should allow them to become escapists. I only pray that they be kept safe from the phantom menace.
16. “They are misfits in this world – strangers to its present mindset – just like Me.
17. “So let them find shelter in the truth of Your word; it is the only place where they can live now that they have been with Me.
18. “As You sent Me into this dimension, I am sending them into it – into the fullness of it.
19. “I have given Myself completely for their sake – becoming absolutely absorbed into them – so that they may become absolutely absorbed into the truth.
20. “But I do not pray for these alone…these who know Me as I am, here and now. But I pray for those everywhere and in every dimension of time, including those in the future, who will ultimately believe in Me through their witness and their word.
21. “And I pray that they all may be one in the now...all around this world of yours, not just the ones here in this time and place. Make them all one as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You. Integrate them as You and I are integrated – unified, in harmony, inseparable.
22. “I have actually given them the glory that You gave Me, so that it would be possible for them to be one, even as We are.
23. “I have become one with them in the same way that You are one with Me, so that they may become completely one. This unification – this melding and merging of separate entities into a perfect oneness – is the thing that will ultimately show the whole world that You sent Me. They will all see that You love My followers as much as You love Me.
24. “Father, I truly want everyone You have given Me to be with Me…wherever I am…so that they will see, first-hand, the glory that You have given Me because You loved Me in the now…before the world of space and time was created.
25. “Righteous Father, the people of the world at large don’t know the real You, but I know You, and now the ones who have followed Me know that You sent Me.
26. “And I have revealed You to them and will continue to reveal You through the coming manifestation of the Holy Spirit. I am committed to continuing this revelation so that your love for Me may be in them and that I, Myself, may be in them, as well.”

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Touch the screen and let's agree...


"Truly I tell you, whatever you forbid and declare to be improper and unlawful on earth must be what is already forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit and declare proper and lawful on earth must be what is already permitted in heaven. Again I tell you, if two of you on earth agree (harmonize together, make a symphony together) about whatever [anything and everything] they may ask, it will come to pass and be done for them by My Father in heaven. For wherever two or three are gathered (drawn together as My followers) in (into) My name, there I AM in the midst of them."(Matthew 18:18 - 20 AMP)

Monday Meditations

First of all, I want to say HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my mom who turns 70 years old today...Her children respect and bless her;
her husband joins in with words of praise:
"Many women have done wonderful things,
but you've outclassed them all!"
Charm can mislead and beauty soon fades.
The woman to be admired and praised
is the woman who lives in the Fear-of-God.
Give her everything she deserves!
Festoon her life with praises!
(Proverbs 31:28-31 - The Message)

Secondly, I have some pictures from Israel to share with you, but I need to get them downsized first. I'll post them ASAP. To those of you from around the world who went with us on the MEPI trip and are sending me e-mail, I am very happy to hear from you, and I want you to feel free to post something here on my blog...

Third, there's a DVD from Dottie Rambo's homegoing service available from the River at Music City if you're interested...

For some reason I didn't get much feedback from the services yesterday, so I'm curious to know what you thought about them. And thanks to those of you who received Debye's word about giving and responded to it...

And to all of the artists who contributed to the Arts Festival, I want to say that your stuff is really cool. I've looked at all of it, and I'm very impressed with everything that I've seen.

Finally, for those of you who are going through some big-time challenges right now, check out today's AYITN about Kingdom Violence. It will build your faith...

Stay strong...

Have a gret day...

New Attitude!

Strip yourselves of your former nature [put off and discard your old unrenewed self]which characterized your previous manner of life and becomes corrupt through lusts and desires that spring from delusion; and be CONSTANTLY RENEWED
in the spirit of your mind [having a fresh mental and spiritual ATTITUDE]; and put on the new nature (the regenerate self) created in God’s image, [Godlike] in true righteousness and holiness. (Ephesians 4:22-24 AMP)

Today I will live in the now! I will live in the now because my world-view is “other-worldly,” and my attitude transcends the accepted norm of the natural realm. Today I will RENOUNCE ALL COUNTERPRODUCTIVE ALLEGIANCE TO CULTURAL TRADITION. I am born-again—not of this cosmos (world system)—and I am not obliged to just go along with the crowd in my opinions and perspectives. Christ has given me the power and authority to go against the tide and to swim upstream, if necessary.

Today I will RE-EXAMINE ANY BELIEF THAT I HAVE IN STEREOTYPES, dealing with each individual in my life individually, giving them the benefit of the doubt before pre-judging them in any way. My attitude is predisposed to know people after the spirit and not after the flesh, in honor of Christ’s development of the New Creation Species.

Today I will RE-EVALUATE MY CONCEPT OF SUCCESS and will attempt to define it from God’s vantage point.

Today I will RETHINK MY DEVOTION TO ANCESTRY. I will praise my parents, be faithful to my family and honor my heritage, but I will not feel bound to be limited to their level of learning or to the laws leading their lifestyle.

Today I will RECONSIDER THE EXPLANATION THAT I USUALLY GIVE FOR MY LIFE CIRCUMSTANCES. I will take full responsibility for my own life choices and their consequences and will accept the appropriate criticism without receiving condemnation, as well as the appropriate praise without becoming puffed up with pride.





















Today I will REJECT ANY LATENT FEAR OF CHANGE that may be resident in my soul, keeping an open mind and an open heart.

Today I will REINFORCE MY GRASP OF REALITY by allowing God’s Word to be the final authority in my life, and today I will live in the now!

Father, help me to function with a new attitude today. In Jesus’ name, amen.