The Webb Market, Inc

LOVE

Mon 18 Jul 2011 3:31:23 PM GMT

Letter:

Thank-you for what you said. I'm okay. I understand that family who don't see each other often, only remember who they were and don't really know who they are. And many times, for whatever reasons, people let the past get in the way of getting to know who each other are, today. It does hurt, but many people don't realize that life itself changes people everyday, and that because we are continually changing; we never really get to fully know anybody. Maybe the person did just get worse, but maybe life made him/her a better person. How will we ever know if we aren't open to forgiving them and giving them another chance? After all, God is a God of second, and third, and fourth, and fifth... chances. Thank God!

I always remember what the bible says about Jesus. How He was always just a carpenter to those in His hometown, despite all of the miracles He did. They saw Him physically heal people just like others did, but the others were not prejudiced by his past, so they saw what He did and believed that He was who He said He was. Not just a carpenter. But, interestingly, even God, in the flesh (Jesus), had to wait for the confinements of this physical mind and body to mature before He could do what He came here to do.

It's like what I used to think about when I watched the fish I raised for years. When things were good for the fish they were happy with their life in my tank, but when they became ill, it would upset me because they were my responsibility and I really cared for them. If I could have, I would have jumped in and become one of them, let them know that I want to understand what they are going through, and what it's like to be in their "flesh", and assure them that I am looking out for them. But, of course, I am not God. And unfortunately, I couldn't protect them from the forces of evil either. My ex put bleach in their tank and burned them, because he knew they had my heart. Very, very hard to watch those innocent lives suffer, unable to help them.

But, thankfully, we don't have a God that doesn't know what it's like to be human. And our spirits will not always have to live in this earthly body. And thankfully, He can help us and protect us from those that want to hurt us. It doesn't mean that we won't ever suffer. We suffer because this world has been given free will, and because this world is Satan's only "heaven" he will ever know, but it won't be forever. When this life is over, there is a life with God in Heaven for those of us who choose to love our creator. This life in the flesh is definitely something to experience, even if we don't understand or even agree with the "terms" of our creation. But when we are drawn to God, through his Love, through JESUS, it doesn't seem to matter anymore?!

Even though I love God, I told God that I don't understand who He is, and then I understood this simple, yet profound thing. Love is so basic, and yet love is like a magnet and will draw men / women to itself. It is a powerful force. God is Love and Love is of God, and we only love God because He loved us first. (1 John 4:16, 19)

Okay, enough for now. Good-night. I love you!

1 John 4:7 - 5:5

4:7	Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.
4:8	He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
4:9	In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.
4:10	Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
4:11	Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.
4:12	No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.
4:13	Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.
4:14	And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.
4:15	Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.
4:16	And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.
4:17	Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.
4:18	There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
4:19	We love him, because he first loved us.
4:20	If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?
4:21	And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.

	Chapter 5
5:1	Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.
5:2	By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.
5:3	For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.
5:4	For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
5:5	Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?

What is the fear of the LORD?

Mon 4 Jul 2011 5:56:34 AM GMT

I think this is really interesting. The "fear of the Lord" can be somewhat of a mystery.
It is mentioned so many places in the Bible, and in so many different ways. Today, the Holy Spirit really cleared this one up for me. Using God's Word, of course, and through a really neat progression of scripture! I'd like to share this with you. (In many cases, I did not write down the entire Bible verse. Just enough to share what I was shown.)
Bare with me until I will pull this all together, okay?!

So, What is the "fear of the LORD"?

Proverbs 8:13 "The fear of the LORD is to hate evil..."

Psalm 111:10 "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom..."

Pro 1:7 "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge..."

Job 32:8 "But there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding."

Job 28:28 "...Behold, the fear of the LORD, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding."

Pro 3:7 "Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil."

Pro 9:10 "... and the knowledge of the holy is understanding."

Holy? Ps 99:9 "...for the LORD our God is holy."
Isaiah 6:3 "...Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts..."
Revelation 15:4 "Who shall not fear thee, O LORD, and glorify Thy name? For Thou only art holy..."

Luke 24:45 "Then opened He their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,"

Pro 2:6 "Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find knowledge of God."

Yes!, the Beginning! Fear of the LORD - Hate evil - begin wisdom - begin knowledge - receive understanding - fear the LORD - get wise - depart from evil - get understanding - knowledge of the Holy One - understand the scriptures - "Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find knowledge of God." Pro 2:6 Yes, the Beginning AND the End! Jesus IS the Beginning and the End - the "Alpha and Omega"! (Rev 1:8) Wow!

Acts 9:31 "Then had the churches rest throughout all ... and were edified; and walking in the fear of the LORD, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost..." Again, wow!

John 14:26-27 Jesus said, "But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in My name, He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you, Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."

Comfort! Because actual "fear" is not what God want us to live in. Luke 1:70-75 "As He spake by the mouth of His holy prophets, which have been since the world began: That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us; To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember His holy covenant; The oath which He sware to our father Abraham, That He would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies, might serve Him without fear. In holiness and righteousness before Him, all the days of our life." Amen!!

Conclusion:

2 Colossians 7:1 "Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God." Hebrews 12:4 "Follow peace with all men and holiness without which no man shall see the LORD." 1 Peter 1:16 "Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy." And how do we do this? Well, we can start at the very beginning - hating evil! Proverbs 8:13 "The fear of the LORD is to hate evil............." Pro 2:6 "Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find knowledge of God."

2 Peter 3:11-12, 14 "Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God... Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of Him in peace, without spot, and blameless."

Walking in the fear of the LORD!

Praise God!

Sat 30 Apr 2011 7:40:42 PM GMT

Copy of a note to my pastor that I am calling "Praise God!"

I'm so happy and here's the reason why - Jesus took my burdens all away! Amen?!

Hi Pastor Aikens (Jr),

Writing to you has been on my heart for a long time. Taking the time to express myself "feels" like an un-daunting task and now it is just sooo heavy on my heart. Therefore, I decided - after "negotiating" with God (right!) - that I would write a little bit each day. I guess any step in the right direction is a good thing, because God can't guide us if we won't move. God is telling me to just get started - so here am I writing to you.

I need to relieve that pressure off of my heart! So, why do I procrastinate when I know that God is telling me to do something?! Oh, because actually, obedience is a blessing (sometimes in disguise), because I already feel better! What's that saying? If we take the first step - God will do the rest! Or, something like that? How true!

Well, first, I want to give all glory to God for answering my heart's question concerning my earthly father.

One day, as I was reading my Bible - April 8, 2011 - well, you know how one can read (digest) a portion of scripture hundreds of times and then one day, when not even looking - the answer to a question just jumps out at you?! - Thank-you Holy Spirit! - Anyway, this is what happened on that day. It was a Wow! moment.

As I was continuing to explore matters in Ezekiel, I knew this was my answer! I was actually led to these verses - Praise God! You know how it is. Ez. 1:26-28.

(Remember? I told you that day that I did not believe that my father could have seen hell, because hell has no light?! Well, Wow - here is my answer!

I knew this - but now I know this!

When the Spirit of the LORD is gone - there is only blackness. No life and light to the fire anymore. No brightness from the flame anymore. The intense hot heat from the smoldering embers is all that is left. Chemically, the hottest part of the flame is the center, which is black, black, black. (When discussing this concept with Nathaniel, he told me that the center of the flame is what hell would be like. He has a lot of “moments”. His progress – in all ways – is amazing! )

Ez. 1:26-28 "And above the firmament that was over their heads was the likeness of a throne, as the appearance of a sapphire stone: and upon the likeness of the throne was the likeness as the appearance of a man above upon it. (27) And I saw as the colour of amber, as the appearance of fire round about within it, from the appearance of His loins even upward, and from the appearance of His loins even downward, I saw as it were the appearance of fire, and it had brightness round about. (28) As the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud in the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness round about. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. And when I saw it, I fell upon my face, and I heard a voice of One that spake." - Yes, I hear You LORD!

The note in my Bible says –

"4/8/2011 Praise my Father God! I believe You showed me this because this is the fire my father saw and spoke of before he died. He said, "Look at the fire!" And Praise God! It was the glory of the LORD! Devil - you are defeated! Thank-you Jesus.Thank you Holy Spirit - Amen! Haleleuiah or Aleleujah! (Never could spell that correctly the first time.)" Actually I always get it wrong!

Anyway, I only know that this is what my father saw - I do not know where he is - but this is enough for me - to bring joy and peace to my heart!!

And then, as if to top it off! – from Ez.3:4-11, I now have peace about being right where I am.

The note in my Bible says –

“4/8/2011 Thank You for showing me that my mission field is right here! I was wanting to go somewhere for You ever since I said, ‘Here am I send me’ many years ago. Thank-You Holy Spirit! ”

The “eye opener” for me, came especially from verses 4, 5, and 6 of Ezekiel 3.

(4) “And He said unto me, Son of man, go, get thee unto the house of Israel, and speak with My words unto them. (5) For thou art not sent to a people of a strange speech and of an hard language, but to the house of Israel; (6a) “Not to many people of a strange speech and of an hard language, whose words thou canst not understand.”

History: October 28, 1990, on a Sunday morning, while I was reading Isaiah, I quoted to the Lord 6:8, “Here am I, send me.” I had never seen that verse before. I was broken and I was open to going anywhere for God. Amazingly (God never ceases to amaze me!), God confirmed to me that He heard me after attending church that morning at Harvest Baptist Church in Hagerstown, under Pastor Orr. I can’t say enough good things about him. Anyway -

I saw a card on the table in the hallway. I was in a hurry, but I could not get past the table without picking it up? I just couldn’t. It was also the last one. I always picked up cards from missionaries so I could pray for them, so I picked it up thinking I was supposed to pray for them, and was in too much of a hurry to look at it. But, little did I know at the time, it was way more than that.

Glancing later, the card was from the Dogors – missionaries to Ghana, Africa. At first, I thought this meant that I was supposed to be praying about going to Africa.

But, that evening, when I pulled it out of my Bible to pray for them, I saw it!! “My” verse, the one I just quoted to God that morning, and it was on the center of their card! “Here am I, send me.” Isaiah 6:8 Wow! (Another wow! moment.)

I was floored and ended up on the floor – amazed and in awe that God would take the time to speak to me. The card has been in my Bible ever since.

Anyway, I now know that here is where I am to go. Thank you LORD God! Again, I am amazed and in awe of my Abba Father. “Not to many people of a strange speech and of an hard language, whose words (I) canst not understand,” but right here!! Peace – “The wonderful Peace of my blessed Redeemer way down in the depths of my heart.” Amen?!

Forgive me pastor, for not being there this year for visitation on Thursdays. Since even before the death of my father, I have been battling hypothyroidism. I have had it for years, but the recent stressors have thrown my body out of whack. Hypo makes me weak and tired. A kind of tired that is very hard to fight. I do a little bit, sleep a little, do a little, sleep a little… I also don’t manage my time properly and wear myself out on unimportant tasks. Working on it!

I am getting better everyday. I feel renewed strength and vigor with each new day – my gift from God! “This is the day which the LORD hath made, we will rejoice and be glad in it.” Ps. 118:24 Amen?! Because of this, I am even more thankful for the weapon that we have available to us, even when we are physically down – Prayer! Amen?! Until next time, Carol P.

Repentance / Forgiveness

Sun 10 Oct 2010 12:46:56 AM GMT

Journal Entry 10/9/2010:

I Kings 11:39 God's Word says, "And I will for this afflict the seed of David, but not forever." Next to this in my Bible I wrote; "Amen! Reaping isn't forever! Thank-you Lord"

The Bible says that the prophet Ahijah found and met up with a man named Jeroboam, and when they were alone, the prophet told him what God was going to take away from king Solomon's son and give to him and why, so Jeroboam understood why God was going to afflict the seed of David.

1 Ki 11:34 God told Jeroboam, "But I will take the kingdom out of his son's hand, and will give it unto thee, even ten tribes. And unto his son will I give one tribe, that David my servant may have a light always before me in Jerusalem, the city which I have chosen Me to put My name there. and I will take thee, and thou shalt reign according to all that thy soul desireth, and shalt be king over Israel."

God also promised to build Jeroboam a house, as He built for David, and promised to give Israel unto him if, he would walk in obedience to God as David His servant did. 1 Ki 11:38

Solomon was the present king and responsible for leading God's people after his father, David, died. And God's Word says that "Solomon sought therefore to kill Jeroboam..." 1 Kings 11:40 Solomon was angry and jealous of the blessings that Jeroboam was promised, but God was disciplining Solomon for sin.

Psalm 10:4 "The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God; God is not all his thoughts."

(Wow, instead of repenting of his sin and trying to restore a relationship with God, he became angry and hateful enough to want to commit murder. Sin begets sin; evil begets evil. This was surely not going to get God to "unbless" Jeroboam and bless him?! This is unfortunately a typical "reaction" because "pride goeth before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall." Pro. 16:3)

1 Kings 11:33 God's word says that this was " because that they have forsaken Me, and have worshipped Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians..."

Jeroboam had been king Solomon's servant, and even Solomon, himself, recognized the man. 1 Ki 11:28 "And the man Jeroboam was a mighty man of valor: and Solomon seeing the young man that he was industrious, he made him ruler over all the charge of the house of Joseph." But, now he had to flee from his home into Egypt, and submit himself to the king of Egypt, king Shishak, for his safety. 1 Ki 11:40

Even though the people had to obey the king or face death, king Solomon turned from God and turned the hearts of the people from God to sin, and as a result, God was going to give Solomon's son reign over one tribe, the tribe of Judah, and give Jeroboam reign over ten tribes of Israel. The nation was to become divided. (We really need to pray for our leaders - A child of God or not, it doesn't matter, because "The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it withersoever He will." Proverbs 21;1)

I heard Warren Wiersbe, a man of God, say one time, "When God is not allowed to rule, He will overrule." How true!

But, because God is merciful, "He corrects us in measure" and reaping isn't forever! Praise God! (See excerpt from the blog - "Jesus and the Christian Life" at the end of this entry.)

1 Ki 11:34 God said, "Howbeit, I will not take the whole kingdom out of his (Solomon's) hand... for David my servant's sake, whom I chose, because he kept my commandments and my statutes."

When Solomon died, Rehoboam, Solomon's son, thought he was going to reign in his father's stead, but when Jeroboam heard that Solomon died, he came out of hiding. 1 Ki 11:29-39

Only, because of Rehoboam's grandfather, king David, was Rehoboam going to be able to reign anywhere at all.

Solomon had knowingly disobeyed God's Word, but I am no better than he was. I too knowingly disobeyed God and went against His Word. I also got even worse and felt an unusual hatred towards God's people when I saw them entering or leaving a particular church.

At the time, I did not understand that those feelings I had came from jealousy. I, now know, that I was jealous of God's blessings on their lives. I could see the peace and joy the people had on their faces when entering and leaving this church. The same peace and joy I once had when I walked obediently and closely with God. I did know that the pastor of that church preached only the Word of God. I, like Solomon, became angry instead of repentant.

But, God is a just God. He cannot bless disobedience. I knew this, but what I knew, did not matter in my condition. My salvation was a gift from God, and good works could not gain me any "favor" with God. They could not save me to begin with, so God did not want my good works now, or any of my resolutions. He wanted only my heart.

God gave me a free will and because of this He was not going to force me to do anything. Discipline, chastise and persuade me, yes, because I was a child of His. A disobedient child, but nonetheless, a child of His, and He still loved me, His creation, His child. Wow!

The Holy Spirit convicted my spirit and my heart was grieving because of sin. I was in a battle between my flesh and my spirit. The flesh is strong without God, and pride can have a stronghold on our minds. The devil is the deceiver, a liar, and the "accuser of the brethren". He does not want us walking in a right relationship with God, in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Because, when we walk in obedience to God's Word, "greater is He that is in us (the Holy Spirit), than he that is in the world". And then, and only then, are we a threat to the devil. For, when we are obedient and walking in this life yielded to God's Holy Spirit, we have a desire to tell others about God's saving grace, about Jesus Christ and His victory over the flesh, death, hell, and the devil. We want to help rescue as many as we can from perishing, forever without God.

God is Love. A love I still cannot comprehend, but a love that I want others to know. We do not have to live miserable lives. This life here on earth is a gift from God. An experience as children of God that even the angels can not have. We can all have a blessed relationship with God through Jesus Christ. We just need to repent, trust and obey!

1 John 5:3 "For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments: and his commandments are not grievous."

I thank God for His mercy, grace and forgiveness; for when I turned from my sin and sought God"s forgiveness with all of my being, He forgave me and restored unto me the joy of my salvation. God has blessed me beyond measure, even though it was not His blessings that I sought; for I knew that I deserved nothing. I only wanted Him back in my life, and His forgiveness. But wow, God really does bless obedience. I understood this, and I believed this, but now I "know".

1 John 3:21,22 "Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God. And whatsoever we ask, we receive of Him, because we keep His commandments, and do those things which are pleasing in His sight."

1 John 5:20 "And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know Him that is true, and we are in Him that is true, even in His son Jesus Christ." And Truth does set us Free! Amen!

John 8:31-32 "If ye continue in My Word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free."

I thank God for loving me, for saving me, for His mercy and especially for His tender loving forgiveness. I want to thank God with a dedicated life to Him. All to Him I owe.

Pro.16:20 "He that handleth a matter wisely shall find good: and whoso trusteth in the LORD, happy is he.

Pro. 1632 "He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city."

Excerpt from blog post "Jesus and the Christian Life"

Even though the Lord loves us, saved us, and is now within us; He corrects us. As a new creation, a born again believer of Jesus Christ, a child of God, we will want to please God our Father. But, we cannot live a sinless life here on earth like God's son Jesus was able to do. As a human being we will fail Him, we will still struggle in our flesh. Therefore, when we do things that don't please God, that aren't good for us, He will correct us, "in measure." "For I am with thee, saith the Lord, to save thee... but I will correct thee in measure, and will not leave thee altogether unpunished." (Jeremiah 30:11b)
Yes, there are consequences because we do reap what we sow but, we reap "in measure", accordingly. ("Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap." Galatians 6:9) However, we don't have to be continually plagued by what we have done; we don't have to be continually without any peace, we don't have to "reap" forever, IF we have confessed it to God as sin because the Bible says, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:9 And in Hebrews 12:11, God tells us that when we are corrected or chastened that it is "not joyous" at the present time, "but grievous" but, God tells us that "afterward " it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness...' So, Praise God there is an "afterward"!

A farmer friend helped me to better understand the process of reaping and sowing when she said that we can only reap out of a field what is actually planted. Then it's over. Praise God - There is an end to reaping! "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit." Romans 8:1

Only our enemy, the devil, wants us to believe we are unforgivable, that we deserve to reap, and reap, and reap... It's our enemy that wants us to feel condemned, who wants to steal our joy, to deceive us with lies, to try to convince us that we don't deserve the blessings of God. Only our enemy wants us to live a defeated Christian life. But, He (Jesus) is risen so we can have life, and "have it more abundantly." John 10:10,11 Jesus said, " The thief cometh not, but to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep."

God's Word = Jesus

Sat 24 Jul 2010 9:21:06 PM GMT

"Jesus Christ Is The Father's Last Word"

"In Him, divine revelation is seen and heard in its fullness; and in Him, God's revelation is complete. When we see Him, we see the Father (John 14:1-11). Through Christ, we understand where everything came from, where it is going, what keeps it going, and why it is here.

We also understand what He has done for us. He died for us! Today He is enthroned in glory, ministering to us and for us (13:20-21). He wants to mature us and teach us how to walk by faith. One day He will defeat all His enemies and bring in His righteous kingdom.

With a Savior like that, why look for a substitute."

Taken from: "Chapter-By-Chapter Bible Commentary" by Warren W. Wiersbe (pg 812-13)

Angels

Sat 24 Jul 2010 8:29:27 PM GMT

Angels

"Jesus is greater than the angels because He is the eternal Son of God Whom the angels worship and serve. Angels serve God's people (Heb. 1:14), even though we may not recognize them (Heb. 13:2; Gen. 18)

Angels give special care to children (Matt. 18:10) and intervene in the lives of God's servants when they need special help (Acts 5:17-21; 12:1-10).

When believers die, the angels escort them to glory (Luke 16:22); and when Christ returns, angels will accompany Him (Matt. 25:31).

We must not worship angels (Rev. 22:9) or pray to them; but we can trust God to send them when we need them most."

Taken from: "Chapter-By-Chapter Bible Commentary" by Warren W. Wiersbe (pg 812)

Jesus & The Christian Life

Tue 18 May 2010 10:58:42 PM GMT

Jeremiah 30:11a "For I am with thee saith the Lord to save thee..."

"Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. 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." 2 Peter 1:20,21

Jesus died for everyone of us because God does not want anyone to perish. God taking on our earthly form, God incarnate, the Son of God in the flesh, bearing our sins upon His body, on a rugged painful cross becoming the ultimate sacrifice for our sins, once and forevermore; to deliver us from evil and from an eternity in Hell.

John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish but have everlasting life."
Romans 5:8 "But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Romans 3: 10, 23 "As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one... For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God."

Jesus said, "And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear Him, which after He hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear Him." Luke 21:4,5

Although He died for us, the good news is that the grave could not hold Him. On the third day He arose from the dead, gaining victory over sin, death, and the devil - forever! Hebrews 10:12,13 "But this man (Jesus), after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down on the right hand of God; From henceforth expecting 'till His enemies be made His footstool."

And wow! All we do to enter into this victory with Him is by faith, confess with our mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in our heart that God has raised Jesus from the dead. The Bible says that when we do this we will be saved. John 20:31 says "But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through His name."

Romans 10:9,13 "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." "For the scripture saith, Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."

Romans 6:23 "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."

Ephesians 2:8,9 "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast."

When we repent, we turn from our past; we turn from evil toward good; from the power of Satan unto God. We renounce sin and by faith accept this precious free gift of God, this precious Jesus, our sacrificial lamb, our Redeemer; and we receive forgiveness and life everlasting with our Father in heaven. 1 Corinthians 2:12 "Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God."

Hebrews 11:6 "But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him."

1 Corinthians 2:14 "But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned."

We become "born again" spiritually and we become a new creation! "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; old things are passed away and behold all things are become new." 2 Corinthians 5:17

As a born again believer in Christ, the least we can do is be forever thankful and love God back. God desires to have fellowship with us, to walk and talk with us, through His Word and through the Holy Spirit. Thanks to Jesus, our Savior, we can have this personal relationship with God, our creator, our Abba Father.

Romans 8:15, 16 "For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba (Daddy), Father." (16) "The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:" 2 Timothy 1:7 "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." Amen!

When Jesus arose from the dead He tore down the partition that was between God and man. He became our High Priest, so we never again need an earthly priest to intercede for us, to sacrifice for us. Jesus is our High Priest and Sacrifice. The Bible says that Jesus, our Redeemer is seated at the right hand of God and forever lives to make intercession for us.

Hebrews 7:22-27 "By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament. And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death: But this man (Jesus), because He continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. Wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them. For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for His own sins, and then for the people's: for this He (Jesus) did once, when He offered up Himself. For the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity; but the Word of the oath, which was since the law, maketh the Son, who is consecrated for evermore."

There is only one unpardonable sin. The only sin that can keep us out of heaven is rejection of the Lord Jesus Christ. How God must hurt when we reject Him, when we reject Jesus. We don't actually have to denounce that Jesus is the Christ, the Savior of the world to reject God. We do that when we do nothing. When someone gives us a gift, it's not a gift until we receive it.

If I want to show someone special that I love them through a beautiful gift, I first take time to think about it. Then I take more time to shop for it, and I labor over my decision because I want to pick out just the right gift. Then, I am always happy if I have the right amount of money to be able to purchase it for them. Then with anticipation and excitement, I wrap it up with colorful paper and a pretty bow. Then I can barely wait to give it to the person, just to see a smile. I'm all excited. But, when I offer my gift, instead of taking it from me, they push it back at me and tell me to leave them alone. It's free, I say! I don't understand? I walk away with a breaking heart.

And yet, God suffers rejection everyday. Oh how the heart of God must hurt. He created us, made us in His image, and then He willingly payed for our sins through His Son Jesus Christ, so we could have fellowship with Him forever, but many still continue to reject Him.

Even though the Lord loves us, saved us, and is now within us; He corrects us. As a new creation, a born again believer of Jesus Christ, a child of God, we will want to please God our Father. But, we cannot live a sinless life here on earth like God's son Jesus was able to do. As a human being we will fail Him, we will still struggle in our flesh. Therefore, when we do things that don't please God, that aren't good for us, He will correct us, "in measure." "For I am with thee, saith the Lord, to save thee... but I will correct thee in measure, and will not leave thee altogether unpunished." (Jeremiah 30:11b)

Yes, there are consequences because we do reap what we sow but, we reap "in measure", accordingly. ("Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap." Galatians 6:9) However, we don't have to be continually plagued by what we have done; we don't have to be continually without any peace, we don't have to "reap" forever, IF we have confessed it to God as sin because the Bible says, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:9 And in Hebrews 12:11, God tells us that when we are corrected or chastened that it is "not joyous" at the present time, "but grievous" but, God tells us that "afterward " it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness...' So, Praise God there is an "afterward"!

A farmer friend helped me to better understand the process of reaping and sowing when she said that we can only reap out of a field what is actually planted. Then it's over. Praise God - There is an end to reaping! "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit." Romans 8:1

"Being confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:" Phillipians 1:6

May "the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen." 2 Corinthians 13:14