Responding to the call of God; the appointing and anointing of God to reach this generation with the good news of our risen Savior, Christ Jesus, as the stage is being set for His triumphant return; His second coming to this earth as the King of kings and Lord of lords, and lead us to him and His kingdom, which is not of this world 🌎🙏❤️
The launch of Living As Light ministries: bringing the light of God’s word to a lost and dark world
We are instructed here to “make” no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.
There’s a difference between make no provision and allow no provision. To make make provision means I’m creating the environment, setting myself up to partake. To merely allow something to happen means someone or something else initiated this “provision.’ Satan does indeed torment and toy with us, using what he knows to be our weakness, but the devil can’t make me do anything.
I see certain images, presented to me on social media; alluring images, inviting me to ‘click in the image to see more.” If I click on the link, I’m making provisions for my flesh, to indulge the lust of my eyes, my flesh and the pride of life.
I have a choice! Repent means to turn away from temptation and turn to God. Resist the devil and temptation will flee. I can only do this by being filled with and walking in the spirit. As a born again, sanctified follower of Christ, I can no longer claim ignorance. God knows me, and I know Him, on a personal and intimate level. He won’t let me get away with it. He’ll even give me a Holy nudge, letting me know, “I’m watching you!”
Romans 13:13-14 NKJV
[13] Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. [14] But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.
Lent season is upon us, which means Easter Sunday is just around the corner. As you’re planning on what to give the kids for Easter, give them the One gift that will last for eternity; take them to church on Easter and let them learn the real reason we celebrate that day. Baskets filled with candy and trinkets are nice, but knowing Jesus Christ in their hearts and what he came to this earth for is infinitely more important for their soul.
John 11:25 NKJV
[25] Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.
1. How to combat lust in your heart, before it becomes active in your flesh.
2. Conquering the lust of the flesh with the living power of God’s word!
Proverbs 5:1-6 NKJV
[1] My son, pay attention to my wisdom; Lend your ear to my understanding, [2] That you may preserve discretion, And your lips may keep knowledge. [3] For the lips of an immoral woman drip honey, And her mouth is smoother than oil; [4] But in the end she is bitter as wormwood, Sharp as a two-edged sword.
Hebrews 4:12 KJV
[12] For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
(Hebrews 4.12.KJV)
[5] Her feet go down to death, Her steps lay hold of hell. [6] Lest you ponder her path of life— Her ways are unstable; You do not know them.
(Proverbs 5:1-6)
The words of Solomon are both literal and figurative;
literal in the sense that lust in the heart of a man can and often does lead to sexual immorality. Man, by nature, is drawn by sexual desires, and the words and imagery presented by “the lips of an immoral woman, dripping like honey.”
In our day, the imagery of pornography has never been more readily and secretly available. Smartphones are mini computers with full Internet access . Men no longer need to hang out at adult bookstores or strip clubs to see nude women. The days of dirty deeds done in dark corners and alleyways still exist, but are no longer necessary to engage the imagination, luring one’s heart and mind and with their own , unbridled lust.
Many men don’t really think much about the temptation and danger of lustful behavior and fulfilling their natural desires. But it comes with a cost, like any other sin that entices a man, dragging him away in his heart. There may come a time when the cost of such behavior comes to mind, and one’s conscience becomes deeply troubled and grieved. As one continues in such sexual immorality and behaviors, their conscience becomes like being seared with a hot iron; cauterized, becoming numb to the sting of sin.
The lips of an immoral woman drip like honey. Honey is sweet to the taste and somewhat soothing. A little bit of honey is good, often helping cure colds and building up one’s immune system.
Giving oneself over to their own lusts and sexual desires leads to deeper immunity and like being cauterized; seared with a hot iron and numb.
My lips can keep the knowledge of God as I read and meditate on His word. The living power of God’s word grabs ahold of my heart, mind, soul and strength, and takes over. Or I can allow the lips of an immoral woman, even if it’s merely pornographic images on the Internet, dripping like honey, to entice me, draw me away from God and destroy my own soul in the process.
Scripture has the living power, sharper than a two-edged sword, to cut through my heart and conscience and sever the grip that sexual desires and immorality have formed around my soul.
I don’t have to live a life, controlled by my own lusts and desires. I can live free of such life dominating behaviors. God’s word has the power and ability to cut through the vice grip of sin and set my soul free!
Maybe it’s not pornography and sexual immorality that has tripped you up. Perhaps it’s gambling, drugs and/or alcohol, or some other life dominating behavior or vice.
What is the “Two-edged Sword” in your life? God’s word is sharper than a double-edged sword!
WHO AM I SERVING?
One question I often ask myself is,
“who am I serving?”
Am I serving God or man? Or am I merely serving myself?
It brings me back to my Center, which is Christ in me, first and foremost. A servant of God hears his voice and follows him.
Years ago, when I was around 16, a Catholic monk gave me a wonderful illustration of the cross as our symbol of love and service. When our vertical relationship with God comes first and is healthy, our hands, like Christ’s, will be outstretched in love and service to other people; our neighbors. Which brings us the the greatest commandment; to love God with all of our being and our neighbors as ourselves. It’s really one commandment with two sides or facets, like a coin. A coin is valueless without both heads and tails; can’t have one without the other. The two sides make up one unit. And so, loving God and one another become one at the cross.
Whenever you become confused or without peace, go back to the Cross, regain your focus and your center.
Jesus tells us to “deny yourself, take up your cross and follow Me.” (Mark 8:34)
The cross is our symbol of love, sacrifice and service.
Are you loving and serving God and other people?
External Revelation: what can clearly be seen through creation and, particularly, in the heavens
The vastness of space: What we know pales in comparison to what we don’t know. The more mankind travels into space, either in person with manned spacecrafts, or visually with telescopes and other, more advanced technology, the more we learn about what’s out there in the heavens. Whatever advances are made, the more our desires to go deeper and farther into space expands
Psalms 19:1-6 NKJV
[1] The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork. [2] Day unto day utters speech, And night unto night reveals knowledge. [3] There is no speech nor language Where their voice is not heard. [4] Their line has gone out through all the earth, And their words to the end of the world. In them He has set a tabernacle for the sun, [5] Which is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, And rejoices like a strong man to run its race. [6] Its rising is from one end of heaven, And its circuit to the other end; And there is nothing hidden from its heat.
Internal Revelation
Although the proof of God’s existence is clearly revealed through the heavens and the firmament above, we can come to know Him more intimately through His word, the Scriptures.
As we read And meditate on His word, His digs deeper and deeper into our soul
Psalms 19:7-11 NKJV
[7] The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul; The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; [8] The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes; [9] The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. [10] More to be desired are they than gold, Yea, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. [11] Moreover by them Your servant is warned, And in keeping them there is great reward.
Personal revelation
As God’s word penetrates our heart, mind and soul, we begin to see Him at work on the inside, personally and more intimately.
Psalms 19:12-14 NKJV
[12] Who can understand his errors? Cleanse me from secret faults. [13] Keep back Your servant also from presumptuous sins; Let them not have dominion over me. Then I shall be blameless, And I shall be innocent of great transgression. [14] Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer.
So Let your light shine before others, that they might see your good works and glorify your Father, who is in heaven
“You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
Matthew 5:14-16 NKJV
https://bible.com/bible/114/mat.5.14-16.NKJV
Living in light, living as light, showing others the way to life as Christ lives in and through us.
When you’re filled with light, you cannot be filled with darkness. Darkness and light cannot coexist. The way to be full of light is to be in the scriptures, consecrating my life daily and continuing on the road of repentance and righteousness. This is an inner focus, between me and God: that place at the core of my being, where Christ sits on the throne of my heart. This is the place of self reflection and where truth resides.
I can lie to others all I want, even lie to myself and try to deny truth, but my heart is yielded to another, I’m no longer the king of my own heart. I cannot step into darkness and think that God will let me go! Those who belong to Christ live in the light, like a city set on a hill.
Live in the light, live as light, let your light shine and lead otters to the Light of the World!
If I say, “Surely the darkness shall fall on me,” Even the night shall be light about me; Indeed, the darkness shall not hide from You, But the night shines as the day; The darkness and the light are both alike to You.
Psalms 139:11-12 NKJV
“Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.
Matthew 6:8 NKJV
https://bible.com/bible/114/mat.6.8.NKJV
Back in December I was really hoping and pushing for inpatient therapy at a rehabilitation hospital or skilled nursing facility. MVP was reluctant to approve me for inpatient therapy, saying I don’t need that level of physical therapy, even at a subacute level. They were only offering to pay for outpatient and/or home care PT.
I was angry, thinking MVP was just being cheap, bartering with my health and wellbeing. But once I had an in home physical therapy evaluation, and then subsequent sessions with Eddy Visiting Nurses, it became apparent to me that I did not really need to be institutionalized for these services. My physical therapist said , although I probably would have benefited from a brief course of inpatient therapy, I would mostly be sitting around in my room in between daily therapy sessions.
Through this entire process of learning to live with and recover from my LBKA surgery, I’ve simply prayed for the best outcome. God knows what we need before we even ask. Closed doors may simply be His way of saying no. Sometimes those closed doors seem unfair, but we have a choice to accept it and move on or keep kicking and remain stagnant. I chose to move forward and go with the options that were available to me.
I couldn’t be happier with the outcome and the progress I’m making. I’m up daily on my prosthetic leg, longer and longer each day, walking and moving forward towards full functional mobility. Next week I will progress to outpatient therapy at Sunnyview rehabilitation hospital. I’ll pickup where home physical therapy left off. There is still more for me to learn that can’t be accommodated in my home environment. I’ve been walking more outdoors as the weather permits. I’ll get there one day at a time.
Hoping my experience can be an encouragement to others who are struggling with the loss of a limb or in general. We all struggle with our own life choices and experiences. Please feel free to reach out to me if you need someone to talk to and encourage you 😉🙏❤️😘
I love you, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies.
Psalm 18:1-3 ESV
https://bible.com/bible/59/psa.18.1-3.ESV
So often we think of our enemies as other people who are out to get us, trip us up or cause us harm. But God’s word tells us…
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
These outside forces toy with my inner being and attempt to invade my inner peace and occupy my mind. My mind is the battlefield where this war between fiesh and spirit is waged. These battles cannot, therefore, be fought in the flesh, but in the Spirit. When I’m filled with and walking in the Spirit, I will not carry out the desires of my fiesh, which is controlled by my sinful human nature. I need to have Christ on the throne of my heart, so that I’m not the one ruling my life and mind, which are easily influenced by feelings and emotions, which lead to wrongful desires and selfish goals and ambitions.
Living As Light 