Jesus prayed for me and prayed for you too

To all my brothers and sisters. Have you taken a look at John 17 before? I mean, really really looked at it, taken it all in, let it work its way deep into your heart? I never really noticed it before, but Jesus prayed for all of us in advance.

20 “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— 23 I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.

24 “Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.

25 “Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. 26 I have made you[e] known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.”

There is something really awesome here. Before we were, Jesus was, and the work He did on the cross has grave impact on our life. That He comes in and resides in us. He prayed to His heavenly father that Him residing in us would come to be so. This is truly, truly amazing.

In John 14:12-14 we see something that brings the above scripture into even more amazing light.

12 Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. 13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.

Do you see it? If we believe this scripture that if we ask for anything in Jesus' name it will be done? Should we not also believe that when Jesus asks something of the Father will it not be done? Surely, whatever the Son asks it will be. I had never seen it like this before. Jesus himself prayed for us, and since it is Him who is asking the father these things then I am sure it is being done. These words from Jesus are amazing, are they not? How wonderful it is we have a savior who prayed for us before we came into being. Jesus asked the father His love would be in us. Amazing. Furthermore He has said He will be in us.

Again I am amazed at our Lord. I've read this Scripture before many times but never has it penetrated my heart like this before. I know for sure Jesus is in my life, residing. Because He prayed for me for all these things I know God our father has answered His prayer. Jesus lived a life free from sin. He conquered the grave. And was risen again. In Him we have eternal life. Amen.

Together with the Lord

In the Bible we read many verses that contain the words blessed and happiness. Depending on what translation whether it be KJV or NIV it varies from each one. But what we don't normally always see is that the translation that we read have been translated from the Hebrew and Greek languages. Sometimes the meaning of these words gets lost in translation.

John 13:17 (NIV) Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.

John 13:17 (KJV) If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.

It is my desire to come to the Scriptures, examine them and look at in reference to what the whole of what the Lord says in the Scriptures. I desire to do this because sometimes in our sin we can make Scripture out to be saying something when it really isn't saying that. Because we are sinners we can incorrectly interpret Scripture.

The translation from Greek of these two words; blessed and happy come from μακάριος

makarios

mak-ar'-ee-os

A prolonged form of the poetical μάκαρ makar (meaning the same); supremely blest; by extension fortunate, well off: - blessed, happy (X -ier).

When we look in the Old Testament we find verses such as Genesis 12:3(KJV) that contain the English word bless as well.

"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."

The translation from Hebrew of the word bless comes from the word בּרך bârak baw-rak'. A primitive root; to kneel; by implication to bless God (as an act of adoration), and (vice-versa) man (as a benefit)

The meaning of this is that the action of kneeling before God is an act of adoration to Him. Submitting to His Holiness, Glory and Honor and giving praise to Him. Now when God in turns blesses man, since man is the creation man holds no claim on Holiness thus cannot be praised so this action of blessing is a benefit to man. Something from God to benefit.

Looking at the whole of Scripture. I think to myself that in the days of the Old Testament God's servants were blessed with many riches, wisdom and things from God. Abraham was given a Son, Israel was saved many times, Daniel was given visions of end times, David was anointed king over Israel, etc.

And when I look at the New Testament, when Jesus speaks in Matt 5:3-11(NIV) I get an overwhelming conviction that being Together with the Lord is what being blessed and happy consists of.

"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God."

How awesome it is to be called a child of God.

Acts 20:35(NIV)  "In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ” 

Like our heavenly father whom men of faith knelt before and praised and whom God in turn gave wonderful things; that we as followers of Christ can be like our heavenly father and give to others. Not that we hold any claim to impart such as God but Christ working in and through us by the Holy Spirit reaching out to others.

I feel that sometimes we think we need more things. That to be blessed is to have much stuff. But in my life I know that has never brought me true joy or happiness. So looking to Jesus I can see that fellowship with Him is what being blessed is. That we have the Holy Spirit working in us.

John 14:15-16 “If you love me, keep my commands. ¹⁶ And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever.

Before the fall, man was together with God in the garden of Eden. After the fall man became separated from God by a great vast chasm that man can never cross on his own. The Lord, who's name is Jehovah Jireh, the Lord who provides knew this before He created man and already had a plan formed to restore man to a right relationship with Himself. This plan was completed on the cross. His only begotten Son, Jesus, who had no sin was sentenced to death, became obedient to it and paid the penalty for our sins. The Lord rose from the grave and now sits at the right hand of the Father, interceding on the behalf those who place have faith in Him. 

Thanks be to God that our relationship with Him is restored. That like in the garden of Eden, through Jesus Christ we can be blessed by being Together with the Lord. Hallelujah. Amen.

El Qanna: God is a jealous God

In Exodus chapter 20 we learn a little bit about the character of God within the Ten Commandments. This specific characteristic of God ties into relationships. Jealousy.

One would think jealousy has a negative connotation. But after reading scripture I see that it is not the case. El Qanna, God calls himself. Which means jealous God.

Exodus 20:4-5 “You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. 5 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God..."

For God to be jealous for us means that he desires that we worship Him and him alone and no one else. I would relate this to a Husband and Wife being jealous for one another. That they do not want their spouse to desire someone else.

That kind of jealousy a one out of love is positive.

Now what does this have to do with relationships?

Simple. Our relationship with God has an impact on our relationship with others. The closer we are to God the more we learn to love. And in marriage, for it to work as God designed each one needs to draw near to Jesus. For the closer man and wife gets to God the closer they can get to one another.

The problem that can happen is focusing your 100% attention towards someone you have a relationship with and expecting the same in return. The only one worthy of 100% attention is El Qanna. But by grace, the Lord has designed it so that by drawing closer to Him you can become closer to other people. So by putting all of your attention into one person, you end up making them into an idol in which you worship.

The effects of this can be devastating and can ruin a relationship you have with someone. If one person is drawing near to God and the other is going away but trying to go towards the other person a gap starts to form in the life of that relationship. Only by both people drawing near to God can they draw close together.

So in a relationship if you are giving your 100% to that person what is left for the Lord? It is heart breaking to see relationships break. But the Lord is a God of mercy, grace, and restoration. If you seek first the Lord your God all things after will come.

How wonderful it is to have a God who loves us so much that he sent His son to die for us. That jealousy for us has given us life. May we turn our hearts to the Lord and by placing Him first in our life we will be able to have others that much closer to us in our lives.

God Bless and I hope you place God first in your life. I know that I know that His love is real and is life changing. Let Him change you and make you into something beautiful.

Fight!

Ding! And the match is on! In the red corner David the Shepard boy. In the blue corner Goliath the Giant. David takes a stone from his sash loads it into his sling. WOOOSH There it goes! BAM! Goliath is down. KNOCK OUT! David is the winner!!!

How was it that a tiny stone took down a Giant? I would say David fought the good fight of faith. He trusted not in his strength but the Lords. The question I have to ask is, "Will we fight like David did for the kingdom of God?" I think it important to take note and learn from a passage in the New Testament as it provides great insight into how Jesus works in our life.

In 1 Timothy 6:12 we read "Fight the good fight of faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses."

As we read this passage lets study up on some of the key points.

What does it mean to fight? As by definition its to battle or combat, contest or struggle and quarrel. If we look in other parts of the Bible we see people's faith in action.

Hebrew 11 dictates that "...faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see."

I am convinced that fighting entails being sure and certain of God's promises. Hebrews 11 goes on to say "... This is what the ancients were commended for." And then lists Abraham and many other's acts of faith. Abraham obeyed God. Therefor I think obeying what God has told us to do is also part of this fight. There was admittance of not being of this world. Meaning they recognized that their residence was in the Lord. Jacob worshiped the Lord. The Israelites followed God's direction when crossing the Red Sea. It goes on to list David, Samuel, Samuel and the prophets as ones who had faith.

The Lord has shown us what fighting the good fight of faith is through the lives of many. These men and women of God trusted in the Lord.

The passage goes on to talk about taking hold of eternal life. I think this is best explained in John 17:3, 1 Peter 3:18, 1 Corinthians 2:2 and John 14:6. "Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent." "For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified." "Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." "For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God."

Taking hold of eternal life is knowing Jesus is the son of God whom was crucified and believing that he died for our sins.

Lord, please help me fight the good fight of faith. I am weak, please make me strong. Shine brightly through me to bring you glory and I ask that you also strengthen all my brothers and sisters in Christ so that they too may fight the good fight and bring glory to you. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.

DING! The match is on. May you choose Jesus as your manager and trainer to help you in this life. Focus your eyes on Jesus and know that he's got you covered on all fronts.

May you know my God

Family, friends, people who I meet in the future and people in Japan, I want above everything else that you may know the God who gives life and saves from the pits, my God. For this he has done for me through the death of his son Jesus on the Cross. Praise be to God for His love endures forever.

Broken

I am broken, but praise be to God that I am not in a pit of destruction; but on the Rock being renewed.

Seeing the Lord's Fingerprints

When thinking about a fingerprint what comes to mind is mine is one of a kind. No one else in the entire world has the same fingerprint as myself. Even twins have different fingerprints. This identification system is quite intricate.

When I look around I see fingerprints all over. Who's fingerprints? The finger prints of God. Upon reflecting on my life I see where God has worked and when looking at my situations now I can see where God is working. I was once blind but now I can see.

In His word he tells me that Truth. John9:39 Jesus said, "For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind."

I can see that the Lord has been good to me. I've experienced abuse, feeling of abandonment, hopelessness and feeling lost in the past. I couldn't see Jesus in any of the bad circumstances but I know now that those experiences are a stepping stone to reaching the lost and hopeless. I know the same pain and can reach out to them. Through the people he placed in my life in my past has given me a passion to reach Japan. I can see his fingerprints in my life, in the bad and good times.

I thank the Lord for the blessings he has poured out on me. The body of Christ he has made me a part of in San Diego is so amazing and is more than I could ever have imagined. The people he has placed in my life are a testament to when he calls himself Jehova Jireh, The Lord will provide. Everywhere I look I see his fingerprints. He has surely provided for me and I thank him for his loving kindness. I am so grateful for all he is doing and I'm excited at the works he is preparing me to do.