Author: Bill

Eph2:8-9 (ESV)For by grace you have been saved through faith. & this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. — We have been saved by His Grace! That is our salvation is a gift, & is not based on our works! We have no right to eternal life apart from our God. –John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, & the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me”. John 14:19 Yet a little while & the world will see Me no more, but you will see Me. Because I live, you also will live. John 6:40 For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son & believes in Him should have eternal life, & I will raise him up on the last day.” —God’s eternal love & good-will toward us is a gift of pure grace, accepted thru our faith in the death & resurrection of His only Son. Those who believe on Him shall have everlasting life. Wow, what a gift! We need accept this gift by believing in His Son. Love Mel

Psalm 102:1-2 Hear my prayer, O LORD; let my cry come to you! Do not hide your face from me in the day of my distress! Incline your ear to me; answer me speedily in the day when I call! Psalm 31:1-2 1In you, O LORD, do I take refuge; let me never be put to shame; in your righteousness deliver me! Incline your ear to me; rescue me speedily! Be a rock of refuge for me, a strong fortress to save me! — I do believe that we all would want our prayers answered speedily! — Psalm 27:14 Wait for the LORD; be strong, & let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD! Psalm 31:24 Be strong, & let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the LORD! — Waiting is one of the hardest things we must do, but we are to be strong & full of courage as we wait. The only way this is possible is to know that our God is who He says He is & He is faithful! Take courage & resist fear, because fear comes from the enemy! He hears us & cares! Love Mel

Psalm 23:5 (ESV)You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Matt 5:44-45 I say to you, Love your enemies & pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. … Matt 5:39 I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. Romans 5:19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” Matt 19:26 Jesus looked at them & said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”— Our Shepard gives us strength, anointing, & confidence to defeat our enemies! But at the same time He tells us that the wrath belongs to Him, & Him only. He clearly tells us to pray for our enemies. He even tells us to turn the other cheek. This is so hard for me to do! I don’t know about you, but I am quite certain, if someone slaps me, my instinct is not going to be to turn my face so they can slap the other side. This is clear, I will need His strength! I am sure I would have been a lot like Peter. But He says, ALL things are possible with God. Not sure why He has us feasting in the presence of our enemies, but I am thankful to know that God has my back. Love Mel

Gal 2:20 (ESV) I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. & the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me & gave Himself for me. 2 Cor 3:3 You show that you are a letter from Christ delivered by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts. 2 Cor 6:16 What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, “I will make my dwelling among them & walk among them, & I will be their God, & they shall be my people. —Our God has chosen to live with us in our hearts! Think about that! His spirit longs to be with us! Now that is a Father worth pursuing! We are the Tabernacle of God! So why would we ever let the enemy in? We must fight for that peaceful living! We must learn to celebrate life for what He has done for us in spite of us! How Great is our God! We have an invitation to the Marriage Supper of the Lamb of God! Praise Him! Love Mel

Feast-Of-Tabernacles, also Known as the Feast of Ingathering! Lev 23:40 (ESV) Now on the first day you shall take for yourselves the foliage of beautiful trees, palm branches & boughs of leafy trees & willows of the brook, & you shall rejoice before the Lord your God for seven days. —The Feast signifies deliverance from Egypt, specifically the salvation, shelter, provision, & trustworthiness by the hand of God during the 40 years of their wandering in the wilderness. —John 12:12-15 The next day the large crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. So they took branches of palm trees & went out to meet Him, crying out, “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!” & Jesus found a young donkey & sat on it, just as it is written, “Fear not, daughter of Zion; behold, your king is coming, sitting on a donkey’s colt!”— The triumph of Jesus brought our salvation, A final sacrifice for our total deliverance from our sins forevermore! —Rev 21:3-4 I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, & they will be His people, & God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, & death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away. — One day He is coming on the clouds to complete what He started long ago! Blow the trumpets, for He will tabernacles with us in perfect harmony! No pain, No tears! Shout your praise knowing that we serve a God who we can trust thru it all! Love Mel