A Bag with Holes in It.

 “Is it time for you yourselves to live in your [expensive] paneled houses while this house [of the Lord] lies in ruins?” Now therefore, thus says the Lord of hosts, “Consider your ways and thoughtfully reflect on your conduct! You have planted much, but you harvest little; you eat, but you do not have enough; you drink, but you do not have enough to be intoxicated; you clothe yourselves, but no one is warm enough; and he who earns wages earns them just to put them in a bag with holes in it [because God has withheld His blessing].” Haggai 1:3-6 Holy Bible Amplified Version

Do you have a bag with holes in it ( instead of bag insert wallet )?

Could it be because you are so selfish that you earn a penny and spend a dollar ( on yourself of course)? So when you refuse to share your wealth Jehovah allow the devil to tempt you into getting into dept to satisfy your unquenchable desire for more, more, more. Then you are miserable.

Could it be that you plant a lot of seeds to be friends with others while neglecting the crop of daily interaction with Jehovah so you harvest a little from your relationship with Him?

Could it be that in your quest for recognition form others ( self-centeredness- look at me, look at me) that you never get enough and go to foolish and many times dangerous lengths to get noticed by others instead of directing them to Jehovah? As a consequence you are never satisfied. Instead of nurturing a loving relationship with Jehovah you nurture your own ego and as a result you are cold with little or no love in your life. As a result the temple of Jehovah that resides within you is in ruins.

Prayer: I humbly pray my loving Jehovah Helech ‘Olam (The Lord our King Forever) that You daily guide this modest servant of Your to constantly build upon and glorify Your Holy Temple so that it is a beacon to those walking in the cold dark world to You amazing Temple. I sincerely request this in the name of He who shines the most brilliantly of Your holy temple Jesus Christ. Amen.

May the gentle assurance of Jesus’ sweet love encompass you today and every day.

Grandmas Sweater.

 But the king said to Araunah, “No, but I will certainly buy it from you for a price. I will not offer burnt offerings to the Lord my God which cost me nothing.” So David purchased the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver. 2 Samuel 24:24 Holy Bible Amplified Version

David paid for this because He wanted Jehovah to know it was a personal gift unto Him as a present of love, respect and gratefulness.

The best Christmas present I received every year was grandams sweater. It took her many months to knit it and it always felt of her love. Mom would have to fight with me to get it off of me to wash it.

Think of how cherished your gift is to Jehovah when it took a lot of time and effort to make it and freely offer it to Him as an act of love unto Him.

Do you insult Jehovah by giving Him something that cost you nothing or something cheap like you would buy in a Dollar Store?

For a church supper do you go out and buy something cheap at the grocery store instead of taking the time and effort into making a home made meal? This is a gathering of His people to commune with each other and Him. That is a cheap gift. That is an insult to Him.

And when you present the lame and the sick, is it not evil? Offer such a thing [as a blind or lame or sick animal] to your governor [as a gift or as payment for your taxes]. Would he be pleased with you? Or would he receive you graciously?” says the Lord of hosts. Malachi 1:8 Holy Bible Amplified Version

When you give unto Jehovah from your heart that is more precious to Him than the most expensive gift given out of obligation. A gift from the heart is the most precious gift. Joseph- Anthony: Green

Prayer: Thank you Jehovah Jireh (God is our Provider) for blessing me so generously and with the best. Please always guide me to give nothing less back to You as a gift of love and appreciation every day. I thank You in the name of He who gave His precious blood unto me as the price of adoption unto Your magnificent family Jesus Christ. Amen

May the gentle assurance of Jesus’ sweet love encompass you today and every day.

A Sacrifice of Praise and Thanksgiving

 He who offers a sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving honors Me Psalm 50:23 Holy Bible Amplified Version

A sacrifice is an act of offering to a deity something precious.

What precious gift of praise and thanksgiving do you off unto Jehovah when He blesses you?

For me , of course there is the one tenth but if possible that amount is exceeded.

So suppose Jehovah blesses you with a raise, are you willing to give up your daily coffee at the coffee shop for Him as an act of praise and thanksgiving to help with paying for something in service unto Christ cheerfully?

Are you willing to give up watching your favourite TV program say one night a week in service unto Him as an act of praise and thanksgiving to help with paying for something in service unto Christ cheerfully ?

For me I give up my Sunday mornings to take seniors to Sunday Service at a seniors home.

Christ loves a cheerful giver not a grumpy one. Joseph- Anthony: Green

How about you, what do you offer as a sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving cheerfully and with grateful thanks?

Prayer: Thank you Jehovah Emunah (God is faithful) for faithfully blessing me with resources, opportunity, skill and time to bless others as You daily bless me. I gratefully thank You in the name of Your greatest blessing Jesus Christ. Amen.

May the gentle assurance of Jesus’ sweet love encompass you today and every day.

Show You Great and Mighty Things

 ‘Call to Me and I will answer you, and tell you [and even show you] great and mighty things, [things which have been confined and hidden], which you do not know and understand and cannot distinguish.’ Jeremiah 33:3 The Holy Bible Amplified Version

The best education you can get is in the University of Jehovah. Man the courses provided there are unimaginable. One of the benefits of attending this university is that the courses are never ending. Just as you complete one another one begins. Just when you naively belief there is nothing else to learn something pops up that stuns and amazes you.

Yes there are exams but you cannot study for them. Either you have learned them or you have to repeat the course. There is no failing just that you need more tutoring to digest what is being taught.

Of course we have our mentor ( The Holy Spirit ) is on twenty four hour call. He may not answer your call all the time though. That is because He does not want you to get lazy and have Him do all your thinking for you. As you progress at this university you fall deeper and deeper in love with the faculty:

The headmaster is a kindly Father called Jehovah, the Head Teacher is a patient teacher by the name of Jesus Christ and the mentor is truly awesome the manner in which He tutors to each of us individually by the name of The Holy Spirit.

The more you are at this university the more time you desire to talk with these three incredible deans ( some call it prayer).

The admission price is accepting Jesus Christ as your savior, king and best friend. That you as such, have become His bondsman or woman ( which means you freely serve them out of love ). The invitation is open to all, rich and poor, young and old of every nationality.

Why do you not come join us?

The graduation services are held in a beautiful place that will be our eternal home, it is called Heaven.

“What wings are to a bird and sails to a ship, so is prayer to the soul.” Corrie Ten Boom

Prayer: Thank you Jehovah Rabbi (God our Teacher) for blessing me with entry into the most amazing school there can every be with the most awesome teachers. Thank you for the free life time enrolment and for the patience with this some times dull witted student. I praise You in the name of He whose blood paid the tuition fee Jesus Christ. Amen.

May the gentle assurance of Jesus’ sweet love encompass you today and every day.

Your Personal Offering.

 Whatever you do [whatever your task may be], work from the soul [that is, put in your very best effort], as [something done] for the Lord and not for men. Colossians 3:23 Holy Bible Amplified Version

When I was a tree planter we would get paid by the tree. The more trees you planted the more money you made. Therefore, it was in our best interest to plant as many trees as possible. Most of the planters planted sloppy without care for their quality. I, however always took quality before quantity. At some time during the day I would rest under a tree in the nearby forest and survey the ground just planted. The thought came to me that because those trees were planted with superior quality most would survive. Because most would survive they would provide food, shelter, nests for young to be nurtured, take pollution out of the air and give us clean air in return, prevent soil erosion, help retain watersheds which supplied the rivers and streams the fish dwelled in. It always made me smile and think of nature as Gods Cathedral and I just completed a wonderful renovation on it. I got a reputation as having one of the best quality in the country. Whenever someone would ask me why quality was chosen over quantity it would be explained to them about caring for Gods Cathedral and if you are going to do it, do it right.

Children, no matter how much the world pressures you to cut corners to save the company money or get the assignment do quicker, always put your best effort in your work. It will be noticed and it will cause others to question why? That is a golden opportunity to share Christ.

If you are going to do it then  do it as you were doing it for Royalty. Joseph- Anthony: Green

Prayer: Jehovah-Shammah ( The Lord is Present) I humbly beseech You that You are always with me guiding my hands and mouth that they may excel in whatever You guide me to do so that it may bring honour unto You. I sincerely request this in the name of He who always excelled in His work for Your glory Jesus Christ. Amen

May the gentle assurance of Jesus’ sweet love encompass you today and every day.

According to His Work

“For God pays a man according to his work, And He will make every man find [appropriate] compensation according to his way. Job 34:11 Holy Bible Amplified Version

According to His Work.

I do not know about you but that gives me a feeling of joy , peace, and assurance. Now in my later years and slowing down it is good to know Jehovah will reward me for my faithful service. There is no expectation of living in a mansion with babes waiting on my every whim. There is no expectation of living like a strong twenty something. There is no expectation of living surrounded by luxury gained at some mall. There is expectation of living a life dedicated unto Jehovah and sharing fond memories with Him. A life filled with peace, love and joy.

On the other hand I see so many wicked ones whose body has been destroyed living the sex, drugs and rock and roll nonsense. They lived for the good times and for themselves. Now the good times are over. They are a shell of a living being. I see those who worked very hard to attain wealth and took great delight in cheating others to enlarge their treasure only to see their treasure mean nothing to them because it cannot love them back.

Prayer: Thank you Jehovah Emunah (God is faithful) for Your faithful promise to reward me for all my freely given service unto You. May You move the wicked ones unto turning from their dark deed unto Your righteous deeds so they will not suffer Your terrible wrath. I reverently request this in the name of He who will be handing out the drowns in Heaven Jesus Christ. Amen.

May the gentle assurance of Jesus’ sweet love encompass you today and every day.

Yield and Submit.

 “Now yield and submit yourself to Him [agree with God and be conformed to His will] and be at peace; In this way [you will prosper and great] good will come to you. Job 22:21 Holy Bible Amplified Version

It takes the two. It takes the two parts in this verse before you are blessed.

Number one is to stop.

Stop being independent and stubborn. Jehovah cannot and will not ever attempt to help someone who refuses help. We must yield our will and wants and submit unto Him.

The next part is just as difficult.

To submit ourselves unto Jehovah means we are to give Him total control over our lives like a horse submits to the reins of its rider.

Once these two difficult tasks are completed then come the blessing. The blessing may be a physical blessing but there is always a spiritual blessing. The spiritual blessing of course is that there is a lot less stress in your life because you trust Jehovah has control of your life. The same can be said for worry. Instead your life is filled with peace, contentment and a knowledge of security knowing we have a superior being directing and helping us live a Divine life.

Leaving it in Jehovahs hands is the better choice. He knows what He is doing while we only think we know what we are doing. Joseph- Anthony: Green

Prayer: Thank you Jesus Hamelech ( Jesus my Lord King ) for blessing me with the privilege of being a humble servant of the most noble King. Please bless me to always have a submissive heart unto Your will in every aspect of my life. I give thanks for this blessing and pray for this blessing in Your majestic name. Amen.

May the gentle assurance of Jesus’ sweet love encompass you today and every day.