Even Though It Is Not Enjoyable

“Then he said to them all: ‘Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.'” – Luke 9:23 The Holy Bible, The New International Version.

When we become Christians that means we accept Christ as our King. Because Christ belongs in the spiritual realm and the world belongs to the physical world, because Christ dedicates Himself to others we must follow His lead and dedicate ourselves to serving Him by serving others where He directs us to.

That is contrary to the world which serves themselves.

This means we are in a constant battle with the world (including ourselves at times when we want to serve self instead of Christ . The cross was a place of torture and intended shame. That is what we can expect from those walking the Highway to Hell. They will daily mock us and try to shame us. They will do everything they can to make our lives miserable. This will be a daily experience.

Even though it is not enjoyable, we should thank them for this treatment. Because, the more they make us suffer, the more they drive us into Jesus’ loving arms.

Torture me as you may, you will not destroy me but make me an ever stronger servant of my loving King Jesus. Joseph a son of Jehovah

Prayer: Thank you Jehovah Immeka (Judges 6:12 The LORD Is with You ) for the tormentors in my life because they draw me ever closer to You which is the greatest blessing of all. I esteem You in the name of He with whom I love to commune with every day, Jesus Christ. Amen

May you be blessed with drawing from the spring of living waters of comfort, strength and encouragement to extinguish the fiery arrows of the wicked, Jesus Christ. Joseph a son of Jehovah

Please feel free to look up https://www.5minutediscipleship.com/ for a great daily podcast and https://www.lifeaudio.com/your-daily-prayer/ for great daily prayer

This article and photo @ 2021 Joseph a son of Jehovah. All rights reserved. Used only by permission of the author.

He’s the Best Guide.

God … will be our guide even to the end. Psalm 48:14 The Holy Bible, The New Living Translation

Jehovah is my guide in life (Well actually He sends the Holy Spirit to be my guidance councilor, and He is the best guide.).

I’ll let you in on a special secret: be fore I make any decisions I always wait and pray to God for the answer. He never steers me wrong.

If I foolishly decide on the moment most times it ends in disaster.

He who hurries, rushes to disaster. Joseph a son of Jehovah

If someone tries to pressure you into making a snap decision it is because they do not want you to seek council.

You know why?

It’s because then their wicked veil will be lifted and the truth will be revealed.

And what is the truth?

The truth is it is a con and it will end in your disaster.

Now how does God answer my inquiry?

The answer is really quite obvious, the Bible. The Bible is Gods answer book. Anything you need guidance for is answered with in its precious scared pages.

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 The Holy Bible, The New Living Translation

Buy the truth and do not sell it; get wisdom, discipline and understanding. Proverbs 23:23 The Holy Bible, The New International Version

Now, how do you buy the truth?

You purchase it with your time and commitment to obey its wisdom.

The Holy Spirit is the answer man to all of lifes questions. Joseph a son of Jehovah

Prayer: Thank you Jehovah for sending The Holy Spirit Rohi ( The Holy Spirit is our Divine Shepherd ) Psalm 23 to be my guide in life. He guides me upon Your chosen path in my life that leads to Your Heavenly home. I praise You in the name of the greatest Sheppard Jesus Christ. Amen

Christ blesses us with love, peace and joy. May you be blessed with many opportunities to share these with others today.   Joseph a son of Jehovah 

Photo and article @ Joseph a son of Jehovah 2020

All scripture is for instruction.

 All Scripture is God breathed [given by divine inspiration] and is profitable for instruction, for conviction [of sin], for correction [of error and restoration to obedience], for training in righteousness [learning to live in conformity to God’s will, both publicly and privately behaving honorably with personal integrity and moral courage]. 2 Timothy 3:16 Holy Bible Amplified Version

A desire to know merely to know, is curiosity.

But a desire to know in order to do, is godliness.

I have met many that can quote any Bible verse for any situation. When asked if they put it into application in their lives they just give me a dumb look and walk away.

I have met a few of the wise that can quote a Bible verse for any situation and explain what it means and how the Holy Spirit helped them to put it into application in their lives. Those are the ones I will listen to and respect.

“To know God is to know that our obedience is due to Him.” C. S. Lewis

Prayer: Thank you Jehovah Helech ‘Olam (The Lord our King Forever) for blessing me with the wisdom and fortitude to obey what has been taught to me by Your wise teacher The Holy Spirit. Doing so blesses me with being a good and faithful servant. I edify You in the name of Your most obedient son Jesus Christ. Amen

May love be in your life, may hope be in your heart and may peace be in your every day walk with Christ.

Fights Against It.

 

                                                                 

So now [if that is the case, then] it is no longer I who do it [the disobedient thing which I despise], but the sin [nature] which lives in me.  For I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my flesh [my human nature, my worldliness—my sinful capacity]. For the willingness [to do good] is present in me, but the doing of good is not. For the good that I want to do, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want. Romans 7:17-19 The Holy Bible Amplified Version

It is a constant battle.

Although we are Christians in spirit we are still flesh and blood with fleshly desires that fight against the spirit.

How many times have we spoken foolishly with words that hurt others (whether intentional or unintentional)?

How many times have we looked at someone and wanted to jump in the sack with them (yes women do it as well as men)?

How many times have we looked down on another because of their race, nationality or social standing?

These things are said to be natural and they are, for the flesh.

But as Christians we are to live super natural lives.

We cannot succeed on our own initiative.

Thankfully we have the ultimate superpower readily available to assist us. His name is the Holy Spirit.

I cannot count the number of times I call upon Him every day. It is so reassuring to know He is always there and deeply gratifying as well. He has prevented numerous disasters in my daily life.

Make a habit of always opening your mouth to Him first before you open it to someone else Always make a habit of running to Him before you run to your fleshly desires first. It prevents untold painful catastrophes

“The true Christian hates sin, flees from it, fights against it, considers it his greatest plague, resents the burden of its presence, mourns when he falls under its influence, and longs to be completely delivered from it.”J.C. Ryle

Prayer: Please JehovahMa’oz (Lord my Fortress) bless me to always be able to take shelter in Your strong fortress when the enemy comes attacking my mine with destructive thought which are repugnant unto both You and I. Please bless me with the proper weapons to defeat the wicked foe when He comes slithering into my daily life so as to remain a righteous child of Yours. I humbly request this in the name of He who used Your Holy Scripture to defeat His foe in the wilderness Jesus Christ. Amen.

May your house be filled with joy in the morning and sweet dreams at night. May it be a home where love has come to live. Joseph a son of Jehovah

It is No Small Thing.

                                                    

And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and this[faith] was credited to him [by God] as righteousness and as conformity to His will,” and he was called the friend of God. James 2:23 Holy Bible, Amplified Version

I can think of no one with whom I am as close to as my Heavenly Beloved. He is always there, He always cares, He always blesses me with Divine wisdom which prevents much hardship and heart ache in my life. He is always revealing to me the immensity of His Divine love for me. He comforts and encourages me.

And, best of all, when we are in communion with each other there is no one elses love that can even begin to compare with His. He is indeed truly my best friend above all others. No other can even begin to compare with Him.

“It is no small thing to be on terms of friendship with God.” Author Unknown

Prayer: Thank you Jehovah Pryyand (God is my friend) for blessing me with the ultimate loving friendship there could ever be. I hold this privilege as my most treasured blessing of all. I do love You with a ultimate love because You love me with Your ultimate love. I adore You in the name of my best friend Jesus Christ. Amen

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

I Lose but I Win

“Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the Lord Isaiah 1:18 Holy Bible Amplified Version

Every time I have gotten into debate with Jehovah I lose but I win.

I debate with Him my wants, many times even using Bible scripture to back up my point of view. He gently but persistently uses different Bible scriptures to see things in a completely different way.

I lose my fleshly desires but win in obediently surrendering unto His will which is the best for me.

As well I am blessed with new insight into my Beloved and a new way of looking at things.

The reward for this is bringing me into a deeper loving relationship with my Heavenly Beloved.

As well He shows me the rewards for being obedient both spiritually and materially that far surpass my fleshly desires. To the world this is foolishness, stupid and down right insane. To those of us who walk close with Christ it makes perfect sense.

Prayer: Thank you Jehovah Rabbi (God our Teacher) for blessing me with being so patient with me when I am stubborn and slow to grasp what You are trying to teach me. Thank You that when I submit unto Your wise guidance it is always for my best. I praise You in the name of the wisest Teacher Jesus Christ. Amen.

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

Peevish Discontented Minds

  The whole congregation of the Israelites [grew discontented and] murmured and rebelled against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness,and the Israelites said to them, Would that we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the pots of meat and ate bread until we were full; for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this entire assembly with hunger.” (To understand Israel’s rebellious behavior, it is important to grasp the contrast between life in Egypt and nomadic life in the wilderness. Despite the hardships of slavery survival was not an issue in Egypt, where they were guaranteed food and other necessities. But the desert wilderness was hostile and unforgiving, and survival was an art. Desert nomads needed to understand the wilderness in order to stay alive; they had to learn, among other things, how to protect themselves from the weather, where to find water and pasture, and how to find and prepare scarce food, or live primarily from what their livestock could provide them. So the Israelites viewed every new problem they faced as life-threatening. Instead of looking back and taking comfort from God’s earlier miracles, they doubted God’s ability and willingness to help them. Their fears and doubts subsequently came to be expressed as irrational anger toward Moses. ) Exodus 16:2-3 Holy Bible Amplified Version

How many of us ask Jehovah for something but are never satisfied?

We ask for a job but when we get one we do not like the work because it is too hard or it is too boring.

We ask for a place to live but it is too far from the bus stop or grocery store or park.

We ask for direction in life but it is not where we want to go.

We desire good Christian friends but can always find fault with them.

I think the real reason we are discontented is because of greed. We want the best and nothing less is good enough for us.

Jehovah blesses with what we need not always with what we want. Joseph son of Jehovah

That is the ultimate insult of ungratefulness and a huge slap in the face to our loving generous Father in Heaven. More so for those of us that have walked with Christ for any length of time and so can reflect back at His previous provisions for us. Peevish discontented minds will find fault with that which has no fault in it but that it is too good for them.

Those that might be very happy often make themselves very miserable by their discontents. Matthew Henry

Prayer: Please Jehovah Heseh (God is love) bless me to always have a grateful heart towards you and those around me for all the wonderful blessings You and those around me share with me every day. I ask this in the name of the greatest blessing of which I am eternally grateful for Jesus Christ. Amen.

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

His Name is Jehovah.

 “When my soul was fainting within me, I remembered the Lord, And my prayer came to You, Into Your holy temple. Jonah 2:7 The Holy Bible Amplified Version

The older we get the more our soul faints with in, except, for those of us who belong to Christ.

You know why our soul does not grow weak?

Because we have the greatest strengthener there can ever be. His name is Jehovah.

I cannot count the number of times my finances were exhausted and I had no job because of a recession. Yes money was put away for this inevitability but it was put into investments that a naive one like me did not realize that the investment firm would charge exorbitant charges for cashing in the investment and the blood sucker government would take a huge chunk as well leaving me with a pittance to hold me over. That is what happens when you trust in corporations in my opinion, they are out to make money off of you and do not want to pay out. It took many years to walk away from these scoundrels and depend upon the best investment councilor there is. His name is Jehovah. Since listening to His wise advice and obeying His guidance there has never been a shortage of fiances ( mind you part of that is learning to live frugally and not to be a part of the foolish materialistic world).

In my younger days I used to read a lot of self help books to improve myself. Some were good and are still referenced to today ( especially because they confirm what the Bible says) but most were complete rubbish (especially the ones written by the “ new agers” ).

Self help is no where near as effective as Jehovahs help. Joseph- Anthony: Green

Today I depend upon the wisest Guidance Councilor there is.

His name is Jehovah.

Through His guidance book ( the Holy Bible), good Christian councilors and preachers He has remolded me in so many incredible ways so that there is no semblance of the old creature but only a new and much improved child of His.

The same is said in dealing with interpersonal relationships. Yes there are still times when my soul becomes weak within me but when those times come ( and they always do ) the proper course of action is taken and the soul is strengthened. The proper course of course is taking it to my loving, wise Councilor.

His name is Jehovah.

Prayer: Thank you Jehovah Chatsahi (The Lord is my Strength) for blessing me with Your ultimate strength in my times of weaknesses. I would have never made it without You my love. I extol Thee in the name of my strong Savior Jesus Christ. Amen

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

Is Your Head Hurting?

 Why are you in despair, O my soul? And why are you restless and disturbed within me?
Hope in God and wait expectantly for Him. Psalm 42:5 Holy Bible Amplified Version

Despair is the state of being discouraged.

Is your head hurting from walking into walls ? You know the feeling , like no matter what you try it is like walking into a wall. You are pounding the pavement looking for employment yet it seems as if every door is closed. You have tried all kinds of different medical treatment yet your ailment is getting worse. Of course there is the wonderful experience of raising teenagers and they refuse to listen to you ( that has been going on for eons. ) .

The list could continue for a long time couldn’t it ?

To hope for something is to believe in the future occurrence of (something).

We are children of the Supreme God , children. Take hope that He loves you and because He loves you He will come to your aid in Him time in His way. His answer may not be what you desire however He is far more wiser than you. As a consequence He knows what is best for you far better that you do.

I know, there have been many times when I desired something in my life and passionately prayed for our Beloveds blessing to have it come to fruition. He did not. At the time I was bitterly disappointed. In reflection I see the wise providence of His hand that if He had of granted me my desire it would have been a disaster.

On the other hand there have been event that I fervently prayed for every day for decades. Finally He blessed me that they blossomed into reality. Again I understand why it took Him so long to grant my request and am joyously grateful for His blessings.

“Every tomorrow has two handles. We can take hold of it with the handle of anxiety or the handle of faith.” – Henry Ward Beecher

Prayer : Thank you Jehovah-Jireh (God is our Provider) for Your Divine abundant assistance throughout my life. I thank you that You refused some requests that would have led to certain disaster and for answering those that bring about joyous events that will glorify You. I exuberantly praise You in the name He whose sacrifice answered my call for salvation Jesus Christ. Amen

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

You Meet the Criteria

 But God has selected [for His purpose] the foolish things of the world to shame the wise [revealing their ignorance], and God has selected [for His purpose] the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong [revealing their frailty]. 1 Corinthians 1:27 Holy Bible Amplified Version

Do you believe you are not smart enough to share the gospel or a Bible study?

Jehovah needs you for that exact reason. He uses the uneducated to shame the arrogant that profess to be wise. He shows that He is using you to show others what He can do through others and themselves. You meet the criteria to be useful in His kingdom work.

You do not need to be pretty enough, rich enough, a social elite or genius to do His work ( indeed , many times these are a hindrance ).

Do you have a heart that is willing to do His will and be obedient unto His calling in your life ?

Then , you meet the criteria to be His servant.

Have a sincere desire to serve God and mankind, and stop doubting, stop thinking negatively. Simply start living by faith, pray earnestly and humbly, and get into the habit of looking expectantly for the best. –Norman Vincent Peal

Indeed , I had no university degree when I went to service unto the Lord in Asia but had a willing heart to learn how to teach and was obedient unto His calling. In the process I was a much sought after teacher shaming many of the arrogant university educated ones who thought they were superior to me. It was a comical twist when these souls ended up coming to me the “ uneducated “ for advice because I knew how to teach in Asia ( through the Lords special class which took two years and a lot of effort and trial and error on my behalf) and they did not ( people in different parts of the world learn differently than from those of different parts of the world ) .

Jehovah can use the outcasts of society more than the elite because the outcasts know they need Jehovahs guidance more than the elite do. Joseph- Anthony: Green

Prayer: Thank you Jehovah-Bara ( The Lord Creator) for taking a filthy lost sinner like me and creating in me a heart, mind and soul that is receptive to Your Divine purification and blessing me with Your Divine purpose. I exalt You in the name of He who transformed ignorant fishermen into world transforming disciples Jesus Christ . Amen

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