Psalm 33 is one of my favorite psalms.  This morning as I was reading it again, this part stuck out to me, and I began to mediate on it: “…He who forms the hearts of all…”  (in vs. 15)

The thought came to me about my heart, but not the physical organ of the heart, rather how God defines the life of the heart.  

The physical organ of the heart: The heart is the most crucial organ in our body, responsible for delivering blood circulation and nutrients to all parts of the body. It pumps the flow of blood by a network of blood vessels called arteries and veins. But the spiritual application of the heart which separates us from the animals, is

The Hebrew definition or spiritual meaning: the inner man: mind, soul, will, reflection, conscience, understanding, seat of appetites/emotions/passions/courage.

Ecclesiastes 8:11, 9:3, 10:2 talks about the human heart being filled with schemes to do wrong; that it is deceitful in nature, and full of evil intent. Every human being is born a sinner in heart and deed.

The heart is changed by God alone when we repent and ask Him to forgive us by what Jesus Christ did on the cross with His own blood and promise to those who believe in Him. God says,

“I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your hard, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart to Me.” Ezekiel 36:26

“For we know how dearly God loves us, because He has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with His love.” Romans 5:5

When I reflect on who I WAS before this “change of heart,” I hate that person who lived a sinful life. People like to think that they are “good” for whatever reason that comes from their own pride of false-awareness. God says in His Word that there is NO ONE good, but God.

God (Father, Son and Spirit) is the TRUE GOOD there is.  His righteousness and justice the only true righteousness and justice. We can each DO “good works,” but God says that “our good works are filthy rags” in His sight. Good works won’t save us, and they definitely won’t be to our credit in any way when we stand before our Judge at the end of our life on earth. My only salvation and eternal life - is IN CHRIST JESUS alone.   

With my new heart, I live a different life than before. I enjoy God's peace in me that surpasses my limited understanding of what is happening. I see people differently than I did before I received my NEW heart. I see clearly now that each and every person needs to personally know Jesus Christ. HE IS the LIFE, and the only life that will count is the life I lived with my NEW HEART.

That people reject His Life, only keeps them living out the old heart’s self-deceiving progressive ways, and with the complete loss of all that is GOOD and permanently fulfilling from GOD.  

True wisdom and understanding come from the Holy Spirit. (Isaiah 11:2) No one without Christ's indwelling Spirit has true wisdom and understanding 

As I was thinking about the ‘good’ that comes from my NEW heart when Christ poured His Holy Spirit in me, I began to thank God for HIS HEART; that He continually came after me - to make me His child forever!  

Romans 5:10-11 “For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son.  So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God.”

The FRUIT of the Holy Spirit in me, my NEW HEART: is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law. (Galatians 5:22)

Therefore, we are commanded to walk by the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit so that we do not gratify the desires of our fleshly lusts. This is the inner warring that we must fight till the Lord takes us home. The flesh craves what is contrary to the Holy Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to our flesh. They are opposed to each other.

The acts of our sinful flesh are sexual immorality, impurity, and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft/sorcery; hatred, discord, jealousy, and rage; rivalries, divisions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. We are warned that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. That means that because God’s Holy Spirit lives in me I no longer want to live in disobedience to my Father God. I want to please Him out of love and thankfulness for all He has done for me through His Son and Spirit. And even when I sin, I feel guilty in a different way. I knew what I did back then was wrong, but I dismissed that guilt thinking I could keep secret what I was ashamed of.  Or, when I did what was wicked, and because I was with others doing the same, our acceptance of each other somehow eased our guilty consciences. Yet, the Bible warns us that if we keep doing this, our conscience will become hardened and seared, no longer feeling any guilt over what we do. That's a scarry thought!

“LORD, there is no God like You in heaven above or on earth below—You who keep Your covenant of love with Your servants who continue wholeheartedly in Your way.”  1Kings 8:23

If people only knew the TRUE history and truth about the Jews and their land called Israel. (Genesis 15 on) But even if they knew, not all will believe it. According to the Lord's own words: "For wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the way that leads to life, and only a few find it. " Matthew 7:13-14

This hatred of Jews goes back to the account of God calling Abram (Abraham) and his line of children through Sarai (Sarah) with Isaac, and not Ishamael - the son of the slave woman, Hagar, Sarah's maidservant.

From Isaac, God chose Jacob, not Esau who came out first of the twins. Then the chosen line generated with Jacob and his 12 sons as GOD's "chosen people" through which to show His mercy and grace to ALL people. Jacob's son Judah, was the line through which our Savior Jesus Christ came, and is why Christ is called the "Lion of Judah" at Christ's 'second' coming to the earth.

The problem Israel (Jacob's new name by God) has always had is with the line of Ishmael (which is the root of Islam). The Islamists believe they are the rightful inheritors of the earth, being in the line of Abraham's first-born son, Ishmael, through Sarah's maid-servant.

Sarah and Abraham did NOT wait for God to do what He said He would do through Sarah who was old and barren. But as always, God fulfills His Word, in His own time, not ours. This is how we grow in faith in what God has said to us. "Faith comes by hearing the Word of God."

After Sarah had Isaac, there was conflict in the home between Hagar and Sarah. So ever since Abraham sent Hagar and Ishmael away (because of this turmoil at home) there has been conflict with the generations of Ishmael and the generations of Jacob/Israel. (God gave Jacob a new name: Israel.)

So then, what we are seeing today with all this hatred for Israel and the Jews, and Hamas' attack on the Jews, and now with ignorant Americans siding with Hamas, originated back in Abraham's day.

Anyway, it's all history! But as we know today, history is being perverted and remade by those who are deceived and reject what is good for them.

BUT, we can be sure, GOD will have HIS WAY and WORD fulfilled! It's all in the Bible, both old and new testaments. Is it any wonder that the Bible has been attacked too! People think it is only a book that men wrote, making up what they wrote. Others do believe the Bible is God's book, but they don't want to read it and then feel responsible to obey what they read, loving their sinful life more than God. Then there are those who are teaching the Bible the way they want to believe who God is, not who He truly is.

As we watch another holocaust of the Jews by Islamist jihadists (see their book of Quran), you can be sure that 'prophecy' is being fulfilled according to what God spoke to His prophets of the Old Testament and New testament both.

When Jesus came into our world as the perfect blood sacrifice for sin once and for all, He also founded His "Church," His Body as He calls them. Christ's physical sacrifice was God's way of ending what He told Israel to do so that He would forgive their sins, but as He reminds us, that way was ended by the new covenant through God's Son. The coming of our Savior also worked to include gentiles into God's blessing upon Abraham and Jacob's line; that they would also be a blessing in the world in bringing the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

We also see how Christianity has also been under attack and hated ever since the Lord's Church began with His promise to never leave them or forsake them. "Where I AM, you will also be," He promises. Martyrs then and martyrs now. Jews and Christians alike! America is hated too because our biblical foundation of God-fearing men who formed this nation with our Constitution and biblical principles. This is what is hated, and it's all hated by people who hate God and all that God loves. That's why Jesus told His disciples that because they hate Him, they will hate Hi followers too.

On the cross Jesus said, "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do." People are deceived easily when they refuse the truth from God.

Jesus warned His disciples with a promise: "Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell." Matthew 10:28

And He also promises: "Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven; for in the same way - they persecuted the prophets before you. You are the salt of the earth." Matthew 5:11-12

It is sooooo very sad to see so many young adults following lies. Satan hates the Jews and Christians because he hates God and all that God loves. God threw him out of heaven when he tried to take the position of God's Son. Envy and pride got him and 1/3 of the angels that followed him - thrown down to the earth! And this is who is behind all the evil and rebellion in our world.

We are told that Satan will come in body-form and set himself up as this world's savior, the prophesied false-messiah. And people will believe in him and all that comes with his 'system' by which to rule the world. All because they reject the truth from God, and His Son.

So on we go! Hostility and destruction and martyrdom! Deception with a one-world-system forming, a.k.a. the devil's "mark of the beast." But Satan's day in the sun is shortened by the second coming of God's Son: Lion of Judah! God over all! PERFECT PEACE and ETERNAL LIFE as it was intended by our CREATOR FATHER.

God has given us the freedom and will to choose what to believe, but with a consequence for our choice - at the end of our time on earth.

God is in control, even as we might fear the time in which we live. But we have the word of Christ to get us through it all - with our faith, hope and love secured in place.  SELAH! 

Have you ever heard the voice of the LORD? There are a a few ways you can; one in which the Lord's 'indwelling' Holy Spirit quietly and gently speaks from 'within' to a believer in Jesus Christ, and another 'audibly.' And in another way, is one biblical example when Moses heard God's voice to him from the burning bush. And in this way too - to all people:

"The VOICE of the LORD is over the flood waters; the God of glory thunders, the LORD thunders over the mighty waters. The VOICE of the LORD is powerful; the VOICE of the LORD is majestic. The VOICE of the LORD breaks cedars; breaks them in pieces. The VOICE of the LORD strikes with flashes of lightning. The VOICE of the LORD shakes the earth. The VOICE of the LORD strips the forests bare." Psalm 29:4-9"The LORD sits enthroned as KING forever! The LORD gives strength to His people; the LORD blesses His people with peace." Psalm 29:10-11

Therefore, I will exalt YOU LORD! I will PRAISE YOU no matter what happens. I will ascribe glory and strength to YOU OH LORD, my Savior and King; for there is no other. I will ascribe to the LORD the glory DUE His Name." 

With all that is happening in our world, and in our own country like never before, it wold be easy to neglect giving thanks to God; giving Him praise for the saving power of JESUS CHRIST, and for all God's preciouls promises (found in His Word), and even for His ways of drawing people to Himself through all kinds of natural disasters, threats and terror. 

May HIS VOICE break through 'all other' voices shouting out today; breaking through to people, because people need the LORD; breaking through all the noise and uproar to install inner peace, securing His hope of the future that HE speaks of in His precious Word. 

To miss out on HIM, the ONLY Truth, Way and Life - would be WORSE than ALL disasters and terrors! 

"THE LORD GIVES STRENGTH TO HIS PEOPLE; THE LORD BLESSES HIS PEOPLE WITH PEACE!"

Man! Here we are bending over backwards to provide for the millions of 'illegal' aliens flooding our nation, while our tens of thousands veterans struggle from what they went through to uphold our nation's greatness and strength of purpose. The world is closely watching the U.S.A. in how the White House is handling these two wars. And, in how the WH is handling all our inhouse civil warring due to the heavy propaganda of the Left's lies and deceits.

It amazes me how so many younger Americans (university students mostly) don't know what they SHOULD know - being an American. So brain-washed! Far too many 'adult' Americans are just as ignorant as to the true history of Israel and America.

BIG demonstrative lies still propagating and growing HUGE protesting mobs against Israelis, as well as hating our law officers, and all conservative political thinking or organizations. What they accuse others of - is exactly what they ARE!

This is clearly revealing to our enemies how weak the White House is for the very first time in our history! Where is the condemning and correcting of all this raging propaganda? Why aren't they holding those who are truly quilty 'accountable,' enforcing our constitutional laws as they should, and with STRONG EFFECTIVE CONSEQUENCES? Instead, they are doing all they can to conjure up court cases to keep Donald Trump from running again. WHAT AN EVIL! Unprecedented!

This is all convincing other nations, and especially terrorist organizations, that they have no more need to FEAR America; no need at all to back off and discontinue their invasion into our country. Open border policy of this president has reflected more than anything else, the greatest stupidity ever in our White House, or if not total ignorance and blindness to reality - then it has to be PURPOSELY INTENDED! which is far more alarming!

Telling Israel to "pause," instead of supporting Israel's effective strategy (quickly working) to crush Hamas and the rest going against Israel, is hardly showing American STRENGTH and faithfulness to our best ally, Israel.

America's "peace through strength," is obviously being undermined by our White House's current administration.

GOD HELP US, that is, if YOU LORD can still find any godliness left within our nation - that You should protect and work through to bring American greatness back, even if for a little while longer.

Satan, the "god of this world," has blinded the eyes of people so that while seeing, they never perceive; otherwise, they might SEE with their eyes and understand with their heart, turn to Jesus Christ and be healed. (Paraphrased from Luke 8:9-10 and Isaiah 6:9-10)

2 Corinthians 4:4 "Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don’t understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God."

PRAYER, that is rooted in what God says through His Son, and God's Old Testament prophets, is the power for our DAY. 

James 5:13-20 "Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. THE PRAYER OF A RIGHTEOUS PERSON IS POWERFUL AND EFFECTIVE. 

"Elijah was a human being, even as we are. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops.

"My brothers and sisters, if one of you should wander from the TRUTH and someone should bring that person back, remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the ERROR of their way will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins."

Jesus teaches: "The seeds (of truth about My Kindgom) that fell on the footpath represent those who hear the message, only to have the devil come and take it away from their hearts and prevent them from believing and being saved." Luke 8:12

"The thief (the devil) comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come that they may have life, and have it in all its fullness.... I AM" the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep." John 10:10-11

In a time where the "hearing and understanding" of people is under attack, as Satan uses his fully deceived puppets in various ways, we who have come to KNOW and UNDERSTAND - have the privilege and responsibility to PRAY without ceasing and on ALL occassions, and in every season. (Ephesians 6:18)

Luke 18:1 "Then Jesus told them a parable about their need to pray at all times and not lose heart..."

Acts 1:14 "With one accord they all continued in prayer.""

Romans 8:26 "The Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know how we ought to pray, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groans too deep for words."

Philippians 4:6-7 "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

Colossians 1:3 "We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you."

I’ve been thinking and praying about the difference between “religion” and a “relationship” with God. Such a big difference it makes in one’s life. Not only in this life, but in the life to come.

For those who are simply religious, not knowing Christ Jesus ‘intimately’ by His indwelling Spirit and His living words, is a powerless way to live.

I love the book of Hebrews in the New Testament that teaches us the difference between religion and relationship. The Spirit-filled author of the book of Hebrews teaches how the ‘old covenant’ through Moses could NEVER free us from the power of our sin nature; how JESUS’ coming as He did, living as He did, and dying as He did, is all about His overcoming power in us. We have the power to forgive even our enemies, and to overcome sin in our life.

Those who check out all religions so they can settle on one that they FEEL best fits the life THEY want to live – are sadly missing the way. Some people don’t want to admit being a sinner that needs to be forgiven by God. But they are self-deceived in thinking that way. Powerless!

“In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these days HE has spoken to us by His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, and through whom also He made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the EXACT representation of HIS BEING, sustaining all things by HIS POWERFUL WORD. After He had provided purification for sins (on the cross), He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty of heaven.”

“The former regulation (for worship) was set aside because it was weak and useless (for the law made nothing perfect), and a BETTER HOPE is introduced, by which we DRAW NEAR TO GOD.”

“For this reason Christ is the mediator of a NEW covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance…”

AHHH, the precious blood of Christ our Lord! “Who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself unblemished (without sin) to God, cleansing our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the LIVING GOD.”

People in a religion know only to serve the leaders of that kind of religion. They do what they are told to do, according to tradition, and even how to do it. This is not being in a relationship with God. Jesus came to have a relationship with us. He did not come to start a religion with all its rules and regulations, rituals, traditions, etc. Jesus has not asked us or even requires of us to do what a religion requires of its congregation.

Who is behind all man-made religions? Satan, God’s number one enemy. The Apostle Paul was clear on the subject: “But I fear that somehow your pure and undivided devotion to Christ will be corrupted, just as Eve was deceived by the cunning ways of the serpent.” 2 Corinthians 11:13

The only TRUE gospel is Jesus Christ's, the Son of God, and what is said of Him: HE who was, and is, and is TO COME. His purpose was to save those who repent because they believe in His sacrifice on the Cross - receiving His forgivenness and being filled with His Holy Spirit to live out their great purpose for which we were created by so great a God of pure love and justice.

Jesus taught strongly about that "narrow way," the road home to God our Father. That "narrow road" can ONLY be walked with the Savior in daily fellowship with Him in Spirit and in Truth. No church, or religious organization, or family, or government, or national patriotic work or activism - can do for my person what my daily fellowship with my LORD does for me and in me. 

The LORD's words (found in the Bible written in red) are the light for my path with Him. He is the LIVING WORD of GOD. God said it, and I believe it. He is the only true LIGHT of this very dark depressing self-destructing world. He is WONDERFUL COUNSELOR imparting wisdom much higher than the puny wisdom of this lost world. He is my DEFENDER when I am accused. He is RULER OF THE NATIONS because the nations belong to Him who caused their to BE nations. He sustains His creation by His powerful word! He raises up kings/presidents for HIS PURPOSE, and then takes them down.

JESUS CHRIST, founder of His world-wide church (not of religions, but of those called by HIS Name and filled with HIS Spirit) walk with Him clothed in white by NO work of our own. Our own seemingly good works are as filthly rags, He says. HIS perfect and acceptable work through us is all that God the Father is pleased with, and will reward. 

YES, "narrow" is this 'glory' road of His, that few will go; others won't because they are deceived by lies having rejected the truth from God; they are so very fearful of being persecuted, or they want the things in this life more than what God offers us in eternity with Him. 

The LORD also says: "BROAD is the road that leads to destruction that most will go." "Broad" because of all the various kinds of temptations to our pride, and fleshly lusts, and fears rooted in the lack of true knowledge from God. And what "destruction" is that? The Holy Bible is filled with the answer. 

Feeding on God's Word every morning is our greatest NEED in this life. Praying and communing with the LORD continually is our perfect peace that surpasses all our understanding of what and why things are happening as they are. Oh how thankful I am for coming to God's TRUTH for His mustard-seed faith HE gives each of us to grow up from - for HIS kingdom-sake. 

What a pity to live your whole life LOST in a religion with its rules and regulations for worship, or in a successfull prosperous career, or in some political activism, or even LOST in your own prideful ignorance - when God has been so merciful and gracious to REVEAL Himself to us ALL in so many wonderful ways. 

"The wrath of God is [also] being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, WHO SUPPRESS the TRUTH by their wickedness, since what may be known about GOD is PLAIN to them, because GOD HAS MADE IT PLAIN TO THEM. For since the creation of the world GOD'S INVISIBLE QUALITIES - His eternal power and divine nature - have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people ARE WITHOUT EXCUSE." Romans 1:18-20

NO ONE will stand before God on judgment day with an excuse of not knowing what they should've known about God's Son and the coming judgment. And there's more on this in chapter 1 of Romans, "God's Wrath Against Sinful Humanity." "They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshipped and served created things rather than the Creator - WHO IS FOREVER PRAISED!" Romans 1:25

JESUS CHRIST is the ONLY truth, the ONLY way, the ONLY life. He calls us by His Spirit to walk with HIM in His love and truth, and to do His good will - to the END. That simplicity of living daily in the love and truth and purpose of Jesus Christ, is so very freeing and fulfilling!

May our Savior be welcomed in hearts and lives as we endure this 'prophesied' day of wars and rumors of wars, plagues, famine, and natural disasters in various places, and persecutions. Here in America we are experiencing the persecution of Jews living here in the so-called "land of the free," and persecution of Christians speaking up and standing against antisematism, as well as the evil of sacrificing babies in the womb with abortions, against homosexuality/transgender ideology trying to take over our schools/children; persecution for standing up and speaking out for all that is true and right according to GOD'S definition of truth and righteousness. 

Oh what a time to be living, the time JESUS taught about and had written down for us in His Word; where evil intensifies RAPIDLY as Christ's return approaches. "As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be when the Son of Man returns." You can read what it was like then - in the book of Genesis chapters 6-9. And now look what they have down with God's rainbow! The rainbow was God's reminder to us that He will never destroy the earth with water again as in the day of Noah. But He also tells us, with a promise, that He WILL destroy by fire to cleanse the earth for His renewal of the earth and the heavens. The book of Revelation is clearly detailed on this. 

God even says that if we read and study the book of Revelation we will be blessed in doing so. Blessed with knowing the truth and understanding so that we can be prepared for worse days and ready for how the LORD would use us in the day in which we live. 

Not one nation's government will be serving and obeying God and His Word at the return of KING JESUS. Look at what is happening in America with a great throng of ignorant lost people promoting all kinds of wickedness, calling truth a lie, and lies the truth; regarding righteousness as evil, and wickedness as the way in which we should ALL be living! And now with this 'current' administration funding and defending it! SHAMEFUL IGNORANCE!

God have mercy! God HEAR our 'humbled' prayers! People need the LORD! FATHER GOD, give YOUR people strength to endure the evil day, and not be cowards when attacked for who we are, and threatened if we won't deny our LORD and His Word. For we know what YOU said would come upon the earth before YOU return to conquer and crush all evil and rebellion. We know what YOU have promised, according to Your own words written down for us, that to restore all things YOU ONCE CALLED "GOOD." 

Your promises can be trusted and relied on for our ongoing peace and joy as we finish what is each ours to do. Thank You LORD! Thank You for finishing your purpose in the world, then as the LAMB of God to cover our sinfulness with Your perfect blood, and now as You do Your good will through Your faithful servants, and in Your coming again: Your glorious 1K year reign on the earth. 

And then.... well you can read it in Revelation chapters 20-22. I find it interesting that God has not given us any more than is written about what eternity will be, and I'm certain it's because our minds can't fathom how great and glorious it is. I do know that from what the Bible teaches that we will be FOREVER learning of how GREAT and AWESOME God's love is for His Family.