People shall not live by bread alone!

Daily writing prompt
What are your favorite types of foods?

Living in such discouraging and depressing times, people need more than mere physical food. They need hope, love, and encouragement. My favorite food is spiritual food. “Man shall not live by bread alone.” (Matthew 4:4)

No miracle has ever dazzled and amazed me as much as the miracle of God’s love. When someone speaks sincere, caring, and encouraging words to me from their heart, I’m deeply moved by something supernatural. When I’m aware that God loves, forgives, and sets me free in spite of all my sins and flaws, I’m astonished.

When I’m praying over a stranger and I begin to sense so much love for him or her that my eyes fill with tears I know that I am walking out a miracle. When I go against my strong feelings of resentment and consistently ask God to bless someone who has hurt me and done me much harm, God the Holy Spirit tells me that I am following the signs and wonders of His narrow way. (Matthew 7:14)

Jesus walked on water and invited His disciples to step out of the boat and walk to Him. (Matthew 14:25-31) His disciple, the man called Peter, obeyed Jesus and walked out of the fishing boat, on to the water, and into an untold number of Sunday sermons. If you have read the biblical account or heard one of the sermons, you know that Peter began to sink but Jesus pulled him up and together they walked back to the boat. Peter experienced a miracle! But what was the miracle?

The miracle wasn’t that Peter walked. Most human beings can walk. The miracle was that when gravity took over and Peter started sinking, Jesus pulled him back up and supernaturally kept him afloat as Peter himself moved his own feet and legs in order to walk back to the boat.

It’s not a miracle when you obey the risen Jesus. It’s a choice. The miracle is that when you obey Christ living in you, (Colossians 1:27) God supernaturally works in and through you.

Step out of your comfort-zone-boat and experience this for yourself. Ask Jesus, “Lord, if it’s You (Matthew 14:28) living in me, tell me something that You want me to do.” Then listen to Jesus because He said that His seep hear His voice. (John 10:27)

When Christ’s still small voice (1 Kings 19:12) speaks to you, do what He tells you to even if you are afraid. When you begin to walk out what Jesus says you’ll be amazed at the miracles that will happen. Even if you start to sink, Jesus will pull you through! As you’ve humbled yourself, in due time He will lift you up. (1 Peter 4:6) (Remember, Christ won’t tell you to do things that contradict what He said in the Bible.)

When God’s miraculous love is welcomed, embraced, and fully surrendered to (1 Corinthians 14:1) many other miracles will follow. Allow God to continually work (1 Thessalonians 5:19) the miracle of His love (Matthew 22:37-39) — including love for your enemies (Matthew 5:44) — in and through you wherever you are and everywhere you go. Then goodness and mercy shall follow you all the days of your life. (Psalm 23:6)

It’s lovely when we,
The body of Christ,
Are community–
Truly family.
Then we start to see
Christ in you and me.
Christianity’s
Not about a place.
It’s about showing
God’s love face to face.
The body of Christ
Should never replace
True community
With religion,
Ceremony,
Or politics.

(Jesus didn’t tell His followers to make Rome great. He told them to “Bless those who curse you.”)

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I Try to Run Away from People Who Use Angry Hateful Words

People say: "All lives matter!" But the mean things that we humans say and do make me think that we don't really mean it. 

Political hatred, anger, and violence is evil! People who have been tried and convicted by a jury of their peers for engaging in political violence shouldn't be pardoned.

For people who truly love Jesus, all lives really do matter. When I talk about Jesus I'm not talking about an arrogant hard right Jesus, or an all approving far left Jesus. I'm talking about the risen Jesus who commands us to love one another and even to love our enemies!

I believe that:
Palestinian lives matter.
Jewish lives matter.
Muslim lives matter.
Christian lives matter.
Pagan lives matter.
Athiest lives matter.
Black lives matter.
White lives matter.
Soldier lives matter.
Civilian lives matter.
Friends' lives matter.
Enemies' lives matter.
Ukrainian lives matter.
Russian lives matter.
Conservative lives matter.
Liberal lives matter.
Rich lives matter.
Poor lives matter.
European lives matter.
Asian lives matter.
African lives matter.
North and South American lives matter.
And your life matters!
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I See Myself as a Follower

Daily writing prompt
Do you see yourself as a leader?

I see myself as a follower on a very narrow path. Step by step throughout each day I diligently seek to faithfully stay with the trail I’m on. You may have read a description of the pathway I’m following. In the Bible Jesus says: “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” (John 14:6)

Haven’t you read
Where Isaiah
The prophet said
“All we like sheep
Have gone astray.
We have all turned
To our own way,”?
The Good Shepherd
Has saved the day.
He’s paid the price
To wash away
All of our sins.
He invites us
To start to see
Life through His lens–
The mind of Christ
And be transformed
To His image.

Far too many Christians are sheep without an ongoing and obedient relationship with the Good Sheperd. (Matthew 9:36-37) Let Jesus, the Great Sheperd of the sheep, (Hebrews 13:19-21) continually keep you and transform you by the renewing of your mind. (Romans 12:2)

Jesus is the Good Sheperd. (John 10:11) His sheep hear His voice. (John 10:27) They follow Him (Matthew 4:19) away from bad thoughts, bad feelings, bad desires, and bad behaviors. (Matthew 4:17)

When Christian faith is based on ongoing personal surrender to and obedience to the risen Jesus (Matthew 16:24) it’s powerful and life changing. Christians need to be talking to Jesus, listening to Jesus, and obeying Jesus instead gossiping about conspiracy theories. (2 Corinthians 12:9 and Ephesians 4:29) If Christians in the USA would seek to individually be directly led and controlled by God the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:14) and endeavor to obey the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5, 6, and 7) and the rest of the New Testament with as much intensity and commitment as they are putting into politics, we would experience a great, culture-transforming, spiritual awakening. Haven’t you read Ephesians 5:14?

When I'm walking 
Through the night
The bright light
Of the moon
Above my head
Reminds me of
What I've read
And I see
Christ the Bright
And Morning Star,
God the Son,
Rising in my soul.
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Every Word God Speaks to My Heart

Daily writing prompt
What’s your favorite word?

My favorite word is every word that God speaks to my heart. These are the latest words that came into my heart. I believe that they are from Him.

Come to Jesus with your heart humble, open, hungry and honest like a little child’s, so that He and His Father can supernaturally reveal His never-ending presence, power, and reality to you. Let your heart be drawn into and remain constantly yoked to Christ like a pair of oxen pulling a loaded wagon. Then you will discover that having Jesus always walking with you and working within you will cause you to see your burden as a light affliction that is producing eternal glory in and through you. (2 Corinthians 4:16-18)

As you daily take Christ’s yoke of gentleness and lowliness upon you and learn from Him through ongoing direct personal revelation you will find true inner peace in your soul. Live your life consistently yoked heart-to-heart with the risen Jesus because when He is ignored the Holy Spirit is quenched (1 Thessalonians 5:19) and religion becomes nothing more than an empty and powerless outward form of godliness. (2 Timothy 3:5)

For God’s kingdom to come and His will to be done on earth as it is in Heaven (Matthew 6:10) it must begin inside of human hearts that are so solidly yoked to Jesus that He is able to transform people’s thinking and behavior to align with God’s desires. Will you allow God the Holy Spirit to yoke all of your thoughts, feelings, desires, and behaviors to the living Jesus?

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I Do This Every Day and Every Night

Daily writing prompt
What are you doing this evening?

Day and night my plans and schedule are simple. I long for and pursue one thing. Like the ancient King David my heart cries out: “One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek Him . . .” (Psalm 27:4)

When Jesus is truly present, His authority, Lordship, and reign as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords is at hand. He has brought the kingdom (the inner government) of heaven near to us. (Matthew 4:17) Will you strive (1 Corinthians 9:24-27) to always surrender to, submit to, and obey Christ as your Ruler and Absolute Master — as your Lord and your God? (John 20:28) Will you freely allow King Jesus to step-by-step remove you from the dominion of inner darkness and bring you into full alignment with His kingdom (His inner government)? (Colossians 1:13)

If you are a citizen of the kingdom of heaven, behold the Lamb of God, (John 1:29) continually fix your eyes on the risen Jesus, (Hebrews 12:2) and become a daily demonstration of the presence, power, (1 Corinthians 2:4) and fruit (Galatians 5:22-23) of God the Holy Spirit. In everything you think, say, and do follow and obey the inner leading of God the Spirit. (Romans 8:14)

Never stop seeking Jesus! The world is full of pleasure-seekers, comfort-seekers, and power-seekers, but Christ-seekers are hard to find. Consistently be one both now and forever! (Matthew 6:33)

Is it possible for Jesus to heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, and drive out demons through you? Yes! Do the above and you will begin to see and experience miracles both in and through your life.

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Casual (Lukewarm) Christianity Raises a Red Flag With Me

Daily writing prompt
What personality trait in people raises a red flag with you?

Casual, lukewarm Christianity raises a red flag with me. Why? Because of what Jesus said in Revelation 3:16: “Because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.”

Jesus preaches. The kingdom of God is right here right now! Wake up and passionately seek as your first priority to be ruled and governed within by King Jesus day-and-night. (Matthew 6:33)

Jesus teaches. Christ-seekers listen to His voice and follow Him. (John 10:27) Christ-seekers receive direct revelation from God. (1 Corinthians 2:10-13) They receive access to the mind of Christ. (1 Corinthians 2:16) Christ-seekers are taught by God to love one another. (1 Thessalonians 4:9) Jesus-first seekers hear the words of God. (John 8:47) They are taught (John 14:26) and led by the Holy Spirit. (Romans 8:14)

Jesus heals. Jesus is seeker-sensitive and seeker-friendly. Continually seek as your first priority to align your will and your desires with King Jesus and everything else in your life will begin to make sense and fall into place. (Matthew 6:33) Let your weariness, pain, and disappointment draw you to Christ and He will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28) Wake up and become a radically committed Christ-seeker.

Christ-seekers are not self-seeking. (1 Corinthians 13:4-5) They’re self-denying, daily-cross-bearing Christ-followers. (Luke 9:23) True Christ-followers are Christ-seekers, not merely Christ-inquirers. They’re deeply passionate about staying focused on the risen Jesus. They’re not just occasionally curious about Him.

“Seeking” is a powerful concept in the Bible. It involves actively and passionately pursuing the kingdom (the inner government) of God, the presence and will of the Lord and King Jesus, and His righteousness (right-living). (Matthew 6:33) Seeking God requires intention, attention, and persistence.

To seek first God’s kingdom, begin to consistently pray like ancient King David did: “O God, You are my God; earnestly I seek You. My soul thirsts for You, my body longs for You, in a dry and weary land without water.” (Psalm 63:1) King David testified: “I sought the LORD, and He answered me; He delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to Him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame. This poor man called, and the LORD heard him; He saved him out of all his troubles.” (Psalm 34-4-6)

God rewards people who earnestly and diligently seek Him. (Hebrews 11:6) He shines His light in the heart of a Christ-seeker. (2 Corinthians 4:6) Wake up! “Seek and you shall find.” (Matthew 7:7)

When some of Christ’s followers went to His tomb, two angles said to them: “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; He has risen!” (Luke 24:5-6) Jesus is not entombed in history or in religion. He doesn’t stay there. He has risen and is now present everywhere. (Matthew 28:20) Seek Christ’s presence wherever you are and wherever you go.

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My Ideal Week Is to Consistently Follow and Obey the Risen Jesus

Daily writing prompt
Describe your ideal week.

Matthew 8 — Christ-Seekers Experience Amazing Words, Amazing Faith, and Amazing Miracles

In Matthew 6 Jesus says to make seeking the kingdom of God your first priority–the passion of your life. (6:33) In Matthew 8 we see seekers seeking Jesus.

Seeker 1 (a leper condemned unclean and untouchable by society) says: “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.” (8:2)

Jesus reaches out and touches this person who society says should never be touched. Then He says: “I am willing. Be clean!” Seeker 1 is immediately healed of leprosy and uncleanness. (8:3)

Seeker 2 says: “Lord, my servant lies at home paralyzed, suffering terribly.” (8:6)

Jesus says: “Shall I come and heal him?” (8:7)

Seeker 2 says: “Lord, I do not deserve to have You come under my roof. Just say the word and my servant will be healed.” (8:8)

Jesus is amazed and says to the crowd gathered around Him: “Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith.” (8:10)

Turning directly to Seeker 2 Jesus says: “Let it be done just as you believed it would.” Seeker 2’s servant is healed at that very moment. (8:13)

Many seekers bring demonized people to Jesus. Jesus drives out the evil spirits with a word and heals those who are sick. This fulfills God’s word that was spoken and written centuries earlier by Isaiah the prophet: “He took up our infirmities and bore our diseases.” (8:16-17)

Seeker 3 says: “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.” (8:19)

Jesus says: “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay His head.” (8:20)

Seeker 4 says: “Lord, first let me go and burry my father.” (8:21)

Jesus says: “Follow Me and let the dead bury their own dead.” (8:22)

Jesus disciples follow Him into a boat. While they are crossing the Sea of Galilee a furious storm comes up and waves are sweeping over the boat. Jesus is asleep but fear turns His disciples into passionate seekers, and they wake Him up saying: “We’re going to drown.” (8:23-26)

Jesus says to His disciples: “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then He rebukes the storm and the waves and suddenly it is completely calm. (8:26)

Christ’s disciples are amazed and say: “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey Him?” (8:27)

On the other side of the lake two demonized men meet Jesus. They shout: “What do you want with us, Son of God? . . . If you drive us out, send us into the herd of pigs.” A large heard of pigs is feeding nearby. (8:30-31)

Jesus says: “Go!” (8:32)

The demons come out of the two men and enter the pigs. The whole heard rushes into the Sea of Galilee and drowns. The pig keepers run away and tell the local town about what happened. The townspeople go out to find Jesus, but they aren’t true seekers. Instead of seeking for Christ to stay, they beg Him to go away. (8:32-34)

Jesus is “the same yesterday, today, and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8) Do you want Him to stay with you, (Hebrews 13:5) to live in you, (Colossians 1:27) to be your Lord and your God, (John 20:28) and to rule and lead you by His Spirit? (Romans 8:14) Or do you want Him to go away and let you do things your own way?

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My Respect Goes Frist to the King (The King and Eye)

Daily writing prompt
Name the professional athletes you respect the most and why.

First things first. As inspirational as many athletes are, they don’t receive my first respect. That goes to The King. I strive to see eye to eye with Him.

In the Sermon on the Mount King Jesus (Revelation 19:16) used the word “first’ twice. First He said to “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness.” (Matthew 6:33) Second, He said to “First take the plank out of your own eye.” (Matthew 7:5) Matthew sums up Christ’s message by saying that Jesus preached “Repent for the kingdom of Heaven is at hand.” (Matthew 4:17) To repent is to take the plank out of your own eye. “The kingdom of Heaven is at hand,” means that the will of God and His inner government is available to those who will seek it as their first priority.

In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus also said: “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” (Matthew 7:7) Jesus asked God the Father: “Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.” (Matthew 6:10) He said to keep seeking God’s kingdom (God’s will) as the first purpose of your life. (Matthew 6:33) The more you will humbly, sincerely, and persistently knock on God’s door, the closer you will get to His inner kingdom and His will in your daily life. (James 4:6)

Which way will you go? Will you continually seek and passionately pursue the narrow gate and road that leads to life? (Matthew 7:13-14) Or will you casually drift along the broad road that leads to destruction? The risen Jesus is the narrow gate! (John 10:7)

Be very careful because Jesus warned of false prophets who look like sheep “but inwardly are ferocious wolves.” (Matthew 7:15) Jesus said that you can recognize false prophets by their fruit. (Matthew 7:16) If a preacher, teacher, or leader doesn’t bear the “good fruit” of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23–love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control) he is a false prophet. (Matthew 7:19-20) It’s not enough to say “Lord, Lord!” Christ followers are called to actually obey the living Jesus and do the will of God. (Matthew 7:21-28)

Fortunately, Jesus, the gate to the kingdom of God, is ready to live inside of you, (Colossians 1:27) empower you, (Acts 1:8) and continually lead you by His Spirit. (Romans 8:28) Never stop seeking King Jesus and His inner government of your life with “all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.”? (Matthew 22:37) Always keep the risen Jesus first and center in your daily focus.

Some people think I am crazy for trusting so much in Jesus. Here are the people who I think are crazy. People who trust distracted drivers in parking lots not to accidently hit them when they step right in front of their moving vehicles while focusing on their phone. Stop, look, and listen.

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Pursuing Inner Peace

Daily writing prompt
How do you relax?

I relax by pursuing inner peace. I was an anxious child and as long as I can remember I have hungered for and pursued inner peace. At an early age I began resisting negative thoughts and driving them out of my mind. I’ve worked hard to focus on the good things in my life. I’ve sought to avoid negative emotions and to embrace positive ones. As I got older, I began reading and trying to apply self-help books. (I eventually became a full-time motivational speaker.)

My pursuit of inner peace took a giant step forward when as a college freshman I encountered and surrendered my life to the living, resurrected Jesus Christ. As I began to seek first the kingdom (inner government) of God in my life the Holy Spirit begin to produce more and more peace in me. The more peace I felt, the more I wanted and the more I pursued a closer relationship with Christ.

People don’t seek what they think they already have. If you think your driver’s license is in your pocket, you won’t seek it, but if you think it’s lost you’ll turn your house upside down searching for it. If you think the kingdom of God is something you have already fully experienced, then you won’t hunt for it. It won’t be your first priority to seek it day and night. (Matthew 6:33)

Christianity is about pursuing the kingdom of God as your number one passion in life by hungering and thirsting for righteousness. (Matthew 5:6) It focuses on pressing towards and fulfilling God’s high calling on your life. (Philippians 3:14) It’s all about drawing closer and closer to God. (James 4:8)

Seeking first the kingdom of God is about setting your heart on and pursuing “things above.” (Colossians 3:1) It involves searching for the Lord “with all your heart.” (Jeremiah 29:13) It’s about fighting the good fight, finishing the race, and keeping the faith. (2 Timothy 4:7) It’s about fixing our eyes on Jesus and running with endurance the race that God has set before us.” (Hebrews 12:1-2)

True Christianity is about offering your body as a living sacrifice, being continually transformed by the renewing of your mind, and not conforming to the lifestyles of this world. (Romans 12:1-2) It’s about wanting intimacy with the living God more than you hunger for and crave food. (Job 23:12) It’s about letting “the word of Christ richly dwell within you as you teach and admonish one another.” (Colossians 3:16) It’s about ridding yourself “of all malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander.” (1 Peter 2:1) It’s about constantly seeking to “lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.” (Romans 13:12)

Are you seeking first the kingdom (the inner government) of God? When people are governed by the inner kingdom of God they think, act, and live differently than the people around them.

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The Word I’ll Never Give Up

Daily writing prompt
If you had to give up one word that you use regularly, what would it be?

There’s a word I’ll never give up. I love the sound of it. It thrills my heart and fills me with hope, encouragement, and peace. That word is the English translation of an ancient name. It’s Jesus. I ponder, say, pray, write, and post His name day and night. Why? Because I love Him because He first loved me. Jesus Christ is my best friend — a present reality who makes the impossible possible in my day-to-day life.

Matthew 5 shows how the impossible Christian life can become the normal Christian life. Christ-dependency replaces impossibility with Christ’s ability. That’s the process that the Bible calls sanctification. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-24)

To let God’s inner government (His Kingdom) rule and reign inside of us we must set aside our pride and allow God the Holy Spirit to show us our poverty of spirit so that He can be our constant inner guide. (Matthew 5:3) Then we begin to mourn over our inability to fully obey God, and we continually look to Him for forgiveness, comfort, power, and inner healing. (Matthew 5:4) We become meek and moldable to the Spirit’s inner influence. (Matthew 5:5) We hunger and thirst for God’s righteousness. (Matthew 5:6) We show mercy to others and God’s mercy fills us. (Matthew 5:7) Our heart is purified by Christ’s presence and power, and we begin to see God as a present-moment reality instead of as religiosity. (Matthew 5:8) We begin to demonstrate God’s presence and peace wherever we go and are called the children of God. (Matthew 5:9) Our Spirit-led lifestyle makes many people uncomfortable (Romans 8:14) and they begin to persecute us, insult us, and falsely speak against us because of our love for and obedience to the risen Jesus. (Matthew 5:10-11) That’s how people treated the Old Testament prophets so we can rejoice and be glad that we are following in their footsteps. (Matthew 5:12)

When we through total Christ-dependency embrace the impossible Christian life as our normal way of life we become the salt of the earth and the light of the world. It’s vital that we don’t allow persecution to cause us to lose our saltiness or hide our inner light. Instead, we need to openly shine our light by living a radiant lifestyle so that others can see our Spirit-led behavior and glorify God. (Matthew 5:13-16) The Sermon on the Mount is Christ’s call to daily depend on the Lord so that we can continually experience the impossible sanctified Christian life and mount up with wings like eagles (Isaiah 40:31) through our constant surrendering to Christ in us the hope of glory. (Colossians 1:27)

When Christ-dependency was replaced by pastor-dependency Christianity stopped relying on the presence and power of the risen Jesus and began instead to rely on human effort and human knowledge. Jesus is too often celebrated as “Savior” (an unconditional free ticket to Heaven someday) but rejected as “Lord” (the absolute Ruler, Head, and Master in daily life).

A series of two questions impacted my life more than all the other questions I have ever been asked. I wasn’t asked those two questions by a human being or by AI. They seemed to come from nowhere. One day they just popped into my mind.

The first was: “If you were born a Hindu, what would you be today?” The next one was: “Why do you think you’re a Christian?” As I thought about those two questions, I realized that my religion was based on nothing more than where I was born and raised. I was only a birthright Christian, not a true one. That led me to reject Christianity and its teachings and to become an agnostic. It led me to the place that I could encounter the risen Jesus Christ without religious indoctrination. The rest is history and testimony!

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