“Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD is one!”

I would suggest a back channel discussion as Christians, between President Trump, VP MP and Mr. Putin. Get some things established and then the discussion of other things might go easier.

Mr. Putin’s candid sharing of family history at Christmas in my post “Putin a Christian?” presents a very different image. The majority of Christians in this country would appreciate it very much. I have shared these vids on my blog, Exitstrategydaniel12.com. I address some politics, mostly prophetic aspects of the scriptures, end times preparation and insight that I receive in prayer.

Why would I receive “special” insight from scripture? God had plans for me. 36 years ago I saw a pillar of fire. It only lasted a second or so. I did not even know what it was biblically. I was ignorant of bible knowledge at that time. A few days earlier I, “by accident,” had over heard two conversations, by individuals whom I was “working” with, about my being assassinated.

How I escaped was miraculous. Not only did I escape, I met the girl of my dreams, a Christian woman. Over years, we grew in our knowledge of scripture did marriage seminars, and we were invited four different times to Russia, to Pskov, to teach young graduating pastors marriage counseling techniques at a bible college. It is all in my book, “Exit Strategy, we initiate the return of Christ.” it is an e-book, sold everywhere.

The upheaval in congress, especially today, may have a hidden agenda as Rush Limbaugh has alluded to. If the vote had passed in current form, Mr. Trump may have found himself taking the blame later. The “swamp people” are not to be trusted too far. I hope President Trump and Mr. Putin are aware of Psalm 62:4 (NASB) “They have counseled only to thrust him down from his high position; they delight in falsehood; they bless with their mouth, But inwardly they curse. Selah (which means ‘think about it’.)

God knows and is watching out for the President because He put him there. You also are in a place of great power Mr. Putin. Respectfully God put you there. How you lead and your motives are most known by God and judged by Him alone. Frankly as an American I am very encouraged by your faith especially by the extent which it can reign in your life as it is supposed to in all of us who follow. (Romans 5:21 NASB) “…that grace might reign through righteousness, to eternal life, through Christ Jesus.”

The times my wife and I spent in Russia were a supreme highlight as a married couple of 34 years and as Christians. The Russian people are wonderful. We loved our time there. My sweetheart Janis has gone ahead of me to glory two and a half years ago now.

To my most wonderful friends in Russia, pass this along to Mr. Putin.

(Please forgive my phonetic spelling.) Bog blago slavi Vas, Mr Putin, and God bless you personally also President Trump!

Michael

“If we remain in His grip, how far from His heart can we be!”

Michael

    Exit Strategy

   We initiate the return of Christ!  (The E-book)

Barnes and Noble, Amazon Kindle, Kobo, many others and around the world. $6.99

“Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD is one!”

In my Morning Prayer time the question came to me so I asked the Lord, “Will our words be powerful in eternity?”

I wonder if we sometimes lose sight of this life preparing us for the next.

I continued, “Lord our words have power here, according to Your Word.” (Proverbs 18:21) Will our words be powerful in heaven, in eternity? Isn’t this why we must learn to control our tongues here? Does a lack of control keep us out of heaven, out of eternity, eternal life? Can we sin with our mouth to eternal destruction?

Job 31:30 (NASB) “No, I have not allowed my mouth to sin by asking for his life in a curse.”

Psalm 59:12-13 (NASB)
”On account of the sin of their mouth and the words of their lips, Let them even be caught in their pride, And on account of curses and lies which they utter.” “Destroy them in wrath; destroy them that they may be no more; that men may know that God rules in Jacob to the ends of the earth. Selah.”

Psalm 62:4 (NASB) “They have counseled only to thrust him down from his high position; they delight in falsehood; they bless with their mouth, But inwardly they curse. Selah.”

Yes, inwardly,…”out of our heart our mouth speaks.” (Matthew 12:34)

Matthew 15:18 (NASB) “But the things that proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and those defile the man.”

Matthew 12:36-37 (NASB) Jesus speaking, “But I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the Day of Judgment.” “For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

By my words? BY MY WORDS?  “Jesus, I thought I was saved no matter what! Oh Lord have mercy!” He is having mercy by teaching us now.

Loved ones, the condition of our heart determines what we speak. Life and death is in the power of the tongue therefore life and death is in the power of our heart.

So…what is in our heart? What will we allow into our heart tomorrow? What might we believe about others that might not be true at all? What have they believed about us that is not true at all? What… is in our hearts? What is coming out of our mouth?

What can be in our heart, in our soul, and we still be able to enter eternity?

Shall a rebellious lot inhabit heaven? May it never be! God forbid it! And He will. He will not populate His Son’s kingdom with rebellious types. There will never be another rebellion in heaven.

There are many ways to rebel but one way that harms others as well as us. Shall a rebellious mouth be silenced in heaven where joy is unspeakable and full of glory? There will be no rebellious mouth in heaven. A humble mouth might reverently choose silence but the Lord will not allow that for long. His joy shall be our joy.

Are we mute in eternity? Where shall praise come from, how shall we then exalt His name forever?

Yes our words will have power in eternity. However, our words, our hearts, will restrict us from or admit us to the kingdom of God. “For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

We have such an opportunity that purges us and purifies us as we bridle our tongues to intercede instead of describing (prophesying) the offender’s ill-doings. It is a judging process we must renounce with fervor as well as with fear (reverence) toward God.

Especially in these times and today with increasing measure when there is much we can object to, recognizing it as true, we must bridle our mouth. We must give our distress to God via intercession for the distressing.

Daniel 12:9-10 (NASB)
”He said, “Go your way, Daniel, for these words are concealed and sealed up until the end time. Many will be purged, purified and refined, but the wicked will act wickedly; and none of the wicked will understand, but those who have insight will understand.”

Yes, in obedience we shall purify and purge our hearts in preparation and by doing so glorify God who gave us the opportunity to think as He would think, speak as He would speak, and respond as He would respond.

How shall we rule and reign with Him if our tongue is unbridled? And where else must this be proved to Him but here and now?

Let us rejoice in our opportunity. He has made our success possible. We will see the benefit of this discipline here; now, simply another assurance that eternity is real and waiting for us to rule and reign with Him, the Prince of Peace. Our words, from our highly disciplined heart, will have great power in eternity.

“If we remain in His grip, how far from His heart can we be!”

In the guardianship of Christ,

Michael

    Exit Strategy

   We initiate the return of Christ!  (The E-book)

Barnes and Noble, Amazon Kindle, Kobo, many others and around the world. $6.99

“Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD is one!”

“Then,” is my responsibility.

On Monday, March 13, during prayer time, I opened randomly to Psalms 50 and 51. Psalms 50 context is a warning. Psalms 51 context is the expression of a contrite heart. You might want to open to them.

As I read each chapter, I always watch for something to jump out. Like you, I am generally aware of these verses and so I am believing the Holy Spirit will point to something within them. Yes a morsel of “all truth” that requires a guide, as Jesus spoke of.

“Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come.” in John 16:13 (KJV)

As I noted  in Psalm 50:5-6 (NASB) “Gather My godly ones to Me, Those who have made a covenant with Me by sacrifice. And the heavens declare His righteousness, For God Himself is judge. Selah.”

A covenant “by sacrifice?” Of course this is long before Jesus lived. “Those” is plural. It seems likely that godly ones are the ones who made (animal) sacrifices for the benefit of the covenant relationship. That has surely changed, or has it?

Today, are we any less responsible to make sacrifices for the sake of our covenant relationship with God? If this willingness to sacrifice is or is not already in our relationship with God, is the Holy Spirit pointing to “things to come?” (John 16:13 above) Is this God in Ps 50:5-6 commanding the host of heaven to gather His godly ones, (Christ-like ones) “Followers” to Himself in those days to come? Is heaven declaring God’s righteousness not only because He is but because they DO NOT have to judge? “My godly ones” have already been judged because of their sacrifice! Remember this for later.

Since God is the Judge, Psalms 19;9 (KJV) says, “… the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.  I recommend reading PS 9-14.

Psalm 19:11 (KJV) says, “Moreover by them (the judgments of God) is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.” (added for clarity)

Psalm 50:23 (NASB) says, “… And to him who orders his way aright I shall show the salvation of God.”

We must choose to obey and order our way aright. Could this be the sacrifice “Followers” make?

Psalm 51:1 (NASB) then says, “Be gracious to me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness; According to the greatness of Your compassion blot out my transgressions.

Verse 2, I abbreviate, “Wash me thoroughly …cleanse me from my sin.”

Verse 3, (I do not lie to myself) “I know my transgressions.”

Verse 4 Against Thee only have I sinned…” Can any of us say that? What about others we have sinned against? Have we thrown ourselves at their feet, so to speak? Does God consider those sins less important? “You are justified Lord.” (By Your judgments your servant is warned. In keeping them there is great reward.) Is this the sacrifice being spoken of, the obedience of a humble ear, a contrite heart?

Verse 6 Although (we are) born in sin, You still desire truth in my inner self and You will make me know wisdom! Amazing!

Are we conscious of and confident in the deposits of truth and wisdom He wants us to have, those “light bulb” experiences?

Verse 8 (Please) “Make me to hear joy and gladness, don’t look upon my sins.

Verse 10 “Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me.“

Verse 11 (Please) Do not depart or remove Thy Holy Spirit from me.”

Verse 12 “Restore to me the joy of Your salvation And sustain me with a willing spirit.”

Verse 13 “THEN” and now we get down to it.

“Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, And sinners will be converted to You.”

In the end times, Daniel 12:3 (NASB) says, …”Those who have insight will shine brightly like the brightness of the expanse of heaven, and those who lead the many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.”

Back to Psalms verse 51:17  “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; A broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise.”

A broken and a contrite heart, these are true sacrificial gifts to God. Sacrifices we make, not Jesus. He has done His work. Yes we make them by the “truth” the Holy Spirit brings, (John 16:13) and by the whispered judgments of our Heavenly Father. (Psalms 19:9-14)

Lord in these days You have allowed me to ask Jesus into my heart. You have also shown me the way to Your heart O Lord. Both Christ and this understanding are to my benefit for You are the same yesterday, today, and forever. What You favored then You favor now.

“Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in Your sight O Lord my rock and my Redeemer.”  (Ps 19:14)

Lord may I find completeness as You visit my brokenness even as a good physician visits His patient faithfully. For You are my heavenly Father, the glory and the lifter of my head. May I glorify You this day, by Your Spirit Lord, by Your Spirit.

“If we remain in His grip, how far from His heart can we be!”

In the guardianship of Christ,

Michael

    Exit Strategy

   We initiate the return of Christ!  (The E-book)

Barnes and Noble, Amazon Kindle, Kobo, many others and around the world. $6.99

“Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD is one!”

As you may know I lost my beloved wife Janis two years ago last December 12. Last Thursday night I had a dream.

In the dream I somehow got separated from Janis and I could not find her. My cell phone was not working right. I could not remember her number. I could not find her. Then I saw an advertisement about her having a business and I am thinking “without me?” All this made me think she had left me as in divorced or something. “Janis left me?” “Divorced me?” “I must get in touch with her but I can’t!” It was simply very scary.

I awoke and in seconds remembered she had died and that she loved me to her very last breath as I did her. Still I could not shake the rejection and hurt such a scenario in the dream had produced. Frankly I was an emotional mess. God knows.

“OK,” the Spirit said. “Come meet with Me.” Yes Lord.

I have prayer and meeting time with the Lord every morning for the most part. I really needed it this (Friday) morning. I put on my Tallit prayer shawl as usual and entered into thanks giving and praise first. Then I asked the Lord if He wanted me to read somewhere specifically in the Word. He said, “Leviticus 7 8.” I was not sure 7:8 or chapters 7 and 8. I read all of it.

You will see it is about different sacrifices in 7 and about the process of anointing Aaron and his sons for there priestly duties in 8 ??? Right, I could not see where I was to go with this. I was starting to feel bad again. Usually it is clear what God wants me to see when I read where He tells me to. Again, I was beside myself feeling out of touch with God AND Janis.

Dejected more than frustrated I said, “Lord, I think I have heard wrong?” “Yes, He said, you have heard wrong. Your dream was “wrong hearing!” yet it grieved you.” “It was as useless as the portion of verse I just gave you to read!”

[“Yes Lord, thank you Lord. Thank You! I was free! He really had my attention. I add this here because that is how I felt but I did not right it down in my journal.]

Then immediately He started to speak to me. “The lines are being drawn, the righteous versus the globalists. The push back of the conservatives will be met with increased aggression from the globalists. “They know” what is best but their knowledge is man’s knowledge. They are pawns, “puppets on the strings of prophesy.” (A phrase He gave me before when writing Exit Strategy.)

He went on, “The righteous will respond to the accusations, which are of the Accuser of the Brethren and feel a need to placate them. They should not but they will. The fear of man will prevail instead of being strong and courageous, condemning every word spoken against them.”

Continuing He said, “These globalists are proponents of abortion, the disrespectors of God, the many that will perish in the Lake of Fire, living forever in the torment.”

Pray, they will come to their senses, renounce their error filled thinking, repent of Godless choices, seek mercy in Christ Jesus and be spared, (pray) for My names sake.”

“The times and epochs are in My heart. Are you ready? Get ready! Live day by day in the light of My promises, prophesies, and protections, protection you must wear, implement and choose. You must choose! Do you even know what to choose? I say choose the uncomfortable, the scary, the humbling. Allow yourself to be cast down. I will lift you up just as I lifted your Elder Brother. See the victory in what appears to be defeat.”

“Haven’t you learned by now, when you have done all to stand and see the glory of the Lord, your salvation?”

“I follow the darkness as dawn follows the night.”

Loved ones this has been copied out of my journal word for word as I received it. Let us prepare as we live day by day. May the fear of the Lord be upon us all and empower us because He can trust us as we serve His plan in reverence. May the joy of the Lord be our strength!

“If we remain in His grip, how far from His heart can we be!”

In the guardianship of Christ,

Michael

    Exit Strategy

   We initiate the return of Christ!  (The E-book)

Barnes and Noble, Amazon Kindle, Kobo, many others and around the world. $6.99

“Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD is one!”

Jesus said He is The Way, The Truth, and The Life. (John 14:6 NASB) Does this not imply a journey, a standard, and a destination for us, all of which occur after we meet Him?

I do not find Jesus ever implying or stating clearly, “Once you know Me and what I did for you, you are good to go.” Why? Because He was not good to go! He had something to do and we do also.

Jesus said, in Mark 8:34 (NASB77)
”…If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.”

The word “deny” is aparneomai Strongs G533. to deny utterly, disown, abstain: deny.

The cross of Christ was a curse that blessed us as it helped Him depart. Our cross is a blessing that helps us avoid the curse as it helps us depart.

We know Jesus, as the Son of Man, learned obedience by the things He suffered. (Hebrews 5:8)  He also learned how difficult obedience could be as the Son of Man, full of the Spirit of God. The Garden testimony proves this as He sweats as it were great drops of blood in facing His trial. He doesn’t ask to be excused once but several times, of course obediently submitting to the Fathers will and plan. (See Matthew 26: 36 – 44)

Why would we not also expect to have to learn obedience to God through the things we struggle with? Relating to Jesus as the Son of Man is not only critical but very encouraging. It is critical to eternal life and encouraging because He proved a son of man could do it!

God said to Moses in Deuteronomy 5:29 (NASB77)  ^“They have done well in all that they have spoken, Oh that they had such a heart in them, that they would fear Me, and keep all My commandments always, that it may be well with them and with their sons forever!”

So what does this have to do with purifying ourselves? Historically we have come to understand that keeping all the various laws would be impossible. This does not apply to our means of escape into eternity. We did not gather the heart of the law. That is, to love the Lord your God and your neighbor as yourself. Doing that sums up the law and the prophets. (Matthew 22:40 NASB)

Pure as He is pure? Is that possible? If we are going to see Him as He is, we must purify ourselves. 1 John 3:2-3 (NASB) “Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is. ³  And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.”

How do we do that? The same way He did! Remember He is The Way?

Everything we look forward to, proven after Christ’s resurrection, is the result of what He did before His resurrection!

Remember the sins that were upon Jesus, our sins? If all of our sins were laid upon Him as the sacrificial Lamb, how is it that this Lamb survived? Yes I realize He is in His resurrected form now. Still the Son of Man survived this ordeal. He gained the resurrected life we are seeking.

Remember this verse? Philippians 2:5-8 (NASB)

“Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, ⁷  but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. ⁸  Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”

Note He, “emptied Himself” to come here. I believe it is clear that in order for the Son of Man to accomplish His Father’s goal, to die as our reconciler and return home, to “accomplish His departure in Jerusalem, (Luke 9:31 NASB) Jesus had to escape these earthly bonds. I believe the clear evidence of how He did so is in His specific actions. Jesus had to do the same thing to leave here as He did to get here. He emptied Himself to leave! Make no mistake this is our divine task also.

How did He empty Himself? Was it, “committing suicide by cross?” Of course not! What DID He do on the cross? What did He NOT do? There were no railing accusations, no curses, not even in those last “forsaken hours.”

Jesus accomplished His mission when He forgave us, when He emptied Himself of all earthly baggage, the offenses, the injustice, the stuff like that which is in our souls today; stuff that will never be smuggled into heaven! Never! Only hearts at peace having made peace will enter in.

Romans: 12:18 (NASB77) ^“If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.”

Hebrews 12:14 (NASB77) “Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord.”

We have a mission also, one we will die for in a divine death if we can grasp the glory in Christ. It is a reconciling rescue mission. Our purity, in the fear of the Lord, will get it done.

His mission was not just to die for us. Teaching us by the power of the Holy Spirit, expressing the Father’s instructions, simplifying the law as a new husband, the former husband dying (figuratively) as Jesus satisfied the Law Himself being the last and perfect sacrifice. (see Romans 7:1-6) Jesus, ordained by His (and our) heavenly Father, pointed to the heart and Spirit of what the law was supposed to accomplish. Jesus as the Son of Man gave us a key of all keys, opening the Way, the path of righteousness, to eternity. (See Romans 5:21) It is the path He took, the key He used, to accomplish His departure! What path? What key?

While bearing the weight of our sins, (not His) He forgave us, no He went further and interceded for us! We beat Him half to death; we rejected Him, He was innocent but many called Him guilty, a fake, a false prophet, a blasphemer. He remained silent until the Word of God came to His lips.

So what did Jesus do? Jesus forgave everything we had done up to that moment. He implemented the Word of God to accomplish His departure.

Matthew 6:14 (NASB77)
 “For if you forgive men for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.”

He became sin legally as the silent, the perfect Lamb led to slaughter. As good as dead by crucifixion but not yet dead, He forgives us, interceding and poof…. Like a confetti balloon, all those sins are gone!  He has purified Himself just as we can! Jesus goes and gets the keys to death, hell and the grave not as the biggest sinner (bearing our sins) but as the spotless, pure Lamb, the Son of Man our majestic Savior, the Christ!

It appears Jesus thought that once He forgave us (on the cross) He would depart immediately. Jesus cries out to God, thinking in His heart, “Why hast Thou forsaken Me?”

Do you remember this verse? John 10:17-18 (NASB77)

^” For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. ¹⁸  No one has taken it away from Me, but I lay it down on My own initiative. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This commandment I received from My Father.”

Not only do we see now how Jesus through grace and intercession purified Himself of our sins, I believe this verse above explains why Jesus remained on the cross for those extra hours.

Even “forsaken” Jesus did not curse us or betray the Father’s plan. As a Spirit filled Son of Man Jesus proved WE could endure as Spirit filled sons of men. At some point in the future we may also wonder, like John the Baptist did when Jesus left him in prison, but God never really forsook Jesus. How do I know? In spite of His physical condition, the Word of God was still hidden in the Lord’s heart. Finally…. I believe the Holy Spirit brought back to Jesus His own words just as He will do for us.

Jesus was not dead yet because He had not laid down His life! Nobody was to take it. He was to lay it down! (John 10:18)

Once He did….

Luke 23:44-46 (NASB77) “And it was now about the sixth hour, and darkness fell over the whole land until the ninth hour, ⁴⁵  the sun being obscured; and the veil of the temple was torn in two. ⁴⁶  And Jesus, crying out with a loud voice, said, “Father, INTO THY HANDS I COMMIT MY SPIRIT.” And having said this, He breathed His last.

Oh loved ones. Let us purify ourselves as He is pure. Let us purge ourselves of all unrighteousness. By God’s grace reigning in our lives, ruling over our conflicts through forgiveness, let us as generously grant grace after having received an abundance ourselves. Yes we must receive grace and now we know why it is far better to give than receive.

Remember Jesus granted grace, and departed successfully.

“If we remain in His grip, how far from His heart can we be!”

In the guardianship of Christ,

Michael

    Exit Strategy

   We initiate the return of Christ!  (The E-book)

Barnes and Noble, Amazon Kindle, Kobo, many others and around the world. $6.99

“Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD is one!”

Pure as He is pure? Is that possible? It is not only possible, it is expected!

We are to be like Him. “Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is. ³And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure. (1 John 3: 2-3)

So how do we purify ourselves when we are already pure? Are we?

“Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who has loved us and given us eternal comfort and good hope by grace, ¹⁷  comfort and strengthen your hearts in every good work and word. 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17 (NASB).

Did God and Jesus intend far more by introducing us to grace, grace as a concept versus just a gift, a priceless gift yes, never the less far more than a gift? This concept has a future intent, a “good hope” not yet achieved, according to 1 John3:2-3 above.

As God’s children, do we know of grace in terms of His experience, His use of grace, the example He set, the teachings, to adopt that grace which has drawn us to Him, that others might be drawn? “Well sure Michael, Jesus wants everybody to receive Him, to receive grace.”

What about this? Did grace enable His own departure and resurrection, proving how critical it is to us also? Remember, all of His examples of grace were of grace granted not received. That is, except for one instance, where I believe it is now clear that He received grace.

Paul said, “We are saved by grace through faith…” (Eph 2:8 NASB) Do we see the duality of grace, the grace that saves us?

We are first initially “saved” by receiving grace through believing in Jesus as our personal Savior, there after we maintain that purified, cleansed, and righteous, relationship to God as if we implement what we have learned about grace from our Lord Jesus, and He showed us primarily how to grant it!

What we now call “getting saved,” undoubtedly because Paul referred to it in that term, Paul more specifically calls it getting “reconciled” back to God in his letter to the Roman church. This verse reflects the duel use of grace.

“For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.” Romans 5:10 (NASB)

Paul declares a two stage relationship to God, the initial (gift) of reconciliation and then the lifetime responsibility, under the Lordship of Jesus, to purify ourselves via the help of the Holy Spirit who brings to remembrance the Words of Jesus, and by them helps us become pure as we obediently keep our eyes, hearts and actions focused on Jesus and what He taught us; resulting in salvation, according to Paul. We remain pure which we must pursue all of our renewed lives.

“Pure as He is pure?” Yes! Why put a requirement out of our reach? Stop looking at your weaknesses and grasp His strength! He has given us everything pertaining to life and Godliness! (2 Peter 1:3 NASB)

Paul also wrote in his letter to Titus, “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, [first] by the washing of regeneration, and [second] renewing of the Holy Ghost….” Titus 3:5 (KJV) [ ] added for clarity.

Phase 1, Strongs 3824 NT “Regeneration”: palingenesia, from <G3825> (palin) and <G1078> (genesis); (spiritual) rebirth (the state or the act), i.e. (figurative) spiritual renovation; specially Messianic restoration : regeneration. Webster’s renovate: to make as good as new. This is a rebirth, as new babes, sinless, cleansed, washed by the blood, purified if you will, given a new chance live our remaining lives righteously by grace.

How do we? We are still in these bodies, we have the same memories, we have carnal attitudes? We are new yet we must become new? Yes. Made pure we must remain pure by purifying ourselves daily from the muck and mire of this life. We are the restored 1967 GTO that must be maintained diligently. How do we do that, to be pure as He is pure?

Phase 2, “…renewing of the Holy Ghost ” This next stage in Titus 3:5 is different and takes place after being reborn. It is a process of making new that is an equipping of the new born, fitting him with different understanding. Why the two stages? Because we still have our flesh and our world yet to resist. We are new but our flesh does not know that!

What was once our impaired judgment becomes repaired, via new understanding provided by Jesus. The revelation of the enduring love of the kingdom is in the light of Christ’s Ways, His Truth and Light; by Jesus’ life as Paul was quoted earlier.

This phase is the saving, the purifying process, the renewing that follows and is expected after reconciliation, it is critical dare I say mandatory preparation for actual salvation. If my love can gracefully endure this world and its predicted onslaught then I win against lawlessness, I shall be saved according to Jesus. This gate is narrow. It takes preparation to pass thru.

The Holy Spirit is our guide, leading us into all truth.  So,…we first have a born again experience, then we have an educational relationship that equips us with everything pertaining to life and Godliness. This process will purify us if we adopt it in obedience to Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Yes we too will learn obedience by the things we suffer, but so did Jesus. This is not optional. Heaven and the Peaceful kingdom is inhabited by the obedient. The danger to us is, we have a will and that is what is being tested. This test has nothing to do with whether God loves us or not. HE DOES. Do we love Him? Do we fear Him?

“No, no testing…Christ died for me!” So, no race to run, no working out your salvation with fear and trembling? Yes my friend He did die for you. He died so you could have a second life/chance here, a better life, a purified life obtained by the abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness; a tested life, a life that will be admissible into heaven, your next life.

You are not in heaven yet are you? Neither am I. He died for us so we could live for Him. He has made us able to do that by the renewing that we must embrace and grip as though our life depended on it. Which it does. Even His did!

Why such a grip? His return is closer than ever before. Look at the news. Shadow governments? Isn’t this a threat to the constitution! That was called treason at one time. Is a former president behind this threat by pre-planned emplacements and rule changes within the bureaucracy in the last days of his presidency? Is that treasonous? Yes it is. Those within the bureaucracy who help in this betrayal are traitors to the constitution and have violated their oaths of allegiance and secrecy. Why would they do that? Our constitution is to be cast aside by these progressive globalists. We saw evidence of that in decisions and actions so profound that we voted the bums out. The oath to protect the constitution is never abated. We hear of people attempting to unseat a fairly elected President, and that even has gained a name, a “soft” coup d’ etat? Our religious freedom is next. “Darkness is coming when no man can work.” John 9:4 NASB

Are we seeing the times we are in? How do these things and the news make you feel, a little hatred going on there maybe? Wouldn’t blame you at all but you might as well have let the devil shoot you in the head. Anger, bitterness and hatred are his weapons. You are dead already until you repent and intercede for the souls of your enemies from your heart. You protect yourself by doing so, just as Jesus did.

Is it hopeless? Maybe, if this world’s restoration is our goal. On the other hand if heaven is our goal…? If we are in the beginning of a reprieve we had better make it count! Souls are filled with hatred and death. Some of them are us.

Remember the crucifixion of Christ helped Him accomplish His departure! Luke 9:31, ACCOMPLISH? Yes!

General Patton told the Airborne troops before D-Day, “Forget about home, consider yourselves dead already…”

As we see the darkness closing in, we again are on the verge of one of the greatest battles in history. A battle fought by grace and love to spare as many as possible from a death force God Himself will unleash upon the stumbling blocks within mankind’s number. (Matthew 13:41, 18:7)

We are responsible to wash ourselves so our identity is seen and our deliverance is sure whenever it takes place.

Do I have a blessed hope? Yes I do. Do I hope for that which I possess? No I hope for that which I expect in faith as I “pursue peace with all men and the sanctification, without which NO ONE will see the Lord.” (Hebrews 12:14-15 NASB) By this I purify myself as He is pure.

“That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” Titus 3:7 (KJV) We “should be made heirs” but will we be? Grace is God’s by-directional, two sided coin of the realm that justifies us.

Now reconciled to God, I am justified in life because of the grace I grant! As I grant grace, God is faithful to grant me more grace. As I forgive, He forgives me. That is the concept, the Good News. You simply have to obey the rule. You get what you give, from God. He has entrusted grace to His children, to purify His children and hopefully others.

We receive grace as a debtor, we grant it as a favored child of the King.

Speaking of purified, was Jesus ever not pure?  BLASPHEMY!!! Really? Don’t be so sure! It is actually GLORIOUS! He does show us the Way to be pure doesn’t He? How better to show us than from His greatest moment of weakness.  Experience is a hard teacher for Him as well as those who seek to follow Him.

I love the Lord and He loves me. By His mercy and grace I will praise Him forever.

See  “Pure as He is pure? Is that possible?” Part 2

“If we remain in His grip, how far from His heart can we be!”

In the guardianship of Christ,

Michael

    Exit Strategy

   We initiate the return of Christ!  (The E-book)

Barnes and Noble, Amazon Kindle, Kobo, many others and around the world. $6.99

“Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD is one!”

So, government is the hand of God?

“Love does no wrong to his neighbor.” (Romans 10:13 NASB) If wrong is defined by both the victim and the perpetrator then wrong is subjective not objective. It is skewed, slanted, biased and therefore not defined at all because objectivity is the goal so both parties are subject to it and therefore “fair” being unbiased or prejudiced. This is one reason why government is the hand of God.

Definitions of wrong and right were meant to be standardized to resolve conflict. God gave Moses those definitions. Later on, because man had confused some of those instructions, through Jesus of Nazareth, God gave clarification to help mankind get back on track. One may not believe in God but the objectivity of the rules He has made known to us certainly reveal His entity and identity.

Mankind seldom is objective on his own. We had a need for help because our judgment was impaired. God knew from Adam and Eve that our judgment needed to be repaired. So, again He spoke through a man and then through men, and then through an uncountable number of people. Today in your hearing, He is speaking again.

So, again how can we know “Government is the hand of God?”

I have heard it said on TV and not just FOX that the enemy has a theocratic government and the religion of this theocracy believes an unyielding unbeliever must die. There is an implied opposition to a theocracy also. Yet for the most part, as a nation, we embrace the phrase, “In God we trust.”

So who is defining wrong today? Our enemies are for sure. Are we as a nation or have those definitions become subjective? There is a world wide fight over those definitions. It is not for territory. It is over definitions of wrong. Subjective definitions embolden one party against another.

To fight the fight we must fight, as a nation, we must now re-declare, from the top, an allegiance to the God that we as a nation recognize. The pilgrims knew Him. Our Founding Fathers knew Him. We however previously elected a man who does not know Him. He and Leaders before him had agendas that excluded God or included Him only as a mask of acceptability.

The last administration, renounced God as our nations one and only God. “We are not a Christian nation, … not just. We are Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist, ….” (Barack Obama) Each of those religions have there own definitions of wrong! That puts our nation in submission to a subjective, skewed, or biased, a prejudiced set of definitions. This opens America up to criticism and makes us a target of those who are more zealous of their definitions (of wrong) which foment aggressive acts endorsed by other aspects of their belief system. Man is fighting one wrong over another, claiming divine authority. America has renounced divine authority in separating God from State.

Fighting fire with fire, we must now take or more correctly re-take a Theocratic position also. This is the only stance our enemies understand. It is their language, so to speak. Don’t we know from history that their god has been defeated over the centuries by our God? They know that, but we have forsaken our God, proving to them that their “wrongs” are right. As relatives of Esau this is their unavoidable quandary.

“In God we trust.” Now that is a Theocratic stance. Our conflict is religious at heart, within and without. I suppose they feel they will be run over by us, “the great Satan,” so they, the militants, are taking the offensive.

The other (non-militant) Muslim’s can afford to wait and see how it all shakes down, they win either way. Their religion hates our nation’s immorality. They should. God does also. Yes, our God. “Well, many in America do not believe in God and want to choose their own way.”  So, THEY are to set the course of our nation??? Are we doomed or what?

WAKE UP FOLKS, they already have!!! “Well yeah Mike but we just defeated the unbelievers.”  Did we now?

Let’s get down to it as we are “flash banged” by the evening news.

The election of Donald Trump was a reprieve from a more immediate destruction. We seem to be waking up as a nation, or are we?

The government might return to its proper stance “under God” if the government and churches as real followers of Jesus of Nazareth will stand firm in the renewing process we so desperately need. We can not just walk this out. We need to run like crazy toward our forsaken homestead and the Father that is waiting. We are a prodigal nation!

Think of this. Government is a minister of God for good. That is a quote! “… for it [government] is a minister of God to you for good. (Romans 13:4A NASB) [added for clarity]

“… for conscience sake…” (Romans 13:5) Therefore it is necessary to be in subjection for conscience’ sake. Wrath is also a concern. (Romans 13:4B)

A ministry of God? Be in subjection to it? For conscience sake or else wrath is coming? Sounds like we better have the right government if we are to obey it and God! It better be a righteous government, otherwise we mourn!

“But Mike, there have been terrible governments in the world, horrific leaders that took people into hell via death and carnage; including ours!”  Oh Yes. If they could be led astray they were. If they could be victimized, they were. If retribution was their plight, God ordained it, even if God used them as enemies to trouble, to herd His children back to Him. Those straying nations were personified by the governments they chose, until it was too late. Judgment came. The Hebrews experienced this also.

After a heated discussion recently I conclude that the legislation of moral principles is an extension of God’s already established principles. Authority (government) has an obligation to serve the One who grants that authority. It is not man voting who grants it. Voting simply reveals the heart of a man or his nation. God goes from there according to our choice.

“Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God.” (Romans 13:1 NASB)

Will God allow us to choose the unrighteous to lead us? Yes He will and He will use that government to trouble us back to a righteous choice.

Now get this. God just declared Mr. Trump as the right choice. It took trouble for us to do it but He did so with the election of President Trump, his policies and the RNC platform. It is pro God, pro-life, anti-threats, anti-globalism, (which would kill millions or billions if given the chance), pro-nationalism, (again an anti-globalist position), pro-America and it keeps going.

This is why the Word says, “When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn.” Proverbs 29:2 (KJV) Rejoice why, because righteousness is good. In a righteous atmosphere all will be treated according to their own choices, choices governed or potentially influenced by the rules established by the government; as well as religious establishments.

There can never be any successful separation of God and state! By the righteous governance our nation can be looked upon with favor by God, by following His rules. Other religions can be here but One must be declared allegiance to as a nation for wrongs to be uniformly understood.

Paul writes, ^“for it [government] is a minister of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it [government] does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil.” (Romans 13:4 (NASB) Yes folks, that is government according to Paul.

So what about government? “Thou shall not kill (murder)!” (Exodus 20:13 ASV) Any government or person that kills unrighteously is an enemy of God. If government supports unrighteous policy like abortion, it is an enemy of God, as is the nation that elected it. If it supports or promotes a life-style that God speaks against, it is an enemy of God, by encouraging a separation from Godly ways, by redefining “wrong.” If man and his ungodly wishes move the hand of government instead of God, that government is an enemy of God, as well as that nation and its majority. The enemy of God is unrighteousness in whatever form it takes. God defines unrighteousness by defining righteousness! God provides grace to the repentant, be it a person or a nation!

Seeking righteousness, insisting on righteousness, willing righteousness into our government as well as our own heart is the only way to have God as our ally. This is why I posted “Eve of Destruction 1 & 2.” There is no lasting future for America if we do not will righteousness back into our system of government. Without it we are an enemy nation of God, a prodigal, dead to his father. We can however come to our senses and run, not walk, home!

Without an obvious pursuit of righteousness our enemy thinks they are serving God by destroying us. Jesus said, “They will make you outcasts from the synagogue, but an hour is coming for everyone who kills you to think that he is offering service to God. These things they will do because they have not known the Father or Me. But these things I have spoken to you, so that when their hour comes, you may remember that I told you of them. These things I did not say to you at the beginning, because I was with you.” (John 16:2-4 (NASB)

This conflict has always been. It is between Jacob’s and Esau’s. Only the righteousness of God wins. This is a religious conflict between two beliefs and it distracts from another darker agenda that is meant to doom both our religion and our individual countries. This agenda will attempt to eliminate the “conflict of the ages” by bring all religions into a one world religion. While we weaken ourselves in conflict and societal turmoil this other foe named “Globalism” watches, hoping we will destroy each other. Yes and we may if we do not heed the warning and the reprieve we have been granted.

Of all the times for Russia and America to be better friends, it is NOW. In spite of the past leadership of either country, at heart, we are both Christian nations. The days of total atheism are gone in Russia. Believers are everywhere. Like in America, some believers are not very strong but then many are. Israel also is more Christian than we know and even if it were not so, God says to watch out over her in His name anyway.

The men in power right now, if they truly believe the scriptures, will dance around but will not attack or forsake Israel. Our countries need each other to stand against globalism. Each government is the hand of God in service in each of their nations. Be it for good or for evil is up to them. God will win either way. The fear of one nation of another can be assuaged via God.

Americans look at President Trump, some with unwarranted or even fabricated outrage and many others with a new hope. In this I think about a lowly donkey and how precious that donkey was to Balaam, after he saved Balaam’s life. Read Numbers 22: 22-35. What a great story. Our nation has been hell bent for destruction. Maybe you will see the honoring similarity.

As a patriot, President Trump is trying to save us as he tries to save America. Are some of us so blind that like Balaam we do not see it? Are we beating the donkey that is trying to protect us? Yes in fact some are.

If God is for Mr. Trump, who can be against him? How many years has it been since a politician has lifted up God as our protector? Surely government IS meant to be the ministry of God for our good, scripture says so. We must choose righteousness for that to happen pleasantly. We must support righteous biblical standards which must be legislated by government as a reflection of a people that see God as a guard rail between our nation and the chasm of unrighteous destruction. God’s definitions of right and wrong benefit all who embrace them. There is no successful government without God, no successful nation without a Godly government.

“If we remain in His grip, how far from His heart can we be!”

In the guardianship of Christ,

Michael

    Exit Strategy

   We initiate the return of Christ!  (The E-book)

Barnes and Noble, Amazon Kindle, Kobo, many others and around the world. $6.99

“Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD is one!”

“Stop catching the ball!” I said to Janis

Rejection is a powerful force. In the counseling business we say “Rejection rejects” as an explanation to an ongoing cycle of un-reconciled relationships. Somewhere along the line one person or the other in the relationship must stop rejecting or receiving rejection. This person effectively breaks up the play (of the enemy spirit) because they, “Stop catching the ball!” as we also say.

Foe many years my wife dealt with rejection from her dad. He was a good man with a poor habit of joking or criticizing at the expense of others. Janis would come home from visiting him in tears or feeling rejection. She loved her dad and prayed for him but this hurt occurred every time she would visit him, and frequently because her mom and dad lived near by.

“Stop catching the ball Janis.” “Break up the play.” “Down over.” You can end this if you want to and by forgiving at the same time you protect yourself and maybe your dad also. The analogy worked. She understood.

The next time she saw him, her response to his provocation was “Oh daddy…I love you.”

Low and behold, in a short time, the jokes and ridicule stopped! Something her dad had done for years stopped. Game over!

A friend in church who knew Janis’ dad suggested she write a “love letter” to her dad. “I don’t know what I would say!” was her response. “Think of something good you remember him doing and thank him for it.” Janis pondered this for some time but took it to heart. “The beach!” was the answer to her heartfelt search. Her dad took the family to the beach now and then. He was a dairy farmer so time off was rare. Then she also remembered him taking her with him to others farms. He would buy her an ice cream. This was it! Not just one thing but two! She wrote her letter of appreciation and love.

“Let’s have lunch! Your mom does not like Chinese but I do will you have lunch with me?” “What will I talk about?” she asked me with great apprehension. “Whatever he is interested in!” was the answer that came to her mind. She went and had a great lunch experience with him. Oh how happy she was.

Howard began to change. A loving and gentle spirit came over him. I saw this happen myself and how beautiful their relationship became.

I too benefited from “Pop” changing. One year I received a pair of socks from Pop for Christmas. OK I hear you saying, Oh great… a pair of socks. I bet you knew what they were before you unwrapped them!” Well yes I did in fact. However, they were the best and greatest gift that I had ever received. “What?” you say? Oh yes no doubt about it. “How so?”

Attached to the flimsy wrapped package was a tag addressed to me. It said and I quote, “A father can only hope his son-in-law will fully appreciate, treasure and keep his daughter as happy as possible in their life together!  Thanks Michael, Pop W.”

Do I have to tell you what this meant to me? Thank You Lord!

We cannot know the effects our obedience can cause until we obey! We cannot know the power of God’s instructions until we obey them. We cannot rise above our troubles until we look down upon them from His point of view.  Ephesians 2:6 says we have been raised up with Christ “and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.” We can see as Christ sees, if we choose to.

In moving I lost the scrap of paper Pop’s note was written on. I searched and searched. I was grieved at losing the evidence and most precious treasure and compliment Howard ever paid me.

Pop died a few years later, as did Janis’ mom a few years after that. As it turned out, my precious and beloved Janis also passed away.  I had to go through “millions” of pieces of paper and files unending that belonged to mom and pop, before I could dispose of them.

I found a shirt box with memorabilia from pop’s funeral. I again leafed through each paper inside the box. Then I found it! I could not believe it! I read it and sure enough there it was! Mom Wilson had saved it!! I had found the original scrap of paper, Pop’s original draft of the note I had lost!!!! It even had lines around it so Pop would know the size he had to fit the text into! Thank you God, thank You, thank You, thank You!  I jumped up and down I was so excited! A million pieces of paper in a half a million files and I found THIS one piece of paper?  My God is faithful. In my loss…I found precious encouragement…a reminder of a relationship and the heart of a changed man.

We choose what we keep in our hearts.

“If we remain in His grip, how far from His heart can we be!”

In the guardianship of Christ,

Michael

    Exit Strategy

   We initiate the return of Christ!  (The E-book)

Barnes and Noble, Amazon Kindle, Kobo, many others and around the world. $6.99