Month: July 2012

Why do bad things happen to good people, and good things happen to bad people? (Part 3)

On By muchlovepastorharrisIn Uncategorized4 Comments

PART 3

Death is one less breath away…

Now, here are some answers to the first part of your question of: ‘Why do bad things happen to good people?’

Some times, God’s people do not believe in God to be their God. They don’t believe that God is greater than their circumstance. This attitude allows the enemy to TAKE advantage of them by taking their stuff and their lives. Some of God’s people truly do not believe that God can or will deliver them. They believe that God is unable or not willing to be their God or deliver them. They have more faith in their fear or the bad than the goodness of the Lord. Look at the following verse below:

2 Corinthians 4:4 King James Version (KJV)

In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

I prefer how the Amplified Bible says it:

 

2 Corinthians 4:4 (AMP)

For the god of this world has blinded the unbelievers’ minds [that they should not discern the truth], preventing them from seeing the illuminating light of the Gospel of the glory of Christ (the Messiah), Who is the Image and Likeness of God.

What is being blinded? Their minds not their eyes. What is their minds being blinded by? Their mind’s are being blinded by unbelief. In the Greek the transliterated word for blinded has a root word that means pride. So, the persons pride (pride being that they can handle it, going to someone else for help or God is not able to help, etc) which is the person’s unbelief blinds them from seeing God as their deliver.

You are made in the image of God, just like Jesus is, in the above verse. Jesus is the Word made flesh. So we reply and deal with life as God the Father and His Son Jesus would with the help of the Holy Spirit. Whenever God wanted to change something He spoke the Word (Jesus is the spoken Word John 1:1) and the Holy Spirit manifested the Word. This shows how God is a speaking spirit just like you are. Remember, in Genesis 1:26, that we are made in the image of God; it reads:

 

Genesis 1:26 Amplified Bible (AMP)

God said, Let Us [Father, Son, and Holy Spirit] make mankind in Our image, after Our likeness, and let them have complete authority over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, the [tame] beasts, and over all of the earth, and over everything that creeps upon the earth.

 

Since we are made in the image of God, that makes us speaking spirits just like God. Remember,  when God spoke, the universe was created. He speaks, and then ‘it is!’ It follows than that when we speak the Word (Jesus) the Holy Spirit will Manifest it. Look at the verse below.

 

Genesis 1:3 King James Version (KJV) And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.

 

God kept on ‘saying’ (audible speech) what he wanted throughout Genesis 1 and on until Jesus said it was finished:

 

John 19:30 Amplified Bible (AMP) When Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, It is finished! And He bowed His head and gave up His spirit.

 

Than Jesus rose again so you could start living out the beginning (Genesis 1:26.) and His resurrected life with the help of His Word and the Power of the Holy Ghost to manifest the Word. And that living Word happens to be Jesus himself inside of you!

 

John 1:1 Amplified Bible (AMP) In the beginning [before all time] was the Word (Christ), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God Himself.

And…

John 1:12 Amplified Bible (AMP) But to as many as did receive and welcome Him, He gave the authority (power, privilege, right) to become the children of God, that is, to those who believe in (adhere to, trust in, and rely on) His name—

 

Another reason bad things are happening is because God’s people, who are speaking spirits just like God, are speaking the wrong things. They are speaking things contrary to God’s Word and contrary to what God said they could have. The new life that Jesus won for them through His death burial and resurrection. Look at Mark 11:19-31, I’m only putting down verse 23 but you should take the time to read it all.

 

Mark 11:23 King James Version (KJV) For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.

 

People are believing what they are saying and they are saying bad things because they are believing bad things. It is a vicious cycle of thoughts and reactionary speaking of what they already have and fear. You can only speak what you believe. So, if you believe bad that is what you get.

 

2 Corinthians 4:13 King James Version (KJV) We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak;

 

 

The last part of your question is this: ‘…and good things happen to bad people?’

The answer to this part of the question is that Jesus died for everybody. So, He isn’t mad at any one person, whether we classify them as good or bad. Jesus doesn’t  only extend his offer of salvation to just ‘good people’ or ‘bad people’, but to everyone. He does not disapprove of any person, just a person’s repeated unrighteous behavior that was forced upon them through being born into a world that is controlled bey darkness (satan).

 

Colossians 1:20-22 Amplified Bible (AMP)  And God purposed that through (by the service, the intervention of) Him [the Son] all things should be completely reconciled back to Himself, whether on earth or in heaven, as through Him, [the Father] made peace by means of the blood of His cross.

21 And although you at one time were estranged and alienated from Him and were of hostile attitude of mind in your wicked activities, 22 Yet now has [Christ, the Messiah] reconciled [you to God] in the body of His flesh through death, in order to present you holy and faultless and irreproachable in His [the Father’s] presence.

TO BE CONTINUED

GOD IS LOVE, LOVE CONQUERS ALL…
Much love,
Pastor Harris

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Why do bad things happen to good people, and good things happen to bad people? (Part 2)

On By muchlovepastorharrisIn Uncategorized2 Comments
This could happen to me or you…

This is Part two in our quest to understand ‘What’s going on’ when bad things happen to apparently good people and vice versa when good seems to happen to bad people.

Q: Why do bad things happen to good people, and good things happen to bad people?

God is not in control of the bad… you (and all of mankind) are in control of the bad through the choices that we make in life. God is in control of the good! We participate in the good when we on purpose chose it. God destroyed the bad and here is why:

 

1 John 3:8 Amplified Bible (AMP)

[But] he who commits sin [who practices evildoing] is of the devil [takes his character from the evil one], for the devil has sinned (violated the divine law) from the beginning. The reason the Son of God was made manifest (visible) was to undo (destroy, loosen, and dissolve) the works the devil [has done].

 

You see, according to Psalm 115:16 God gave people the earth.

 

Psalm 115:16 King James Version (KJV)

The heaven, even the heavens, are the Lord’s: but the earth hath he given to the children of men.

 

God made Adam in His image and He told him to take dominion of the earth, instead Adam gave the earth to satan in this following verse.

 

Genesis 1:26-28 The Message (MSG) 1:26-28

God spoke: “Let us make human beings in our image, make them reflecting our nature So they can be responsible for the fish in the sea,

the birds in the air, the cattle, And, yes, Earth itself, and every animal that moves on the face of Earth.” God created human beings;

he created them godlike, Reflecting God’s nature. He created them male and female. God blessed them: “Prosper! Reproduce! Fill Earth!

Take charge! Be responsible for fish in the sea and birds in the air, for every living thing that moves on the face of Earth.”

 

Through Adam ‘the bad’ was released into this realm where we exist now. Jesus came to restore things back to their rightful order. Look at the following verse that shows how God accomplished His plan borne out of Divine Love:

 

Romans 5:17 Amplified Bible (AMP)

For if because of one man’s trespass (lapse, offense) death reigned through that one, much more surely will those who receive [God’s] overflowing grace (unmerited favor) and the free gift of righteousness [putting them into right standing with Himself] reign as kings in life through the one Man Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One).

 

Jesus revealed to us His ‘Mission Statement’ in Luke 19:10, which He completed through His death burial and resurrection wherein He implemented His plan for us. This verse below clearly tells us God’s intention for His creation. His plans are all inclusive of what He originally created to be fully restored back to it’s original state.

 

Luke 19:10 Amplified Bible (AMP)

For the Son of Man came to seek and to save that which was lost.

 

But, what was lost? Everything was lost, the good, the people, the people’s stuff and their dominion. It was lost with the fall of Man, when Adam disobeyed God and in turn lost everything to Satan. Jesus said that it is Satan who does the ‘bad’ and Jesus came to give us the back the ‘good.’

 

John 10:10 Amplified Bible (AMP) 

The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows).

 

It is this resurrected life through Jesus Christ that we live out His life on the earth today. We do this by standing in agreement with the word that Jesus spoke and is… Jesus is the Word of God made flesh. This is what has granted us the victory. You can’t have a victory without a test, a trial, or tribulation. Remember He (Jesus) won it and you stand for it in His stead.

Now, here is the answer to your question: ‘Why do bad things happen to good people?’

One of the reasons is that God’s people don’t read their bibles and they are clueless about what Jesus died for. They are clueless about what was won back for them and what now (again) belongs to them. They are clueless about their authority and how to operate and live in it. In the following verse from the Message Bible you will clearly see why:

 

Matthew 5:38-47, The Message (MSG) Love Your Enemies

“Here’s another old saying that deserves a second look: ‘Eye for eye, tooth for tooth.’ Is that going to get us anywhere? Here’s what I propose: ‘Don’t hit back at all.’ If someone strikes you, stand there and take it. If someone drags you into court and sues for the shirt off your back, giftwrap your best coat and make a present of it. And if someone takes unfair advantage of you, use the occasion to practice the servant life. No more tit-for-tat stuff. Live generously. 43-47“You’re familiar with the old written law, ‘Love your friend,’ and its unwritten companion, ‘Hate your enemy.’ I’m challenging that. I’m telling you to love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer, for then you are working out of your true selves, your God-created selves. This is what God does. He gives his best—the sun to warm and the rain to nourish—to everyone, regardless: the good and bad, the nice and nasty. If all you do is love the lovable, do you expect a bonus? Anybody can do that. If you simply say hello to those who greet you, do you expect a medal? Any run-of-the-mill sinner does that.

TO BE CONTINUED

GOD IS LOVE, LOVE CONQUERS ALL…
Much love,
Pastor Harris

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Why do bad things happen to good people, and good things happen to bad people? (Part 1)

On By muchlovepastorharrisIn Uncategorized7 Comments
Are You Wearing a Mask? Does Your Face Show What Your Heart Feels?

This blog is dedicated to the person that posted on his page the question entitled, ‘Why do bad things happen to good people, and good things happen to bad people?’

People have more places these days to look for answers in their lives. One of these places being the internet; in particular Facebook. Well, as many of you do, I always seem to be looking at it while I’m in a rush. I happen to see the question above as a post that I rushed by in hesitate. I said a brief prayer and kept moving but the question stuck with me because I had asked God the same question 6yrs earlier. It was in regards to me being forced to divorce my husband.

You might ask how are you forced to divorce? Well, I was brought up in a Christian home and divorce was … never an answer or option to problems in a marriage. So, I probably stayed longer than I should have out of a moral dilemma of being a Christian, a role model, and the right that my children had to having a whole family. This weighted heavily on my mind and spirit. I always stood in a position of forgive and forget; and love covers a multitude of sins. It was my Christian duty; I owed it to my children… I owed it to myself to make sure I was doing the right thing.

So, I prayed, fasted and sought counsel and refused to give up on the marriage. The counselor advised me to divorce him, but that wasn’t in my plan. It had to work I was a Godly woman! I was good on purpose. But would I be Godly enough to do what God had instructed me to do? Well, God answered me with a question, ‘Gena, do you love him enough to leave him?’ This is not what I wanted to hear; I wanted God to fix it. I had heard and read in the bible how God hated divorce. I went to my husband and asked him what part did I play in his behavior? Maybe thinking altruistically that if I took the blame than I could repent and God would heal my marriage. My husband who I had dearly loved answered, ‘Oh, you did nothing to provoke my behavior.’ That’s not what I wanted to hear. That answer could not fix the problem. I pressed in harder, ‘surly there was something I did to cause you to treat me and our family in this manner. He replied; ‘No… No you did nothing wrong, you.. you were a good wife.’ That did not compute! I told him that it didn’t make sense, ‘you don’t treat good people like this!’ He replied that’s who I am. I was crushed. Why, didn’t I see this coming? I could not fix this it was beyond me. I asked why didn’t you tell me this before I married you; his reply was I wanted you too and you would not have married me. I told him, ‘I was not given a choice; I would never have choose this for myself or my family.’ Something I thought that had happen a few times was now the foundation of my marriage and family.’ Who was he? Who was I? What was our marriage? We were both Pastors in a church for 11years…

Now the answer from God of, ‘do you love him enough to leave him’ resounded in my ears as well as 30years of marriage and our family that meant nothing to him. My husband salvation weighed in the balance… I could not understand, so I went back to God with the above question, His answer for help and understanding. God told me that He had to honor my prayers every time my husband failed. My prayers became a net that prevented him from falling to the ground and forcing him to lookup to God to change his life. God, said Gena you prayed for 30years and he is unchanged, it means it didn’t work. Give him to me now so that I can work on him. You can’t save him but I have and can save him. This is when I found out that God is a God to the good and the bad; Jesus died for him as well as me.

The answer to my Facebook friend on his page is this: You posted this a day or so ago. I did not respond, but I softly said a prayer because I thought I did not have time. I cam back to it because I felt convicted; suppose I was the only one who could answer, but I just walked away? I don’t know if you saw my response or not but, I wanted you to know that God cares and He does answer why. Here is what I posted in response to your question:

Q: Why do bad things happen to good people, and good things happen to bad people?

God is not in control of the bad…  TO BE CONTINUED……

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Using Drugs to Fix Your Life…Addicts and their Addictions

On By muchlovepastorharrisIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

Anonymous Person Before and After Drug Use
Addicts and their addictions; are they really bad people? In today’s varied society you have certainly encountered them…as family, friends, peers in school, coworkers, or leaders in some fashion (political, teachers, corporations, military, doctors, and Yes–priests, pastors, rabbi’s…etc).

What do all these people have in common?  They are people in pain trying to fix their lives with drugs. Pain makes people weak and vulnerable, so they hurt themselves and society. But what is their common denominator?

I was speaking with my daughters’ grandfather; a very strong opinionated man, somewhat angry, but different now. He’s eighty-six years young, going on eighty-seven years. He’s seen a lot of bad things happen that he (knowingly or unknowingly) allowed to mold him into who he was. I believed he had a vow that the bad in life would never break him. We all believe that to some degree… He was telling me and the girls through bouts of sobbing to find happiness somewhere. As he continued sobbing he said he believed that drug addicts were chasing some form of happiness because their lives had become too difficult to live. He reasoned that most bad people became bad by trying to find some sort of happiness in their lives.

This made me think. I was so saddened by the comment that he had made…the cost of happiness was equated to the destruction of a life. You don’t have to kill yourself to feel good. Satan offers you self medication as a quick temporary fix that leads to physical death. Eventually you have to come down from the high and the problem has now become compounded with the addition of drug use. So, now the drug use cannot keep up with the exponential increase of problems arising from the drug use itself. You dig yourself in a hole… a grave! That’s what it boils down to.

Yes, we know that drugs are addictive, but drug users are also addicted to and are chasing a feeling. It is an artificial feeling, a dream that they can never reach or hold on to. It’s false hope, because they did not have real hope which is from God . We are all creatures of choice. Drug users made a choice, (default is a choice made when you refuse to choose) or someone neglected to share the love of God with them. God, who could heal their pain (broken hearts from living life) and give them rewarding hope, was never shared with them. Pain that came from abuse, neglect, disrespect, hatred, rejection and loss overwhelmed them. All these things have to do with the mind, which is in the soul of man. Hope is what anchors a man’s soul. That’s why satan uses the mind of man as his play ground. God is a God of all Hope.

Romans 15:13 New King James Version (NKJV)

Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Jesus died and was resurrected to make sure that you would not feel the pain that leads you to search for false hope. He took your pain upon Himself so that you could be pain-free through divine exchange. He took your crappy life so that you could live His Divine Peaceful Life. Look at the verse below:

Isaiah 53:4 Amplified Bible (AMP)

Surely He has borne our griefs (sicknesses, weaknesses, and distresses) and carried our sorrows and pains [of punishment], yet we [ignorantly] considered Him stricken, smitten, and afflicted by God [as if with leprosy].
Emotional health is obtained through God, period. Why? God is the creator that formulated the soul like a chemist. He as the creator took the dust,–a compound of elements, and breathed Himself as Spirit into the dust. The reaction or result of this created a living soul… You!

Genesis 2:7 Amplified Bible (AMP)

 Then the Lord God formed man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath or spirit of life, and man became a living being.
Since God is the creator He has a remedy for the mind, it is a divine remedy.  This remedy is Jesus!

1 Corinthians 2:16 Amplified Bible (AMP)

For who has known or understood the mind (the counsels and purposes) of the Lord so as to guide and instruct Him and give Him knowledge? But we have the mind of Christ (the Messiah) and do hold the thoughts (feelings and purposes) of His heart.
This is why Jesus was manifested as the Word becoming flesh and dwelling among men. Look at the following passages.

1 John 3:8 Amplified Bible (AMP)

 [But] he who commits sin [who practices evildoing] is of the devil [takes his character from the evil one], for the devil has sinned (violated the divine law) from the beginning. The reason the Son of God was made manifest (visible) was to undo (destroy, loosen, and dissolve) the works the devil [has done].

John 1:14 Amplified Bible (AMP)

And the Word (Christ) became flesh (human, incarnate) and tabernacled (fixed His tent of flesh, lived awhile) among us; and we [actually] saw His glory (His honor, His majesty), such glory as an only begotten son receives from his father, full of grace (favor, loving-kindness) and truth.
Below is a testimony from a woman who satan had fooled, and she subsequently began to use drugs. I was so honored and blessed to read her testimony and I know you will be too. Nancy Green, you are a true testimony to the fact that indeed, Jesus lives!!! In her own words the following is Nancy Green’s testimony.
NANCY GREENS PERSONAL TESTIMONY OF GOD’S LOVE

Good Morning Friends and Family. I was just thinking about how tough it was to at first to stay clean and sober…I know that there are a lot of people dealing with Alcohol , Pills,drugs, food whatever the addiction maybe…It’s not going to be easy if your trying to do it on your own ( Nothing is easy) I will say ” At first I didn’t think I could stay clean and sober and I was right! I got on my knees and I prayed like I had never prayed before, I actually prayed from my heart (my soul ) I asked God to help me. I knew I was up against something that I couldn’t defeat. (The Devil) And right at the Moment when I began to pray something came over me. I felt a warm feeling like I had never felt before. I knew then that God had never left me, I had left God. Every since I ASKED God for help and of course I surrendered my everything …I Ms. know it all, My I got this don’t need nobody, I had gave up on God! You gotta believe in something Greater than yourself… Self, is what got me (us) in this situation in the first place. I just want to let people who are struggling with whatever addiction (s) you have your not alone, God has always been with you. God has never left you! I have all the faith in the world that if you really want to get your life back God is there for you. Try God! So far you have tried everything else and nothing is working. Let God work everything out… Before anything in your life starts to change for the better you first have to ask God to come into your life and take over! Without God you are nothing! Have a Better day then you did yesterday. I love you and thanks for reading this and I hope it helped someone today!

GOD IS LOVE, LOVE CONQUERS ALL,

Much Love,
Pastor Harris
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Understanding the Name of God in Psalm 27:4 (Part 3)

On By muchlovepastorharrisIn Uncategorized4 Comments
God an ever present help!

Psalm 27:4

King James Version (KJV)

One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of theLord, and to enquire in his temple.

The last phrase in this verse; ‘in His Temple’ is a masculine noun (Transliterated word ‘heykal’) meaning a palace, temple, nave,or sanctuary that comes from the word yakol. It means or pertains to the sense of capacity of something in this case God’s capacity to prevail, overcome, endure, have power, or to be able. As well as these other meanings: to be able, be able to gain or accomplish, be able to endure, be able to reach. In reference to prevail it means to prevail over or against, overcome, or be victor. Lastly it means to have ability, or have strength.

This is such a beautiful verse (Psalm 27:4) because David is professing and prophesying what and where we should be in Christ Jesus right now. This is not a hope; this is a reality of choice. We can choose to be living this life inside Christ Jesus now when we chose Jesus as our Lord (Covenant talk) and Savior.

  

Romans 10:9

Amplified Bible (AMP)

Because if you acknowledge and confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and in your heart believe (adhere to, trust in, and rely on the truth) that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

 

Psalm 27:4 was fulfilled in us and for us in John 14:20 this scripture because we are His temple!

 

John 14:20

Amplified Bible (AMP)

At that time [when that day comes] you will know [for yourselves] that I am in My Father, and you [are] in Me, and I [am] in you.

 

How do we access Psalm 27:4? By receiving Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior (Romans 10:9-10.) You than make a decision to receive His Word just like you receive Him as first and for most in your life.

 

John 15:4

Amplified Bible (AMP)

Dwell in Me, and I will dwell in you. [Live in Me, and I will live in you.] Just as no branch can bear fruit of itself without abiding in (being vitally united to) the vine, neither can you bear fruit unless you abide in Me.

 

Whose fruit are you bearing? You are bearing the fruit of God! When you do this is what happens.

 

John 15:7

Amplified Bible (AMP)

 If you live in Me [abide vitally united to Me] and My words remain in you and continue to live in your hearts, ask whatever you will, and it shall be done for you.

 

What beauty will you be beholding like David?

 

John 16:13

Amplified Bible (AMP)

But when He, the Spirit of Truth (the Truth-giving Spirit) comes, He will guide you into all the Truth (the whole, full Truth). For He will not speak His own message [on His own authority]; but He will tell whatever He hears [from the Father; He will give the message that has been given to Him], and He will announce and declare to you the things that are to come [that will happen in the future].

 

That’s why it’s all good…

 

Romans 8:28

Amplified Bible (AMP)

We are assured and know that [God being a partner in their labor] all things work together and are [fitting into a plan] for good to and for those who love God and are called according to [His] design and purpose.

 

 

GOD IS LOVE, LOVE CONQUERS ALL…
Much love,
Pastor Harris
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Understanding the Name of God in Psalm 27:4 (Part 2)

On By muchlovepastorharrisIn Uncategorized3 Comments
GOD IS ALWAYS REACHING OUT TO YOU…. NO MATTER WHAT!

The word Lord is the transliterated Hebrew Word Yĕhovah meaning: Jehovah = “the existing One” It is unpronounced because God is holy and they would write the vowels in another word.  [Strong’s Number H3068 matches the Hebrew יְהֹוָה (Yĕhovah), which occurs 6519 times in 5521 verses in the Hebrew concordance of the KJV]

Psalm 27:4

King James Version (KJV)

 One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to enquire in his temple.

Jehovah is a covenant Name of God, that’s why in some translations it is referred to as ‘Lord God.’ The covenants that God made with His people are establishing a relationship with them. You cannot know God outside of relationship. The relationship that I’m talking about is one of being in a covenant with Him.

In short, this verse Psalm 27:4 is fulfilled in the New Testament in John 15. I will explain that later.

In Psalm 27:14 this is David speaking (remember the throne was promised to him forever, that is why Jesus is his descendant.) In the Hebrew text David is prioritizing by using the word ‘one’ (Transliterated word ‘‘echad’). The word ‘thing’ has been added by translators and is not in the original text.

The next phrase ‘have I desired’ is a verb (Transliterated word ‘sha’al’) means to ask (as a favor), inquire for myself, beg, or to grant (give or lend on request [then] grant or make over to.)

The next phrase is ‘that will I seek after’ is a verb (Transliterated word ‘baqash’) meaning to seek to find, seek to get, seek to secure or to strive for. We see here how David’s actions were purposed. David’s part in the relationship is to pursue the object of his affection, which is his covenant God. (Remember David has been given the mandate to make a choice and to love:

Deuteronomy 30:19

King James Version (KJV)

19 I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:

 

Deuteronomy 6:5

King James Version (KJV)

5 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.

David loves because ‘you cannot get what you do not give’. David can give love because he is full of Love {Roman 5:5, 1 John 4:8}]

The next phrase is; ‘after; that I may dwell’ is a verb (Transliterated word ‘yashab’) which means to dwell, remain, sit, abide or to inhabit which I prefer. When we are inhabited with God, He is inhabiting us. This is the definition of baptism in the Greek: to be submerged into water while being filled with water at the same time.

The next phrase is ‘in the house’ can be used as an adjective or an adverb to describe the dwelling or habitation in this case to describe the dwelling or habitation of God (Transliterated word ‘bayith’). It comes from a root word that means: to build, rebuild, establish, cause to continue. Taking these meanings into context David is using this thought to describe or Lord’s abode.

The next phrase ‘all the days’ (Transliterated word ‘yowm’) means a day (as opposed to night). A day (24 hour period) as defined by evening and morning in Genesis 1, or as a division of time. In making it plural it refers to a lifetime.

The next phrase ‘of my life’ (Transliterated word ‘chay’) is an adjective means living or alive. This word describes David’s days.

The next phrase ‘to behold’ a verb (Transliterated word ‘yowm’) means to see, behold or to see as a seer in the ecstatic state.

The next phrase ‘the beauty’ a masculine noun (Transliterated word ‘no`am’) means kindness, pleasantness, delightfulness, beauty, or favour.

The next phrase ‘to enquire’ a verb (Transliterated word ‘baqar’) means to seek, enquire, or consider.

CONTINUED IN TOMORROW’S POST

GOD IS LOVE, LOVE CONQUERS ALL…
Much love,
Pastor Harris

Understanding the Name of God in Psalm 27:4 (PART 1)

On By muchlovepastorharrisIn Uncategorized5 Comments
GOD

The reason God gave the children of Israel so many names for Himself is because of the varied facets of God. God is so huge that one name cannot represent who He is. For example, a diamond has many facets to its face, and that would be enough, but each facet reflects another facet and then multiple facets, which is where you get the brilliance of the diamond. The brilliance can only be seen from a distance. A jeweler or gemologists will see the true nature of a diamond up close and personal with a special instrument. It reveals in great detail the many facets of the diamond. So, too, do the names of God. God revealed who He was through His many names so that His children would no longer see Him from a distance but know Him up close (as with a personal relationship.)

I was 4yrs old in Sunday school when I was told that we were made in the image of God. I was so overwhelmed with the thought that it occupied my mind constantly. My question to God at that time was how? how? how? I wanted to know! I had to know to understand God better and know God. This was indeed a tall order for me at four. I just could not get it out of my head, which meant I would not leave God alone. (I did not know at that time that God would not leave me alone either.)

I would wake up with that thought and go to bed with that thought and think it all day in between. Just like Peter asking Jesus the question in Matthew 14:28, And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. Jesus could not say no, just to save him from experiencing almost being drowned. Jesus had to respond with the positive… the word; ‘come.’ Matthew 14:29 And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. Jesus is the Word and that one Word He spoke sustained Peter . It sustained Peter even when he took his eyes off of Jesus and began to sink.

Well, God answered me with a thought that if I could see every person at the same time I could get a glimpse of Him. So, with my child like mind I refused to pass any person without addressing them and acknowledging them because I was encountering God. I did not have the vocabulary to explain this to my parents. I got in trouble for talking to strangers and my only defense was to reply, ‘I had too.’ If I threw in there that God told me to do that, then I was spanked for lying. But I didn’t care because I had my answer and I was seeing God through His creation in each face that I dared to seek out. My parents saw it as rebellion, but I saw it as a mandate to knowing and experiencing God even at that young age.

I’m a preacher, so it seems to take me a while to get to the point, but in reality, I’m leading you in a train of thinking that Jesus used to explain His Words or Himself. Many will be lost and won’t finish the entire post because they were not meant to hear.

The name, Elohim, the transliteration from the Hebrew is elohiym it’s a masculine noun that is plural for the Godhead. It is the main name of God used throughout Genesis 1 where it first appears. It is used here in Genesis 1 in reference to God being a creator. It is not used in Psalm 27:4 as the word for God.  In English we have one word for God. I believe that is because we are limited in our knowledge and experience of God. When they transcribed the bible from Hebrew they only had one word available, that word being ‘God.’

In the Hebrew language there is no difference between the Word and the real object or person that the word represents. That is why in one name for God the vowels were left out because God’s Name is so Holy, and writing it was no different from God himself being present in their presence and they respected that.

Now, I said all of that for this: Psalm 27:4: (Psalm 27 is my Mom’s favorite and it took me 23yrs for the full revelation of it. She sowed it into my life as a seed.) It is written in the King James Version as:

Psalm 27:4

King James Version (KJV)

4 One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to enquire in his temple.

 THIS POST WILL BE CONTINUE ON TOMORROW!

GOD IS LOVE, LOVE CONQUERS ALL…
Much love,
Pastor Harris

Stupid?

On By muchlovepastorharrisIn Uncategorized1 Comment

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 I understand that this word ‘stupid’ offends a lot of people. Yet, it’s something that we contend with on a daily basis. Let’s be real people, stupid exists! So stop ignoring it and let’s look at it. Either you are stupid (no offense) or you are dealing with stupid. Is stupid rude? When confronted with it I try my best to be polite and smile and nod as I ponder, ‘are they really that stupid or did I forget to tuck my ‘stupid tag’ nicely  back into my dress.’ Look! Stupid is an unwanted guest to my  intelligence, it weighs down my patients and tests my temperance.

Stupid is not practical. Am I stupid or are you really just  that stupid? Is there a test for stupid? I remember being told as a child, ‘stupid is as stupid does, so try not to be stupid.’ I’m like everyone else I have a lot of stupid friends, I might even be a ‘stupid’ to a friend. Like many of you, I try to spread out my ‘stupids’ in a relative flow chart of three to four stupids in a twenty four hour period and not to exceed twenty-one stupids a week. Look, I know my limits on stupid and I cannot let them cross over into the crazies. You know, ‘the cray, crayzzz.’ There are subsets of ‘stupid cray crayz’ and super subsets of ‘stupid cray, cray %*#@$’ (there are no polite words for these people.)

I get it… stupid comes natural for young people, but you ought to struggle with being stupid as you get older . OLDER PEOPLE PLEASE TRY TO RESIST STUPID! I know you think that only the young people get all the fun, but being stupid is not FUN! It is destructive to the mental sensibilities of ones delicate mindsets. At your age you should have some type of immunity built up against stupid. With all of these technolgical advancements someone should have found the stupid gene and irraditcated it from the human population. It’s ok for animals to be stupid, it can rather cute, but stupid on a human is just dumb… Where are the vaccines against this, this, this… hey has any one checked into this being a virus, an air borne virus, maybe? Maybe the whole world needs a filter? Is it a result of global warming? OMG… The ozone depletion? Can sun screen stop this? Maybe it’s a conspiracy theory for a self -destruct button that has been built into our genetics, … like a latent stupid gene expression… or some kind. Does anyone know whether it’s a dominant or a recessive trait? Somebody get a hold of the NIH, they might be working on these theories now. Don’t panic, that seems to cause stupid to spread faster.

Wow… I feel better now that I got some stupid off my chest… Hmmmm, just maybe that’s the key. And just maybe stupid is a cloaking device for the evolution of mankind. Nahhh, that’s just plain stupid.

My daughter informed me that I just can’t end it here. So ‘what are you going to do about stupid?’ Well….

We all make mistakes in life, the problem arises when we continue to make the same one over and over (now that’s stupid.) Let us learn from our mistakes by focusing on our directives in life, doing due diligence, as well as preparation. Think it through and then back up and start it… Stupid quickly falls apart when one thinks before he speaks. Stupid lurks in the shadows until revelation and light dispels it. Tenderness loosens the grip of stupid on other people allowing your God-given love to cover the multitude of faults in others and yourself.

1 Peter 4:8

Amplified Bible (AMP)

Above all things have intense and unfailing love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins [forgives and disregards the offenses of others].
GOD IS LOVE, LOVE CONQUERS ALL…
Much love,
Pastor Harris

Today I choose ‘JOY’ Over Sorrow and Despair

On By muchlovepastorharrisIn Uncategorized7 Comments
JOY MAKES YOU DANCE FROM THE INSIDE AND EXPRESSED OUTSIDE…

So… you woke up this morning, before your body told you how it felt; A glimmer of hope, a ray of sun shine, what felt like joy, cleverly embraced you and you unintentionally oozed out a smile… Did you grasp it and hold on to it or did you let it fly by because you did not understand why it was there…? Because you felt undeserving of it…?

Psalm 86:4

New International Version (NIV) 

Bring joy to your servant, Lord,  for I put my trust in you.

Sometimes we get into a ritual of sadness, hopelessness and anger. You have long forgotten the reason for it, but it lingers like a bad odor smelling up your dreams and admirations. An odor of shame, guilt and bitterness clouding your thoughts, purpose and dreams until there is nothing left to hold onto…

What do you do?… LAUGH! LAUGH! This crap can’t last forever. That glimmer of hope was God inspired, your breakthrough is on the horizon. Focus…Focus on the glimmer of hope. It is the spiritual chisel that will break you out of your self -imposed tomb of gloom.

Luke 6:23

Amplified Bible (AMP)

Rejoice and be glad at such a time and exult and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is rich and great and strong andintense and abundant in heaven; for even so their forefathers treated the prophets.

God gifted you with that glimmer of Hope out of His rich treasures of Love. Look at the following verse:

Romans 15:13

Amplified Bible (AMP)

May the God of your hope so fill you with all joy and peace in believing [through the experience of your faith] that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound and be overflowing (bubbling over) with hope.
God is the God of all hope. Do you really believe that satan could or would give you hope? I don’t think so! So, whatever hope you have has been given to you by God. Remember now, God is Love and that is what love does. Love gives you hope, when you know that you are loved it gives you the strength to go on.

Romans 5:5

Amplified Bible (AMP)

Such hope never disappointsor deludes or shames us, for God’s love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit Who has been given to us.

Nehemiah 8:10

Amplified Bible (AMP)

Then [Ezra] told them, Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet drink, and send portions to him for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. And be not grieved and depressed, for the joy of the Lord is your strength and stronghold.

CHOOSE, CHOOSE TODAY, NOT BECAUSE OF HOW YOU FEEL, BUT BECAUSE OF HOW YOU WANT TO FEEL…. JOY..JOY…

GOD IS LOVE, LOVE CONQUERS ALL…
Much love,
Pastor Harris