The Everlasting Father

Nothing is permanent in this earth. There is an end of time that will come for everything and everyone. There is nothing that is everlasting here. Friends come and friends go. Loved ones are here and then they are gone. Money comes and money goes. Houses and stuff, it all comes and it all goes.

 I didn't really think about this to much until yesterday after putting our dog (Angel) to sleep. She had been with us for almost 15 years. We've had to put pets to sleep before but this time it was different somehow. I started thinking about how nothing in this life lasts forever, and the years with our dog Angel made me think about the last fifteen years as a whole, and what life has entailed.

Our children grew as Angel grew. It made me take inventory of life and what life is all about. There is no permanence, no consistencies. When it is all said and done, there is an end that comes and it cannot be stopped. Life is fleeting. There is fulfillment for the short vapor of time and then there is a sense of emptiness that hovers once again.

I began to feel somewhat discouraged and depressed. But as I was in my prayer time I began thinking about how nice it would be to always have a sense of forever, and eternity. Then the Lord reminded me that He is my Everlasting Father. He is EVERLASTING, He has no end. He reminded me that He is my eternity and all of life is eternal in Him, for in Him is life everlasting. This brought me great hope and peace. I was reminded of the scriptures in Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace. It is almost Christmas and the Lord was lovingly reminding me of who He is to me, and to all of us for that matter. Our Everlasting Father.

I am reminded that I do have a hope and something to look forward to. So I began to encourage myself in the Lord, for He alone is my fulfillment. I had to ask myself would I really look forward to my life with Him if I never felt a sense of emptiness here? God reminded me that this is not my home and I am just passing through. My home is with Him, my place is with Him. My treasures are laid up in heaven where moth and rust don't corrupt, and where thieves do not break through or steal. For where my treasure is, there will my heart be also.

We go from this life into life eternal and there is no place for the END there and that is encouraging to know. I have to admit that this thought has made me long to be in heaven with my Everlasting Father even more. I look forward to seeing loved ones that have gone on and call me crazy, but I also believe that our Heavenly Father has a special place in heaven for our pets, and we will be able to see them once again as well.

Jesus is who satisfies me, for it is in Him alone that I have completeness. He will never leave me! I look forward to being with Him in that day where there will be no more death, pain, or heartache, but only total fulfillment of Love, Joy and Peace. Hallelujah!

Maybe the reason I Love to Praise and Worship the Lord so much is because being in heaven with Him is what I look forward to, for He is EVERLASTING. He is someone that I can hold onto forever. Time will never be able to Take my EVERLASTING FATHER from me. For God the Father is TIME. He is the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End.
1 Pet. 1:24-25a. For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: But the word of the Lord endureth for ever.

In Loving Memory of Angel

(6-20-1993 to 12-20-2007)

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I AM THAT I AM

These words spoken to Moses in Exodus 3:14 have had a very dramatic effect on the children of Israel and followers of Jesus all through history. "I AM THAT I AM" What exactly does that mean to you and I. And how can we apply this to ours lives in this day and time of history.

First of all we acknowledge, that in the beginning was the Word and the Word spoke "LET THERE BE". We are speaking of a all encompassing God. For by Him all things were made. This is exciting because there is a Father God who created everything for us. Out of the infinite love that He has for us, He created. In Him is all truth and understanding of the universe. He knows how every atom, molecule, and quark is supposed to act, because He made them. For example, suppose I created a new automobile that runs on sand. You would probably scratch your head and say how can this be, but I, as the inventor will have the understanding of the process to turn sand into a energy source. Likewise because God created all things He also has all understanding of His creation. So the Father says "I am that I am."

What does this mean to you and I? Did you notice the diamond at the top of the page and how it radiates the beautiful prism of colors in all directions and the many cut facets of the stone? Well, this is a picture of the awesomeness of God the Father when He says;

I AM THAT I AM.

Each facet is a picture of who He is. Psalm 103:2-5 says Bless the Lord oh my soul, and forget not all His benefits: Who forgiveth all your iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; Who redeemeth your life from destruction; who crowneth thee with loving kindness and tender mercies; Who satisfies thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.

God the Father is not a respecter of men. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. What He says He will do for one, He will do for all, if you believe by faith that He is who He says He is. So he forgives those who ask for forgiveness. He heals those who ask for healing. Are you troubled in your mind with worry, stress, and the cares of this world. He has deliverance for those who ask for it.

Jesus said, in Mat 11:28-30 "Come unto me all you that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly of heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."

Can you see another facet of the Lord? He wants us to have rest. He wants to teach us to have a fulfilling life in Him. So far we have seen just 7 facets: creative, saving, delivering, healing, loving, teaching, burden lifter. Here are some more: He is a Provider to the needy, a Shepherd to a straying lamb, a Feeder of the hungry, a Father to the fatherless, a Comforter to the comfortless. He brings joy into a sad situation, He gives happiness, He gives miracles to those who need a miracle. He is a Friend to the lonely. He will stay closer to you than a brother. He won't leave you or forsake you. He talks to you when there is silence. When you were condemned for your wrongs, He took your place and died for you.

So ultimately it all comes to this, our Father in Heaven is saying;
I AM whatever you need Me to be. He is a many faceted God. He has all the attributes that you or I will ever need in a loving caring Father. All we have to do is ask. Ask for Him to intervene in our lives. To take over to make the decisions of our future. Then you will begin to see the facets of a Father who would do all for His children. When the prodigal son came home the father didn't wait till he came to the gate. But when he was a great way off the father saw him coming, and had compassion and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. Only time will unfold His greatness in our lives.

But this one thing we all can be sure of.

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
                                                                                                          Joe Greenwell

The Perfect Love

If you read the Song of Solomon you will find the most Intimate Expressions of love in it's purest form. Our almighty God is the Author and Creator of love for He is Love. We all know the world's definition of love. We see it everywhere we go. How sad it is that the world has defiled and perverted such a beautiful thing created by God by plastering the televisions, theaters, magazines and books with such a shallow idea of what they consider to be love. There are so many people looking for love  in all the wrong places, sadly they will remain empty for only Christ can fill this void in mankind's heart. Oh! to know the love of Jesus that far surpasses all of our shallow understanding. Christ's desire is to flood our beings and fill us to saturation and overflowing with His great love. Listen to some of the Intimate Expressions of the Shepherd's great love for His Bride in the Song of Solomon.

HOW FAIR you are, my love [he said], how very fair! Your eyes behind your veil [remind me] of those of a dove; your hair [makes me think of the black, wavy fleece] of a flock of [the Arabian] goats which one sees trailing down Mount Gilead [beyond the Jordan on the frontiers of the desert]. (Song of Solomon 4: 1 Amp. )

[He exclaimed] O my love, how beautiful you are! There is no flaw in you! (Song of Solomon 4:7 Amp.)

Come away with me from Lebanon, my [promised] bride, come with me from Lebanon. Depart from the top of Amana from the peak of Senir and Hermon, from the lions' dens from the mountains of the leopards.

You have ravished my heart and given me courage, my sister, my [promised] bride; you have ravished my heart and given me courage with one look from your eyes, with one jewel of your necklace.

How beautiful is your love, my sister, my [promised] bride! How much better is your love than wine! And the fragrance of your ointments than all spices!

Your lips, O my [promised] bride, drop honey as the honeycomb; honey and milk are under your tongue. And the odor of your garments is like the odor of Lebanon.

A garden enclosed and barred is my sister, my [promised] bride-a spring shut up, a fountain sealed. (Song of Solomon 4: 7-12 Amp).

Will we heed the call from our Great Shepherd, the Lover of our souls and come away with Him. He desires to rescue us from any harm or danger of the lions dens and the mountains of the leopards (evil schemes and temptations of the enemy). With one look from His Bride's eyes His heart is filled with great love and courage. Our praise unto Him is like sweet honey from our mouths and wine from our lips. The garments of His Bride are not defiled, He sees no flaw in her, for she is covered with His righteousness. He sees virtue and honor in His Bride. His Bride's heart is only for Him. There is an exchange of pure love between Christ and His Bride. Christ does not see His Bride as what he or she is, but who he or she is. Not what we have done, but what we have become (He in us, us in Him, we have become one in Him). He beholds His Bride as the beautiful garden that has already blossomed into all of it's glory and beauty. Christ's love for His Bride is so passionate and strong that it is what held Him to that cross. His love for His Bride, a spring that is shut up, a fountain sealed. To be with His beloved Bride for all eternity is the Joy that was set before Him, in which He still awaits. The Spirit and the Bride say come Lord Jesus!

[She said distinctly] My beloved is mine and I am his! He pastures his flocks among the lilies. (Song of Solomon 2:16 Amp.).

Be a Living Praise

Are you alive with the praises of God? If you are, you will understand when I say, praise has a way of lifting our load and making our steps lighter. Praise is life and energy. It sets our eyes on our Creator and removes them from our worldly situations that would normally hold us down. A person of praise is someone who is not hindered by everyday circumstances. Yes, things may be tough but they are determined to praise the Lord through it all. They have gotten a hold of the revelation that praise will break the chains that tries to keep them bound. They know that when they begin to lift their hands and open wide their mouth to praise the Lord that He will hear and come to them.

Freedom is just a praise away

And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed. (Acts 16:25-26 K.J.V).

Did you catch that? Paul and Silas were praying and singing praises loud enough for the other prisoners to hear. I don't know about you, but that tells me that God moves when He hears a loud praise. Bands are loosed and prisoners are set free. Selah (think on that).

Let the heavens and the earth praise him, the seas and every thing that moveth therein. (Ps. 69:34 K.J.V).

How good it is to sing praises to our God! How delightful and how right!

(Ps. 147:1 N.L.T.).

When we praise our God there is a place deep within our souls that will spring forth like gushers of living water. What was once dry and barren is made alive again.

He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (Jn. 7:38 K.J.V).

So if you are alive with praise than you are truly full of life. When we praise Him our spirits are lifted and our heart will feel as though it is going to burst with great joy. In that moment of praise God will pour down upon us His great love and all that His Holy Spirit has to give.

And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God. (Eph. 3:19 K.J.V).

Be alive with praises unto the Lord and be filled to overflowing with His great love, there will be no regrets. Here is a praise poem that I wrote many years ago and the words of this poem still means as much to me today as they did when I wrote it.

Alive with praise

I dance, I shout, I give praise to the King

I leap, I spin, oh the joy He brings

The birds sing a song and the Angels join in

All creation will worship the Beginning and the End

The musicians take wing as they soar to the sky

With songs from their hearts to praise the Most High

Oh the joy that He brings to me His child

It's a river that flows, my heart goes wild

I leap, I spin, I jump up and run around

I can't get enough; I don't want to sit down

It's joy that overflows, it's abundant, it's great

He's my Lord and my King I can't help but celebrate

I'll dance before Him; I'll give thanks and sing a song

I'll praise His holy Name all the day long

I can't be quiet and I won't sit down

I can't help but express the joy I have found

This joy I've found it's in Jesus my King

He's joy unspeakable He's my EVERYTHING!