Bible Shorts With BibleBob

Reflection Pool My Judge sits not upon a bench with a jury by his side. My Judge wears not flowing robes with a gavel in his hand. My Judge saw my guilt and yet "innocent " He cried. My Judge gave me solid ground from a life of sinking sand. My Judge was nailed and naked upon a tree. My Judge ordered my filthy death clothes removed. My Judge paid my fine and my time so I could live free. My Judge restored and revived me, my life is now improved. There's a pond within my soul. A reflection pool at the foot of the cross. It's a body of many waters that fill a deep hole. Ripples of sweat, tears and blood loss. On the lake of my life my Savior walks with me. When I sink beneath the murky waters He lifts me up. When Satan sends ripples of temptation He says, "Look to Me." When I'm weary and weak, His strength fills my cup. The reflection pool in my soul separates the dry lands of my sin from the many waters of my Saviors tears. My sins are unsearchable in the depths of His mercy and grace. On the bank of the pool are waypoints of gratitude for all that has been washed away. Yes, my Judge has given me a new and eternal day to float endlessly in His reflection pool.

Rose Early When someone or something is said to, "rose early," it means they've moved from a lower position to a higher place and they've moved sooner rather than later. Some folks "rose early" while others are always "one-step-behind." Some people "rose early" in the day. Mom used to always say, "The early bird gets the worm!" Some folks "rose early" in the challenges that life throws at them. David "rose early" to face Goliath.  Joshua "rose early" to march around Jericho before the walls came down. Abraham "rose early" to take Isaac to a place of sacrifice. Jesus "rose early" to pray and seek His Father's will. Women "rose early" to go to the tomb of Jesus. Jesus "rose early" from the grave. Armies "rose early" to prepare and battle the enemy. Prophets "rose early" to deliver words from God. A Proverbs 31 woman "rose early" to provide for her family. Folks who "rose early" had the fortitude, courage and determination to overtake difficulties before they're insurmountable. Folks who "rose early" don't ignore problems thinking they will just disappear. They get a head start and boldly rise up in Godspeed. Go and do likewise. It's time to arise. "Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid."‭‭ Matthew‬ ‭17‬:‭7‬  "I am only a little rose or autumn crocus of the plain of Sharon, or a [humble] lily of the valleys [that grows in deep and difficult places]."‭‭ Song of Solomon‬ ‭2‬:‭1‬ ‭ Thanks for your time. Go do something nice for somebody. Jesus loves you and so do we.#GodStoriesWithBiblebob #BibleShortsWithBiblebob #ywap4Christ #JLYASDW

While He Was Still A Long Way Off Some folks have trouble with surrendering completely to Christ. They have faith and yet there's still a stumbling block that prevents them from giving Jesus their whole heart, mind, soul and strength. The following story is about the Prodigal son. He took his inheritance and blew it. Penniless, ashamed and destitute, he returned home. Even while he was still a long way off, his father ran to meet him. He embraced him and loved on him. For some of us, we don't get a sudden moment where our whole being is surrendered to Jesus. It might be a process and take time. Be encouraged, your process has a purpose. ‭‭ Luke‬ ‭15‬:‭10‬-‭24‬ ‭AMPC "Even so, I tell you, there is joy among and in the presence of the angels of God over one [especially] wicked person who repents (changes his mind for the better, heartily amending his ways, with abhorrence of his past sins). And He said, There was a certain man who had two sons; And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the part of the property that falls [to me]. And he divided the estate between them. [Deut. 21:15-17.] And not many days after that, the younger son gathered up all that he had and journeyed into a distant country, and there he wasted his fortune in reckless and loose [from restraint] living. And when he had spent all he had, a mighty famine came upon that country, and he began to fall behind and be in want. So he went and forced (glued) himself upon one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed hogs. And he would gladly have fed on and filled his belly with the carob pods that the hogs were eating, but [they could not satisfy his hunger and] nobody gave him anything [better]. [Jer. 30:14.] Then when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father have enough food, and [even food] to spare, but I am perishing (dying) here of hunger! I will get up and go to my father, and I will say to him, Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; [just] make me like one of your hired servants. So he got up and came to his [own] father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was moved with pity and tenderness [for him]; and he ran and embraced him and kissed him [fervently]. And the son said to him, Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your son [I no longer deserve to be recognized as a son of yours]! But the father said to his bond servants, Bring quickly the best robe (the festive robe of honor) and put it on him; and give him a ring for his hand and sandals for his feet. [Gen. 41:42; Zech. 3:4.] And bring out that [wheat-]fattened calf and kill it; and let us revel and feast and be happy and make merry, Because this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found! And they began to revel and feast and make merry."

As Your Tongue Writes Your words carry the power of life and death. Your words carry the power of positivity or negativity. Your words are seeds blown by the wind that end up in the hearing and hearts of other people. Sometimes your words are spoken directly, sometimes your words are overheard. Sometimes your words become hearsay - repeated by others, maybe in part or with an altered meaning or repeated as gossip or slander. It's hard to know if hearsay is the truth because you can't cross examined someone who isn't present. Their words remain, true or false as evidence based on opinion. Speak your word, do your word. Esteem others as being more valuable than yourself. "My heart is full of beautiful words as I say my poem for the king. My tongue is like the pen of a skillful writer. You are the most excellent of men. Your lips have been given the ability to speak gracious words. God has blessed you forever."‭‭P salm‬ ‭45‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭NIRV Will you speak beautiful words? Erika Kirk spoke words of forgiveness after Charlie Kirk was assassinated. That's grace.

JESUS & RADICAL INCLUSIVITY Jesus loved on people who were treated as second class citizens. Jesus elevated women. Embraced outcasts. Healed the sick. Jesus made friends with those living beyond the boundaries of cultural acceptance. Jesus was so accepting that He was considered a radical; outside the legalistic limits of rigid religious leaders. Jesus could be considered an all-inclusive kind of a guy. He inclusively invited everyone into a personal relationship with Him that would ultimately lead to an exclusively eternal life in Heaven. Inclusively and exclusively are opposites. There's an age-old adage that says: "opposites attract." Does Jesus offer inclusivity to all in this life and include them all in the exclusivity of the afterlife? It seems He was all inclusive of who could come to Him, but exclusive of who could go through Him to the Father. There is a Bible verse known as the doctrine of exclusivity in John 14:6, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." Jesus was inclusive in inviting all sinners to enter exclusivity with Him through repentance and a changed life. Jesus was and isn't inclusive in accepting those still living in sin. What is sin? It's separation from God by living outside His boundaries. The Bible is clear in so many ways on how we should live our lives to avoid being excluded from the narrow way that leads to heaven. Modern culture speaks of a kinder and gentler Jesus who invites all into an inclusive acceptance, irregardless of repentance or a changed life in behavior. That's like believing Jesus would never say, "Away from me, I hardly know you." Matthew 7:23. For years I was disillusioned by a church that preached purity while religious leaders treated children as sex objects. It took me awhile to pursue Jesus beyond my distrust of religion. When I finally understood how I could have a personal relationship with Jesus, my life changed. After many years of studying and reading about Jesus exhorting us to uphold and fulfill the whole law, it's clear to me; the Bible is the Book of Behaviors. Read it for yourself to determine how inclusive your behaviors are as being acceptable into the exclusivity of heaven. Truth be told. There's no other way. "And as Jesus reclined at table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and [especially wicked] sinners came and sat (reclined) with Him and His disciples. And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to His disciples, Why does your Master eat with tax collectors and those [preeminently] sinful? But when Jesus heard it, He replied, Those who are strong and well (healthy) have no need of a physician, but those who are weak and sick. Go and learn what this means: I desire mercy [that is, readiness to help those in trouble] and not sacrifice and sacrificial victims. For I came not to call and invite [to repentance] the righteous (those who are upright and in right standing with God), but sinners (the erring ones and all those not free from sin)." ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭9‬:‭10‬-‭13‬ ‭AMPC‬‬ Thanks for your time. Go do something nice for somebody. Jesus loves you and so do we. #GodStoriesWithBiblebob #BibleShortsWithBiblebob #ywap4Christ #JLYASDW

No two mountain trails are exactly alike. Some are a loop where you eventually circle back to the trailhead. Others are "out and back" trails that take you to an endpoint where you do an about face and retrace your steps back the way you came. When you don't finish a trail by completing its entire route, you've left steps untaken. Sometimes that's wise if the weather turns bad, the sun is going down or your body has had enough. Leaving a trail unfinished is acceptable. Leaving a prayer unprayed is not acceptable. When you tell someone you don't need prayer when they offer to pray for you, you're leaving a prayer unprayed. Forgive me for not praying verse. "Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you: but I will teach you the good and the right way:"‭‭1 Samuel‬ ‭12‬:‭23‬ ‭KJV‬‬   Joshua 10:6"Slack not thy hand from thy servants; come up to us quickly, and save us, and help us: for all the kings of the Amorites that dwell in the mountains are gathered together against us."   Zephaniah 3:16 "In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem, Fear thou not: and to Zion, Let not thine hands be slack."‭‭ 2 Chronicles‬ ‭15‬:‭7‬ ‭ "Be ye strong therefore, and let not your hands be weak: for your work shall be rewarded." Joshua‬ ‭10‬:‭12‬-‭14‬ ‭NLT‬‬ "On the day the Lord gave the Israelites victory over the Amorites, Joshua prayed to the Lord in front of all the people of Israel. He said, "Let the sun stand still over Gibeon, and the moon over the valley of Aijalon." So the sun stood still and the moon stayed in place until the nation of Israel had defeated its enemies. Is this event not recorded in The Book of Jashar? The sun stayed in the middle of the sky, and it did not set as on a normal day. There has never been a day like this one before or since, when the Lord answered such a prayer. Surely the Lord fought for Israel that day!"‭‭  Unprayed prayers may not make the Sun stand still. Unprayed prayers won't create days that will be remembered forever. Just going through the motions of life, just getting by; slack hands, slack minds and slack hearts leave one in the sinking sands of a slack life. Slack hands leave prayers unprayed.  Proverbs‬ ‭18‬:‭9‬ ‭AMPC "He who is loose and slack in his work is brother to him who is a destroyer and he who does not use his endeavors to heal himself is brother to him who commits suicide."‭‭

The word acedia means carelessness, callousness, disinterested; it pretty much means you just don't care. It was used by a monk named Evagrius of Pontus in reference to Psalm 91:6 and he coined the term, Noonday Demon. Psalm 91:6 states, in various translations, "nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the destruction that wastes at noonday" (KJV/NIV) or "Do not dread the disease that stalks in darkness, nor the disaster that strikes at midday" (NLT) The monk took notice of what happens when boredom sets in. When we get up in the morning when God's mercies are new, we're usually energized for a new day. When we go to sleep, we're looking to rest without the cares of the world on our shoulders. At the halfway point or midday, we've got some tiredness setting accompanied by possible carelessness. That's just a snapshot of a day. What if you apply it to a relationship of folks who've been married awhile or a business struggling to stay afloat? It's one thing to be halfway up a mountain, feel exhausted and yet keep going, but what about a marriage, a business or your relationship with God. The Israelites were very well known for complaining about their journey in the desert after the miracle crossing of the Red Sea. Darkness can settle in quickly in the form of just not caring anymore. The Noonday Demon preys on the lethargic, careless and disinterested people. It's easy to get bored in life, but you can't let the Noonday Demon slip in and waste away your relationship with God. Just sayin..... Thanks for your time. Go do something nice for somebody. Jesus loves you and so do we. [email protected]

SACRIFICING TO DEMONS Is There A New Sexual Morality? "They sacrificed to demons, not to God–to gods whom they knew not, to new gods lately come up, whom your fathers never knew or feared."‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭32‬:‭17‬      When natural desires become so strong, people will give worshipful approval to natural desires. The Father of Lies will answer your prayers and give approval to your lustful cravings. Wanting something so bad you can taste it opens your mind to exploring all avenues of approval.      God will never answer prayers in opposition to His Word. He will not give approval to things outside of His boundaries. The wrongful behaviors found in the Bible will never become rightful behaviors in the world.      Be careful you don't want something so bad you start answering your own prayers, or worse open your mind to the Devil's answers. Approval in the flesh leads away from God. Approval of lust leads to sexual immorality and becomes evil desires.      Let your passion be pure. Let your love be uncompromised - free from corruption.Stay in God's boundaries. Within them you'll find greater love in more excellent ways. Following the wayward ways of the world will lead you to doing what's right in your own eyes. Don't go there. That's where God hides His face and demons answer prayers. "They made sacrifices to demons, not God." Deuteronomy 32:17 "And they shall no more offer their sacrifices unto devils, after whom they have gone a whoring. This shall be a statute for ever unto them throughout their generations."‭‭Leviticus‬ ‭17‬:‭7‬ Thanks for your time.

NEED A FACE LIFT? Imagine having your face changed in the blink of an eye. Jesus prayed (while his friends slept. Luke 9:32) He lifted his face to heaven and was transfigured. Methinks it was like spiritual makeover or a divine facelift. Transfiguration means a change has taken place. The change happened as his friends slept. They woke up to see God's glory and hear God's voice. Upon seeing Moses and Elijah standing with Jesus, Peter offered to build shelters for them as if they were in a camp out. Human nature often responds to the supernatural with a natural solution. Transfigurations of human beings are supernatural occurrences that cause a greater Christ-like character in the one whose face was lifted to God's glory. Start lifting your face to glory. Just sayin….. 🕊️✝️🕊️  "As He was praying, the appearance of His face changed, and His clothes became dazzling white." ‭‭ Luke‬ ‭9‬:‭29‬ ‭HCSB‬‬ 🕊️✝️🕊️ Thanks for your time. Go do something nice for somebody. Jesus loves you and so do we. #GodStoriesWithBiblebob #BibleShortsWithBiblebob #ywap4Christ

Matt 16.27-28 " For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of his Father with his angels and will then repay every man according to his deeds. Truly i say to you, there are some of those who are standing here who WILL NOT TASTE DEATH until they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom." "I assure you: If anyone keeps My word, he will never see death — ever!" ‭‭John‬ ‭8‬:‭51‬ ‭HCSB‬‬ "But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor, that He by the grace of God should taste death for every man." Hebrews 2:9 There is a death that never dies. An eternal death. A wretched doom agonizing in the realm of the dead, hades or more commonly known as hell. I believe the death Jesus was talking about is the second death that happens after the physical body dies and a person who was absent from a relationship with Jesus while they were alive faces a second death forever in hell versus forever life in heaven with our Savior. It would be wise to get to know Christ personally before you die or you may die again. Accept Jesus, be born again and live again.

Filling the Father-Hole There's a father hole deep and wide in your heart. It opened up when your dad was a no show right from the start. Every Father's Day is like salt in an old wound. Fatherless is an island on which you've been marooned. The hole in your heart won't be filled by holding things of human design. Hope won't be found clinging to a tattered piece of twine.  Forgiveness is a rope between heaven and earth. Your Father in heaven wants to give you a new birth. He's a Dad who sacrificed His Son so that you might live. Jesus in death on a cross spoke the word forgive. Father forgive them for they know not what they do. Knowing how to be a father, your dad didn't have a clue. You can fill the father hole in your heart this very day. Wholeness, healing and peace will only come one way. Man was made in the image and likeness of God our Maker. Turning from God, man's image as a father turned into the likeness of a faker. You've left the old rugged cross, like your father, on a hill far away. The father hole in your heart remains stuck in the miry clay.  Peace like a river flows only through the shed blood of Christ. The gigantic cost of unforgiveness is sinfully high priced. People who don't know what they're doing are doing the best they know how. The burdens you carry are only as heavy as God will allow. Your Creator has struggles designed especially for you. Give your unforgiveness to Jesus, his words are always true. Your Father in heaven will never leave or forsake you. We're all sinners and sojourners just passing through. Time is of the essence, make a decision this very minute. Heaven's an eternal place that requires forgiveness to be in it. If you're wanting for an apology, well here it comes. From the Master's table, please accept His crumbs. As a member and representative of manhood and fatherhood, I do hereby apologize. Please accept my offer as a sacrifice and may healing from the Sun of Righteousness arise.  May the father hole in your heart be glazed over with forgiveness and filled as a cup overflowing. May your prayers of affliction and sorrow stretch like uplifted hands to the One who is all knowing. In Jesus name. Amen. An apology is admitting a wrong and the action of trying to make things right. In the natural that's not always possible, but in the supernatural- all things are possible with God. Sometimes an apology is accompanied by restitution. The restoration of your relationship with God is greater than any restitution you can receive from man. My credibility as a forgiven man comes from a long list of things that I've been forgiven for. The residue of worldly things that I've been dipped in has been dissolved by the blood of Christ. His blood has coagulated with mine to heal my wounds. By His stripes and shed blood for the remission of my sins I have been redeemed and saved from hell. I can apologize because I have empathy and compassion for the hike in your heart. I can apologize because as a man I bear some of the blame. I can apologize because the Bible says we're all made in the image and likeness of God and I recognize when we haven't honored that image and likeness in each other. Copyright June 2026 [email protected]

Dance Before A  Beheading  Once upon a time a little girl danced to please a king. Her dance was so beautiful, the enraptured king promised to give her anything she wanted - even half of his kingdom. The little girl had no idea what to ask for, so she whispered in her mommy's ear, "What should I ask for mommy." The woman the little girl trusted most in the world was ready with an answer. "Tell the king you want him to chop off the head of John the Baptist and bring it to you on a serving dish."       The little girl happily danced her way back to the king and expressed her desire for a man's head on a platter.       The king sent his executioner to the dungeon who promptly beheaded John. He brought back John's head on a serving dish and presented it to the girl who took it to her mother.       Evil. Evil woman. Evil king. A little girl used by Evil. This story is just pure Evil.       And yet - as macabre and vile as this true story is, the hated of truth remains. Evil still repeats itself today.       The big picture is this: "A bitter woman with a Hatred of Truth thought killing the Truth Teller could silence the Truth."       The Mother with the Dancing Daughter of Death had their moment of dreadful fame. They took disregard for human life to the darkest degree. Methinks they most likely danced into the dangers of hellfire.       Beheading Truth is defacing the image and likeness of God. The head of a beheaded man on a serving platter is the devil's graffiti on the human heart. It leaves a dirty mark on one's soul.       The Truth about Truth is this:  Truth can't be killed.  Truth never dies.  Truth will never leave.  Truth can only be suppressed for a while.  Truth can't be hidden forever.  Truth is never hidden from God. Truth has a limited hiding space, it's always revealed at the right time. Truth is unchanging. Truth is more powerful than a lie.  Truth reveals the character of Christ.       John the Baptist's birthday is celebrated on June 24 - exactly six months before the birthday of Christ is celebrated on December 25th - Christmas.       John was the boy who leaped in his mother's womb when his mom met Mary, the mother of Christ.       John's death was the beginning of an acceleration in the ministry of Jesus and the ultimate journey unto His own death on a cross.       The Way, the Truth and the Life cannot be killed. Jesus is the Truth. Yep, be like Jesus.                       ✝️✝️✝️ "When Herod's birthday came, the daughter of Herodias danced for the guests. She pleased Herod so much he swore to give her whatever she wanted. But the girl's mother told her to say, "Here on a serving plate I want the head of John the Baptist!"" ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭14‬:‭6‬-‭8‬ ‭CEV‬‬                         ✝️ "Jesus told him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." ‭‭John‬ ‭14‬:‭6‬ ‭HCSB‬‬                      ✝️✝️✝️ Thanks for your time.  Go do something nice for somebody.  Jesus loves you     and so do we. #GodStoriesWithBiblebob  #BibleShortsWithBiblebob  #ywap4Christ #JLYASDW

This is an incredible God Story of a woman who learned to be humble and teachable in a long process of healing. Her story of not wanting to be alive anymore began when she became fatherless around 5 or 6 years old. She felt like Dad didn't stick around because she wasn't valued. The father hole in her heart was just beginning. After multiple suicide attempts and many self-destructive behaviors, a Christian woman showed love for her in a way she hadn't experienced before. In an interesting twist to the story, the young woman whose name is Fox, had a dimmed vision as far as colors were concerned. After she gave her life to Christ, the colors became vibrant. After a period of sliding back into her destructive way of life, the colors dimmed again. When asked what led her to stop walking with God, she said she stopped being teachable. Her mind and heart became hardened. Fox says the most dangerous words in the world are, "I've got this." It means that you think you're strong enough on your own without God and the recovery programs that helped save her life. Stay teachable people! Fox is currently attending Passion Vineyard Fellowship in Cottonwood, AZ. Fox knows that it's scary accepting love, but it's worth the effort. We are all loved by a Father in heave who values and cherishes us. He will never leave us. There's one thing I forgot to mention, Fox was brought up as an Atheist. She knows how long a road that life can be. She also knows how healing can happen. If you're struggling with suicide thoughts, please get help. You are a valuable human being with a future purpose. You've been uniquely created by God. There's nobody like you and there will never be another like you.  If you're in a crisis and need immediate help, please call 911. Both Fox and I would love to help you. We are not trained counselors or health professionals, but we will pray for you and do our best to point you in the right direction.  If you need help right now you can call: 988 988 offers 24/7 judgment-free support for mental health, substance use, and more. Text, call, or chat 988. Access for Deaf/HoH and Spanish speakers.  Please share this podcast/video with anyone and anywhere you think it can open someone's heart to healing. Thanks for your time. You can reach bob at [email protected] Go do something nice for somebody. Jesus loves you and so do we.

On my steering wheel is a small sign that says, "I will not drive like a turkey!" It's a reminder that I'm made in the image and likeness of God and I should act like it when I'm driving. This episode is about creating your own personal code of conduct that we should live by. It was written as part of the curriculum for STRONG MEN- GREAT DADS, but the principles are good for anybody. Man-Code 4 Life Building Your Own Personal Man-Code of Conduct 1. What Is A Personal Code of Conduct? A Strategic Game Plan for Life. Personal Rules to Live by. Sets Healthy Boundaries & Regulates Your Behavior Helps You Clarify What You Believe & Know What You Stand for. Athletes Who Refuse to Play by The Rules Seldom Win. 2 Tim 2:1-4 "So you, my son, be strong (strengthened inwardly) in the grace (spiritual blessing) that is [to be found only] in Christ Jesus. 2 And the [instructions] which you have heard from me along with many witnesses, transmit and entrust [as a deposit] to reliable and faithful men who will be competent and qualified to teach others also. 3 Take [with me] your share of the hardships and suffering [which you are called to endure] as a good (first-class) soldier of Christ Jesus. 4 No soldier when in service gets entangled in the enterprises of [civilian] life; his aim is to satisfy and please the one who enlisted him." 2. SOLDIERS Have A Battle Pla You Are A Soldier In Your Own Life, How Will You Conduct Yourself? Your Man-Code 4Life Is A Coat of Armor Protecting You From Trouble.  What Do You Stand For? What Will You Allow In Your Life? RAD - Responsibility, Accountability & Discipline. CPR - Commitment, Perseverance & Resiliency. For a complete copy of the Man-Code 4 Life, please email, [email protected]

This is the second part of a Sunday Sermon at Passion Vineyard Fellowship in Cottonwood, AZ. While the original plan (my plan) was to continue the study of how to rescue people headed for bad times or worse (hell,) my plans were changed midweek. We spent the first part taking a look at the three main enemies we battle against, Satan, the world and our flesh. God impressed upon my heart the need to speak about the Father-Hole in the Heart. Unforgiveness for father wounds is a gaping hole in the heart. The father of lies (Satan,) will use bitterness and unforgiveness to cloud our judgment in almost every relationship. Wholeness and healing can only come from the Father of Lights. "Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above; it comes down from the Father of lights [the Creator and Sustainer of the heavens], in whom there is no variation [no rising or setting] or shadow cast by His turning [for He is perfect and never changes]." James 1:17 Amplified Bible

Approximately 60 to 63 million people die worldwide each year. This global statistic breaks down into smaller time increments: Per month: ~5 million Per day: ~167,000 Per minute: ~116 Per second: ~1.9 Will you use God's sudden burst of energy in you to go on a time sensitive rescue mission? A kernel of wheat has to fall to the ground and die before it can bring forth new life. We are called to die daily. Heavenly suddenly's are a daily occurrence. The agave death bloom is the dramatic final stage of an agave plant's life, during which it shoots up a massive, towering stalk, flowers, and dies. Because agaves are monocarpic, they only flower once in their lifetime. Much of the Christian life is spent waiting to bloom. God calls us into ministries, guides our progress, and helps us through the sanctification process. So many times, just like the century plant, we will expend great amounts of energy with seemingly no growth, no fruit, and no bloom. That's something to think about. Speaking of thinking, I heard a quote the other day that said: "Women spend more time thinking about what men are thinking than men actually spend thinking." Job 8:6-7 "If thou wert pure and upright; surely now he would awake for thee, and make the habitation of thy righteousness prosperous. 7 Though thy beginning was small, yet thy latter end should greatly increase." Awaken - Ur; oor the idea of opening the eyes] 1 to stir up, rouse, incite, to be excited, be triumphant. "Make prosperous" shâlam: shaw-lam; The famous word "shalom" or "peace" comes from this root word. shaw-lam Rescue includes removing the problem and restoring peace. To be complete, be finished, be ended, be uninjured, to make safe, to make whole or good, restore, make compensation, to make good, We are completed in Christ through complete surrender to Him. 2 Peter 2:9 "The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:" Deliver, rhyomai: rhoo-hym-my to draw to one's self, to rescue, to deliver the deliverer Isaiah 12:2 "Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and mysong; he also is become my salvation." Salvation: yᵊšûʿâ - yesh-oo'-aw salvation by God, deliverance, welfare, prosperity, victory Galatians 2:20 "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me." "I live" zaō, dzah'-o to live, breathe, be among the living (not lifeless, not dead) to enjoy real life to have true life and worthy of the name active, blessed, endless in the kingdom of God to live i.e. pass life, in the manner of the living and acting of mortals or character living water, having vital power in itself and exerting the same upon the soul metaph. to be in full vigour to be fresh, strong, efficient,  Psalm 51:12 "Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit." Uphold: sāmaḵ; saw-mak' to lean, lay, rest, support, to sustain, refresh, revive. Isaiah 61:2 "The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; He hath sent me šālaḥ; shaw-lakh to send, to stretch out, extend, direct, to send away, to let loose, to let go, set free.

The Parable of the Lost Sheep Luke 15:1-7 15 Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. 2 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them." 3 Then Jesus told them this parable: 4 "Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn't he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? 5 And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders 6 and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.' 7 I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent. He Left the 99 To Rescue Me In the days in which we live, we hunger and thirst for the fastest resolution of problems, the path of least resistance, we long for blessings in the blink of an eye. This morning I had the thought that it's time for young people who had contact with our ministry of youth with a purpose to stand up and be counted for Christ. Our ministry has a 25 yr history. It takes time and a lot of work. Resilience, perseverance, overcoming, surrendering, trusting God are not character traits built in the blink of an eye. I once sat with a group of folks in a Sunday morning Bible study before church. We were talking about going out on the streets to tell people about Jesus and invite them to join us. One man rather gruffly said, "Baloney! They know we're here! We shouldn't have to go tell them! Rescue requires effort. Rescue is mostly an individual habit where you leave 99% of what you know and give yourself to the 1% that matters in that moment. The spiritual trickle down effect of the 1% you reach for Jesus will enlarge the Father's territory by greater than 99.  God's math is always greater than ours. Implying that the 99 are strong enough in faith that they could be left alone presumes there is a group of 99 to be found. They must be people who are not like doubting Thomas, they believe without seeing. The believe when God seems distant in times of trouble and temptation. If you're strong enough to be one of the 99, how would you go after the one. For the sake of giving our study some focus, let's presume the one we're going after is a Christian turned atheist. How do you bring them back? What would you say to them? How would you begin the conversation? Ask what they believe. It's been my experience that no two atheists are alike. Don't take for granted that everyone knows what a Christian believes. Try to find some places of agreement. You can't see a planted seed growing underground. Just because you don't see a reaction to your words, don't presume they aren't reaching the heart of the hearer. Don't try to be a scholar with all the answers. If you can't answer a question, be humble enough to say you don't know.  

This is Part One pf a sermon series at Passion Vineyard Fellowship. It's about rescuing people behind enemy lines. In Part One we talk about the sword within us - the xiphoid, sternum and manubrium as it relates to the Sword of the Spirit. Our topic verse is Ephesians 5:14 in the Passion Translation: "Arise O sleeper! Rise up from your coffin and the Anointed One will shine his light on you!" Other verses used: Job 8:5-7, 2 Peter 2:9, Galatians 2:20 Psalm 51:12, Isaiah 61:1-2

Jesus healed a man born blind by putting mud on his eyes and then telling him to go wash. His disciples asked who had sinned, the blind man or his parents. That attitude still exists today as people assume that folks in bad situations must have done something to deserve it. As we see in this story, Jesus set them straight. The mud in the eyes healing miracle happened so that God's greatness could be revealed. In another innocent life, this time an infant born with sight was blinded by a very wrong medical procedure. Fanny Crosby was an infant and had a fever. The regular doctor was out of town and the replacement that showed up may not have been a doctor. He prescribed a mustard poultice to be applied to the baby's face covering the eyes. Fanny spent the rest of her life in blindness. Unbelievably, Fanny believed the blindness to be a gift from God. She wrote almost 9,000 hymns and played several musical instruments. She met 20 US Presidents. Her life gave God glory through her blindness. People would often say they wanted to pray for her to receive her sight. Fanny said she wanted to stay blind so that the first face she would ever see was her Savior Jesus Christ when she got to heaven. Fanny even went so far as to say that if she ever met the man who caused her blindness, she would thank him for the gift. Often, we think of disabilities as disabling, but when we surrender them to God. He helps us create unimaginable capabilities. Fanny may have appeared as disabled and weak, but God saw her as capable and strong. So be it! Our target Bible verse for this episode is John 9:1-9 A Man Born Blind Receives Sight 1Now as Jesus passed by, He saw a man who was blind from birth. 2And His disciples asked Him, saying, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" 3Jesus answered, "Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him. 4I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work. 5As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world." 6When He had said these things, He spat on the ground and made clay with the saliva; and He anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay. 7And He said to him, "Go, wash in the pool of Siloam" (which is translated, Sent). So he went and washed, and came back seeing. Thanks for your time. Go do something nice for somebody. Jesus loves you and so do we.

Hiking to the top of Thomas Point in Sedona was a journey in solitude. The only ones on the trail were me and Jesus! The trail is rated as moderate mostly due to the constant upward hike. The first mile is through the pine forest until you hit the exposed upper part of the trail. The top is about 6,300' with beautiful views of the surrounding canyons, red rock cliffs and even a glimpse of Mt. Humphreys (12,663') over 60 miles away. My goal for this episode is to take a look at being offended in times of doubt. Our life experience with people can set us up to doubt that they will follow through. That may have been the case with a guy we call "Doubting Thomas.'      The target Bible verses for this episode are: Proverbs 18:19 NLT "An offended friend is harder to win back than a fortified city. Arguments separate friends like a gate locked with bars."  John 20:24-29 NKJV Seeing and Believing 24 Now Thomas, called the Twin, one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 The other disciples therefore said to him, "We have seen the Lord." So he said to them, "Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe." 26 And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, "Peace to you!" 27 Then He said to Thomas, "Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing." 28 And Thomas answered and said to Him, "My Lord and my God!" 29 Jesus said to him, "Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."  James 1:19 NLT "Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry."      Thanks for your time. Be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to get angry - that will help you be unoffendable! Jesus loves you and so do we.

"Tubman was beaten and whipped by slave owners as a child. Around 13 yrs of age, she suffered a fractured skull when an overseer threw a metal weight at another slave, but missed and hit Harriet. The injury caused dizziness, pain, and spells of hypersomnia, which lasted throughout her life. After her injury, Tubman received visions and messages from God." During the Civil War, she served as a scout and spy, and became the first woman to lead an armed military assault—the Combahee River Raid—which freed over 700 slaves. Final Words: When Tubman passed away on March 10, 1913, her final words reflected the deep comfort she found in her savior. She quoted Jesus's promise of salvation from the Gospel of John, affirming: "I go away to prepare a place for you." Harriet lived her life as a sacrifice for other people. Behind every hardship is a blessing. Behind every trouble is a blessing. Behind every red light of hardship is the green light of God's Passover. HBU? Are you using your life as an offering to free people from the slavery of hell? Sin is the slavery of hell. You as an offering can help people avoid hell's chain gang. Will you be an offering and a sanctuary? Lord prepare me to be a sanctuary.

You may never have heard about the origin of the very first Memorial Day. It's a pretty moving story. Near the end of the Civil War, Union prisoners were held by the Confederate Army near Charleston, South Carolina. The prisoners were held in an outdoor containment area. Disease and exposure claimed the lives of 257 men. As the Confederate Army was evacuating Charleston, they threw the bodies of the dead men into a mass grave and took off. A group of liberated slaves were so grateful for their freedom, they unearthed the bodies and gave them a proper burial in a cemetery. On May 1st, 1865, a crowd of 10,000 of mostly freed slaves gathered for a parade in their honor. Over 3,000 Black school children marched with bouquets of flowers. Members of the 54th Massachusetts and other Black Union regiments marched as Black Ministers recited Bible verses. that was the very first Memorial Day.

Falling With A Rooster "Jesus said to them, "You will all fall away [and be ashamed and be afraid to be associated with Me as disciples], because it is written, 'I will strike the Shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.'will strike the shepherd and the sheep will be scattered. But after I have been raised [from the dead], I will go ahead of you to Galilee." But Peter said to Him, "Even if they all fall away [and desert You, ashamed and afraid of being associated with You], yet I will not [do so]!" Jesus said to him, "I assure you and most solemnly say to you, this very night, before a rooster crows twice, you will deny and [that you even know] Me three times." But Peter kept saying insistently, "If I have to die with You, I will not deny You!" And they all were saying the same thing as well. Then all of His disciples abandoned Him and fled. While Peter was down below in the courtyard, one of the servant-girls of the high priest came, and when she saw Peter warming himself, she looked intently at him and said, "You were with Jesus the Nazarene, too." But he denied it, saying, "I neither know nor understand what you are talking about." Then he went out [of the courtyard] to the porch, [and a rooster crowed.] The servant-girl saw him, and began once more to tell the bystanders, "This [man] is one of them." But again he denied it. After a little while, the bystanders again said to Peter, "You are in fact one of them, for [it is clear from your accent, that] you are a Galilean, too." But he began to invoke a curse [on himself] and to swear [an oath], "I do not know this man you are talking about!" Immediately a rooster crowed the second time. And Peter remembered what Jesus said to him: "Before a rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times." And thinking of this, he began weeping [in anguish]." Mark 14:27-31, 50, 66-72 AMP   Sometimes we speak before we think. Under pressure, we blurt out words without thinking. It's like acting like we don't have brains. In the movie The Wizard of Oz, Dorothy asks the Scarecrow how he can talk without a brain, he replies: "I don't know. But some people without brains do an awful lot of talking, don't they?" That's a way of saying our words don't match our beliefs. I had lunch yesterday with Elijah, a young man who graduated from this school last year. He mentioned that his basketball team (from a public school) played against a few Christian schools. The players whom you'd believe were Christians did not exhibit a particularly noticeable Christ-like behavior. For some of them it was quite the opposite. HBU? Is your behavior noticeably Christ-like? Will you fall away and hear the rooster crow?   Roosters I used to think roosters only crowed in the morning as a wakeup call. The shrill cry of an early rising rooster has pierced many a sleeping ear. Roosters crow when there's danger or as a wakeup call. Truth be told folks, as it always should, roosters crow any time they just feel like crowing! Most humans who mimic roosters usually do so through a "cock-a-doodle-doo!" Methinks that's a pretty far cry from what a crowing rooster actually sounds like. Funny thing about roosters, they're deaf to the loudness of their crowing. God designed roosters in a way that protects their ears from the 100 to 140 decibels blaring from their beaks. If you're right next to the rooster, the noise level is like being at a rock concert or listening to jet engine taking off. That's loud folks, but the rooster is immune to the impact of its own voice. When the rooster opens its mouth, part of the ear canal closes, and soft tissue covers a portion of the ear drum. Simon Peter heard the rooster crow. It was like an alarm going off as an alert to an enemy. The enemy that was allowed to enter was pride and extreme confidence in the flesh. Jesus allowed Peter to fall to strengthen him through failure so Peter could strengthen others. Wisdom and compassion in their highest forms come through suffering and struggle. The boldness and confidence in Peter's flesh was no match for Satan's request to "sift Peter like wheat." The sound of the roosters crowing was a spiritual pecking at the pride of Peter. A man was broken by the sound of a crowing rooster. Simon Peter had his conscience seared by the sound of a screaming bird. The rooster might as well have been screaming, "Shame on you! You denied your best friend and Savior three times in His hour of greatest need!" Some churches have a rooster on their steeples. It's a symbol of our likelihood of falling and the guarantee we have In Christ that through repentance at the cross we receive forgiveness, mercy and grace. Peter fell, but that wasn't the end of the story. God's grace and mercy is always louder than a rooster crowing. He restores humiliated and embarrassed people whose extreme confidence became shame mired in extreme pride. Arrogant confidence is self-centered pride that ultimately leads to destruction. Humble confidence is Christ-centered thoughtfulness that values others above ourselves.   Today's Assignment Take a few moments to write about what you will do to avoid becoming someone who will fall away. Be prepared to stand and give your advice to help your friends avoid becoming someone who falls away into arrogant confidence and self-centered pride. Thanks for your time. Go do something nice for somebody. Jesus loves you and so do we. How To Subscribe To Our Podcast and YouTube Videos | Biblebob.org  https://youtu.be/LS_aVLsbwes  

Dipping Points, Breaking Points, Tipping Points  & Turning Points "So we're not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace. These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times, the lavish celebration prepared for us. There's far more here than meets the eye. The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. But the things we can't see now will last forever." (Citation - 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 MSG) We often judge other people by what we hear about them, read about them or watch other people talk about them. You've probably heard the old adage that says: "Be careful pointing a finger at someone else; you'll have three fingers pointing right back at yourself.  Every person you meet contains valuable information for your spiritual growth. Each one of us travels through life seasons where parts of our character go through the cycle of birth and death until there's the final season - either eternal life or forever separation from God.  Each season represents a point in time, a space for you to grow or decay and a guarantee that what you've done will occupy a record in history.  Just as there are four seasons, there are four points: Dipping Point - this is where God allows you an experience, good or bad, that happens for your benefit. Wisdom gained in the dipping prevents future tripping (making the same mistake again.) Breaking Point - God takes to the end of your capabilities until you have nowhere to turn, but Him. You can refuse, become hard hearted, but that would open the door to evil. You don't want to go there. Tipping Point - This is the great "Ah Ha" moment where you begin to understand the lesson God us trying to teach you. Turning Point - Once you've totally surrendered to God, the overwhelming peace that transcends all understanding settles in your soul. You're walking in a new direction with fresh wisdom, insight and knowledge. When listening to the stories of other people going through the seasons and points of life, always remember that only God knows their hearts. Believe in the best for all people. Just sayin….. Thanks for your time. Go do something nice for somebody. Jesus loves you and so do we. How To Subscribe To Our Podcast and YouTube Videos | Biblebob.org

I woke up about 2 am and walked into my office,recording studio. On thw all is a cross made entirely of nails - approximately 72 of them. I started to think about the pain points of each one of those nails. Jesus only had three nails that held him crucified to the cross. The pain from the different neve endings is a different story. The nerves in the human body are said to number 7 trillion. I'm not sure how they got that number, but I do know we have a lot of nerves. Our lips alone are said to contain over one million nerves or sensory endings. On the cross there was no end to sensory pain and torture. Looking at the cross on my wall repeatedly reinforces what Jesus did for us. I arlready had my lesson plan for class, but I had to add this information on the extent of nerve pain - especially pain received from torturers whose mission was to keep you alive as long as possible to inflict the maximum amount of pain.  Consider such things and just say the name, Jesus. The Cultivation of Curious Minds "They were only testing Jesus because they hoped to trap him with his own words and accuse him of breaking the laws of Moses. But Jesus didn't answer them. Instead he simply bent down and wrote in the dust with his finger.  Angry, they kept insisting that he answer their question, so Jesus stood up and looked at them and said,  "Let's have the man who has never had a sinful desire  throw the first stone at her."  And then he bent over again and wrote some more words in the dust. Upon hearing that, her accusers slowly left the crowd one at a time, beginning with the oldest to the youngest, with a convicted conscience.  Until finally, Jesus was left alone with the woman still standing there in front of him. So he stood back up and said to her, "Dear woman, where are your accusers? Is there no one here to condemn you?"" John 8:6-10 TPT   Questions are valuable. Answers are important. Actions are profitable. When Jesus was asked a question about a woman caught in adultery, his answer was twofold, he combined words with action; he bent down and wrote in the dirt with his finger. I suppose you could call Him a dirt doodler with a double answer. No one knows what Jesus wrote, but it was powerful. Scholars (out of curiosity) have debated up to this present day what He may have written, but nobody knows. Jesus combined His answer with an action that caused a reaction.  Jesus answered His questioners by causing them to examine themselves. Their inquiry, even though it was brought with ill intentions, made them probe their own hearts.  Has anyone ever asked you a question that caused you to examine your heart or your way of life? The most important question anyone can ever answer is, "If you died today, do you know where you'll spend eternity?" There's some people in Buffalo, NY called Starfish Ministries. You may have heard the story of the starfish on a beach. Thousands of starfish were stranded and small girl picked them up one at a time and threw them back into the ocean.  A man questioned her about why she was doing this. He combined his question with a preconceived answer that said her actions useless; "You can't possibly save all these starfish!" Saddened at first, but after some quick and thoughtful heart examination, she picked up another starfish, threw it in the ocean and said, "Well, I made a difference for that one!" The man joined her in saving starfish. *Original story written by Loren C. Eiseley. Today you are being given an opportunity in collaborating with Starfish Ministries in the creation of a survey that has the potential to save one person at a time. The ultimate goal is to evangelize and engage with strangers in sharing Christ. The short survey will be given to people in public locations. They'll be offered at least $5 for participating. Each question should require a "Yes" or "No" response. The idea is to lead people to at least consider the concept of God and His Son, Jesus as the Messiah. Here are some examples: 1) Have you noticed that despite the best efforts of mankind there is still so much brokenness in the world? 2) Do you feel the world would be better by following most if not all of the 10 Commandments found in the Bible? 3) Given all the available historical information, do you believe Jesus Christ actually existed?

Sometimes we think we don't measure up to others. Viewing others with envy. We fade into quietness because we think our voice doesn't matter. We're not good enough.   As a young boy attending Catholic church with my family, I often stood beside Dad when it was time to sing the hymns. I remember looking up at Dad and seeing his lips barely move with his eyes glued to the hymnal. You wouldn't hear him sing unless you were really close like I was.  Dad's singing voice sounded like a man with a mouth full of marbles singing underwater.  That might sound kind of harsh, but the reality was Dad would never make it on America's Got Talent! Dad sang with the voice he had and didn't care if anyone judged him. That's the way it should be and it was. Dad sang to God and not for anyone else. His singing wasn't an audition or an attempt to impress anybody. Dad sang for an audience of One. Since I was a little boy when I made this observation, it wasn't a pride issue in thinking that my singing voice was superior to Dad's. Although now that I'm an old head I recognize the danger of judging others and seeing their efforts as inadequate.  Focus on Self-Examination: Instead of evaluating others, individuals are encouraged to test their own actions and maintain humility (Galatians 6:4-5). "Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all the earth: Make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise." Psalm 98:4 KJV "Shout joyfully to the Lord, all the earth. Serve the Lord with gladness and delight; Come before His presence with joyful singing. Know and fully recognize with gratitude that the Lord Himself is God; It is He who has made us, not we ourselves [and we are His]. We are His people and the sheep of His pasture. [Eph 2:10] ¶Enter His gates with a song of thanksgiving And His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, bless and praise His name. For the Lord is good; His mercy and lovingkindness are everlasting, His faithfulness [endures] to all generations." Psalms 100:1-5 AMP "For we are His workmanship [His own master work, a work of art], created in Christ Jesus [reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, ready to be used] for good works, which God prepared [for us] beforehand [taking paths which He set], so that we would walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us]." Ephesians 2:10 AMP "But each one must carefully scrutinize his own work [examining his actions, attitudes, and behavior], and then he can have the personal satisfaction and inner joy of doing something commendable without comparing himself to another." Galatians 6:4 AMP "but He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you [My lovingkindness and My mercy are more than enough—always available—regardless of the situation]; for [My] power is being perfected [and is completed and shows itself most effectively] in [your] weakness." Therefore, I will all the more gladly boast in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ [may completely enfold me and] may dwell in me." 2 Corinthians 12:9 AMP "¶For You formed my innermost parts; You knit me [together] in my mother's womb. I will give thanks and praise to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, And my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from You, When I was being formed in secret, And intricately and skillfully formed [as if embroidered with many colors] in the depths of the earth. Your eyes have seen my unformed substance; And in Your book were all written The days that were appointed for me, When as yet there was not one of them [even taking shape]." Psalms 139:13-16 AMP

Sometimes God uses irritations to stop us dead in our tracks to correct something in our character. For Pastor Randy, the story starts with a broken-down vehicle in s pitch black darkness filled with buzzing and biting black flies. Things went from bad to worse. Even in this unenviable situation, Randy was still looking to serve somebody. That's admirable, but it's not the end of the story. Randy had a long-time prejudice toward Native Americans. God brought him face to face with a part of his character that God Himself wanted changed. The rest is history, Randy was humbled and forgiven of his prejudice.  "All things work together for good." Romans 8:28 Thanks for your time. Go do something nice for somebody. Jesus loves you and so do we. Please ask a friend to subscribe to Biblebob. Thank you.

Can A Rubber Chicken on A fencepost Go the Extra Mile? or perhaps you've heard the more popular version of the old idiom, "A Turtle On A Fence Post Didn't Get There On Its Own!      I tried to find a turtle to put on a fence post, but they were too expensive (or I was too cheap!) What I do have is a flock of rubber chickens. You may have heard the question, "Why did the rubber chicken read the Bible? He wanted to correct his fowl language!      There's an old idiom that says, "A turtle on a fence post didn't get there on its own." I read a story about a farmer who would keep an eye out for turtles while plowing his fields. Upon seeing one, he would put the turtle on a fence post to keep it safe until he was done tilling the land, and then place the turtle back on the ground. When this idiom is taken literally, we can easily see why the farmer placed the turtle in such a high and lofty position. The turtle can't walk off a fence post; they can only travel on land when their feet are on the ground.      When this idiom is taken figuratively, it usually means that people don't become successful and achieve high and lofty positions without help. It can also be used to demonstrate how someone might be stuck until someone helps get them off the fence post. In both possible scenarios, help has either been provided or is needed. Encouragement is one of the simplest and easiest ways to help others.      To know the difference between literal and figurative, we have to either know what it means or figure it out within the context of the writing or conversation. Idioms are used, metaphorically, to change the literal meaning of a phrase and give it a figurative meaning. Sometimes encouragement has to go the extra mile to help someone get moving again. The story of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10:29-37 is like that. Jesus was asked a simple question and he answered by telling a story that encourages us to be on the lookout for people who need help and encouragement. Here's the story in the Message Bible: "And just how would you define 'neighbor'?"  30-32 Jesus answered by telling a story. "There was once a man traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho. On the way he was attacked by robbers. They took his clothes, beat him up, and went off leaving him half-dead. Luckily, a priest was on his way down the same road, but when he saw him he angled across to the other side. Then a Levite religious man showed up; he also avoided the injured man.  33-35 "A Samaritan traveling the road came on him. When he saw the man's condition, his heart went out to him. He gave him first aid, disinfecting and bandaging his wounds. Then he lifted him onto his donkey, led him to an inn, and made him comfortable. In the morning he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, 'Take good care of him. If it costs any more, put it on my bill—I'll pay you on my way back.' 36 "What do you think? Which of the three became a neighbor to the man attacked by robbers?" 37 "The one who treated him kindly," the religion scholar responded. Jesus said, "Go and do the same."  A good way for you to define neighbor is, "anyone who needs encouragement." The world needs more extra mile encouragers who help get turtles off fence posts and do what God designed them to do.  Thanks for your time. Go encourage somebody! Jesus loves you and so do we.  https://biblebob.org/how-to-subscribe-to-our-podcast-and-youtube-videos

Getting Through the Darkness of Hard Times 🕯️✝️🕯️  "For thou wilt light my candle: The LORD my God will enlighten my darkness." Psalm 18:28 This podcast/video was recorded inside a cliff dwelling where Native Americans lived many years ago. It was like a city on a hill with a view over the countryside. The reasons they vacated their homes could be many, but obviously they faced the darkness of hard times. Some night seasons that darken the soul are longer than others. Physical pain, emotional pain - relationship pains - can blot out hope of ever changing if you let them. God designed darkness to flee. The sun may disappear over the horizon of darkness, but it surely always reappears with the dawning of a new day. Even the dark of night is dotted with light from the moon and stars. A little light soon gives way to brighter light. Focus on the light within you on your darkest days and know that this too shall pass. You may not see the way forward, but trust that God does. He designed the seasons as he knows the way of your life. The four changing seasons of life are contained in one breath. 1. Exhale and let go. Allow darkness to fall away knowing it won't be with you forever. Let it go like Autumn leaves from trees. Forgive & Release. 2. In the split-second pause in between breaths is a rest. The Shabbat of creation. Growth appears to be frozen in a bleak midwinter. Pause, be still and know - God has a plan for light to come in your darkness. 3. Inhale the freshness of new beginnings in Spring. Just believe, your faith is a seed that will one day leave its place in the darkness under the soil and stretch to new life as it warms to the rays of the Son. 4. When the inhaled air hits your lungs, an explosion occurs. Fresh oxygen is pumped into your blood giving you a biological reset. God provides a fresh start in every breath. Every time we breathe, fresh oxygen enters our bodies, and the waste product of carbon dioxide is removed. A fresh start in every breath. The big picture in life is created one breath at a time. Stale air will leave your body, darkness won't stay in your life. You may have to survive one breath at a time in some seasons, but stay focused on the light for it will surely come to shine brighter with each passing breath. It's only a little light for now, but it will shine brighter as you believe. Yep, you've heard it before, "This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine." This too shall pass. You can get through the darkness of hard times with the light of Christ. He will strengthen you. Even in the darkness - especially in the darkness - it's your time to shine! Thanks for your time. Go do something nice for somebody. Jesus loves you and so do we.  https://biblebob.org/how-to-subscribe-to-our-podcast-and-youtube-videos

Healed After 38 Years! You're Not Down - You're Either Up Or You're Getting Up! Our Bible verse to examine today is John 5:1-16 HCSB. "After this, a Jewish festival took place, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. By the Sheep Gate in Jerusalem there is a pool, called Bethesda in Hebrew, which has five colonnades. Within these lay a large number of the sick — blind, lame, and paralyzed — waiting for the moving of the water, because an angel would go down into the pool from time to time and stir up the water. Then the first one who got in after the water was stirred up recovered from whatever ailment he had. One man was there who had been sick for 38 years. When Jesus saw him lying there and knew he had already been there a long time, He said to him, "Do you want to get well? " "Sir," the sick man answered, "I don't have a man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, but while I'm coming, someone goes down ahead of me." "Get up," Jesus told him, "pick up your mat and walk! " Instantly the man got well, picked up his mat, and started to walk. Now that day was the Sabbath, so the Jews said to the man who had been healed, "This is the Sabbath! It's illegal for you to pick up your mat." He replied, "The man who made me well told me, 'Pick up your mat and walk.' " "Who is this man who told you, 'Pick up your mat and walk'? " they asked. But the man who was cured did not know who it was, because Jesus had slipped away into the crowd that was there. After this, Jesus found him in the temple complex and said to him, "See, you are well. Do not sin anymore, so that something worse doesn't happen to you." The man went and reported to the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well. Therefore, the Jews began persecuting Jesus because He was doing these things on the Sabbath." Here's a couple of definitions to start with:  * Jerusalem = "set ye double peace" * Bethesda = "house of mercy" or "flowing water" * Kairos (time) = a fixed and definite time, the time when things are brought to crisis, the decisive epoch waited for.       A double peace means physical and spiritual peace. You could think of it this way, "on earth as it is in heaven." Bethesda was known as a place for people to get healed. The healings only happened at unknown times. The times came and went before everyone was healed. Only the first one to dip in the stirred-up waters was healed.      One guy had been disabled for 38 years. He had some excuses why he was never able to get into the water first and be healed. Jesus didn't focus on the excuses, he just told him to do three things, "Get up, pick up your mat and walk!" Many teachings in the Bible leave us with a lot of questions. Perhaps the man said thank you, but we don't read about gratitude. We know he was a sinner, because when Jesus met him in the market he said, "See, you are well. Do not sin anymore, so that something worse doesn't happen to you."      What does the healed man do next? It appears the man, after meeting Jesus, immediately goes to the Jewish leaders and says it was Jesus who healed him. There's no way to know for sure, but it seems the man was more interested in gaining favor with religious leaders than he was in giving thanks and praise to Jesus. As soon as he told them about Jesus, the persecution of Jesus began. He must've known from the accusatory interrogation the Jews gave him about carrying his mat on the Sabbath that the religious leaders were only looking to cause trouble.      For crying out loud, a man crippled for 38 years was healed! That's good news worthy of celebration, but instead we have the beginning of persecution. It leaves a bad taste in my mouth. Questions To Ponder 1. Did the disabled man have a victim mentality? When Jesus asked the man, "Do you want to get well?" He answered with excuses. 2. Did the man appear to gain a personal relationship with Jesus? We don't read about him saying, "Thank you!" or "Let me go with you!" 3. If something good happens to you and somebody is unhappy about it, would you trust them? 4. Is the man's failure to physically get to the water an example of failed human effort without the spiritual effort of pursuing the mercy and Grace of God? 5. Would you wait 38 years as people jumped in the water before you? 6. Was it really about the water stirring or the Spirit of God stirring in people who were spiritually hungry enough to just believe? 7. How can you create "double peace?" Thanks for your time. Go do something nice for somebody. Jesus loves you and so do we. biblebob.org

The cholla cactus has about 35 species that grow in many parts of the world. They can hurt you, but they are beautiful in full bloom! "We are often troubled, but not crushed; sometimes in doubt, but never in despair; there are many enemies, but we are never without a friend; and though badly hurt at times, we are not destroyed." 2 Corinthians 4:8-9 GNT The "Jumping" Cactus has the ability to seemingly "jump" onto people or animals. The Jumping Cholla is named for its spiny segments that seem to jump on people when they brush up against them. Because they're barbed, it's difficult and painful to remove them. You probably wouldn't want to "rub elbows" with a cactus! The Teddy Bear Cholla gets its name because it looks soft and fuzzy like a teddy bear you want to hug. Warning! Don't hug a cholla cactus! Its spines are sharp and will easily stick you like a fish hook! Don't cuddle this cuddly looking cactus! You will be painfully sorry if you do! Vibrant Flowers: Despite their tough appearance, Cholla cacti produce beautiful, vibrant flowers. Edible Fruits: While most people avoid the Cholla Cactus due to its painful spines, its fruits are actually edible. Native American tribes, particularly in the southwestern U.S., have historically harvested Cholla buds and fruit, carefully removing the spines before consuming them. Wildlife Habitat: Their spiny branches provide shelter and nesting sites for a variety of desert animals, including birds like the cactus wren and Gila woodpecker. The cactus also serves as a food source for desert tortoises and other small mammals. Cholla Skeletons: Once the cactus dies, its skeleton (the inner wood-like structure) remains and is often used for decorative purposes or crafts. The intricate, lattice-like design makes Cholla skeletons popular in-home décor, furniture, and art. How Can You Be A Cactus Christian? The Cholla Cactus is: 1. Resilient - Christians have the ability to adapt and bounce back from setbacks. 2. Persevering - Christians are overcomers and believe that God will finish the work He began in us. 3. Endurance - comes through the testing of faith. 4. Deep roots - the Bible is the deep well to draw from life is hard. 5. Stores water for dry times - resilience in reserve - memorize Bible verses. The cholla grows where other plants can't. My wife and I met and got married after God used an organization called Climbing For Christ to introduce us to each other. The mission of Climbing for Christ is to go where most people cannot or will not go to reach unreached people. Christians like chollas go to hard places and plant seeds, God brings the growth. Thanks for your time. Go do something nice for somebody. Jesus loves you and so do we. #bibleshortswithbiblebob #ywap4Christ #JLYASDW

Can A Woman Be A Pastor? There are about eight major Christian Denominations who do not allow women to serve as Pastors. The first mention of Pastor in the Bible is in Jeremiah: "As for me, I have not hastened from being a pastor to follow thee: neither have I desired the woeful day; thou knowest: that which came out of my lips was right before thee." Jeremiah 17:16 KJV We find the word in the plural in Ephesians: "And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;" Ephesians 4:11 KJV The verse that most folks camp out on when they say women should not be allowed to serve as Pastors is found in Paul's first letter to Timothy: "A woman should learn in silence with full submission. I do not allow a woman to teach or to have authority over a man; instead, she is to be silent." 1 Timothy 2:11-12 HCSB Why did Paul want women to be silent? When studying a Bible verse, it's always wise to consider these things: 1. Who is the author and what is the purpose of his message? 2. The recipient or audience of his message. 3. The cultural background, customs or way of life. 4. The historical time period. Analyze the context of the message through the lens of these four steps and it will broaden your understanding. Now let's go directly to 1 Timothy 2:11-12. Paul is the author who is writing to Timothy, the Pastor of the church in Ephesus. The city was the home of one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, the Temple of the Greek Goddess Artemis. Men were subservient to women, and the creation story was inverted to give the woman first place and domination over man. The culture of the time period revolved around the superiority of women over men. This served in contrast to Paul's message to Timothy. Many people will interpret this passage differently, but here's my take on it: 1. If a person comes into your church as a new convert or a stranger that nobody knows, would you allow them to teach a lesson or pray over other people? There's a vetting process that investigates the trustworthiness of newcomers. You've got to get to know somebody before you allow them to speak. 2. The Bible is full of women leaders trusted by God to shepherd His people. Deborah was a great leader. In the podcast/video, I mention that Mary, the mother of Jesus, shepherds me through her humble obedience. I am moved to follow her example. The word "Pastors" in Greek is, "poimēn." Outline of Biblical Usage: * a herdsman, esp. a shepherd * he to whose care and control others have committed themselves, and whose precepts they follow * metaph. the presiding officer, manager, director, of any assembly: so of Christ the Head of the church of the overseers of the Christian assemblies of kings and princes "A shepherd in the Near East was responsible for watching out for enemies trying to attack the sheep, defending the sheep from attackers, healing the wounded and sick sheep, finding and saving lost or trapped sheep, loving them, and sharing their lives and to earn their trust." *Taken from the Blue Letter Bible Here's a good question to think about: Is a pastor the title of a job or a spiritual calling? Thanks for your time. Go do something nice for somebody. Jesus loves you and so do we.

Getting your axe together means using God's wisdom to sharpen your decision-making and problem-solving skills and waiting on His best plan for your success.      Pastor Wade and his wife Natalie are the leaders at Passion Vineyard Church in Cottonwood, AZ. If you're looking for an outreach, community-minded place to serve God and your neighbors - THIS IS THE PLACE FOLKS! Today's episode of God Stories was recorded on an axe throwing lane the men's ministry uses as part of their plan to sharpen each other in God's Word and serving the community.       When faced with a big life decision - like selling a house, Pastor Wade and Natalie, while respecting the opinions of the real estate professionals, they chose instead to patiently follow God's leading. His advice was better. This is their God Story. In           Ecclesiastes 10:10 in the Amplified Bible we read: "If the axe is dull and he does not sharpen its edge, then he must exert more strength; but wisdom [to sharpen the axe] helps him succeed [with less effort]."      HBU? Do you have a God Story that will encourage and uplift people who may be facing a hard time or big life decision? We'd love to hear it! Send us your God Story to [email protected] and maybe we can tell it to the world!      Thanks for your time. Go do something nice for somebody. Jesus loves you and so do we. PS. If you'd like to see our axe throwing, please tune into our YouTube Channel at: https://youtu.be/J55p-HV1Mcc #GodStoriesWithBiblebob #Bibleshortswithbiblebob #WhatsYourGodStory #ywap4Christ #JLYASDW

AUTHOR'S NOTE: The video version of this podcast features me watering a garden as I sing the song. The singing is not something you'd probably pay to download from Itunes, but the visuals tell a greater story. Either way, I hope you get to spend a few moments imaginging yourself in the garden with Jesus - just after He walks out of an empty tomb. DO YOU HAVE A GARDEN?  "But Mary [who had returned] was standing outside the tomb sobbing; and so, as she wept, she stooped down and looked into the tomb;" John 20:11 AMP "I Come to the Garden Alone"  I come to the garden alone, While the dew is still on the roses, And the voice I hear falling on my ear The Son of God discloses. Refrain: And He walks with me, and He talks with me, And He tells me I am His own; And the joy we share as we tarry there, None other has ever known. He speaks, and the sound of His voice Is so sweet the birds hush their singing, And the melody that He gave to me Within my heart is ringing. I'd stay in the garden with Him, Though the night around me be falling, But He bids me go; through the voice of woe His voice to me is calling.       "The writer of this lovely song was Charles Austin Miles. He was born in 1868 and became a pharmacist, but his real love was writing poetry and songs to the glory of God. He said this: "It is as a writer of gospel songs I'm proud to be known, for in that way I may be of the most use to my Master whom I serve willingly, although not as efficiently as is my desire." He wrote a number of songs and published them, and this was probably his most famous one. Listen to his own words about this hymn, which I'll quote from a book called 101 Hymn Stories by Kenneth Osbeck:      One day in March 1912, I was seated in the dark room where I kept my photographic equipment and organ. I drew my Bible towards me. It opened at my favourite chapter, John 20—whether by chance or inspiration, let each reader decide. That meeting of Jesus and Mary had lost none of its power to charm. As I read it that day, I seemed to be part of the scene. I became a silent witness to that dramatic moment in Mary's life when she knelt before her Lord and cried, "Rabboni!"      My hands were resting on the Bible whilst I stared at the light blue wall. As the light faded, I seemed to be standing at the entrance of a garden, looking down a gently winding path shaded by olive branches. A woman in white, with head bowed, hand clasping her throat as if to choke back her sobs, walked slowly into the shadows. It was Mary. As she came to the tomb, upon which she placed her hand, she bent over to look in and hurried away. John, in flowing robe, appeared, looking at the tomb. Then came Peter, who entered the tomb, followed slowly by John.      As they departed, Mary reappeared, leaning her hand upon her arm at the tomb. She wept. Turning herself, she saw Jesus standing—and so did I. I knew it was He. She knelt before Him with arms outstretched and, looking into His face, cried, "Rabboni!" I awakened in full light, gripping the Bible with muscles tense and nerves vibrating.      Under the inspiration of the vision, I wrote as quickly as the words could be formed the poem exactly as it has since appeared. That same evening I wrote the music. *Text taken from: lukepowellministries .com/friday-classic-hymns/in-the-garden-story-behind-the-hymn      Imagine yourself looking into the tomb of Jesus. He's not there. You hear a voice behind you. Turning to the sound of the voice, you see Jesus. What does He say to you? Pray within yourself. Imagine being in the garden after the crucifixion and you turn to see Jesus alive.      Thanks for your time. Go do something nice for somebody. Jesus loves you and so do we.

"But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt." Genesis 19:26 The unnamed wife and mother turned, looked, and died. Lot's wife has no name, we know her only by what she became: a pillar of salt. Did the way she died reveal the way she lived? Was she a good woman who just made a fatal mistake of disobedience? "As soon as the angels got them outside, one of them said, "Run for your lives! Don't look back and don't stop anywhere on the plain! Run to the mountains, or you will be swept away!" Genesis 19:17 HCSB Did she deserve another chance after not doing what she was told? Turning someone into a pillar of salt for just taking a peek seems kind of harsh, or is it? Reading about the character of her husband gives us a great contrast in dubious behaviors. Read the whole story, he offered his virgin daughters to perverts outside his door to spare two visitors from being sexually abused. That in itself seems like grounds for becoming a pillar of salt. Instead, it's his wife and mother of his children who becomes the first human saltshaker. One clue we find as we examine the passage through the exposotory lens of ancient Hebrew is the word for the term, "look back." The word in Hebrew is "nabat" (naw-bat.) It means to' regard, look, show regard to, pay attention to, consider." Following the definition further in the Strong's Concordance, we find meanings like, "have respect for, to regard with pleasure, look intently at, favor or care." It's always God's call and He doesn't always give the exact reason He acts, but it seems to me the simple answer would be, look to Christ or look to worldly happenings and pursuits. Make a decision, follow Christ and be obedient to His directions. The Story of A Stone In the Road (Read from the Book of Virtues) A king places a stone in a road and hides behind a bush to see what passersby will do. Three different people go by complaining about the laziness of someone who left a stone in the middle of the road.  A small girl appears at twilight. She's going home after working since early i the morning. She sees the stone and says to herself, "I must move this stone. It's getting dark and someone might trip over it." She pushes and pushes and pushes, until finally she removes the stone from the road. Under the stone was a box with a note that said the box was a gift for whoever moved the stone. Upon opening the box, the little girl found gold. The tree guys who passed by as complainers heard what happened and came back to the spot looking for gold and found nothing. God places people and circumstances in our way and on our way to building our character. Listen to the story and think about what your response has been when you found something left in the wrong place. * Did you blame somebody? * Did you walk in by and do nothing?  * Did you move the problem left by others? * Did you look back and complain? Thanks for your time. Go do something nice for somebody. Jesus loves you and so do we. biblebob.org

When you look at the life of a successful person and you don't know their history, it's hard to imagine them living a different life. In God Story #3, Lori Matthews gives a candid look at the woman she used to be. Lori was a "Santa Claus" kind of Christian. She was living life the world's way and only prayed for what she wanted - as if God is Santa Claus. Life was good, so she believed she must be good - and then God spilled His life-stream all over her. In an event that can only be described as phenomenally supernatural, Lori was in Israel, overcome emotionally in a tomb, which was representative of the burial place of Christ, Lori was physically splattered in red fluid. Lori explains in this podcast/video that she was pretty much a non-practicing Christian at the time this event occurred. Getting emotional about Christ was something that surprised her. After her emotions took control, (or God used them like a burning bush to get her attention,) that's when the Life-blood of Christ poured over her like a flow of new life. She has never been the same as her life drastically took on a new direction. Lori became the Founder/Director of Anew Living - a transitional housing facility for addicted and homeless people. Having no experience in running a nonprofit or social work, her God inspired motel had an 85% success rate for people going through the program and starting life over. Anew Living has been turned over to the Dream Center and continues changing lives. Lori went on to be elected as a Councilwoman for the City of Flagstaff, AZ. She's currently running for a second term. One of the most special things we can say about Lori is her tenacity and the resilience she brings to whatever she's involved in. She didn't just start a mentoring organization; she started mentoring relationships that last lifelong. Thank you, Lori, for your God story. We know He will keep using you to tell more of His story. Jesus loves you and so do we. #ywap4Christ #bibleshortswithbiblebob #JLYASDW

     In 1861, Victor Hugo wrote a work of historical fiction called, "Les Miserables." Our focus today is on redemption of the thief. A man caught stealing bread for his family ends up serving 19 years in prison. When he's finally released, he's forced to wear a yellow tag that says, "THIEF." Nobody will give him a job and he struggles to eat.      A Bishop invites the wretched man experiencing extreme poverty into his home. He feeds him and gives him a place to stay. Having lived most of his life as a victim, he sees the opportunity to steal from the Bishop as perhaps the last chance to improve his miserable life. After the Bishop goes to bed, the man packs the silverware and candlesticks into a bag and sneaks off into the dark of night. The Police catch him' The thief makes up a story and tries to explain that the Bishop gave him the bag full of valuable items as gift. Not falling for the fictitious story, they bring him back to the Bishop.      The Bishop tells the Police that he did indeed give the items to the thief as a gift. He then tells the thief that he forgot some of the candlesticks and proceeds to give the man more to carry off. Imagine that, giving someone who stole from you more than he stole in the first place! He tells the thief to look for a higher plan at work in what's happening.      The Bishop then mentions the Passion and the Blood (of Christ) before telling the thief that God has raised him out of darkness, and his soul has been bought for God. What an incredible story of compassion fueled by the wisdom, insight and knowledge of God. Just as Jesus death on the cross paid the price for our sins and purchased our redemption through salvation, the bishop purchased the thief's freedom from the curse of the law and the penalty for his sin.     "You were bought with a price [you were actually purchased with the precious blood of Jesus and made His own]. So then, honor and glorify God with your body." 1 Corinthians 6:20 AMP       "Christ purchased our freedom [redeeming us] from the curse (doom) of the Law [and its condemnation] by [Himself] becoming a curse for us, for it is written [in the Scriptures], Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree (is crucified);" Galatians 3:13 AMPC As the Blood of Christ purchased our freedom from the law, and we don't receive the punishment the law demands; your offering of generosity is an act of charity and a down payment to purchase freedom from wretchedness for those living miserably. Thanks for your time. Go do something nice for somebody. Jesus loves you and so do we. #bibleshortswithbiblebob #JLYASDW

It's not easy being a young person with a Christian faith in a public school. Sometimes you have to take a stand and defend your faith. In God Stories With Biblebob Episode 2, Jeb Blanchard gives a great description of respectful debate with students who have opposing viewpoints. Jeb was mocked for wearing a "Charlie Kirk Wristband." Students made fun of Jeb and mocked Charlie. If you're unaware of who Charlie is, he was the Founder of Turning Point USA who was assassinated. He was a good man who respectfully engaged in debates about Biblical morality. Jeb defended Charlie and his faith in Jesus Christ. Folks, there's a ton of wisdom here in this short, but powerful episode. ARE YOU INTERESTED IN SHARING YOUR GOD STORY? You might have a miracle story, a story of courage, a story of faith or maybe you want to share how your belief in Christ or reading the Bible changed your life. Have a God story? send us a message, [email protected] Thanks for your time. Go do something nice for somebody. Jesus loves you and so do we. #bibleshortswithbiblebob #JLYASDW

When Uzzah was struck down and killed by God, David was understandably angry. In one of the more puzzling Bible episodes, we discover it's not wise to assume we know how to do things God's way without asking Him. "When they came to Nacon's threshing floor, Uzzah reached out to the ark of God and took hold of it because the oxen had stumbled. Then the Lord's anger burned against Uzzah, and God struck him dead on the spot for his irreverence, and he died there next to the ark of God. David was angry because of the Lord's outburst against Uzzah, so he named that place an Outburst Against Uzzah, as it is today. David feared the Lord that day and said, "How can the ark of the Lord ever come to me?" 2 Samuel 6:6-9 HCSB Nachon = "prepared" A threshing floor is a place of separation as in wheat separated from the chaff or useless part. It's also used as a spiritual metaphor of judgement. Uzza or Uzzah = "strength" By placing the Ark on a new cart, the Israelites were simply using a new way of the world's way instead of moving it God's way. In Numbers 4 we read that the people were not allowed to touch the holy things, but were to use poles; "and when the camp setteth forward, Aaron shall come, and his sons, and they shall take down the covering vail, and cover the ark of testimony with it: and shall put thereon the covering of badgers' skins, and shall spread over it a cloth wholly of blue, and shall put in the staves thereof." Numbers 4:5-6 KJV "When Aaron and his sons have finished covering the sanctuary and all its furniture, as the camp sets out, after all that [is done but not before], the sons of Kohath shall come to carry them. But they shall not touch the holy things, lest they die. These are the things of the Tent of Meeting which the sons of Kohath are to carry." Numbers 4:15 AMPC Staves: Hebrew, baḏ. Meaning: alone, by itself, besides, a part, separation, being alone, a part of the body, branch of a tree, bar for carrying; extended from something, of poles or staves used for carrying the ark. We often rationalize in our carnal minds that if it feels good God - must want us to do it or have it. It's wise to always remember what Isaiah says in chapter 55:9, "For as heaven is higher than earth, so My ways are higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts." David Learns from His Mistakes "For because ye did it not at the first, the LORD our God made a breach upon us, for that we sought him not after the due order. So the priests and the Levites sanctified themselves to bring up the ark of the LORD God of Israel. And the children of the Levites bare the ark of God upon their shoulders with the staves thereon, as Moses commanded according to the word of the LORD." 1 Chronicles 15:13-15 KJV "Because you did not [carry it as God directed] the first time, the Lord our God made an [angry] outburst against us, for we did not seek Him in accordance with the ordinance." [Num 1:50; 1 Chr 13:7-10] So the priests and the Levites consecrated (dedicated) themselves to bring up the ark of the Lord God of Israel. The Levites carried the ark of God on their shoulders with the poles, as Moses commanded in accordance with the word of the Lord."1 Chronicles 15:13-15 AMP David did what seemed right to him without asking what was the right way in the will of God. It may seem like a small thing, but when I forget to pray before doing this podcast/video, they're not as in depth and spiritually accurate as God intends them to be. Sometimes I stumble like the oxen. A good question to ask before making a decision is: "Am I doing this on my own or with God's guidance?" Uzzah whose name means "strength" reached out with man's arm to help the Hand of God. Bad move homie. God doesn't need our help. Uzzah's name comes from the root word, "uz," which means "strength." You've heard of the Israeli invention "the uzzi?" It's name is derived from the same root and means "gun of strength." David took the Ark from the Philistines cart and put it on a new cart. Bad move King! You can't use the world's ways and expect God to bless your efforts. There is a holy way to reach God. We often make a cart of our own desires instead of following His directions found in the Bible. Don't put God on your own cart. Ask Him for His heart before you move or you might stumble like an oxen or get taken out like Uzzah. Just sayin..... JLYASDW

What if You Only Had Forty-Seven Days Left? "Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him. And he will eat with me." Revelation 3:20 ICB  "For everyone who asks receives, and the one who searches finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened." Matthew 7:8 HCSB  "I am the Door; anyone who enters through Me will be saved [and will live forever], and will go in and out [freely], and find pasture (spiritual security)." John 10:9 AMP After today is over, the students in my 7th & 8th Grade classes only have 47 days left in this school year. In only 47 days they'll walk out of the front door of the school. A return is never guaranteed. To see people you know again is never guaranteed. HBU? What if you only had 47 days left or even less? Your opportunity to leave a favorable first impression may have long passed. How you've treated your neighbors, friends, employers, employees, adversaries, classmates, teachers and staff - is how they'll remember you. There's only 47 days to leave a favorable impression- lasting impression. What will folks say of you - years from now, as they look back on these last days? Will they fondly remember you as a kind, helpful and humble soul? At the mention of your name will the word "selfish" come to mind. Let's chew on the number 47 as a snack with Hebrew definitions as our ingredients. The number four in Hebrew is the word, "dalet" and means "open door" and is sometimes referred to as the "poor man (poor in spirit or humble and contrite,) ready to receive. The number seven in Hebrew is the word, "shevah" which means "completion of the cycle or fullness." Today you have before you an open door to complete this day in the fullness of humility. Will you be remembered as one who was teachable, humble, encouraging and willing to help when the need arose? Will you arise to the occasion of the 47 day clarion call? It would be wise to begin your next minute by opening the door of your heart to Jesus. Ask Him how to best treat other people. We take Communion in remembrance of Him. We can love others in remembrance of Him as well and others may remember us as well by living as good neighbors and sharing Christ as the way of loving well. Thanks for your time. Go do something nice for somebody. Jesus loves you and so do we.

Along with Mary: the other ladies listed in the lineage of Christ were Tamar, Rahab, Ruth and Bathsheba. Tamar whose name in Hebrew means, "palm tree," was a destitute widow who, out of extreme desperation, became a fake prostitute. Her first husband was wicked and God took him out. The man's brother, married her, but was wicked and God took him out. The father-in-law Judah then promised (deceitfully) to give Tamar his other son as a husband when he was old enough. When Tamar realized that Judah had no intention of fulfilling his promise, she devised a deceitful plan of her own. She disguised herself as a prostitute. Her father-in-law not recognizing her, fell for the immoral bait and she became pregnant.Tamar became pregnant and gave birth to a son named Perez. His name will resurface a little bit later in our story of the messy lineage of Christ. So, after our fake prostitute we meet a real prostitute. Rahab was a harlot who hid the spies of Israel when their mission of espionage was uncovered. She helped the spies escape, but not before securing a promise to deliver her and her family from God's impending judgement. Rahab wanted to be gone when the walls came tumbling down. Rahab became the mother of a guy named Boaz. So now we've heard about a fake prostitute and a real prostitute who became deceivers because they were so destitute. Moving onto our next equally or perhaps even more lurid story, we have sweet little Ruthie! Everything we read about Ruth in the four chapters that bear her name are positive and pleasant for the most part. We do see Ruth experiencing the death of her husband and then leaves the only home she's ever known to follow her mother-in-law into an unknown future marked with poverty. There must be some skeletons in her closet! We could ask the question, "What is the ancestry of Ruth? Or, we could ask the question, "What is the Incestry of Ruth?" You may remember the story of Sodom and Gomorrah. A land immorality to the max. God's judgement rained down upon the devious people who refused to to turn from their wicked ways. Remember Father Abraham who had many sons? He had a nephew who lived among the depraved degenerates. His name was Lot. He had a wife and two daughters. On the day of God's judgement, they were told to run for their lives and not turn back. Some people just don't listen! Lot's wife turned around to put her eyes on evil being eradicated. In the blink of an eye she became the salt of a tear drop without moisture. Lots wife became the first salt shaker! Jesus told us to remember this episode in Luke 17:32, He said, "Remember Lot's wife." Lot and his daughters escaped and lived in a cave. Hebrew tradition says that the daughters believed the whole world had perished. Not seeing Adam and Eve to start the whole human race all over again, they decided to take the matter of creation into their own hands. They got their father drunk and had had sex with him. Yep folks, there's incest in the ancestry which makes for incestry! Two boys were born, Moab and Ammon. They became the founders of the Moabites and the Ammonites - pagan people who might of just as well have been mosquito bites! Now we go back to sweet little Ruthie - she was a Moabite! You just had to know there was a skeleton in her closet! Ruthie followed her mother-in-law and the two widows walked through the pain of loss and persevered through poverty as they journeyed into the lineage of Christ. They made choices along the way. We still have time to check out one more lady in the lineage of Christ, Bathsheba. Methinks she was in a semi-private place where King David just happened to see her and then temptation took over. I believe this was the wrongful abuse of a woman by a man. I will leave it at that. In 2 Samuel 11:4 we read, "So David sent messengers and took her, and she came to him, and he lay with her." The key words I see that make me feel kind of grimy in my gut are, "took her." That's not a romantic invitation. David commits adultery, has her husband murdered and his child dies. The lineage of Christ has an unbelievable mess bigger than all the steamy soap operas in the history of the world. Bigger than any mess we could possibly conceive or imagine. We are called to be messengers of the Messiah who never met a mess He couldn't anoint with a fresh start. Imagine the mess of a crucified Savior who died to cover the mess of our sins? Jesus is the greatest mess mediator of all time. The word Messiah means, "anointed or anointed one." By carrying the message of the Messiah you are carrying the anointing of Christ - to have and to hold, to give and to share.

Conquering Corner Cutting   "Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully. [Ps. 55:22.]" 1 Peter 5:7 AMPC   The definition of "Cutting Corners" according to the Cambridge Dictionary is: to save money or time when doing something by not including some parts, actions, or details, so that the result is not as good as it could be. Synonyms for "Cutting Corners" according to Thesaurus .com include: conserve, cut down, scrimp, skimp, cut back, be frugal. Cutting Corners is not always a bad thing if it's part of Plan B when Plan A isn't possible. Here's the most important consideration when face with being forced to cutback: Don't cut corners on the intentions of your heart. WHAT IS YOUR GOAL?  Your Goal is Defined by your Purpose and Intention. They are the Adhesives that hold your Plan together. Here's an example from planning a special meal for 180 people at a free food pantry. Plan A included a chili dinner for 180. Due to many circumstances, the possibility of not having enough chili-cookers led to the temptation of cutting corners. Those possibilities multiplied with less volunteers being available. While anxiety over the situation is a natural human response, a pause, (a be still and know God moment,) which led to prayer - a means of casting your burden onto God's shoulders. "Cast your burden on the Lord [releasing the weight of it] and He will sustain you; He will never allow the [consistently] righteous to be moved (made to slip, fall, or fail). [I Pet. 5:7.]" Psalm 55:22 AMPC  The Goal for this outreach is to help people know how Worthy they are To Be Loved. To help make them Feel Special. To Share with them the Joy of Knowing Christ. To Create an Experience where the Peace of Christ, through the Works of Our Hearts causes Overflowing Thankfulness.  Instead of Subtracting all chili due to not having enough chili-cookers, we've urged the few that we do have to press on.   We will Engage in Addition by adding grilled hotdogs. We will Believe In Multiplication by the Spirit to help us Accomplish what our Hearts Set On Christ set out to do in the first place. Today's Assignment Find an example in the Bible of cutting corners. Read it, pray about it and then present what you've learned from it to your class. Learning Objectives Research & Reading Comprehension Presentation Skills & Microphone Competency.   Thanks for your time. Go do something nice for somebody. Jesus loves you and so do we.

In Hebrews 1:7 we read, "And of the angels He says: "Who makes His angels spirits And His ministers a flame of fire." In some translations "the angels are like the winds and servants like flames of fire."       Imagine yourself as being on fire for God with a flame that never goes out! The setting for this podcast/video is at the Eternal Flame in Chestnut Ridge Park located just outside of Buffalo in Orchard Park, NY. Methane gas seeps up through the shale and burns continuously. In the rare times that bad weather causes the flame to go out, its easily reignited by hand.       My focus was not so much on angels, although they are real and the Bible does have a lot to say about them, my focus was more on being an eternal flame for God. If your light goes out, get back in your Bible and get reignited in Christ.       Thanks for your time. Go do something nide for somebody. Jesus loves you and so do we. #ywap4Christ #BibleShortsWithBiblebob #JLYASDW

                    How To Find Real Joy This is the first episode in the launch of our new series, "God Stories With Biblebob."       These are testimonies about what God has done in someone's life. They could be about a miracle, a powerful life-change or simply a cool story about God doing something in everyday life for common folks like you and me.      Today's featured testimony is called, "How To Find Real Joy.," with Author and very well-respected lady known for being extremely gifted in prophetic prayer. Her name is Linda Kuebler, and she just happens to be my Wifey4lifey!      Linda has authored a book called, "Heavenly Happenings - How The God of Heaven Revealed Himself To Me." It's available on Amazon. You can also receive the book by sending a donation of any amount to youthwithapurpose.org/uploads/1/8/2/8/18287293/published/paypal-qr-code.png?1587152356      You can also contact [email protected] and request the book and we'll be glad to tell you how to get it. Thanks for your time. Go do something nice for somebody. Jesus loves you and so do we.

January 8, 2026 What Are Your Limitations? "So I wouldn't get a big head, I was given the gift of a handicap to keep me in constant touch with my limitations. Satan's angel did his best to get me down;  what he in fact did was push me to my knees. No danger then of walking around high and mighty! At first I didn't think of it as a gift, and begged God to remove it. Three times I did that, and then he told me,  My grace is enough; it's all you need. My strength comes into its own in your weakness.  Once I heard that, I was glad to let it happen. I quit focusing on the handicap and began appreciating the gift.  It was a case of Christ's strength moving in on my weakness.  Now I take limitations in stride, and with good cheer, these limitations that cut me down to size—abuse, accidents, opposition, bad breaks. I just let Christ take over!  And so the weaker I get, the stronger I become." 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 MSG A Legless Woman In A Homeless Shelter       In the middle of the night I couldn't sleep - my thoughts were zeroed in on the lady with no legs in a wheelchair.       I'd seen her first in the street in the rain. I tried to talk to her, but she just wheeled herself on by.      Later, inside the Shelter I asked if she wanted something to eat. At first she acted like she didn't understand. I persisted.       Bending down to her level, face to face, it appeared that she combined her limited hearing with reading my lips.      She wanted to know what the meal was as she was limited in what she could eat. I brought a plate back.       As I held the plate, she groaned and bent over trying to spread a red & white crocheted afghan. When I understood what she was trying to do I set the plate down and helped her.      She twisted her small body in the wheelchair and allowed gravity to pull her body down on the afghan. That was her resting place - a thin barrier on the cold concrete floor.      She freed her hands that had been pulled up into her sleeves for warmth and took the plate. She looked up at me and said, "Why?"      I neither understood her question nor did I know what to say. What came out of mouth was, "Because Jesus loves you."       She had a male companion who came and stood beside me. He is in and out of the throes of addiction from the unhealed condition of PTSD. We prayed.      The woman with no legs reached for my hand, looked me in the eye and said thank you.        What happened in the middle of the night is happening again as I write this. This woman had limitations and so do I. My whole heart, soul, mind are going into moisture mode. Yep, that means I'm in tears. Self Reflection Questions Do you see limitations as opportunities? Did you ever recognize a limitation that God gave you to bring you closer to Him? Have you ever helped someone walk through their limitations? How does giving your limitations to God prepare you for success in the future?.   Thanks for your time. Go do something nice for somebody.  Jesus loves you and so do we. biblebob.org

HE SEVEN POVERTY'S OF CHRISTMAS ~ Day 18 The Angels Return To Heaven Christmas was now over and the angels had finished their assignments. It was time to pack their wings and catch a flight back to heaven. Most of them were glad to go back to the Place of No Pain, No Tears & No Sorrows. A few of the angels though, had other ideas. There was a message from Wisdom that seemed to affect them more than the others. The message was, "He desires that none should perish." We may never understand why, but some beings go the extra mile. These angels originated from a rare heavenly lineage of Spirit Messengers. The hallmark of their character was going Beyond Expectations. Wisdom gave them a name, they were called The Beyonders. Before going back to heaven, these angels looked beyond the horizon. From the mountain on which they rested, the angels could almost see the gentle curve of the earth. Each one of them scanned the earth for those who might be succumbing to perishing circumstances. On December 18 when their journey began, the angels had taken notice of a group of Beyonders among the people on earth. They were known as Pastors who acted as Shepherds. They were tasked with teaching people about Love, Humility and Wisdom. The Pastor's had organized an Event With Residual Effects. The event was called Christmas For Kids. Over 1,000 children and their families freely received the blessings of gifts and Encouraging Love. Even a revered figure in human lore called Santa Claus greeted children with a Manger Message of New Beginnings. The Pastor's had hoped the event would plant Seeds of Good Neighborliness. It did that and more. The angels were experts at orchestrating Divine Appointments. They arranged for a man who had traveled from a faraway Perishing Place to connect with one of the Pastor's. The man came from a community where the Perish Root had grown. The angels knew that People Who Perish were not Born To Perish. Life becomes hard and some folks become bitter. Hard lives and bitter hearts become soils where the Perish Root sprouts in despair. After sharing some heart knowledge, the angels caused a Heart-Storm to pass over the Pastor's Heart. He told the man that any leftover gifts would be delivered to the people in the Land of Diminished Opportunity. On the afternoon of December 18 after the first Residual Event was finished, the Pastors loaded the man's truck with Residual Blessings Leftover from the Residual Event. There was a little girl with Humble Desires who lived in the Perishing Place. The people who lived there were good people with hard lives. Opportunity was increasingly perishing which only serves to Accelerate a Perishing Mindset. The little girl was asked what gift she would like for Christmas. Out of the depths of her pure heart she replied, "I want some firewood for my Grandmother so she can stay warm this winter." Humble Desires are Wisdom's Way of using Residual Blessings to Enlarge the Territory of Love on Earth as it is in Heaven. The little girl was given wood and so much more. The Leftover Blessings created a Surplus of Multiplication that Keeps On Giving Beyond Expectations. Go and do likewise. "In the same way, wisdom is sweet to your soul. If you find it, you will have a bright future, and your hopes will not be cut short." ‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭24:14‬ ‭NLT‬‬ "He will not forget the needs of the poor. One day the needy will be remembered, and their hopes will not be forever dashed in disappointment." ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭9:18‬ ‭TPT‬‬ "A shepherd should pay close attention to the faces of his flock and hold close to his heart the condition of those he cares for." ‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭27:23‬ ‭TPT‬‬

THE SEVEN POVERTY'S OF CHRISTMAS ~ Day 17  Doing Life In A Manger Place Twas the day before Christmas and all through the earth, the angels were happy about the pending New Birth! Their week in the world below heaven was almost over. Gladness was mixed with sadness as they knew joy was always one step away from sorrow. In the blink of an eye, life could be turned upside down. Although the Christmas season had been commercially expanded, the reason for the season seem to be getting more lost in the money. That's where folks on earth were finding their value these days. People ignored the fact that money can't buy love and it's useless against loneliness. Still, they persisted in using money as a fake healer. On this 24th day of December, the angels had 24 hours to visit both the Place of Gladness and the Place of Sadness. Despite the opposite nature of their names, these places existed side by side. Old folks who knew Wisdom, were given the ability to look back on the journey of their lives and see how they'd traveled frequently between both places. The angels were energized at being able to lay out a plan for the people called: "Doing Life In A Manger Place." It would be easy for Wisdom to gather all the people on earth and teach them a lesson all at once. That's what a teacher does in a classroom, but the Lesson of Wisdom is only learned through Life. The angels had to utilize Life Lessons to reach both the Teachable and Unteachable. Their is a Final Place of Sadness for Unteachable folks. A Manger Place is small and tucked away in a Humble Heart. The Manger is a Birthplace and Beliefplace. The structure contains beams of gladness held by nails of sadness. Within its walls are sounds of travail and the silence of unspeakable joy.  All things are birthed together for good in the Beliefplace. The Manger has Food for Thought bought with Poverty Money. The Value of Little becomes Greater in the Manger. All creatures Great and Small, there's Room in the Manger for folks who answer Wisdom's Call.  The manger is a place for the tired and poor to Receive Refreshment. The manger is a door to a Peace that Surpasses All Understanding. Some who pass this way may never leave and go back the way they came. Heaven lies beyond the Manger Door. Gladness or Sadness, they both shall pass, Tis better to live Life in a Manger Place. The Landlord is your Savior who will never reject you or abandon you. The life you live was chosen for you and influenced by the choices you make.  The Landlord of the world knew you before you were born. His journey for you is unique. You are Specially Chosen, Highly Valued and Deemed Worthy to carry Beams of Gladness with Nails of Sadness. The sun only rises after darkness has befallen the world. The Son has risen in the Manger Place to redeem a fallen world.  Live your Life in the Manger Place and let the Son rise within you. Joy to the world your Savior's here! Joy to the world it's freedom you hear! Start over again. Be born again. So be it, just believe it and say Amen! "And if I were to be so generous  as to give away everything I owned  to feed the poor,  and to offer my body  to be burned as a martyr,  without the pure motive of love,  I would gain nothing of value.  Love is large and incredibly patient.  Love is gentle and consistently kind to all.  It refuses to be jealous  when blessing comes to someone else.  Love does not brag  about one's achievements  nor inflate its own importance.  Love does not traffic  in shame and disrespect,  nor selfishly seek its own honor.  Love is not easily irritated  or quick to take offense.  Love joyfully celebrates honesty  and finds no delight in what is wrong.  Love is a safe place of shelter,  for it never stops  believing the best for others.  Love never takes failure as defeat,  for it never gives up." ‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭13:3-7‬ ‭TPT‬‬ Coming Next: Back To Heaven Friday, December 24, 2021

THE SEVEN POVERTY'S of CHRISTMAS ~ Day 16 A Mindset In A Manger The angels were glad that their prison visitations were over. Funny thing though, it wasn't as hard as they had made up their minds it would be. The biggest challenge they faced was hearing the taunting voices of the fallen angels. "You too will fall! You won't make it in heaven! Wisdom is too hard for you to understand!"  The taunting put downs stopped when the angels set their minds on things above and things that had fallen. Today is December 23, two days before Christmas when their earthly journey will end. Like Teachers, they would never really know how many lives had benefited from their efforts. The Blessing of Deficit was a heavenly concept that brought an Income of Grace for those who embraced it. Today the angels would enter the territory of the Prison of One's Own Mind. Many people on earth created jail cells in their own bodies. As creation on earth groaned on, the devil had become a Master of Deception by gaining control of most forms of media. Public Communication was manipulated through blatant lies, misinformation and partial truths. The goal of the enemy was to create fear and isolation.  To protect themselves from fear, folks began to quarantine in their own minds. Seclusion became a protection. Segregation became a safety net. Isolation became an acceptable detention. Home confinement became an assurance of immunity. The culture around them became insistent on creating within them a Shelter Mindset. Messages were sent to solidify the Mindset,  "You'll be safe as long as you don't leave your shelter." "There's unsafe people outside your home." "Listen to the media and you'll the truth." People were freely persuaded to imprison themselves in their own mindsets. The angels were awestruck at the simplicity of recognizing the deception that controlled human mindsets. The huddled together to heart-storm and come up with a game plan. They could not intervene, but they could influence. The solution they came up with was to use Billboards to spread positive messages. The Billboards of Mindset Guardians *Discard corrosive thoughts. *Develop positive thoughts. *Deal with damaged memories. *Identify dangerous temptations. *Study Wisdom to avoid deception. *Defend against becoming offended. *Guard against becoming overwhelmed. *Don't allow your mind to wander into misleading news. *Reject falsehoods immediately. *Create a clean mind. *Allow only mindsets that stir up, build up and cheer up. The greatest Mindsets of all are a Giving Mindset and a Gratitude Mindset. God gave us a Mindset in a Manger as a gift of Truth that Sets us Free from worldly mindsets of sin. Receive Him, be grateful for Him and share Him. "Embrace the power of salvation's full deliverance, like a helmet to protect your thoughts from lies. And take the mighty razor-sharp Spirit-sword of the spoken word of God. ‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭6:17TPT‬‬ "For although we live in the natural realm,  we don't wage a military campaign employing human weapons, using manipulation to achieve our aims.  Instead, our spiritual weapons are energized with divine power to effectively dismantle the defenses behind which people hide.  We can demolish every deceptive fantasy that opposes God and break through every arrogant attitude that is raised up in defiance of the true knowledge of God.  We capture, like prisoners of war, every thought and insist that it bow in obedience to the Anointed One." ‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭10:3-5‬ ‭TPT‬‬ Coming Next: The Christmas Place

THE SEVEN POVERTY'S of CHRISTMAS ~ Day 15 Generational Jail Cells When Wisdom had given the angels instructions for Christmas week, they were never given advance notice about where they would go. All they knew is that they'd visit a region somewhere on earth. Now the earth is nowhere near as vast as heaven, but there was still a lot of ground to cover. Within the domain of the earth were miniature replicas of what people would experience in their lives beyond their present world. Freedom and Bondage existed in many different forms. Prisons were physical, mental, emotional and spiritual. Freedom was represented by a Peace that Transcends All Understanding in this world and the next. The angels referred to the earth as the Circle of Clay. They knew it had been created and shaped by Wisdom. The people who lived there existed in mortal bodies that were perishable with a Limited Time of Survival. The angels called them the Clay People. Clay could only be shaped for a time and time and a half. For the angels, time is of the essence to prepare the people for life after their bodies perished.  Today's mission for the angels on December 22 was to visit those imprisoned in jails. The angels would rather not go. They had read the stories in the Angelic Archives of Antiquity about the Fallen Angels. Wisdom had cast them away from heavenly freedom into the bondage of a Fiery Abyss. Nonetheless, they knew their mission was extremely important and unavoidable. On the Northeastern Coast of the country with the highest incarceration rate in the world was a Family Prison. The United States was the leader in jailing its citizens. Young people grew up without dads who were in prison. Time in jail was expected and accepted as something a man had to do. Time away from the neighborhood was called a Vacation. Some guys never met their fathers until they were locked up together. The angels were spread out over America and instructed to go behind bars on a Time Sensitive Rescue Mission. One of the angels was directed to the Paradidomi Penitentiary. A grandfather was doing a sentence of life without parole for murder. His son was sentenced for conspiracy under the Rico Law for gang activity and was serving 20 years to life. The grandson had just arrived to serve 8-10 years on a burglary charge.  Grandpa was serving in the Prison Ministry while his son was involved in gangster activities. The newly arrived grandson was eager to follow in his dads footsteps. He told his friends that he had gangster blood. He'd never met Grandpa before. When he heard he was a Jailhouse Deacon, he wanted nothing to do with him. The angel needed to influence the youngster fast before he was hardened beyond reach. The angel knew of a triple murderer who'd learned the Way of Wisdom and wanted to help younger guys steer clear of trouble. He worked in the kitchen and was given great liberties by the Warden because of his record of helping guys change their lives. The angel opened a door for the youngster that was too hard to refuse. Soon, without realizing what was happening, he was being tutored by an Old Gangster with Wisdom. SEVEN INSIGHTS FOR INMATES It's better to be accepted as you are instead of changing to be accepted. Avoid trouble to find safety. Joining a Faith Community is safer than joining a Fighting Community. Deal with your emotions before they control your behavior. It's okay to be vulnerable with guys you trust. Write your struggles, emotions and causes in an Attitude Journal. Admitting your weaknesses and seeking help is an act of power. "At last we have freedom, for Christ has set us free! We must always cherish this truth and firmly refuse to go back into the bondage of our past." ‭‭Galatians‬ ‭5:1‬ ‭TPT‬‬ "You will be a light to shine for all people.  You will help the blind to see.  You will free those who are in prison.  You will lead those who live in darkness  out of their prison." ‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭42:6-7‬ ‭ICB‬‬ Coming next: Guardians of The Mindset

THE SEVEN POVERTY'S OF CHRISTMAS ~ Day 14 Multiple Streams of Poverty The angels seemed to be up against more than they had bargained for. The people were spending much more than they had. Christmas was turning into the Season of Spending Beyond Reason. Folks went overboard in making materialistic purchases hoping to provide proof of their love. Today is December 21 and the angels were assigned to cover the Middle Class & Poorest Communities all over the world. People who lived in these neighborhoods were often living on the borders of desperation. They could be easily enticed into believing that overspending would bring them happiness. Overspending was only one of the Multiple Streams of Poverty, but it could be the catalyst in opening the floodgates of Greater Poverty. The devil and his deadbeat parasites were well-versed in Wisdom's Plan of Truth for Life. They had become experts at Twisting Truth. The evil sycophants knew that untaught and unstable people could be manipulated by False Hope. They sold lies that were easily bought by people whose hearts were easily deceived. One particular house with a peculiar red haze over it caught an angel's attention. The breath of wickedness hovered like a poisonous vapor over an apartment complex. A single mother was alone in bed as her five children slept nearby. One of the Fiends of Evil knelt by her bedside. Being alone, the woman was desperate to hear any voice that would give hope to her aching soul.  Christmas would be here soon and though not quite penniless, there wasn't much money to cover the Dreams of her children. To make matters worse, her wealthy sister was always rubbing her nose in shame as she bragged about her abundance and prosperity.  The woman's pillow was drenched with tears. She cried out loudly hoping someone would hear and take pity on her sad situation. She opened her mind to any possibility that might exist. In that opening, the Fiend of Evil seized an opportunity and began speaking to her. "I can help you. I have a way. The Secret is the Spending Way. Spend all you have. Spend all you don't have. Borrow to Spend More. You're a good woman and you deserve to Spend like your sister does." The woman's crying ceased as she allowed the words of the Fiend to seep into her mind. Unfortunately the darkness had just begun to spread and was about to become more twisted. The Fiend continued its lies, "Now I will give you the greatest Spending Secret of All. I know you believe in Wisdom and the Truth you learned as a child. Listen to what the Truth says, 'And my God will liberally supply (fill until full) your every need according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus." The Fiend almost shouted into her heart, "Don't you see? You can Spend Everything Always and All Your Needs Will Be Always Be Fully Met!" The angel heard enough of the Fiends Lies and Deception. Although they weren't allowed to directly intervene, angels could use the Power of Influence. The angel entered the room with the sound of a mighty rushing wind. Its presence was like a Shining Star reflecting the Light of the Son. The brilliance of Light caused the Fiend to flee.  The warmth of serenity filled the woman's room. The Light penetrated her heart and shined on a remembrance long forgotten. It caused her to recall a Manger Story she'd heard as a child. A Baby was Born in a feeding for animals. The Child's parents probably had less material possessions than she did.  By her bed was a nightstand with a copy of Wisdom and Truth. Her tears returned as she opened it and began reading.  "Not that I speak from [any personal] need,  for I have learned to be content [and self-sufficient through Christ,  satisfied to the point where I am not disturbed or uneasy]  regardless of my circumstances.  I know how to get along and live humbly [in difficult times],  and I also know how to enjoy abundance and live in prosperity.  In any and every circumstance  I have learned the secret [of facing life],  whether well-fed or going hungry,  whether having an abundance or being in need.  I can do all things [which He has called me to do]  through Him who strengthens and empowers me [to fulfill His purpose-- I am self-sufficient in Christ's sufficiency;  I am ready for anything and equal to anything  through Him who infuses me  with inner strength and confident peace.]  Not that I seek the gift itself,  but I do seek the profit  which increases to your [heavenly] account [the blessing which is accumulating for you].  And my God will liberally supply (fill until full)  your every need  according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.  To our God and Father be the glory forever and ever.  Amen." Philippians 4:11-13, 17, 19-20 AMP The woman recognized how Evil had Twisted Truth to Deceive her. Had she listened, her family would have Increased the Streams of Poverty and Enlarged their Plight.  Out of the pages of Wisdom and Truth fell some notes she had taken the last time she had taken the kids to church. She silently read the words. 1. Spend only what you have.  2. Don't obtain money in ways that deny God the opportunity to provide. 3. Don't sacrifice future peace for profit in the present. 4. The Gift of Love is immaterial and more meaningful than money. 5. Having faith is not a credit card with God. 6. Focus on what you can leave this world with. 7. Count the cost. Have a Plan. Keep a Record. "I know what it means to lack,  and I know what it means to experience  overwhelming abundance.  For I'm trained in the secret  of overcoming all things,  whether in fullness  or in hunger.  And I find that the strength of  Christ's explosive power  infuses me to conquer every difficulty." ‭‭Philippians‬ ‭4:12-13‬ ‭TPT‬‬ Coming next: Poverty Roots