Preparation

See, I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me. Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, will come," says the LORD Almighty.
Malachi 3:1

When you are expecting company how do you prepare for them? Do you make changes concerning the accommodations? How do you prepare for there arrival? Many of us care very much about those love ones and friends so we prepare for there arrival with love and care.
While making the preparations we look to visit every detail in order to please those who we are expecting. Our efforts concerning usually take us outside of our ordinary in order to present a great impression.
Are you prepared for the arrival of our Lord and King Jesus the Christ?

The prophet Malachi wrote, “See, I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me. Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, will come," says the LORD Almighty.” (Malachi 3:1) Now is the time to prepare for Him who has prepared a place for us in His kingdom. What is your message? How is it fashioned? Is it fashioned to the Lord of Glory?
Mark in his witness to our Lord writes this, “The time has come," he said. "The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!"(Mark 1:15)To all of us alive by the grace mercy and love of God this is the message. .In this message we set forth the preparation of the coming of our Lord Jesus the Christ. It isn’t fashioned by the ideals of this world through its dogmas concerning the worship of God nor is it matriculated in a manner that is found by the wisdom of this world. Is is not predicated upon our deeds or actions. It is written on our hearts by the Holy Spirit as He bears witness to our Lord and King Jesus the Christ. All of creation will line up with His coming. It is already apparent in the changes of our natural world as it groans for the coming of our Lord. It’s preparation in the Spiritual is contingent upon our receiving and believing the truth of the death, burial and resurrection of our Lord through the Spirit of God. Nothing else.
Is Christ the Lord over every area of your life? Is your death to this world apparent in your message concerning the Lord of glory? Is it predicated solely upon Him? Have you gone into the wilderness areas of your life in order to proclaim the message of the cross? Is that message the witness of love hung on the tree for us?
In order for us to proclaim the good news of the cross we have to believe it. Allow the Holy Spirit to enter your dwelling in order for the power of God to lead you to salvation. Not only for us as believers but for those who encounter that witness through us. Remember that preparation begins with Christ living in us. Allow Him to be Lord of your life. The time has come! Repent for the kingdom of Heaven is at hand (Matthew 3:2) the sooner we prepare the temple the sooner He will return. Lets not get it twisted He will return if we are prepared or not It is in that preparation that the glory of God will be presented to us. Without Christ there is no eternal life for us.
Pray and ask the Lord to prepare His way in your heart today. Ask him for His power to remove the barriers present in your life that hinder the message of the coming of our Lord. Amen

Him who overcomes I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will he leave it. I will write on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on him my new name.
Revelation 3:12

Peacemaker

Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
Matthew 5:9

Congratulations are in order for our President and his award from the Noble Prize committee. Certainly there are a number of challenges available to President Obama but the root to solving them is founded in peace.
I believe that a heart that is genuine towards his ambitious goals concerning peace will prevail in a world in need of it. I do not believe in coincidences and that during this time and season President Barack Obama is the right leader to usher in an attitude of peace through this nation and the world. Many of the challenges present in this nation and world stem from an attitude of indifference and ignorance when confronting the diverse nature of cultures. There is a piece in scripture that the apostle Paul touches on concerning the choice and placement of leaders as it relates to the agenda of the Kingdom of God. He writes;

Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.
Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.
For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? Do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:

Romans 13:1-3

In a world in need of an attitude adjustment President Obama is that breath of fresh air and the vessel willing to work towards the good for mankind and not for evil. There are times when his decisions and choices are not perfect, none of us are, but to his credit his humility and perseverance speaks of a heart that seeking to please God and his fellow man. Applaud him for his efforts and express gratitude for his service so far to this nation and world.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace , longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
Galations 5:22

Christ Crucified

So where does this leave the philosophers, the scholars, and the world’s brilliant debaters? God has made the wisdom of this world look foolish. Since God in his wisdom saw to it that the world would never know him through human wisdom, he has used our foolish preaching to save those who believe. It is foolish to the Jews, who ask for signs from heaven. And it is foolish to the Greeks, who seek human wisdom. So when we preach that Christ was crucified, the Jews are offended and the Gentiles say its all nonsense
1Corinthians 1: 20-23

One of the most effective ways to reach people for Christ is presented in this piece of scripture. The Apostle Paul experienced first hand the power of Christ crucified with his experience on the Damascus road.
Christ crucified works not by what we can see or touch. Neither is it manifested in the process of mans theory or philosophy. It can not be comprehended through the dogmas of man and his way to worship.
To those whose philosophy is based on the concept of karma or deeds will come to find out that Christ crucified confounds that notion. Man and his ability to reason with the effects of sin and death is contrary to the power of God which is presented through Jesus Christ crucified. Christ crucifixion becomes offensive to those who hold on to the processes of this world and its application to sin. It becomes nonsense to those who look to the wisdom of men to deliver mankind from the challenges it faces in every facet of our lives.
It was love manifested by the Spirit of God that presented His son to the cross to save us. (John 3:16) Nothing else. When we preach Christ crucified we proclaim the love of God unconditionally in order for the Spirit of God to manifest the glory of God. It is available only when we proclaim the death, burial, and resurrection of our Lord and apply it in every area of our lives. Not only in the presence of His precious Saints and body but also to those who do not believe.
Delivering the message of the cross is one that can be challenging to this world. Armed with the Spirit of God and the power of the risen Christ can we accomplish the mandate (Matthew 28:19) set before us by our risen King. To the Jews it is an offense (the traditions and religion) and to the Gentiles it is nonsense (the non believers and those who put there faith in this world).
Today continue to allow Christ to be crucified in your life. Understand and know it is the power of God that leads to salvation.
Ask the Lord today to allow you to see the cross and its message. Thank Him for His power to give us life through the cross. Bless him for giving you the opportunity to embrace it in every area of your life. Amen.
Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men,
and the weakness of God is stronger than men
1 Corinthians 1: 25

The Footstool Of God : Print of the Week Worship VI

In the past whenever I encountered the phrase "Footstool of God" I engaged the perception of His footstool being all of His creation. King David writes in Psalm 99;5 this phrase;"Exalt ye the LORD our God, and worship at his footstool; for he is holy. As I continue to grow in faith I begin to realize that His footstool is greater than I can imagine. Everyday he encourages my attitude of worship as I relinquish all that am to Him. It is in this place that I exercise the choice to rest at the feet of the creator. The prophet Isaiah gives a wonderful insight as to the result of surrendering to this position before the Lord. In the 66 chapter and 23 verse it becomes tangible. It reads,"And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the LORD. .
There will be a time in all of our lives where we will engage the footstool of God. All of us will bow down before the King of Glory. My choice is to exercise that option now. Please do not hold out until His judgement comes upon you. The end result will have eternal consequences that none of us were made to bare. The heavens and the Earth are His footstool and in them His glory is revealed. Appreciate and worship Him in all that he has created.
Amen.

Worship VI is available for auction at the artist ArtByUs portfolio.

His Presence

For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling. My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, so that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power.
1 Corinthians 2: 2-5

One of the most effective ways I found in communicating Christ is demonstrated when our hearts and thoughts take on the fear of Him. I can identify with the apostle Paul in this passage concerning the weakness and fear. The message then becomes one that is presented with the power of God and not our own. The wisdom of men is unable to deliver the power because it is birthed in the hearts of man and not the breath of life distributed by God the Father through our Lord Jesus the Christ and the Holy Spirit. Only in the presence of the trinity can the substance that is hoped for matriculate into the promise and glory of God concerning those who believe Him. Without faith it is impossible to please Him. (Hebrews 11:6) If we can see it and control it it no longer belongs to God. Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. (1 Corinthians 2:9) We have not seen it yet or heard it or has it entered our hearts. This means that daily there is an opportunity to benefit from the presence of God. (Psalm 68:19)The power that rest with the fear of God is available to all of us. Let it be the resource we use to present the gospel of our Lord Jesus the Christ instead of the wisdom of men. Remember He is Lord and King. He will return to be seated on his throne for ever and ever. (Eternity) Love someone today. Spend time in the presence of the Lord so that you can effectively present a witness hinged on the power of God and not the wisdom of men.
Amen.

One Limited Edition Fine Art Print

One of the artist inspiring pieces it centers around the image of marriage as the artist see it out of the book of Genesis 2:24 It reads: Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh. 25 And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed. I imagined the man with the women attached climbing through the stars on the wind of the glory of God as he breathes on them to keep them attached throughout eternity.. Wow!Print comes signed by the artist with a Certificate of Authenticity

Available for bidding at our ArtByUs portfolio

Windswept Limited Edition Fine Art Print Of The Week

This image was rendered in remembering those times when nothing else will do but a fresh wind from above. It presents us with the opportunity to rest and trust God through our challenges and circumstances.

"Thou liftest me up to the wind; thou causest me to ride upon it, and dissolvest my substance."

Job 30:22

Allow God to deliver you from those substances that hinder your ability to live

Windswept is available at auction at our ArtByUs portfolio

Poster of the Day: Jehovah Shalom

This poster is a Limited Edition set at 24 prints. It will be available through September 5 at 5pm Eastern time. Please be encouraged to bid for 70% of the proceeds will go to the Salvation Army to assist homeless children and families in the Phoenix area.

Poster of the Day

Today's poster "First Fight" is available for bidding at our ArtByUs portfolio.
This poster is a Limited Edition set at 24 prints. It will be available through August 28 at 5pm Eastern time. Please be encouraged to bid for 70% of the proceeds will go to assisting homeless children and families in the Phoenix area.

Daily Auction of Posters and Images.

Starting Tuesday August 25 Mirhez Images will publish new images and posters at it's auction at our ArtByUs portfolio


Please be encouraged to participate. Seventy percent or more of the proceeds are donated to charities of the artist choosing or those selected by Artbyus.

The Power Of The Cross

For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.
For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
1 Corinthians 1:17,18

As I attemempt to analyze these statements i begin to realize that the true witness of the cross is not the words we sometime speak or preach. Neither is it the symbolism that accompanies relegious dogmas or tradition. The witness of the cross is realized and proclaimed by the heart as it dies to the nature of the world and becomes alive in the power of the Holy Spirit. As a living testimony of God's resurrection power we begin to come alive by the three virtues of the cross which begin with death, then the burial, and of course the resurrection. These three powerful acts of the cross is foolish to the natural world because it is contrary to what the world believes. The apostle Paul presents a very valid point when he emphasized in his writing that it is foolishness (ill-considered; unwise)
to them that are perishing. ( 1 Corinthians 1: 18) Try to explain to someone that Jesus Christ is the son of God to someone who is bent on believing that He is not is like teaching an aligator to speak Latin. With words and actions it is impossible. To illustrate to them that the trinity exist is like pulling teeth from a great white shark. I believe the only way you can succesfully pull teeth from a great white is to kill it. Get my point. So in other words the words that we speak sometimes as believers do not effectively translate or present a witness to the unbelievers who are challenged by traditon, religion and wordly wisdom.
In order for an effective witness to live in the realm of these umbelivers we have to illustrate the Love of God not only with words but with our living example. For myself it is accomplished with a daily communication with God through prayer, meditation, faith , fellowship and by the word of God. as we grow in these area's our witness to the Lord Jesus the Christ becomes more powerful and effective. We have to go into those places where the spirit of God is dead and become a witness to the light of the world by shinning brightly in those areas. But remember in order for our light to shine we have to have oil(exodus 25:6) for the lamp. (Revelation)
As we move closer to the coming of our Lord Jesus the Christ lets realize that in some of those instances were we witness the Spirit Of God has already preceeded us. (Acts 18:9) It is by our witness weather the spirit of God that was presented either lives or dies. As Christians we are to be a living witness to the Death, Burial, and Resurrection of the Lord Jesus the Christ. This means that the ways of the world need to die in us, the nonsense and wisdom of the world needs to be burried with us, and the resurrection power of God should lives in us through our Lord Jesus the Christ. That resurrection power is demonstrated through Love. (John 3:16) There should be healings, deliverance,transformations and testimonies to the miraculous power demonstrated in each witness. As I close there is one scripture that presents a powerful promise of God as we bear witness in these truths .It says; Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.(Romans 10:11)
Take the Holy Spirit with you today and allow Him to live in every area of your life
Amen

Jehovah Shalom

Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation.

Isaiah 12: 2

Finding peace in the midst of our daily lives can present a challenge for us. Without the presence of a covenant keeping fair and just Lord we become slaves to the very issues that he bled and died for.. As we swing into the later part of this year it is those issues that we chose to take on in our own strength that will remove us from the refuge and shelter provided by Him. Notice how in the Old and New Testaments the witnesses of God's glory visits those issues that are present when we make the choice to exclude God and not allow him in the presence of our circumstances or challenges. Psalm 91 opens with this jewel of wisdom . It reads
" He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High( God the Father) shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.(God the Son (Jesus))
I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress( the Holy Spirit): my God; in him will I trust."
It is in this manner that we find His pleasure and protection. It is a act that is contingent upon a choice made of self.. No one can make it for you, coach you to it ,or encase it in a building, club, clck , or culture. It is written and programmed into your heart. It was and still is God's intention to be Lord over your present life and your eternal one. Allow him to be Lord Jehovah and the peace for you today. Take time to trust Him in all of your affairs. Let Him be your saving grace and the sweet and glorius song off your lips. Remember He is your salvation
Amen

First Fight

It is somewhat relational concerning the first fight and the fighting that presents itself in our lives on a continual basis. Lets look at the first fight and find the similarities.

And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering. But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell. And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen? If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him. And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him. And the LORD said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother’s keeper? Genesis 4: 2 - 9

Every day of our lives we struggle with the issue that set off Cain. Most of the time it is not in relationship with pleasing our Father in Heaven, but our own selfish motives. We make statements like I can't stand him/her concerning a co worker, relative, neighbor or aquaintance. Usually it is driven by pride as it relates to who is superior. We make comments about those in leadership for instance the current administration in Washington D.C. that is attacked on all sides because it doesn"t live up to a standard raised by the party opposite of the one thats in position. Why can we not encourage our brother in his effort to do well? Where is the harm in expressing love instead of hate or division. In Matthew 7 Jesus kind of hints at the solution to solving this issue. He says,

"Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye." Matthew 7: 4,5

Usually the root of the fighting or issue is one that identifies with self. The very issue we struggle with is usually magnified to a point that it kills the life or opportunity that is presented to make us better. Understand that God did not respect what Cain was offering. To the contrary He respected Abel's. As a result in his blindness and misunderstanding Cain slew his brother.

My prayer is that as we take a look at this fight to get a clear understanding of how to be our brothers keeper. In the end lets not wage war over differences in culture, race, money, status, class,and position. Lets take our example from our God who hung his only begotten on a tree in order to have a relationship with us for an eternity. One that is matriculated in love not hate regardless of our failures.

Amen

Resurrection

The third and final part of my trio of images is Resurrection. It is in this part that we come to take part in what God had in store for us in the first place, Paradise. As in his example it is only by faith that we enter into this virtue. Ever get that feeling when you rest in God that peace and joy that can not be explained. You can't describe it to no one because each time it overwhelms the soul. Visit this scene in the book of Acts that blows the doors off of the whole experience. Check out this illustration of Christ ascending onto the Father

But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven." Acts 1: 8-11

Also in this piece it indicates that our Lord will return and recieve us unto Him. Just writing about it produces a shout in me. It's that same feeling that you get when the thing you are most passionate about exceeds abundantly above all you can ask or think. Wow!!

Allow that power that rose Christ unto the Father the opportunity to resurrect those disasters and dead situations in you life. There is nothing more powerful than allowing the God of Heaven and Earth the opportunity to pull you up by your bootstraps to share in his Glory

Amen

Amen

Burial

In this second image of the trio, part of the activity written by God for the cross was presented in the burial. Scripture says that Christ died and was risen three days later. It is interesting that in that process he is presented the opportunity to bury all that was placed on Him at the Cross. This has to take place in order for Him to ascend to the Father. Here is an illustration of what took place.

" I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death." Revelation 1:18

Notice in this piece from the book of Revelation that our Lord had to enter that place to take back what belonged to him. The keys to death and hell. That opportunity is afforded to us on a regular basis. Our victories come when we are able to bury those issues that torment us and challenge us in our lives. It is when we take it and leave it beneath us when the Lord of Glory presents us with life . Understand that it is a process that we have to grab hold of on a continual basis. God knows our challenges, but he also knows our strengths. The apostle Paul hints on this as he writes in the letter to the Romans in the 12th chapter. Notice he speaks of transformation. . check it out,

"And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. Romans 12:2

Unless the burial process is in place it becomes very challenging to line up with the Kingdom of God concerning the will he has for our lives.

Amen