It's Gotta Stop...We Gotta Start!

As I sit here blogging this evening, once again I am hearing yet another report of a child who has died due to being abused. This time it is the 2-year old son of a NFL football player. I along with many people in my city, are still in shock over a case of child abuse done to a month old baby. Local authorities say that it is the worst case of child abuse that they have ever seen. This one month old child suffered from multiple broken bones, as well as other injuries. More and more, children are the victims of abuse, and many are coming up missing. It is a very sad state of affairs! Who would intentionally abuse or hurt a sweet, innocent, and helpless child? No one in their right mind would! It would take someone who is totally out of their mind to do such a thing!

Each time that I hear of such a thing happening, I also hear people saying how angry and how disgusted it makes them feel, how sick it makes them feel inside, what they would do to punish the one who committed this abuse. I must admit, I am angered by these things happening too, but I am more angered by those who have the power to prevent these things from happening, but don't do so! What do I mean and who am I talking about when I say those who have the power to prevent it? I am talking about all of us who say that we are a Christian, a child of God, Spirit-filled and blood washed, those who say that they love the Lord, and who are so blessed and highly favored. Mind you, I am not poking fun, I am not doubting your claims, nor am I saying anything to the contrary. I am angered because we as believers are sitting back and allowing God's enemy, satan, cause all of the abuses brought against children. I said earlier, that it would take someone who is totally out of their mind to do such a thing to a child...well guess what?...the abuser is out of his mind, he or she is operating with satan's mind. I know that many reading this, is probably thinking that I am out of my mind...guess what?...I am out of my mind, I have Christ's mind! Let's face it...either we have the mind of Christ, or we operate with satan's mind...one or the other! The sad thing is that the whole world lies in darkness and doesn't even know it, being controlled by satan, and under his influence! Before you get mad, remember that if you are a child of God, that is if you have received the Spirit of God to live in you, then you are not of the world. When I say world, I am not talking about the physical planet, I am talking about those people who are not of God, who don't have God's Spirit in them, who have never received Jesus as their personal Savior and Lord. When people commit these horrible crimes, they are being controlled by satan. They are not in their right mind (the mind of Christ).

God put this earth's rulership into the hands of man! In Genesis 1:26, God gave mankind dominion over the entire Earth, over every animal, demonic powers, time and space, matter...everything but other men. Isn't it funny that we can exercise authority over other men, the thing that we don't have authority over...but we don't exercise authority over what God assigned us to exercise authority over. He said, "Let them have dominion", not "Let Us have dominion". He put us (believers) in charge of this earth, and that means in charge of the powers of darkness also. If this is true, and we know that it is because God said so, then why do believers keep begging God to do something about this abuse and about all of the crazy things that are happening in the world today? Why aren't we exercising our delegated authority over it? We spend too much time begging God, instead of commanding satan, while satan is doing everything that he wants to do...dividing men, economic woes, causing racism and hatred to run rampant in the earth, deception, adultery and fornication, murders, natural disasters, terrorism and every evil known to man.

Why does the body of Christ not want to rise up against our enemy satan? It is easier to hate someone who we can see, someone with skin on. Why do we keep attacking one another when God has plainly told us that another man or women, is NOT our problem. I know that satan is loving what he is seeing today. All of his evil has been permitted to take place whenever and wherever he wants it to!

Believers must rise up. We must be the light that shines in this darkness. We must not continue to sit back and allow satan to control the earth that God put us in control of! God is not going to do what He has given us power to do! I know that many believers will disagree with what I am saying, but God said it to us, I am only saying what is in His Word!

The world is lost. It is blind. It lies in darkness, and doesn't even know it! It is going to hell, if it does not change. Change what? Change rulers, change kingdoms, change governments, change its allegiance. People in the world has satan as its leader...they are a citizen of his kingdom, under his government, giving him their allegiance!

We who are God's ambassadors in the earth, are here to invade enemy territory, we are here to bring God's government to earth, we are here to shine forth as God's light, we are here to turn the hearts of men from satan to God, from darkness to light, we are here to intercede. We are here to take over! We must put a stop to what satan has been free to do. We can no longer just sit by and hope that God will just step in and do something. We must be good stewards. The power has been put into our hands. It is up to us!


John 3:19

And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

Isaiah 60:2 

For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people

Ephesians 5:11

And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.

Ephesians 4:18

having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart

2 Corinthians 4:4

whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them

Heaven on Earth: You Can Have Your Own Garden of Eden Now!

Well, it's been a while since I posted last. Just decided to post today, as I am really enjoying this simply beautiful day that God has blessed us with. The fall temperatures are slowly coming in, and the cool breezes are starting to blow, and I am so overjoyed! I have spent most of today outside, pampering my plants, and enjoying breakfast on the patio, followed by bible study and conversation with my Heavenly Father. It is so peaceful outdoors. I am sitting here watching two squirrels having fun together, running along the top of our wood fence. Two blue birds are flying from one place to the other, and enjoying themselves also, as well as a red bird that seems to know that I am trying to capture him on film, because each time that I gently try to press the camera button, he quickly flies away! Yes it is a he, because a lady bird would have posed for the picture. Butterflies and hummingbirds are fluttering and flying everywhere. The pots of plants that I have been potting for the last two or three months, seem to be at home now! I remember saying when we moved here, that I wanted my backyard to be a sanctuary and a garden of Eden...it is that! When I looked up the word Eden, this is what I found: E"den (?), n. [Heb. ēden delight, pleasure; also, a place of pleasure, Eden.] The garden where Adam and Eve first dwelt; hence, a delightful region or residence. When I sit out there and see the many birds, the beautiful green foliage and trees, the many colored flowers, I see life, I see hope, I see God... and it gives me pleasure. God has so many ways of showing us His presence, and teaching us lessons. I know that it does not take long when watching television, or listening to people's conversations...that it is a turbulent time. Many things are happening all around us. Reports of crimes in many places, unemployment everywhere, everyday reports of people being diagnosed with one disease or another, depression, natural disasters, debt and poverty...things that can destroy your peace, steal your hope, and things that can cause us to decide to just check out of here. God is showing me that His Word is absolutely true, that in the midst of the world's chaos, His children can enjoy total peace! With trouble all around, we can have our personal Garden of Eden, right there in the midst of it! It is not that I am not concerned about what others are experiencing, but God did promise us that as believers that dwell in His "secret place", we would not have evil come upon us, any plague come nigh our dwelling. We live in His shelter. Psalm 91 says that what plagues the world, would not plague us who dwell in the secret place of the Most High God! He is our shelter, our protection, our refuge. We have to choose to believe His Word, then we have to choose to live that Word out in our daily life! We have to choose to believe in and be at peace. We have to choose not to let the world's problems be ours...concerned, but not overwhelmed, praying and trusting...but not worrying and stressing! Anyway, I am enjoying my Garden of Eden, and I am encouraging you to desire your special garden of Eden too! God is no respecter of persons. His promises are for you too. Isaiah 51:3 For the Lord shall comfort Zion: he will comfort all her waste places; and he will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the Lord; joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving, and the voice of melody.You have to decide that you will partake of them. We really can have Heaven on earth now. We don't have to be miserable and unhappy and struggle here until we get to heaven. We can absolutely enjoy the blessings of God right now...the choice is yours!

Victim or Victor?

Wow, it's been a long while since my last post. I always said that I would not post unless I was instructed to do so, by God. That means that when He instructs me to post, then someone who reads it, will be blessed by it!

This morning I was just sitting out on the patio, enjoying the breeze and watching my plants, seemingly enjoying the breeze as much as I am. The hummingbirds and the butterflies are enjoying the brightly colored flowers and the fragrances that they are giving off.

As I am sitting here, I am also meditating on a few scriptures that I have recently read. God's Word is so rich! It feeds me, then it makes me hungry all over again! I don't care what situation that I might find myself in on any given day, God's Word, addresses it!

I am so in love with God. His Word is amazing. It is Him! It is Him talking...talking to me and talking to you. He tells me how He feels about me. He tells me how much He loves me, how much He cares about me, all that He has done for me, and what He still wants to do in my life. God loves me and He loves you. He is interested in us living a wonderful life. He wants us to really know Him. He wants us to have a personal relationship with Him. He wants to laugh with us. He wants to be involved with everything that we do, every day.

Today, as I was talking to Him this morning, about the events that are happening all around us, He reminded me that He so wants to be involved in our world. What, the God of the Universe, the one who created the world and everything and everyone in it...is telling me that He wants to be involved in it, as if He can't! He reminded me, that He can't...unless someone gives Him permission to! What, The Sovereign God of the universe, needs someone's permission to do things in the earth? Are you kidding me? God sent me to His Word...Genesis 1:26-He said, notice who is in charge of the earth. Not Me, not Jesus, not The Holy Spirit..."We gave man dominion, to be in charge of the earth"! Then He sent me to Psalm 115:16, He said that He owns the earth, but He gave stewardship and ruler-ship of it to men! Then continuing on, He sent me to 2 Chronicles 7:14, He said that since you have dominion  and stewardship and ruler-ship over the entire earth and what I created in it, then if you call unto me, then I will come and heal the land...only if you ask me to! Ok, so I thought that was it, but no...on to Matthew 18:18-He said that whatever we not allow (bind) on earth, heaven will not allow it either. Whatever we do allow (loose) on earth, heaven will allow! He said that everyone is waiting on Me to fix things, and I am waiting on you! I put earth in man's hands. Everything that is happening is because man is allowing it to happen. I will allow what man allows! I put man in charge since the beginning...I didn't change my mind!

Wow! I know that many who may read this, will think that I have absolutely lost my mind! I did. I have God's mind. Many will stop reading this and talk about what I just said, and completely disagree. But the scripture supports this. God is the scripture. He said it! We, as believers have been give soooo much. We are created in the very image of God, we were created just like Him. He blew His very self into us! We are an amazing creation. God gave us such amazing abilities. When I was reading in Genesis yesterday, it said that God bought all the animals to Adam to see what Adam would name them. All of the various species of animals that exist, and Adam, a man, named them! (Gen. 2:19) God has blessed us with supernatural capabilities! We have the same abilities as Jesus. Jesus told us that we would do even greater works than Jesus did! Why do we not believe this! Why do we continue to beg God to fix what He has commanded us to fix? Because God is holy and sovereign, and honorable and won't even violate His own Word, He can't just step in the earth and do what He wants to, without us, in reality giving Him permission to do so! I know that by now, some of you have fallen out in the middle of the floor...lol! That's why He said to pray about everything. Praying invites Him into the earth, into the situation!

Wow, I know that this is not just for me. Someone is going to be blessed by it!

We as believers, must get busy! I am tired of reading about shootings, natural disasters, terrorism, suicides, child abuse etc. We must, as the body of Christ, be the dominators, the stewards, the rulers that God has called and empowered us to be! We must take over...that's why we are here!

Can We All Just Love One Another?

Wow, it has been a while since I last wrote a post.

This morning as I post, I am doing so with troubling thoughts. I said that I would never post, unless God lead me to do so. I have always desired this blog to be one that gives encouragement and hope to all who read it.

It seems to me, that from our last Presidential Election, to the recent Trayvon Martin-George Zimmerman trial and verdict, America is very divided, as a people. Whether it is in the political arena, or with gun control laws, or in the judicial system, or what...the gap is widening, and people are at odds with one another. I know that it is a right of every American citizen to have whatever views they desire on either of these issues. I do know that everyone will not always agree on every thing...and that's alright. I am really saddened however, by the mean and unkind things that are said about and to one another, on television, radio shows, and especially on social media. What happened to the times when people disagreed, and simply respected each other's views, and went on enjoying each other? Now, when folks don't agree, they get on Facebook or Twitter, say all kinds of mean and hurtful, and even racist things, and then start dropping friends from their friend list. Even in the sports arena, if you are a player and want to change teams, America will write it's opinion on  the player, and former teammates start to drop the player from their friend list! How crazy is that! The funny thing is that these are grown, supposedly mature adults! It really sounds like kids on a playground to me.

I have really been talking to God about this, because it is really making me angry. I don't know why it is, because God told us that these days would come...people would be unkind and unloving, lovers of themselves, disrespectful, not regarding others feelings, just plain doing whatever and saying whatever they feel that they are big and bad enough to say or do! In the Bible, Paul said that he was so free, that he really could say and do a lot of things if he wanted to, but just because he could, he didn't always do. There are many things that I could say in any given situation, but I have learned that if it is something that is not necessary at the moment, or something that may stir up unnecessary contention, I keep my big mouth shut! If it is not going to help the situation or edify the persons involved, then why say it? If it won't bring or promote peace, why should I speak? After all, I live in America, I am free and I have the right to say whatever I want to, right? I see division, strife, racism, contention, murders, folks taking advantage of others in America, more and more. Yes, I know that this exists elsewhere also, but I live in America so I am commenting on what happens here.

So this morning I am talking to God yet again about the situation. He reminds me that I live on...a boulevard, lined with homes on both sides, from one end to the other. There are brick homes, stucco homes, homes with siding, wood homes, a pink home, a white one, a brown brick one, a white brick one, many styles, colors, exteriors, shapes and sizes...all on this one street, in this one neighborhood. He said, "Gayle you don't know who lives in every one of those homes. You don't know if they have black skin, brown skin, white skin, straight hair, kinky hair, no hair, tall or short, thin or overweight, whether they are Asian, Hispanic or what, yet you like living there, there is peace there, you feel safe there, and there is harmony there, you couldn't care less about the exterior of the homes on your block." I said, "yes Lord that's true". He said that people today, are majoring too much on the exteriors of the house, instead of the people who live in the house!..(skin color, culture, age, race and ethnicity, and not on who a person really is). If you really want to keep it real...we are really all just alike! Every man, woman, boy and girl, is a spirit, who has a soul, who lives in a body. Each and every one of us, was created just like God, in His image and with His likeness. We are just like Him. Some choose to believe this and by the power of The Holy Spirit, live the truth...and others either don't know this, don't believe this, don't care, or just don't want anything to do with it! God said that until everyone really knows this, they will always see differences, will always be looking at exteriors. The exterior of the homes in my neighborhood, doesn't matter. What matters is the people who live in those homes. The people give life to that home and to that neighborhood! The people are important, NOT the exterior of the home. People are important, not the color of our skin, but the spirit that lives in that skin! No one but God has ever met the real Gayle White, you only know me externally, and my skin color. The way I act and interact with people, gives an indication of who and what I am on the inside! I am a spirit who only temporarily lives in a body. My spirit (the real me) is what give life to the house that I live in! We get so caught up and be unkind, all over the color of our house! Wow! I don't walk across the street and get mad and say all kinds of nasty words to the neighbor in the white siding home, because it is not like mine! I don't get on Facebook and talk about the family in the brown brick house because it is not green wood. Sounds crazy, doesn't it. But that is exactly what people do from day to day, if anyone is "different", and not like them!

I pray that one day we can all love one another, as God wants us to, and created us to. God's love has been put into the heart of every man, woman and child. We have to choose to believe this and live like it! God has made each one of us just like Him, so that means that we are capable and able to LOVE everyone, just like He loves everyone! God does not care about the color of one's skin, about races. He looks at the spirit of the person. He doesn't care about political parties, what church one attends, or what the denomination is. He does not care about how much money one has in the bank. He cares about people! He cares about how we love and treat one snother. Man looks at the outward appearance of another person, God looks at the heart!

Just sharing my thoughts today...I love you!

What the World Needs Now, is Love!

Wow, it's been a while since my last post. I am sitting here enjoying a beautiful day that only an awesome God can make. Birds outside singing back and forth to each other, and I sometimes believe that they are singing praises to God...(that's me thinking this). Psalm 145 says that all creation looks to Him, and depends on Him to supply their needs. I just believe that the birds, flowers and trees, praise Him too! Anyway, I am enjoying the singing and the beautiful day.

I am writing because I have been troubled about something that I witnessed on Facebook on yesterday. I know that FB is a place where everyone is free to post whatever they want to. I do realize that everyone does not do and think as I do...I get that, and I respect that. Sometimes things are said that are unkind. I read a post from a leading Christian author and teacher, and on her page was a question posted by someone. I don't know who the person is, and it really does not matter.
The person who posted on the author's page, felt free to make a statement, and the statement was, "Give me one example of God being good, just one example" The person said that they have not been able to get one person to give them an example. Wow! I was really moved by the statement, but more moved and troubled by the responses!

Various people set out to address her statement. I sat and read many of them, and I must say that I was appalled by what I was reading. I am sure that many of the persons who responded, considered themselves to be Christians, but I certainly would not believe it by the way that they responded to the statement. They proceeded to tell the person how stupid their request was, and how stupid the person was to ask such a thing. They told him/her that God is good because He still likes them after asking such a stupid thing, that if they knew the Bible, and would read it, he/she would know that God is good. This is true, but it was the tone in which it was said. So many of the people attacked, criticized, and crucified this person. So sad to me. This was a perfect opportunity to show the love of God to this person, to minister to him/her, and to let God's goodness flow to the person. I sure hoped that whoever the person is, I hope that they were not trying to make a decision whether or not to follow Christ. I hope that they were not standing on a bridge deciding whether to jump or not, because by the various responses...they probably jumped!

So often, we come upon people who wear a smile, but who are torn up behind that smile. We really don't know if that person was just a victim of the Oklahoma tornado, if they lost a loved one, if they are an unbeliever, or if they are a christian who is questioning God. There have been times in my life, that I have asked God, what is going on? Don't you see what is happening here? In my early days as a christian, before I really developed a relationship with God, I asked Him if He really cared about some things that were happening to me. God can handle all of our questions, whatever they may be. He is not going to get mad at us for asking them, He is not going to stop loving us, or punish us, or stop blessing us...that is NOT our Father. He will listen to every question. He will let us get angry at Him, even when we threaten to not share His Word, like Jeremiah did. He will just keep on being good, kind, loving, tender...He will keep on loving us!

I just hope that every christians would realize that we are here to represent God. We are the ones that God loves through. He reaches the lost through His children, He heals through us. He touches lives through us. We should always glorify Him by our lifestyle. We want grace. We want forgiveness when we stumble. We want God to embrace us when we are sad, disappointed, discouraged. We want Him to understand us when we question things. We by the same token, must be ready to extend grace to others. To love them, to forgive , to be merciful and understanding, to love! We cannot be christians on Sunday, and not on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and so on. We must be christians when others don't agree with us, when we are misunderstood, on our jobs, in a restaurant, at school...all the time, and everywhere!

This world is suffering. People are hurting. Many are depressed, discouraged, dismayed. Christians and unbelievers alike, are questioning. We must be like Jesus...always ready to love, always ready to forgive, to extend mercy and grace, always ready to let our light shine!

~Gayle

Blessed To Pray and Blessed to Be, World Changers!

Today, in America, we are observing the National Day of Prayer...a day when Americans come together as a country and pray for our nation, it's leaders, it's citizens, and the world. It seems that we are at a time when so many people are distressed, discouraged and dismayed about so many things. People are depressed, and many have lost or, are almost at the point of losing all hope. Many things that people have put their trust in during the years...(jobs, government, education and degrees, their 401k, people of prominence), are crumbling all around them! There was once a time when a person could almost be guaranteed  longevity on a job, not any more! Folks had retirement accounts, social security that they could look forward to, today, this may not be the case. There was a time when people genuinely loved and cared for one another...were loyal and trustworthy, had godly values, morals, integrity...this is hard to find these days! Don't get me wrong, there are still people out there who are living a godly life, who are trusting in God, and not the systems of the world.

Today, I am praying that the Church...the body of Christ, believers everywhere, will know the awesome power and privilege that God has placed into our hands. He has given us the power of changing our world, through Prayer! God's Word tells us that He has given us (believers) dominion to master, rule and to change things in this earth...(Genesis 1:26). Yes, the Creator of the heavens and the earth, has entrusted the Earth and it's rulership, into the hands of men! Psalm 115:16 says that the heaven, even the heavens are the Lord's, BUT the earth He has given to the children of men. He put us in charge! Not just anyone, but those who have the Spirit of God in them, who are being led by Him, who have His nature, who have His will in them, His love, His purposes in their heart, those who live by faith! We make this possible by knowing Who we are in Christ, by knowing how God sees us, not how other people see us, by knowing what God has purposed us to do in the earth, by knowing that He has empowered us to do His works in the earth, by doing it through us, just as Jesus does! We are responsible for what goes on in the earth. I know that many will disagree with me, but it is scriptural! God said that if we would humble ourselves and pray, seek Him, and turn from our wicked ways, (the world is really lying in darkness and wickedness today, completely doing it's own thing, totally disregarding and violating God's laws), He promised that he would heal the land. Our land needs healing, desperately! I hear people always say that God is in control. Is He really? Look at the world...murders, terrorism, racism, immorality, deception, injustice, disrespect for parents, lying, totally disregarding God's laws, a lack of love and compassion for one another, is He really in control? If you say yes, then why do we want folks to pay when they murder your child, bomb marathons, shoot down planes, shoot up a school. If God is in control, why don't we just accept murderers, and terrorist, thieves breaking into homes, and not prosecute them, why do you want them sent to prison and pay for their crime...God is in control...right? No He isn't! He sits back and He lets all of this happen, because we let it happen! He said that when we come together, pray and agree...then He will bring to pass what we agree upon. (Matthew 18:19) He said that whatever we bind (not allow) on earth, He won't allow! Whatever we loose (allow) on earth, God will allow! (Matthew 18:18) It looks to me like we have to give God permission to move in the earth, and we do it by praying! Yes the Sovereign God of the Universe, needs our permission to move in the earth! He put us in charge, so because of His Sovereignty, He is not going to step onto earth and just do what He wants to do. He is not going to do what He has given us the power and the authority to do! So, if we as believers don't do anything, then we can't complain about the world as it is today! We are God's Ambassadors, sent to take over here, to bring the Kingdom of God into manifestation in this earth, to bring Heaven to earth, to bring God's will, purposes, intent, and His Government here! We have to pray...pray in line with God's Word!

We are the answer for the world today! The world is waiting for the sons of God, us to manifest and be who God has created us to be!

We don't need a new President, a bunch of new politicians, a new boss, new neighbors, new co-workers. We need a President and politicians, and bosses, and co-workers that are new...with a New Birth, a New spirit, a New nature, a New mind! We need believers who have a renewed mind, who think God's higher thoughts and walk in His higher ways, who know that we world changers!

So as I pray today, I am praying that God's will be done on this earth, as it is in Heaven. I am praying that Heaven would come to earth and that God's Kingdom would take over the earth and change men's hearts and spirits and natures and minds. I am praying that love  and compassion and grace and mercy would be extended to all men, women, boys and girls, no matter who they are. I am praying for the souls of men, that they would be changed from darkness to light, from the power of satan to the power of God, that they would renounce sin and satan, and that they will seek Jesus as saviour and lord of their life. I am praying that the body of Christ would know God more, would rise up and be the light in a dark world, would minister the gift of reconciliation to all, would share the love of God to all people, and would walk in the power, dominion, and authority that God has delegated to us!

We can and we must make a difference in this world!

~Gayle

We Are So Loved!

"For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.

For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die.

BUT God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were sinners, Christ died for us."-Romans 5:6-8

Glory! and Amen! This verse of scripture has always gladdened my heart, and this is even more so today, as we celebrate what is today known as Good Friday!

Today as I sat and read this scripture again today, I am so overjoyed once again by it, and by the thought that God loves us so much! My prayer for today, is that people all over the world, would not see this day as just another day, or a day to be off from work, or a day to get a lot of things done. I pray that people would pause and actually reflect on what Good Friday is all about. I hope that believers are grateful for all that  Jesus did for us, and that those who have not accepted Jesus as saviour, or who don't even know Him and what Good Friday is all about, I pray that questions will arise for you and you will ask what Good Friday is all about.

God loves us so much. All the way back to before the creation of the world, God desired a family. Someone that He could love and cherish, pour His love upon, someone that He could show His goodness and kindness to, who He could fellowship with, have a relationship with, who He could preserve and protect, a family of sons and daughters who would be just like Him, and who would love one another, as He loves, and with the same love. So He created us. Created us in His likeness and image, so that we were just like Him. So that we could fellowship with Him, walk and talk with Him, live and love just like Him, rule and reign with Him. But we decided that we didn't want to do what He said to do. We didn't want Him. We wanted to do what we wanted to do. Have our own way, do our own thing! We turned from Him.We broke the heart of God, we had a new master now...satan... a murderer, a deceiver, a liar, and outlaw, a thief! But still God loved us! He didn't walk away from us. We still sinned and lived as we desired, over and over again, following the dictates of satan, yet God still loved us! He was not going to lose the family that He created, loved and cherished, no, no way! Sin continued, and the family continued to enjoy it, after all, sin is fun, but all along...God still loved us, and He had a plan!

When the time was right, when we were still sinners-loving it and enjoying it, God sent Jesus! Jesus, the sinless one, who never knew sin, never stained by sin, the righteous one, sinless, and pure...He came, and He came for sinners, to make us to be joined back to God again! sin and satan cut us off from having a relationship and fellowship with God. Sin stood in the way. God's desire for us never changed. He still wanted His family. He still loved His family. He had wonderful plans for His family...so much love to give, so many blessings to bestow...He had to get His family back! But God's is an honorable God. He said that the soul that sins shall die, and we sure fell into that category! Sin always brings the penalty of death. God is a just God, and justice had to be carried out! God even Himself could not violate His own law. We must die, you, me, all of us...sinners we were! This was a debt that we owed, and certainly could not pay! We must die!

But Jesus came! The Son of God, the sinless, righteous, obedient Son of God, He came for us. He came to pay that awful debt for us...the one that not a one of us could pay. He just decide that he would just die foe all of us."Wow, are you serious? Jesus, are you saying that You would be willing to be nailed on a cross for me. You would be willing to be separated from Your Father for me? Sin brings all kinds of sickness and all kinds of grotesque diseases and suffering with it, and You would be willing to take all of this for me? Be beaten, pierced and die, crucified  for me, and for people who have not even been born yet? Are you really willing to go through all of this!" "YES"... and He did!

Jesus did all of this for sinners...you and me ...people who were dirty, condemned, guilty, polluted, stained by sin. This is how much that God loves us! God gave His Son to die for us, in our place. We were certainly worthy of death. God pierced Him. God put Jesus to grief. It pleased God to cause Jesus to suffer, to give Jesus as an offering for sin, so that we could be saved from death, be bought back into relationship and fellowship with our father again! (Please read Isaiah 53)

As I celebrate Good Friday, I cannot but think about how blessed we are. Even if you have never received Jesus as your personal saviour, or believed that all that Jesus did on the cross was for you, it really was for you, it is not too late to ask Him to be your Saviour and Lord. He loves you. You are forgiven. You can have peace with God, right now, this very day.If YOU had been the only person on Earth at the time, Jesus still would have died for YOU! When He was suffering on that cross, when He was feeling the nails in His hands and feet, He was thinking about YOU! He died for you and for me! Just ask Him to come into your heart. Tell Him that you believe that He died for you. Tell Him that you believe that He didn't stay dead, but that God raised Him up, and in a few days we will celebrate His Resurrection from the dead. Tell Him that you want Him to come into your heart an that you want to live for Him from now on. Ask Him to fill you with His Holy Spirit so that you can walk and talk with Him every day. He'll do it you know...all you have to do is ask! It really will be, a Good Friday!

~Gayle