When I left off last time, I had stated that God and His angels lived in the spirit realm, along with the devil and his demons (fallen angels). I use the number one best seller of all time for my reasonings: the Bible. The Bible tells us that God existed “in the beginning”. Some folks don’t believe in God. That’s OK. Let’s just take a ‘wait and see’ approach. The Bible also tells us that God created ALL things, and I have to believe that includes the devil, too. You see, I believe ( everyone say – this is what he believes ) that the devil was an angel, created by God. This angel was named Lucifer, and in his original state, he actually led worship to God. Then, he looked in a mirror one day, saw how beautiful he was, and decided he wanted to be, not just LIKE God, but to BE god, the object of worship rather than the leader of worship. God said, “NO!”, and cast Lucifer forever from the dwelling place of God. Lucifer convinced a third of the angelic host to follow him, as he was descending from God’s presence; and the ‘war’ was on: satan (the devil or Lucifer) versus God. When satan got to earth, he caused so much devastation, that we’re told, ” .. the earth was without form and void, and darkness was upon the face of the deep.” – the Book of Genesis, chapter 1, verse 2.

Sometme thereafter, God spoke, His Spirit responded, and creation ‘happened’! Again, to re-emphasize, this is what I believe. You are free to exercise your right to disagree. I will continue this explanation in yet another article. This could become ‘days of our lives’ ‘as the world turns’ for ‘all my children’ … a never-ending saga of hope for the hopeless. Come on back for more. Thank you.

Ever wish you could be two places at once? Stop wishing. You are! And you might say, “You’re nuts. You can’t be in two places at once.” Well, I respectfully beg to disagree. Allow me the opportunity to explain.

There are two realms of existence, co-existing together. There’s the realm we are most familiar with, which is the natural realm. The natural realm requires a specially designed “suit” for existence. That suit is our flesh and blood body, which I’ll call our ‘earth-suit’. This earth-suit has eyes for seeing, ears for hearing, skin and nerves for feeling, noses for smelling, and mouths and tongues for tasting. Our earth-suit confines us to the things of the earth, you know, like gravity, the air, climates, seasons, etc. We are limited by time and controlled by the laws of the land.

However, there’s another realm. Some of us are familiar with this realm, but a lot of folks aren’t. It’s an un-seen realm, unseen by our natural eyes. This realm is called the spirit realm. Now don’t go getting spooky on me. It’s a very real world, more so than the natural realm; the reason it’s more real is because this is where God lives. God is a Spirit, and He created all things out of that realm. Some people believe in ‘the big bang’ theory of existence, which is fine with me. I believe in evolution myself. You see, when God created the heavens and the earth, everything was PERFECT! But over time, it gradually evolved into what we all live with, right now. Anyway, we are on earth in our earth suits at the same time we are in the spirit world, with our spirits housed inside our earth suits. There are no ‘time’ limits here, and all things are controlled by the law of the Spirit. God and His angels are very much present in this realm; but, so too is the devil and his demons (fallen angels).

For space purposes, I’ll close at this point, but I’m not done with this explanation. Tune in again for more. Thank you.

This article is being written because a marketing manager (I’ve never met) tells me I need to keep putting something new in front of you at least once a day, preferably twice a day. Ha! Sometimes ideas flow to me like waves to the shore. But today ain’t one of them times. But I’ll try to do what I’m told. Who knows? Maybe I’ll hit a gusher once I get started.

Nope, not yet.

One thing I really like to do is share the things I learn from God’s Word. Did you know God’s Word is written AND oral? The written Word is the Bible. The oral Word is what God speaks to you either publicly through a word of prophecy, or privately in one’s own devotional time. Anytime someone is speaking is an opportunity for God to speak. That’s why we need to guard what comes out of our mouths. Sometimes I don’t want anyone to hear what I’m spewing, know what I mean? That’s the one area I need to exercise more discipline – especially when I’m alone. Boy the things I say when I’m alone. But I’m really never alone. The Bible records a promise that Jesus made: “I will never leave you or forsake you.” Oh, oh. Jesus is with me even when I’m by myself. OK then, I think I’ll just go quietly now and come back tomorrow for another attempt at giving you something new.

PleasuresForEvermore.com was started to offer some personal observations about our relationship to God, or to get us to ponder, ‘What does God think about us?’ In the King James Bible, from the Apostle Paul’s letter to the church at Ephesus, in Ephesians chapter 1, verse 20, we’re told that God has ” … set Him (Jesus) at His own right hand in the heavenly places.” Also Ephesians, chapter 2, verse 6, says, ” … and has raised US up together, and made US sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.” Psalm 16, verse 11: “You (God) will show me the path of life: in Your Presence is fulness of joy; at Your right hand there are pleasures for evermore.”

According to Ephesians, who is at God’s right hand? Jesus AND believers who have been raised up together and made to sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. What then, or who then, are the pleasures for evermore, as quoted in Psalm 16:11? WE ARE! Now this could be a new thought for a lot of folks … to think that we are pleasures to God for evermore. If so, good! That’s part of our goal, to challenge the way we’ve been taught or thought, and to open our hearts to new revelations from God. Really, they are not new revelations … just what’s been there all along, but brought to light by a fresh wind from the Spirit of God.

Tune in for more in future articles. Thank you.

It’s the day after Christmas, and a dreary, rainy day is unfolding. Rain. Five days into winter in Pennsylvania, and it’s raining. Thank goodness it’s warm enough that it isn’t icing. The rain is actually helping to melt the snow that was dumped in the area last week.

The final days of 2009 are speeding by as the countdown to 2010 is in progress. What will the new year bring? More of the same or maybe something different is in store?

Having recently moved from a beautiful 2-story house into a double-wide home has left us with more ’stuff’ than space. So, as I sort through the boxes of things stored in our new 2-car garage, the one thing I’ve determined is to simplify as much as possible. Part of that means tossing things that have accumulated over the years, but really have no value, just memories. I read somewhere the other day that remembrance of things past can be a real deterrent to moving forward. I agree. Therefore, as we continue our trek into 2010, I’m going to cut the clutter, unload the ’stuff’, and move forward with the resolve to keep things under control. Having experienced the trauma of downsizing from the business realm, I am going to enjoy the efforts of downsizing the personal messes that I’ve caused, whether it be objects, activities, or even people. It’s going to be what matters to me NOW, not from the past or in the future.

Well, here it is: Christmas Day, 2009! Happy Birthday, Jesus. Hope Your day is going well, and that You are enjoying the food, fellowship, and football games. How’s the weather up there? Was santa good to You? Did You get what You wanted for Christmas? What’s that? You say all You want is for mankind to believe in You? Well, that’s not too much to ask. But where’s the joy in that? Oh, You want me to look in the Bible, in the Book of Psalms. Psalm 16, verse 11. You say that ” … in Your Presence there is fulness of joy … ” Well, part of my presents included the chocolate chunk peanut butter cookies that caused me fulness of belly. What? You say, “Not that kind of presents, but presence.” Oh, You want my presence? And if I give You my presence, we’ll both experience fulness of joy!” But, if I give You my presence, I’ll miss the game. What’s that? You say, “This isn’t a game; that You’re serious. You want me and all my rowdy friends to come to Your presence. And if we do, You’ll give us front row seats at Your right hand. Then we’ll be where You want us, and we’ll be Your pleasures for evermore (Psalm 16:11)”. OK Jesus. I’ve thought it over. And I really think Your Presence is better than this football game anyway. My team’s getting whipped pretty bad. What’s that, You say? “Your team has been ‘ … troubled on every side, yet not distressed?, Perplexed, but not in despair?, Persecuted, but not forsaken?, Cast down, but not destroyed?’ (Second Corinthians, chapter 4, verses 8 and 9).” Well, the troubled, perplexed, persecuted, and cast down doesn’t sound too good to me. But, I like the idea of .. not distressed, not in despair, not forsaken, and not destroyed. OK Jesus, count me in. Even if I’m not in the starting line-up, I still want to be on Your team.

How about YOU? Merry Christmas everyone.

In addition to celebrating the birth of Jesus, Christmas is also a time for family and friends to gather to exchange gifts and enjoy the time together to fellowship. Traditionally, Christmas is a time for giving. Which leads to a verse in the Bible, found in the Gospel of John, Chapter 3, verse 16, which reads, “For God so loved the world that He GAVE His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

Aren’t you glad that God loved all of mankind so much, that He GAVE the greatest gift of all: His own Son. And did you know, you’re a ‘whosoever’? Why not be one of the ‘whosoevers’ that believes in Him? Why should you ‘perish’, when He (Jesus) paid for your salvation with His own life? And because He GAVE His life, you can have ‘everlasting’ life! Wow! That’s sounds too good to be true. But it is true! God does not lie. It’s only folks who don’t want to accept this truth that lie. Oops. Scratch that. It’s not folks, but the devil, who won’t accept the truth and has lied and deceived to the point that some folks believe him rather than believe God.

As for me and my house, we choose to believe God Who cannot lie, rather than the devil, who is a liar and the father of all lies.

In closing, I just want to wish all of you a Merry Christmas. Tune in tomorrow for Part 3.

It’s that time of year when believers everywhere celebrate the birth of Jesus. Even if you’re not a believer, I’m sure you’ve heard ‘the Christmas story’. I’ll spare you the details. But I would like to share what’s on my heart.

There are those in the world who are trying to take Christ out of Christmas. They discount the biblical and historical accounts of ‘the reason for the season’. It’s gotten to the point that ‘Happy Holidays’ is the greeting, rather than ‘Merry Christmas’. You know what? I don’t care what ‘they’ do; but, I do care about ‘them’. I pray that the eyes of their understanding would be opened; that the efforts of the devil would be revealed; that the God of their (and my) salvation would be ’slow to anger’; and that God would be gracious to them and me. Except for my decision to believe in my heart that Jesus is the Son of God and that God has raised Him (Jesus) from the dead, AND for my confession that Jesus is Lord of lords and King of kings, I’d be like them – worthy of the same fate and destiny.

Oh, by the way, Jesus’ last name is not Christ. He IS Christ. The word actually means ‘anointed one’, and ‘the anointing’. That’s why so many oppose the use of that word: they don’t want to acknowledge that Jesus is the Anointed One of God; they would rather believe in their own efforts to achieve ‘STARdom’. And at that point, I could talk about the STAR that shined so bright so many years ago, leading some shepherds and Magi to a place called Bethlehem and to the house where Jesus lay, but, I said earlier that I’d spare you the details. Besides, I’m done for now; but tune in later for Part 2. Thank you.

There are times when we experience difficulties, right? If we are believers, we might even ask God, “Why, Lord, why?” We have every confidence that God is in control of the entire universe, but by asking why, it’s like we are really blaming Him for our difficulties. What I’m about to share may shed light on the subject and be a help to you when difficulties come; this has been a big help to me!

Use your imagination a little. Picture a big blackboard (or whiteboard). Draw a line down the middle of the board. On one side, write, God; on the other side, write, the devil. Now let’s make a list of attributes on each side, remembering that God will never ‘DO’ bad things; He does not lead us into temptation. On the other hand, the devil will sometimes appear to do good, but evil is his nature, and our destruction is his motivation; he’s a liar and the father of lies. Back to our lists. Under the heading – God – write: good, blessings, giver, healer, truth, faithful, righteous, peace, joy, provider, protector, savior, deliverer, creator, positive, etc.
Now, look at the list and realize the devil is the exact opposite of what God is. So under the heading, the devil, the list would read: bad, cursings, thief, sickness, lies, fearful, perverted, turmoil, rage, destroyer, attacker, accuser, demented, imitator, negative, etc. As we think about these lists, the obvious is revealed: difficulties don’t come from God’s side, but from the devil’s. Quit questioning God, and start confronting the devil. Tell him to take his bags of trash and return to the place from which he came.

By making these mental listings, I have been able to sort out what is Godly and what is devilish. I try not to attribute the devil’s trash to God’s dealings. By God’s grace, I have been able to overcome a lot of what the enemy intends for my harm. Meditate on these things.