In the previous article, we read about the ‘blessed’ person, from the King James Bible, found in Psalms 1, verse 1. There are 3 combinations of 3 things that stand out in that verse. First combination: walks not, nor stands, nor sits. Second combination: the counsel, the way, and the seat. Third combination: the ungodly, of sinners, and the scornful. Let’s read It: “Blessed is the (person) that walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful.”

After reading that, I’d say the blessed person doesn’t walk, stand or sit in the counsel, way, or seat of the ungodly sinners, who are scornful. BUT, verse 2: “(the blessed person’s) delight is in the law (Word) of the Lord: and in ( the Lord’s ) law ( Word ) does ( the blessed person ) mediatate day and night.”

Meditate doesn’t mean to sit cross-legged in the middle of the floor, humming noises to stay awake. Meditate means to mull over, chew on, or think over in the mind what has been read or heard. So-o-o, read the Word, out loud so you can hear It! Meditate on what you’ve read and heard – as often as possible. Delight yourself in that Word. And be BLESSED!

According to the King James Bible, Psalms 1, verse 1, reads: “Blessed is the man (person) that walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful.” If you take the negatives out of the first half of the verse = “… walks NOT; UNgodly ” = it still has the same meaning: “Blessed is the (person) that walks in the counsel of the godly.”

Blessed is defined as holy, sacred, enjoying favor, fortunate, pleasurable, joyful, consecrated, happy. Take your pick. If YOU want to be ‘blessed’, find yourself a Godly person(s) and seek his/her/their counsel. Be BLESSED!

In the previous article, we did a bit of a comparison between God and the devil, God’s adversary. Today let’s look at some Bible verses that compare US and God: the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 7, verses 9, 10, and 11.

Verse 9: “What man (father) is there of you, whom if his son (child) ask bread, will he give him (her) a stone? Verse 10 : Or if he (she) ask a fish, will he give him (her) a serpent? Verse 11 : If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father Who is in heaven give good things to them that ask Him?”

Notice in verse 11, the ‘you’ being referred to is US, and it says, we are evil. Why? “Because ALL have sinned and come short of the glory of God”, according to the letter to the Romans, chapter 3, verse 23. Notice also, Matthew 7 : 11, says, “how much more shall your Father Who is in heaven … ” The father on earth is evil (sinner); the Father in heaven is perfect (LOVE [ God is love { First John 4 : 8 } ] ). Even the evil father on earth gives good gifts … the Father Who is in heaven, gives HOW MUCH MORE! ‘How much more’ what? Good things! Gives to whom? Them that ASK Him! Oh, you say you’re not receiving even good gifts, let alone HOW MUCH MORE good things? Why is that? You’re ( we’re ) not asking. Whose fault is that? Yours (ours)!

There’a a promise in the Bible, found in the letter from James, chapter 1, verse 17, that says, “Every good and every perfect gift is from above (heaven) and comes down from the Father of lights, with Whom there is no variableness or shadow of turning.” An explanation of this entire verse would take another article, but I’m glad to know that God only gives good and perfect gifts … to them that ask Him! What is it YOU need? ASK (Him)! Don’t knock it till you try it.

In the King James Bible, from First John, chapter 4, verses 7 and 8, we read: 7) Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loves is born of God, and knows God. He that loves not, knows not God; for God is love.” The first thing to notice here is the first word, Beloved. That tells us that whoever is reading this passage of Scripture (or, anyone else), is loved. (Refer to yesterday’s article.) Then, we’re told to “Love one another.” Why? Because God created mankind in His image and likeness, and He loves EVERYONE; so, why shouldn’t He expect those who are His image and likeness to do as He does? Then it says, “Love is of God.” Simply put: love belongs to God. You see, God has an enemy, an adversary, who is completely opposite of God. The adversary does not have the capacity to love; he only hates. The proof of that is in the Book of John, chapter 10, verse 10: “The thief (God’s adversary) comes to steal, kill, and destroy.” You would have to agree there is no love in those objectives.

Back to today’s verses; verse 8 starts by informing us that: “He that loves not, knows not God …” There you can see the atheists pictured. They refuse to ‘know’ God; and, according to this verse, know not God = love not! Oh, they may claim to love, but how can that be, when they deny the Personification of love?

The final phrase in today’s reference: ” … for God is love.” Not only does God love, but He IS love! That’s all He can do, is love. So be sure that when calamities, catastrophies, disasters, destructions occur, love ( God ) ain’t the source. Love would not do what the insurance companies claim, as: “… an act of God.” OK. Maybe an act of a god, but not God. See the difference? Love would never do what a lot of folks claim is ‘ an act of God ‘!

Just remember this: God has an enemy whose only purpose is to steal from you, kill you, and destroy you. Please. Wake up! Don’t blame God for what the devil does. It’s time to expose the deceiver and place the blame where it belongs.

Tune in again for more.

Today’s article will be brief. But someone needs to hear this, so here goes : God loves you! It doesn’t matter who you are, what you believe or don’t believe, what you do or have done, what color you are, where you live or work, or who lives with you. God loves YOU and me. There is nothing we can do that will change that. He may not care for some of the choices we make, but He still loves us. He’ll love us till we go to our graves. More to follow.

PleasuresForEvermore.com was started to offer people an opportunity to consider 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.” Then in Ephesians chapter 2, verse 6, we find, ” .. 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, verse 11? WE ARE! Now that 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.

Have you ever found attending church to be boring? Attending church should be an exciting time of fellowship where testimonies flow of what God is doing and/or speaking into our lives each day. For many though, going to church is a dull, routine, and boring experience. Want to know why?

My observation is that a lot of people have been sitting in churches for a l-o-n-g time, just listening to sermons/messages. Listening is good IF you are really hearing what the Spirit is saying. But listening, listening, listening without DOING anything is what leads to boredom.

Here are some quotes from Scriptures:
Faith comes by hearing ( listening [ by the Spirit ] ) Romans 10 : 17
Faith without works is dead James 2 : 17, 20
(You) be doers ( workers ) of the Word and not hearers ( listeners ) only James 1 : 22, 23.

Want to be a doer? What is a doer? A doer is a worker. A worker is someone who is doing something. Let your imagination run wild with a worker doing and a doer working. Here are a few workers/doers that come to mind: greeters, ushers, intercessors, teachers, preachers, sound booth attendants, musicians, singers, home group leaders, home group attendees, activities planners, coffee shop attendants, book store clerks, bookkeepers, nursery attendants, web master, advertising specialists, air conditioning/heating personnel, maintenance workers, grounds keepers, plumbing specialists, mechanical/electrical people, secretary (-ies ), treasurer, artists, painters, attorneys, audio/visual technicians, caterers, security personnel, carpenters, carpet layers/cleaners/sales, janitorial services, computer operators/programmers/repairs, designers, counselors, doorkeepers, financial planners, landscapers, lawn maintenance, photographers, snow removal services, communication services, and so on. Want to be a worker/doer? Volunteer, volunteer, volunteer! YOU can offer assistance that is as unique as you are! Don’t have a trade? Not a skilled craftsman? That’s OK! If you’re breathing, YOU can be a DOER!

Our attitudes determine our behaviors. Wrong attitudes equal wrong behaviors. Wrong attitudes lead to evil thoughts, which usually produce corresponding actions, such as sulking, grumbling, complaining, lying, cheating, and murmuring, which in turn, leads to gossip and backbiting. Folks with bad attitudes are usually negative and pessimistic. Most people don’t care to hang around others who have negative attitudes.

On the other hand, those who have the ‘right’ attitudes are happy-go-lucky kind of folks, who seemingly don’t let anything bother them. They are cheerful, gregarious, positive, optimistic people who like people, and “people who like people are the luckiest happiest people in the world”.

Why am I sharing about attitudes? Because, I’m convinced our attitudes can affect our health, as well. My Mom was a great lady, whom I loved dearly. But her negative attitudes led to an early death at age 72. Doctors couldn’t pinpoint the cause of her death. I believe she died of negative attitudes – the ‘I can’t syndrome’ : I can’t see; I can’t swallow; I can’t do this; I can’t do that, etc., etc. Conversely, my Dad lived for nearly 90 years. His attitudes were more positive and even though he smoked for 75 years, he was in good health until he suffered a stroke 2 weeks before his death. The cause of the stroke: blocked arteries due to smoking.

So, what am I saying? If I desire to live long on the earth, I need to take control of my attitudes. I can’t control how long I live, but I can control my attitudes, which, if I choose the ‘right’ attitudes, will at least make my existence more pleasurable, for me as well as others. Comments are always appreciated. Thank you.

Ever have one of those days when nothing goes right? As soon as you get out of bed, you stub your toes. You cut yourself shaving. The toilet won’t flush. There’s no hot water in the shower. The toast is burnt. The car won’t start. The boss doesn’t want to hear why you’re late, then demands you work extra time on the ’special’ project his three-year-old could do … and it gets worse! Ever have one of them? What do you do? Throw in the towel and quit? Jump in bed and bury your head under a pillow? Look for the shells to the (licensed) revolver? Beat the wife and stare at the punching bag? Or vice verse?

Here’s what has helped me. I FORCE myself to get alone, get quiet, and take several deep breaths. Then I turn in my Bible to Psalm 118, verse 24 : “This is the day which the Lord has made; we ( I ) will rejoice, and be glad in it.” OK, so you don’t even believe in God. That just adds to the kind of day you’re having. Me? Just by acknowledging it’s a “day the Lord has made”, gets my attention off me, onto the Lord. When I think what kind of day He’s having, I almost have to laugh, what with all the whole world’s population having ‘bad’ days at the same time! If I can’t laugh about that, then I FORCE myself to rejoice. One or two “Ha, Ha’s’, and suddenly my ‘tude changes, and I start forgetting the wrongs and rejoice for the rights. It’s now a day in which I can be glad. We’re all different, but it works for me.

Have you ever observed the following scenario? : children go to church with their parents regularly; the same children suddenly disappear from church attendance when they reach ‘the age of driving’. Ever ask yourself, “Why?” My pastor hit the nail on the head in Sunday’s message when he said, “Children who spend their entire growing years in church, depart when they get older, because .. ” – are you ready for this? – “they have only HEARD about God, without ever having had an ENCOUNTER with God.” In a lot of cases, we as parents have placed more emphasis on church attendance than we have on introducing the children to Father God. To take this a step further, speaking personally, children observe their dads’ behaviors. Dads who take the little ones to church every Sunday, but live like the rest of the world from Monday through Saturday – you know: partying, cussing, arguing, lying, cheating, etc., etc. – are presenting two different messages to their children. The children get older, see the hyprocrisy of dads’ lifestyles, and say, “I don’t want any part of this church scene; I’ll just go do my own thing rather than pretend to be a Christian on Sundays.” In reality, they are being more honest in their choices than the examples being set for them by pretending dads. I can write this because I was one of those pretending dads. God has dealt with me in the recent past, about talking ABOUT God without ever really having taken the time to KNOW Him intimately. I’ve asked God to forgive me for such neglect. The next step is to ask the 3 children to forgive me also. And finally, I need to forgive myself, quit dwelling on past failures, and actually set the example of commitment and live what I say without saying anything. It’s more important for others to READ my life than HEAR my words.

I thank God for His patience with me and for His promise of forgiveness, recorded in First John, chapter 1, verse 9. Read it for yourself. Believe it for your own promise. Thank you.