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In today’s society, one of the biggest problems is failure to see God in what we do. Life is moving so fast with our jobs and society in general that we do not make time to thank our Creator for the blessings He has given us. In some instances we do not even seek Him until a tragedy has occurred in our lives.

What does our Bible tell us about seeking God?

The Bible is the instruction book God wrote to man on how to live and how to respect God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ. Without God’s instruction we have no clear vision, meaning, or purpose for our lives.

So, what is the meaning of human life? It can be summed up simply: To see God in everything we do.

How do we learn to see God in everything we do?

We can do it by keeping God’s commandments, statues, and laws. We are made in God’s likeness and image (Genesis 1:26), and we have been given God’s perfect law. We need to change the way we think and act, do away with our selfish desires, and learn the way God wants us to live, described in His perfect law.

We need to submit to God, resist the devil, and the devil will flee from us. Satan is like a roaring lion seeking whom he can devour. But, by drawing close to God, Satan will lose his grip on us. When we draw near to God, He draws near to us. God wants us to purify our hearts and do away with selfish ambitions.

James 4:7-10 Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.

How do we submit to God?

We begin submitting to God when we come to the realization that our life style is miserable, and we need a change. It’s usually hard for humans to admit fault because we grow up in such a competitive world. We were taught competition. The goal of the games we played as children was to win. We were taught to lift ourselves up and to win! But, what did we win? Perhaps we won some bragging rights for the day or week.

When we humble ourselves in the sight of the Lord,
He will lift us up.

God is so great that He wants us to play the “game” of life His way. His way is called salvation – for all eternity! And, through Jesus Christ, everybody can win except those who do not want to play.

What are the rules to this “game?”

One of the rules is seeing God in what we do. And, we start seeing God in what we do when we start putting God in what we do. We have to repent from our old way of living. We have to begin living a different way of life. We change our attitudes. We think of others, not just ourselves.

Christ died for us!

What would this world look like if Christ was selfish and did not die for us? There would be no hope! Only death! Our sins could not be forgiven.

However, we are blessed because there is hope. Christ did die for all of mankind, and though His blood we have the opportunity to go to God in repentance. We have the opportunity to ask God to change us so that our life styles will be pleasing to Him. Then we can seek the praise of God instead of the praise of man.

By submitting to God’s way of life, His government of love and compassion, we will find that our life styles will change. Then the things that were bogging our lives down will slowly disappear. Peace and love will fill our hearts, and the joy of life will abound in us. We will know life’s meaning.

As the Apostle Paul wrote, “ I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20)

Christ in Paul!

Paul understood that having Christ living in him meant submitting to God regardless of whatever struggles and trials he was facing. And, we can have that same opportunity.

Christ in us!

If we humble ourselves before God and allow God to work with us, Jesus Christ will live His life though us. We can do all things and accomplish all things because it is Christ doing those things for us. Christ is our strength (Philippians 4:13, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.)

Our desire to have Christ living in us is evident by our willingness to see God in whatever it is we do.

If you would like encouragement and further details on the benefits of seeing God in all you do, please contact us. We are happy to assist you to see the God who loves you and has prepared a fantastic future for you.

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No one knows the exact date of Jesus’ birth. No one knows the day or the month, for sure. In fact, we are not even certain about the year. It seems obvious that God has chosen not to reveal the specific date. There is, however, one important point we can know and rejoice over, and that is Jesus was born! He came as a human man, and for the very fact of His true humanity, it was necessary that He be born!

Nowhere is it commanded that humanity celebrate the event of Jesus’ birth. Yet, it is celebrated in winter by more than two billion “believers” each year. Although we do not have the exact date, there are some details we can prove historically that help us to closely approximate the date of His birth. And, those who are true Believers hold the words of the Bible as real truth, not just supposition or myth. By relying on the Bible, in concert with historical data, we discover specific details about Jesus’ birth we can trust, including facts relating to the season of His birth (Luke 2:8, Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night).

It is clear from Luke 2:8 that flocks of sheep were still “living” in the fields at night. In the area of Israel, from about mid-October to mid-March, flocks were kept in shelters because of the cold weather. They were only in the fields at night during hotter weather. The weather in Israel on December 25th would have been far too cold for sheep in open fields at night. Also, the Jewish Talmud indicates that during the rainy season (our October-November), flocks were stabled. So, the passage in Luke 2 narrows down the timing of Jesus’ birth to spring, summer, or early fall months. More details about Luke 2:8 can be found in many commentaries.

Another aspect to consider about the timing of Jesus’ birth is related to the story of John the Baptist. He was six months older than Jesus (Luke 1:26-27, 36, Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary…. Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren).

John’s father, Zacharias, was serving in the temple during the priestly course of Abijah (Luke 1:5, There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the division of Abijah. His wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth) when the angel of the Lord appeared to him. Because of the consistent, cyclical occurrence of the course of Abijah (1 Chronicles 24:15), we can conclude that John was conceived about mid-June and was born in late March (Luke 1:23-24, So it was, as soon as the days of his service were completed, that he departed to his own house. Now after those days his wife Elizabeth conceived; and she hid herself five months…).

A quick calculation to add six months puts Jesus’ birth in early autumn (Luke 1:31, 36, And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS…. Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren).

Another detail provided in scripture can also help to narrow down the time of Jesus’ birth. Jerusalem and the surrounding towns, including Bethlehem (about 4 miles from Jerusalem), would have been crowded in early autumn because of the Jews and people from other lands who would have traveled to the area to observe the fall Holy Days (Leviticus 23:23, 27, 34, 36). The presence of the annual visitors to observe the fall Holy Day may provide the proper explanation as to why Mary and Joseph found no room at the “inn.”

Scripture shows us that it was the custom of Mary and Joseph to travel to the general area of Jerusalem for the annual Holy Days (Luke 2:41; John 7:1-10). The fall Holy Days were celebrated in the Jewish seventh month, which corresponds to our current September-October. These Holy Days did not occur in the middle of winter. (Please see our article, Holy Days Foretell God’s Salvation. It will describe all of God’s Holy Days that occur yearly in three seasons: spring, summer, and fall.)

Certainly, it is highly unlikely that Jesus was born anywhere near December 25th. So, why do professing Christians celebrate a birthday that was never commanded by God to be celebrated or even marked with cyclical significance on a day that is highly improbable as the day of birth, anyway?

In truth, there are other questionable practices some people observe and simply assume are “Christian.” If you would like more details and additional explanation about the history of the observance of December 25th as a special day (prior to the birth of Jesus), please contact us.

We also invite you to contact us regarding the ultimate importance of the birth of our Savior as a human being. There is great significance in His birth, and many Believers are missing crucial elements available to us in Scripture regarding the human life of Jesus Christ because we focus on the “day” of His birth and its festivities instead of focusing on our Savior. May God bless you richly as you search for His Truth.

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Do you desire God the way God wants us to desire Him? What does it feel like? What does it look like to truly yearn after God?

We can learn how it feels to desire God by comparing it to the way a person might become desperate for fresh air or some other necessary factor we need to sustain our lives. The Psalms liken this intense longing for God to a thirsty deer panting for the relief and refreshment of water.

Psalm 42: 1 As the deer pants for the water brooks, So pants my soul for You, O God. 2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God?

In every day life, a person truly desiring God will look focused and determined. That person will watch closely for God. He will listen carefully to what He says and will eagerly be anticipating doing what God directs.

That person will search for God diligently in the study of Holy Scripture and will seek God whole-heartedly in frequent prayer. That person will want God to be pleased. And, that person will want God to know He loves God. Therefore, he will do what God says, not because it is a burden, but because it is a joy.

John 14:15, If you love Me, keep, My commandments.

Knowing about God versus knowing God!

Millions of people have sought knowledge about God, but there have been only a relatively small number who have actually sought for God and known Him – that is, who have sought to really know the true God in a close, intimate relationship.

In general, knowledge puffs up. The Bible says so in 1 Corinthians 8:1, Now concerning things offered to idols: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies.

Even knowledge about God can puff up. In too many instances, a man’s knowledge about God has turned to self-righteousness. And, man’s arrogance has pushed him away from God.

The relationship God seeks to have with us is not based principally on how much knowledge we have about Him, but on how much we KNOW Him, love Him, and desire to be with Him. It is about wanting to be close to Him.

Knowledge about God must never substitute for our awe and respect for God. Desiring knowledge about God must never eclipse a yearning, even a burning desire to be with Him – to know Him and to be known of Him.

James 4:8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

If we desire to be near God, we can know He desires to be near us. It is this desire for God’s presence that motivates us to move in His direction. And, with the navigation God provides through His Holy Spirit, God can be found. Jesus Christ has already cleared the path.

Where is God? Is God truly in your life?

Have you ever gone to Church and yet felt like you “missed” God? That He somehow passed you by? Have any of us played Church and “heard” about God so long we have lost sight of God? It IS an IMPORTANT question to ponder.

Man can study and learn where God has been historically. What we need is a revelation of where God is now! Especially, where God is in OUR LIVES!.

Will God be found of those who do not seek Him or do not passionately desire Him?

There are untold treasures, pleasures, benefits, and rewards in God’s presence. And, to have them, one must seek God’s face – not the “goodies.” God wants to be loved. He wants to be worshipped in spirit and truth.

And, God can easily detect humans just wanting the rewards, without wanting His presence.

So, what is the way to closeness with God? What are the steps to seeking and finding Him?

Start by simply desiring God. Sometimes, we must begin by desiring to desire God. When there is a doubt about feelings or motives, just ask God to give you this right desire for Him.

Then, determine to give God time. Stop all of the excuses. Place your focus on God instead of this world. Invest your time reading, studying, and praying about this relationship you desire.

Memorize and meditate on Galatians 2:20. I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

Christ is always in the Father’s presence. When Christ is in you, you can be there, too. The amount of time you invest in God is a good indication of how much you truly desire to be with Him.

You can experience living faith by awaking each morning to beautiful thoughts of God. Think about His blessings, and thank Him! Live throughout the day aware of God. Look for Him in all you do. Expect God in all of your life, not just when you attend Church.

Access to God has been provided to you through Jesus Christ. God’s magnificent plan for you included every provision you will need to find Him and please Him. It’s all available: the faith of Jesus Christ and the power of God’s Holy Spirit. Jesus Christ is our help, our hope, our righteousness. Seek God and you WILL find Him.

Matthew 5:6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled.

Are you among those who are beginning to really hunger for God? Millions have heard of God, but few have met the Father and the Son.

Here at the Church of the Sovereign God, we are willing to help you. We can tell you ABOUT God, And, we can pray with you and for you. And, the crucial step will be up to you. While we are here to help, support, and encourage you, it will still be up to you to seek God’s face for yourself.

We invite you to begin the process!

If you would like encouragement and further details on knowing and serving the God Who made you and loves you, please contact us.

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It is TRUE! God does love you. Yes, you! Do you know just how much God loves you? How much does God love any of us? It is such a tremendous amount it is difficult for human minds to comprehend!

Sadly, there are more people in the world who doubt God’s love than who are aware of it. In modern terms, we can say God has gotten a lot of really bad publicity. It is high time the true God is known for Who and What He is!

And, knowing the true God can easily start with learning how much He loves you. We are loved by the great eternal God Who created everything and everyone!

This great awesome God has an incredible plan of salvation for every person who has ever lived! And, of course it includes you and your family and everyone you know and love.

God wants you to be a part of His eternal family. That is why you exist! All of God’s creation has surged into being from His infinite flow of love. God’s love is why you were created, along with the other billions of people God has granted this temporary human life, with His hope and expectations of making billions of eternal sons!

God tells us in the book of Genesis, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1). This verse provides some very basic information. We are told it was God, not evolution or anything else, Who created the heavens and the earth. It was God Who created the animals, and it was God Who created the first man and woman, Adam and Eve.

Genesis 1:25-27 And God made the beast of the earth after his kind, and cattle after their kind, and every thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind: and God saw that it was good. And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

This is truly a wonderful story about where we all began. We are all of the same original parents, Adam and Eve, thereby making every one of us children of Adam and Eve. This makes all of us brothers and sisters. It is important to understand we were made in the image and likeness of the creator God! Anyone who really wants to come to know Who and What God is, must allow the mind to grasp that we really look like God. We are in His image. This is quite an exciting concept!

God clearly asserts He is the Creator! It is sad and very foolish for anyone of us to believe there is no true God. In the Book of Psalms we read, “The fool hath said in his heart, there is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good” (Psalm 14:1).

God’s Word shows us many things about Who and What He is. For example, there is only One God. There is nothing else like God. He is completely and utterly Unique in every sense of the word.

Isaiah 45:5-6, 18 I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me. That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside me. I am the LORD, and there is none else…. For thus saith the LORD that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: I am the LORD; and there is none else.

So, Who is God? God is the Creator, unique in all aspects and infinite in love. He is our Father, and He is the One offering us the opportunity to live with Him forever. And, He is so much more. Do you want to learn of Him?

If you would like encouragement and further details on knowing and serving the God Who made you and loves you, please contact us.

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Twirling prayer wheels, tinkling cymbals, smoke from candles wafting up towards the ceiling, hundreds of thousands of pilgrims spiraling around a shrine!

What do these have to do with the Being we call God? Is there one way God desires to be worshipped? Are ALL of the worshippers right?

Does It Really Matter?

After all, it is what is in your heart that is important, isn’t it? With all the churches available, can’t we just shop around for the one that suits us the best? Maybe the one that is just around the corner from where we live? Or the one our boss attends? Of course, it would be nice to go to church where our mom and dad always went — when they went!

It DOES Matter to God!

You probably already know that God is the Creator, but did you know that He lays claim to EVERYTHING?

Psalm 50:10-12 For every beast of the forest is Mine, And the cattle on a thousand hills. I know all the birds of the mountains, And the wild beasts of the field are Mine. If I were hungry, I would not tell you, For the world is Mine, and all its fullness. (NKJV unless otherwise noted)

If the whole world is His, then are we nothing more than insignificant transient occupiers of space on this beautiful orb? Or does God have more purpose for us?

The very first verse in the Bible reveals one very important aspect of God—He is a Creator!

Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

He is a Creator, and He is a life-giver. He separated darkness from light, and He divided the land from the waters. He caused grass and herbs and trees to grow on the land, and He put fish in the oceans and animals on the land. And then He produced His greatest creation — He made man. And everything that God saw was very good.

And everything belongs to Him!

Man’s Purpose

Man, through Adam, was given the opportunity to watch over the earth, to be in control of the animals and everything that he saw. In Biblical terms, man was given dominion over the fish that swim in the oceans and the birds that fly through the air and everything that creeps on the earth. All that man (Adam) had to do was obey His Creator!

EVERYTHING that God placed on the earth in the Garden of Eden was there for man’s pleasure and necessities. God made just one stipulation, and that was not to eat of the fruit of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil.

Unable to Resist!

However, Eve was beguiled by the exceedingly clever serpent and disobeyed her Creator and ate from that tree. Then she offered the same fruit to Adam, and he ate as well.

The story is all-too familiar, but what we see from these first few verses of the Bible is that God is not only a Creator; He is also a Law-Giver. And He has every right to be because the whole world belongs to Him!

A Misunderstood God

Many people today are only vaguely aware that God gave a set of laws, commandments and statutes for mankind. All too many consider that His laws are nothing more than one “thou shalt not” followed by another. And yet, the Bible clearly shows that certainly is not the case.

1 John 4:8 He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.

God is love—what a profound statement! Everything that God does emanates from His love. His beautiful creation exists because He is love. God’s laws also exist because He IS love!

He Loves YOU!

It was not God’s plan for mankind to live in sin. Adam and Eve failed the test and were driven from the Garden of Eden. As sojourners on this earth, man wanders around as though lost in a desert sand- storm. But God has provided a way for reconciliation.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

We frequently rehearse the story of the crucifixion of Jesus on the cross, but have we ever considered what God, the loving Creator of us all, gave up? What a tremendous sacrifice that was!

Jesus of Nazareth, the only begotten Son of God has the same nature and character God the Father has. Jesus proved this by His obedience. During the last meal Jesus had with His disciples before He was crucified, Jesus told them, “If you love Me, keep My commandments.” (John 14:15)

Decades later, the Apostle John wrote, “By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.” (1 John 5:2-3)

John was a man who had spent years getting to know Jesus, eating with him and traveling with Him during His ministry. John’s words, “His commandments are not burdensome,” contradict what most people think today. But, because God loves us, His commandments could not be burdensome.

Yes, the Creator, the Law-Giver, loves us. He loves you and me and each and every one of the more than six billion people living on the earth today. Not only that, He loves those who have already died and are in their graves, as well as the untold number of human beings yet to be born.

Sin Separates

It was not God’s plan to be separated from mankind, but He will NOT tolerate sin. Whatever sin is, it is not conceived in love.

What IS sin?

The Bible provides a very simple definition of sin in I John 3:4, “Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law” (KJV). God’s basic laws are listed in Exodus 20 and repeated in Deuteronomy 5.

A lawyer once approached Jesus and asked which was the great commandment in the law? Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” (Matt 22:35-40)

As we study the Ten Commandments, we quickly see the first four focus on our relationship with God. Read them in your own Bible and as you do, remember that God is the Creator, that He is the Law-Giver, and that He loves you.

The first four commandments succinctly explain how to worship God as He desires. They show us how to return to God, our heavenly Father, the love He has already showered on us. Commandments five through ten enlighten our understanding of how we can and should develop a loving relationship with other people.

So Who Is This God?

He is the Creator of everything we see, touch, hear, taste and smell, as well as everything we cannot experience with our five senses. He is the Being who created us with limited physical senses, but with a fantastic opportunity.

God is the loving Giver of a set of laws, summed up by the Ten Commandments, that show us how to love Him, how to worship Him, and to love our fellow human beings. And perhaps one of the least understood aspects of God is the fact that He wants to share His creation and love with us!

This brief brochure can do nothing more than pique your interest in this virtually unknown Being we call God.

Our prayer is that you will be moved to study God’s Word, the Holy Bible, to grow in understanding so you may begin to develop a real, deep, personal relationship with God the Father and with His Son, your Savior, Jesus the Christ.

We invite you to contact us. We stand ready to assist you as you develop your relationship with God.

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Worry? Anxiety? Panic? Fear?
Confusion? Frustration? Uneasiness? Bewilderment?

Have you ever experienced any of these afflictions? Many have!

Have you ever wondered if they are based on anything real? Are they unfounded negative feelings? Have you wondered about your sanity? These are common issues for people suffering from worry, anxiety, panic, etc.

Whether these emotions are based on reality or imagination, the emotions themselves are very real to the sufferer! Yes, these negative thoughts and feelings are real! They need attention!

Feelings of being overwhelmed!
Feelings of not being able to take it anymore!
Thoughts of giving up!
Thoughts of wanting to run – anywhere but here!

And, the physical symptoms that accompany these negative emotions are real, also! They need attention!

Cold sweats
Racing heart
Knots and butterflies in the stomach
Chest tightness
Inability to take a deep breath
Nausea – that uneasy, queasy-sick-to-your-stomach feeling

There is an answer!

God’s Word, His instruction book, the Bible, gives hope and the way to peace.
Philippians 4:7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

The “peace of God” mentioned here is that special gift of tranquility of mind that frees the believer from fear and worry. This peace can be recognized as an endowment from God in our time of great anxiety because its presence is so real and comforting that it completely exceeds our ability to understand it.

God tells us to trust in Him in Proverbs. Trust here means to rely on or to depend on God. And, “lean not” here means to not depend on our own natural instincts.
Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding;

In other sections of the Bible, God gives us additional encouragement and hope by explaining how He thinks and feels about us.
Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.

God’s Word is full of beautiful promises to those who will trust Him.
Isaiah 41: 10 Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.
Isaiah 41:13 For I, the LORD your God, will hold your right hand, Saying to you, ‘Fear not, I will help you.
Isaiah 43:2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you.
Isaiah 43:5 Fear not, for I am with you;

God does not promise a life without difficulties, obstacles or challenges, but He does promise His support and love.
Isaiah 26: 4 Trust in the LORD forever, For in YAH, the LORD, is everlasting strength.
Jeremiah 17:7 Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, And whose hope is the LORD.
Jeremiah 29:12-13 Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.

Jesus Christ issues an astounding invitation in Matthew 11:28-30. Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.

There is awesome hope for those who suffer worry, anxiety, and every other kind of negative emotion. That hope is founded upon the reality of the true God Who loves you and has provided everything necessary for an abundant, happy, fear-free life. Prove God’s promises. Trust God’s promises. Start practicing what the Bible says and see your life change!

If you would like encouragement and assistance in proving God’s promises, we invite you to contact us. We can help you to start practicing what the Bible says, and rejoice with you as you see your life change!

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Are you distressed about future uncertainties, either real or imagined?

Many people are! Many feel vulnerable and unprotected. And, no wonder! With all the stresses of modern life, it is quite normal to feel anxious at times.

But, it seems that millions are persistently worried, tense, and anxious beyond what would usually be considered as typical. It is something of an epidemic-like condition of our current society.

People worry about money, health, relationships, threats, rejection, and a varied host of other issues in our day-to-day life. Some people even worry about the end of the world.

Typical symptoms of anxiety are easy to recognize.

Current research shows that mainly, anxiety is experienced as a persistent state of worry. Of course, symptoms vary from person to person and can range from mild to severe mental agitation. This worry can consist of any combination of elements, especially feelings of insecurity that something bad is going to happen, helplessness to do anything about it, and being isolated so that there is not sufficient help.

There are also physical symptoms that may be associated with anxiety, such as headaches, muscular tension, digestive problems, problems sleeping, and lack of energy.

The anxious person may feel restless and edgy. They may have trouble with concentration and be very irritable. Sometimes anxiety is so intense that it interferes with typical daily activities at home and at work. It’s hard to snap out of this state, even when people want to.

There is good news!

But, there is good news. There is a way out of anxiety according to the Bible. There are practical steps.

In the Word of God, we find that Believers are given the way to deal with anxiety. They are given access to a peace that passes human understanding.

Does it sound too good to be true? Well, it is true!

Philippians 4:6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

This scripture and others like it give us the answer to the restless, agitated feelings of anxiety. If you have not found this kind of relationship with God, you can. If you seek this God with all your heart, you will find Him.

Nature of the true God!

The God Who made you is the God Who loves you. He wants you to have a relationship with Him.

Psalms 34: 4 I sought the LORD, and He heard me, And delivered me from all my fears. 5 They looked to Him and were radiant, And their faces were not ashamed. 6 This poor man cried out, and the LORD heard him, And saved him out of all his troubles. 7 The angel of the LORD encamps all around those who fear Him, And delivers them. 8 Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him! 9 Oh, fear the LORD, you His saints! There is no want to those who fear Him. 10 The young lions lack and suffer hunger; But those who seek the LORD shall not lack any good thing.

It takes faith to reach out to the God Who is reaching out to mankind. And, God will give that faith, also. Ask. You will be given. Are you willing to invest yourself in your own future well-being? Then seek. You will find.

It is important to know that humans do not tend to seek God. When someone truly begins to seek Him, it is a clear indication that God is working in that life. And, when God is involved in our lives, we are certainly not isolated and without hope anymore. Beginning with God is the beginning of the end of anxiety.

Do you know the true God?

The true God is a bountiful, loving Father. The true God is a God of peace. Benefits abound in His presence!

We encourage you to look into the possibility that you can find relief from anxiety through a close relationship with your Creator God.

It will take some effort on your part to follow God’s road map out of anxiety, but it is well worth the journey. And, there are many side benefits besides relief from anxiety.

A right relationship with the true God can provide an answer to anger, self-hatred and all other troubling human trials.

If you would like encouragement and further details on God’s road map out of anxiety, please contact us.

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All that is good originates and flows from God, including His divine law. The 10 Commandments are a pivotal focus within the framework of all of God’s teachings.

In God’s infinite goodness He shares with us generously. His plans for us are far better than we could ever imagine, and they extend far past this temporary human existence into an eternity of pleasure.

While some in the non-Judeo-Christian community object to the 10 Commandments and seek to remove their credibility and presence in government, they have a long and honored legacy in many countries of the world. And many who believe in the God of the Jewish-Christian Holy Scriptures embrace them as holy and good and as God breathed.

The fullness of God’s gifts to mankind are yet untold. For one thing, God altered His eternal future existence to include those of us who will come to love Him and live in harmony with His will. That story is the beautiful story of God’s salvation that He is carefully working out, step-by-step, and revealing Himself and His salvation point-by-point as His plan proceeds.

As part of the glorious system (process, procedures) God set up to bring about the necessary features that He requires to create our pleasant future eternity with Him, God provided man with the 10 Commandments.

For God’s plan for mankind, it was absolutely essential that He would communicate these commandments. God is All-powerful and All-Wise. He is fully committed to order and protecting what He creates. Whenever God creates, He sets boundaries, rulers, guidelines, and laws into motion to regulate, to maintain, and to protect what He designs and creates. He is the Law Giver, not just to mankind, but to all His creation in eternity past, present, and future.

Consider how inanimate creations are easily in harmony with God. They do not disobey, because they cannot disobey. Little atoms and molecules and various energy forms scurry about, responding to the sound of the Creator’s voice, “Let there be….”

Only with beings created with “will” does the possibility exist where laws can be disobeyed or broken and exert a penalty. Beings with “will” are subject to a very special situation. They are required to submit to the will of their Creator. They are REQUIRED to choose. When a being of will disobeys God’s law, it is called SIN!

Thankfully, God truly is God the Creator, and He is completely good, loving and merciful. He understands the circumstances and challenges in what He created (and is further creating) when He gave “will” to angels and to mankind.

In essence, the law of God reveals much about the organized, protective nature of God. The law of God reveals issues of His will. And, the law of God is a very broad topic.

One of the key aspects in God’s plan for mankind is the giving of His 10 Commandments. The 10 Commandments were given to mankind (Adam). They are wise and wonderful. Followed judiciously, they bring about tremendous blessings. But, mankind has a difficult time with keeping the 10 Commandments.

The creative genius and power of the holy, righteous, generous God has provided temporary life (the human existence), “will,” time, space, and purposeful communication of His 10 Commandments.

The law of God is a perfect (complete, flawless) system. And, the 10 Commandments are crucial, fundamental and vital to God’s working with mankind. The Holy Scriptures are full of the law of God, which is more extensive than the 10 Commandments. But, the 10 Commandments have played a central role in His plan.

Exodus 20:1. I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
2. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.
3. Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.
4. Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the Sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day, and hallowed it. 5. Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.
6. Thou shalt not kill.
7. Thou shalt not commit adultery.
8. Thou shalt not steal.
9. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.
10. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour’s.

What a different array of circumstances would exist in a society that fully kept any one of them. For example, if the law of not lying was followed by 100% of the members of a society, just think what could happen.

Yes, each of the 10 Commandments is an influential spiritual and physical power valuable to any human society all by itself, having a profound effect on relationships. Yet, the 10 Commandments are a whole law. They are unified. In essence, breaking one of them is breaking all of them because they are unified.

On this little blue and green planet earth, serving as a womb where God is developing His masterpiece of creation, God has placed mankind. The process He has devised was calculated and the outcome is known. God’s has spoken, and His Word never returns to Him void. God knows exactly where to tweak the system. Most will be saved. All who want to be saved will be. And, saved in this context means having the desire and the opportunity to live with God forever on His terms.

Through this set-up, God has revealed several precious aspects of Himself, apparently unknown to the angels in ages past. He has revealed mercy that rejoices against judgment. He has revealed His incredible willingness to suffer and sacrifice. He has revealed his courage, His firm faithfulness and perseverance in the face of what seems impossible to some. He gives us every good gift. God loves what He has created. He loves humanity. He wants us to live forever with Him, and He has set in motion His incredible plan of salvation. He has given us His one-of-a-kind Son in what must be the most valuable legal settlement that has ever existed. AWESOME!

Let us make no fatal error here! God is not mocked. He created law. And, real law ALWAYS has a penalty for being broken. When Adam and Eve sinned, God did not suspend the requirements of His law, but He did make arrangements for a full and perfect payment for the penalties of that broken law.

Yet, while God is truly merciful and generous towards mankind, let US not be FOOLS. Realize to the deepest degree possible that God Himself is NO FOOL. God will save no human whom He cannot and does not rule!

There are many arrogant men and women today who are quick to point out how smart they are. They proudly announce they have the intelligence to create commonsense laws like the 10 Commandments! They claim they have no need of a Creator God who would legislate laws for them. Some boldly claim that the 10 Commandments are JUST creations of men. But, the 10 Commandments are NOT one of man’s inventions. Yes, many men are intelligent enough to figure out societies must have law and order to exist. They even can “discover” that lying, stealing, and murder do not encourage long-lived, healthy, or happy societies. But, men are shortsighted, so without submission to God, they will surely be short-lived as well.

While it may be true that some men can figure out by experimentation that certain behaviors undermine a society, those who can even legislate good laws are partial, unjust or just plain inept at appropriate enforcement. Whatever system of rule that man can devise to govern by their own laws, another human can devise a way to get around it.

Yes, it is true that men know murder undermines a society, but they do not enforce their “no murder” laws appropriately. Of course, they may enforce “no murder” sometimes, when it suits their purpose, but at other times, governing bodies actually encourage “murder.” Sometimes, it is called war! Some societies have legalized the murder of unborn children (renaming the act “abortion of a fetus,” and defending the right to choose). Some societies have legalized killing the elderly (renaming it euthanasia or mercy killings).

It is truly foolish to deny the LAWGIVER (James 4:12 There is one lawgiver….) ! God created mankind and gave LAW to them. He communicated His expectations to man in many different ways.

For those of us who take the Genesis creation account seriously, mankind’s history on this earth about 6000 years old when God created Adam and Eve who then produced children. All of us are children of Adam.

God gave LAW to Adam and Eve. God educated them on what He expected, on what was acceptable and what was not! Later, God communicated His will to others. God provided enough of His LAW to mankind that Noah, as seven others before him, preached righteousness, telling mankind what God expected prior to judgment. The world of Noah’s time had ample warning of consequences of sin prior to the flood.

Later, God dealt with Abraham, calling him faithful regarding obedience to Him. He knew God’s LAW. He kept God’s commandments.

Genesis 26:5 Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws.

Notice in this description of Abraham’s obedience that God’s Word differentiates between direct words of God (His “voice”), His “charge,” His “commandments,” His “statutes,” and His “laws.”

And, God expects the same obedience of us when He reveals His will, His love, His law, His commandments, and Himself. Through God’s great plan of salvation, through our Lord Jesus Christ, the only human who lived completely without sinning, we have access to all of God’s benefits, including the desire and ability (by His Holy Spirit) to love and follow His law.

The law of God is referred to as being PERFECT (ideal, faultless, complete, precise).

Psalm 19:7 The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.

James 1:25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

God is a great KING! He is the Sovereign God! We can know the God Who rules His creation with law based on His nature of love. And, we know the only wise God.

If you would like encouragement and further details on knowing and serving the God Who made you and loves you, please contact us.

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Coming out of sin or being delivered out of sin is great. Is this enough in and of itself to please God?

There has to be more. God does His part, and we must also do out part. Our part is allowing God to deliver us out and then we must replace the sin, the evil, with good! And, this is done only through faith and the righteousness of our Savior.

We find this principle of replacing evil with good in various places in scripture. Let’s turn to Matthew 12.

Matthew 12:43-45 (43) When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none. (44) Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished. (45) Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation.

A parallel account is found in Luke 11:24-26.

Luke 11:24-26 (24) When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he saith, I will return unto my house whence I came out. (25) And when he cometh, he findeth it swept and garnished. (26) Then goeth he, and taketh to him seven other spirits more wicked than himself; and they enter in, and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first.

In this account, we see an empty space that had been swept and garnished. The evil was removed from this person’s life; but he did not replace the evil with good!

In the original Exodus from Egypt which is used as a type of sin, or evil, God’s Plan was not to only remove the Israelites from sin, which He did; it was also to bring them into His Promised Land! It was a land flowing with milk and honey. God was replacing the evil with good in the lives of His people!!

So we are to do the same in our lives. How do we accomplish this process of replacement in our lives?

We need to realize sin begins in the mind, in our thought processes. Let’s see this point in James.

James 1:14-15 (14) But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. (15) Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

This is stating the process of sin! How are we to control this; keeping it from happening?

2 Corinthians 10:5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

We are to bring every thought into captivity. We have been in captivity to sin partly because of our thoughts. So it follows, since sin begins in the thinking, and we are to bring every thought into captivity, then it logically follows, we are to be replacing our evil thoughts with good thoughts, where it all begins!

And God is so loving and merciful, He has even told us how to do this; by telling us what to think about.

Philippians 4:4-9, 13 (4) Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice. (5) Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. (6) Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. (7) And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (8) Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. (9) Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you. (13) I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

Philippians 2:5 tells us to let this mind be in you which is in Christ Jesus!

Where does this begin! It begins with, Think on these things!

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The Word of God exhorts God’s people to pray for those in authority. And, on this historical occasion when Barack Obama is put into the office of President of the United States of America, God’s exhortation appears even more imperative for us.

Let us pray for ALL in authority over us. And, let us pay close attention to what we are specifically told to pray for:

1Timothy 2:1-3 (1) I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; (2) For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. (3) For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;

Notice in the middle of verse 2, God says to pray for them that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. Of course, we can pray for God to bless those in authority in many other ways, also.

We may ask God to grant them good health, to give them special help to rule by excellent and righteous example, and that God will also grant them special wisdom and understanding of the “right” things to do. We may even ask that God will show them His way of life and
call them to salvation.

God can and will inspire us to pray for them in ways that please God. Let us be faithful to do as God instructs us. We are living in momentous and extraordinary times. Surely, we all are becoming more and more aware of this. May God reveal His will to us.