Tag: Spouse

Ah Ha

tarynbarnesLeave a comment

Hi Peeps,

Today’s Quote

“Don’t fret about uncomfortable moments, instead ask God to help you learn from them.”

TB

Boiling Crabs

Being in untenable circumstances is frustrating, and, it’s natural to want to avoid unpleasant things. Like crabs trapped in an increasingly hot pot, we scramble for the exit door at the first sign of difficulty. That said, when we focus solely on what’s bothering us, we fail to not only enact the teachings of Christ, but we fail to learn how to grow closer to God in our trials. Friends, life is not a utopia. No situation will ever be perfect nor will it be without the potential for conflict or other un-fun things. However, when you commit to entering God’s peace, you learn how to be content in any situation.

Tame Your Mind

When we obsess over what’s wrong in our lives, we fail to see what God is showing us. The next time you’re in a situation where you’d like to escape, ask God what lesson can be learned in that moment. By taking the time to focus on Him and not your circumstance, you begin to see how you can grow and mature. You may be frustrated at work, but God may be giving you a firsthand course in improving patience. Clashing with your spouse may be a lesson in displaying Christ-like love. There are an infinite amount of lessons to be learned in a given lifetime, so ask God so that you may increase your ‘ah ha’ moments.

Today’s Question

What is unpleasant in your life and have you asked God what lessons can be learned in those moments?

Enjoy the reading

Genesis 23

1 When Sarah was 127 years old, 2 she died at Kiriath-arba (now called Hebron) in the land of Canaan. There Abraham mourned and wept for her. 3 Then, leaving her body, he said to the Hittite elders, 4 “Here I am, a stranger and a foreigner among you. Please sell me a piece of land so I can give my wife a proper burial.” 5 The Hittites replied to Abraham, 6 “Listen, my lord, you are an honored prince among us. Choose the finest of our tombs and bury her there. No one here will refuse to help you in this way.” 7 Then Abraham bowed low before the Hittites 8 and said, “Since you are willing to help me in this way, be so kind as to ask Ephron son of Zohar 9 to let me buy his cave at Machpelah, down at the end of his field. I will pay the full price in the presence of witnesses, so I will have a permanent burial place for my family.” 10 Ephron was sitting there among the others, and he answered Abraham as the others listened, speaking publicly before all the Hittite elders of the town. 11 “No, my lord,” he said to Abraham, “please listen to me. I will give you the field and the cave. Here in the presence of my people, I give it to you. Go and bury your dead.” 12 Abraham again bowed low before the citizens of the land, 13 and he replied to Ephron as everyone listened. “No, listen to me. I will buy it from you. Let me pay the full price for the field so I can bury my dead there.” 14 Ephron answered Abraham, 15 “My lord, please listen to me. The land is worth 400 pieces of silver, but what is that between friends? Go ahead and bury your dead.” 16 So Abraham agreed to Ephron’s price and paid the amount he had suggested—400 pieces of silver, weighed according to the market standard. The Hittite elders witnessed the transaction. 17 So Abraham bought the plot of land belonging to Ephron at Machpelah, near Mamre. This included the field itself, the cave that was in it, and all the surrounding trees. 18 It was transferred to Abraham as his permanent possession in the presence of the Hittite elders at the city gate. 19 Then Abraham buried his wife, Sarah, there in Canaan, in the cave of Machpelah, near Mamre (also called Hebron). 20 So the field and the cave were transferred from the Hittites to Abraham for use as a permanent burial place.

Mirage

tarynbarnesLeave a comment

Hi Peeps,

Today’s Quote

“Pay attention to the obstacles in your life as the opposition likes to throw in optical illusions to encourage you to stray.”

TB

Path

God sets out a path for us. It’s not a confusing, convoluted journey; in fact, it’s pretty straightforward. Pick up your cross, accept the gift of salvation, and follow Him. What makes the path narrow is our flesh-driven ways and the opposition which seeks to devour us at every turn. Even when (especially) things are good, and you are at peace, he will stir up a fake scenario within you to cause strife. While those scenarios may feel real, they are merely figments of the imagination designed to get you off of your walk with Christ. So what does that look like?

Illusion

The devil cannot force us to do anything. He can, however, tee up the situation, but we must swing at it. This happens when we crave things we think we need, so we obtain them illegitimately. You may think your spouse is angry with you, so you become defensive and argumentative. You could feel intense fear about a situation at home, or work, etc., that is only alive in your mind. The takeaway is that we must know the word of God and how it reinforces our minds so that when the enemy attacks, we don’t buy into the fake scenes he’s painting.

Today’s Question

Are you distracted and discouraged by a mirage from the enemy?

Enjoy the reading

Genesis 6

1 Then the people began to multiply on the earth, and daughters were born to them. 2 The sons of God saw the beautiful women and took any they wanted as their wives. 3 Then the LORD said, “My Spirit will not put up with humans for such a long time, for they are only mortal flesh. In the future, their normal lifespan will be no more than 120 years.” 4 In those days, and for some time after, giant Nephilites lived on the earth, for whenever the sons of God had intercourse with women, they gave birth to children who became the heroes and famous warriors of ancient times. 5 The LORD observed the extent of human wickedness on the earth, and he saw that everything they thought or imagined was consistently and totally evil. 6 So the LORD was sorry he had ever made them and put them on the earth. It broke his heart. 7 And the LORD said, “I will wipe this human race I have created from the face of the earth. Yes, and I will destroy every living thing—all the people, the large animals, the small animals that scurry along the ground, and even the birds of the sky. I am sorry I ever made them.” 8 But Noah found favor with the LORD . 9 This is the account of Noah and his family. Noah was a righteous man, the only blameless person living on earth at the time, and he walked in close fellowship with God. 10 Noah was the father of three sons: Shem, Ham, and Japheth. 11 Now God saw that the earth had become corrupt and was filled with violence. 12 God observed all this corruption in the world, for everyone on earth was corrupt. 13 So God said to Noah, “I have decided to destroy all living creatures, for they have filled the earth with violence. Yes, I will wipe them all out along with the earth! 14 “Build a large boat from cypress wood and waterproof it with tar, inside and out. Then construct decks and stalls throughout its interior. 15 Make the boat 450 feet long, 75 feet wide, and 45 feet high. 16 Leave an 18-inch opening below the roof all the way around the boat. Put the door on the side, and build three decks inside the boat—lower, middle, and upper. 17 “Look! I am about to cover the earth with a flood that will destroy every living thing that breathes. Everything on earth will die. 18 But I will confirm my covenant with you. So enter the boat—you and your wife and your sons and their wives. 19 Bring a pair of every kind of animal—a male and a female—into the boat with you to keep them alive during the flood. 20 Pairs of every kind of bird, and every kind of animal, and every kind of small animal that scurries along the ground, will come to you to be kept alive. 21 And be sure to take on board enough food for your family and for all the animals.” 22 So Noah did everything exactly as God had commanded him.

Open

jonmbarnesLeave a comment
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Hi Peeps,
Today’s Quote
 
“Open up the good new possibilities and opportunities that you are supposed to do and achieve in life by taking each step of faith and work that goes along with God’s loving plan for your life and family.”  ~ Jon Barnes

Amazing

It amazes me to think and reflect on how much time I have spent with my wife, children, and family.  It is an honor and privilege to model, teach and share the fascinating facts of all the things I am learning about God. This once in a lifetime experience is unique, incredible and extremely personal for me.  It would take an eternity to begin to unravel and understand more about the mind of God and His infinite love, as a Creator and Father of All.

Knowledgeable 

When you take the time needed to be with your spouse, raise your children, and balance your life, God gives you an understanding, knowledge, and experience in what it’s like to create, provide, and sustain life.  The life lessons are not always comfortable, but necessary.  By studying His examples and stories from the Bible, we have an open book of commandments to follow, problems to avoid, and lessons to learn, in order to do a fantastic job.

Cooperative

When we cooperate with God, our efforts will produce the proper outcome, response, and results from the fruits of our labor.  I don’t understand why there are so many men who will not take care of their own children. This is an epidemic, societal decease, and curse!! Like “DOGS”, they hit and run!  Real men need to train, explain, and model for their boys and girls about this unacceptable, nasty behavior.  I find it challenging to take care of just one family, based on my experience and time management.
Today’s Question
Are you paying attention to the fruits of your labor, choices, and decisions or did you leave your family, responsibilities, spouse, and children behind, like an evil dog, for the lust of your own flesh?
Enjoy The Reading

John 7 

Jesus and His Brothers

7 After this, Jesus traveled around Galilee. He wanted to stay out of Judea, where the Jewish leaders were plotting his death. 2 But soon it was time for the Jewish Festival of Shelters, 3 and Jesus’ brothers said to him, “Leave here and go to Judea, where your followers can see your miracles! 4 You can’t become famous if you hide like this! If you can do such wonderful things, show yourself to the world!” 5 For even his brothers didn’t believe in him.
6 Jesus replied, “Now is not the right time for me to go, but you can go anytime. 7 The world can’t hate you, but it does hate me because I accuse it of doing evil. 8 You go on. I’m not going to this festival, because my time has not yet come.” 9 After saying these things, Jesus remained in Galilee.

Jesus Teaches Openly at the Temple

10 But after his brothers left for the festival, Jesus also went, though secretly, staying out of public view. 11 The Jewish leaders tried to find him at the festival and kept asking if anyone had seen him. 12 There was a lot of grumbling about him among the crowds. Some argued, “He’s a good man,” but others said, “He’s nothing but a fraud who deceives the people.” 13 But no one had the courage to speak favorably about him in public, for they were afraid of getting in trouble with the Jewish leaders.
14 Then, midway through the festival, Jesus went up to the Temple and began to teach. 15 The people were surprised when they heard him. “How does he know so much when he hasn’t been trained?” they asked.
16 So Jesus told them, “My message is not my own; it comes from God who sent me. 17 Anyone who wants to do the will of God will know whether my teaching is from God or is merely my own. 18 Those who speak for themselves want glory only for themselves, but a person who seeks to honor the one who sent him speaks truth, not lies. 19 Moses gave you the law, but none of you obeys it! In fact, you are trying to kill me.”
20 The crowd replied, “You’re demon possessed! Who’s trying to kill you?”
21 Jesus replied, “I did one miracle on the Sabbath, and you were amazed. 22 But you work on the Sabbath, too, when you obey Moses’ law of circumcision. (Actually, this tradition of circumcision began with the patriarchs, long before the law of Moses.) 23 For if the correct time for circumcising your son falls on the Sabbath, you go ahead and do it so as not to break the law of Moses. So why should you be angry with me for healing a man on the Sabbath? 24 Look beneath the surface so you can judge correctly.”

Is Jesus the Messiah?

25 Some of the people who lived in Jerusalem started to ask each other, “Isn’t this the man they are trying to kill? 26 But here he is, speaking in public, and they say nothing to him. Could our leaders possibly believe that he is the Messiah? 27 But how could he be? For we know where this man comes from. When the Messiah comes, he will simply appear; no one will know where he comes from.”
28 While Jesus was teaching in the Temple, he called out, “Yes, you know me, and you know where I come from. But I’m not here on my own. The one who sent me is true, and you don’t know him. 29 But I know him because I come from him, and he sent me to you.” 30 Then the leaders tried to arrest him; but no one laid a hand on him, because his time had not yet come.
31 Many among the crowds at the Temple believed in him. “After all,” they said, “would you expect the Messiah to do more miraculous signs than this man has done?”
32 When the Pharisees heard that the crowds were whispering such things, they and the leading priests sent Temple guards to arrest Jesus. 33 But Jesus told them, “I will be with you only a little longer. Then I will return to the one who sent me. 34 You will search for me but not find me. And you cannot go where I am going.”
35 The Jewish leaders were puzzled by this statement. “Where is he planning to go?” they asked. “Is he thinking of leaving the country and going to the Jews in other lands? Maybe he will even teach the Greeks! 36 What does he mean when he says, ‘You will search for me but not find me,’ and ‘You cannot go where I am going’?”

Jesus Promises Living Water

37 On the last day, the climax of the festival, Jesus stood and shouted to the crowds, “Anyone who is thirsty may come to me! 38 Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.’” 39 (When he said “living water,” he was speaking of the Spirit, who would be given to everyone believing in him. But the Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus had not yet entered into his glory.)

Division and Unbelief

40 When the crowds heard him say this, some of them declared, “Surely this man is the Prophet we’ve been expecting.” 41 Others said, “He is the Messiah.” Still others said, “But he can’t be! Will the Messiah come from Galilee? 42 For the Scriptures clearly state that the Messiah will be born of the royal line of David, in Bethlehem, the village where King David was born.” 43 So the crowd was divided about him. 44 Some even wanted him arrested, but no one laid a hand on him.
45 When the Temple guards returned without having arrested Jesus, the leading priests and Pharisees demanded, “Why didn’t you bring him in?”
46 “We have never heard anyone speak like this!” the guards responded.
47 “Have you been led astray, too?” the Pharisees mocked. 48 “Is there a single one of us rulers or Pharisees who believes in him? 49 This foolish crowd follows him, but they are ignorant of the law. God’s curse is on them!”
50 Then Nicodemus, the leader who had met with Jesus earlier, spoke up. 51 “Is it legal to convict a man before he is given a hearing?” he asked.
52 They replied, “Are you from Galilee, too? Search the Scriptures and see for yourself—no prophet ever comes from Galilee!”

Standard

tarynbarnesLeave a comment

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Hi Peeps,

Today’s Quote

“God does not treat us like puppets or slaves, so let’s not do that to each other.”~TB

Not That

Since when did following Christ mean that we are meant to be doormats? As followers of Christ, we are meant to strive for a higher standard, but that also means asserting boundaries and holding each other accountable when people get into ‘Pharaoh’ mode. It’s one thing to turn the other cheek when you are wronged. It’s an entirely different story when you allow other people to enslave your time, mind and resources because you think you’re being Christ-like. If you think bowing down to others and allowing poor treatment is an act of humility, I strongly encourage you to read the Bible more carefully.

Slippery Slope

When you allow others to continually take advantage of you, you are going down a slippery slope. There is a stark difference between forgiving offenses and tolerating abusive behavior. In our lives, we will endure hardship, setbacks, and other uncomfortable scenarios. But, that is not the same as tolerating bad behavior, whether it comes from your boss, your spouse, your landlord or anyone else. If we truly want to be Christ-like, we have to hold one another to a higher standard. That means shedding light on evil deeds, slave mentalities, and the like. The next time you’re dealing with a ‘Pharaoh’, remember that God loves you and does not require you to put up with inappropriate treatment. Forgive, yes. In addition, remember Christ’s standards.

Today’s Question

Are you accepting bad behavior?

Enjoy the reading

Isaiah 36

1 In the fourteenth year of King Hezekiah’s reign, King Sennacherib of Assyria came to attack the fortified towns of Judah and conquered them.
2 Then the king of Assyria sent his chief of staff from Lachish with a huge army to confront King Hezekiah in Jerusalem. The Assyrians took up a position beside the aqueduct that feeds water into the upper pool, near the road leading to the field where cloth is washed.
3 These are the officials who went out to meet with them: Eliakim son of Hilkiah, the palace administrator; Shebna the court secretary; and Joah son of Asaph, the royal historian.
4 Then the Assyrian king’s chief of staff told them to give this message to Hezekiah: “This is what the great king of Assyria says: What are you trusting in that makes you so confident?
5 Do you think that mere words can substitute for military skill and strength? Who are you counting on, that you have rebelled against me?
6 On Egypt? If you lean on Egypt, it will be like a reed that splinters beneath your weight and pierces your hand. Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, is completely unreliable!
7 “But perhaps you will say to me, ‘We are trusting in the LORD our God!’ But isn’t he the one who was insulted by Hezekiah? Didn’t Hezekiah tear down his shrines and altars and make everyone in Judah and Jerusalem worship only at the altar here in Jerusalem?
8 “I’ll tell you what! Strike a bargain with my master, the king of Assyria. I will give you 2,000 horses if you can find that many men to ride on them!
9 With your tiny army, how can you think of challenging even the weakest contingent of my master’s troops, even with the help of Egypt’s chariots and charioteers?
10 What’s more, do you think we have invaded your land without the LORD ’s direction? The LORD himself told us, ‘Attack this land and destroy it!’”
11 Then Eliakim, Shebna, and Joah said to the Assyrian chief of staff, “Please speak to us in Aramaic, for we understand it well. Don’t speak in Hebrew, for the people on the wall will hear.”
12 But Sennacherib’s chief of staff replied, “Do you think my master sent this message only to you and your master? He wants all the people to hear it, for when we put this city under siege, they will suffer along with you. They will be so hungry and thirsty that they will eat their own dung and drink their own urine.”
13 Then the chief of staff stood and shouted in Hebrew to the people on the wall, “Listen to this message from the great king of Assyria!
14 This is what the king says: Don’t let Hezekiah deceive you. He will never be able to rescue you.
15 Don’t let him fool you into trusting in the LORD by saying, ‘The LORD will surely rescue us. This city will never fall into the hands of the Assyrian king!’
16 “Don’t listen to Hezekiah! These are the terms the king of Assyria is offering: Make peace with me—open the gates and come out. Then each of you can continue eating from your own grapevine and fig tree and drinking from your own well.
17 Then I will arrange to take you to another land like this one—a land of grain and new wine, bread and vineyards.
18 “Don’t let Hezekiah mislead you by saying, ‘The LORD will rescue us!’ Have the gods of any other nations ever saved their people from the king of Assyria?
19 What happened to the gods of Hamath and Arpad? And what about the gods of Sepharvaim? Did any god rescue Samaria from my power?
20 What god of any nation has ever been able to save its people from my power? So what makes you think that the LORD can rescue Jerusalem from me?”
21 But the people were silent and did not utter a word because Hezekiah had commanded them, “Do not answer him.”
22 Then Eliakim son of Hilkiah, the palace administrator; Shebna the court secretary; and Joah son of Asaph, the royal historian, went back to Hezekiah. They tore their clothes in despair, and they went in to see the king and told him what the Assyrian chief of staff had said.

Generations

tarynbarnes1 Comment

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Hi Peeps,

Today’s Quote

“Generations of past and present: don’t pretend to be surprised and dismayed by the state of the world because you yourselves contributed to it through your fake communities, plastic morals, and absentee parenting.”~TB

Fake Communities

Instead of tilling the soil of your land and cultivating relationships with your neighbors, you foolishly opted to elect corrupt leaders whose sole purpose is to line their pockets by creating fake laws to enslave you. You blindly traded your inheritance for a nicely decorated cell of which you graciously accepted slave wages to aid in keeping up appearances. To comfort yourselves, you gladly accept the lies peddled by fake leaders who blame the poor and widowed for the state of your existence. You cast judgment and disdain on your vulnerable brothers and sisters while the corrupt help themselves to your wallets. There is no need for them to be subtle about it for you happily open your purse strings for them!

 

Plastic Morals

You fill the pews of churches ran by false teachers who lull you into a comforting slumber as if the title “Christian” alone brings you salvation. Then when these false teachers are exposed, you clutch your pearls in manufactured shock as if you didn’t know the truth. Your lives are based on these false teachings! In public, you sashay in pressed suits and beautiful dresses, crying ‘Praise God!’, pretending that you love the Lord. In private, you defile your bodies with strangers and your neighbor’s spouses, partaking in obscene images and practices, and giving into every depraved pleasure known to man. This does not bother you because, in your mind, it is all done in secret. Don’t be foolish! God knows all and He is not pleased.

Absentee Parenting

Your children watch everything you do and don’t do. Why are you surprised when they harden their hearts against you? While you were busy worshipping your true god– yourself– you left your parental responsibility to the world where the youth became indoctrinated by bastardized interpretations of love from a fallen world! Then you judge your children with your false christianity and blind eyes as if their behavior is the root cause of a damning problem. They are merely a symptom of your blatant disobedience!

Course Correction

If you feel sorrow and anguish for your wicked ways, repent and turn away from your shameful behavior. Only God can course correct an abandoned ship. Return to His mercy so that He may write true love on your hearts. Then, we can experience healing for generations to come. Friends, correction takes a harsh word. Like peroxide cleaning an infectious wound, God sends down his Biblical thunder to shake our waywardness loose. Take comfort in the fact that He is calling us home. Do not be part of the group that misses the rescue boat!

 

Question of the day

Who is more in contempt; the Charleton or the flock too lazy to realize they are being lead astray?

 

Enjoy the reading

Psalm 65

1 What mighty praise, O God, belongs to you in Zion. We will fulfill our vows to you, 2 for you answer our prayers. All of us must come to you. 3Though we are overwhelmed by our sins, you forgive them all. 4 What joy for those you choose to bring near, those who live in your holy courts. What festivities await us inside your holy Temple. 5 You faithfully answer our prayers with awesome deeds, O God our savior. You are the hope of everyone on earth, even those who sail on distant seas. 6 You formed the mountains by your power and armed yourself with mighty strength. 7 You quieted the raging oceans with their pounding waves and silenced the shouting of the nations. 8 Those who live at the ends of the earth stand in awe of your wonders. From where the sun rises to where it sets, you inspire shouts of joy. 9 You take care of the earth and water it, making it rich and fertile. The river of God has plenty of water; it provides a bountiful harvest of grain, for you have ordered it so. 10 You drench the plowed ground with rain, melting the clods and leveling the ridges. You soften the earth with showers and bless its abundant crops. 11 You crown the year with a bountiful harvest; even the hard pathways overflow with abundance. 12The grasslands of the wilderness become a lush pasture, and the hillsides blossom with joy. 13 The meadows are clothed with flocks of sheep, and the valleys are carpeted with grain. They all shout and sing for joy!

Let

jonmbarnesLeave a comment
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Hi Peeps,
Today’s Quote
“Let your spouse and children explain what they have learned from you and God will show you how effective your life has been to them.”  ~ Jon Barnes

Love

Express your love for God in all that you do so that there is no question about your character and faith in God.  The perfect work of love is simple and people all around the world have the same longing for it.  If you are a conduit of love, your actions are obvious and in tune with Humanity in God.

Proceed

Move forward in your love thinking with your time, money, family and work so that your balance with God’s life lessons account for your success right now and in Heaven.  Because the path of goodness is lonely, with few people walking thereby, keep the faith as a permanent process God has for your life.

Work

With lots of love, work by yourself and then share what you have learned.   Collaborate when you have the wisdom to do so. Otherwise, your distractions may cause you to stumble, stall, and ultimately fail. People must buy their own oil to be ready for God and the Love He can only give. Let your work be to the Will of God and not your own thoughts.
Today’s Question
Did you let the Will of God move you today and can you see the fruit from your continued obedience or are you frustrated, busted, and discussed?
Enjoy The Reading

Psalm 14

For the choir director: A psalm of David.

1 Only fools say in their hearts,
    “There is no God.”
They are corrupt, and their actions are evil;
    not one of them does good!
2 The Lord looks down from heaven
    on the entire human race;
he looks to see if anyone is truly wise,
    if anyone seeks God.
3 But no, all have turned away;
    all have become corrupt.[a]
No one does good,
    not a single one!
4 Will those who do evil never learn?
    They eat up my people like bread
    and wouldn’t think of praying to the Lord.
5 Terror will grip them,
    for God is with those who obey him.
6 The wicked frustrate the plans of the oppressed,
    but the Lord will protect his people.
7 Who will come from Mount Zion to rescue Israel?
    When the Lord restores his people,
    Jacob will shout with joy, and Israel will rejoice.

Love,

Jonathan

Parting

jonmbarnesLeave a comment
banana-2181470_1920Hi Peeps,
Today’s Quote
“Parting of ways from negative people to pursue your own life is a sign of maturity to follow God’s Will, Ways, and Might.”  ~  Jon Barnes

Stand

Only you can make the choices that stand for something positive in your life. So be bold to look, learn, grow, and work for God to do those things that are right.  Taking a stand is an isolated choice of daily decision connected together for a lifetime. In all that you do, understand God’s clues, because you’ll have yours and I’ll have mine.

Search

Search for the missing puzzles of love, joy, liberty, and the freedom to choose from the options you are given.   God’s Ways are for you to give and share; never to lose. The Good in life will seek you out, so always find yourself doing good that finds you.  Wonderful things will continue to flow your way, as this fact should always be understood and expected.

Quit

After you have put in an amount of quality work into following your heart and dreams,  
there comes a point in life and time that you’ll understand what it all means.  The clues you get from taking a stand for God becomes more clear each and every day.  Before long you realize that this is who you are and you will not quite on God Today!
Today’s Question
Did you know that Today is every day with God or did you part ways to sing and walk with someone else?
Enjoy The Reading
 

Psalm 1 

1 Oh, the joys of those who do not
    follow the advice of the wicked,
    or stand around with sinners,
    or join in with mockers.
2 But they delight in the law of the Lord,
    meditating on it day and night.
3 They are like trees planted along the riverbank,
    bearing fruit each season.
Their leaves never wither,
    and they prosper in all they do.
4 But not the wicked!
    They are like worthless chaff, scattered by the wind.
5 They will be condemned at the time of judgment.
    Sinners will have no place among the godly.
6 For the Lord watches over the path of the godly,
    but the path of the wicked leads to destruction.

Love,

Jonathan

Loved

jonmbarnesLeave a comment
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Hi Peeps,
Today’s Quote
“Since all people enjoy being loved, I just use the joy music in education with biblical principles to share, spread, and teach everywhere I go, with God’s Wisdom.”  ~ Jon Barnes

Careful

 
It is important to respect, love, and follow God’s advice all of the time.  Living in the now is being in the right place at the right time, doing what you are supposed to be doing.  You will be given great ideas and better solutions to your problems with the hand of God on your life in simplicity and humility.

Placement

Careful placement of your affections is in order when God comes first in your thought, work, and love languages.  Your spouse, family, and others are at the top of this list and should remain in this order of importance. This connection and balanced order teach you how to love your enemies with convection, confidence, wisdom, honesty, and integrity because you love God, spouse, and family first.  

Masterfully

Mastering the ability to love as God loves will help you to love your family even more.  If you don’t love God, how can you possibly love your family?  Your life will be a stumbling block for them, yourself, and others.  It is wise to understand your loving role in your relationship with God’s plan for you and your family first.
Today’s Question
Did you notice how wonderfully God has blessed your life, because of your obedience to His Ways, which clearly teaches us all how to love properly?
Enjoy The Reading
 

Ezra 1 

Cyrus Allows the Exiles to Return

1 In the first year of King Cyrus of Persia,[a] the Lord fulfilled the prophecy he had given through Jeremiah.[b] He stirred the heart of Cyrus to put this proclamation in writing and to send it throughout his kingdom:
2 “This is what King Cyrus of Persia says:
“The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth. He has appointed me to build him a Temple at Jerusalem, which is in Judah. 3 Any of you who are his people may go to Jerusalem in Judah to rebuild this Temple of the Lord, the God of Israel, who lives in Jerusalem. And may your God be with you! 4 Wherever this Jewish remnant is found, let their neighbors contribute toward their expenses by giving them silver and gold, supplies for the journey, and livestock, as well as a voluntary offering for the Temple of God in Jerusalem.”
5 Then God stirred the hearts of the priests and Levites and the leaders of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin to go to Jerusalem to rebuild the Temple of the Lord. 6 And all their neighbors assisted by giving them articles of silver and gold, supplies for the journey, and livestock. They gave them many valuable gifts in addition to all the voluntary offerings.
7 King Cyrus himself brought out the articles that King Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the Lord’s Temple in Jerusalem and had placed in the temple of his own gods. 8 Cyrus directed Mithredath, the treasurer of Persia, to count these items and present them to Sheshbazzar, the leader of the exiles returning to Judah.[c] 9 This is a list of the items that were returned:
gold basins 30
silver basins 1,000
silver incense burners[d] 29
10 gold bowls 30
silver bowls 410
other items 1,000
11 In all, there were 5,400 articles of gold and silver. Sheshbazzar brought all of these along when the exiles went from Babylon to Jerusalem.
Love,
Jonathan

Treasures

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Hi Peeps,
Today’s Quote
“In your heart, store up all of your treasures in Heaven by doing all the things God requires of you and do not fall in  love with money, materialism, fame, greed, and other lusts of the flesh.” ~ Jon Barnes

Treasure

The love of God is all the treasure you need with your affections focused on Him. Your love and allegiance to God will teach you how to love others, serve, and develop the best systems of help and honor in life. The joy of giving is the secret to self-help, service, improvement, and strong work ethic.  Balancing God’s blessings along with your good behavior will improve your lifestyle, walk with God, and your light will shine like God’s wisdom of Good Gold before people.

Kingdom

There is no need to steal God’s Good Gold to hoard it here on earth, because you will die in your sin, leaving it all behind for someone else to spend, while missing the Kingdom of God for eternity, burning in hell with your greedy heart. Gold is used to pave the streets, not your heart. Too many of us pave our hearts, minds, and lifestyle full of stuff that is unnecessary. God’s wisdom of Good Gold is to love the lifestyle that He teaches. The Kingdom of God most important, necessary, and should be the only treasure of love in your heart. 

Chest

Loving the lifestyle of God is the only thing that should be full in your chest, heart, mind, body, and soul. Mastering this will give you the wisdom to teach you how to balance loving your spouse, family, friends, and enemies. Less space is used for arrogance, titles, positions, awards, rewards, recognition, and the like.  More attention, time, and space are placed on the service, help, humility, honesty, integrity, respect, and honor to your parents, family, and God. Continue to fill your treasure chest with God’s Good Gold, which is full of invisible kingdom wisdom and be content with His Holy Word and Spirit Connection.
Today’s Question
What matters the most in your life?
Enjoy The Reading

1 Kings 6 

Solomon Builds the Temple

6 It was in midspring, in the month of Ziv,[a] during the fourth year of Solomon’s reign, that he began to construct the Temple of the Lord. This was 480 years after the people of Israel were rescued from their slavery in the land of Egypt.
2 The Temple that King Solomon built for the Lord was 90 feet long, 30 feet wide, and 45 feet high.[b] 3 The entry room at the front of the Temple was 30 feet[c] wide, running across the entire width of the Temple. It projected outward 15 feet[d] from the front of the Temple. 4 Solomon also made narrow recessed windows throughout the Temple.
5 He built a complex of rooms against the outer walls of the Temple, all the way around the sides and rear of the building. 6 The complex was three stories high, the bottom floor being 7 1⁄2 feet wide, the second floor 9 feet wide, and the top floor 10 1⁄2 feet wide.[e] The rooms were connected to the walls of the Temple by beams resting on ledges built out from the wall. So the beams were not inserted into the walls themselves.
7 The stones used in the construction of the Temple were finished at the quarry, so there was no sound of hammer, ax, or any other iron tool at the building site.
8 The entrance to the bottom floor[f] was on the south side of the Temple. There were winding stairs going up to the second floor, and another flight of stairs between the second and third floors. 9 After completing the Temple structure, Solomon put in a ceiling made of cedar beams and planks. 10 As already stated, he built a complex of rooms along the sides of the building, attached to the Temple walls by cedar timbers. Each story of the complex was 7 1⁄2 feet[g] high.
11 Then the Lord gave this message to Solomon: 12 “Concerning this Temple you are building, if you keep all my decrees and regulations and obey all my commands, I will fulfill through you the promise I made to your father, David. 13 I will live among the Israelites and will never abandon my people Israel.”

The Temple’s Interior

14 So Solomon finished building the Temple. 15 The entire inside, from floor to ceiling, was paneled with wood. He paneled the walls and ceilings with cedar, and he used planks of cypress for the floors. 16 He partitioned off an inner sanctuary—the Most Holy Place—at the far end of the Temple. It was 30 feet deep and was paneled with cedar from floor to ceiling. 17 The main room of the Temple, outside the Most Holy Place, was 60 feet[h] long. 18 Cedar paneling completely covered the stone walls throughout the Temple, and the paneling was decorated with carvings of gourds and open flowers.
19 He prepared the inner sanctuary at the far end of the Temple, where the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant would be placed. 20 This inner sanctuary was 30 feet long, 30 feet wide, and 30 feet high. He overlaid the inside with solid gold. He also overlaid the altar made of cedar.[i] 21 Then Solomon overlaid the rest of the Temple’s interior with solid gold, and he made gold chains to protect the entrance[j] to the Most Holy Place. 22 So he finished overlaying the entire Temple with gold, including the altar that belonged to the Most Holy Place.
23 He made two cherubim of wild olive[k] wood, each 15 feet[l] tall, and placed them in the inner sanctuary. 24 The wingspan of each of the cherubim was 15 feet, each wing being 7 1⁄2 feet[m] long. 25 The two cherubim were identical in shape and size;26 each was 15 feet tall. 27 He placed them side by side in the inner sanctuary of the Temple. Their outspread wings reached from wall to wall, while their inner wings touched at the center of the room. 28 He overlaid the two cherubim with gold.
29 He decorated all the walls of the inner sanctuary and the main room with carvings of cherubim, palm trees, and open flowers. 30 He overlaid the floor in both rooms with gold.
31 For the entrance to the inner sanctuary, he made double doors of wild olive wood with five-sided doorposts.[n] 32 These double doors were decorated with carvings of cherubim, palm trees, and open flowers. The doors, including the decorations of cherubim and palm trees, were overlaid with gold.
33 Then he made four-sided doorposts of wild olive wood for the entrance to the Temple. 34 There were two folding doors of cypress wood, and each door was hinged to fold back upon itself. 35 These doors were decorated with carvings of cherubim, palm trees, and open flowers—all overlaid evenly with gold.
36 The walls of the inner courtyard were built so that there was one layer of cedar beams between every three layers of finished stone.
37 The foundation of the Lord’s Temple was laid in midspring, in the month of Ziv,[o]during the fourth year of Solomon’s reign. 38 The entire building was completed in every detail by midautumn, in the month of Bul,[p] during the eleventh year of his reign. So it took seven years to build the Temple.
Love,
Jonathan

Relationships

jonmbarnesLeave a comment
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Hi Peeps,
Today’s Quote
“It’s up to you to look at your relationship with God.  Think of it like going on a vacation to a foreign country, or a different place. It puts a new lens on your focus to see the beauty that already exists. Then take that experience and do the same for your spouse, family, and enemies.“  ~ Jon Barnes

Vacations

Strategic two-day vacations can help you refocus your attention on God, your spouse, loved ones, family, and friends. Sometimes we miss the obvious things to do. The balance of time spent on your relationships will improve your focus and quality of attention to detail that is needed in maintaining Godly love. Take a step back to check your own work. People will clearly see the good work in your life and the blessing from your faith walk with God. 

Dancing

Dancing is a great way to exercise the love that is in your heart when connecting with God and people. Your daily working movements are a part of your daily dance.  Moving in the direction of love is joyful, wonderful, and full of praise and thanksgiving. The way you move says it all. The Arts help us to express the perception of perfection in ways we cannot comprehend or count, yet we see the hand of God with each dancing movement of the clouds. 

Music

It is like music to my ears when God smiles at my progress. My spouse is full of joy, and the people around me are full of happiness when I am obedient to God. This great joy should be expressed in the music you make and listen to.  The good vibrations of love are needed to fill the air and our hearts with a continuous reminder of how Good God is to us all. We sing praises to God in all our relationships.
Today’s Question
Do you have the best relationship with God and the people around you?
 
Enjoy The Reading

1 Samuel 7

1 So the men of Kiriath-jearim came to get the Ark of the LORD . They took it to the hillside home of Abinadab and ordained Eleazar, his son, to be in charge of it. 2 The Ark remained in Kiriath-jearim for a long time—twenty years in all. During that time all Israel mourned because it seemed the LORD had abandoned them. 3 Then Samuel said to all the people of Israel, “If you want to return to the LORD with all your hearts, get rid of your foreign gods and your images of Ashtoreth. Turn your hearts to the LORD and obey him alone; then he will rescue you from the Philistines.” 4 So the Israelites got rid of their images of Baal and Ashtoreth and worshiped only the LORD . 5 Then Samuel told them, “Gather all of Israel to Mizpah, and I will pray to the LORD for you.” 6 So they gathered at Mizpah and, in a great ceremony, drew water from a well and poured it out before the LORD . They also went without food all day and confessed that they had sinned against the LORD . (It was at Mizpah that Samuel became Israel’s judge.) 7 When the Philistine rulers heard that Israel had gathered at Mizpah, they mobilized their army and advanced. The Israelites were badly frightened when they learned that the Philistines were approaching. 8“Don’t stop pleading with the LORD our God to save us from the Philistines!” they begged Samuel. 9 So Samuel took a young lamb and offered it to the LORD as a whole burnt offering. He pleaded with the LORD to help Israel, and the LORD answered him. 10 Just as Samuel was sacrificing the burnt offering, the Philistines arrived to attack Israel. But the LORD spoke with a mighty voice of thunder from heaven that day, and the Philistines were thrown into such confusion that the Israelites defeated them. 11 The men of Israel chased them from Mizpah to a place below Beth-car, slaughtering them all along the way. 12 Samuel then took a large stone and placed it between the towns of Mizpah and Jeshanah. He named it Ebenezer (which means “the stone of help”), for he said, “Up to this point the LORD has helped us!” 13 So the Philistines were subdued and didn’t invade Israel again for some time. And throughout Samuel’s lifetime, the LORD ’s powerful hand was raised against the Philistines. 14 The Israelite villages near Ekron and Gath that the Philistines had captured were restored to Israel, along with the rest of the territory that the Philistines had taken. And there was peace between Israel and the Amorites in those days. 15 Samuel continued as Israel’s judge for the rest of his life. 16 Each year he traveled around, setting up his court first at Bethel, then at Gilgal, and then at Mizpah. He judged the people of Israel at each of these places. 17 Then he would return to his home at Ramah, and he would hear cases there, too. And Samuel built an altar to the LORD at Ramah.