tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-60233929365279962262024-03-05T12:05:57.619-08:00Hippy ... In His SerivceSister Leigh is a True Hippy, though a bit reformed. She loves teaching others that Worship is Ministry and Ministry is Worship ... unto the Lord, Jesus. For we were created to Worship Him and Him Alone!Leigh Mortonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14175861533997962741noreply@blogger.comBlogger40125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6023392936527996226.post-78775006087340226802021-04-22T11:40:00.004-07:002023-10-04T07:18:37.691-07:00Have You Polished Your Armor Lately?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDht-v7U0h8yo0ujoFTsmDRIA2UHA7YnuDpHNnQN_R9zmLU5SwczZNAWbXzBBy6SO9rzGzZBXWXw1ahl7dcs61h1MRvenE9piUJDOgwvUz444zldZC1s3zXVOlszeRno-d4nX3UDfdkpmZ/s681/4thCenturyRomanArmor.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="681" data-original-width="534" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDht-v7U0h8yo0ujoFTsmDRIA2UHA7YnuDpHNnQN_R9zmLU5SwczZNAWbXzBBy6SO9rzGzZBXWXw1ahl7dcs61h1MRvenE9piUJDOgwvUz444zldZC1s3zXVOlszeRno-d4nX3UDfdkpmZ/s320/4thCenturyRomanArmor.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>I know that I am taking a departure from the "Love Letters" that I have been writing, but this week, as I have been reading the Word, I was reminded that God has given us every tool we need to fight against the "powers of darkness in the heavenly places (Ephesians 6)." <div><br /><div>Take Gideon (Judges 6-7), God called him a mighty man of valor and told him that he would defeat the Midianites and the other nations round about them that had been besieging them for years. Gideon called for men fron the tribes of Manasseh, Asher, Zebulon, and Naphtali to come stand with him to fight their invaders. Thirty-two thousand men came. But God said there were too many for them to know that He had given them the victory. So Gideon told all who were fearful, or anxious to go home. Twenty-two thousand left, but God Still said there were too many. So He had them all go to the stream that they were camped near and told Gideon to watch how they drank from the stream. If they brought their hands to their mouths, being watchful of their surroundings, they were His chosen warriors.</div><div><br /></div><div> There were 300 who drank as God had chosen, so He told Gideon to send the rest home; and he did. But then he thought maybe God had it wrong ... that he didn't have enough men, or experience, or the right tools. Whatever his doubts were, he had them in spades.</div><div><br /></div><div><div>But God had instilled fear in the hearts of the Midianite army and He wanted Gideon to know it. So He sent Gideon down to the edge of the opposing army to listen as they spoke of their dreams. God showed Gideon their fear and told him how his army of 300 men would win the battle in His power and might. Now Israel knows that God had fought for them. </div><div><br /></div><div>Let's take look at Moses (Exodus 4), he doubted that he was the man God needed to send to lead Israel out of Egypt. But God told him to look at what he held in his hand. God transformed the staff of an ordinary shepherd into a tool of wonderous, heavenly signs. </div><div><br /></div><div>God gave each of these men, and every other man of God throughout the Bible, exactly the tools and encouragement they needed to accomplish what He had called them to do ... and He does the same for us, too.</div><div><br /></div><div>For us, God has gifted us His armor as our protective, offensive and defensive, weapons (Ephesians 6:10-20). Let's read this passage in the Complete Jewish Bible;</div><div><br /></div><div><i>"Finally, grow powerful in union with the Lord, in union with His mighty strength! Use all the armor and weaponry that God provides, so that you will be able to stand against the deceptive tactics of the Adversary. For we are not struggling against human beings, but against the rulers, authorities, and cosmic powers governing this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realm. So take up every piece of war equipment God provides; so that when the evil day comes, you will be able to resist; and when the battle is won, you will still be standing.</i></div></div><div><i>"Therefore, stand! Having the belt of truth buckled around your waist, put righteousness for a breastplate, and wear on your feet the readiness that comes from The Good News of shalom. Always carry the shield of trust, with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the Evil One. And take the helmet of deliverance; along with the sword given by the Spirit, that is the (spoken) Word of God; as you pray at all times, with all kinds of prayers and requests, in the Spirit, vigilantly and persistently, for all of God's people.</i></div><div><br /></div><div><i>"And pray for me, too, that whenever I open my mouth, the words will be given to me to be bold in making known the secret of the God's News, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may speak boldly, the way I should.</i></div><div><br /></div><div>The apostle Paul told us that God has given us every weapon that we would need to stand against the devil and take from him what he has stolen from us ... our Heavenly Armor. When we are instructed to do so, we put our armor on. And we are never told to take it off. But have you polished your armor lately???</div><div><br /></div><div>When we look at armies down through the ages, we see that every soldier keeps his weapons and protective gear in good repair. And yet, I don't think I have ever thought, even once, that I should be keeping my Heavenly Armor clean, polished and in good working order. God showed me this when He asked me this morning, "Have you polished your armor lately?" I had to truthfully answer, "no."</div><div><br /></div><div>So, how do we polish our Heavenly Armor ... how do we keep it in good repair? </div><div><br /></div><div>What came to my mind are the following ways to "polish" our armor:</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiw0XYp7jCEfJOStdIjzt9ZGR-utfgpjiFw1gyPle_rg0IgxOPZn1Ux3B7LjD7B9HqEmgQpohLCNEYhMB9zixw4ZssufX7o5GLAE5kILIk0N084M-MG0sjy-whIbUGBvdfCgYbsx2qN0ZO/s960/RomanBeltWithGroinProtection.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="596" data-original-width="960" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiw0XYp7jCEfJOStdIjzt9ZGR-utfgpjiFw1gyPle_rg0IgxOPZn1Ux3B7LjD7B9HqEmgQpohLCNEYhMB9zixw4ZssufX7o5GLAE5kILIk0N084M-MG0sjy-whIbUGBvdfCgYbsx2qN0ZO/s320/RomanBeltWithGroinProtection.png" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div> <b>Belt of truth</b> -Look at the picture of the belt that Roman soldiers wore. See how they added the protective covering to their private parts? In most ancient cultures children were not just the outcome of a marital union, they were a sign that their gods had blessed them, so they protected that which was important to their survival. God wants us to surround ourselves with His truth, like a belt around our waist. He desires that there be no deception in or around us. When we practice being truthful in all things and avoiding deception in all we do and say, we are polishing our Belt of Truth. Not only that, but we, as His children, are His most important heritage, just as children were in ancient times.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-vfuQUnc7o6EGSvSvy-8YVAXxW6zft1WjpHKOpEjrzDkFQUq7e1HHE5SEuRPuUImNb2jxsN2d5BnwoBclYX4Cd15CcOkTZ8c4xVUj38nznpc8ZjUYCZWcMKBXz33LRjO36M3vVHsV5dkX/s550/RomanBreastplate.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="550" data-original-width="550" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-vfuQUnc7o6EGSvSvy-8YVAXxW6zft1WjpHKOpEjrzDkFQUq7e1HHE5SEuRPuUImNb2jxsN2d5BnwoBclYX4Cd15CcOkTZ8c4xVUj38nznpc8ZjUYCZWcMKBXz33LRjO36M3vVHsV5dkX/s320/RomanBreastplate.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div> <b> </b><b>Breastplate of Righteousness</b> - Righteousness is being in right standing or relationship with God. Having His righteousness as our breastplate, covering and protecting our heart, means that we are totally focused on living our lives sold out for Jesus and dwelling under the shadow of His wings, as Psalm 91 states;</div><div><i>"When you abide under the shadow of El Shaddai, you are hidden in the strength of God Most High. He's the hope that holds me and the stronghold to shelter me, the only God for me, and my great confidence. He will rescue you from every hidden trap of the enemy, and He will protect you from every false accusation and deadly curse. His massive arms are wrapped around you,, protecting you. You can run under His covering of majesty and hide. His arms of faithfulness are a shield keeping you from harm.</i> Psalm 91:1-4. So living IS keeping His righteousness clean and polished.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYmUs4PohWX8Phtyh5v2lkNRcWouWLvGTGIwjM-_rQX142mfJwc0VhF-UXgEHbC4M5CZKCsJDXwQ43AzJ1N1Vvmhc58CXTcvvkhXmg4fBw5dcw0qE1qaV-nX9mr-t8ADsKscxj-Jtyc8jl/s236/RomanSandals.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="218" data-original-width="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYmUs4PohWX8Phtyh5v2lkNRcWouWLvGTGIwjM-_rQX142mfJwc0VhF-UXgEHbC4M5CZKCsJDXwQ43AzJ1N1Vvmhc58CXTcvvkhXmg4fBw5dcw0qE1qaV-nX9mr-t8ADsKscxj-Jtyc8jl/s0/RomanSandals.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><span> </span><b>Readiness of the Gospel of His Shalom</b> - although the KJV says peace, but the Hebrew word Shalom has more depth to it than what we give to the word peace. Shalom means nothing missing, to that is added the authority that abolishes all chaos ... all destruction. So having our feet covered in His perfect Shalom prepares us to walk out prepared for the work He has called us to do. That said, keeping our shoes of His Shalom polished and in good repair is to keep His instruction and walk in His ways. Leviticus 26:3-6 Amplified Bible, says, </div><div><i>"If you walk in My statutes and keep My commandments and (obediently) do them, then I will give you rain in its season, and the land will yield her produce and the trees of the field will bear their fruit. And your threshing season will last until the grape gathering and the grape gathering (time) will last until planting, and you will eat your bread and be filled and live securely in your land. I will also grant peace (Shalom) in the land, and no sword will pass through your land."</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUYnngkbhDXej9WvXfIC20eMQIHPl1sqyRAai_jHoVIaliy0cC45OB6TJIYYFfizhq3L9kf73wHWNdfx-pzgDdAwE6qAISOUoBviKLXwRc6HBsuv4SMxwH1inbXeqLnHXHFW0G_cRYzOnA/s243/RomanLongShield.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="207" data-original-width="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUYnngkbhDXej9WvXfIC20eMQIHPl1sqyRAai_jHoVIaliy0cC45OB6TJIYYFfizhq3L9kf73wHWNdfx-pzgDdAwE6qAISOUoBviKLXwRc6HBsuv4SMxwH1inbXeqLnHXHFW0G_cRYzOnA/s0/RomanLongShield.jpg" /></a></div><i><br /></i></div><div><b><span> </span>Shield of trust (faith)</b> - Ultimately, faith in God is Trusting Him with our lives. If we trusted Jesus enough to ask for His salvation, shouldn't we trust Him to shield us from all of the enemy's attacks? To keep us safe and alive? So how do we keep our trust in Him "bullet proof?" Romans 10:17, Amplified Bible, says;</div><div><i>"So faith (trust) comes by hearing [what is told], and what is heard comes by the [preaching of the] message concerning Christ."</i></div><div>The more we hear spoken of Jesus, the more our faith - our trust in Him - grows. So keeping our trust strong requires that we sit at the feet of a teacher who speaks God's Word ... who preaches accurately of Jesus our Savior and all that He did and said.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Helmet of Salvation </b>- I love this imagery, our salvation covers our head - our ears, minds, eyes, etc.- this tells me that God wants to guard our thoughts, what we see and what we hear with His loving care for us, sealed with the blood of His salvation. So how do we shine up our helmets? How do we knock out the dents from Satan's attacks We? We give Him thanks and praise for what He accomplished on the cross with His shed blood ... continuously. Our praise, adoration and thanksgiving let the Lord know what we think of Him and strengthens our helmets.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPFpoOP5A3dL2WHX6yOtCPg3vpnaYi1twQ5qqO2Ses6QOqgYN6zqAyeRlUO2cJcHIyZppM6AmWZWBDAiwXBdH0BZjDed16gS-NdnZinDGXWO8z7CQeOjjcAlvywuUtP3mBr5QjX1ZxEVpX/s332/RomanSword.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="325" data-original-width="332" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPFpoOP5A3dL2WHX6yOtCPg3vpnaYi1twQ5qqO2Ses6QOqgYN6zqAyeRlUO2cJcHIyZppM6AmWZWBDAiwXBdH0BZjDed16gS-NdnZinDGXWO8z7CQeOjjcAlvywuUtP3mBr5QjX1ZxEVpX/s320/RomanSword.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><b><span> </span>The Sword of the Spirit </b>- This is the Rehma, the spoken Word of God. Remember when we looked at the Shield of Trust (Faith)? We learned that trust is built by hearing God's Word. So of we speak His Word into situations, then we are also hearing His Word. Thus building up our trust and also shining up and sharpening our swords. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXZxLyGr4K4bMhBx0tnvi_GJNUfgkJVcV-tN4-pvbVBK-HGi3St7INoYAaeURr4Ji5O9t2Wx1kgCgYRjqwtDjPX_wg8CUxO_DgFqA6_5YiXm0AffYMgBH38tIjjf_ezyUd1z9LTBiko_ew/s800/prayer.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXZxLyGr4K4bMhBx0tnvi_GJNUfgkJVcV-tN4-pvbVBK-HGi3St7INoYAaeURr4Ji5O9t2Wx1kgCgYRjqwtDjPX_wg8CUxO_DgFqA6_5YiXm0AffYMgBH38tIjjf_ezyUd1z9LTBiko_ew/s320/prayer.png" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><b><span> </span>All Prayer for God's people</b> - Prayer is the tie that binds all of our armor in place and together. Praying constantly covers us with His grace and protection, giving us Holy Boldness. Continuously praying is how we keep this weapon sharp and in good repair. </div><div><br /></div><div>So, now that we have looked at proper care for our God given armor, if we do these things we will be better prepared to stand our ground - and take back ground from - the forces of evil who are working to destroy this world.</div><div><br /></div><div>Did you notice that there is no piece of armor that covers your back? This is because He has designed it so that another brother or sister stands back to back with you in the fight. Literally having your back!</div><div><br /></div><div>Did you also notice that most of our armor is defensive in nature? Only His spoken Word and Prayer are offensive weapons. And prayer works both offensively and defensively. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWvGFgJPW9auVXwuPLEZE9pYZKpgoRH8eHy_99DFjxbHku0Jg2s3eOk-U4uteShhK5lZcLfi6deuff1vXaYEU77FowD9_lxhxxIMDmdDphKdzuUc19bNwXYfYmZn-YNnEWxDQfI47dLvIS/s400/PrayerWarrior.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWvGFgJPW9auVXwuPLEZE9pYZKpgoRH8eHy_99DFjxbHku0Jg2s3eOk-U4uteShhK5lZcLfi6deuff1vXaYEU77FowD9_lxhxxIMDmdDphKdzuUc19bNwXYfYmZn-YNnEWxDQfI47dLvIS/s320/PrayerWarrior.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>So polish up your armor and stand strong ... fighting in the power of His Might!</div><div><br /></div><div>Until next time, </div><div>Leigh</div></div>Leigh Mortonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14175861533997962741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6023392936527996226.post-81989234376103591152021-03-27T09:48:00.000-07:002021-03-27T09:48:49.142-07:00Love Letters - Letter 5<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrYtnMZ_WpP7hvV76_mTO8JVa_WcT_wa_pXhJSiCK8UKkfsxN5swHKtIe14meRJLq2g_0UiEcJRhmcCV5tdBeRvjxFIFU8EdZaWG2jqA4DcY3Pnws83_pZLfxtgZ-9SyHRajCevyvcngQw/s2000/Love-Letters-For-Him.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1335" data-original-width="2000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrYtnMZ_WpP7hvV76_mTO8JVa_WcT_wa_pXhJSiCK8UKkfsxN5swHKtIe14meRJLq2g_0UiEcJRhmcCV5tdBeRvjxFIFU8EdZaWG2jqA4DcY3Pnws83_pZLfxtgZ-9SyHRajCevyvcngQw/s320/Love-Letters-For-Him.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div>Dear Lord, <div><br /></div><div>I give You praise and thanks for all that You teach me. Just this morning You showed me new things, things I had never seen and known before, in Your Word.</div><div><br /></div><div>In 2 Corinthians 12 Paul is telling them that their (our) boasting is fruitless, it accomplishes nothing. </div><div>On this same subject, the prophet Jeremiah said, </div><div><br /></div><div> <i> "... instead, let the boaster boast about this: that he understands and knows Me - that I am Adonai, practicing grace, justice and righteousness in the land; for in these things I take pleasure, " says Adonai. "</i> Jeremiah 9:24 CJB.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG81MESMAQY7PDn6IsahiVzjfWBDMn16KjxD_sQajajO6sJSAvAC4GuXGbrncOxqfOn8epjSHWJ9NI6EP6h8QHxqcDw5oznU8NEDk4V_om_n81r0aQ0XSvbjnTZ6V0Zg41P67E68mooCIy/s300/heart_and_flowers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="300" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG81MESMAQY7PDn6IsahiVzjfWBDMn16KjxD_sQajajO6sJSAvAC4GuXGbrncOxqfOn8epjSHWJ9NI6EP6h8QHxqcDw5oznU8NEDk4V_om_n81r0aQ0XSvbjnTZ6V0Zg41P67E68mooCIy/w200-h200/heart_and_flowers.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br />I like the way the Message Bible puts it, but let's start at verse 23. <i>"God's message: 'Don't let the wise brag of their wisdom. Don't let heroes brag of their exploits. Don't let the rich brag of their riches. If you brag, brag of this and this only: That you know Me. I'm God, and I act in loyal love. I do what's right and set things right and fair, and I delight in those who do the same things. </i></div><div><i>These are My trademarks.' God's Decree."</i></div><div><br /></div><div>This was an eye-opener, Lord. But another eye opening thing of note is that too many of us are trying to walk out in Your strength using someone else's giftings ... wearing someone else's armor. But You have made us each uniquely and given us equally unique gifts all of our own. Why would we want to try using what You have clearly given to someone else? Maybe it is because we are weak in the area that You would choose to use and gift us in. </div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6_qC9aN0puKnc-1VC4Z8sUO6hTviPsCkMSQJ1F4Z6TzzG_Wt6GiDDFMEgJcok73Dp-cdRrFgpRvU2cACOuEByPaRBQnPw0Sp2QdIOy4CVVfE6UMxKVBLYq9sC1AN-IcsZIxhbcAEEEbCO/s300/love.letters3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6_qC9aN0puKnc-1VC4Z8sUO6hTviPsCkMSQJ1F4Z6TzzG_Wt6GiDDFMEgJcok73Dp-cdRrFgpRvU2cACOuEByPaRBQnPw0Sp2QdIOy4CVVfE6UMxKVBLYq9sC1AN-IcsZIxhbcAEEEbCO/s0/love.letters3.jpg" /></a></div>David understood that he could not fight Your battle wearing Saul's armor. It didn't fit him as it wasn't made for him. Not only didn't it fit, but he wasn't used to wearing armor ... he was used to walking out to fight his enemies with You to protect him. He knew You were a better covering than any man made armor. David also understood what Paul taught the Corinthians,</div><br /><div><br /></div><div><i> " ... but He told me, 'My grace is enough for you, for My power is brought to perfection in weakness.' Therefore, I am very happy to boast about my weaknesses, in order that Messiah's power will rest upon me."</i> 2 Corinthians 12:9 CJB</div><div><br /></div><div>HOW AWESOME, to know that we can trust that Your power will rest upon us when we acknowledge our weaknesses and trust in You for our protection.</div><div>I love that You do this for us!</div><div><br /></div><div>Your Loving Daughter, </div><br /><div><br /></div><div>Leigh</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB_gh3Od09LY8WIVetrIYnFUrl70XZs1HrltNTxtCxtKofETRsXL1c5ofYeBL9kZyXY-lhM09Rc1YK2h4B_1z2ZEN1ld8M4jARdYLkV_LoJf9UTyhoLcW2sQyj6S4NMeNEcRFs19-amhGJ/s720/LoveTheLord.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="720" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB_gh3Od09LY8WIVetrIYnFUrl70XZs1HrltNTxtCxtKofETRsXL1c5ofYeBL9kZyXY-lhM09Rc1YK2h4B_1z2ZEN1ld8M4jARdYLkV_LoJf9UTyhoLcW2sQyj6S4NMeNEcRFs19-amhGJ/s320/LoveTheLord.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />Leigh Mortonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14175861533997962741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6023392936527996226.post-11377302669622852202021-03-12T11:12:00.000-08:002021-03-12T11:12:04.509-08:00Love Letters to the Lord - Letter 4<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEdzFa6ifrkImvlrYqAF7_XyVKB7qHxtPHtQGOzHT2A4PO1FvgdaENtlru-txtHeqDcitt_ADxHPSzcv0k5FEzOquZRc9VM3oHWcpiUWNgesrKroOjjrK_nsmx4KLLfQEUbJ7R4O43tfEz/s1800/LoveLetters.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEdzFa6ifrkImvlrYqAF7_XyVKB7qHxtPHtQGOzHT2A4PO1FvgdaENtlru-txtHeqDcitt_ADxHPSzcv0k5FEzOquZRc9VM3oHWcpiUWNgesrKroOjjrK_nsmx4KLLfQEUbJ7R4O43tfEz/s320/LoveLetters.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Dear Lord,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I love it when You teach me new thing in scripture passages that are familiar to me. This morning, You took me to Matthew chapter 5, the Sermon on the Mount. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I always thought that when You spoke about the many different "blessed areas" that they were many different types of people and the things that made them blessed in Your sight. But, this morning, I saw a different way - probably the very way - that You intended us to view these blessed people. This passage is Your portrait of how You view ALL of your children ... how You want us to view ourselves. They aren't many different people, but different aspects - different facets - You intend each of us to exhibit. So Lord, I want to quote back to You showed me that I could and should be.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-r6rb3B4EIaCHIgyFQNCleAq5ivbnuiomTZ0x3jvYvwlyJqZIKS_XfSa_VcX3lkLpQIwWg1c-Ml5NnEJl6BJ4ZkIgX92h0pSXgTJNo332jZUKcDVzxK6hPAqexdF20u1jXX9fhfJpwxHQ/s2000/Love-Letters-For-Him.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1335" data-original-width="2000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-r6rb3B4EIaCHIgyFQNCleAq5ivbnuiomTZ0x3jvYvwlyJqZIKS_XfSa_VcX3lkLpQIwWg1c-Ml5NnEJl6BJ4ZkIgX92h0pSXgTJNo332jZUKcDVzxK6hPAqexdF20u1jXX9fhfJpwxHQ/s320/Love-Letters-For-Him.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Matthew 5:1-13 - as I read it;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> When Y'shua saw that His teachings were drawing large crowds, He and His disciples climbed up a hillside. When He reached a natural amphitheater dotted with trees, He sat down and taught all that had followed Him there. This is what He taught:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> When you have reached a spiritual drought, remember that you can be joyful, filled with the Joy of the Lord; because when you have run out of options, God will show you His Kingdom plan for that moment.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> When you are mourning the loss of a loved one, remember that, even now, you can be full of My Joy; because you will always have The One you love most there to wrap His arms around you and your arms around HIm in your sorrow.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> When you have found your contentment in Me, you are filled with My Joy; for you have found your balance point for a Spirit-filled life ... a life filled with My plans, My purposes and the Fruit of My Spirit flowing out from your daily walk.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> When you are continuously hungry for more of My Righteousness ... more of Me, when you thirst for deeper wells of My peace - for the New Wine of My Spirit, you are filled with My joy; for only I can satisfy your desires for more. And satisfy you, I will!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> When you express My tender mercy and loving kindness, you are filled with My Joy; for you know that I have showered My loving kindness and mercy on you, and I will continue to do so and you do likewise.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> When you teach others to walk in My perfect Shalom (a life without chaos, that lacks nothing), you are filled with My Joy; for those around you will see that you are truly a child of The King - My child.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> When you are persecuted for doing what is Right, remember that you can be filled with My Joy; for you are living in My Kingdom here and now on this earth. Your commitment to My Ways through the hard times drives you long for more closeness to Me and My Kingdom.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> Be filled with My Joy whenever you are put down, when others - who are outside the Family - throw you out, slander your character speaking all kinds of evil about you because of your love for Me. Jump for Joy, because I will reward you greatly for all of your faithfulness. Remember that al of the prophets were also treated like this, so you are in fine company.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> You, My children, are the salt that seasons the lives around you, that bring them robust flavor. When you lose sight of all the ways that you can find My Joy, you actually become tasteless; how can that flavor be returned to your life? Life without the flavor you can bring to it is worthless; it will cause you be thrown out into the street for those around you to trampled upon. So find your TRUE Joy in Me and keep your focus - keep your eyes centered on ME!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7h_Prc1iO4H5k-LppIsEK2hxNtt3RjdcIhmRCwPSYxiF1FBnLAOy9ijEJw-1-p560Txif8dUutXtLh8zPovJS_UxIi5uQfDAes6nSSdVByCd8IkMIvhFKA6B71muh27a1TWqrwITJ25yx/s300/JOY.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7h_Prc1iO4H5k-LppIsEK2hxNtt3RjdcIhmRCwPSYxiF1FBnLAOy9ijEJw-1-p560Txif8dUutXtLh8zPovJS_UxIi5uQfDAes6nSSdVByCd8IkMIvhFKA6B71muh27a1TWqrwITJ25yx/s0/JOY.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Lord, thank You for showing me how I should be looking at life to find Your Joy. Help me to live in it as I walk through my daily life ... today, tomorrow and Always.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Your loving daughter,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Leigh</div><p></p>Leigh Mortonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14175861533997962741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6023392936527996226.post-10764484662042186622021-02-25T08:48:00.000-08:002021-02-25T08:48:06.368-08:00Love Letters to the Lord - Letter 3<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzG_Cm939wfH57ZrQeU-qElGlRaTN6jOfn_RLD74o6oZkf3lnZIt8bJIAcfBF6H9IOjb4u4lj02_d8wcYyybH02MxMlr4Abo-Ck62bK4OKmINt75qHKKUcAbDZLEhQF7BIkRo5IUiRzZI0/s300/love.letters3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzG_Cm939wfH57ZrQeU-qElGlRaTN6jOfn_RLD74o6oZkf3lnZIt8bJIAcfBF6H9IOjb4u4lj02_d8wcYyybH02MxMlr4Abo-Ck62bK4OKmINt75qHKKUcAbDZLEhQF7BIkRo5IUiRzZI0/s0/love.letters3.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8alwI3d-PSuzwY6lDHU8pifGmvfNi0YEdb3-Ww-ngSYgWOC03I80N3GQ31JKD0RhfkulTyo70x1sl5aTsI1Fg_lguMmqdyBsHt_AxBKqOEArsy243QNB8ko2YbShT6rC0wRBx_dplKRNC/s300/love.letters3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8alwI3d-PSuzwY6lDHU8pifGmvfNi0YEdb3-Ww-ngSYgWOC03I80N3GQ31JKD0RhfkulTyo70x1sl5aTsI1Fg_lguMmqdyBsHt_AxBKqOEArsy243QNB8ko2YbShT6rC0wRBx_dplKRNC/s0/love.letters3.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Dear Lord,<div><br /></div><div>In the Garden of Eden, when You created mankind, You made us keepers of the Garden. That word keeper is the same Hebrew word translated as protector and watchman. This position of "keeper" was to cover the whole of Your creation, as You gave us dominion over them when You asked Adam to name them. This dominion was Your Kingdom authority to watch over the earth and all of it's inhabitants. It must have grieved You greatly when he gave it all away in that moment that he sinned their in that Garden of Your creation.</div><div><br /></div><div>I am so glad that You made a Way for us to regain that position of authority when You gave us Jesus. When He died upon the cross and rose from the dead, He took back from Satan the keys of authority that You had given to Adam in the Garden. </div><div><br /></div><div>Jesus, when He taught His disciples to pray in what we call the Lord's Prayer, taught them to call forth Your Kingdom to be here on earth. Then on the day of Pentecost, You gave them the power they needed to wield Your authority once more here on earth. But we, the church in this day, are so lacking in Your authority. We need to learn these lessons that the first disciples learned.</div><div><br /></div><div>Lord, teach us to pray with Your authority. Fill us to overflowing with Your Holy Spirit, so that we can take our place of dominion over Your creation.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuMPf_2y3Jx_n2uMS_Zr_318uMo2arUHix98UFWx-vBwTG5yTNt97wzxNzJudW8eFD6HSagDRJe66bTY6GO6a2irdGo0jZ4pNQ4fZTwkMgYNtrkTQNuTawddeD66cyi4Aq-C7BSxofmJn_/s500/watchman.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="354" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuMPf_2y3Jx_n2uMS_Zr_318uMo2arUHix98UFWx-vBwTG5yTNt97wzxNzJudW8eFD6HSagDRJe66bTY6GO6a2irdGo0jZ4pNQ4fZTwkMgYNtrkTQNuTawddeD66cyi4Aq-C7BSxofmJn_/s320/watchman.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>I thank You that I have recently learned that the word translated in th Bible as "church" is the Greek word ekklesia. It does not mean what so long I have thought it meant ... it really means a seat- or place - of government. You meant for us - Your body - to govern, or take dominion over, Your creation. And this we do with our prayers. We are the watchmen on the wall that the prophet Ezekiel called for in Isreal so long ago. A modern day prophet like Ezekiel, Dutch Sheets, has lifted up this "call to arms" to the church in this hour. And we are here, as Esther of old, "for such a time as this." Let us pray with her, "if I perish, I perish." But let us stand in the gap for this nation, America, and ALL of Your creation.</div><div><br /></div><div>Lord, You gave a word in service last Sunday that I know You meant for a wider audience than just our congregation, so I will share it here,</div><div><br /></div><div><span id="docs-internal-guid-b31fe07c-7fff-909e-865b-04ffc2f8f630"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>As we were singing I could hear the Lord saying, you want to see my kingdom come. You want to see the walls break down. But you are my kingdom. You are my presence here on Earth, and you're holding on to the walls you stay within them like they protect you, but I protect you. You have to break out of this place, you have to walk forth, and share my kingdom in this world. You are my presence and my kingdom cannot go out unless you go out, you go out, take my glory with you everywhere you go, present my word to others. Everywhere you go and heaven will come down, but it will not come unless you break out and walk out in faith.</i></span></span></p><br /></span></div><div>Lord, thank You for this calling You have placed on Your body. May we be faithful to walk out in it!</div><div><br /></div><div>Your daughter,</div><div><br /></div><div>Leigh</div>Leigh Mortonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14175861533997962741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6023392936527996226.post-32429956942767186482021-02-18T11:14:00.000-08:002021-02-18T11:14:23.603-08:00Love Lerrers to the Lord - Letter 2<div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCFXAg2FrpiF5_bJseIxi4TnD6L5hpwgdD5EY1Ni6WlyzOSeghh6Z-qq6IjH02t6j7Qq_gLixdXeHjVENiYHKH-INZ2JR3_q4ivnRK-FNdbhyAeTMBLrXwEGmwTs4NvXERLLkHHYUFfL8u/s2000/Love-Letters-For-Him.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1335" data-original-width="2000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCFXAg2FrpiF5_bJseIxi4TnD6L5hpwgdD5EY1Ni6WlyzOSeghh6Z-qq6IjH02t6j7Qq_gLixdXeHjVENiYHKH-INZ2JR3_q4ivnRK-FNdbhyAeTMBLrXwEGmwTs4NvXERLLkHHYUFfL8u/s320/Love-Letters-For-Him.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><i><br /></i></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i><br /></i></span></div>Dear Lord, </i></span><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i><br /></i></span><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>As You know, this morning, as a part of my time spent with You, I was reading Psalms 23. This is among my favorites, as it teaches us our position in You and where Satan sits ... just beyond and below us, but still within sight of Your bountiful table. It is beautiful and I love the imagery. </i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>But I felt that there was something more You wanted me to see within its lines. So I reread it in a different translation - the Passion Translation [TPT]. I found it so rich that I wanted to quote it back to You here.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">1. The Lord is my Best Friend and Shepherd. I always have more than enough.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">2. He offers a resting place for me in His luxurious love.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">His tracks take me to an oasis of peace, the quiet brook of bliss.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD2tvaMpJ91a-fa1eJq4yMTt9U3-svFQXGM88dlw-yJ02de1qIFmDmo3m8xw15CfpcDhRpNt9ttN__1T4iHRElMt1086jukZCc1GwghYFuz1HLVXYVUKVR2rPcQqZCC7oa7cS541AVGmPw/s626/bubbling-brook.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="470" data-original-width="626" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD2tvaMpJ91a-fa1eJq4yMTt9U3-svFQXGM88dlw-yJ02de1qIFmDmo3m8xw15CfpcDhRpNt9ttN__1T4iHRElMt1086jukZCc1GwghYFuz1HLVXYVUKVR2rPcQqZCC7oa7cS541AVGmPw/s320/bubbling-brook.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">3. That's where He restores and revives my life. He opens before me pathways to God's pleasure and leads me along in His footsteps of righteousness so that I can bring honor to His name.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">4. Lord, even when Your path takes me through the valley of deepest darkness, fear will never conquer me, for You lead me through it all the way.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Your authority is my strength and my peace<i> (shalom)</i>. The comfort of Your love takes away my fear. I'll never be lonely, for You are near.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">5. You become my delicious feast even when my enemies dare to fight. You anoint me with the fragrance of Your Holy Spirit; You give me all I can drink of You until my heart overflows. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">6. So why should I fear the future? For Your goodness and love pursue me all the days of my life. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Then afterward, when my life is through, I'll return to Your glorious presence to be forever with You.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>How awesome is this picture, Lord. I found it really bringing depth to my understanding of this Psalm I have always loved.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>In verse 4, I added shalom in parentheses as it means so much more than we think of when we say peace. It means total order and absence of chaos. So often I have forgotten that You remove chaos from our lives that I just wallow in it. But You are my peace which passes ALL understanding. </i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>Thank You, Lord!</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>Your daughter, </i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>Leigh </i></span></div></div>Leigh Mortonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14175861533997962741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6023392936527996226.post-30520248474030082622021-02-16T09:46:00.001-08:002021-02-16T09:46:35.887-08:00Love Letters to The Lord * Love Letter No. 1<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-Pw1v6zuwltdo0Xs3qmVHoOQYRcNIysquvjhFlIXF3J47KyZ8RodVAXH7T4XaB0nPjauWKSEF5o22G-fj9pxxOTBZImI6EhTxv4O4TR3PsQEz892cMBrLMNtcRHVzXZA1XcT71CW3acqE/s1800/LoveLetters.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-Pw1v6zuwltdo0Xs3qmVHoOQYRcNIysquvjhFlIXF3J47KyZ8RodVAXH7T4XaB0nPjauWKSEF5o22G-fj9pxxOTBZImI6EhTxv4O4TR3PsQEz892cMBrLMNtcRHVzXZA1XcT71CW3acqE/s320/LoveLetters.jpg" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><i>Dear Lord,</i></span></span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-4af312f3-7fff-893d-e984-dca729623da3"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><i>I thank you for your amazing love and grace.</i></span></span></p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><i><br /></i></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><i>As I read in Matthew 14:22 - 23 and in Luke 5: 12 - 16, I see where you went away by yourself - even leaving your disciples behind - to spend time with the Father. So Lord, as I long to be as close to You as You were to Your Father, I choose to spend time alone with You as often as I can. Continue to hide me under the shadow of Your wings ... in Your most secret of hiding places, yet never afraid to venture forth to bring others alongside as I journey to the High Places of Your Kingdom.</i></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><i><br /></i></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><i>Let us be ever vigilant to bring Your Kingdom to this earth so that others may see what we have and long to join us.</i></span></span></p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><i><br /></i></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><i>I sing of Your wonderous love and mercy as I read through Psalms 91, longing to dwell in Your secret places.</i></span></span></p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><i><br /></i></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><i>From under the shelter of Your wings,</i></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><i>Your daughter,</i></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><i><br /></i></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><i>Leigh</i></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><i><br /></i></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUJC-Y9kgbre0KKmc3tipnYhfhsVzFpHnWFVqoal2TBeKqjEKLflDYXXPgySffvK796ZdhiTN8659EWoiYT7J6rA6Jlrz-o50Oh7l_jnbh4Bp3EHLsgN5W-4gffOcu6hG_9MGrqiYlB2Oy/s400/UnderHisWings.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="400" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUJC-Y9kgbre0KKmc3tipnYhfhsVzFpHnWFVqoal2TBeKqjEKLflDYXXPgySffvK796ZdhiTN8659EWoiYT7J6rA6Jlrz-o50Oh7l_jnbh4Bp3EHLsgN5W-4gffOcu6hG_9MGrqiYlB2Oy/w400-h300/UnderHisWings.jpeg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /><i><br /></i></span></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></p><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>Leigh Mortonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14175861533997962741noreply@blogger.com0Shelbyville, TN 37160, USA35.3826611 -86.45920917.0724272638211545 -121.6154591 63.692894936178845 -51.302959099999995tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6023392936527996226.post-51753187762003142802021-02-16T09:27:00.007-08:002021-02-16T09:27:55.464-08:00New for this Season ... this New Year we have barely begun<p> OK if you are on of my Facebook friends, then you may have read that I feel lead of the Lord to share with you some of the Love Letters to the Lord that I write during my daily devotions. This Sharing starts today. Will this go through the whole year? Will there be a new "Letter" everyday? I don't know, only our Father knows the plans He has for this. So I will follow His leading and we will learn together just where all of this will go.</p><p>For the remainder of February I am participating with a group of Christian women in a study on Discernment. Today's reading was from 1 Kings 3:3-14, where God comes to Solomon in a dream and asks what he wants from God's hand. I loved the answer he gave God as it is written in The Message Bible in verse 9 of this passage. It reads,</p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px;">“Here’s what I want: Give me a God-listening heart so I can lead your people well, discerning the difference between good and evil. For who on their own is capable of leading your glorious people?”</span></p><p>This is my prayer for myself and for each of my followers. Let us all seek a "God-listening heart."</p><p>Walk with me and read the letters that I write to the Lord, seeking to learn more of Him as we journey together.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil_jiyV9OLi8fC1b1NKCFqL4GsA3N7ccWGDS4Qd9Ew09aDjNqHMFsCSPVIUJk21ZS5N7Um-R0t4q6ywPlUutpbmBlyqzvI0aqMgTeS3GPV5XGErdWhZURQ1sEQKsvb24n1QvDRpUR6nQ36/s952/StraightAndNarrowPath.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="952" data-original-width="736" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil_jiyV9OLi8fC1b1NKCFqL4GsA3N7ccWGDS4Qd9Ew09aDjNqHMFsCSPVIUJk21ZS5N7Um-R0t4q6ywPlUutpbmBlyqzvI0aqMgTeS3GPV5XGErdWhZURQ1sEQKsvb24n1QvDRpUR6nQ36/w296-h384/StraightAndNarrowPath.jpg" width="296" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Leigh Mortonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14175861533997962741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6023392936527996226.post-23004007045083280042021-01-09T09:23:00.001-08:002021-01-09T09:23:38.893-08:00The War May Be Won, But the Battle is NOT Over. Jesus Wins - I've Read The End of The Book<p> </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDbP_qH0U404flwo6nImNQecyxsBZ9eKesYH-fzdBHsumNdOataXJQDJ6tpeXVXDWL1ziVqk6LzuKU8yyEkWNal0zut5NMHE9R_MlZ9jaqrh7c4lhZWrzmVIx7SK6RnH97s2t4sJA1jlUx/s300/GoodVsEvil-StarWars.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="150" data-original-width="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDbP_qH0U404flwo6nImNQecyxsBZ9eKesYH-fzdBHsumNdOataXJQDJ6tpeXVXDWL1ziVqk6LzuKU8yyEkWNal0zut5NMHE9R_MlZ9jaqrh7c4lhZWrzmVIx7SK6RnH97s2t4sJA1jlUx/s0/GoodVsEvil-StarWars.jpg" /></a></div><br />That said, watch <a href="https://youtu.be/B_RP6G3lH6E">this video</a> and be encouraged!<p></p>Leigh Mortonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14175861533997962741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6023392936527996226.post-69722566556465803062020-12-07T08:38:00.000-08:002020-12-07T08:38:12.360-08:00God is About to Clean House ... His Church and Our Nation's Government<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbyMNG8qurowlNU-0LQToV52i1MdK8uxLUmBhQoFv7S2V2Z7uOAn8LTND1mr2H0kGAHn40zM7sTrKv-eFGMSbP8t3LvlJkTrU8wwMjTmTG9BEVqhWUMBTio-QO99oJYnvDIB3lNxj6mkit/s1600/church06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbyMNG8qurowlNU-0LQToV52i1MdK8uxLUmBhQoFv7S2V2Z7uOAn8LTND1mr2H0kGAHn40zM7sTrKv-eFGMSbP8t3LvlJkTrU8wwMjTmTG9BEVqhWUMBTio-QO99oJYnvDIB3lNxj6mkit/s320/church06.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p>As we know, we are in the battle of our spiritual lives and the life of our nation. America was built on the faith of our fore fathers. They made covenants with God as to how this country would be run. But over the last 100+ years we have fallen short. WAY Short, of our covenant with Him. But God has a remnant within His body of believers who are willing to stand strong in Him and do all that is required to bring this nation back to our beginnings.</p><p>It is for that remnant that He gave us His promise of Isaiah 41:13-16;</p><p></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: left;"><i><u>For I, the Lord your God, will hold your right hand, saying to you, 'fear not, I will help you.' </u></i></p></blockquote><p></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><i>"Fear not, you worm Jacob, You men of Isreal! I will help you," says the Lord and your Redeemer, the Holy one of Isreal. "Behold, I will make you into a new threshing sledge with sharp teeth; You shall thresh the mountians and beat them small, and make the hills like chaff. You shall winnow them, the wind shall carry them away, and the whirlwind shall scatter them; You shall rejoice in the Lord and glory in the Holy One of Isreal.</i></p><p></p></blockquote><p> Now the right hand is representative of strength, honor, righteousness, and power. God, Himself, is promising here to stand behind us and empower us with His Strength, His Power, and His Righteousness as we do battle in this spiritual warfare in and for our nation, its people and its government.</p><p>As God called Cyrus before he was born, in Isaiah 45, to bring His judgement upon Babylon, He has called Trump and his legal teams to bring His judgement on our nation's government, the media and all of those who stand in opposition to Him. And He is calling His church to stand in faith believing that He is Sovereign.</p><p>In our church service yesterday, He gave us a word - which I posted on Facebook - to come sit at His feet and be refreshed as the battle is not yet over. In Psalms 23:5 He showed us how He would refresh us in the presence of our enemies. So come and be refreshed so that you can stand firm in Him. He has set the table of our refreshing, our revitalizing in Him ... right in front of ALL who would oppose Him, anointing us with the presence of the Holy Spirit until it overflows our beings and pours out upon and into the lives of those around us. This is the preparation He is giving us for the next wave of this battle. And when we have been prepared, He is calling us to stand firm in Him ...</p><p></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: left;">"... And having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth (God's Word) having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all of the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of Salvationand the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverence and supplication for all the saints ..." Ephesians 6:13b-18 NKJV</p></blockquote><p> Be encouraged, for Christ is our Victory and He has already won the battle. Lamentations 3:21-31 says that His mercies are new every morning and that He is good to those who seek Him. So we can take encouragement from these words of the prophet Jeremiah as we seek to do the will of the Lord. But remember there are many who may stand with us in the good times, but will walk away when times get rough. Jesus said;</p><p></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><i>"Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. <u>Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it."</u></i></p><p></p></blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHlI7vy_sPe27bAUtdN39CB3qgP5aV6gTIUTVLOOyftANxqxwXYv9CtqrGxUleQ3hLb953ZbPXUPWZs-obl9NIVcWVB-AacflcxOgaUnEnQ15XXs85bJZ2cNjCaaAunu_Qmxm5yqooG66m/s570/narrowgate.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="570" data-original-width="370" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHlI7vy_sPe27bAUtdN39CB3qgP5aV6gTIUTVLOOyftANxqxwXYv9CtqrGxUleQ3hLb953ZbPXUPWZs-obl9NIVcWVB-AacflcxOgaUnEnQ15XXs85bJZ2cNjCaaAunu_Qmxm5yqooG66m/s320/narrowgate.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So do not be discouraged if it seems that you stand alone ... you are not alone. As Elisha said in 2 Kings 6:16-17;</div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><p style="text-align: left;"> </p></div></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: left;"> "... Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than who are with them. And Elisha prayed, and said, 'Lord I pray, open his eyes that he may see.' Then the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw. And behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha ..."</p></blockquote><p>These same horses and chariots of fire stand with us today as we battle the enemies of the Lord in our nation. So take courage, the army of the Lord is MIGHTY!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7MhWCfRxvAV6H_OHz-BzPfktmMvzBRfxAeDoDL0ro0AL8IrvuOKEwShqysn6UrDMQU62qzvD4CNCpmMgLGVXC046IDYnnyetvDCBOK9Ydh0psL4nblMPHmMrClvlC4Xl8n7peLXBk8RLd/s400/phaethon-english-school.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7MhWCfRxvAV6H_OHz-BzPfktmMvzBRfxAeDoDL0ro0AL8IrvuOKEwShqysn6UrDMQU62qzvD4CNCpmMgLGVXC046IDYnnyetvDCBOK9Ydh0psL4nblMPHmMrClvlC4Xl8n7peLXBk8RLd/s320/phaethon-english-school.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p> </p>Leigh Mortonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14175861533997962741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6023392936527996226.post-19023419774281306122020-10-19T14:26:00.000-07:002020-10-19T14:26:15.757-07:00Election 2020 Choices<p style="text-align: center;"><i style="font-family: Georgia, serif; text-align: left;"><span style="color: black;"></span></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i style="font-family: Georgia, serif; text-align: left;"><span style="color: black;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmCjrYVuVNsvP4kfSkqLWo7LqWWpej4VEqvF02ZbBpXZ-oeLvQJaulqfiXoy_vQlBHueJli8Eqct4zfKZol-xSZ-8J8K_UNsp-1m9r6QR-AIuAQj_JptuF9AHvaEvv-DGeZDyJfUoLkj4i/s270/election2020.1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="187" data-original-width="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmCjrYVuVNsvP4kfSkqLWo7LqWWpej4VEqvF02ZbBpXZ-oeLvQJaulqfiXoy_vQlBHueJli8Eqct4zfKZol-xSZ-8J8K_UNsp-1m9r6QR-AIuAQj_JptuF9AHvaEvv-DGeZDyJfUoLkj4i/s0/election2020.1.jpg" /></a></span></i></div><i style="font-family: Georgia, serif; text-align: left;"><span style="color: black;"><br /><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></i><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i style="font-family: Georgia, serif; text-align: left;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;">“I
call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set
before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose
life, that both you and your descendants may live; that you may love
the </span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;">Lord
</span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;">your
God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him, for
He is your life and the length of your days; and that you may dwell
in the land which the </span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;">Lord
</span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;">swore
to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give them.”
</span></span></i><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, serif; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">Deuteronomy
30:19, 20</span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; text-align: left;">
NKJV.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; text-align: left;"><br /></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">In
about two weeks our country, the U.S.A., is to elect a President that
will lead us forward into the future. So how are we to decide who to
vote for? Democrat or Republican? Politician or Businessman? Rich man
or poor? For the Believer, these truly matter not. For there is only
one issue that matters when we go to the poles. It is the issue of
life or death.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">Long
ago, as I began my adult career, a nation whose eyes had been blinded
with free love, drugs, feminism and the “counter-culture” lie
began searching for ways to lessen our responsibilities. So we voted
in Roe vs Wade, giving mothers a legal way to kill off their young
before they were even born. Thus ridding us of our duty to cherish
and protect our most vulnerable citizens; our unborn children.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8zyzxTfFhA1LjZ9yV4QScd_p5xQfzKLioRnY0cBawS7EcGQt95eYSXSJ5dxqoG3MNFgAPhHZ8zMQO7oXeTTf5pAZp2sBOJNIw7Uocm69cqlE7LaoOE2Su1N8cDtiu0kwSfhNerK5f7cIq/s664/baby-growing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="498" data-original-width="664" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8zyzxTfFhA1LjZ9yV4QScd_p5xQfzKLioRnY0cBawS7EcGQt95eYSXSJ5dxqoG3MNFgAPhHZ8zMQO7oXeTTf5pAZp2sBOJNIw7Uocm69cqlE7LaoOE2Su1N8cDtiu0kwSfhNerK5f7cIq/w200-h150/baby-growing.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">Now
God is calling each us to repent of this sin, our own contributing
and our nation's. He is also calling us to take this abominable law
off the books, and to protect the lives of our nation's unborn
children.</span><p></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">God
told the children of Israel that they were not to worship the gods of
the Canaanites, the people He had removed from the promised land when
He gave it to Israel as their inheritance. These foreign gods –
false gods - one of which was Molech – or Moloch in some Bible
translations – required their worshipers to sacrifice their
children by fire in order to be blessed with fertility of the land
and the Canaanite women. Abortion is Satan's newest twist on the
worship of Molech. And we have fallen into his trap. But God has
called us out. Out of our bondage to the sin of abortion. Out of our
comfort zones. And into His Marvelous Light and Life. Into His family
and into His service. But it is a service of Love; His Love for us
and our love for Him.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">If
we disregard this call to action for the body of Christ, this call to
vote for life and life alone, we may well loose out on the abundant
life God has promised to those who love Him. For we will be letting
down the most vulnerable of our citizens once again … our unborn.</span></p><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">My
pastor, Eddie Reed, brought this message home to us yesterday as He
shared what the Lord had been telling him throughout the week last
week. I have paraphrased what he shared from my notes on his sermon
yesterday.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span> </span>...We,
in this country, are at a crossroads moments in our lives. We will
never pass this way <span> </span>again. We are being faced with THE life and
death choice. The “Right to Life” or “Choice” of <span> </span>death. If
life is not chosen at this time, those not choosing life will not be
saved. For their <span> </span>hearts will have been seared … hardened to the
point that they will not come back to a place of <span> </span>repentance. They
will have become as Pharaoh of old.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">After
making this statement he read this passage in Romans:</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><i style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;">Therefore
God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts,
to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who exchanged the truth
of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather
than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.</span></span></i></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><a name="en-NKJV-27957"></a><a name="en-NKJV-27958"></a>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> For
this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women
exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also
the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust
for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and
receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.</span></span></span>
</i></span>
</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><a name="en-NKJV-27959"></a><a name="en-NKJV-27960"></a><a name="en-NKJV-27961"></a><a name="en-NKJV-27962"></a><a name="en-NKJV-27963"></a>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> And
even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave
them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not
fitting; being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality,
wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder,
strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, backbiters,
haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things,
disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving,
unforgiving, unmerciful; who, knowing the righteous judgment of God,
that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only
do the same but also approve of those who practice them.</span></span></span>
</i></span>
</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;"> Therefore
you are inexcusable (</span></i></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">too
bad to be justified or tolerated</span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">),
O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another
you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things.</span></i></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><i>
</i></span>Romans 1:24-2:1 NKJV</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">Several
times throughout his sermon he said, “This is not a Political
decision, it is a life and death decision.” And he is right. It is
NOT a political decision. It is a spiritual decision. It is basically
the same decision that Joshua gave children of Israel at the end of
his life:</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><i>“</i></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Now
therefore, fear the </i></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Lord</i></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>,
serve Him in sincerity and in truth, and put away the gods which
your fathers served on the other side of the River and in Egypt.
Serve the </i></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Lord</i></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>!
And if it seems evil to you to serve the L</i></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>ord</i></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>,
choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods
which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River,
or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me
and my house, we will serve the </i></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Lord</i></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>.”</i></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><i>
</i></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">Joshua
24:14, 15 NKJV.</span></p><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><br /></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqba9TVP0J-i4Yv774Ww0CTEyE2KaA-B2Kb0Zq2Aa6OMcmZ_PiXvT9FYjZZ59DtGY-Bety_HhpCP0SrxqjdXOBteF2PEabp9khLALodS1ihsf0Mj0RXrZskdlK4cMf_iS-YR9hrlFSVyp9/s300/earthshake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="215" data-original-width="300" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqba9TVP0J-i4Yv774Ww0CTEyE2KaA-B2Kb0Zq2Aa6OMcmZ_PiXvT9FYjZZ59DtGY-Bety_HhpCP0SrxqjdXOBteF2PEabp9khLALodS1ihsf0Mj0RXrZskdlK4cMf_iS-YR9hrlFSVyp9/w206-h148/earthshake.jpg" width="206" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">So,
let Him shake up your life and your focus. Focus on Him and what He
would have you to do. And Let Him Lead. Look over each of the
candidates on your ballot for the upcoming election. Research their
stand on the issue of life and death. And choose life. Vote ONLY for
candidates who support life.</span><p></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">So
today I ask: “Whom will you serve? What will you serve? Will you
serve life or death?</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">Choose
Life!</span></p>Leigh Mortonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14175861533997962741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6023392936527996226.post-1093273665475760682020-09-14T07:43:00.003-07:002020-09-14T07:43:41.007-07:00A Note to the Worshipers:<p> While in church on August 30th, the Lord spoke a message in my ear for those who would worship Him. While this message may seem a little harsh, to begin with, I know that it was a word timely given the I, one who would aspire to be a true worshiper, needed to hear. And yesterday morning in church, He said that it was time for me to share it with all of you. So here goes:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV6s95YGw5xEd-yqJRhufQ6mQwwHuF6JlTiP16YTl94ekbt7dy4FxqYnhEh0ORxekKk1Tc7kYWXdHu39N7m7LQRlwn_DEJ7ZqILQrx2Pjgz8wU0gOJkFl4NzaCmIXeBt05rqXj8R4iDVeW/s800/god-speaks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="597" data-original-width="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV6s95YGw5xEd-yqJRhufQ6mQwwHuF6JlTiP16YTl94ekbt7dy4FxqYnhEh0ORxekKk1Tc7kYWXdHu39N7m7LQRlwn_DEJ7ZqILQrx2Pjgz8wU0gOJkFl4NzaCmIXeBt05rqXj8R4iDVeW/s320/god-speaks.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"> "You say that I am your God. And yet you stand ... worshiping from afar. Are you embarrassed by Me? Or on My Behalf?"</span></div><p><span><span> "Standing in the distance, even making a show of your worship is NOT true worship. It is a lie. my true disciples LOVE to stand in My presence w</span></span>orshiping. Up close ... under the shadow of my tallith. As Psalms 91 declares, I AM their dwelling place."</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgswnOjzQ5SwV3e7FKQ31b_9854zl9DdXmxP4Jt9y5ZZmBiBpvUrZOyqcPe7O1SrxWTc0DFGw4KfWiqQ3S_fIDWOqtIpfl-Knp34xPPaUeRVd6aLlU02fubuBfSQW1gSSO0TkOC2m7AikKV/s1920/worshiping-God.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="115" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgswnOjzQ5SwV3e7FKQ31b_9854zl9DdXmxP4Jt9y5ZZmBiBpvUrZOyqcPe7O1SrxWTc0DFGw4KfWiqQ3S_fIDWOqtIpfl-Knp34xPPaUeRVd6aLlU02fubuBfSQW1gSSO0TkOC2m7AikKV/w205-h115/worshiping-God.jpg" width="205" /></a><span><span><span> "If you truly love Me, draw near to Me. I have your place already prepared here in My arms, upon My lap, hidden within the shadow of My</span></span></span> wings."</p><p><span><span><span><span> "Sing praises to Me with your whole heart and a loud voice, in Spirit and in Truth as I have told you from the very beginning. For I love you! Did I not die so that you could live ... and live in My abundance?"<br /></span><br /></span></span></span></p><p><span><span><span><span><span> </span></span></span></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW-HxL3n2qV0GKkR9tQSjEnNwMHBR668X6kDy0pU3_sTGGRgSD-SRAc9jSyg6e1ee_FWQFchoKCK7dkk7RjOvrRMibokJ0BjvjJM9vJOPHOc1_Gi5BtaaQvPNadXuVQ_Qvkf0U1L1xrRT-/s530/BreathOfGod.1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="298" data-original-width="530" height="115" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW-HxL3n2qV0GKkR9tQSjEnNwMHBR668X6kDy0pU3_sTGGRgSD-SRAc9jSyg6e1ee_FWQFchoKCK7dkk7RjOvrRMibokJ0BjvjJM9vJOPHOc1_Gi5BtaaQvPNadXuVQ_Qvkf0U1L1xrRT-/w205-h115/BreathOfGod.1.jpg" width="205" /></a></div><br /> "Child, you are forgiven! I have covered it ALL with My shed blood ... just for YOU. Come close, so that I may breathe into you life anew in Me ... and Stand In My Presence Evermore; with your heart filled to overflowing with songs of Praise and Deliverance ... Songs of True Worship.<br /><p></p><p><span><span><span><span><span><br /></span></span></span></span></span></p><p><span><span><span><span><span><span> "And all of My Holy Angels will sing with you."</span><br /></span></span></span></span></span></p><p><span><span><span><span><span><span><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></p><p><span><span><span><span><span></span></span></span></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc7fkT2S5i0LLKquZ1selewfvPOq4dygotNgquCq6XHaqaKZ5KJgyEOISW9TQ-RHeAgoEjITd1F-iA_gjbmp4CPBT8lLxNNbx82ATt-HleB6OePrAnlG-9BR7VeX9J_HEWG8nB7HhYFMfj/s1280/Tune.In.God.Speaks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc7fkT2S5i0LLKquZ1selewfvPOq4dygotNgquCq6XHaqaKZ5KJgyEOISW9TQ-RHeAgoEjITd1F-iA_gjbmp4CPBT8lLxNNbx82ATt-HleB6OePrAnlG-9BR7VeX9J_HEWG8nB7HhYFMfj/s320/Tune.In.God.Speaks.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span><br /></span><p></p>Leigh Mortonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14175861533997962741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6023392936527996226.post-64987840700370609852020-07-26T11:34:00.001-07:002020-07-26T11:34:54.430-07:00God Is ...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjr9WtoEk0_9CkSH2IVmIgIxdzXl6v1UG0ulmufwqsAItGmSjbB8QiRRy1mOdovBo3PL4WBFxnLkIIdgMZv3YxUiSGn8WYD5YKtCs3emDLPwp4nwKbRGotIHzQgkXD3hLvlSfYW8knrHlT/s1600/godhands.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="862" data-original-width="1600" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjr9WtoEk0_9CkSH2IVmIgIxdzXl6v1UG0ulmufwqsAItGmSjbB8QiRRy1mOdovBo3PL4WBFxnLkIIdgMZv3YxUiSGn8WYD5YKtCs3emDLPwp4nwKbRGotIHzQgkXD3hLvlSfYW8knrHlT/s320/godhands.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div align="center" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.08in; margin-top: 0.17in; page-break-after: avoid;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" style="line-height: 100%;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Gabriola, fantasy;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></span></span></div>
<div align="center" style="line-height: 100%;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Gabriola, fantasy;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>God
is my Provider, not my taskmaster.</i></span></span></span></div>
<div align="center" style="line-height: 100%;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Gabriola, fantasy;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></span></span></div>
<div align="center" style="line-height: 100%;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Gabriola, fantasy;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>God
is my Abba Father that shares His Loving-Kindness, </i></span></span></span></div>
<div align="center" style="line-height: 100%;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Gabriola, fantasy;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></span></span></div>
<div align="center" style="line-height: 100%;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Gabriola, fantasy;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>not the backside
of His hand in anger.</i></span></span></span></div>
<div align="center" style="line-height: 100%;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Gabriola, fantasy;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></span></span></div>
<div align="center" style="line-height: 100%;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Gabriola, fantasy;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>My
God is a rewarder of those who diligently Seek and Serve Him, </i></span></span></span></div>
<div align="center" style="line-height: 100%;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Gabriola, fantasy;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></span></span></div>
<div align="center" style="line-height: 100%;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Gabriola, fantasy;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>not an employer that pays me wages of hardship.</i></span></span></span></div>
<div align="center" style="line-height: 100%;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Gabriola, fantasy;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></span></span></div>
<div align="center" style="line-height: 100%;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Gabriola, fantasy;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>He
is the Truth that whispers in my ears.</i></span></span></span></div>
<div align="center" style="line-height: 100%;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Gabriola, fantasy;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></span></span></div>
<div align="center" style="line-height: 100%;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Gabriola, fantasy;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>He
is the Light that illuminates all that is darkness, </i></span></span></span></div>
<div align="center" style="line-height: 100%;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Gabriola, fantasy;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></span></span></div>
<div align="center" style="line-height: 100%;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Gabriola, fantasy;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>and Lights up my
day and my night.</i></span></span></span></div>
<div align="center" style="line-height: 100%;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Gabriola, fantasy;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></span></span></div>
<div align="center" style="line-height: 100%;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Gabriola, fantasy;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>He
is the Way ... the very path on which I tread.</i></span></span></span></div>
<div align="center" style="line-height: 100%;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Gabriola, fantasy;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></span></span></div>
<div align="center" style="line-height: 100%;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Gabriola, fantasy;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>He
is the Song that stirs my soul; </i></span></span></span></div>
<div align="center" style="line-height: 100%;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Gabriola, fantasy;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></span></span></div>
<div align="center" style="line-height: 100%;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Gabriola, fantasy;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>the Music that I sing in the night
watch.</i></span></span></span></div>
<div align="center" style="line-height: 100%;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Gabriola, fantasy;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></span></span></div>
<div align="center" style="line-height: 100%;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Gabriola, fantasy;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>He
is the very Air that I breathe …</i></span></span></span></div>
<div align="center" style="line-height: 100%;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Gabriola, fantasy;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></span></span></div>
<div align="center" style="line-height: 100%;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Gabriola, fantasy;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>The
Living Water that flows through me …</i></span></span></span></div>
<div align="center" style="line-height: 100%;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Gabriola, fantasy;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></span></span></div>
<div align="center" style="line-height: 100%;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Gabriola, fantasy;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>The
Spirit that He pours out onto all those that I come across …</i></span></span></span></div>
<div align="center" style="line-height: 100%;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Gabriola, fantasy;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></span></span></div>
<div align="center" style="line-height: 100%;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Gabriola, fantasy;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>He
is Y’shua Messiah ...</i></span></span></span></div>
<div align="center" style="line-height: 100%;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Gabriola, fantasy;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></span></span></div>
<div align="center" style="line-height: 100%;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Gabriola, fantasy;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>He
is Lord!</i></span></span></span></div>
<div align="center" style="line-height: 100%;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Gabriola, fantasy;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Gabriola, fantasy;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>~*~</i></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Gabriola, fantasy;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></span></span></div>
<br />Leigh Mortonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14175861533997962741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6023392936527996226.post-6697487267894197402020-04-17T14:02:00.000-07:002020-04-17T14:02:04.138-07:00Doing Our Part<span id="goog_809658422"></span><span id="goog_809658423"></span><br />
<br />
Last time we met here, I shared how I felt that God was calling us to pray for a "Fresh Wind" of His Spirit to blow through our country and the world. And I know that He will do just that but first, we have to our part.<br />
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I don't know if you know this but all except one of God's covenants with mankind has two parts; the part that God will do for us to ratify the contract and the part that we are required to do to complete that ratification process. In 2 Chronicles 7 when Solomon is making sacrifices as the Temple was being sanctified God tells Solomon that He will heal their land. But first His children must do their part in order to show Him they are willing to serve Him unconditionally. I believe that He is calling us to renew this covenant with Him today.<br />
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God is ready, willing and able to heal 'our land,' our country and the world, but He requires some action on our part in order to do so. We can find it in the passage I was speaking of in 2 Chronicles.<br />
<br />
II Chronicles 7:12b-14 (One New Man Bible):<br />
<i>I have heard your prayer and have chosen this place for Myself for a House of sacrifice. If I shut up heaven so there is no rain, or if I command locusts to devour the land, or if <u>I send pestilence among My people: If My people, who are called by My name will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I shall hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.</u></i><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihSABpMByedeTqlnGhHaCtJqWHdORHvx5zLh-a8QXTA8Kc4KzRVNEc3uCKxccirBlHsgzXqUhgFM1kBy1pDWODxwITQc_as6BAMaUvBgrB2h9o_1F-obIHt5nrX33ft1zDQHyqM-yHpEaJ/s1600/child+sacrifice+to+Canaanite+gods.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="630" data-original-width="778" height="259" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihSABpMByedeTqlnGhHaCtJqWHdORHvx5zLh-a8QXTA8Kc4KzRVNEc3uCKxccirBlHsgzXqUhgFM1kBy1pDWODxwITQc_as6BAMaUvBgrB2h9o_1F-obIHt5nrX33ft1zDQHyqM-yHpEaJ/s320/child+sacrifice+to+Canaanite+gods.jpg" width="320" /></a>We in the body of Christ have sinned by allowing our government to legalize the killing of our children in abortion. In doing so, we have stood beside them in allowing the shedding of innocent blood. Though we were not aware, by doing so we have paid tribute to the pagan gods of Molech and Chemosh. So the Lord has allowed the pestilence of the Coronavirus to become the pandemic that it is throughout our land and around the world.<br />
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If we continue to do nothing to stop this bloodshed, we will stand beside all those who have shed this blood ... the parents and other family members that have allowed it as well as the medical personnel who have actually taken those lives. I know this as my pastor, Eddie Reed of Living Stones Community Church in Shelbyville, TN, received a very difficult word of the Lord for the church the end of March. I will summarize it for you here:<br />
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Until we as a nation stop abortion, I - the Lord - will continue shaking the land. There will be wave after wave of disease, natural disasters, pestilence, etc. For the land cannot be healed until this blood stops flowing. It continuously cries out to Me. Pray and repent ... repent for the shedding of this innocent blood.<br />
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For too long we have grown comfortable and complacent in our walk with the Lord. We have quit seeing what is happening in the spiritual realm - the 'real world' - and kept our focus on the physical, yet temporary world. But Paul reminds us in 2 Corinthians that we are focusing on the wrong things.<br />
<br />
2 Corinthians 4:16-18, NKJV:<br />
<i>"Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not</i> (should not*) <i>look at things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal."</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
We must regain our focus on what is important in God's eyes. We must regain our sight of the invisible world ... the eternal world. We must also humble ourselves, seek the face of God with our whole hearts, and pray for this shedding of innocent blood to stop and stop NOW. For God has commanded it. and He will continue to punish us with the plagues He brought against Egypt if we continue down this path our country is currently traveling on.<br />
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God sent our forefathers here for the same reason that He delivered the children of Israel out of Egypt, so that we could worship Him in Spirit and in Truth. This nation was founded in order to allow us the freedom to worship Him. But if we do not change our ways, we will have thrown away one of, if not the most important, of our God-given rights.<br />
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Get back on track with the Lord; Repent, humble yourself, pray and seek God's face, ask Him what your part is in ending abortion and do it. 1and look for His invisible realm. It is far more real than this physical world that we live in ... for it is eternal!<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>*</i>Words in parenthesis I have added for clarity.</span>Leigh Mortonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14175861533997962741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6023392936527996226.post-64150283462817838542020-03-24T08:44:00.003-07:002020-03-24T08:44:48.018-07:00A Fresh Wind<br />
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This morning, as I was spending time with the Lord, I was listening to this video: <a href="https://youtu.be/sVN-E1DLIoo" target="_blank">This is a Move Video</a> and praying. One of the vocalists in this video started prophesying that a Fresh Wind blow through us.<br />
<br />
As I prayed, I felt lead to pray for a Fresh Wind of God, A burst of His Breath ... His Spirit to blow through our nation and the world.<br />
<br />
I prayed that this Breath of God would blow into the lives of His children; to blow upon the flame of His Spirit that lives within each and every believer to revive and renew within us our 'first love,' our love for Him and all of His ways. To bring Revival within the church that would blow out across the country and throughout the world.<br />
<br />
I also prayed that this Fresh Wind of His Spirit would blow out the Coronavirus. To blow it out of existence in our country and around the world; ridding each nation ... each person from this disease and all of its side effects.<br />
<br />
We as the church need to stand united in prayer for our communities, our nation and the world for a drastic move of God to blow through. We need this Fresh Wind. We need this unity. We need this revival and we need relief from this attack of the enemy of our souls. For this is what the Covid-19 pandemic is. It is not just attacking our bodies, it is attacking the hope of believers ... our faith in God and filling us with fear.<br />
<br />
But we are told in 2 Timothy 1:6-7 NKJV, <i>'<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="text 2Tim-1-6" id="en-NKJV-29816" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box;">Therefore I remind you <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NKJV-29816A" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NKJV-29816A" title="See cross-reference A">A</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. </span><span style="background-color: white;"></span><span class="text 2Tim-1-7" id="en-NKJV-29817" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box;">For <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NKJV-29817B" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NKJV-29817B" title="See cross-reference B">B</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>God has not given us a spirit of fear, <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NKJV-29817C" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NKJV-29817C" title="See cross-reference C">C</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>but of power and of love and of a sound mind.'</span></span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="text 2Tim-1-7" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box;"><br /></span></span></i>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="text 2Tim-1-7" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box;">So Stand in Unity, Trust in God, and His Word and pray for a Fresh Wind ... a Fresh Breath of His Spirit to blow through and reignite His Spirit within each believer bringing revival in the church as a whole and throughout the world. Cleansing it from this virus and putting the enemy in his place. For he is a defeated foe. That defeat came at Calvary. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="text 2Tim-1-7" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="text 2Tim-1-7" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box;">Yet sometimes we forget that Salvation gave us back our authority that God gave mankind in His garden in the very beginning. So please listen to this <a href="https://youtu.be/sVN-E1DLIoo" target="_blank">video</a> Then take your authority in Christ Jesus and stand united in faith and in prayer believing.<b><u> For we have won this war!</u></b></span></span><br />
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<br />Leigh Mortonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14175861533997962741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6023392936527996226.post-20181666739431180072019-05-06T14:02:00.000-07:002019-05-06T14:02:05.500-07:00Journey to the Cross and Beyond<br />
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<i>*All Scripture herein is quoted from the One New Mine Bible.</i></div>
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On Friday, May 3, 2019, as I was having my appointed time with the
Lord, He opened my eyes to a new view of our walk in Christ. He has
shown me that Salvation is a journey and not a destination. So walk
with me as I share with you this <u>Journey to the Cross and Beyond.</u></div>
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All
of mankind has been in bondage in a spiritual Egypt of the soul since
the fall of Adam and Eve in God’s Garden. Each of us is shackled
by those things which keep us from knowing, serving, and loving Our
God. Yet, deep in our heart of hearts, there is a small remembrance of
God, even if we have never heard of Him or His boundless Love and
Grace.</div>
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One
day, as we are going about our normal lives, we may find we are in
need of someone to rescue us, so we begin seeking as we hope for
release from our sorrow and despair. We hear of God’s mighty acts
and matchless love. This brings us to a crossroads, a choice to make
a change in our lives, and we begin to trust. He has taken us from
Egypt and started us down the pathway to Calvary.
</div>
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But
our faith in Him is weak and we may wander from His path into the
Desert of Sin. This is a barren land, lifeless and dry. It contains
many pitfalls and fills our hearts with dread and fear. Thus
wandering therein we drag around the chains of our past, even though
God has broken the locks asunder in order to release us from them.
But there is a mountain on the horizon … it is Sinai.</div>
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Gradually
we come to the foot of that mount and learn of our sin as God’s law
opens our eyes. Having found some rest and relief in this new
knowledge, we long to continue our Journey to The Promised Land, that
Eternal Garden of God. So off we trod once more.</div>
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On
this journey there are many hills and valleys and a few places which
seem barren and lifeless. As we travel we find that time spent in the
valleys are times of spiritual growth, for the watering of God’s
Holy Spirit floods through our souls. As we leave the valley, we
ascend to the mountain heights. Once above the trees, beyond the
rivers of life, we find hardships on the way to the summit; rocks and
downed trees which block the path and pits that we must find a way
across or around, each with their lessons to learn. The tallest of
these mounts we all must climb; for it is Golgotha, the place of
Jesus’ cross. It is here that we make the most important choice of
our lives. That choice is to leave behind the sins of our past
and all of the burdens that we carry, everything that hinders our
walk with Jesus, at the foot of His cross and continue on in His life
everlasting.</div>
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Once
we have laid down those sins and burdens, we pick up Jesus’ cross.
We never walk alone, nor do we carry His cross by ourselves; for He
walks beside us, carrying the biggest share of the load. We can read
this in Matthew 11:28-30,<i> </i><span style="font-style: normal;">“Come
to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Take yoke upon you, and learn of 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.”</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Though
we are not physically in God’s Eternal Promised Land, we are
allowed entrance to it within our spirit. We can experience its
reality therein whenever we choose. This is done when we lift our
voices in praise and worship the Lord, as the Psalmist noted in Psalm
100:4, <span style="font-style: normal;">“Enter His gates with
thanksgiving and His courts with praise! Give thanks to Him; and
bless His name!”</span> For when we are saved, He begins within us
and we in Him. There He will remain in residence unless we choose to
walk away from Him and in the wilderness; leaving Him outside our
hearts and lives. For He has promised in Hebrews 13:5 b, <span style="font-style: normal;">“I
will never leave you nor forsake you.”</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Since
I allowed Jesus into my life, I have wandered from Him many times.
Yet after each season of wandering, I have once again climbed
Calvary, repented of my sin, laid my burdens at Jesus' feet and taken
again my place beside Him, carrying is cross, yes sharing His yoke,
once more. Allowing Him to share all of my thoughts and fears. He
once again gave me His rest and renewed His Spirit within me.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1kTFCic-6CbyfA8IerWWvGuRu8liix7jO4iBEa9ohyphenhypheniDCc0cwM03_dLd9s2-IZfJfTPjiJ5IBM3WutTJB4a6HBtp8Ft2DopPeCdngVWDqczKA1bjA_K6LTNuesflYOvvo4ytpI8G_GbcG/s1600/the-promised-land-of-israel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="420" data-original-width="750" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1kTFCic-6CbyfA8IerWWvGuRu8liix7jO4iBEa9ohyphenhypheniDCc0cwM03_dLd9s2-IZfJfTPjiJ5IBM3WutTJB4a6HBtp8Ft2DopPeCdngVWDqczKA1bjA_K6LTNuesflYOvvo4ytpI8G_GbcG/s320/the-promised-land-of-israel.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Today
I long to stay on His Heavenly Highway, though I often make time
along the way to climb Mount Zion, entering into His Heavenly
Temple/Throne Room to give Him praise. This is the place in which
King David danced in worship before the Lord in his complete praise
and adoration of Him as the Ark of the Covenant was brought into
Jerusalem and into its new tabernacle on Mount Zion (2 Samuel chapter
6).</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRMro0sRDc0mitbGGtPnkbh2NWsYqlp93XCRKKcdG2Ixw8MCjXv5iCspgTDJegD0dwiImm2QIFKm6lbD4v9N1HaUXunQTQ1yr01xDIOIY5FD6joAhHv9y9Rm5bYsR9WryE4hezgEQCDbHM/s1600/The-Path-to-Entering-Into-the-Kingdom-of-Heaven.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="640" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRMro0sRDc0mitbGGtPnkbh2NWsYqlp93XCRKKcdG2Ixw8MCjXv5iCspgTDJegD0dwiImm2QIFKm6lbD4v9N1HaUXunQTQ1yr01xDIOIY5FD6joAhHv9y9Rm5bYsR9WryE4hezgEQCDbHM/s320/The-Path-to-Entering-Into-the-Kingdom-of-Heaven.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
To
recap, we each start out in bondage to our sin. We learn of our sin
at the foot of Mount Sinai where we learn of God, His law and our
sin. After we climb Mount Calvary lay down our sin at the foot of His
cross and enter into His rest, His spiritual Promised Land, also
called Heaven. ON our journey we experience trials and tribulations
which produces growth within our Spirit. And Jesus is our victory in
each and every one. We are allowed entrance into His Throne Room at any time by our songs of praise and thanksgiving. While there we are
refreshed in body, soul, and spirit by His living water … the Wine
of His Holy Spirit.</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
So,
it isn’t a choice between Sinai or Calvary. No, both mountains are
necessary in our Christian Walk. It is a choice for Love and Life, of
Worshiping and Service or Death/Eternal separation from God. By to
love God, we are also choosing to keep His law as is written in John
14:15, <span style="font-style: normal;">“If you love me, you will
keep My commandments.” </span>And again in verse 21, “Whoever has
my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves Me. And he who
loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love Him and manifest
Myself to him.”
</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
His
commandments, which are deeper than the Torah that Moses brought down
from Mount Sinai, are these:</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;">And
one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another,
and seeing that He has answered them well, asked Him, “Which
commandment is the most important of all? Jesus answered, “The most
important is, “Hear, Oh Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is One.
And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all
your soul, with all your mind and with all your strength.” The
second is this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” There
is no commandment greater than these. Mark 12:28-31</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
This
conversation also appears in Matthew 22:34-40, verse 40 reads, <span style="font-style: normal;">“On
these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.” So by
keeping these two commandments that Jesus declared were the greatest,
we are keeping the spirit of the entire Law of Moses.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
I
have chosen to love Him, to keep His commandments, and to serve Him
all of my days and in everything that I do …</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Have
you?</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Thank
You, Lord for sharing this insight with me. Thank You for allowing me
to share it with others. And Thank You for saving my soul!</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Amen!</div>
<div id="sdendnote1">
<div class="sdendnote-western" style="page-break-before: always;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<br />Leigh Mortonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14175861533997962741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6023392936527996226.post-32568643088875515012019-03-26T12:34:00.000-07:002019-03-26T12:34:06.334-07:00All The Way With Jesus<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil5tA7NBIeXM7yh9pv555O5Fc_oaJ6ydQH6bnvlGsVj6ee70z1zqEuAkKEc0-jf_sWJ9P5b5VBQWvWRN3JHR90GZpaLbVRuY9bO5b5O_Pjofp8M-xLxu3FGZ5DX8Za7LJoRbqgcNslonlh/s1600/StormDiana-N-FloodWaters.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="351" data-original-width="590" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil5tA7NBIeXM7yh9pv555O5Fc_oaJ6ydQH6bnvlGsVj6ee70z1zqEuAkKEc0-jf_sWJ9P5b5VBQWvWRN3JHR90GZpaLbVRuY9bO5b5O_Pjofp8M-xLxu3FGZ5DX8Za7LJoRbqgcNslonlh/s320/StormDiana-N-FloodWaters.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Though life's storms may batter me</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And their flood water's deluge</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I have a firm foundation</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I am founded, my Lord, in You</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
You are the solid Rock</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The High Place upon which I stand</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I seek no other refuge</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
For I'm holding onto Your hand</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
We walk together in the daylight</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And in the darkness, too</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
For You are the Light of Life</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I draw my strength from You</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5huNvRImhs1dRXrtlTKGhsDjCMaoYZ0pI94qlseeni_6GT7bmWxUmNytWndMs5rScmM34qZsRJELDPu5_ecnJsGWncvs7Ck9L5KoY7NYg7sc03MRI3Pff0JDhkSgcZ_-zkeWJMmtYPNIC/s1600/GoodVsEvil-StarWars.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="150" data-original-width="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5huNvRImhs1dRXrtlTKGhsDjCMaoYZ0pI94qlseeni_6GT7bmWxUmNytWndMs5rScmM34qZsRJELDPu5_ecnJsGWncvs7Ck9L5KoY7NYg7sc03MRI3Pff0JDhkSgcZ_-zkeWJMmtYPNIC/s1600/GoodVsEvil-StarWars.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
When the times are difficult</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And I seem in dread defeat</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I will press in a little closer</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Ever sitting at Your feet</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
You are always here to guide me</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
To teach me all Your Truth</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
No, You never will forsake me</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
While I dwell in You</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
When this day has ended</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And time is no more</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
We will ever be Best Friended</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
As we walk along Heaven's shore</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3yrIJltO0qYxnwqGeYihkG3R5ssR4po0EdwWgCl-bp_2UwmK0qE4v94BcXuExE56ec-bgHyngXfcz1EJg3R953zrhLQ6uXlB2nO8mp5_rp0U33YsIzwp_bnz5bd-lM_f-ny6E1cFfGpfC/s1600/JesusWalkingOnShore.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="236" data-original-width="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3yrIJltO0qYxnwqGeYihkG3R5ssR4po0EdwWgCl-bp_2UwmK0qE4v94BcXuExE56ec-bgHyngXfcz1EJg3R953zrhLQ6uXlB2nO8mp5_rp0U33YsIzwp_bnz5bd-lM_f-ny6E1cFfGpfC/s1600/JesusWalkingOnShore.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="text Mic-6-8" id="en-NKJV-22657" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; position: relative; text-align: start;">He has <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NKJV-22657A" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NKJV-22657A" title="See cross-reference A">A</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>shown you, O man, what <span style="box-sizing: border-box;">is</span> good;</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;" /><span class="text Mic-6-8" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; position: relative; text-align: start;">And what does the <span class="small-caps divine-name" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">Lord</span> require of you</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;" /><span class="text Mic-6-8" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; position: relative; text-align: start;">But <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NKJV-22657B" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NKJV-22657B" title="See cross-reference B">B</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>to do justly,</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;" /><span class="text Mic-6-8" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; position: relative; text-align: start;">To love <span class="footnote" data-fn="#fen-NKJV-22657a" data-link="[<a href="#fen-NKJV-22657a" title="See footnote a">a</a>]" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>mercy,</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;" /><span class="text Mic-6-8" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; position: relative; text-align: start;">And to walk humbly with your God?</span></span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="text Mic-6-8" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; position: relative; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Micah 6:8, NKJV</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Leigh</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
3-26-2019</div>
Leigh Mortonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14175861533997962741noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6023392936527996226.post-59847342916117587742019-03-12T12:14:00.000-07:002019-03-12T12:14:25.417-07:00Satan is Out to Destroy America … <h2>
Take a Look at What He Has Planned</h2>
<div>
We all know that the abortion issue has long been a threat to our unborn children. But recent state abortion laws that have been passed go further than Roe vs. Wade ever thought of going. For now, they are espousing the murder of those who have survived an abortion procedure. <br />In fact, President Trump recently tweeted; </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div>
<br />"Senate Democrats just voted against legislation to prevent the killing of newborn infant children. The Democratic position on abortion is now so extreme that they don't mind executing babies AFTER birth. This vote will be remembered as one of the most shocking votes in the history of Congress. If there is one thing we should all agree on, it's protecting the lives of innocent babies." (Charisma Magazine, 12:00 PM EST, 2/27/19, This is Satan's Next Step for America.)</div>
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<br />Also, every person that has already announced their candidacy for President in the 2020 election has supported legislation that makes it legal to murder children that have survived an abortion procedure. This includes Senators Cory Booker of NJ, Kirstan Gilibrand of NY, Kamala D. Harris of CA, Amy Klobluchar of MN, Elizabeth Warren of MA, and Bernie Sanders of VT.</div>
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<br />As shocking as this is, it is just the beginning. Once this has been widely accepted, America will be allowing the murder of all children (… by medically sanctioned prescription for reasons such as proof of hardship, threat or inconvenience.) Literally, if they have a negative impact on our chosen lifestyle we will be able to choose to have them eliminated.quickly and easily. This shocks and grieves me, so much more so it grieves our God!<br /></div>
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And this is just the beginning. NO people group is safe – Children, The Elderly, Christians (or any religious affiliation which offends), etc, from being eliminated if they become a threat to the lifestyle of their families or their government officials.<br /></div>
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Do you think that Hitler and Nazi Germany was the first attempt at Holocaust? Think again. The book of Esther in the Old Testament of the Bible tells about the plans of one man (Haman) to have all of the Jewish people eliminated throughout the Persian Empire. It also tells of the heroic acts of Mordecai and his niece, Queen Esther, to stop this mass execution, which succeeded.<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC_BRKiIf4-nj_EWexxnP20ESsnaxdx8mkBzoY5MMkHR_cmK0LjpLbQO1YA9vIsMDUlS01MUGSbYV4OoD8bMv5-I-78o8UPT2ll1w-jjTzbEYD__KocFlTo2teQjqZqWuboZK8wWVwXVaS/s1600/queen.esther.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="466" data-original-width="640" height="145" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC_BRKiIf4-nj_EWexxnP20ESsnaxdx8mkBzoY5MMkHR_cmK0LjpLbQO1YA9vIsMDUlS01MUGSbYV4OoD8bMv5-I-78o8UPT2ll1w-jjTzbEYD__KocFlTo2teQjqZqWuboZK8wWVwXVaS/s200/queen.esther.jpg" width="200" /></a>The book of Exodus, also in the Old Testament, tells of a Pharoah who tried to have baby boys murdered as their mothers delivered them. He feared that the Israelites were too numerous to control if they decided to rebel against his authority. But the midwives of that period feared and reverenced the Lord God, so they saved these baby boys' lives and lied to Pharoah when he called them out for their disobedience to his demands. But Pharoah then ordered his soldiers to murder them.<br /></div>
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The Old Testament isn't the only place where a leader killed a people they were afraid of. In the book of Matthew, in the New Testament of the Bible, King Herod ordered the execution of all boys who were between the ages of birth and two years old. We all know this story well: Herod was afraid of the "New King of the Jews" that had recently been born … he was afraid of Jesus destroying his lifestyle as he wasn't even a Jew, but Ceasar had appointed him king over them. But now there was a new King on the scene. One who was a true Jew and met all of the prophetic qualifications. But here again, God protected His own, in this case His very own Son. For He sent Joseph, Mary, and the baby Jesus to Egypt until after Herod was dead. (Matthew 2:1-15)<br /></div>
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<b>With these long-ago examples of mass execution of the people who were a threat to the establishment, who are we to think we are safe?</b></div>
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God is angry at His church, for they have not followed His Commandments. Now I am not talking about the 633 that the Jewish Rabbis' acknowledge, the first five books of the Old Testament (the Torah), or even the 10 Commandments. No, Jesus gave us a much more condensed set of Laws to live by: <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;">One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, "Of all the commandments, which is the most important?"</span></i></h3>
<i>"The most important one," answered Jesus, "is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these."<br />"Well said, teacher," the man replied. "You are right in saying that God is one and there is no other but him. To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices."<br />When Jesus saw that he had answered wisely, he said to him, "You are not far from the kingdom of God."And from then on no one dared ask him any more questions.</i><b>Mark 12:28-34, NIV</b><br /></div>
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Where this passage is quoted in the book of Matthew, Jesus also says:<i> All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." </i><b>Matthew 22:40, NIV</b>. For if God is loved above all else, we know how to treat ourselves and our fellow man. Loving God thusly makes us able to love our neighbors as ourselves. Without this all-encompassing love for our Lord, we cannot love others as we should for we know not how to love ourselves properly. God's Children need to find that all-encompassing love for God once more. </div>
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<br />We also need to find a place of fearful reverence for our God and heed His voice when it calls us to "stand in the gap." As God spoke to Ezekiel about the nation of Israel, God is saying to His church:<br /><i>"I looked for someone among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found no one. So I will pour out my wrath on them and consume them with my fiery anger, bringing down on their own heads all they have done, declares the Sovereign Lord."</i> <b>Ezekiel 22:30-31, NIV.</b><br /> <br />So many of us have forgotten how to stand up for what we believe! We have let our faith become watered down <u>for convenience sake</u>. <u>For somebody might become offended if they know what we believe.</u> By doing so, I believe that today's church has become the modern day church of Laodicea to whom God said:<br /> <br /><i>"To the angel of the church in Laodicea write:<br />These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God's creation. <u>I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.</u> You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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you can see.<br /><u>Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.</u><br />To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne. <u><b>Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches."</b></u></i> <b>Revelation 3:14-22, NIV</b><br />We, like Laodicea, have become lukewarm Christians. We have become complacent in our walk of faith. God is calling us to repentance so that He can once again come and "sit at meat" with us. He longs to be intimate with His church as He was in days long past.<br /> <br />Did you know that in ancient Middle Eastern Cultures sharing a meal is considered to be an act of intimacy? Sharing a meal in Jesus' day and age was a communal thing. Everyone lounged around a low table and ate from the same dish using their hands. They used pieces of bread to scoop up their meals … there were no individual plates, no eating utensils. Each family had knives to cut up their foods, but this was done before it was brought to the table. This is one reason that God commanded unclean persons were to live outside the camp in the Old Testament. He knew they could not even eat with their loved ones without exposing them to their uncleanness. But Jesus longs to share a meal with His repentant church.<br /> <br />The church of America has largely become people of unclean hearts and lips. And God is seeking our repentance. He longs for us to stand in the gaps and repair the breaches of the walls of our faith. He desires clean and contrite hearts as David of old spoke of in Psalm 51. This will make us ready to stand in the gap as He intended us to do.</div>
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<br />I know that not many of you know that I used to be a very active political activist on those things I felt were important. In college, I protested in front of the Capital building in Sacramento CA on several occasions. Also 31 years ago this month I protested with Operation Rescue in front of an abortion clinic in Chico, CA. </div>
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This Right to Life protest ended with many of us, myself included, being arrested, tried and convicted of preventing access to a business. Our protest in March of 1988 was in front of the Planned Parenthood Clinic in Chico, CA. This was the only abortion clinic in Butte County, CA where my family resided at that time. </div>
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While my (now ex-) husband had asked me not to be arrested during the protest, I could not honor his request. For this death mill was right in MY backyard. I had to Stand In the Gap for those unborn children of my neighbors. Our pastor at that time was with me at that protest for life. As we drove from the rally to the clinic, I told him of Luther's request and asked him what he would do. He told me that his wife would not have placed him in that position but if she, had he would have to follow the Lord's leading in that moment ... even if it meant going to jail. So I followed my convictions ... if God asked me today to do it again, I most definitely would.</div>
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It cost that business a day's revenue. When we were sentenced, the judge initially fined us each $500, then said that it would be given to the clinic to replace funds lost by our protest blocking access to their place of business. Each of us, in turn, advised the judge that we refused to pay that fine. So, in turn, we were each sentenced to three days in jail.<br /> <br />Since that time, I know that my going to jail on this occasion was God's plan. For when we were put into the population we were asked why we were there. When I answered that I had been arrested for protesting in front of an abortion clinic to save the lives of unborn children it gave me the opportunity to share Jesus with about 20 women who were in there with me. We prayed with several of them to receive Jesus and shared the Bible with them throughout our three-day sentence.</div>
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<br />Did you know that not taking a stand for Truth ... with God, but sitting complacently by and letting things just take their course, IS standing with Satan and what he has planned for our nation in the days, months and years ahead? He is out to anhilate the church and destroy this country in the process. How can we who have chosen to serve the Lord of Creation, Christ's Church, sit idly by and allow it to happen?<br /> <br />Now I am not saying to go out and do just anything to be arrested. I am saying is to take a stand WITH God. Especially in this turbulent time within our government. Make your voice heard and see how God will grow your faith and your scope of ministry! </div>
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Trust Him and He will call you into arenas, political and familial you may never have dreamed of going into. Just remember He will never you there all alone, for He will never leave you nor forsake you. He also will never lead you there unprepared ... <u><b>Always Remember, God May or May Not Call the Qualified, but He ALWAYS Qualifies the Called!</b></u></div>
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Though I am no longer physically able to take my protests to the streets, I AM willing and able to stand on my soapbox here in these pages and spout my religious and political views to all you happen herein. I pray that the number of views her will steadily increase. So please share these posts and share it often with your family and friends and on Facebook, too.</div>
Leigh Mortonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14175861533997962741noreply@blogger.com0Shelbyville, TN 37160, USA35.3826611 -86.4592091000000134.9688236 -87.104656100000014 35.7964986 -85.8137621tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6023392936527996226.post-49919389761615065162019-02-27T10:04:00.001-08:002019-02-27T10:21:17.344-08:00Take a Stand on the Abortion Issue ... God Has!As I was praying this morning in my appointment with the Lord, I was reminded about the recent passing of abortion laws by various states across the country ... so I prayed thus:<br />
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As our nation sees the drawing to a close of an era devoted to the sacrificing of our unborn, each state is faced with taking a stand and drawing up sides in this battle for the fall of Roe vs Wade. New York was the first to set state abortion laws earlier this year; thus allowing for the continued murder of innocent lives when the federal abortion laws are overturned. Now Vermont and Illinois have joined with them in allowing for these murders to continue. In fact Lord, Illinois went so far as to boast that they would gladly choose to be the nation's leader in state-sanctioned abortions. Father, please "forgive them for they know not what they do!"</div>
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Lord, I am so glad that I live in a state that values all life and has chosen to stand on Your side of this line that has been drawn in the sand, so to speak. I pray that Tennessee doesn't have to stand alone with You on this matter. I pray that many, if not all, of the rest chose to join us and stand with You in this quest to preserve the lives of our unborn. For the majority of Americans are opposed to abortion, yet our leaders refuse to listen to our voices. Instead, they continue to listen to the lies that the enemy of our souls' whispers in their ears ... not the shouts of their constituents.</div>
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Father, I repent for the sin of our government officials in this matter. I pray that they will hear Your voice of truth, and that right soon!</div>
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Now, this was my personal prayer on the abortion issue. I hope that you will stand with me, chose to oppose the continued murder of our children, and pray this prayer as your own. </div>
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As you consider your stand, please watch this video of Petra's song, <u>Not Gonna Bow To Yout Idol.</u> Just <a href="https://youtu.be/lhQVGAEAAR0" target="_blank">click this link</a> to view it now.</div>
Leigh Mortonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14175861533997962741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6023392936527996226.post-33504183841922493862019-02-15T16:24:00.000-08:002019-02-15T16:28:42.559-08:00In Support of Life<br />
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In my last article I spoke of our need for repentance in
light of the many abortions that have taken place legally since the passing of
Roe vs. Wade. Today, as I was listening to a Christian talk radio station, I
learned that there is a bill set to come before the US Congress to protect the
lives of children who have survived their mother’s attempt to end their lives
by having an abortion. The presentation of this bill gives the church a new
call to action on the abortion front. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Until today I had never heard that there were children who had
survived an abortion procedure. But the lady (I will call her Lily) being
interviewed on the radio said that she was connected to 250+ others who had
survived. “Lily” also told the story of her survival. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Her birth mother had undergone a late-term, <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Instillation abortion</span>. Per Wikipedia <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Instillation abortion is now rarely done
late-term. “Instillation abortion is performed by injecting a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chemistry" title="Chemistry"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">chemical</span></a> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solution" title="Solution"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">solution</span></a> consisting
of either <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saline_(medicine)" title="Saline (medicine)"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">saline</span></a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urea" title="Urea"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">urea</span></a>, or <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prostaglandin" title="Prostaglandin"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">prostaglandin</span></a> through
the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abdomen" title="Abdomen"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">abdomen</span></a> and
into the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amniotic_sac" title="Amniotic sac"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">amniotic sac</span></a>. The <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cervix" title="Cervix"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">cervix</span></a> is <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cervical_dilation" title="Cervical dilation"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">dilated</span></a> prior
to the injection, and the chemical solution induces <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uterine_contraction" title="Uterine contraction"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">uterine contractions</span></a> which expel the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fetus" title="Fetus"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">fetus</span></a>. Instillation
methods can require <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inpatient_care" title="Inpatient care"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">hospitalization</span></a> for 12 to 48 hours.” You
can read more about it <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Instillation_abortion">here</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">“Lily” said that
her mother was injected with a Saline Solution, but that it didn’t expel her as
it should have. She lay surrounded by that Saline Solution for five days before
doctors had successfully induced her mother’s labor and she was born ALIVE.
That she had survived totally shocked the doctors who were in attendance. Her
birth mother put her up for adoption and she was raised by a loving and
nurturing family. “Lily” did say that she is in contact with her birth mother
to this day. They have a good relationship and that she is very supportive of “Lily’s”
work with other abortion survivors and telling her story to anyone who will
listen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Annual U.S. Abortion Statistics<o:p></o:p></h1>
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Abortion is murder and God calls murder a sin, and so do
I … do you? Are you appalled by how many children have been killed by abortion? Here are a few abortion statistics <o:p></o:p></div>
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</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Based on the latest state-level data, approximately <span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">881,000 abortions </span>took place in the United States
in 2017—down from approximately <span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">885,000 abortions</span> in
2016 and <span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">913,000 abortions</span> in 2015.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: black; font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">According to the Guttmacher Institute, an estimated 926,240 <span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">abortions</span> took place in the United States in 2014—down from
1.06 million in 2011, 1.21 million abortions in 2008, 1.2 million in 2005,
1.29 million in 2002, 1.31 million in 2000 and 1.36 million in 1996. From 1973
through 2011, nearly 53 million legal abortions occurred in the U.S (AGI).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: black; font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">In 2014, approximately 19% of U.S. pregnancies (excluding
spontaneous miscarriages) ended in abortion.<sup><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">1</span></sup><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: black; font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">According to the <span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">United Nations' 2013 report</span>,
only nine countries in the world have a higher reported abortion rate than
the United States. They are: Bulgaria, Cuba, Estonia, Georgia,
Kazakhstan, Romania, Russia, Sweden, and Ukraine.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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You can read this entire article at: <a href="https://abort73.com/abortion_facts/us_abortion_statistics/"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">U.S. Abortion Statistics</span></a><o:p></o:p></div>
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So how are we as Christians to respond to this call to
action? We need to contact our Senators and Congressional Representatives with
any and every avenue available … snail mail, email, phone calls, etc. We also
need to tell everyone we know of this upcoming bill and how they can help get
it passed and to pray for those who have had or are considering having an
abortion. And to repent for the passing of any and all abortion laws and the
lives that have been lost due to their passing.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Below you will find a link that will assist you in finding the
contact info for your Senators and Representatives. The passing of this bill is
in our hands. Please don’t sit on them … answer this Call to Action. Reach out
to others, including your Senators and Representatives, and let them know that
you are in favor of the passing of the Born Alive act to protect the lives of
children who have survived abortion.<o:p></o:p></div>
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God hates the loss of these innocent children … do you?<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://www.govtrack.us/congress/members">Find Your
Representatives and Senators</a><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />Leigh Mortonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14175861533997962741noreply@blogger.com0Shelbyville, TN 37160, USA35.3826611 -86.4592091000000134.9688236 -87.104656100000014 35.7964986 -85.8137621tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6023392936527996226.post-57641614630295070502019-01-30T11:14:00.000-08:002019-01-30T11:18:06.788-08:00America is Worshiping at the Altar of the Canaanite gods<br />
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">When you enter the land
the Lord your God is giving you, do not learn to imitate the
detestable ways of the nations there. Let no one be found among you
who sacrifices their son or daughter in the fire, who practices
divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or
casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the
dead. Anyone who does these things is detestable to the Lord; because
of these same detestable practices the Lord your God will drive out
those nations before you. You must be blameless before the Lord your
God. Deuteronomy 18:9-13, NIV<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Sunday morning, January 27,
2019, our pastor, Pastor Eddie Reed, announced that on the 46<sup>th</sup> anniversary of the
passing of Roe vs. Wade, the state of New York had passed a law updating their
abortion laws, and that even giving approval of late-term (24+ weeks) abortions.
He went on to say that, if said abortion wasn’t completed before the baby
exited the womb it could be completed upon delivery. Pastor also said that when
it was announced in their legislature that Governor Cuomo had signed S2796 into
law there was a standing ovation in the legislative hall.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Upon hearing this
announcement I hear the Lord saying to me, “The worship of Molech and Chemosh
is alive and well in the land.” Then the verses I have noted above were running
through my mind.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">The Canaanites practiced
the sacrifice of their children to their gods in order to have abundant crops,
fertile animals and prosperous business endeavors. But the Lord abhors these
practices. Many times throughout the Old Testament He admonishes the Children
of Israel against intermarrying with the Canaanites because He knew that they
would adopt their gods and their worship practices. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">I know that we don’t
actually have “high places” with their altars in our country where we go to
make sacrifices to these false gods. But we do allow popular culture and our
government officials, instead of God’s Word, to dictate to us what our moral
and ethical values are. For this we, as Christians in America, have a lot to
repent of with the passing of laws that allow us to murder our children. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">We also have much work to
do with respect of the healing of families that have participated in these
practices. Abortion causes great mental and emotional hardship for these
families, and in some cases physical damage – even to the inability of having
children in the future. The Church must stand in the gap for these families to
aid in their recovery. For recovery IS possible with Jesus as our Source … our
Guide.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">When ministering to women
who have had abortions we find that they know the names of these babies and
grieve deeply for their loss. When they come looking for help, we walk with
them through the grieving process and lead them down the road to repentance and
wholeness of body, soul and spirit … that is their spirit working in unity with
the Holy Spirit.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">The Church in America must
come together in repentance for the passing of this new law and every other law
in our land that makes it legal to kill our children. We must stand together in
prayer for the healing of those who have been afflicted with the grief of
having lost children in this manner. And we must work in unity with the church
at large to get these laws off the books and keep others from being passed. For
God will hold us accountable for our in actions as well as our actions. As
Matthew 24 states:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><b><sup>34 </sup></b>“Then the King will say to those
on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance,
the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. <b><sup>35 </sup></b>For
I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me
something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, <b><sup>36 </sup></b>I
needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after
me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><b><sup>40 </sup></b>“The King will reply, ‘Truly I
tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters
of mine, you did for me.’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><b><sup>41 </sup></b>“Then he will say to those on his
left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal
fire prepared for the devil and his angels. <b><sup>42 </sup></b>For
I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me
nothing to drink, <b><sup>43 </sup></b>I was a stranger and you did
not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in
prison and you did not look after me.’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><sup><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">45 </span></sup></b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">“He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did
not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Lord Jesus,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">I repent for my inactivity
in this matter of abortions in our land and ask for Your forgiveness for my
lack of standing in the gap for the affected families. Show me what You would
have me to do and where to go to lend a helping hand to those in need in this
area.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">And I will ever give You
all praise and honor.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">In Your precious Name,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Amen!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />Leigh Mortonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14175861533997962741noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6023392936527996226.post-50658126025532930292018-10-11T23:59:00.000-07:002018-10-12T00:35:41.737-07:00The Time Has Come for Your Sweet, Perfect RestIn loving memory of my "baby brother", Kenneth Joel Morton Senior, AKA; "Kenn."<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGKJA1aPeIwqD5ugVW-u6QL1d9fEpaeGnzMlaXuH-xy6yZ6yj0mH9rmAjk0dyWBjHS9TJeCHFnlHdcKPqnMoRH7kch1EIff_JYHN4-FE9VDQMhZfXgtD-zqOtLo6N9WFr5MnCYRDZ5W-7D/s1600/20180831_181232.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1600" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGKJA1aPeIwqD5ugVW-u6QL1d9fEpaeGnzMlaXuH-xy6yZ6yj0mH9rmAjk0dyWBjHS9TJeCHFnlHdcKPqnMoRH7kch1EIff_JYHN4-FE9VDQMhZfXgtD-zqOtLo6N9WFr5MnCYRDZ5W-7D/s400/20180831_181232.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kenn and his granddaughters (left side - Addie, Right side - Avery)<br /> 8/31/2018 - his last good day with them.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Gone before his time, many would say</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
But God always chooses our perfect passing day</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Our time of sorrow upon us, though it may be short it will be unsweet</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
But your perfect rest is now made complete</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Time has now come to lay your burdens down</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Time also to pick up your life's golden crown</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
A crown of recognition that your human sojourn has reached its end</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Now resurrection life with Jesus in earnest begins</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Eternal rest, perfect and sweet</div>
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Eternally to sit joyfully at Jesus' feet</div>
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Walking hand in hand with Jesus and Trish on heaven's golden shore</div>
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All the while joining others in singing His praises forevermore</div>
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<br /></div>
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Peacefully resting, no longer in pain</div>
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neither does fear or doubt linger, only pure joy and peace remain</div>
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Growing in relationship with Jesus, the King</div>
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Working in His Kingdom at whatever may a smile to Him bring</div>
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<br /></div>
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Brother, I do miss you more than I'd ever thought</div>
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For surely you gave me loads of brotherly harassing</div>
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But there will come a day we'll all be together again</div>
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Our great God's eternal praises forever to sing!</div>
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<br /></div>
Leigh Mortonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14175861533997962741noreply@blogger.com0Shelbyville, TN 37160, USA35.3826611 -86.4592091000000134.9688236 -87.104656100000014 35.7964986 -85.8137621tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6023392936527996226.post-82285052538620000572018-07-23T11:05:00.001-07:002018-07-23T11:05:59.744-07:00Finding Joy In Light of Events Soon to Come<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i>“...Hear, O Lord, and have mercy on me; Lord, be my helper! <u>You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; You have put off my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness</u>, <u>To the end that my glory may sing praise to You and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks to You forever.</u> <o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>Psalms 30:10-12, NKJV”<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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As many of you know, I traveled east with my oldest brother, Dave, last summer and fall so that I could visit with my mom and youngest brother, Kenn in Tennessee and then attend my grandson’s wedding in Kentucky in late September. I arrived back in Carson City, Nevada October 4<sup>th</sup>.<o:p></o:p></div>
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In early November the Lord started telling me that I needed to go back to Tennessee because my little brother was dying of liver cancer. I knew that God was right, I needed to go, but I had no funds to pay the way and my RV van conversion was in need of some major repairs to make it roadworthy once more. So I began praying and preparing for this new chapter of my life. He didn’t give me a “leave by” date, so I planned for a spring departure in early April so that I could be there by my birthday on the 21<sup>st</sup>. This would give me time to save some money to have the repairs done on the van and stock it with all the necessities of life for the trip.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Well, April came and went without bringing the funds needed for the trip east, so I continued to wait, pray and prepare. God had supplied the money needed to fix the van in early December, so I kept busy going through my things, deciding what I needed to take and what could be given away and stored for later. <o:p></o:p></div>
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December also lent itself to my seeking help from our local U.S. Senator to get my long-awaited Disability back pay released to me to finance my trip. With the help of Catherine Cortez Masto's office, I received this payment in mid-May … nearly two years after having been awarded my Social Security Disability. So I started making plans in earnest to leave Nevada for Tennessee. I set the date for Sunday afternoon, May 20<sup>th</sup>, after church and our fellowship lunch.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I was able to travel through places I had never been and spend time with a friend in Branson, MO, too. I loved the time spent with Tina and the kids. I was blessed with a home cooked meal, shower and a comfortable bed in their home Friday, May 25th. The trip took me a week, I arrived at mom and Kenn’s home on Sunday afternoon, May 27<sup>th</sup>.</div>
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I have been here helping mom with the house and meeting Kenn’s needs for nearly two months now. I am working on finding my place in the community and the local body of believers. But God is very, VERY good. He gives me songs in the night and eases my mind.<o:p></o:p></div>
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This morning, July 17, 2018, my mother shared with me her prayers for Kenn. She said that she has been praying that if God was going to heal him, to do it soon. But if not, to let him begin his rest and be at peace. Listening to her, I thought of my recent prayers. Mine centered on her. I have been asking the Lord to give my mom peace and comfort.<o:p></o:p></div>
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This afternoon, as I was running some errands in town, I prayed again for my mother. I prayed that the Lord hear and answer her prayers and give her peace and rest.<o:p></o:p></div>
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This evening, as I was doing my daily Bible reading in [Isaiah 51:1-Isaiah 54:3, I couldn’t read these verses without singing the choruses contained therein. <o:p></o:p></div>
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As music is a part of my very being, I couldn’t help myself … I sang what I heard echoed deep in my soul and my heart filled with Great Joy in Jesus my Lord. The songs in this portion of the book of Isaiah [Therefore the Redeemed of the Lord, Put on the Garment of Praise, and Our God Reigns] and one not found in these chapters, but is a theme that runs throughout the Bible [Arise and Sing, you Children of Zion] are still ringing in my ears, especially the last one. Let me share those words with you:<o:p></o:p></div>
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Arise and sing, you Children of Zion<o:p></o:p></div>
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For the Lord has delivered thee.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Arise and sing, you Children of Zion<o:p></o:p></div>
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For the Lord has delivered thee.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Open up your hearts and rejoice before Him<o:p></o:p></div>
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Open up your hearts and rejoice before Him<o:p></o:p></div>
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Open up your hearts and rejoice before Him<o:p></o:p></div>
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For the King is our God!<o:p></o:p></div>
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It was in the singing of these scriptures that I felt God impress upon me that it was time. Time to let Him turn my mourning into His precious joy.<o:p></o:p></div>
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After reading the words and letting them flow through my mind, through my soul, way down deep into my very heart of hearts – into the very throne room where Jesus reigns; how could I allow sorrow and mourning back in?<o:p></o:p></div>
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The passage in Psalms that I quoted above states that He, Jesus, turns our mourning into dancing. He has ripped off our “sackcloth” and clothed us in His joy and gladness. But, He can’t do these things if we tie His hands up in our grief. We have to “let Him in.” We have to allow Him to access to our grief, pain, and suffering so that He can share the burden and give us His peace (Ephesians 2:14) and rest (Deuteronomy 5:14, Matthew 11:28-30).<o:p></o:p></div>
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Have you ever thought about the words Matthew used in the passage I referenced above? I have. Let me share a few things I have learned from this setting of scripture:<o:p></o:p></div>
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</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2ggwVg-H7hzoqcemcc8rtN41GoxiJDmbT9KB2osrYw4I1CnrXqUqZMrgQ16j2EtSgfGf3MgmtuvnWdAnhmAS77VfaxOE4uZ86qOTq8gT3ofHNt5P9ptZUfSFCAoqEyh4Un21BIf7RGM5z/s1600/cattle+yoke.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="202" data-original-width="225" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2ggwVg-H7hzoqcemcc8rtN41GoxiJDmbT9KB2osrYw4I1CnrXqUqZMrgQ16j2EtSgfGf3MgmtuvnWdAnhmAS77VfaxOE4uZ86qOTq8gT3ofHNt5P9ptZUfSFCAoqEyh4Un21BIf7RGM5z/s200/cattle+yoke.jpg" width="200" /></a><i>Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.</i> Matthew 11:28-30, KJV.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Jesus is calling all those who labor under a heavy load or burden to ‘take up His yoke.’ So what is a yoke and how do you take it up? In agricultural cultures, before mechanized farm equipment was invented, farmers used teams of cattle, horses, or mules to pull their plow and other equipment used to prepare their fields for growing crops. They would place them in pairs, hooked together with a yoke. Jesus is asking us to share OUR load … OUR burden with Him.<o:p></o:p></div>
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When we walk with Jesus as our teacher and yoke mate, we have opened our hearts to hear from the Father all that He wants us to know. We also allow His joy to lift our burden and lighten our hearts and minds … thus our mourning can now be turned into dancing and He is able to clothe us in His Great Joy. Yoked together with Jesus we can …<o:p></o:p></div>
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Break forth into joy, oh my soul<o:p></o:p></div>
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Break forth into joy, oh my soul<o:p></o:p></div>
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In the presence of the Lord, there is joy forevermore<o:p></o:p></div>
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Break forth, break forth into joy, oh my soul!<o:p></o:p></div>
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AND<o:p></o:p></div>
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God has turned my mourning into dancing for me<o:p></o:p></div>
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God has taken my sackcloth<o:p></o:p></div>
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God has turned my mourning into dancing for me<o:p></o:p></div>
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I will ever praise His name.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Yes, as Solomon once said, <o:p></o:p></div>
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<i>“To every thing, there is a season and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance …” </i><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">Ecclesiastes 3:1-4, KJV</span></div>
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As David said in Psalm 30:12, NKJV, “<i><u>To the end that my glory may sing praise to You and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks to You forever.</u> “<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]-->So when your burden is heavy, take the time to mourn. But remember Jesus is waiting for you to take up His yoke and allow Him to help you to shoulder your load. He will lighten the burden and turn your mourning into dancing, filling your heart with His great Joy in the process!<o:p></o:p></div>
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Leigh Mortonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14175861533997962741noreply@blogger.com0Shelbyville, TN 37160, USA35.3826611 -86.4592091000000134.9665866 -87.107402600000015 35.7987356 -85.8110156tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6023392936527996226.post-85474449667384429302018-06-06T08:36:00.002-07:002018-06-06T08:36:59.361-07:00Wednesday ... To Laguna Pueblo and Beyond<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRhjuFJ39aaLhYF1oWcZbEbBM91EMvfRKcvKtANnTyGhqXAGe74NKb7In2Z3S00GiKE0FDzli38NCm3-WRbHdl7NvawBHMc2EfCL7-Mq4wYKG9pyONxIO7bqyLQJnuY7e3JOOX4E1ICMAY/s1600/LagunaPuebloSign.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRhjuFJ39aaLhYF1oWcZbEbBM91EMvfRKcvKtANnTyGhqXAGe74NKb7In2Z3S00GiKE0FDzli38NCm3-WRbHdl7NvawBHMc2EfCL7-Mq4wYKG9pyONxIO7bqyLQJnuY7e3JOOX4E1ICMAY/s320/LagunaPuebloSign.jpg" width="238" /></a></div>
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Tuesday night, after fueling the van and generator, I camped in the truck parking lot at the Acoma Pueblo truck stop, hoping to re-visit Laguna Pueblo this morning before actually starting today's adventure. When I reached the turnoff, however, I found that the overlook that Dave and I had stopped at on our last trip through this area was closed for maintenance and repairs. So gathering more pictures and information for another writing project was not possible at this time ... maybe on my return trip.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih8f2NrUDRvEJMc5_16u4H3xX2T_0dTwnsnZXZEG3I89hn1_AmoUyp5Gm-D-nCBDWMS9pqRVkIm3-iZWij0Otw5BjeQZ_0bVSaoN6RrOUcLN17hsSQ6_kvUez_KNUgiYlebfDfnpWqFFsB/s1600/Nature_Desert_Rocks_in_the_desert_033301_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1600" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih8f2NrUDRvEJMc5_16u4H3xX2T_0dTwnsnZXZEG3I89hn1_AmoUyp5Gm-D-nCBDWMS9pqRVkIm3-iZWij0Otw5BjeQZ_0bVSaoN6RrOUcLN17hsSQ6_kvUez_KNUgiYlebfDfnpWqFFsB/s320/Nature_Desert_Rocks_in_the_desert_033301_.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
So I pointed the van towards Tucumcari, New Mexico, and my next fuel stop. The scenery on today's leg of the trip was gorgeous. All of the colorful rock formations and desert low lands would have made beautiful pictures. Unfortunately, my phone was telling me that the memory was full and pictures could not be saved. The memory was <i>full</i>? I had put a 128 GB micro SD card in it just before I left, how could it be full? Sorry, no more pictures this trip. :-( I think I will ask KJ, my nephew, how to correct this memory issue.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEief97kbGZWLmtnm32M85msjyM5yZ4YiLmlYjDpFigU2G4PqSiVOK0PXjaNMd6UOG-qFi-R2w6xquj9d5FpCkRnzsO8kqQw1p_98TNQA-vVIoK0XQABoWKQchslcEbQpE5yfnuWgw5VwxrT/s1600/new-mexico-chaco-canyon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="485" data-original-width="730" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEief97kbGZWLmtnm32M85msjyM5yZ4YiLmlYjDpFigU2G4PqSiVOK0PXjaNMd6UOG-qFi-R2w6xquj9d5FpCkRnzsO8kqQw1p_98TNQA-vVIoK0XQABoWKQchslcEbQpE5yfnuWgw5VwxrT/s320/new-mexico-chaco-canyon.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I didn't get as far as I had planned on today's leg of the trip; the weather wouldn't allow it. The day started out sunny and bright, but by the time I had reached Tucumcari, the clouds had gathered, thick and dark ... almost as dark as just after sunset. Clouds were <i>OK</i>, they kept the van's engine cool, but the atmosphere nearly melancholy.<br />
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As I approached Amarillo, TX, I had been through one major downpour and the sky looked as if it were priming for another round. As it was nearly 4:00 pm local time I started looking for a place to spend the night. As I left Amarillo, another deluge began which took nearly all my visibility. Lasting about 20 minutes, it quit just as quickly as it had begun. And I thanked God profusely for the clearing skies.<br />
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Just then I came around a huge curve in the road. Off the left shoulder was an eighteen wheeler laying on its side. It looked as if it had been gently picked up and laid there... except for all of the emergency vehicles that were rapidly joining the scene. For the rest of the time I was on the road this day, I prayed for the driver of that truck and any passengers he may have had with him. I also thanked God for my safety since I had been on my journey. Our God is SOOOO good!<br />
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About 20 minutes after passing this truck wreck the sky was looking thick and gloomy once more. That's when I saw the sign for a 'picnic area' a mile up the road. It seems that the roadside rest areas that are common in California and Nevada aren't in other states. But throughout Texas and Oklahoma, they have Picnic Areas. These are roadside pull-offs that provided picnic tables and trash cans. No restrooms or drinking fountains.<br />
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At this particular picnic area several trucks that had pulled off and were settling in for the night. I parked the van and got out to speak to one of the drivers that was setting up orange cones around his rig.<br />
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"Sir, do you think anyone will mind if I park here overnight?" I asked.<br />
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"No, Ma'am," He replied. " that is just what we plan to do, too."<br />
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Saying thank you to him, I set about preparing to start the generator and settle in for the night.<br />
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Having tucked us in for the evening, I will leave you here in the picnic area east of Amarillo, TX until tomorrow.<br />
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Good Night!<br />
<br />Leigh Mortonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14175861533997962741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6023392936527996226.post-70893151837542757072018-05-23T09:26:00.002-07:002018-05-23T09:26:35.749-07:00Tuesday ... turning in circles in Flagstaff, AZ.The most notable thing about being in Flagstaff, AZ was that my GPS wouldn't let me leave. It kept me running in circles through the town for nearly 30 minutes ... that is until I realized that I needed to remove a location once I had arrived to get it to move on to the next destination. Live and learn.<br />
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I had planned to stop at Laguna Pueblo, but I was very tired, so I stopped just 15 minutes short of the goal and parked among the truckers at Acoma Pueblo.<br />
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Today, Wednesday 5/23/18, I am headed to Elk City, OK for tonight's camping. I will be gassing up in Tucumcari, NM as that is the halfway point for today. I will share a little more this evening or in the morning before I get back on the road.Leigh Mortonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14175861533997962741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6023392936527996226.post-51574954311346020772018-05-22T16:41:00.000-07:002018-05-22T16:41:36.661-07:00Grammy Leigh’s Amazing Adventure!<span style="background-color: #f5f6f5;">**Sorry, I couldn't find the pics that go with this segment. I will add them later.**</span><br /><div class="MsoNormal">
I, and my furry family, left Dayton, NV about 1:00 pm on Sunday afternoon. It was a mostly cloudy day and the road was about as busy as a lazy, spring afternoon should be. We made it to Tonopah, NV about 5:00 and gassed up the van and the gas cans for the generator and immediately left out for what was to be a blissful even camping beside the hot springs at Alkali Flat.</div>
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I said ‘supposed to be’ as it seems that the Flat, and the hot springs, had disappeared in a dust storm … LOL! Well, probably not! But my phone was dead and my directions were hidden deep inside its circuitry. I took ‘the road less traveled’ that headed toward the Flat for about 15 miles, no Hot Spring in sight. And as I was in uncharted territory, I headed back toward Hwy 95 South toward Las Vegas. We ‘camped’ in the truck parking lot, across from Denny’s, in Beatty, NV. And there ended our first day on this road trip.</div>
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I awoke Monday morning – very dark and VERY early – to my mattress laying flat against the platform. It seems that my three-legged cat, Hop-Along Catsity – or Hop for short, had popped it once again. So much for a NEW Airbed … it would have to be replaced while I was in Las Vegas later in the day.</div>
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The day ahead looked gray and cloudy – at least the weather did. But the open road beckoned me on, so we mounted up and headed out. First stop, Fort Armargosa and coffee. It was a brief stop and the coffee was tasty. Now, onward ho!</div>
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I arrived in Las Vegas about 9:00 am, seeking a place to buy a ‘non-air’ mattress. I stopped at a mattress store and told the salesman what I was looking for and that my funds were very limited. He gave me an AWESOME deal on the mattress, just $2 over cost – over $400 savings. Praise God! I made a couple of other stops then met my cousin, Mary Morton Keum, at a local restaurant for dinner. I had planned to treat her, but God had a different plan – she bought me dinner. We talked for a good long while over our plates of food. I would have loved to spend more time chatting, but the open road was calling me on and the shadows were quickly turning into darkness in the skies above. So we hugged and said our goodbyes – wished I had taken some pictures. Oh well, next time. And there will be a next time as she gave me an open invitation to stop and park a while at her place in the future.</div>
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We traveled on down Hwy 93 to Boulder City and the Hoover Dam Lodge Overflow for our second night of camping. This ‘campground’ was also a truck parking lot, just across the street from … you guessed it, Hoover Dam Lodge. Well, it is now nearly 7:00 am, and I still need to have breakfast and break camp, so I will close …</div>
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It’s time to be … ‘on the road again. I just can’t wait to be on the road again …’ more of this adventure to come in the days ahead!</div>
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Leigh Mortonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14175861533997962741noreply@blogger.com0