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Pastor John,
I was talking to Jesus a moment ago and I heard this from the Spirit, I want to share it:
“You don’t decide the truth; you experience it.”
And I believe that it is that way with everything that is true in this world.
Jerry
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That is true, Jerry. The truth of God is a living being, His Son Jesus Christ. We do not “decide” him; rather, he comes to us (if he so chooses) so that we can believe him and be saved.
Pastor John
Hi Pastor John,
I was driving to work this morning singing along to the song about “the sea of God’s forgetfulness”. What a good song! I love that song, but most of all I love to think about the sea of God’s forgetfulness. It’s wonderful! And makes me feel deeply thankful. But it made me wonder where in the Bible this is talked about. I did a search and other than Micah 7:19, there doesn’t seem to be a place where it is talked about. Do you know where the Bible verse is?
Jenny
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Hi Jenny.
As you have learned, the song’s wonderful phrase, “in the sea of God’s forgetfulness” isn’t directly from the Bible. But there are a number of verses which speak of God forever removing our sins from us, such as these:
Psalm 103:12:
“As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.”
Isaiah 43:25:
“I, even I, am He that blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and will not remember your sins.”
So, let’s just keep singing that song! I agree with you, that it is a good one.
Pastor John
Hi Pastor John!
Boy, this week has been so good and so full of Jesus! I have had one touch after another. I have been writing them down but I had to share this one with you.
I was praying for some people today who have been sick. I was sending a few of those texts, and I asked Jesus for something special for one of them. Right away, the Spirit said, “Dig in a little deeper.”
This is what Jesus showed me after that.
When children are sick, tired, or not feeling themselves, they cling to their caregiver, Mom, Dad, Grandparents, or whomever they depend on for caring for them. Jesus is our caregiver. He has given us everything we need, if we will just pay attention. When we feel down in our spirit, or feel bad, that is when we need to cling to Jesus. That is when we need to cry out to the one who takes care of us.
I love the shadows of Heavenly things Jesus reveals! It’s just like watching the ants, which Solomon recommended we do.
It really does make it very exciting to see what He will show us next.
Beth
Hi Pastor John,
Why would we need healing leaves in this “New City” . . . Would we need to be healed of something, or, is it to sustain eternal Life?
“… through which flows a river of life, bordered on each side with trees whose very leaves heal (Rev. 22:1-2).”
The Flesh, the Spirit and the City
Thanks,
Billy
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I don’t know, Billy. I have never thought about that before. It seems illogical, doesn’t it, that we would need healing leaves after we have received glorified bodies that do not get sick or die? There is, of course, a good reason flier those leaves, but we cannot understand it yet. Let’s just live so that we will be granted a right to be there!
Pastor John
Cara and Jared were asking about the Old Testament course online. We went to http://www.goingtojesus.com/otcourse.html to see how to download lessons and so on.
I don’t know how many people have actually looked at that online, but Damien has done a wonderful job of organizing and presenting that information. It made me want to do the Old Testament again!
I’m thankful for the hard-working and talented people God has in our lives. Cara and Jared were very impressed, and made them want to start the class.
Gary
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Hey Pastor John,
I have been reading through and reviewing the stories in Genesis, and tonight I came across something I have a question about.
In Genesis 7:2 it says, “Take from all the clean beasts of the field, take to you by sevens, the male and his mate, and from the beasts that are not clean, two, the male and his mate.” I have always read that to mean take seven clean animals and two unclean animals. But when I read Gen. 7:8, “Of the clean beasts of the field, and the beasts that are not clean, and the flying creatures, and everything that creeps on the ground, two by two, they came to Noah in the ark, male and female, as God commanded Noah,” it struck me that the clean animals couldn’t go on board two-by-two if there was an odd number (seven)!!
Was God commanding Noah to take seven clean animals and two unclean animals? Or was He saying take seven pairs, fourteen total of the clean animals?
Thanks,
Amy F.
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Hi Amy.
At first, it does seem that there must have been seven pairs; otherwise, God might be accused of laying the groundwork for some serious conflicts among the animals when mating season rolled around!
As often is the case, however, the apparent problem is resolved later in the story, for in Genesis 8:20, we are told that after the Flood, “Noah built an altar to the Lord, and he took of every clean beast, and of every clean fowl, and offered burnt offerings on the altar.”
So, the seventh clean animal was for sacrificing to God after the Flood was over, not for mating with another of its kind.
Hope that clears the air for you.
Your servant in Christ,
Pastor John
Hi Pastor John!
I was sitting here thinking about the beach trip. I had so much fun. I have never played in the Ocean until then. I loved the bike rides and playing with the little ones in the sand.
Those were very sweet experiences but I am so thankful that they are not what I will cherish. Sitting with Lyn, Natalie and Jammie, singing and feeling the spirit, that is what I will remember and cherish the most. The feeling of thankfulness was so strong that night, all I could do was sob. It was everything I love. I am thankful for Jesus making that most important to me.
I am thankful for my new heart and being able to sob with my sisters because I love what Jesus has done and so do they.
I love our life. 
Beth
Dear Bro. John,
I loved Jenny’s email, “Time to go to work (1)”. As I read it, I could not help but think of the verses from Ecclesiastes 3:1-8:
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;
A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.”
All our “times” really belong to Jesus. How sweet to hear his voice directing us through these times in our life. How wonderful to know just how much he cares for us. And every time we hear his voice, it not only blesses the one hearing from Jesus, but all those who hear the sweet testimony of him such as Jenny shared with us today. I loved it. There is nothing like hearing from him.
And just as a testimony of Jesus should do, Jenny’s experience made my heart yearn to hear him speak more, too. So sweet! Thanks for sending this.
Just makes me want to get still, away from all the static of the world, and listen for him.
Sandy
Hey Pastor John,
I want to tell about something sweet that Jesus said to me going in to work the other morning. I was feeling sad about several things – I felt like things were getting on top of me and I had a good cry in the car on the way to work. As I started to walk into work I was just about to start thinking I need to stop crying (but I had not yet had the thought), and Jesus spoke, so gently and said to the effect of, “Now it’s time to dry your eyes and go on in to work”. I wish I could explain how sweet it was to hear him tell me that.
I keep telling him I want to hear him speak more, and I want to listen, and obey always – in the small things and in the big things. I want him to be pleased with me.
Just wanted to tell before things get busy with my folks!
Goodnight!
Jenny
John,
I was just reading over the notes that I took this morning. There were so many good things said! I love that when I hear you say that the Lord has given you something, I want to lean in closer and listen carefully. Jesus has put that in my heart, and I’m so thankful for that.
I love what you said about God knew the whole thing from the beginning! He knows it all. We don’t even know what we’ll do this afternoon, but he knows everything. You said, “Fear is not in the Sabbath. Trust God. He has designed it and rest in Him. Let your heart not be troubled.” God has really changed that in me and continues to! There are so many things that need to get worked out in my future, but I really can’t worry. It seems so big that I HAVE to give it to Him. That goes along with the testimony I had the other day. Jesus, I need you as my CPA, my mortgage broker, my financial advisor, my mediator… 🙂
Another part I loved was what you said about “feeling the law.” Now that it’s written on our hearts, we have to go by our feelings, or our moral compass that Token was talking about. I’m so thankful for my feelings.
It was so encouraging to feel how big God is. Even if you don’t understand it, you can thank Him for it. Earl said, “God is setting up something up for a wonderful testimony!”
I also loved what you said about finding yourself in the truth. If you’re content and happy and have “found yourself,” what could pull you away? I’m so thankful that I am still here!
As I sit here looking at my pages of notes, I’m thinking about how rich we are! Thank you, Jesus!
Carrie
Hi Pastor John!
I felt like Jesus let me know that there are places in this walk with him that are closer than others and that we have the choice to stay mediocre (best word I can think of) or reach for a higher place with him. I felt like Jesus was asking me how far I wanted to go.
Does that sound right? Do we have a choice like that with Jesus?
If that’s true, I don’t want to get hung up on some human thing that keeps me from a closer relationship with Jesus. I want to get as close as I can get.
Beth
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Hi Beth.
Yes, that is true.
Every one of God’s children chooses, at some point, whether or not to pay the price to continue to grow in the knowledge of God.
Let’s be wise, and choose to grow!
Pastor John
