I did not attend the early morning fireplace chat, today, Thursday.  I had some things on my heart that I wanted to get still about, and talk to Jesus.

I did.  And many of the things I FELT and the prayers that I prayed were echoed by Allison when she returned home, aglow from the out-pouring at this morning’s gathering.  Good to know that I was in the same “PLACE”, although not physically in the same place with you all.  It felt good.

I was blessed by knowing that I was in one accord with others in the body while not present with them.  At least a few of the same topics were on my heart in my communion with the Lord.  

Brad

Pastor John,

You have been saying some great things on our Old Testament* cds this week.  You just said that there was a man who said to your father, “Even if I saw my own name written down in the Bible saying I was gonna get the holy Ghost and be saved, I wouldn’t believe it.   I would figure that the Bible was talking about someone else with my name.  But when Jesus said, ‘Whosoever will’ … I know I have to be in that group!” (paraphrased)

I love it because it’s so true!  Every time I hear “whosoever will”, I get happy!  We don’t have to believe it about ourselves, we just have to believe Jesus! 

Oh, and last week, you said that the first thing Jesus does with a heart is give it hope, and encourage it!  Amen!  I can testify to that!  That is the first thing Jesus did for me!

Beth

*  Old Testament Course (Pt. 1) – Going to Jesus.com

Pastor John,

 I feel so much faith after listening to my Ruth reading for the Old Testament class*.  Ruth’s husband died, which left her with Naomi, and then she found Boaz, and married him, and that lineage led to Jesus.  God has it all planned and the pieces will fall into place for our lives, too, at just the right timing.  We just need to love Him, and stay close to Him, to reap those blessings when the timing comes.

Anna

*  Old Testament Course (Pt. 1) – Going to Jesus.com

Hi Pastor John,

I just wanted to share some thoughts with you about last Sunday’s meeting.  There are absolutely no words to adequately express how I felt during that meeting! Out of this world, heavenly, love bombed, vulnerable, lifting of burdens, free, at peace, humbling, and happy; to name a few. It felt that God designed and tailored that meeting perfectly just for me! Jesus really does give us exactly what we need with His perfect timing! His love is so overwhelming that we can’t even imagine it within our own minds.  I’m so thankful for his loving kindness toward me, and I can truly say that “goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life!”

Every meeting seems to get better.  I thought my last meeting in February was my best.  Now, I believe this last one trumps even that!  Every meeting is different, and I love all of them. It’s kind of like what you said about certain saints that you’ve met over the years.  You said, “That’s my favorite one!”, but then someone else comes along and you say, “Now, that’s my favorite!” But you realize that they’re all your favorites.  It’s kind of like the meetings.  They’re all my favorites.

I absolutely loved your explanation of the “meeting place.”  It’s not a carnal construct like a physical location or place.  When Jesus prayed to the Father, He asked for his disciples to be with Jesus where He’s at.

John 17:24 “Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.”

You said that that prayer wasn’t for his disciples to go to heaven, but where Jesus was at presently, in the Spirit. Because Jesus hasn’t ascended up to heaven yet, his prayer was for them to be in that place where He was.  That’s our meeting place with Jesus.  Unified in spirit, having fellowship with the saints, being led by his spirit is our meeting place.  Also, being of the same mind, judgement, heart, and love for one another in Christ.  His Spirit, you said, allows us to call on the Lord and serve Him with one accord.

I’m so thankful for the Family of God!  I really enjoyed listening, a couple of weeks ago, to Tom’s song, “The Family of God.”  One line says, “when one has a heartache, we all share in the tears, and rejoice in each victory.” Because we’re family, I felt comfortable enough to become vulnerable and share my testimony of pain, and the happiness that followed.  In a way, it was very therapeutic for me with Jesus being my therapist! Thank God He has taken that pain in my heart away and replaced it with happiness. He gave me an outlet of dancing, from my heart, in front of my family, and He gave me the opportunity for my family to get a small window into my heart.  I wanted to share those memories because they touched my heart,  and I knew it would touch others as well.  

I really enjoyed what you said about happiness.  You said, “Don’t be settled on being happy because He’s got something better in mind for you.” That’s so very comforting to know that promise.  More happiness every day, yay!  And then you said that manna gets old.  There’s new manna tomorrow!  I don’t know exactly what’s in store for me next, but I know He gives us the desires of our hearts.  All we have to do is be in His will and ask sincerely!  I don’t want to pitch that tent of happiness just yet, because I know there’s more blessings coming my way!

Love, In Christ,

David

I know that Jerry always appreciates feed-back from his students, so I am sharing some with my teacher!

You and this Old Testament course* have really opened my mind to the fact that what once seemed impossible, may be possible after all!

For example, let’s say “spontaneous human combustion.”  Before this class, I would have never considered this possible, but after the way my brain feels from this week’s geography, I am definitely open to the possibility!

Just kidding! I love your Old Testament course, and I love you!
And my brain hurts!

Beth

*  Old Testament Course (Pt. 1) – Going to Jesus.com

Good Morning, Pastor John, 

While listening to some old meetings this morning I started praying for God to merciful to my parents.  I prayed “dear God please be merciful to my parents I don’t want to think about their eternal torment”.  Before I could pray another word, the holy Ghost answered, “then don’t think about it, think about how YOU don’t want to go there”.  That was the end of it.  I felt I knew better than to continue with that thought process and start praying for something that was not already decided.

I just wanted to share!

Love,

Mark 

===========

Hi, Mark.

The natural feelings we have for loved ones and others we have known and been close to can make us want to pray for them, even after they are gone, that they will be blessed.  It was such natural love which produced such Christian traditions as burning candles for the dead and which inspired the Catholic doctrine of Purgatory.

But as you said, their judgment has already been decided.  It is good that you heard from Jesus concerning that important point.  His voice makes all the difference for us and determines whether we serve God after our own desire and opinion or serve Him according to His will.

Thank you for writing.

Pastor John

Good morning Pastor John!

I have had many questions lately, but every time I started an email with the question the holy Ghost inside me wouldn’t let me finish.  Like, “should I arm myself, start hoarding supplies”, etc. The way most people here are doing, for the coming storm.  The answer is no.  Trust God, submit to whoever He puts in charge of you. 

Since I have been reading the gospel tracts* I am getting answers to them.  This morning the holy Ghost let me know WHY He didn’t want me asking: I must do my work first.  The answers are readily available for all if I (we) do OUR work.  I am sure I will have questions not answered in the tracts or bible study but I have to do my work first.

I just wanted to share what I learned so far today.

Also, the Random Thought for the Day was so good!  I never thought about sin that way, but I do see the truth of it.  The holy Ghost says don’t go there, and if you do, trouble is just ahead.  Good thoughts to keep close!

Thank you!

Love you all!
Mark

*  Going to Jesus.com Tracts – How I Received The Holy Ghost

** Going to Jesus.com – The Road To Salvation

Hello Pastor John,

After hearing a couple of the gospel tracts being read*, the holy Ghost prodded me as to why I hadn’t read them all before now.  So, I have been spending much of my time reading and listening to them the last couple of days.  This has replaced listening to the CDs, which were also a blessing to me.   But the tracts are even more of a lesson.   I find myself listening; sometimes the same tract a few times, over and over, thru the day.  I find myself more productive, more content, and happier every day.  It is hard to see yourself as who you really are until God’s Spirit shows you.  I thought I was doing all I could.   I wasn’t even scratching the surface!  I pray He will continue to show me what I need, and I will listen and do it.

Thank you!
Love you all!
Mark

*  https://goingtojesus.com/gtj_tracts.html

I wonder how many things in this life have “curled up and died,” when they have tried to bite God’s children, like the poisonous snake that bit brother Frank years ago.

I would imagine not a thing has broken through God’s protective hedge that He didn’t ordain.

Jerry

Good Morning Pastor John!

I feel like I get blessings every day!  The last couple of days have been my happiest so far.  Listening to the CDs, I heard you talking about killing the old man daily.   I had always thought he was dead the moment a person received the holy Ghost.  That wrong belief left an opening for confused feelings and thoughts.  Now that my eyes are open, I find myself happy just doing daily tasks!  A new kind of happy!  I am sure I have heard that message before, but for some reason, I never got it until the last few days.  Maybe it’s because I am dedicating myself to listening to God’s word while doing tasks.  Instead of making a special time to listen, I now just put the CDs in when I am home and run them almost all day.

I am adopting the attitude of not being anxious over anything as well.  No more fretting “what if”.  When that thought arrives, I attack it with “God will give me what I need!”  It doesn’t stay long after that.  I am sleeping better since.  Instead of falling asleep worrying about this or that, I fall asleep in wonder of what God will do next!

I thank God for loving me!

Love,

Mark