We have often heard the term “think outside the box”.  But when it comes to dealing with God, do we “think outside the box”, or do we put Him in a box?  We read in Genesis 1:26-28 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
  So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
  And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.
    It seems clear to me that God did not put mankind in a box, so to speak, when He gave man dominion over all the earth.  God fellowshipped with Adam each day, and it would be interesting to know what all they talked about.  Think about it, Adam was the ruler over all the earth.  And when God created Eve for his help-mate, then the two of them ruled together. The only rule they had was to leave the tree of knowledge of good and evil alone.  But of course, they didn’t, and that first act of disobedience cost Adam and Eve their place in the Garden of Eden.  And it’s never been like it was in the beginning ever again.
    Even though, thousands of years later, Christ Jesus redeemed mankind from sin, fellowship with God was forever changed by man’s disobedience.  Not from God’s point of view, mind you, but from man’s point of view.   I’m sure Adam never had to wonder if God loved him, or where his next meal would come from.  God spoke to him every day, and don’t you know, there were no misunderstandings between them.  Perfect communion, perfect fellowship, perfect understanding.  Why can’t it be that way today?  Perhaps you can tell me?  Didn’t Christ Jesus destroy the veil between God and man?  Yes, He did.  Then what’s the problem? 
    The problem isn’t with the redemption, Christ Jesus did it perfectly; the problem is man’s perception of what He did for us.  Plain and simple,.  For those who receive the sacrifice Christ Jesus made on the cross, He restores them to the place of fellowship with the heavenly Father like Adam enjoyed before sin.  Their full authority and dominion over all the earth is restored unbroken.  They can ask what they will of the Father, and it will be given them, just like in the beginning……EXCEPT…you might say.  Except WHAT?  What did Jesus not redeem us from?  Why are we trying to put God in a box and limit what He redeemed us from?  Did He not redeem us from the curse?  Did He not redeem us from eternal death?  Did He not redeem us from every disease?  Did He not redeem us from our sins?  Yes to all.  Yet, the way we act, we have no confidence whatsoever in our redemption.  We pray completely unlearned prayers, saying for example, Lord, forgive my sins if it’s Your will.  Heal me from sickness if it’s Your will,  Lord, provide my daily bread if it’s Your will.  How we’ve put God in a box, and a very tiny one at that, by having not only so little knowledge of His will (don’t we ever read the Bible?), and so little trust in His integrity (Has He ever lied to you?).
    The reason we suffer so from sickness, from worry, and sadness, is that we have put God in a box, and made Him of not much consequence.  Imagine how it must hurt His heart, knowing how very much He loves us, and how little trust we have in His mercy, and how little trust we have in His salvation and deliverance from all that would harm us.  Imagine, if you will, a world where God is permitted to live outside the tiny box we put Him in, where He can be God once again, like He was in Adam’s day before sin ever occurred, and we can be His children living in fullness of joy.  Imagine your life without consciousness of guilt and sin, without sickness or fear or worry.  Imagine living life outside the box you have created for yourself, in the fullness of God’s love.
    You can have that life.  He’s a big God, and He has a big life planned for you, way better than you could ever imagine!  But as long as you keep God in a box, you’ll always be bigger than He is, He will always be limited in what He can do for you, and you’ll always be trying to deliver yourself from your troubles, your sins, and your sicknesses.  Do yourself a favor, start thinking “outside the box”.

   The LORD has given many gifts to the Body of Christ to enable His church to grow.  Some people put so much emphasis on the gifts that they forget all about the Giver of the gifts.  We are told what the spiritual gifts are, according to 1 Corinthians 12:4-10 Continue Reading »

   We often hear the term “walking by faith”, but how can it be described to someone who isn’t doing so?  Is there a simple way that doesn’t step on any religious toes?  Here’s an example many people can understand, it’s as simple as going to Wal-Mart to shop.  All their stores I’ve gone to have electric doors that open when you walk up to them.  Now, I’m a pretty fast walker, and many times I walk toward that door, and it hasn’t opened until my nose almost touches it.  But I know it WILL open, so I don’t break stride.  I have no doubt that door will open in time for me to go through it without me having to stop and wait for it to open.  That’s a literal “walking by faith” example.  Continue Reading »

    Everything around us changes continually, the sky and the clouds, the seasons, and even nations change.  We can see how society has changed from just a hundred years ago, for example, the moral values people hold, how people dress differently, how our mode of transportation has changed.  We have gone from looking at the moon to actually going there in the span of a hundred years.  A lot has changed, hasn’t it? Continue Reading »

   Have you ever wondered why you are alive at this particular time in history, and what your purpose is for being here?  What if I told you that you are here for a purpose and your birth was not a surprise to God? Continue Reading »

   With yesterday being Thanksgiving Day, many were counting their blessings and giving thanks unto God for all He has done and is doing for us.  Hopefully that thankfulness will extend throughout each and every day.  Have you given much thought to WHY you enjoy those blessings? Continue Reading »

   In August 2008 the Lord gave me a message for the body of Christ, which I distributed.  Today He told me to dig it out and teach on it again because nobody paid any attention to it.  The time of not paying attention is over, He said, for changes are coming, and for some they will be very hard changes.  But for those who listen, it will not be a problem for them.  I find in the Bible where Jesus said, verily, verily, or otherwise repeating himself, it meant PAY ATTENTION!!  So again, here’s what He said, and I’ll teach further from there. Continue Reading »

   During this month of November we celebrate Thanksgiving here in the United States.  It’s a custom handed down to us from the first Pilgrims who settled America.  But what about the rest of the year, is that the only day we are thankful to God for the grace given us, and maybe not even on that one single day?
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   This morning awaking from a dream, I realized it was to be the subject of my writing today.  We live as we receive.  Think about that for a moment.  If you have nothing but the clothes on your back, what do you think about?  What will I eat, what will I drink, where will I stay?  But if you have plenty, then what do you think about?  Well, let’s see; how can I get more?  And so it goes, we live as we receive. Continue Reading »

   We hear how God is Almighty, Holy, and very patient, but to me His most outstanding quality is MERCY.  When you really think about it, none of us are good, not a single one of us, nor are we very patient, either.  For the most part, people are selfish, spoiled brats, who love nothing more than having their own way, no matter what the cost is to others.  All we have to do is look in the news, and we can readily see how selfish people really are.  People exploit others in order to gain advantage over them, or take their money, natural resources, goods or lands, and I notice the one thing that is always missing is MERCY. Continue Reading »