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Showing posts with label crucial. Show all posts

Thursday, November 25

All Things Thanks-giving

God's Holy written Word tells us in Psalm 100:4,
"Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise: be thankful unto Him, and bless His Name (Psalm 100:4)."
When is a good time for all of us to turn our focus toward Psalm 100:4 and "thanksgiving"?  A better question might be, "Is there ever NOT a good time for 'thanksgiving' or being thank-full?"  "No" is the simple answer.  But the truth is, all the full-ness of "thankgiving" is, and will always be, in the unfolding of The Lord God through Christ Jesus.  All the thank-full-ness is IN Him and comes by The Lord's bringing us from one step to another.  Thank-fully, in our many years of seeking Him and growing, diligently seeking Him and growing more IN Him, and continuing to diligently seek Him to grow, He has brought us from one level of faith to another, to come to know thanks as our treasured inheritance.  This is the reason we post this "All Things Thanks-giving".  May The Lord take us all INto His treasures... our inheritance.
In our experience of daily seeking The Lord, because He is our joy and greatest desire, when we begin and live every day being thank-full to The Lord God for being Who He IS, He develops our appetite, longing desire, for knowing Him, Himself.  Then, we gradually get to know from Him exactly what we are here to do "with Him", and also doing it. It is past time that we get what God so richly deposited into our lives out of us and into the hands, hearts, and lives of those who need it.
In order to be clear about this crucially important life matter, we would like to share with you more about how The Holy Spirit began illuminating Psalm 100:4 to us.  The Holy Spirit brought us from, first, giving us a glimpse of faith, to, next, give us assurance of the faith, and ultimately to give us virtues of faith to remain in us.  All things faith, the foundation of thanks-giving, began shortly after Keith had asked The Lord God to lead him IN-to oneness with Him as Jesus prayed in the garden before His arrest. The secret to our joining in "one-ness" with our Father, Lord Jesus Christ, and Holy Spirit, and receiving the privilege of working with The Godhead to fulfill His dream for our lives, is thanks-giving! Being thank-full to Him for Who He IS --The LORD of all lords, King of all kings, our Savior, Source, Redeemer, Lover of our soul, Counselor, Comforter, Way-maker, and most high GOD and Creator of the universe-- changed our lives like nobody and nothing else could! He IS all-mighty and The Only Wise God and King, and we must diligently seek Him for BEING HIM!  To share further, as you will hear or read in the following messages, we must "reach".  We must develop our apetite, diligently and daily. ...
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Obtaining the revelation of Who God is compels us to offer up pure thanks TO Him for Who He is first, and then FOR all the things that He has done, or can do, for us. That level of boundless THANKS comes only by seeking God with all diligence, hearing His plan and assignment for us, and working with Him to fully fill His passions in the earth. "... give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: ... (2 Peter 1:10-11)." "But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him (Hebrews 11:6)."
What is His reward to us for diligently seeking Him? It is Him! It is our being permitted, as Jesus prayed, to enter into God Himself, where we get to see what He sees and hear what He hears. When we become "one" with God, through our diligence in seeking Him, there is a paradigm shift that occurs in our heart. With that shift, we are shown things that are so awesome that our heart fills up with indescribable joy! It is that JOY that compels us to offer up TRUE THANKS, all-consuming GRATITUDE, so much so that we cannot contain it! This transformation results in what is best known as "being born again," being able to see through His eyes His passionate love for His children and His reason for creating all things the way He has.


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We invite you to enjoy TWELVE messages in our 1st-ever publication, "Letters From The Front" and...
"Watch your life take on new meaning as we uncover God's Word on real-life matters...
"Unveiling the Secrets the devil DOESN'T want us to FIND---- as we look 'Between The Lines'."

The book  LETTERS FROM THE FRONT is the special collection of keys to defeating hindrances that have kept many of God's servants from walking with the confidence and authority that Jesus Christ died to provide for us! Twelve life-changing chapters, each hyper-linked to our 1st-ever Audio Book podcast (or blog), include:


;
Sin Makes Ya Stewpit!   (read blog)
The Cart's Before the Horse
The Crisis of Eroding Integrity   (read blog)
The Fruit's on the End of the Limb
Too Quick to Compromise   (read blog)
The Rarest of All Breeds!
Please...Stop Stinkin'   (read blog)
Three Keys to God-Pleasing Faith
Let It Go   (read blog)
Understanding the Fear of The Lord
Into the Secret Place   (read blog)
Give to Give

 To help you further your fight to victory through the battles that confront every one of us in these turbulent times we live in, get your copy of our book, " LETTERS FROM THE FRONT." In this collection of 12 letters written from the front lines of battle fought in the spiritual, natural, and theater of the mind, Keith's Scripture messages will build your faith and help you reach God's full potential for your life.  "LETTERS FROM THE FRONT" ...


God's Holy written Word tells us in Psalm 100:4,
"Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise: be thankful unto Him, and bless His name (Psalm 100:4)."

From all of us in the Toward The Mark family working together to help others and one another, we pray that the Holy Spirit will settle over you this Thanks-giving with healing and provision where it is needed, and with joy unspeakable, full of His Glory! Thank you for hearing our heart, and this "secret" God has graciously given us!
We pray God uses this blog of podcast messages to fan the flame in your heart to passionately pursue God, His wonder-full Word and Ways, and His Plan and Purpose for you in this life. We are eternally grateful for our loving Toward The Mark Family of sponsors who make this message, and all of our resources, possible by their prayer and monthly financial support! If you have questions about our work and our mission, or if you would like to share a testimony or prayer request with us, we look forward to hearing from you.

* Toward The Mark Inc. was established in 1980 and is recognized as a 501c3 charitable organization. Your financial gifts are helpful, appreciated, and tax-deductible. Stay tuned for future blogs and updates for more on how The Lord is using and expanding TTM's reach. We look forward to connecting again with you, soon.
Keep Pressin'IN!
Watch what we find as we look BetweenTheLines of The Gospel Jesus Christ preached. #RendezvousWithTheHolySpiritInTheWrittenWordOfGod
For more on the topics of "Letters From The Front", and many others, see "Toward The Mark website ," now celebrating 40 Years of serving to bridge the gap between God and His beloved children.   

"The Lord gave the word: great was the company of those that published it (Psalm 68:11)."
And remember... LIVE WELL, LOVE MUCH, LAUGH OFTEN!
And, now more than ever, no matter what Keep PRESSIN' IN!
We pray God uses this blog of podcast messages, and all of our resources, to fan the flame in your heart for The Lord God, His wonder-full Word and Ways, and His Plan and Purpose for you in this life. We are eternally grateful for our loving Toward The Mark Family of sponsors who make this blog, and all of our resources, possible by their faithful prayer and monthly financial support! If you have questions about our work and mission, or you would like to share a testimony or prayer request with us, or if you would like to place a special order for any of our books, CDs, or other audio/printed resources, we look forward to hearing from you. Please  e-mail us or feel free to write a letter and mail it to TOWARD THE MARK, P.O. Box 1152, Yorktown, VA 23692-1152.
With thanks-giving we lift you to The Lord in our prayers, hopeful that you have determined to be thank-filled when you reflect back on "All Things Thanks-giving". We appreciate you taking part in our work here and sharing with loved ones and friends this Pressin'IN *TowardTheMark* Blog!
Your servants in Christ Jesus, with love, appreciation, and prayers for God's peace,
Take me back to the top of this post.


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To Show GOD BIG in a World that Sees Him small… 

sums up the reason Keith stepped out in faith to focus on reaching the lost and strengthening believers everywhere, through Toward The Mark, Inc.  Keith and Brenda's prayer is that you will be encouraged and edified by the Secrets from God's Word that Keith recounts in our written and recorded products.


We couldn't do this without the help of our friends!
This blog message, along with the complete collection of original podcasts, music, blogs, books, CDs, and other Bible-based resources of Toward The Mark, Inc. is made possible by the faithful prayer and financial support of the TTM Sponsorship Family. We'd like to invite you to come on-board, to become a part of the TTM Family as well, by becoming a monthly financial partner. Your support will go toward fulfilling our God-given calling to help provide effective, contemporary outreach tools that are available to everyone, the churched and un-churched alike, all who desire to know more of the love, truth, and salvation of Jesus Christ. We invite you to partner with us, as we, "press Toward The Mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 3:14)

We INVITE You... 
follow and share more Toward The Mark resources made available to help build you up in your faith in God's Word, His Will, and His Ways: 

Watch our newest videos on our NEW channels withOUT sensorship at:
~  "The Shealys & Toward The Mark Channel" on Rumble 
~  "KeithAndBrendaLee Shealy & Toward The Mark's Channel" on Brighteon 
...with much more set to come!   #RendezvousWithTheHolySpiritInTheWrittenWordOfGod 
~  "Keith Shealy's Toward The Mark" on Facebook 
 

~   "TTM Singing Sergeant" on Twitter 

~   "KeithAndBrendaLee Shealy PODCASTS" at BetweenTheLinesTTM podcast channel.
Special Featured Podcast... "I was overwhelmed by the enormity of the sacrifice that Jesus made for us!"

 

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Thank you in advance for sowing your financial seed into the fertile soil of this ministry!
We pray God bless you with a 100-fold return on your gift of generosity!


We INVITE YOU...
see and hear, also follow and share, for more from TowardTheMark:

 "Year of Opportunity" website;  
 "KeithAndBrenda BetweenTheLines Podcast" on TTM's Libsyn channel;  
 "Keith and BrendaLee Shealy's Videos" on the TTM Channel;  
 "TTMSingingSgt" on Twitter.




























































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Wednesday, September 14

Who will be caught up to be with Jesus when He returns?

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    Perhaps one of the most startling and painful things that I have experienced in my life took place at pre-season football camp in college. It wasn't something that occurred during conditioning in the weight room, during practice on the field, or even during a game. It was what happened at 4:00 AM each morning during "four-a-day practices".

           Each morning the members of the coaching staff would position themselves up and down each hall of the athletic dorm. Just as their synchronized watches hit 4:00 AM, each of them began blowing those obnoxiously loud and ear-piercing boat horns or, as I call them, "heart attack" horns. And, at the same time, they would scream at the top of their lungs, "Wake up! Wake up!"

           Aside from my time working on the water front at a marina during high school, I had never heard so much violent profanity coming out of the mouths of so many guys at one time, as when in response to those horns being blown! To this day, I can't find words that can even remotely begin to relay how excruciating the pain, and how agonizingly disorienting it was! You see, enduring four hard practices during each day of training camp was so fatiguing that our being woken up that way was literally a shock to our system. Each morning, those who fought their way out of bed and into the locker room were provided with another opportunity to make it onto the team roster. Those guys who didn't fight their way out of bed, and, instead, ignored the wake-up call and went back to sleep, were disqualified and sent off to clean out their lockers and leave camp - no if's, ands, or buts about it!

           The crucial importance of answering the wake-up call, and staying awake, had everything to do with either making the team or being disqualified from pursuing a spot on the team. On a side note, the guys who took the initiative to bring their own alarm clock to use in getting up on their own, they were the guys who beat everyone else to the locker room for practice, and always grabbed the coaches attention first. Interestingly, this same principal applies to our Christian walk of faith as well.

           In 1979, through a series of events orchestrated by God, I came in off the road from doing music outreach concerts. That's when I focused my life on reaching out to people and preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ. There was no question in my mind that God was calling me to use my gifts, talents, and everything else I had to give, to share the Gospel that Jesus Christ preached, so that those who needed and wanted Him would have an opportunity to know Him and to receive Him into their hearts and lives. I can remember, just like it was yesterday, I asked Jesus if He would anoint my life, and raise me up to be used in His work, to watch out for, pray over, and awaken those who have been lulled to sleep by the venomous cares of this world.

           From the moment I knew in my heart that God was calling me to start this work, I began praying two foundational prayers. The first was asking God if He would prepare, equip and strategically position me for the privilege of working with Him, to lead His beloved children into His loving and waiting arms. My second prayer was asking for God to clear the way for me, and now Brenda and I together, to play a substantial role in His final harvest of souls. This was my passion then, in 1979, and it has grown even greater every year since then. My closing in prayer had always been, and even is today, "Father, I ask for Your wisdom to obtain Your strategy so that we can reap an abundant harvest of souls, working with You, so that You will be glorified in the eyes of everyone we reach!"

           As a result of my prayers, Jesus helped me understand and share with others the crucial life-or-death importance of making sure we are not lulled to sleep, blinded by the cares of this world, or distracted from Christ's unfathomable love for us. The first passage that comes to mind is where Jesus gives us an emphatic warning to watch and pray, saying, "Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is. For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch. Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch."  (Mark 13:33-37)

           What I have always loved about this passage of Scripture is just how plainly Jesus lays out what is expected of us. If we maintain our focus on what Jesus has entrusted to us -- occupy our place as He provided it for us; maintain the work He has equipped and created for us to do; and walk by faith in His authority -- our watching and praying for His return becomes a natural part of the process. Walking in the authority of Christ also ensures that we line up to fulfill the call of God on our life, both, as a member of His Family, and as a warrior in His Army.

           Isn't it as though we often complicate what God makes simple?! It would be a mistake to focus so much on *when* Jesus will return, that we miss out on the very joy and privilege He came to provide for us, to begin with. We must enjoy becoming “one” with our Heavenly Father - us in Him, Him in us, every moment of every hour of every day. So... those who are gonna be caught up to be with Jesus when He returns, will be those who are caught up with Him right now!

           On the other hand, if we let down our defenses (studying The Word of God and putting on the Full Armor of God), we can be sure that wicked spirits will come around. Beware, at the time of our vulnerability, it gets easier to fall prey to the media (a central and growing source of deception), and the many distractions that come to consume our life in this world. We won't have long to wait before our focus turns more toward the world's cares, leading us away from our Father, ever so gradually, unless we catch the alert and "wake up" before it's too late.

           There is a wartime alert and command for military personnel that perfectly illustrates this important point. When military personnel are away from base, or "on leave", and an enemy force is approaching the camp, the watchman on duty sounds the alarm, commanding the troops that, "ALL LEAVES ARE CANCELLED; EVERYBODY BACK TO BASE!" It is time now for the WATCHMEN - those who have eyes that see and ears that hear - to sound the alarm for the benefit of those who need AWAKENED. Sound the alarm to the wicked spirits that come to steal, kill, and destroy our offensives - robbing us of the unspeakable joy awaiting ALL who WANT, and diligently seek, our Loving Father!

            On a sobering note, it is vitally important that we, as Christ's watchmen, heed the warning Jesus gave when He spoke to Ezekiel, "But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the sword come, and take any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman's hand." (Ezekiel 33:4-6)

            Some who teach this message will wrongly emphasize that we must primarily secure our escape from eternal damnation. We must realize that the real benefit of giving our heart and life to Christ, is getting to enjoy oneness with The Lord and Savior, and leading other individuals into Truth. Our focus must be for awakening folks to the reality that they must also turn their eyes and hearts, wholly, to our unfathomably Loving God and Father, and experience Life (and have it abundantly). We cannot allow ourselves to make the terrible mistake of being focused only on preparing ourselves to see the return of Jesus. We mustn't cheat ourselves from sharing with others the privilege of lifting up Christ Jesus every minute, and working with our Heavenly Father every single day.

           There are growing numbers of folks who lack the knowledge of God's Word. Simply put, we don't have to be so caught up with preparing for Jesus Christ's return if we are already caught up in working with Him right now. For all who will heed the "wake-up" call, they will stand to gain an eternity of joy, at its fullness. The greatest joy, and unspeakable pleasure of all, will be the privilege of looking on God for all of eternity! "Thou wilt show me the path of life: in thy presence is fullness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore." (Psalm 16:11)

           God is our Loving Father. Unfathomable fulfillment awaits each one of us when we come to offer back to Him our gifts and talents that He so graciously has given to us. To do our part to fulfill His plan and passion for all of His Wonder-Full Creation, we serve The Consummate Family Man and Father, God. Just as we refer to Jesus Christ as, "The King of kings and Lord of lords," God is "The Loving Father above and beyond all dads!"

      "And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me." (John 12:32)

           This message is provided to help fan the flame in your heart for Christ Jesus, His wonder-full ways, and His plan and purpose for us in life. To ask questions, make a special donation, place a special order for books or CDs, or to share a testimony or prayer request with us, please click for e-mail, or write a letter and mail it to us at Toward The Mark, Inc., P.O. Box 1152, Yorktown, VA 23692-1152 also on our website.


            PLAYING NOW ... "Don't Lose Your Life" podcast:

                      We look forward to meeting you here again for the next Pressin'IN blogpost! Please make sure to invite your friends who are lost, or those who just need encouragement. We pray that God bless and keep you!

           Your friends and servants in Christ,

          


Take me back to the top of this blogpost.


Take me to "Honoring Gold Star Patriots" post.


Take me to "The Love of God" post.


Take me to "Life-changing Revelation from a Rattlesnake Bite" post.


Take me to "Fiery Trials of My Broken Vessel" post.


___________________________________________

To Show GOD BIG in a World that Sees Him small… 
sums up the reason Keith stepped out in faith to focus on reaching the lost and strengthening believers everywhere, through Toward The Mark, Inc.  Keith and Brenda's prayer is that you will be encouraged and edified by the Secrets from God's Word that we recount in our written, printed, and recorded products.


We INVITE You ... to follow and share these resources that are available as well, for helping build your faith in God, His Will, and His Ways:

~  "Keith Shealy & Toward The Mark" on Facebook 






      

      

             

This blog message, along with the rest of Keith Shealy's Toward The Mark inventory of full-Scripture resources, is made possible by the support of our wonder-full family of faithful prayer and financial partners. Would you consider helping us expand our outreach capabilities by becoming a monthly financial sponsor? Your support will go toward fulfilling our God-given calling to provide effective, contemporary, outreach tools available to everyone, the churched and un-churched alike, for getting to know the love, truth, and salvation of The Gospel of Jesus Christ and The Gospel He preached. We invite you to partner with us as we "press Toward The Mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:14)."


 CLICK HERE to make a tax-deductible contribution securely by PayPal.
Every gift you may contribute is tax-deductible and helps, and we thank you for it!


You can mail your tax-deductible check or money order to:
Toward The Mark, Inc., P.O. Box 1152, Yorktown, VA 23692-1152.

We pray God bless you with a 100-fold return for your generosity!
Toward the Mark, Inc. © 2005 - 2016 | Privacy Policy and Terms of Use apply |
Visit TowardTheMark.com website |  Connect with TowardTheMark on e-mail.

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