How to Receive A Prophet's Reward

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  In The Gospel of Matthew, Jesus Christ says something that The Holy Spirit has used repeatedly in my life over the years to ensure that I receive God's spoken Word, a prophet's reward, no matter who is preaching or teaching at any given moment. He said, "He that receiveth you receiveth Me, and he that receiveth Me receiveth Him that sent Me. He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward; and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward (Matthew 10:40-41)."

          One day after I (Keith) had finished reading those verses in Matthew 10, The Holy Spirit whispered to me the last verse, but a bit differently, in a way that would change my life. I heard Him say, "He that receives 'a prophet' in the name of a righteous man will receive a righteous man's reward; and he that receives 'a righteous man in the name of a prophet' will receive a prophet's reward." Right then, The Holy Spirit revolutionized my pursuit of being made one in Jesus Christ. 

          God's wonder-full Holy Spirit had profoundly displayed for me, in real time, how important it is for us to pursue The Holy Spirit whenever we open God's Holy written Word and begin reading. In fact, having God's infinitely wonder-full Gift of His Holy Spirit makes all the difference in our lives when it comes to our being in God's perfect Will for our lives! The Holy Spirit, and Him alone, IS Who leads us to "believe", and ultimately become a "Believing Believer", in Jesus Christ. If we "ignore" The Holy Spirit, we will find ourselves tragically outside of God's Will, even if we are faithful in giving tithes, are "a good person", and/or have perfect church attendance, the best we can ever expect to be is an "unbelieving-Believer." The Holy Spirit made that point evident to me one evening as I was reading in 2 Corinthians, chapter 3, and particularly verse 6.

          In Apostle Paul's second letter to the Corinthians in chapter 3 and verses 2 through 6, Paul teaches us a crucial life-or-death truth, "Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men: Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart. And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward: Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think anything as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God; Who also hath made us able ministers of The New Testament; not of the letter, but of the (Holy) Spirit: for the letter kills, but the (Holy) Spirit gives Life (2 Corinthians 3:2-6)."

          It was that evening, while I was reading and listening for The Holy Spirit's sweet and still, small voice, that I received a priceless gift, a revelation, a Life-giving truth, that God's Holy written Word, in and of itself, is not "an end" but is "the means to an end". As we call on the matchless Name of Jesus Christ, we can meet with and receive, as we read, The Holy Spirit's teaching, a Prophet's Reward. 

          Now, here is where The Holy Spirit clarified it for me. This is what He whispered into my spirit's ear, "If God's people will receive a pastor, a preacher, or a teacher of God's Word in the name of a mediocre pastor, preacher, or teacher, God's people will receive a mediocre pastor, preacher, or teacher's reward, ultimately cheating themselves out of receiving all that God has for them. On the other hand, if they will receive a mediocre pastor, preacher, or teacher of God's Word in the name of 'a prophet'... then they will receive 'a prophet's reward'." 

          Perhaps one of The New Testament's most appropriate examples of someone who desperately needed "a prophets reward" is the miraculous account of the woman that received healing from a twelve-year-long issue of blood. Luke 8:40-48 reads, "And it came to pass, that, when Jesus was returned, the people gladly received Him: for they were all waiting for Him. And, behold, there came a man named Jairus, and he was a ruler of the synagogue: and he fell down at Jesus' feet, and besought Him that He would come into his house: For he had one only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she lay a dying. But as He went the people thronged Him. And a woman having an issue of blood twelve years, which had spent all her living upon physicians, neither could be healed of any, Came behind Him, and touched the border of His garment: and immediately her issue of blood stanched. And Jesus said, Who touched Me? When all denied, Peter and they that were with him said, Master, the multitude throng Thee and press Thee, and sayest Thou, Who touched Me? And Jesus said, Somebody hath touched Me: for I perceive that virtue is gone out of Me. And when the woman saw that she was not hid, she came trembling, and falling down before Him, she declared unto Him before all the people for what cause she had touched Him, and how she was healed immediately. And He said unto her, Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace (Luke 8:40-48)."

          Question: Out of all of the people who were pressing against Jesus in the crowd that day, why did the woman who suffered from an issue of blood for twelve long years receive healing? Simply put, she was desperate! She "believed" Jesus Christ was Who she had heard other people say He was... and believed it! Most people in the crowd that day, sadly, viewed Jesus Christ as "a good or even a righteous man" at best. If we truly w-a-n-t to personally receive a prophet's reward for ourselves, God's spoken Word delivered to us by way of The wonder-full Holy Spirit, we must desperately "want Jesus Christ". We must "reach" for Him.

          Sadly, in my years of walking i-n Jesus Christ, I've heard far too many church folks complain behind their pastor or elder's back that they were "not being fed" spiritually under the teaching and/or preaching of their pastor or teachers. We must remember, when Jesus Christ explained why the lady with the issue of blood was healed, He accredited it to "her faith." Her money was gone, spent on physicians that had no success at healing her at all, and she had reached the end of her rope, so to speak. Here is what compelled her to have the faith enough to be healed: She was at the place in her life where all of us must come to; She not only "reached" for Him with her hand but she "reached" for Him with her heart. She was determined to receive "a prophet's" reward that day. And she was determined she would not stop until she received it. 

          We must remember, when Jesus Christ explained why the lady with the issue of blood was healed, He accredited it to "her faith." Here is the catalyst for why she was healed: she was desperate; She was at the place where all of us must come to; She was determined to receive The Lord's "reward". If we w-a-n-t to personally receive God's Word, delivered to us by way of The wonder-full Holy Spirit, we must desperately "want Jesus Christ". I can say this with all confidence that "every" time that I have reached for Jesus Christ out of desperation He has always responded to me, and in ways that built my faith in God exponentially.

          We would like to conclude with a life-changing piece of advice. Despite what any local church member personally thinks about the pastor --how knowledgeable he may or may no be, or how well he understands or delivers God's Holy written Word-- if we receive a pastor in the name of a mediocre "preacher", we will only receive a mediocre preacher's reward, at best. On the other hand, if we will receive a pastor (or preacher or teacher) in the name of 'a prophet', we will receive 'a prophet's reward'. The Holy Spirit will see to that.

          If we will go, believing and expecting to "receive from God" what He gives Jesus Christ to relay to The Holy Spirit to give to us, personally, in real time, we will receive "the prophet's reward"... the priceless Word of God delivered to us, for us, by The wonder-full Holy Spirit. People who do not know and walk in this are understanding are putting an undue load of their pastor's, teachers and preachers by looking to them for what only God can give to us by way of His Holy Spirit. That is why God sent Him, to bring to us want He gives Jesus Christ to relay to The Holy Spirit Who then gives God's message, to us... personally.

          As Brenda and I have learned and hold onto is, anything of value is worth fighting for and will be challenged by Satan. This especially applies to our pressing our way in-to God's Holy Presence. The Holy Spirit once emphasized to me how "anxious spirits" are the arch enemies to our obtaining and walking in the kind of "faith" that pleases God. As we prepare to enter through God's gates with thanksgiving and enter into His courts with praise, we must be equipped, in The Name of Jesus Christ, much like clearing a path through a spiritual jungle, to cut through, using the sword of The Spirit, any and all obstacles that come to hinder us from arriving at our Father's feet. 

          We pray that our message encourages you to reach for Jesus Christ like you never have before. We would also like to mention that, perhaps, the most challenging conflicts that I have ever found myself in have been those that come when I begin my journey into God's presence. Shortly after I find a quit place, get alone, relax, and slowly begin reading God's Holy written Word they arrive, memories, noises, ideas all come in an attempt at hindering our pressing our way into God's wonderful presence.  I say that to point out, that it takes work to focus solely on pursuing audience with God, but be encouraged, learn God's protocols, increase your time, from now on, to meeting with The Holy Spirit in the pages of God's Holy written Word and trust us, you will soon receive a prophets reward, God's spoken word delivered to you personally through Jesus Christ by way of God's wonder-full Holy Spirit. 

Take me back to the top of this blog post.

Take me to "Our Mighty Weapons In This Wartime” blog post.

Take me to "Blessed are they that haven’t seen yet believed” blog post.

Take me to "Turning the Tide of Imitation and Lies” blog post.

Take me to "Crashing Satan's Party with The Gospel of Jesus Christ” blog post.

Take me to "NOthing Can Separate Us From God's Love” blog post.

Take me to "A Little Guy with God is Bigger than GIANTS” blog post.

Take me to "Our Wartime Advantage is 'The Battle Board'” blog post.

Take me to "Journey through Chapter 1 of Keith's Book *KEEP THE FAITH*” blog post.

 

We couldn't do this without the help of our friends!
This blog channel, 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, 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 3:13-14)

 

 

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...ADVANCING GOD'S WORD ... At Home, In Our Schools, And On The Job!

~ Special "WHAT THE DEVIL DOESN'T WANT US TO KNOW" Video on Rumble

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We pray God bless you with a 100-fold return for your generosity!

  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"
available now... Send e-mail request.

We pray God uses this message, and all of our resources, to fan the flame in your heart for Christ Jesus, His wonder-full Ways, and our Father's 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 any questions about our work, or if you would like to make a special tax-deductible donation, place a special order for any of our books, magazines, or CDs, or to share a testimony or prayer request with us, please e-mail us. Also feel free to write a letter and mail it to TOWARD THE MARK, P.O. Box 1152, Yorktown, VA 23692-1152.

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 Visit TowardTheMark.com website |  Connect with TowardTheMark on e-mail

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When God Redeemed A Keith Shealy Band Promoter's Mistake (TTM188)

Toward The Mark podcast video, "When God redeemed a Keith Shealy Band promoter’s mistake (TTM188)!" Encouragement we all need in being courageous as we walk by faith in Christ Jesus...

(WATCH LINK on our Rumble channel)

... personal testimonies showing God in all of His goodness coming to redeem our disappointments into divine appointment in response to our courageously walking by faith in our Life of reaching people with The Gospel of Jesus Christ and The Gospel Jesus preached...
Showing GOD BIG in the eyes of those that see Him small.
7 min., 45 sec.

Key Bible verses in order of the Holy KJV Bible reference:

John 15:1-8, “I am the true vine, and My Father is the husbandman. (2) Every branch in Me that beareth not fruit He taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, He purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. (3) Now ye are clean through The Word which I have spoken unto you. (4) Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in Me. (5) I am the vine, ye are the branches: he that abideth in Me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without Me ye can do nothing. (6) If a man abide not in Me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. (7) If ye abide in Me, and My Words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. (8) Herein is My Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be My disciples.”

John 16:22-24, “And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you. (23) And in that day ye shall ask Me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in My name, He will give it you. (24) Hitherto have ye asked nothing in My name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.”

John 17:21-23, “That they all may be one; as Thou, Father, art in Me, and I in Thee, that they also may be one in Us: that the world may believe that Thou hast sent Me. (22) And the glory which Thou gavest Me I have given them; that they may be one, even as We are one: (23) I in them, and Thou in Me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that Thou hast sent Me, and hast loved them, as Thou hast loved Me.”

Romans 2:10-13, “But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile: (11) For there is no respect of persons with God. (12) For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law (13) (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.”

Philippians 3:13-14, “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, (14) I press TOWARD THE MARK for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”

As a ministry team and family here at Toward The Mark, our mission and vision is to invite and lead everyone we come in contact with into the saving knowledge of our wonder-full King Jesus Christ! 

As that great day of our Lord's return draws closer with each passing day, who do you know that could use this message of encouragement as you forward it on to them this week?

For full original story, LISTEN NOW @KeithShealysBetweenTheLinesShow... podcast post TTM193... "KEITH SHEALY BAND REUNION CONCERT-Video Collage" LISTEN NOW:

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Your friends, servants, and TTM Family in Christ Jesus fulfilling God's Dream,

    

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 channel, 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, 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 3:13-14)

 

Keep PRESSIN' IN!

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We INVITE YOU TO...
 see and hear, follow and share, more from Toward The Mark:

~ Keith and Brenda "Becoming God's End Time Executives" on TTM's Channel

...ADVANCING GOD'S WORD ... At Home, In Our Schools, And On The Job!

 

Click to Watch:  

 

 

~ Special "CELEBRATING FREEDOM" Video on our Rumble Channel

 

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 ~ The Shealys and Toward The Mark Videos on Vimeo

~ From our 1st-ever Audio Book "LETTERS FROM THE FRONT"

 

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~ "Sharing with you the Secrets God Whispers to us" revelations on Keith Shealy's Between The Lines Podcast 

        Take me back to the top of this post.

        Take me back to "'The Cure for the Greatest Epidemic in the Church Today' TTM Minute".

        Take me back to "'Momentum Is A Powerful Thing' TTM Minute".

        Take me back to "Becoming God's End Time Executives" post.

        Take me back to "Turning The Tide of Imitation and Lies..." post.

        Take me back to "Satan's 'Party Night' (vs.) ... Jesus Christ" post.

        Take me back to "Calling Every Christian..." post.

        Take me to "Nothing Can Separate Us From GOD's Love" post.

        Take me back to "Becoming A Love Letter..." post.

        Take me back to "A Little Guy with God..." post.

~We invite you to "KeithAndBrendaLee Shealy's BetweenTheLines Podcast".

Special Featured Podcast... I was overwhelmed by the enormity of the sacrifice that Jesus made for us!

CLICK to give a tax-deductible gift securely by:

Every gift is tax-deductible and helps! And we thank you for it!

Mail tax-deductible contributions by check or money order made out 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!

  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"
available now... Send e-mail request.

We pray God uses this message, and all of our resources, to fan the flame in your heart for Christ Jesus, His wonder-full 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 any questions about our work, or if you would like to make a special tax-deductible donation, place a special order for any of our books, magazines, or CDs, or to share a testimony or prayer request with us, please e-mail us. Also feel free to write a letter and mail it to TOWARD THE MARK, P.O. Box 1152, Yorktown, VA 23692-1152.

Toward the Mark, Inc. © 2005 - 2024 | Privacy Policy and Terms of Use apply |
 Visit TowardTheMark.com website |  Connect with TowardTheMark on e-mail

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SALVATION is for EVERY-DAY LIFE

In our pursuit of oneness with God, our Lord and Savior, as we love Him with our whole heart, He is there with us, always saving us, from our own poor choices, and from those circumstances that are beyond our control.

As we write this testimony, we pray, as we regularly do, that it finds you enjoying all of the wonderful life-giving and life-saving benefits that come with being a member of God's Family. When we ask Jesus Christ to come into our hearts and lives to be our Lord and Savior, and make Him The Lord of our lives, He gives us many benefits of Himself, beginning with eternal salvation. When we make Jesus Christ The Lord of our lives, our heart's passion to press IN and build that family bond and unity with Him brings also His passion to reveal Himself to us in every-day circumstances of our life. That is why we are writing this testimony today, to encourage you in the pursuit of "oneness" with our Lord and Savior in every-day life that depends on Him.  Hebrews 13:5 says it this way, "... He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee."

I have found that so often, when the word "salvation" is mentioned, people tend to think of being guaranteed the rescue from eternity in the fires of Hell. Though what God did for us on the cross through His Son Jesus Christ was a gift to us for eternity, it covers so much more. Throughout our entire time here on earth, the gift of "salvation" is for the sake of our protection, provision, peace, joy, fulfillment, and many other benefits. Truly, the countless benefits, too many to list here, are to be enjoyed by all who are saved, who love Jesus, and who pursue "oneness" with Him for all the days of our lives. If you don't keep a daily journal, consider starting one to write down each of your personal experiences with The Lord as you are walking ever-closer in unity with Him every day. You may very well see your testimony of "salvation" experiences as similar to ours that follow... or maybe very different. Either way, be encouraged in your pursuit, as proof of your desire, of Him. (Selah)

Our daily salvation proves to be pertinent when we go through times of testing and heartache that seem unbearable!  For us, heartache struck hard just before Christmas of 2016 when our loving Dad Shealy grew terribly sick, out of the blue. Just a few weeks later, the family was devastated when doctors ran tests that revealed stage IV lung cancer.  It was sudden, seemingly out of nowhere, that cancer came, spread through Dad's body unbelievably quickly, and took his life.  He graduated into Christ’s Loving Arms on January 23^rd, 2017.

Then we walked through the unexpected deaths of four more very dear people in our lives, in less than a month!  In fact, all five precious people we lost were deeply rooted in our life as a couple, and greatly shaped who Keith has become.  Just recently we made the solemn and emotionally-exhausting drive to and from the funeral of our 5^th dearly loved one.  At that time, we began feeling the immense, mounting pressure of heartache that we compare to that of ripping five mature, solid oak trees out of the tightly-packed soil of our hearts!  When we were on the way home from the last funeral, despite feeling like going home to nurse our agonizing wounds, we decided to press through and take a detour to go see our loving “Uncle" Ted (as we endearingly knew him to be as a result of the deep, life-long bond he and Dad Shealy shared since childhood). Within weeks of Dad becoming ill, Uncle Ted became ill as well, and was at the point of being under 24-hour hospice care nearing the end of his fight against skin cancer.  When we got to his house, precious "Aunt" Connie tearfully shared with us how difficult things had been, knowing her life journey with her best friend of 53 years was coming to a painful end.

Driving home from our "Uncle and Aunt's" house, the sorrow began to weigh heavy on us, making us feel pinned down in an inescapable situation.  We were realizing that we will never be able to talk with Uncle Ted, our loving Dad, or the others, again.  With this reality hitting us, floods of memories came rushing into our minds.  The torrent of emotions was a real fight to press through, and almost took our breath away!  The fatigue, caused by so much sorrow surrounding us, felt so strong that we asked our Father in Heaven if the grip of this weariness on us was going to let up any time soon.  At that point, The Person of The Holy Spirit flooded Keith's mind with the most defining moment in his life to prove to Keith that, as the title states, "SALVATION is not only for eternity... it's for every-day LIFE!"

In a painstaking moment, I (Keith) saw, in my spirit's eye, the near-death experience in my past that defined for me God's Promise, "... I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee (Hebrews 13:5)."  God used this to show Brenda and I a direct parallel between how He is saving us through the current sufferings that threaten our every-day well-being, and the devastating surf experience He stepped in to save me from, that would've otherwise been my last.

One day I was heading out with a group of friends to do some surfing at the beach.  We were saying, as the surfers would say, "The waves are pumpin'!"  So excited to get in the water, I quickly waxed the deck of my board, but made a mistake of not thoroughly waxing its surface enough to offer the traction I would need to get on my feet.  When I dropped into the first wave, my left foot slipped off the board, out from under me and... down I went.  I found myself in the most tumultuous situation I had ever experienced up to that time in my life.

As soon as I fell off the board, and hit the water, the wave came crashing down on me, pounding the air out of my lungs.  Faster than a thought, I was slammed against sharp rocks underneath the water.  I was being thrashed around uncontrollably, much like a rag doll in a high-speed washing machine.  I couldn't tell which way was up, while I was being body-slammed against rocks, over and over.  Before long, I began to feel my body losing all strength and consciousness under the water, and I'll never forget the last thing I did! In my conscience, I prayed asking, "Lord Jesus, please forgive me of my sins."  As I was starving to breathe in a breath of air, I was unable to keep from inhaling any longer and I just knew that, with my last gasp, what my body was about to do is draw in water that would fill my lungs and drown me!  Instead, AIR??!!  I drew in AIR?!  In all of my experience as a surfer, there is no possible, or logical, way that my body, under its own strength, could've been anywhere near the water's surface!  In fact, nothing less than a miracle could've made a way for my face to break through the surface of the water, and get air when it did.  Because drowning was the only plausible outcome under the circumstances, being deep under the water as I was, it's only Christ Jesus alone, and only He, Who could've reached down and pulled me up to, and through, the surface.

By God's Saving Grace I was able to regain consciousness and begin making my way back to shore.  As if all that wasn't traumatic enough, about fifty feet from shore, I began to see blood in the water around me.  Hurting from the deep cuts on my body, and swimming fast as possible, my imagination began spinning out of control about sharks that accompanied us every now and then in these waters approaching me now, honing in on the scent of my blood.  I started to think that, if I can make it out of these waters with at least most of my limbs, I would be eternally grateful.  Needless to say, I made it out in one piece.  That is when I came to realize that salvation is for EVERY day!  THAT day, I realized how, Jesus Christ's involvement in our lives is continual.   God brought me to an intimate understanding of Acts 17:28, "For in Him we live, and move, and have our being;... For we are also His offspring." God literally reached down and SAVED me, time and time again, even more than those times I am aware of!

When God put us here in this life on earth, He never intended to abandon us.  Throughout the entire Old Testament, He spoke with the prophets and gave them commandments that, if followed, would assure a full, happy life for a prophet.  When we ask The Person of The Holy Spirit for wisdom as we read the every-day life testimonies written in the Old Testament of God's written Word (The Holy Bible) He lets us know that our Heavenly Father stands ready to answer when we call on Him no matter the time, day, or season. The very benefits the prophets wrote about enjoying IN Him through salvation, we likewise enjoy just by our "want" for oneness with Him as we ask and seek Him.  Then, He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to teach us further how to walk, and commune, with our Father in Heaven.  And, when Jesus arose and went to be with our Father in Heaven, He then sent us The Person of The Holy Spirit to teach us, guide us, and lead us, each and every day.  Once again, He is always there, benefiting us in our every-day life.

If you haven't been pursuing oneness with The Lord and Savior, the benefits that await you are for every day!  Like Jesus did for me that day in the life-threatening surf, He reaches down continually to "save" us from “drowning” under the pressures and circumstances of our life.

Yes, it's true that, losing my dad, along with so many other (now 5 more) dearly loved ones in our lives in a very short two months, we find ourselves struggling through feelings of suffocating pressure and crippling devastation. Even as things seem to have come crashing down around us, these trials can not succeed in stealing, killing, and destroying us, because we keep our eyes and hearts fixed on Him and "the peace of God, which passes all (human) understanding (Philippians 4:7, KJV)."

Brenda and I cannot express enough how the many prayers prayed for us have, in great part, contributed to Christ delivering us through this set of fiery challenges.  We declare this unshakable truth, "The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. And they that know Thy Name will put their trust in Thee: for thou, LORD, hast not forsaken them that seek thee. Sing praises to the LORD, ... declare among the people his doings (Psalm 9:9-11)."  Won't it be fun when we stand in Heaven and see our Loving Father reveal to each of us all of those times when He reached down and saved us, yet countless were times that we were never even aware of what He did f-o-r us and our lives?!  From this experience, added to countless more life experiences in the past 35 years, we can rejoice, and encourage others to rest assured also, that each day we push through grief and trials by the light of "salvation" through Jesus Christ, is one day closer to reuniting with Christ Jesus and loved ones we miss so much. By pursuing oneness with Christ every single day, our whole heart becomes full with the light of Christ's "salvation", overflowing into the lives of others who may also need to be "saved", either from their own poor choices or from circumstances that resulted from beyond their control. Selah (meditate in Jesus Christ's Name).

We love and appreciate you for every way that you help lead others into oneness with God, including sharing this blog with your friends, loved ones, and associates. God bless you and yours!

  This blogpost is meant to be a source of hope, to fan the flame in your heart for Christ Jesus, His wonder-full ways, and His plan and purpose for us in this life. To ask questions, 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 Toward the Mark, P.O. Box 1152, Yorktown, VA 23692-1152.

  We look forward to meeting here together again, for another PRESSIN' IN Toward The Mark testimony! We pray that God bless you in showing Him BIG in this world that sees Him small!

In Christ Jesus,

Take me back to the top of this blogpost.

"See Titles by Flip cards"

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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.  The complete collection of original podcasts, music, blogs, books, CDs, and other resources of Toward The Mark, Inc. are made possible by the prayer and financial contributions of the TTM Support Family.  We'd like to welcome you to become a part of TTM's Family as well!

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 

      

~  "The Shealys & Toward The Mark videos" on Vimeo   

~  "TTM Singing Sergeant" on Twitter

~  "Between The Lines TTM Podcast" by Keith Shealy 

      

This blog message, along with the rest of our inventory of Bible-based resources, is made possible by the support of our faithful monthly partners. Would you consider helping us expand our outreach capabilities by becoming a monthly financial partner? Your support will go toward fulfilling our God-given calling to help provide effective, contemporary outreach tools, available to everyone, the churched and un-churched alike, for getting to know 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)

CLICK HERE to make a tax-deductible contribution securely by PayPal.

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Mail tax-deductible contributions by check to the order of:
Toward The Mark, Inc., P.O. Box 1152, Yorktown, VA 23692-1152. 

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 for your generosity!

Keep PRESSIN' IN!

           Take me to "The Magnetic Mantle...Why Cats Should Have Kitties".

           Take me to "Valentine's 5-Step Prep" blogpost.

           Take me to "Run TO the Roar!" blogpost.

           Take me to "Overcoming Intimidation" blog message.

           Take me to "The Heart of Thanksgiving" post.

           Take me to "The Invisible Man" blogpost.

           Take me to "The Abomination of Misrepresentation" blogpost.

           Take me to "Living Among Thorns" blog message.

           Take me to the Journey through Chapter TWO of Keith's book, *Keep The FAITH*.

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