Celebrate Single-ness Preparing for The Prepared

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SINGLE-NESS: “the most important part of an original human..." whether married or unmarried.

      Every year during the month of February we see a whole lot of attention turned toward husbands and wives, boyfriends and girlfriends, and the search to find a “sweetheart”. Oddly enough, the qualities we would like in our “sweetheart”, and what we mean by “Will you be my Valentine?” is too-often skipped in Bible studies among Christian friends and family. This week, today, is the perfect time for “preparing for ‘the prepared’” and walking out the truth of “single-ness”.

         We have a faith-building nugget of wisdom that we believe will prove to be as valuable to you as it has been to our family members and ministry friends and acquaintances. You may be surprised to know that, in our 40+ years of experience, we have seen many more guys and ladies come to ask us to join with them in prayer and waiting for God to introduce them to their life-mate than those who “celebrate single-ness”.  Firstly, for anyone not familiar with us as a ministry couple, I (Keith) spent fifty-two years of my life unmarried and learning how to attain “single-ness”.

         Like many or even most unmarried individuals, we can honestly tell you it is not easy to be alone or to be patient all the time when we wait for God to answer our prayers.  For me (Keith), some weeks I prayed every day asking God to reveal my mate to me. Some weeks I prayed for God to introduce her to me at certain ministry events or church services. I often walked in quietly wondering, "Is 'she' going to be here?" I couldn't even tell you how many well-meaning people would come up to me to say things like, "God must be preparing a really amazing girl for you" or "Don’t worry because, when you finally meet her, you’ll just know she’s 'the one'!"

         Week after week, month after month, year after year, and decade after decade, I couldn't seem to silence the voices in my head although I lived an active, busy life that was not really consumed with "finding her".  No matter where I went, like a pesky little brother that your mom makes you take along with you wherever you want to go, those annoying voices would sound off asking questions like, "Is she here?… Is she?  Is she??"  Each time the voices started up again, I thought to myself, "If I could just get my hands on those loud rascals... !"

         There I was, a minister at a great church, a dream football career, a dream music career that led me to start The Keith Shealy Band for touring and recording my own songs, a great group of young adults learning to lead like Jesus,... I could go on and on. I was the guy who, people so-often said, "had it all together". Little did they know that, because all of my friends were married, I spent years eating alone in restaurants, coming home from the Church alone, watching Sunday afternoon football games alone, and doing everything I could think of to help to silence the deafening screams of loneliness. I would all-but beg God to tell me what it was that was wrong with me so I could change it. All I wanted was for God to help prepare me for meeting the lady I was praying for.

         Well, the day came when I just knew I finally had a plan that would silence those voices of loneliness.  I decided I would out-smart the voices by convincing myself that I was born without 'the marriage gene'! I thought to myself that t-h-a-t will surely shut those voices down.

         I admit, to my disappointment, my plan did not work at all. Just like every other thing I tried doing “on my own” I had no success to speak of. The voices continued.

         By the time I turned forty years old, I knew that those voices won't just shut up. That’s when I finally decided to drown 'em out with God's written Word!  That was the very BEST decision I had ever made in my life up to that point!!

         I began to seek God and meditate on His written and spoken Word, and with great diligence like never before.  It was only then that the volume of those voices, which I knew were not God’s, lowered... From deafening, to annoying, to tolerable-like whispers, at least for the most part.

         Finally, I learned that "I" had to stop dwelling on things that were not of God... like most TV shows. I finally stopped to realize how destructive and suggestive most prime-time television programs had become. I knew that I had to do something about that. So, I called the cable company and canceled my TV cable!

         Now, turning off my TV became the first of five steps to become tried-and-proven disciplines, five key things that The Holy Spirit used to teach me what being truly single means. If you want God's blessing of a life-mate like only He can bring, you will learn and follow these five steps, below. These practical steps will work for you, and anyone who seeks a blessed Life-mate, if practiced in faith. Here’s your plan to start today, right now... and to make, as your Life-goal, preparing for the prepared you are praying for and to, in turn, “Celebrate Single-ness!”

1)   Turn off the TV!  If you look to Hollywood to set your expectations for a mate, loneliness will remain your companion.  Recognize that unreal, or unreasonable, expectations rob us from, not only our peace but, every good thing Jesus Christ wants us to have.  Having said that, I am in no way suggesting that you, or any individual, compromise yourself by settling for someone who you know doesn’t go after God, doesn’t love God wholeheartedly, or doesn’t want to know God’s Word,Will, and Ways.  Besides, marriage is God’s original idea, not man's idea. And it will NOT function correctly with-out (on the outside of) God and His Word.  ~Never forget:  WithOUT GOD... it is NOT Holy Matrimony.~

2)   YOU cannot "FIX 'em"!  If you think you can change someone, you are deceived. Brace yourself for a tumultuous ride.  Only Christ Jesus has the power to change a human heart.  Marriage is not a 50/50 arrangement; it's a 100/100 commitment.  So, relax!  Trust God to introduce you to "a God-blessed possibility."  We must warn you, however, to beware of someone attempting to win your affection with words like, "But I am a Christian." Take time to "watch" for "the fruit" of their life!  Standing in a church building on Sunday or Wednesday makes someone a Christian about as much as your standing in a garage makes you a car.  As a safeguard for us, Jesus teaches in Matthew 7:15-20, “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.  You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thorn bushes or figs from thistles?  Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.  A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit.  Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.  Therefore by their fruits you will know them."

3)   Prepare for what you are praying for. We do NOT want to meet the prepared... unprepared.  Diligently seek God.  Become the kind of person that you've been asking God to bring to you.  Be passionate about, and in love with, God and His Word, His Will, and His Ways.  And do everything as God and His Word tells us to... ‘F’ully ‘R’ely ‘O’n ‘G’od (FROG).  Be sure you take a look in the mirror.  Do you dress, and carry yourself, with the same quality and dignity that you expect in your life-mate?  If not, you can change it!  Remember, it’s all about achieving “single-ness” by “preparing for ‘the prepared’”. Otherwise: it’s “insanity” that does the same thing over and over again while expecting different results. Good news… *You can't BE something you're NOT, but you can BECOME something you're NOT.* 

4)   In the wisdom of the late Dr. Myles Munroe, "You don't get married because you NEED to; You get married because you WANT to!  And you'll never have ‘the want-to' until you don't have ‘the need-to'."

5)   Finally, in many of our churches today, the word "single" is synonymous with "unmarried."  That is, in fact, a very deceptive, demonic revelation.  The truth is, in order for a person to achieve "single-ness” there is a process by which he or she becomes a "Separate, Unique, and Whole" person! That is a “truly single” individual, whether married or unmarried.  "Single-ness" is a crucially important part of a human being and it must be “pursued”! In order for an individual to qualify in “single-ness”, being “the prepared” for marriage, he or she must first become "Separate, Unique, and Whole"!  That means, a person should never consider getting married until they have become truly single first.  Only one who becomes "truly single" can qualify as “the prepared” for marriage.  Becoming "truly single" can only be achieved through Jesus Christ by the tutelage and leading of The Holy Spirit.  We cannot do it without Him.   Becoming "Separate, Unique, and Whole" should be the goal; not "becoming married."  

         About twelve years after God and I walked together “preparing for 'the prepared'", God introduced me to Brenda on the wonder-full SuperBowl Sunday of 2008! From that day on, Bren and I both “Celebrate SINGLE-ness.”  In fact, the more "single" each of us has become, the sweeter our marriage has become, experiencing more blessed fruit of God's Holy Spirit with each passing year... “But the fruit of The Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law (Galatians 5:22-23).”

         Love, hope, joy, and fulfillment comes with single-ness, along with so much more i-n God. We have received countless gifts and blessings from The LORD... from our 2 1/2 year courtship, to our wedding “in Holy Matrimony” by Pastors Clay and Dee Davis who have spiritually covered me since 1979, to our life-long prayers, hopes, and dreams coming true in our lives, even to this day.

         Before any of us can be truly ready for marriage, we must first achieve "single-ness." Only becoming successful at "single-ness" prepares us for success in marriage. “Being Separate, Unique, and Whole" is the goal... not just to be married.

         Relax and trust The LORD, He is our Rest! Release any and all unreal or unreasonable expectations... of marriage, God, and others. When we make that first, and each consecutive, step toward Him Who fashioned us, He reaches back and works *with* us, "Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you… (James 4:8)." Concerning the popular belief that God chooses your mate for you, there's a quote from the late Dr. Myles Munroe to clear that misled idea right up... "God knows, better than anyone, how we often change our minds, so he won’t choose our mate for us in order that we can’t blame Him for a mate we later decide was a bad choice." Instead, He will put someone 'on display' for you and leave you with your will to make your own choice. ~Once you daily pursue ONEness with God, your wisdom and understanding *in Him* changes everything! Your focus on working *with God* will lead you beyond your greatest expectations! Watch and see!!!"~

"SEPARATE": SET-APART from everyone else  **Created by God as the one-of-a-kind, Designer-made, individual YOU!**

"UNIQUE":  DISTINCT from everybody else  **Needing no-thing and no-body in order to feel valued!**

"WHOLE":  100% COMPLETE all by yourself  **What lies behind and what lies ahead changes by what lies within! **

         Always remember that, no matter what we've done or where we've been in this life, our dreams for a loving marriage we have carried from the time of our childhood can and will only be fulfilled by God, The Author and Proprietor of Marriage, Himself... if we will believe and trust in Him.

Your friends and servants in Christ Jesus,

     ...and the entire Team of Toward The Mark, Inc.

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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 shared through written and recorded accounts. The complete collection of original podcasts, music, teaching letters, books, CDs, and other resources of Toward The Mark are made possible by the prayers and financial gifts of the TTM Family of monthly supporters.  We'd like to welcome you onboard TODAY!

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Winning The Lost ... Throw off religious frames of thought!

Remember...
           "The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that wins souls is wise  (Proverb 11:30)."

     In these last days before Christ Jesus returns, we must do everything necessary to make sure that our partnership with God is strong. Only then will we be able to be truly effective at winning the lost, with God, God's Way.

            In 1987, I had a contemporary band that I put together for ministering the Gospel of Jesus Christ through original music and lyrics. The band members and I were invited to a church in Roanoke, Virginia to do a concert for the purpose of reaching out to the lost young people in their city. As the event date drew near, I specifically remember asking God to pack the auditorium with lost teenagers, hundreds of young guys and girls whose hearts and lives we could win for Christ during this upcoming evening. After all, the more people we draw in to a concert event, the more effectively successful the outreach ministry will prove to be. Everybody knows that, right??!!

            We believed that our motives were pure, but our goal to draw the biggest crowd had become a bit too high in our outreach priorities. That popular, misguided, religious frame of thought, "the bigger our crowds, the better our ministry" led us to become too focused on mainly drawing the crowds to our concert rather than preparing to meet the needs of individuals who came. I was unknowingly well-on-my-way to becoming desensitized to the increasing need of the folks coming to the outreach concert ministry. Was I doing a good thing? I surely was, without a doubt! Was I doing the "right" thing? Not nearly as much as I should have been!

            A few days before the concert, after I had been praying for only about 10 minutes, The Lord said something that would forever change my life, especially in the way I would conduct my band outreach ministry from then on. The Lord said to me, "Keith, do you know why I was so successful at reaching the masses during My earthly ministry?" I replied, "Why Lord?" He said, "Because My passion has always been for loving people on a personal one-on-one basis, first! If a crowd assembles to hear you share what I have placed on your heart for them, then that gathering should be held for no other reason than for those in attendance to receive My Word of direction, correction, encouragement, or affirmation. And we make sure to address their individual lives first, then address the group. Always remember, I never call an assembly for entertaining individuals. I will only call individuals to gather together for solemn assemblies."

            In this age when a church's success is largely based on the number of people that are in attendance, or the amount of money that is in its coffers, it is no wonder that much of the body of Christ in America is in the impotent state that it is, especially where winning the lost God's way is concerned. Jesus said, "But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the Kingdom of Heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer (permit) ye them that are entering to go in. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence  (a false show)  make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte  (be converted)  , and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves  (Matthew 23:13-15)."

            I know that this may be a bit hard to swallow, but Christ Jesus could just as well be addressing the vast majority of church organizations in this country today, with that same message. God loves loving people. He hates when His people put anything ahead of loving Him and loving others. Before we can truly become effective at reaching people for the reasons God wants to reach them, we must understand that, contrary to popular belief, God is not at all impressed with our buildings, bank accounts, programs, or any other outward thing that secular society deems is an outward indication of inward spiritual maturity. In fact, secular society operates contrary to the ways of spiritual maturity. Therefore, with a lack of spiritual maturity in the lives of church leaders, the church's function will, in great part, sadly be operating in this all-too-popular religious frame of thought.

            Why have those religious mindsets and secular things become sought-after in churches, even more-so than the will of God for people? In short, it is because the church has allowed popular culture to affect the church more that the church has intentionally affected pop-culture. No matter what growth experts may tell you about buying facilities or adding programs, God's passion is for having an intimate relationship with each one of His individual people, individually. Not that I'm saying money and what it can buy is bad; I am saying that, when the pursuit of these things is hindering our ability to demonstrate God's Love for people, we have, as I like to say, "put the cart before the horse." We have to play a more effective role in winning the lost, as well as encouraging currently-active believers in the church. Millions of dollars are being squandered away on things, like the construction of facilities, the purchase of buses and other equipment, and developing exorbitant programs, that, for the most part, are never fully utilized for the purpose that they were acquired. It's just bad stewardship.

            In Matthew 6:33, Jesus gives us the starting place where it all must begin, "But seek ye first the Kingdom of God  (the Kingdom that IS God), and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."

            As you hold on to that thought, Part II "Winning the Lost...We Can Only Give From What We've Got" is coming soon, then Part III, "Winning the Lost...Counting the Cost" after that too. We encourage you to ask the Person of The Holy Spirit to meet with you in the pages of God's written Word where He helps us develop our increasing WANT for oneness with others along with our become One IN God, IN Jesus Christ, and IN Him (The Person of The Holy Spirit). You see, for us to become truly effective at winning the lost in these last days, we must do everything necessary to make sure that our partnership with God is strong first. I once heard a very wise man say, "The best thing we can do to help the poor in this country is to not be one of them." The same thing applies where leading the lost in spiritual things is concerned. Make it your goal to befriend people who are outside of your own circle of friends, and share with them all that The wonderful Holy Spirit brings to light in all those times God has answered your prayers and walked and talked with you in your life. The results will bless both you and them, as your hearts become filled with gratitude that compels you to offer up thanksgiving to Him, for Him, and for everything He IS and does.

            We must always remember Revelation 12:11, "And they overcame him  (the devil)  by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death." And, no matter what,  KEEP PRESSIN' IN!.

            Our sincerest hope is that you are encouraged as you take in this blog. We'd like to invite you to take advantage of even more messages of encouragement, for you and your friends and family members, specially available now in one of our most-requested Toward The Mark books entitled, "Letters From The Front." We want to personally invite you to get your copies today.

            Our book  LETTERS FROM THE FRONT is a special collection of 12 of our most-requested teaching titles:

Sin Makes Ya Stewpit	The Cart's Before The Horse;
The Crisis of Eroding Integrity	The Fruit's at the End of the Limb
Too Quick to Compromise	The Rarest of All Breeds
Please...Stop Stinkin'	3 Keys to God-Pleasing Faith
Let It Go!	Understanding the Fear of The Lord
Into The Secret Place	Give to Give!

This collection of twelve teachings, when taken to heart, will help you emerge triumphant over seemingly impossible situations... "LETTERS From The FRONT" available at TowardTheMark online. If you would like to request a special order of this resource or any product from Keith Shealy and Toward The Mark, or if you have questions about our work, resources, or giving tax-deductible donations, please click here to e-mail us.

Would you write and let us know how this message has fanned the flame in your heart for Christ Jesus, His Ways, and God's Plan for your life?  We welcome you to mail us a letter addressed to TOWARD THE MARK, P.O. Box 1152, Yorktown, VA 23692-1152.  If you would like to e-mail your letter to us, please click here to e-mail us.

May you be greatly blessed as God writes this message in your heart. We praise Him, with eternal gratitude, for our loving Toward The Mark Family without whose help and support this work would not be possible!

Your friends and servants in Christ,
         

    

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. We are praying that our Father in Heaven is able to encourage and edify your heart and life by the written and recorded products of Toward The Mark, Inc.

We couldn't do this without the help of our friends!
What you have just read is the 1st blog of a 3-part blog message. This blogspot, along with each of our original podcasts, music and video recordings, books, magazines, and other resources in our ministry collection, is made possible by the faithful prayer and financial support of the TTM Family of Sponsorship Partners. If you would like to become a part of the TTM Family, your monthly financial support of any amount will help toward fulfilling God's call on our lives to make Holy-Bible-based messages available to the churched and un-churched individuals alike. You are invited to partner with us in working with God to fulfill His desire for everybody to know Christ Jesus as He IS... The Way, The Truth, and The Life... personally. We will remain steadfast to "... press Toward The Mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:13-14)." Would you consider helping us expand our outreach capabilities by becoming a monthly financial partner? Your support will help toward providing effective, practical outreach tools for ministering the love, truth, and salvation of Jesus Christ.

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

Every gift is appreciated and helps.

Mail tax-deductible contributions by check or money order made out to:
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Thank you in advance for sowing your financial seed into the vision and mission God has given to this ministry! We pray God bless you with a 100-fold return for your generosity!

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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.


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                      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.

___________________________________________

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