Introduction

Love springs forth from the arms of God. How many times have you seen the Love of God? What special times has He embraced you with Special blessings that only you can really appreciate and enjoy? God is love. Cannot He paint a picture in the sky at dusk? Or place a special gift in your heart? It says in the bible “God gives us the desires of our heart.”

If I look back over the years of walking with Jesus, I could tell you many love stories between the Lord and myself. He has always given me the desire of my heart. They may not be the way you would want things to be. But, they are the filling in of holes that have destroyed me from before I was saved. Isn’t that real love…that our Father would not forget what we went through and be able to fill the hurts with His love?

How does God do this? I have found that He sometimes uses people… A friend to be our sister, stepchildren to be our children, older women or men to be an aunt or uncle we missed somehow along the way. Sometimes God uses circumstances to bring about a change in a family member that we didn’t think we would ever be able to have a relationship with again…. A special little dog or cat. God’s wisdom and love is so great that we sometimes over look His care for us.

Look deeply within your own life and relationship with God and see the miracle, the blessings of love that He has shown towards to you. If your eyes are on other things, you will miss the simplicity of the blessings of love that God has been trying to bless you with?

I know God gave me my husband, my children, my cat, dogs, home and much, much more. Every time someone says to me, “How did you meet your husband”, I have a testimony to tell. Every time someone asks me about my cat or dogs, home, car, or children, I have a testimony to tell. If someone speaks to me of my dad or brother, I have a testimony to tell.

Isn’t it amazing how God’s love for us goes full circle? God blesses us so that we in return can turn it all back to Him for His glory. That’s the circle of love.

The best thing I could say to you is to take the time to seek Jesus and reflect upon the many blessings that God has placed in your life. Truly you are His witness of the Love of God.

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Until next time
Rev Marilyn Marinelli

Introduction

The following scripture passages tell a story. They constitute a Word from the Lord to all of us. Let them speak to you and savor the truth that rises up from each verse.

Jeremiah 9:23-24 “Thus saith the Lord, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the Lord which exercise loving kindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the Lord.”

Jeremiah 10:10-12 “But the Lord is the true God, he is the living God, and an everlasting king: at his wrath the earth shall tremble, and the nations shall not be able to abide his indignation.”

Jeremiah 10:11-12 “Thus shall ye say unto them, the gods that have not made the heavens and the earth, even thy shall perish from the earth, and from under these heavens. He hath made the earth by his power, he hath established the world by his wisdom, and hath stretched out the heavens by his discretion.

Jeremiah 10:14-16 “Every man is brutish in his knowledge: every founder is confounded by the graven image: for his molten image is falsehood, and there is no breath in them. They are vanity and the work of errors: in the time of their visitation they shall perish. The portion of Jacob is not like them: for he is the former of all things; and Israel is the rod of his inheritance: The Lord of hosts is his name.”

Notice God’s provisions for you this day, my friend:

Isaiah 40:29 “He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.”

Isaiah 40:31 “But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk and not faint.”

Isaiah 41:10 “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed: for I am they God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will up hold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.”

Isaiah 41:17 “When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue faileth for thirst, I the Lord will hear them, I the God of Israel will not forsake them.”

Isaiah 42:6 “I the Lord have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles;”

Isaiah 42:7-9 “To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house. I am the Lord: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.”

Behold the former things are come to pass…..”

Isaiah 42:16 “And I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not for sake them.”

Isaiah 43:10 “Ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord and my servant whom I have chosen.”

Isaiah 43:18 “Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old.

Isaiah 43:21 “This people have I formed for myself; they shall shew forth my praise.”

Isaiah 45:12-13 “I have made the earth, and created man upon it: I, even my hands, have stretched out the heavens, and all their host have I commanded. I have raised him up in righteousness, and I will direct all his ways: he shall build my city, and he shall let go my captives, not for price nor reward, saith the Lord of hosts.”

Isaiah 45:20 “Assemble yourselves and come; draw near together, ye that are escaped of the nations: they have no knowledge that set up the wood of their graven image, and pray unto a god that cannot save.”

Isaiah 49:16 “Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me.”

Isaiah 53:9-10 “Break forth into joy, sing together, ye waste places of Jerusalem: for the Lord hath comforted his people, he hath redeemed Jerusalem. The Lord hath made bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.”

Isaiah 54:17 “No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of me, saith the Lord.”

Isaiah 55:11 “So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.”

Isaiah 58:12B “thou shall be called, the repairer of the breach, the restorer of paths to dwell in.”

Isaiah 601-2 “Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and glory of the Lord is risen upon thee. For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee.”

May God Bless you this day with His words of love and encouragement.

Until next time,
Rev. Marilyn Marinelli

John 8:32

Introduction

And the battle goes on for your soul. Who will win? …You, if you’ve given your life to Jesus. I heard a preacher teaching on who you and I really are. We are made up of a body, soul and spirit.

What spirit dwells in you? If the Holy Spirit, then you have the ability to discern other spirits that are good or evil. But, don’t be deceived because some spirits can be in your mother, brother, friends, business associates etc. Jesus said, “Who is my mother and brethren but those that hear God’s Word and does it.” In other words, if someone… anyone… does not line up with the word of God, cast him or her away from your world. That does not mean you never speak to them again, but it does mean… you are to keep them from controlling your life and making you think you need to be someone else or somewhere else other than serving God and being led by His spirit.

This is the time to know the truth … and the truth shall set you free. This does not mean that you know the truth and automatically you are free, though in some cases, all you need is to know the truth to go on standing. But, if you have not been standing in the truth and God gives you His revelation of the truth or truths that you need to become free, then you must apply, apply, and apply the truth to your situation(s). If you do, you will find yourself walking in the light and great strength. Joy and peace will once again, flood your soul.

By the way… the soul is made up of your Mind, Will and Emotions… So if you find yourself confused, tossed to and fro and your emotions are out of whack, you know that you are not applying God’s truth to your situation and you are not standing on His revelation.

Example: If you have been praying and praying that a situation would turn around and God shows you plainly in His Word, (the bible), giving you a scripture to stand on and a truth for your situation, then you have to do something. You don’t just keep praying and praying and saying, ”o.k. I read the truth but I am not free.” Of course not, you have to apply the truth to your situation in order to be free. Here is one we received. Flee the Chaldeans. The Chaldeans represented family ties and flee means to run. Don’t look back and try to figure everything out… just get out of their presence and go on with your life. Don’t let them have authority over you. So we did and the truth of God’s Word to us set us free.

Oh, I can’t do that, you may be saying… but let me ask you a question. Do you want to stay stuck where you are, being slowly destroyed? In God’s Word it says, “My people perish because of a lack of knowledge” “Seek ye first the kingdom of God.” So stop the depression, the anger, the sadness and indecisions. Make a decision to stand on the Word of truth from your Heavenly Father and the truth shall set you free.

Until next time,
Rev. Marilyn Marinelli

Galatians Chapter Three

Introduction

The first question was Galatians 3:2 “This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?” This is the first question God asked me as I sought Him just recently.

The second question was Galatians 3:3 “Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now made perfect by the flesh?”

Galatians 3:5 is the third question He asked me. “He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?”

God continued to speak to me through His word …Galatians 3:6-9 “Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. Know ye therefore that they, which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham. And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, “In thee shall all nations be blessed.” So then they that be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.

Notice what Galatians 3:10 says, “For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.” What about Galatians 3:11 & 12? “But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, the just shall live by faith. And, the law is not of faith: but, the man that doeth them shall live in them.”

The importance of walking in faith is more than we realize. We all seem to say yes we are walking in faith but are we? Let’s go on and see what else God showed me.

Galatians 3: 22-26 “But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe. But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith, which should afterwards be revealed. Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.”

I would hope, as you can see by now, it is only through faith in Jesus that we are children of God and not because of our works. Where are we going with all this you may be asking? We are to examine ourselves by what God just showed us. Are you trying to live up to others expectations in church, at bible study, or at any other meeting of a Christian nature? Know that when you accepted Jesus and gave your life to Him that it was by faith not of works. Where are you today? Have you found yourself hindered by others in the Christian community? The following is a question to us from God.

Galatians 5:7 & 8 “Ye did run well; who did hinder you that you should not obey the truth? This persuasion (belief) comes not of him that called you.” Galatians 5:9 “A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.”

Have you been walking in the Spirit by faith and someone or many others have, because of their persuasions, caused you to trip up and start walking in the flesh? Or shall I say challenged your authority and caused you to question your walk with the Lord thereby, causing you to stumble and try to explain how important you are? A little doubt can cause more doubt until you find yourself in the flesh. Leaven is like putting yeast in the dough when making bread. It looks real small but enough of it will cause the dough to rise.

Yet, God has a word of encouragement in Galatians 5:10 “I have confidence in you through the Lord, that ye will be none otherwise minded: but he that troubleth you shall bear his judgment, whosoever he be.”

Get away from or do not give place to those that would question your faith in God and try to put you on a spot in an effort to pull you into the flesh and under the law.

Remember Galatians 5:16 “This I say then, “Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.”

Ephesians 4:17-19 “This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, Having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart. Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.”

Though a person is a Christian, it does not mean that they are not walking in the vanity of their own mind or that their understanding is darkened. It says, in the bible that we are to try the Spirits to see if they are of God.

See? There is a way out of this dilemma. You do not have to walk around questioning whether others around you accept you or not. You are accepted in Christ through faith and not of works. God can do more things through you as you walk in faith with him than can be accomplished through all the works one can try do.

A final reminder: Romans 8:14-21 “So that they that are in the flesh cannot please God. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.”

Why should we walk by faith? First, we are saved through our faith in Jesus, secondly, II Corinthians 5:7 says, ”For we walk by faith, not by sight.” Finally, We can conclude that there is hope for us to go on walking in faith not by the law.

Romans 8:14-21 “For you have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but you have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cay, Abba, Farther.”

The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him that we may be also glorified together. For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.”

Hallelujah! We can go on because we realize that our faith in Jesus and walking by faith keeps us free from the bondage of the law. So when someone tries to question your positioning or your walk with the Lord, you can say… I have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear… that I do not live up to your expectations. My expectation is from God. As long as I walk with Him in faith then I have all the acknowledgement I need, thank you.

Even more, God wants us to know Romans 8:19 “For the earnest expectation of the creature waitheth for the manifestation of the sons of God. For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly; but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.” The animals are looking for the manifestation of the sons of Gad…Us… to walk in faith so that they can also be blessed. So come on, what do you say? Let’s get out from under the bondage of the law and walk by Faith.

Until Next Time,
Rev. Marilyn Marinelli

Introduction

What packages were delivered to you this past holiday season? Weren’t they pretty packages with bows and wrapping paper in red and green? What was inside? Something you liked? Or, “Oh no, they gave me something I don’t need or wanted. By the way, why do they do this to me every Christmas? ”

God showed me that difficulties and problems that are presented to us each and everyday can be like that. Of course, we may not tell the ones we love. After all, we don’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings… And it’s the thought that counts, isn’t it?

So we smile and thank them and go on. Or you may do like our son did with the gift we gave him (a mustache trimmer). He wrapped it up for the next Christmas and gave it to my husband. The following Christmas my husband gave it back to him. Of course, they always gave each other something else but there was always the “Mustache Trimmer” among the gifts.

When we walk with the Lord, packages are presented to use everyday. Some are blessing from God. But, there are others that the devil would like us to think are from God but they are not. Did you ever notice that you may find yourself arguing about the same old thing but it started out different? or maybe that a situation seems to keep coming up over and over again? The situation may not come up for a long time but there it is again only packaged differently.

This is what God showed me. He said look closely into this situation or gift and see with your spiritual eyes. Is this situation really from Him? If not, take a hold of it and get it settled and you will not easily be tricked again. So if you are facing a situation that does not bring the peace of God to you, look closely into the package… beyond the ribbons and box and see inside the matter with the eyes of God and the leading of His Holy Spirit.

Are you in affliction? Psalms 34:19 “Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivereth him out of them all.”

Do you need strength? Psalm 29:11 “The Lord will give strength unto his people; the Lord will bless his people with peace.” Psalm 28:8 “The Lord is their strength, and he is the saving strength of his anointed.”

Do you feel like you’re just about going to faint from the strain of life? Psalm 27:13 & 14 “I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart; wait I say, on the Lord.”

Are you feeling poor and needy? Psalm 72:12 “For he shall deliver the needy when he crieth; the poor also, and him that hath no help.” Psalm 72:13 “He shall spare (have compassion) the poor and needy, and shall save the souls of the needy.”

Psalm 62:5 “My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him.”

Psalm 62:8 “Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah.

A word from the Lord, just for you

In the mist of your confusion, I am there
To wash away you’re every care.
When trouble seems to surround you
Know my friend that “I AM” is around you.

For trouble may come from every side
Yet, in my love you shall abide.
And every care that seems too hard for you
My grace and love will see you through.

Until Next Time
Rev. Marilyn Marinelli