Author: Jennifer

King of Righteousness and High Priest

There was once a king named King Melchizedek, who was King of Salem. The name Melchizedek means righteousness. Salem means “Peace”. Not only was he a king of peace, but he was a high priest to El Elyon, meaning God most High, Creator of heaven and earth. King Melchizedek was both simultaneously a king and a priest.

Abram came upon King Melchizedek in the Valley of the Kings, as he was returning home after winning a battle against the kings who held his nephew, Lot, captive and was rescued by Abram.

King Melchizedek greets Abram in the Kings Valley and offers bread and wine to Abraham and his tired men. King Melchizedek blesses Abram in the name of El Elyon. Abram realizing King Melchizedek was a high priest serving the Living God offers the king a tithe of 10% of all he recovered from the battle.

King Melchizedek is a mysterious figure in the Bible. The Bible doesn’t mention his beginning or ending story.

”Without father or mother, without genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life, like the Son of God he remains a priest forever.” Hebrews 7:3. NIV

Jesus is a type of Melchizedek.

Jesus is King of Righteousness after His work on the cross and He is a High Priest who sits on the right hand side of God. As High Priest, He intercedes on our behalf to the Father. We are righteous because Jesus’ righteousness covers us in the Father’s eyes, despite our sins. We can bring our petitions to the Father, as well as our worship and praise to the Father thru Jesus. We end our prayers, “In Jesus name we pray,” because it is only thru Jesus, our High Priest, we can approach the Father.

”And it was not without an oath! Others became priests without any oath but He became a priest with an oath when God said to Him:

”The Lord has sworn and will not change His mind. ‘You are a priest forever.’”

”Because of this oath, Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant. Now there have been many of those priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office, but because Jesus lives forever, He has a permanent priesthood. Therefore He is able to save completely those who come to God through Him, because He always lives to intercede for them.” Hebrews 7:20-25. NIV

Thank you Lord for I have a Savior, a Shepherd , and Priest who is my King and intercessor to God the Almighty!

Jesus can be your intercessor too if you accept His free gift of grace by believing in His finished work on the cross.

”The Lord has sworn and will not change His mind: ‘You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.’”

Psalm 110:4

I’ve Come To Love

Today, my little mountain church, Trinity Baptist, came together to celebrate its 70th Anniversary. There were 5 preachers throughout those years and they all showed up to give a short history and sermon from the start up of the church to expanding and building another building, ordaining 12 preachers, growing the church throughout the years that continues on to this present age of the church. Throughout the years saints passed the torch of faith in God onto the next generation to move mountains, in growing the church and to be a safe haven to the community is a testament of God’s faithfulness.

In May of 2020, My husband and I retired to a small mountain community in New Mexico to live in a cooler climate, have close proximity to necessities and begin a new life. We started attending Trinity Baptist Church, just a short drive down the road. In God’s wisdom, He placed us where we needed to be. There is something to be said to be part of a body of believers to receive and give encouragement, cheer, and comfort from each other; to collectively worship and give praise to Him and study His word. The church is literally my lifeline.

In the current day of our church we saw many challenges as the devil tried to destroy our church. During COVID, we lost many of our congregation as the government was trying to shut down social get togethers. The children programs have suffered due to low attendance. These last few years, our congregation faced a large number of our saints fighting or dying from cancer and other illnesses. The seats became empty and our attendance numbers dwindled.

And yet… the life bloodline of our church still beats. New families, young children, and retirees started filling up the empty chairs. The children’s programs seen an upswing in attendance. God provides and is in control. The Holy Spirit never left and is drawing people to Trinity Baptist. A new beginning of saints are coming together and are continuing the church’s history.

The church is the bride of Christ. We are the collective body of Christian believers with Jesus Christ being our bridegroom.

There’s a song I love that resonates with me:

Little Mountain Church House

Song by Nitty Gritty Dirt Band ‧ 1989

Lyrics

1st Verse:

There’s a little mountain church in my thoughts of yesterday

Where friends and family gathered for the Lord

Where an ol’ fashioned preacher taught the straight and narrow way

For what few coins the congregation could afford

2nd Verse:

Dressed in all our Sunday best, we sat on pews of solid oak

And I remember how our voices filled the air

How Mama sounded like an angel on those high soprano notes

And “When the Roll is Called Up Yonder I’ll Be There”

Chorus:

Looking back now that little mountain church house

Has become my lifes cornerstone

It was there in that little mountain church house

I first heard the words I based my life upon

3rd Verse:

At the all day Sunday singing, with dinner on the ground

Many were the souls that were revived

While the brothers and the sisters who’ve gone on to Gloryland

Slept in peace in the maple grove nearby

“For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, His body, of which He is the Savior.”

Ephesians 5:23-25. NIV

The Admonishment of the Silver Cord, the Golden Bowl and the Broken Wagon Wheel

In the book of Ecclesiastes, King Solomon was already established as a successful king in Israel. His kingdom was flourishing. God blessed King Solomon with wisdom in the beginning of his reign, and he became the wisest king in all the world. All peoples from different nations would come and seek an audience with him to settle disputes, ask him questions and to marvel at his wisdom. He established alliances with other kings, sought out treaties that gave Israel rich resources and no wars. Solomon built the Lord’s temple with grandeur and riches. King Solomon became very rich, with a beautiful palace, expansive gardens, and he acquired over 700 wives through alliances with other kingdoms.

And yet, King Solomon was disgruntled. Nothing seemed to satisfy him. So he decided to take a walk about his own kingdom and observe his people.

As King Solomon watched his people toil, both the wealthy and poor, he pondered how life is meaningless under the sun. No matter what, both classes of people met the same ending, death.

King Solomon came to the same conclusion that whether there was pleasure, toil, oppression, wickedness, wisdom, righteousness, advancement, riches, friendship, there’s a common destiny for all:

“Everything is meaningless. All go to the same place; all come from dust and to dust all return. Who knows if the spirit of man rises upward and if the spirit of the animal goes down to the earth?” Ecclesiastes 3:20-21

Ecclesiastes was written before Jesus’ time and there was no reassurance of a resurrection, but King Solomon in his discourse left nuggets of hope.

King Solomon came to the conclusion that some things are beyond understanding. He fell back on the advice to fear God and obey Him no matter how things seem to be.

“Remember your Creator in the days of your youth,” Ecclesiastes 12::1. NIV

”Remember Him – before the silver cord is severed, or the golden bowl is broken; before the pitcher is shattered at the spring, or the wheel broken at the well, and the dust returns to the ground it came from, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.” Ecclesiastes 12:6-7 NIV

The silver cord is a metaphor of the fragility of life. It is the cord that bind the spirit to the physical body and upon death it snaps and the spirit goes back to God.

The golden bowl that is broken, the shattered pitcher and the broken wagon wheel give us visual images of the shut down of our body’s system.

There’s a call to action for young people to remember and honor their Creator before their life systems fail and death follows.

Even as we age we should not tarry to ask Jesus in our hearts and receive Jesus’ precious gift of grace for everlasting life. For we cannot predict the moment we will pass away and then it will be too late.

Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.”

Ecclesiastes 12:13-14. NIV

To cover you when you’re in despair

Five years ago when I learned I had a rare aggressive cancer, endometrial carcinosarcoma, I was in shock and despair as I confronted my mortality face to face.

Through God maturing me and the Holy Spirit showing me miracles these last years, fortified and strengthened me and gave me a hope and yearning to continue my life in another realm. It looks like I will be graduating a little ahead of my contemporaries.

I belong to Jesus. I will be going home soon.

In John 10:28-29 NIV says:

²⁸ I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. ²⁹ My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all^[a]; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. ³⁰ I and the Father are one.”

It is one of many Bible scriptures I hold dear that gives me great comfort. It makes me break out in praise to the Three in One, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Anyone who reads the Bible knows the Bible teaches opposite of what the world view is such as loving your enemies as yourself, forgive those who hurt you, have humility over pride.

Another important lesson is to praise God in the face of despair. Wear praise to the Lord as a garment that surrounds you and wraps you up in comfort, love, and hope because we wait in hope on the Lord, He is our Almighty God. Praise is an extension of our great hope in God.

In the words of Pastor Jentezen Franklin, “There are seasons when the weight of the world feels too heavy to bear. Fear, worry, depression—they creep in quietly, then sit on your chest until it feels impossible to breathe. But God has given you a weapon that never fails. It’s called praise. The scripture says we are to put on the garment of praise and take off the spirit of heaviness. Praise changes the atmosphere. Praise shifts the climate of your heart.”

Just as tropical plants cannot live in a cold climate, negative thoughts cannot live in an atmosphere of praise. The heaviness of fear, doubt, depression and self pity will drop away.

When you praise God, your spirit becomes elevated in His glory and reminders of His blessings and future blessings lifts you out of your negative state.

Give praises to the Lord every day. Just as the Lord’s mercies renew every day, our praise to Him should also be renewed every day. By giving Him our love and reverence we are acknowledging the power of God.
“From His dwelling place He watches all who live on earth; He who forms the hearts of all, who considers everything they do.” Psalm 33:14-15 NIV.

“But the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear Him, on those whose hope is in His unfailing love, to deliver them from death and keep them alive in famine.”Psalm 33:18-19. NIV

Fortify yourself every day giving God worship and praise to:

Withstand the lies of the the devil

Before you hear the news of the world

Before receiving bad news

Praise Him and watch the spirit of heaviness fall away. Change your climate.

“and provide for those who grieve in Zion – to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of His splendor.”

Isaiah 61:3. NIV

After you are saved in Him

When you accept Jesus as your Savior, there’s a joy, happiness and peace that envelops you. There’s a great desire to go to Church, worship Him and read your Bible as you feel the Spirit doing transformative work within you to change you on the inside out.

Just as a baby that needs to be nourished and cared for, when you are saved in Jesus, you feel the closeness of the Holy Spirit as He guides you to become more like Jesus.

A baby, after growing a bit and becoming aware of his surroundings, starts to take next steps to be mobile. A baby cannot stand before he learns how to sit, to walk before he learns how to crawl; or run before he knows how to walk. Things don’t come easy to him and the baby experiences many falls before he masters skills to become more independent and mature. The parents don’t need to hover as they did in the beginning of a baby’s life, but as the child grows, the parents are there to guide, and support him as he goes through his growing stages.

It is the same in becoming a new creature in Christ. There is a sense of newness and hovering in the beginning, by the Spirit, to walk with you in your growing stages . As we begin to grow in maturity, new challenges will enter into our lives as trials manifest. It was never the intent of God to keep a new Christian at the baby stage but to develop the baby Christian spirituality so that we may not be so self absorbed in ourselves but reach out to others by sharing their testimony in Christ.

The Spirit is not spoon feeding as much as before. He is still there; He dwells inside of you. But there will be trials and challenges we all inevitably face that develop us into becoming a mature Christian in learning how to be like Christ. In our trials and failures we learn through the heartaches to persevere, which develops character and character leads to hope in Christ. (Romans 5:3-5). By digging in deeper into His word, our prayer life becomes richer as we discover His unfailing love from the scriptures and by keeping our eyes on Jesus.

Jesus’ 1st command to us is to love the Lord God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and the second command is like it: To love your neighbor as yourself. (Matthew 22:37-40). In spite of personality clashes or if someone treats you unfairly, we are called to be imitators of Christ.

The Spirit has 9 fruits of the Spirit that becomes a part of us as we grow up in Christ:

The fruits are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control. (Galatians 5:22-23). These traits become more and more of our essence as the Holy Spirit works in us and we earnestly seek it.

How does God want us to live?

To do what is right, fair and honest; deal with others fairly not taking advantage of them.

Showing deep compassion, kindness, and steadfast love to others, extending the same grace that God provides,

Submitting to God, relying on His guidance rather than personal pride, and cultivating an intimate, ongoing relationship with Him. 

He has shown you, oh mortal, what is good.
And what does the Lord require of you?

To act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God.

Micah 6:8. NIV

From the inside out

When we become new creatures in Christ we begin to change from the inside out. The Holy Spirit, our Comforter, takes up residence inside us and replaces our old fleshly desires with desires to be like Jesus.

Change happens when the Holy Spirit starts the change process in our spirits and also when we ask Jesus to be free from being enslaved and in bondage, such as from a bad habit, an addiction, immorality, being in debt, making an idol out of something that has become more important than the Lord are several examples of bondage that we have trouble in overcoming.

Satan is like a roaring lion seeking to defeat and devour you. We try in our own efforts to change but we lose our momentum and fail. It is a mind game of will and Satan delights in playing self defeating messages and temptation through your mind. The battlefield is in the mind but you don’t have to own those self defeating destructive messages that run rampant through your brain . That is not you. It comes from Satan. Take authority over it, put it into captivity and make it obedient unto Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:5 NIV

Those thoughts will leave you if you exercise the Word, (the Bible), and wear the Armor of God to defeat the devil. We know the Holy Spirit transforms us to new creatures from the inside out and as change begins to happen, increasingly we don’t desire to do those bad habits.

But we need to remember that Satan and his demons will try to bring those bad habits back into our lives in the form of suggestive thoughts that enter into your mind. Turn to the Lord and He will strengthen you to reject it. You may fail; but don’t let it discourage you. Ask the Lord for forgiveness and get up because you have a new identity in Christ. Over time, the suggestive thoughts become fainter and you can laugh as the temptation that comes unbidden in your mind becomes feebler, because the Holy Spirit that dwells within you has strengthened you to reject it.

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13 NKJV

”No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.”
1 Corinthians 10:13. NIV

3….2….1…..Launch!

Time. So funny how it feels like time can drag, time stands still, time goes by too fast, not having enough time, to having plenty of time, time to do what we put off….or not.

Time is a precious commodity to me. I feel in my spirit it’s time to get ready to launch! If there is anything positive about cancer, it has given me the opportunity to prepare here on earth to go home to Heaven.

Because of this trial, I have a closer walk with Jesus. I developed a relationship with Him. I talk to Him constantly throughout the day, I read His Word, I memorized scriptures in the Psalms and repeat them in my prayers. He has given me peace in the midst of my struggles. He walks with me in trouble. My heart rejoices in Him because I put my trust in His holy name. He delivers me from death and my hope is in His unfailing love. Psalm 33

I have been given the opportunity to show my love to Jesus. By serving and loving others I am serving and honoring Him.

It’s made me less judgmental, a kinder wife, more forgiving and accepting of others. Why hold on to petty differences when it serves no benefit? Especially when T-Minus launch 🚀 is coming nigh. My thoughts are fixed on heavenly things and did I lay up my treasure in Heaven instead of just accruing wealth on earth that cannot come with me?

Are we so fixated on survival on earth we missed the bigger picture – have we accepted Jesus Christ as our Savior so we can live with Him in Eternity? Eternity to God is a 1000 years is as one day!

If you prioritize God first, He will bless you and take care of you on earth. When our priority is God first He takes up residence in your spirit, soul and body. The Holy Spirit transforms your spirit first, soul second and then body into becoming holy which prepares you to live in Heaven. Not on any effort on your part; you just find you do not want to do those fleshly desires any more.

We all have a T-Minus time that is counting down. Time is precious and short. Don’t delay to accept Jesus in your heart. Believe in Him, trust He was born of a virgin, lived amongst us, and died for our sins so we may be saved. Believe Jesus was raised on the third day and sits, His work completed, on the right hand side of God.

My T-Minus time has almost counted down to launch time. My question to you are you ready for your launch?

“Since, then you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you will also appear with Him in glory.”

Colossians 3:11 NIV

“Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.”

Psalm 90:12 NIV

Land of the Free

Tomorrow is a special day. It is the 4th of July celebration of America becoming a country. And it’s not just a regular 4th of July, but a landmark of 250 years! America, Land of the free, is still thriving, keeping dear our Constitution and Bill of Rights that has been God ordained from the very beginning. Our forefathers lifted our country up to the Lord, dedicating our obedience to Him based on our Judeo-Christian beliefs. We made a covenant with the Lord to hold dear our belief in the Lord and the freedoms that are granted to each individual.

The Lord blessed our nation throughout the centuries and it is a testament that America is still free today. We still hold these truths to be self evident, and not to be taken for granted but treasured.

Throughout our history as a country, America has been put to the test to uphold and defend our Constitution and Bill of Rights. Evil forces attempted and still to this day, try to destroy Her and the ideals we hold dear. And yet, goodness and righteousness prevail by the grace of God.

I thank God I was born in America to Christian parents where I can worship Jesus without fear. But each generation must do their part in defending and keeping America free. Threats are coming in all directions but as Christians we must stand in the path of evil and fight for America and defend her freedoms to this day.

God will bless our country if we repent and turn back to Him, defend Israel, (our duty as Christians), and honor our Father in Heaven.

”When the righteous thrive, the people rejoice; when the wicked rule, the people groan.” Proverbs 29:2. NIV

Songwriter Lee Greenwood sang it best:

That I’m proud to be an American where at least I know I’m free,

And I won’t forget the men who died who gave that right to me.

And I’d gladly stand up next to you and defend Her still today.

’Cause there ain’t no doubt I love this land…

God Bless the U.S.A.!

“Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God and those that exist have been instituted by God.”

Romans 13:1 ESV

The Battle for Middle Ground

Have you ever felt like being stuck in the middle? No end in sight? Welcome to Ziklag, the battle for middle ground.

In the Old Testament David was on the run from King Saul who was tracking him down to kill him. Israelite King Saul became insane with jealousy that the people favored David over him. David with his band of 600 warriors fled to Philistine country to take refuge. David tricked Philistine King Achish into assigning him to the Philistine town of Ziklag in exchange for David to fight against his own people. David played a double game of raiding Israel’s nomadic enemies thus retaining his Israelite loyalty and convincing King Achish into believing he was raiding the Israelites.

While David was away on a raid, enemy raiders came and destroyed the town of Ziklag, and took captive all their women and children, herds of cattle and valuables belonging to David and his army of warriors. David and his army upon returning from their raid were in shock over their discovery of the devastation of their camp and it was almost too much to bear. David’s own warriors were so distraught and bitter in spirit they threatened to stone David.

David inquired of the Lord if he should pursue the raiding party and if he could overtake them. The Lord answered, “Pursue them. You will surely overtake them and succeed in rescue.” 1 Samuel 30:8. NIV

David and his 600 warriors were exhausted but took out after the Amalekites, the enemy raiders, At the Besor Ravine, two hundred of David’s warriors had to stay behind due to being too exhausted. As David and the remaining warriors pressed on they found an Egyptian slave who escaped his Amalekite master. In exchange for food, water and his life became an informer who led David to the Amalekite enemy camp. David found the Amalekite raiders in revelry eating and drinking over their spoils. David routed the Amalekites and fought them from dusk until the evening of the next day and was successful in recovering everything the Amalekites had taken away.

David was generous to the two hundred warriors that stayed behind to watch over their supplies and gave them a share of the plunder and their wives and children because the Lord had given them victory and He has protected them by handing over to them the forces that came against them. 1 Samuel 30:23-25 NIV

David also gifted some of the plunder to his friends, the elders of Judah, saying “Here is a present from the plunder of the Lord’s enemies. 1 Samuel 30:26. NIV

Are you in your own land of Ziklag? Is everything just a struggle to go through with seemingly no end in sight? Ziklag represents a season of intense testing, loss and a feeling of isolation.

Ziklag is a season of testing being pressed both physically and spiritually. It is a place where at first you rely on your strength and cunning instead of seeking God to guide your way through your situation.

David fled to Philistine without inquiring of the Lord. He had to struggle in his own strength, to double play the king of Philistine. As a result, David had to invent lies to appease the Philistine King, compromising his integrity. People lost their lives, and his own camp was burned to the ground and his precious family and possessions were taken away.

When your steps are misguided the Lord has a way of breaking you down to be in total dependence on Him. As you finally turn to the Lord, and trust in Him He will see you through your trial.

As you seek the Lord, encourage yourself in Him knowing that He is doing a good work in building character and maturing you into a deeper spiritual person. As you die to your old self, God will elevate you as you change from glory to glory.

Recognize there will be pain involved because a season in Ziklag is never easy.

Seek God’s direction by yielding to Him and rejoice in the process. Praise Him and read His word for guidance.

God will bring restoration and peace as a resolution is revealed.

Be generous with others and share in your testimony to bring light and encouragement to others as they go through their own Ziklag experience.

Find your refuge and comfort directly in the presence of the Lord.

”But David encouraged himself in the Lord his God.”

1 Samuel 30:6

In spite of problems

I find myself on a new front in my fight with cancer. I’ve been on some type of chemotherapy, radiation or immunotherapy treatment for years now. I’m recently started a new treatment that has harsh side effects. My body has not been given a chance to rest between treatments and I’ve gotten weaker. I struggle with severe abdominal pain and I lost a considerable amount of weight in a short time.

And yet, despite the problems, I feel it is well with my soul. I still feel joyful in the Lord and my hope is in Him. I expectantly wait upon Him in all aspects of my life, not just in the problems.

This great hope is being Jesus’ child knowing He walks with me in trouble. I know He rescues me because I believe in Him and His promises. He sacrificed himself on the cross to save us from our sins so we may live forever with Him. This present life is not my home; I’m just passing through. My real home is Heaven and this present life prepares me to become more like Jesus.

Trials mature us to grow up. My prayer is to have Apostle Paul’s attitude:

”I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have renewed your concern for me. Indeed you have been concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. I am not saying this be because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through Christ who gives me strength.” Philippians 4:10-13

Lord, I pray I don’t focus just on my problems and complain about my problems to others. My prayer is to live a joy filled life despite the problems and be a light that reflects You.

“For here we do not have an enduring city, but we are looking for the city that is to come.

Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise -the fruit of lips that confess His name. And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.”

Hebrews 13:15-16