gary settles
God Is Real & You Can Know Him For Yourself
Replace the stones of regret with the building blocks of repentance
“Start by replacing the stones of regret with the building blocks of repentance…”
How do we walk with God?
How do we live our lives together?
God is the master builder.
We are formed in His image and we too are builders.
Start by replacing the stones of regret with the building blocks of repentance…
which leads to change that comes from our innermost being, and helps establish our foundation for the truth, mercy and grace of Christ Jesus our Lord to be fashioned within us, more and more.
One stone and one block at a time.
Truth is, we are predestined to be conformed to the image of the Son.
This is a relationship.
This is a process.
This is a work of faith.
We are never alone in this race, yet the first step is often ours to make.
As we think it’s the first step, not able to realize that God himself has taken all the first steps before us.
Today, begin to replace the recent regrets with repentance and true change will be ushered in… enabling us to begin again with God afresh in what we call our today, which is truly the Lord’s day.
Having a clear conscience before our Holy Father is essential to our fellowship and communion with Him.
Take a first step, be encouraged! You are His hearts desire and the apple of His eye.
Build this life here and now with God’s help.
In spirit and in truth, we worship God and He is looking for all who will worship Him to come and do this work of faith in following His Son which is most beautiful and truly a work of love is no work at all.
The Spirit and the bride say, come! ❤️
What’s holding you back?
Good question…
What’s holding you back?
Better question…
What are you holding on to that you need to let go of?
In life, often times the stronghold is ours. We grab ahold of things and don’t want to let go. Not everything is profitable, Paul would say. We must examine ourselves. If something we are holding on to is truly holding us back, shouldn’t we let it go? The strength of our own grip can defeat us. If we are weighted down by the things we carry; no wonder we get tired so easily? To wait upon the Lord and make an exchange with Him, we must come with empty hands. Willing to let go and receive from God, afresh today.
Is it possible that we are coming to God, with our hands full? Holding on to things in this life that are not helping us, but rather hindering us? – What does an open hand represent to you? – It’s worth thinking about. – If we come to God with outstretched arms and open hands, we are able to trust Him for daily bread. If our hands are full, we can’t lift those same hands to God in sweet surrender and receive daily bread for today. – Jesus didn’t have a place to lay his head. – He certainly didn’t have his hands full of the things in this life. – He carried the ones God the Father gave him; but he carried them in his heart.
Something holding you back today? Show me your hands…what are you holding on to so dearly? What are you holding on to, that you aren’t willing to let go of? The strength of the “stronghold” in our lives can be the very strength of our own grip, holding on. With open hands and an open heart, we can approach God through Christ Jesus. – Laying down all our burdens and cares at His feet. – Laying so carefully, all the things we treasure in this life, at the throne of His endless mercy and grace. – Throwing into the fire that burns eternal, all the things in this life that cause us harm – the sin and the weights – we let go – we lay down – we surrender – at the foot of the cross, we find forgiveness. We let go – we come with empty hands and an open hearts, to receive from the mercy seat, in our time of need – We find rest for our souls.
Whats holding you back? – What are you holding on to that you know you should let go of? – Let God arise and His enemies be scattered – Don’t be afraid to let go and let God, today.
Born again
Some have said, “I was born this way” as a reason why their sin is okay or natural. All of us can say the same thing. We are all born into sin. Our sin nature is from the beginning. As we are born into this world, we inherit the sin nature passed down from the beginning of time.
Adam and Eve first sinned. Every person born of an earthly father inherited the sin nature from their father. We all have this condition and we are in this way, all alike.
We must be born again. Born from above. Born of God. Born of His Spirit. By this birth, we inherit His nature. We are born again. None of us will see the kingdom of God unless we are born again.
In this life, we have struggles. We have pain and sorrow. If we follow our sin nature and go our own way, so to speak… we may gain the whole world, but in the end, lose our own soul.
Our soul needs a Saviour. We need to be born of God; born again. Through this process, we become alive to our Heavenly Father and transfer our destiny to heaven, and eternal life begins here and now.
“God, if you’re really real, I want to know you for myself.”
The soul wants to know God. If God really exists, and He loves me, and forgives me, and in Him is the meaning of life and my existence… I must know Him… that’s why I am here. This is why I’m alive.
To be born again. To be washed in the water. To be made alive in Christ. This is life. This is love. This is the beginning.
Your shadow
This is the safest place I know
In your shadow
You are always over me, but I am not always under you
Sometimes I run away and hide… ashamed when I hear your voice
So thankful that you are still calling out my name
Here I am! I reply
I was afraid you were gone away, I felt so empty inside
After all the times I’ve let you down… said I love you, only to turn my back on you
I wondered if I would ever hear your voice again, or would my heart be to hard to let you in
I am out of words, out of breath, her I am, on my knees
When your voice breaks forth like the morning sun, I hear your voice saying… HERE AM I
These words lift me up into your arms, my tears wash over you
How can you love me so, and how can I love you, true
I would like to leave it all behind, temptation and trial, and enter into that eternal rest
But you have a purpose and plan
All things work together for good
So breath in me and make me new
Let me hide for a while, in you
Under the shadow of your wing
Till my heart be made whole again
This is the safest place I know
Under your wing
All that is required is spirit and truth… the which, you have provided
I come to you, through your son, to the only one that is good
A way where there seemed to be no way, is He
The door
The lamp that lights the way
The fire that burns from within, yet allows me not to be consumed
Speak to me, my dear love, and teach me how to overcome
Show me how to lay down this life, take up this cross, and follow after you
Search me out, oh God
Make my love for you, ever true
A love that comes off these pages and changes your mind, or your mood… like Moses or David
I want to be special to you
I want to encourage your heart and make you smile
I want to be your delight among ten thousand
Do this miracle of love in me that will change the seasons, from winter to spring
Let the sun kiss our face as we embrace
In your shadow, oh Lord
This is the safest place I know
In your shadow
I know God wants more from me, but it’s such a struggle –
Remember a labor of love is no labor at all…
The Lord requires for us to seek, that we may discover. This is a unique process for each one of us.
Within each of us lies a unique potential to touch the Lord in a special way.
The process of seeking changes us. As we find God in the secret place, He changes us. As we seek His countenance, we are changed by the journey itself, as it causes us to yield and grow in our faith.
What is God seeking?
More than anything else, He wants to find us. It’s YOU that He is after.
God is not looking for our best performance, He is looking for us.
He calls us by name and He searches until He finds us… Calling with His voice.
When He finds us, He holds us in His arms and carries us to safety.
To be loved…
Truly loved…changes everything.
What is our response to Christ who seeks and saves those who are lost?
What do we say to God’s Son who loves us?
Will we in turn, seek after Him, to know Him more?
When we find Him, what will we say?
Let your cry be heard… Let your heart express itself to Him right now….
Wherever you are, that’s where you’re at and that’s where it all begins –
Jesus is near and is waiting for you to call on Him.
Jesus… My Hope… My God… My everything….hear my hearts cry and answer speedily, be near to me! Hold me in your arms, surround me with your presence.. I want to know you!
He is a rewarder of those that diligently seek ❤️
Don’t let anything stop you –
Seek God with all your heart –
Tell Him what you feel inside… Truth after the inner parts is what He longs for, it’s what He is seeking… Only be true to Him and He will be truly yours ❤️
His name shall be called Jesus, for He shall save His people from their sins ❤️
A people in need, a people in deed.
Fed by my hand, yet trusting in the land.
Spoken to by my mouth, yet given up to the south.
How long will I wait? How far will you go outside the gate?
I’m seeking you. Are you seeking me?
I’m listening to you. Are you listening to me?
I’m preparing a place to meet face to face.
I’m making ready, for I AM the Bridegroom.
You’re all I think about.
I’ve given everything and my love is a fire burning bright for you.
We will meet under the wings of the cherubim, and there we will consecrate our hearts and be made completely known to one another.
No greater love than this.
I’ve laid down my life.
I’ve raised you up, before my Father.
I’ve washed you in my blood and clothed you in pure white linen.
You are mine and I am yours.
I’m expecting you, are you expecting me?
Turn on the lights! Make the house ready! The house of my habitation.
I dwell in safety, and where I am is where you will find the river of life that makes glad the city of God.
Be with me and you will be no more, as you were, but will become all that you truly are, that which I have spoken and created you to be.
Whisper and I will hear you, for I am near to you.
My love is a lamp… I walk in the darkness of the age….My love lighting the way… searching that I may find, all those that are lost, that are truly mine.
Lift up your eyes! Your Salvation draws nigh!
Glorify us in you, Father.
My bride and I. ❤️
Jesus.
Humble yourselves
2 Chronicles 7:14 “If my people, which are called by my name, shall _______________, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”
What have we forgotten here? What have we left out? What is missing from this picture?
….”humble themselves”
Have we forgotten about humbling ourselves before God?
What is the opposite of humility? That’s right! …PRIDE . God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.
Do we need to humble ourselves today? We may pray and we may claim to seek God’s face and turn from our wicked ways, but unless we begin by humbling ourselves, we may just be fooling ourselves.
The heart of man is easily given to pride. Pride is destructive and will lead to ruin.
This audio message was recorded live on November 1st 2020, at Grove 1st Baptist Church, Grovetown, Ga.
Draw near or Fall apart
Drawing near is vital.
If we don’t draw near, we will fall away. It’s a natural law… because, our carnal mind and carnal self will always draw near to the world, automatically…
We must choose to draw near to God, with the strength from the inner man of the heart ❤️ and by doing so, we also negate the carnal man wanting to “go his or her own way”
We draw near to God because we need to hear His voice.
We prepare our hearts as we purpose to draw near and we are assured that God himself draws near to us as we do the same; we are not alone.
We need to be changed, into the image of the Son of God… when we get closer to Father God, we are also being transformed.
He is Light. He is Love. He is Truth. He is the Way.
We need to draw near to Life.
Willing to move
Photo by Mario Enriquez
Willing to move
Not hearing God’s voice?
Might be time to move…
Move closer.
A rewarder of those that diligently seek, is He.
The I AM.
He never changes.
Not hearing God’s voice?
What’s getting in the way?
Maybe something needs to be moved, out of the way, so you can be face to face.
By His voice He calls to us by name.
When we hear Him calling, we either are delighted or we hide for shame.
We hide behind things that disguise our face, hiding our true self from Him, or so we think.
Have we given up or are we still running this race?
He makes all the difference and it all starts by hearing Him calling, calling us by name…
His voice spoke the world and its fullness into existence.
His voice caused our beings to be set in motion.
From the fullness of His heart, He speaks.
By His voice, He leads.
By His voice, He rescues.
By His voice, He speaks to our hearts.
This relationship is essential. This relationship is personal.
Let me examine myself…
Am I hearing God’s voice?
Am I listening?
The absence of His voice can be deafening.
I stop.
I bow down.
I repent.
I cry out.
I can’t make it without you!
I’m searching and you’re all knowing…
As I draw near to you, you’ve already began to do the same.
As I draw closer, My heart is racing, I’m moving closer…
Closer to your face, and my true hearts desire.
Speak to me my Lord, my Love, for your voice is like none other.
For yours are the words of life and with them you restore and cause great wonder.
I am yours and you are mine forever.
We begin again and again like a new day, like the early morning.
As the birds begin to sing and the sun lights up the sky, let my ear and heart be attuned to You.
I want to hear your voice, and I am
willing to move.
The how and the why…
How shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed thereto according to thy word. Psalm 119:9
The answer you’ve been looking for, for so long, is found in laying your life down for others.
That’s the how and the why.
As you’ve done unto the least of these, my brethren, you’ve also done unto me.
Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind and soul and love your neighbor as yourself.
No greater love does a man have than he lay down his life for his friends.
How do you lose your life for His sake? How do you die to self?
You lose your life, giving it away, for the sake of others. Lost in a labor of love, that really is no labor at all.
You die to self by becoming alive to others. In becoming alive to caring for the sheep, you become dead to only caring about yourself.
Do you love me more than these? Feed my sheep. Feed my lambs.
Do this in my name. For I am with you always, even to the end of the age.
❤️
Nothing is lost with God
Nothing is lost with God.
Even the very intent of our heart is seen, witnessed by God…
Example : Forrest (my son) has recently purposed in his heart to make his relationship bigger and better with God & to worship Him more. Forrest elaborated about changes he was making… decisions he was making to improve his relationship ( How did he know these things, I wondered!?? How did he know we are supposed to take responsibility for our relationship with God!??) Okay… back to the subject
For each of us, the same thing applies… we can make choices; decisions to draw closer to God.
In time, Forrest could be come discouraged and doubt could creep in saying, “why does it matter?” Why do all this extra anyways? What’s the point? It doesn’t matter… do what you want to do”
Of course these are lies of the enemy and simply not true… it all matters … in fact. It truly does matter. It all matters.
More so, God sees the intent of Forrest’s heart and by His Spirit, God is drawing Forrest to a closer relationship with Himself, and Forrest’s heart is responding to God in a most beautiful way…
I promise you, God remembers this!!! God sees this!!!!
This is never lost with God!!!
God sees the heart and knows the heart.
Our reward is with Him and is eternally safe.
Everything of value and significance is kept safe with God.
Keep taking steps and making decisions towards having a greater relationship with God… in fact, not a single thing is missed… God sees and knows it all… your intent and desire has merit with God. ❤️
The world may or may not remember the things we do… and can only judge the thing itself…
But with God, He sees the intent behind or before the thing, and judges the heart inside of us, as opposed to the thing that comes out from us… the outward expression, if you will.
Nothing is lost with God.
Young man, young woman…
Keep taking steps towards God in your heart, mind and life… keep pushing forward and making decisions to better your relationship with God… keep pressing forward towards the mark of the prize, in Christ…. keep reaching out in faith, asking for greater faith!!
Keep getting up!!
Keep shaking off the dust!!
God sees your heart and knows your thoughts…
Believe in Him and lift up your eyes!
Lift up your voice!
Cry out to Jesus!
Tell Him all about your fears and worries…
Tell Him all about your struggles and your doubts…
Don’t let anything stand between you and your Heavenly Father!
Come just as you are, exactly as you are, to His throne of mercy and grace…
God gave His only Son for you and I and He won’t keep anything good from you! Believe that!
Nothing is lost with God.
Nothing!!
WE ARE HOUSES
We are houses.
The Bible even calls us temples of the Holy Ghost.
Old Testament scripture refers to a man like a city without walls.
When the Lord fills the temple, we hear His voice and see His wonders.
When we fill the house with other gods and things of this world that perish, we get hell on earth.
When the house is filled with the Lord’s presence, He moves us and changes us from glory to glory.
When the house is filled with the Spirit of God, we get “thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven”.
Scripture mentions filling the house with precious things… vessels of honor.
Scripture mentions storing up treasures in Heaven.
Seems like the scriptures say that no man lives or dies unto himself.
We are connected, by design.
Life is about giving, exchanging, responding, and when we appear before the throne of God, for judgement, at the end of our earthly existence, we appear before God, alone.
Nobody else stands with us.
We are either all alone, or we have the Spirit of Christ Jesus.
Without the Spirit that raised Christ from death; we too are dead.
If we have the Spirit of Christ, we have been made alive in Him, who swallowed up – death, hell, and the grave, in His passionate victory over sin.
We cannot change who we are; who we were created to be.
We have a choice to respond to God with a “yes” or a “no”.
What will our house be filled with?
Who will we choose to serve?
Jesus said in my Father’s house, there are many rooms… I go to prepare a place for you, and if I go to prepare a place for you, I will also come again and receive you to myself.
The temple/tabernacle pattern from scripture was given as a model of the true tabernacle which is in heaven.
We are houses.
Jesus prepares a place; a house for us, within His Father’s house, for us to dwell with Him.
Should we model our house on earth like the one we have in heaven?
Should we be preparing to be received?
How can we store up treasures in heaven, here and now? While we are on the earth?
I would think anything we wanted to store in Heaven, we could bring into the house and give to Him who lives within us, and He will store it in heaven for us… probably in our particular place He himself has prepared for us! Makes sense, right?
☺️🙏❤️
Our tears are bottled up and stored in heaven.
As a remembrance before His throne.
Nothing is forgotten with God.
Nothing is lost with God.
Everything of eternal value is kept safe, by His power.
Nothing is lost with God.
Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse and I will cause there to be plenty. ( paraphrased )
“My Father’s house shall be called a house of prayer “
We are houses.
Hard times
Are you going through hard times right now?
Things beyond your control?
Heartbreak?
Loss of a loved one?
Things related to your job or livelihood/finances?
Relationships with family or friends?
Your body’s health, or your mental health?
Just fill in the blank…
One way or another, we all go through hard times.
We can easily become overwhelmed by the situation we are facing.
It’s hard to imagine ourselves on the “other side” of the storm.
We can be thankful for hard times, because they bring with them, a certain set of unique opportunities.
A chance to see something we haven’t seen…
A chance to reflect…
A perspective so different, from it we see more clearly… maybe for the first time.
What’s been missing, what’s been lacking, what’s been and won’t be anymore.
An opportunity to make changes or decisions that result in change, moving forward.
Opportunity to prioritize and make adjustments.
Come to terms with certain aspects of what has become “our daily lives”.
Fact is, God is close when we need Him the most.
God uses these times in our lives to create change for the better ( If we will allow His purpose ).
Like rubbing sandpaper over our rough spots…
Making smoother, less abrasive…
Making us empathetic and ultimately more useful for the Master’s work.
In order for us to carry the burden of Christ to others, we need forgiveness and understanding…
These resources are often deepened in our lives as we go through the valley of the shadow of death, as David described it.
Psalms 23:4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
Hardship can be an agent of change in our lives.
If you are in the middle of a trial by fire, so to speak…
I want to remind you, more than anything else; Precious things that are eternal in us are refined by fire.
Your’e not alone… In Christ, we are never alone.
He is with you.
Call on His name…
Jesus, I need you!
For the first time, call on His name!
Though you’ve called on Him countless times, call on Him today as though it’s for first time!
For the Lord is near to them that call upon Him and fear His name.
He will not allow us to be pushed beyond our limits, but will with the temptation or trial make a way for us to go through the difficult time by finding Him in the place we call upon Him… for there He will make a way of escape, into His presence.
He will prepare a table for us to commune with Him, right in the middle of the storm, right there, in the presence of our enemies!
Trust and hope in the Lord!
This trial hasn’t come to take away our life; this trial has come to drive us to our knees so that we may humbly call upon His name and find The Life, The Way, The Truth.
The hardest times in life can bring us to the highest places in fellowship with the Lord.
You are loved.
Never forgotten.
Beloved.
Let us call upon the name of the Lord Jesus, for His name literally means “HE WILL SAVE HIS PEOPLE FROM THEIR SINS”
He will continue to save us to the uttermost, until the last day, until the last hour, until the last moment.
Jesus is SALVATION to all that look to Him and trust in His name.
You facing hard times?
Your’e not alone.
Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to His purpose.
As a dear saint once told me…
“The Lord will be our best of times in the worst of times”
❤️Amen
gary settles 