Have Faith in the Power of God

“So Jesus answered and said to them, ‘Have faith in God.'” Mark 11:22

Just as raindrops in the air act as prisms, producing rainbow light,
so the moon glow through the clouds disrupts the dark of night.

Mankind has lit up buildings, using electricity as an energy source,
but Almighty God lit the many stars and set each planet on its course.

Imagine the power it takes to keep all those heavenly lights burning–
As proof of the existence of God, His lights make us discerning.

The sound of mighty ocean waves, day or night, speak of His power,
as do the majestic mountains and each uniquely-crafted flower.

Then, consider a newly-born baby or every individual’s special face…
the mighty to very small animals, the seasons and their systematic pace.

To have faith in the power of God is easy to do by just looking around
at all of the creative beauty with which this world has been crowned.

P. A. Oltrogge

See Genesis 1

“For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse.”  Romans 1:20 NKJV

Be blessed by The Greater Faith Conference 2017, http://www.moorelife.org, Session 4, “Life Energy” and Session 5, “Faith in the Power” (Series List, “Faith”)

Yours is a Wonderful Life

If your world seems to be in turmoil, and you’re experiencing trouble or strife, it would be beneficial to remember the Christmas tale, “It’s a Wonderful Life!”

Is there a “Mr. Potter” in your days, who has been greedy and domineering, while you’ve been working hard to do what’s right…and to be God-fearing?

If things have come to a head, and you think there’s no way through, remember how the angel, Clarence, showed George Bailey a thing or two.

George had to rescue him from drowning, which took his mind off his own woes.  Then Clarence “showed” him Bedford Falls, if it hadn’t had him to fight its foes.

Instead of a family-friendly town, it had become degraded, far below…the standard of a great place to live, through which good things could flow.

And the people who were important to him had lives that weren’t complete, simply because he hadn’t been there in Bedford Falls for them to meet.

At the end of the visitation by the angel, George realized the joy of just being alive.  Likewise, we’ve got God and the angels despite problems with which we strive.

George’s friends came through, as well, with appreciation for things he’d done.  As the Bible says, God will complete the work in us that He’s already begun.

P. A. Oltrogge

“I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy, for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun  a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.”   Philippians 1:3-6 NKJV

“The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy.  I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.”  John 10:10 NKJV

“Are they (the angels) not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation?”  Hebrews 1:14 NKJV

“He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.  I will say of the Lord, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress; my God, in Him I will trust.'”  Psalm 91:1-2 NKJV

Encouraging Testimonies

Praise the Lord! The following are testimonies from family and friends on the Lord’s intervention to heal:

A healing from an antibiotic-resistant staff infection–powerful answer to prayer!

After much prayer, another received what her doctor considered a miracle (due to difficulties she had had) when she conceived and gave birth to a healthy baby girl!

A healing of a hip fracture, which took a little longer than the doctor hoped, but was later pronounced “perfectly healed.” Second operation no longer considered!

Healing of a case of double pneumonia.

Elevated liver enzymes normalized after prayer and within just a few days before the retest.

A friend has a mother over 100 years old, and eye pressure/glaucoma has been a concern. My friend said the Lord told her that they should not rely on the eye drops only but to rely on His Word, as well. Before a recent exam, she declared over her mother a good report, and that’s what they got–greatly improved! And it should be mentioned, praise God, that her mother does extremely well for 102!

Total healing of a young boy’s head/brain injury after being knocked off of his bicycle by a car. The doctors had been very concerned about the initial and possible future impact.

Cases of healing from heart attacks and also a stroke, complete recovery!

Various successful surgeries and relief from, and even eradication of, pain. And praising the Lord for testimonies at church–lymphoma and other cancers conquered.

Praising God for all of the above today and for Christian family and friends who are wonderful prayer servants. One can also get agreement in prayer through Christian ministries, such as the Abundant Life Prayer Group: http://www.oralroberts.com.

I thank the Lord for good doctors, as well, but the hand of the Lord has been so very evident in all cases.

I pray the Lord’s intervention for any who read this blog if there is an area of need in your life for healing. Let’s continue to hope and trust in God for healing–even for the miraculous.

“Bless the Lord, O my soul,
And forget none of His benefits;
Who pardons all your iniquities,
Who heals all your diseases.”
Psalm 103:2-3 NASB

Healing teaching/testimonies at http://www.awmi.net

“See Yourself Healed”:
Blog article, http://www.covenantfamily.cc

The Greater Faith Conference 2017
at http://www.moorelife.org,
Session 2, esp. on healing

To Cast and Not to Cast

“Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.”
1 Peter 5:6-7 NKJV

I cast all my cares upon You, Lord,
for worry is something I can’t afford.

I’ll take Your peace, instead of stress;
Your thoughts towards me are always to bless.

Oh, what a compassionate God we have.
His love for us is like healing salve.

Cast your cares on Jesus–His peace in trade;
then leave them there once you have prayed.

Now, keep your confidence–don’t cast it away.
Hold fast to your faith in Him each day.

P. A. Oltrogge

“Cast not away your confidence, which hath great recompense of reward.” Hebrews 10:35 KJV

“Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.” Hebrews 4:14 KJV

“Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering;(for he is faithful that promised;)” Hebrews 10:23 KJV

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” Jeremiah 29:11 KJV

…thanking the Lord!

The Lord’s Magnificent Rainbow

Caribbean Photo by Porch of the Lord

Caribbean Photo by Porch of the Lord

Lord, how I love to see the rainbow.
It seems one of the closest things
to You directly speaking to us upon earth
of Your faithfulness–the reminder it brings.

And who but You could have created its design,
with pastels or bright colors displayed,
in a beautiful arch in the heavens,
following the life-giving rains that You’ve made.

It’s always magnificent–the sight of a rainbow;
and a double one is especially thrilling.
Though it usually doesn’t last for a very long time,
it reminds of a covenant You’re still fulfilling.

Though the rainbow fades, leaving only a memory,
it speaks, too, of Your love, that doesn’t fade–
for You gave your Son, Jesus, as Savior for us all.
Those who believe, find the greatest covenant You’ve made.

P. A. Oltrogge

“Then God said, ‘I am giving you a sign of my covenant with you and with all living creatures, for all generations to come. I have placed my rainbow in the clouds. It is the sign of my covenant with you and with all the earth. When I send clouds over the earth, the rainbow will appear in the clouds, and I will remember my covenant with you and with all living creatures. Never again will the floodwaters destroy all life. When I see the rainbow in the clouds, I will remember the eternal covenant between God and every living creature on earth.’ Then God said to Noah, ‘Yes, this rainbow is the sign of the covenant I am confirming with all the creatures on earth.'” Genesis 9:14-17 NLT

“He covers the heavens with clouds, provides rain for the earth, and makes the grass grow in mountain pastures.” Psalm 147:8 NLT

(The Lord will restore His people) Ask the Lord for rain in the spring, for he makes the storm clouds. And he will send showers of rain so every field becomes a lush pasture.” Zechariah 10:11 NLT

“Oh, that we might know the Lord! Let us press on to know him. He will respond to us as surely as the arrival of dawn or the coming of rains in early spring.” Hosea 6:3 NLT

“(Patience and Endurance) Dear brothers and sisters, be patient as you wait for the rains in the fall and in the spring. They eagerly look for the valuable harvest to ripen.” James 5:7 NLT

…written of Jesus: “And he said to them, ‘This is my blood, which confirms the covenant between God and his people. It is poured out as a sacrifice for many.'” Mark 14:24 NLT

“In the same way, he took the cup of wine after supper, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant between God and his people–an agreement confirmed with my blood. Do this in remembrance of me as often as you drink it.'” 1 Corinthians 11:25 NLT

“But now Jesus, our High Priest, has been given a ministry that is far superior to the old priesthood, for he is the one who mediates for us a far better covenant with God, based on better promises.” Hebrews 8:6 NLT

A Christmas Card Kept

A friend had sent me a Christmas card–an old-fashioned scene of a neighborhood with snow. It had just enough glitter to make the snow sparkle in what looked like a winter twilight’s glow.

Cardinals rested on greenery; and a village church was prominent in the picture, which reminded of the true meaning of Christmas–written inside was a scripture.

“The Lord will perfect that which concerns me. Your mercy, oh Lord, endures forever.” We are the works of His hands–Jesus promised to forsake us never.

We know that He will always stand by us–a great thought for all the year. The serenity of the village scene evoked assurance that, with God, there’s nothing to fear.

Sometimes I may want to retreat…to a nostalgic village like that pictured on the card. But I can remember the Lord is perfecting things for me, anytime that a day may seem hard.

P. A. Oltrogge

“The Lord will perfect that which concerns me; Your mercy, oh Lord, endures forever; Do not forsake the works of Your hands.” Psalm 138:8 NKJV

“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:10 KJV

“Know that the Lord, He is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people, and the sheep of His pasture.” Psalm 100:3 NKJV

“…be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.'” from Hebrews 13:5 NKJV

“But godliness with contentment is great gain.” 1Timothy 6:6 KJV

“I sought the Lord, and He answered me, and delivered me from all my fears.” Psalm 34:4 NASB

The Power of Jesus’ Blood

“Then Moses called for all the elders of Israel and said to them, ‘Pick out and take lambs for yourselves, according to your families, and kill the Passover lamb. And you shall take a bunch of hyssop, dip it in the blood that is in the basin, and strike the lintel and the two doorposts with the blood that is in the basin. And none of you shall go out of the door of his house until morning. For the Lord will pass through to strike the Egyptians; and when He sees the blood on the lintel and on the two doorposts, the Lord will pass over the door and not allow the destroyer to come into your house to strike you.'” Exodus 12:21-23
——————

The significance of the blood of Jesus, God’s Holy and unblemished Lamb,

is questioned or rejected by some as being objectionable, or even a sham.

But the Bible speaks of its life and its shedding for the atonement of the soul.

We can refer back to ancient Egypt and a lamb’s blood in a basin or bowl.

After the slaying of an unblemished lamb, the Israelites were given instruction,

to dip some hyssop in the basin of blood to keep their lives from destruction….

The Pharaoh of that day, despite plagues God had sent throughout his land,

refused to let the Israelites go free–which Moses told him was God’s command.

Despite rivers turning to blood, plagues of frogs, lice, flies, and livestock that died…

boils, hail, locusts, and darkness, Pharaoh still felt their God could be defied.

Then God told Moses of the tenth plague, which would be the decisive blow–

death of the firstborn from Pharaoh’s home, and throughout the land it would go.

The Israelites, therefore, were to take the blood-dipped hyssop, using it to apply…

to the lintels and doorposts of their homes, so that death would pass them by.

In the same way, Jesus’ blood must be applied to the “door” of every person’s heart,

for without the shedding of blood, the wages of sin and its death won’t depart.

So, blood, which seems offensive to some, gives life eternal as God has ordained.

Jesus’ blood is cleansing and powerful, to all who have been sin-stained.

Surely, the blood of Jesus “applied” today protects against adverse things;

and every Christian can claim that blood covering for the safety and security it brings.

Thank God for the “Lifeblood” of Jesus, which offers abundant life here and now,

but will, one day, open for us the gates of heaven, where, before our Lord, we’ll bow.

P. A. Oltrogge

“In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness.” Hebrews 9:22 NIV

“For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul.” Leviticus 17:11 NKJV

“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23 NKJV

“If we say we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.” 1 John 1:6-7 NKJV

“And they have defeated him by the blood of the Lamb and by their testimony. And they did not love their lives so much that they were afraid to die.” Revelation 12:11 NLT

Of Moses, “By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, lest he who destroyed the firstborn should touch them.” Hebrews 11:28 NKJV

“…according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace be multiplied.” from 1Peter 1:1-2 NKJV

…further reading in the book, “The Blood and the Glory,” by Billye Brim