Drum the Message Home

' What I’m getting at, friends, is that you should simply keep on doing what you’ve done from the beginning. When I was living among you, you lived in responsive obedience. Now that I’m separated from you, keep it up. Better yet, redouble your efforts. Be energetic in your life of salvation, reverent and sensitive before God. That energy is God’s energy, an energy deep within you, God himself willing and working at what will give him the most pleasure.' Philippi ans 2:12-13 (MSG) Sometimes we determine the size of your faith by the size of your test. Stand firm and the enemy will turn and flee from you. Shine brightly and let your light shine so that all can see where your faith comes from and believe. God is working in you and gives you the power to do what pleases Him.  In this day and age, be glad, we still have people that love the Lord and live according to His ways. In this day and age, be glad, we still have those who care deeply for their brothers and

'Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.' Colossians 3:12-13 (NKJV) I know Your plans for me God are for peace and not for evil. With that said, forgiving the past and the people who hurt me is not an easy thing to do. How can I find the best path to accomplish this? What will I lose? What will I gain? Teach me Your ways Lord. In Your perfect way, You always point out the obvious to me in love. How can I deny that it was Your love that brought me to the place of forgiveness? When I was saved, I had to admit to myself that I was a sinner in need of a savior, and You placed me under the power of the blood and made me whole. You forgave me and now I am to do the same to others. Lord, Your sacrifice was horrific and painful. You suffered and d

Then the Lord answered me and said,     Write a vision, and make it plain upon a tablet         so that a runner can read it.   There is still a vision for the appointed time;      it testifies to the end;          it does not deceive. If it delays, wait for it;       for it is surely coming;           it will not be late.'                Habakkuk 2:2-3 (CEB) The waiting game. When I am waiting on God, I am reminded of men who have waited for their visions to come to pass. Noah waited for 120 years for rain. Abraham waited for 25 years for a son. Jacob waited for 20 years while he worked off his debts. Joseph waited for 13 years while he was in prison. Moses waited for 40 years while wandering in the wilderness. David waited for 12 years to become king. Jesus waited for 30 years for His appointed time. How long have you been waiting? I can say I've waited to see visions become reality for twenty years! He is coming again soon.

'Away with your noisy hymns of praise! I will not listen to the music of your harps. Instead, I want to see a mighty flood of justice, an endless river of righteous living.' Amos 5:23-24 (NLT) When my songs of praise are not given in love, they become like a heavy weight and burden to God, so much so that He will refuse to listen to them. These are the typical songs of men, meant to please the flesh and to tickle the ear. These are the noisy songs of men, meant to be awe inspiring and presented flawlessly and in perfect tone and meter, yet lacking in humility and Holy Spirit power. These songs might not reach the throne room of heaven, but might be reaching just the audience I worked so hard to please. Let not my songs be like that. Prepared for the audience of many. Instead, let me work hard to perfect and sing my songs to an audience of One. Let me come to Him with the right heart to offer Him my songs of praise and spiritual songs. Let me raise my

'But: If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink. For by doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.' Romans 12:20-21 (EHV) Do good to those who hate you. Take care of his needs. When he sees the good that you do, this will surely bring pain and condemnation upon him and his conscience will convict him of the evil things he has done to you. Being a peacemaker could result in leading him to repentance. This is a principle of Godly living. I may resist anger and wrath, but who could resist a good deed? The good deeds are the ones that touch hearts in such a way as to bring me to remember the anger and humbles me. Simple acts of humanity and benevolence are so powerful. Kindness to the one usually results in the evil doer being undone. See your enemy undone. When something is undone, it is usually easier to put it back together in a more desirable way. This could be my

'But you, my delightfully loved friends, remember the prophecies of the apostles of our Lord Jesus, the Anointed One. They taught you, “In the last days there will always be mockers, motivated by their own ungodly desires.” These people cause divisions and are followers of their own natural instincts, devoid of the life of the Spirit. But you, my delightfully loved friends, constantly and progressively build yourselves up on the foundation of your most holy faith by praying every moment in the Spirit. Fasten your hearts to the love of God and receive the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, who gives us eternal life. Keep being compassionate to those who still have doubts, and snatch others out of the fire to save them. Be merciful over and over to them, but always couple your mercy with the fear of God. Be extremely careful to keep yourselves free from the pollutions of the flesh. Now, to the one with enough power to prevent you from stumbling into sin and bring

'May we never tire of doing what is good and right before our Lord because in His season we shall bring in a great harvest if we can just persist.' Galatians 6:9 (VOICE) What is my excuse? Why do I tire of doing good? I don't like to talk to strangers. I might offend someone. I don't have the time. Let's face it, we all come short when it comes to our responsibilities as Christians to the command of benevolence. Excuses. Excuses. Excuses. When I am tempted to place the needs of the Kingdom on the backs of others more qualified, I am convicted. If I see a need, but don't feel qualified, doesn't that make God out to be a liar? God knows my qualifications and my heart. He will not be deceived. He has given me the Holy Spirit and a measure of faith to use that power. When it comes to qualifications, we all have at least one, and some have them all. I am qualified. I am able. If I just believe. When I am tempted to say that I don't have t

'My choice is you, God, first and only. And now I find I’m your choice! You set me up with a house and yard. And then you made me your heir! The wise counsel God gives when I’m awake is confirmed by my sleeping heart. Day and night I’ll stick with God; I’ve got a good thing going and I’m not letting go. I’m happy from the inside out, and from the outside in, I’m firmly formed. You canceled my ticket to hell— that’s not my destination! Now you’ve got my feet on the life path, all radiant from the shining of your face. Ever since you took my hand, I’m on the right way.' Psalm 16:5-11 (MSG) Give me Jesus. When I choose You and put you first, then You chose me and made me Your first choice! You are all I need. You never withhold a thing. All of my needs are met by Your love and Your favor. Nothing is lacking. You are my beautiful inheritance! Your Words of wisdom never fail me. My sleep is not interrupted by worry or fear or regrets. My conscience is c

'Jesus then told the crowd and the disciples to come closer, and he said: If any of you want to be my followers, you must forget about yourself. You must take up your cross and follow me. If you want to save your life, you will destroy it. But if you give up your life for me and for the good news, you will save it. What will you gain, if you own the whole world but destroy yourself? What could you give to get back your soul?' Mark 8:34-37 (CEV) I had to ask myself how much will this good news life cost? What does it cost me to follow and believe? Some say it's free, but Jesus says it will cost you everything. Which is it? Can I afford to give Jesus everything? Have I given Him everything?  Life's too short. Shouldn't I spend the little time that I've been given on trying to get as much as I can out of it? Shouldn't I try to be the best that I can be? Shouldn't I be taking life easy? Shouldn't I try to get my fair share? In li

'Then he said to me, “Speak a prophetic message to the winds, son of man. Speak a prophetic message and say, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Come, O breath, from the four winds! Breathe into these dead bodies so they may live again.’” Ezekiel 37:9 (NLT) God often speaks a message of hope to the nations through His prophets. He restores life to the weary, when they are willing to speak for Him. This is a message that we all need to hear from time to tim e. We all have been in situations of life that appear hopeless to us. They become like our desert or our dry bones experiences. Some times we look at our problems and see no answer. Some situations appear to be hopeless. Then God questions our lack of faith and sends us a prophet to give a word directly to us from His heart. Can these dry bones become living people again? He forces us to face the facts and to view the problem as it really is. Dry bones, yep. Death. Yep. Life? Only He can know the answer to tha

'Now this is what the Lord says. He created you, people of Jacob; he formed you, people of Israel. He says, “Don’t be afraid, because I have saved you. I have called you by name, and you are mine.' Isaiah 43:1 (NCV) Now, what am I to make of this? God knows my name! Isn't that something? God says, 'I am the one that created you'. God says, 'I am the one that formed your nation'. God says, 'Don't be afraid'. God says, 'I saved you'. God calls me by my name and tells me that 'you are mine'. If that doesn't get my attention nothing will. How can I not be moved by a God that gets personal like that? One that gets to know me on a first name basis. One that is always with me. You have loved me well and I will praise You. He knows me. He knows my name. Even the correct spelling. Thankfully, my own parents gave me a powerful name, and spelled it using traditions, with no extra 'e' or 'o' or 'h&

'Listen to advice and accept correction, and in the end you will be wise. People can make all kinds of plans, but only the Lord’s plan will happen.' Proverbs 19:20-21(NCV) In the Kingdom of God, isn't it unwise to say 'who is above me'? The Lord is over us all. Who can do anything without God's approval? No one Lord. With humble hearts and with His advice we figure it all out and worship Him for who He is, our glorious Sovereign God. What could be more important than to obey God and try to please Him? When we know Him, then begins our life of wisdom and correction and our plans begin to line up with His. The evil that men do in their rage against their own souls is still all used by Him to bring forth praise and the rest that remains He restrains. For those to whom He counsels He also protects and saves. For those to whom He counsels He also directs their steps even to a far greater end. For those to whom He counsels He also listens, so take h

'I can anticipate the response that is coming: “I know that all God’s commands are spiritual, but I’m not. Isn’t this also your experience?” Yes. I’m full of myself—after all, I’ve spent a long time in sin’s prison. What I don’t understand about myself is that I decide one way, but then I act another, doing things I absolutely despise. So if I can’t be trusted to figure out what is best for myself and then do it, it becomes obvious that God’s command is necess ary. But I need something more! For if I know the law but still can’t keep it, and if the power of sin within me keeps sabotaging my best intentions, I obviously need help! I realize that I don’t have what it takes. I can will it, but I can’t do it. I decide to do good, but I don’t really do it; I decide not to do bad, but then I do it anyway. My decisions, such as they are, don’t result in actions. Something has gone wrong deep within me and gets the better of me every time. It happens so regularly that

'Haman (to the king): All the provinces in your kingdom are overrun with one insignificant group of foreigners, people who haven’t adopted our customs. Their laws differ from all other peoples’, and they do not keep your laws. Therefore it’s not a good idea for you to tolerate them or their actions any longer. If it is your wish, sign an order that these people be destroyed, and I will bear all the costs. I’ll pay 375 tons of silver directly to those who carry out the king’s business in order to relieve the royal treasury of the expense.' Esther 3:8-9 (VOICE) Who was the insignificant group that Haman refused to name? The Jewish people. They had a name. They were not insignificant for they had destroyed the Amalekites of which he was one. So his resentment for them was deep, deep enough to allow Satan to use him in an attempt to destroy the seed of which Jesus was to come out of. Haman accused the Jewish people of being law breakers, even though he only o

'We are confident that God is able to orchestrate everything to work toward something good and beautiful when we love Him and accept His invitation to live according to His plan. ' Romans 8:28 (VOICE) One example of God's love can be seen in the book of Esther. Lessons from the Bible can reassure us of God's love for us and they show us that His ways are good and so much higher than our own. How powerful. In Chapter three, the evil ideas of Haman, to have all the Jews exterminated, had been decreed by the king, and the money set aside in an account for the diabolical deeds and the date was set on the calendar for the bloodshed! That part is so incredible, that one man was given that much power. Just imagine it if you were a Jew. The date for the destruction of your entire race was set and the preparations to follow through with it were being made. Thankfully, our God is greater. Our God is able. He is able to confuse the bad plans of men in power. O

'Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine O what a foretaste of glory divine Heir of salvation, purchase of God Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood Perfect submission, all is at rest I in my Savior am happy and blessed Watching and waiting, looking above Filled with His goodness, lost in His love This is my story, this is my song Praising my Savior all the day long This is my story, this is my song Praising my Savior all the day long Oh what a Savior, wonderful Jesus Death could not hold You, You are victorious Praise to the risen King Death could not hold You, You are victorious Praise to the risen Kind Oh what a Savior, wonderful Jesus Oh what a Savior Wonderful Savior 'Blessed Assurance', Fanny Crosby, 1873' If I could tell my story in a song this one would. If I could sing my story, it would be a song of hope just like this one should. The lyrics to my story would tell of a life of submission. How I submitted and He encouraged me and fill

'We are demolishing arguments and ideas, every high-and-mighty philosophy that pits itself against the knowledge of the one true God. We are taking prisoners of every thought, every emotion, and subduing them into obedience to the Anointed One. As soon as you choose obedience, we stand ready to punish every act of disobedience.' 2 Corinthians 10:5-6 (VOICE) In Paul's day the threats against God were from paganism, today we battle impure thoughts and motives, secular humanism, existentialism, post modernism, the occult and many other beliefs and philosophies. Pride of the flesh is on full display. As Christians, our battle is a spiritual one. We must remain humble, and stand against the false teachings. We must take prisoner every thought and emotion that is not from heaven. False religions and secular philosophies create impure thoughts that imprisons the minds of many. The god of this age, knowing his days are few, is working overtime to blind the mind

'I will teach you and tell you the way to go and how to get there; I will give you good counsel, and I will watch over you. But don’t be stubborn and stupid like horses and mules who, if not reined by leather and metal, will run wild, ignoring their masters.' Psalm 32:8-9 (VOICE) David's warning to sinners on obedience was coming from one who knew from experience the effects of a life of sin, lies, deceit, death and destruction and also the grace and mercy of a forgiving God. His lessons of life developed in him a maturity that qualified him to be able to teach others how to avoid the same mistakes he had made. Like a wild horse that has been trained by hard lessons and mistakes, his heart was broken and he was considered a man after God's own heart. I have first hand experience, learn from me he says. Sin ends in sorrow. I will tell you the way to go and even show you how to get there. The wild horses and mules must be caught and trained to be obedien

'Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go. This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will ha ve good success. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”' Joshua 1:7-9 (NKJV) After the death of Moses, God established Joshua as leader of His people and directed him to take them into the promised land. God established His Law to be the rule of His free-will people. Joshua was told to never turn away from the law and to make himself very familiar with its teachings and even more importantly, to do what was written

'And God spoke all these words: “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. “You shall have no other gods before me. “You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments. “You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name. “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any forei

'See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.' Ephesians 5:15-17 (NKJV)   The point is that I am running out of time. This point in time is the proper time to get moving. Get moving because the days are evil. I am so deep into it that I don't even notice it has consumed me. I have become a slave to my culture. I am living like a queen and have made it in the material world. My opportunities to do good seem to be under attach and even go unnoticed. For I am too busy and my mind is set on yet another unlimited task. When I look around me all I see are evil times, evil thoughts, impure motives, greed, idolatry, every disgusting thing is being manifested during times like these. Sin-natures are set on the auto-pilot mode and the windows of opportunity are getting smaller. Yet, even now, there is hope. I can know the redeemer

#1 Take back Sunday. The Principle of the Sabbath #2 Prayer. Pray without ceasing for those in need, the hurting, the sick, the lost who need      salvation #3 Read the Bible. Study and find the truths that are revealed to us in it #4 Cleanse the temple. Keep your body in shape and ready for the groom #5 Cleanse the house. Keep your home orderly and clean in an act of worship #6 Rest. Find a way to relax to reduce your stress and the demands placed on us everyday by our worldly commitments and responsibilities #7 Connections. Find a way to reach out to someone with a phone call or a visit. #8 Thoughts. Capture each one and ask yourself, is this thought going to lead me to an act that would embarrass me if I were caught doing it when the groom returns #9 Service. Find a way to get more involved in church, join the choir or help out where needed #10 What are some of the ways we could be redeeming the time?

'Do not participate in the worthless and unproductive deeds of darkness, but instead expose them [by exemplifying personal integrity, moral courage, and godly character]; for it is disgraceful even to mention the things that such people practice in secret. But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light [of God’s precepts], for it is light that makes everything visible. For this reason He says, “Awake, sleeper, And arise from the dead, And Christ will shine [as dawn] upon you and give you light.” Therefore see that you walk carefully [living life with honor, purpose, and courage; shunning those who tolerate and enable evil], not as the unwise, but as wise [sensible, intelligent, discerning people], making the very most of your time [on earth, recognizing and taking advantage of each opportunity and using it with wisdom and diligence], because the days are [filled with] evil. Therefore do not be foolish and thoughtless, but understand and firml

'I’m convinced that nothing can separate us from God’s love in Christ Jesus our Lord: not death or life, not angels or rulers, not present things or future things, not powers or height or depth, or any other thing that is created.' Romans 8:38-39 (CEB) No matter where I go, Love will find me here. I am never alone. Nothing that I could possibly say or do would cause Him to love me less. It seems unfathomable, yet here Love remains and all because of Jesus. Truth. Salvation so huge, for all and it's free. He found me. Love so inspiring, every detail so beautiful it overwhelms me. No beginning. No end. All powerful. All I need. God's Love in Jesus. I found that Love and never have to fear losing You again. Fullness. Included and inclusive. Forever and never alone.  

'My plans aren’t your plans, nor are your ways my ways, says the Lord. Just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my plans than your plans. Just as the rain and the snow come down from the sky and don’t return there without watering the earth, making it conceive and yield plants and providing seed to the sower and food to the eater, so is my word that comes from my mouth; it does not return to me empty. Instead, it does what I want, and accomplishes what I intend.' Isaiah 55:8-11 (CEB) With just a mere thought and Word God plans and perfects His thoughts into actions without effort, toil or limits. God always accomplishes what He sets out to do. I was made in His image yet I cannot begin to know Him in every aspect of His fullness of being, yet even with my own limitations, I can know Him in so many ways. My plans made with lack of fullness of knowledge, often fail but not without much pain and effort on my pa

' So don’t lose a minute in building on what you’ve been given, complementing your basic faith with good character, spiritual understanding, alert discipline, passionate patience, reverent wonder, warm friendliness, and generous love, each dimension fitting into and developing the others. With these qualities active and growing in your lives, no grass will grow under your feet, no day will pass without its reward as you mature in your experience of our M aster Jesus. Without these qualities you can’t see what’s right before you, oblivious that your old sinful life has been wiped off the books.' 2 Peter 1:5-9 (MSG) Peter describes these seven Christian characteristics of virtue which develop in a logical order to compliment the others. Often called the ladder of virtues or the stairway of faith, where I find my Christian friends I will often see these signs of the faith following. Faith is my foundation for without it I am not a Christian. Faith brings a de

'Surrender your anxiety! Be silent and stop your striving and you will see that I am God. I am the God above all the nations, and I will be exalted throughout the whole earth.' Psalm 46:10 (TPT) Stop your striving and see. See Him as He really is. Give Him your heart and your mind. Worship Him in spirit and in truth. Sing to Jesus. Resting. Let go. Relax.  Doing all I know to do and everything I can in my power is where I miss it. When I feel driven to take control over every painful situation He reminds me to give up that spirit of control and give in to His spirit of peace. When I relax, when I trust Him, when I work with Him, and not against Him I know I am in His will. When the target is God, and I am aiming at the problem, I miss the target every time. Every time.  Walk in faith and rest. Rest to your silly mode of pushing. Don't try to change everything to meet your needs. Believe and have faith that under the anointing, Holy Spirit will do the

'So no matter what your task is, work hard. Always do your best as the Lord’s servant, not as man’s, because you know your reward is the Lord’s inheritance. You serve the Lord, the Anointed One, and anyone who does wrong will be paid his due because He doesn’t play favorites.' Colossians 3:23-25 (VOICE)  

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.' James 1:17 (NIV) If not for the shadows there would be no beauty. Perfect love casts out all shadows and fear. In His presence there is only fullness of joy. God is light, and there is no darkness in Him at all. Don't forget to set my Holy Spirit alarm for this. I would not want to miss my 6:39 a.m. stunner, this early morning gem, this heaven sent gift from above, Do you see this? Behold what God can do in the shadows. Behold, God says, my gift to you. Even while most sleep He paints and He shines. Take it all in. Fullness. Every sight. Oh, what my eyes can see. Every sound. Oh, what my ears can hear. Every fragrance. Oh, what my nose can smell. Every flavor. Oh, what my mouth can taste. Every feeling. Oh, what my hands can touch. Everything and more. I have been taken in, overwhelmed and consumed by the beauty of an earl