Famous radio personality Paul Harvey once told a story of a family hurriedly visiting the Grand Canyon. As their minivan screeched to a halt the dad jumped out with his camcorder, made a quick video sweep across the horizon, jumped back in and while speeding away shouted, “You can watch it on the video!!”

If you have been to the Grand Canyon, then you know that no pictures can do it justice! Even years ago before I saw it in person, at Disneyland back in the 1960’s AT&T sponsored an amazing 360° Circlevision movie called “America The Beautiful” which visited many famous places across the country. While the segment of flying through the Grand Canyon in Circlevision was amazing, it could not compare to the actual experience of personally laying your eyes on it.

Likewise so is reading the actual Word of God. Obviously you are reading this message and today’s scripture in Psalms on a smartphone, tablet, or computer screen, but I have found that scripture really becomes present and powerful when you are reading it out of a physical Bible. Now don’t get me wrong! It is OK to research scripture from the web or a Bible app, but to have the Word go INTO YOU DEEPLY cast your eyes directly on the Word. This also applies to reading references in Christian books as well, so instead of just reading a scripture quoted on that author’s page, try opening your Bible and read the actual scripture from the Word directly and it will be much more impactful.

Certainly God’s Word will "Not come back to me (God) void" (Isiah 55:11) The Word always is powerful, but there is elevated power in the actual Word of God.

God Bless Your Day Jesus Loves You NotesOnLife.org

Mercy and Grace are two terms that are often used interchangeably, but are very different in declaration as opposed to decoration:

Mercy is NOT receiving PUNISHMENT that we DO deserve Grace is receiving BLESSINGS that we do NOT deserve

The Bible teaches that we are all guilty and none of us is righteous before God (Romans 3:10) and those in sin will die (Ezekiel 18:20), but because of God’s Mercy he has delivered us from sin and death. (2 Corinthians 1:10) So Mercy is God’s tender outstretched heart offered to all that “..none perish but all come to everlasting life.” (2 Peter 3:9)

Once becoming a child of God (John 1:12) and joint-heir with Christ (Romans 8:17) his love for us is showered upon us through his continued Grace and blessings to those who walk in His Grace. (Psalm 128:1) Even though we do not deserve that which we have not (nor cannot) earn or pay for, it is His nature to keep heaping goodness upon those that love Him.

Are you at the intersection of MERCY and GRACE? If not, there is a place at the cross(ing) for you. If you are not there, walk up to this signpost and receive the free gift of salvation of your soul. Oh! There is one more benefit thrown in when you do:

“Grace, Mercy and PEACE will be with you…in Truth and Love” 2 John 1:3

Blessings To You Today

We have all been in a dark place when we wish we had light. In a dark room it is always easier to walk towards or with light than away from it. As it is in the physical world, so it is in the spiritual world, but sadly most people choose the latter. Why is that?

Jesus answers that very clearly in this passage:

“Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.” John 3:19-21 You see, our natural sinful human nature does not really want to do God’s Good but what WE think is good. Our inclination is to make or follow our own light like a sadly popular current phase, You have to speak your own truth. Hear again the Bible tells us that Jesus is “The Way, The Truth, and The LIGHT” (John 14:6) We are not the light or the source of it.

The popular singer James Taylor has a profound verse in one of his songs that says “You don’t get no light from a TV screen” Add tablet, computer or cellphone to that and that is exactly the darkness in which most people are walking.

Are you Walking in Darkness or in THE LIGHT?

Blessings To You Today

There are degrees of intention in what we say.

We can make a Pledge to donate to a cause - but not follow through, or make a Commitment to participate in an organization - but not act on that word. We may also make a Promise to someone to do something - but then break it, and even take an Oath in a court of law - but perhaps not tell the entire truth.

In all of these, there may be varying degrees of consequence, but when you make a VOW before God this is on a whole, Holy different level.

God’s Word Is Very Serious About Vows. They are not casual or haphazard but are a formal, solemn, binding declaration before God that are not to be taken lightly and thoroughly accomplished.

For example, a marriage vow is intended to be an unbreakable bond, and likewise when we make a vow to God it requires it to be done immediately, completely, and without delay. A vow is like glue that binds two things together that should never be unbroken. Just ask anyone that has been through a divorce who is sadly aware of this - because when we break a vow it is sin.

Broken vows ALWAYS have consequences.

Friend, be careful about what you say and what commitments you make! Thankfully, if we fail in our vows or in anything in this life remember that “…the LORD your God is gracious and merciful, and will not turn away his face from you, if ye return unto him.“ (2 Chronicles 30:9)

Have you made a vow unto God that you have not kept? If so heed this Admonition AND Promise:

“Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.” Psalm 19:11

In World War 2 the Proximity Fuse was a radio-detection device in anti-aircraft shells that would automatically detonate when near the target of an enemy aircraft when within lethal range. This same principle applies to us when we get too close to something we should stay away from as well - and the Bible gives us an excellent example of how when we get too close to an enemy, we can cause our own destruction.

When Eve encountered the serpent it wasn’t at some random spot in the Garden of Eden. Her 'target' was the tree of Good and Evil and when she got close to it, that is when the enemy ignited the first sin in human history.

Whenever we allow ourselves to get close to anything that is our enemy, we open ourselves to be tempted and then to explode in failure. So if you are an alcoholic, don’t walk down the liquor isle in the grocery store! If you are a diabetic, stay away from the bakery department, and if struggling with lust eschew so-called 'Adult Web Sites!' and 'Gentlemen’s Clubs!' Whenever you do, that is when the 'Proximity Fuse of Sin' is certain to explode! Instead heed these words -

“For he that will LOVE LIFE, and SEE GOOD DAYS, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile: LET HIM ESCHEW (avoid) EVIL, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it.” 1 Peter 3:10-11

Friend, your choice to stay away from anything that tempts and harms is entirely up to you, because when you do there is No Chance Of The Proximity Fuse Of Sin Igniting.

Jesus’ words in Mark 11:23 is perhaps one of the most encouraging and energizing statements he ever made! That is, when speaking and talking and walking in faith, Christ tells us that things WILL happen when words are declared and decreed in power…but here’s the thing. You cannot just say ANYTHING like 'Open Sesame' and speak anything you want. Instead it requires two keys to unlock what we ask.

First, what is decreed and declared has to be In Accordance To God’s WILL And WORD:

“And this is the confidence that we have in him,

that, if we ask any thing

ACCORDING TO HIS WILL,

he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us,

whatsoever we ask,

WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE

the petitions that we desired of him.”

I John 5:14-15

Secondly, it requires that we do so and act upon what we ask Without DOUBT.

Doubt is the 'Gap' in the path of faith. It is the step needed to take to get to where you are promised and called to be when there are no visible stepping stones or bridge planks. This is what Jesus meant when he said “Without DOUBT in your HEART.”

God’s Word promises us many blessings, and if you have seen confirmation in prayer and meditation about a step forward you need and want to take, put aside DOUBT and trust in Him and your HEART and “...those things which he saith shall come to pass.”

Friend, when you 'know that you have'

You WILL HAVE

- but if -

You DOUBT You Will Be WITHOUT.

Will You take that step, speak out and believe it in FAITH?

* Have a Great Day! *

For more search on @getnotesonlife