WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT RELATIONSHIPS.

Praise the Lord everybody. let everything that has breath praise His holy name. I continuously thank God for His grace and mercy. He is truly doing a great work my wife and I's life. Every day I look forward to what He hs planned for us.

Today He has given me a little food for thought on relationships. People are always concerned about relationships. Relationships at work, with family, with friends and with the opposite sex, relationships with the opposite sex being the most agonized over.

Christians being human also find themselves agonizing over relationships and falling into the same traps as the world. Today I want you to know that there is only one relationship, as a Christian, that you need to worry about, the one that will affect and shape all others, and that is your relationship with Jesus Christ.

Jesus tells us in Matthew 7:21-23  21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’

We must not fool ourselves into thinking that God will accept any kind of relationship with us. We cannot look at it as just a job where you punch in, do your work and then just punch out at the end of your shift. No matter how great a job you do at work you must realize that the relationship does not end at the end of your shift. You can’t talk your way through a relationship with God either, lip service will not satisfy Him. Isaiah 29:13NIV STATES,  The Lord says: "These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is based on merely human rules they have been taught.

 God wants to spend Quality time with you. God wants to be your everything, your all and all.

God is love and how can we know what love is if we don’t know Him? The bible says in  1 John 3:16-20 (NIV)

16 This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. 17 If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? 18 Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.

19 This is how we know that we belong to the truth and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence: 20 If our hearts condemn us, we know that God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything.

A loving relationship with Christ is the cornerstone needed to build all our other relationships on. So, make sure the love of God is in you and leading you in every way. Next time someone asks you about relationships, make sure to ask them about their most important relationship, the on with Jesus Christ.

      God Bless You All, Brother Darrell, Speaking Off The Wall

     

WE ARE THE "LIGHT BRIGADE!!

Praise the Lord everybody!! Let everything that has breath praise His holy name!! I can't begin to tell you how deep the Lord is working in my life. He is digging up the deep things in me that I thought were long dead and buried in me and resurrecting them so that I can deal with them. It is a sometimes painful but necessary procedure. God is doing a work in me, and I like it.

The Lord is in the process of getting His body, the Church, in order. He is coming soon. The other day I found myself thinking about a poem that I hadn't read since I was a boy. The poem was "The Charge of the Light Brigade" BY ALFRED, LORD TENNYSON.
It was one of my favorite poems at the time, it started off like this: 
 Half a league, half a league, 
Half a league onward, 
All in the valley of Death 
   Rode the six hundred. 
“Forward, the Light Brigade! 
Charge for the guns!” he said. 
Into the valley of Death 
   Rode the six hundred. 

II 
“Forward, the Light Brigade!” 
Was there a man dismayed? 
Not though the soldier knew 
   Someone had blundered. 
   Theirs not to make reply, 
   Theirs not to reason why, 
   Theirs but to do and die. 
   Into the valley of Death 
   Rode the six hundred. 

III 
Cannon to right of them, 
Cannon to left of them, 
Cannon in front of them 
   Volleyed and thundered; 
Stormed at with shot and shell, 
Boldly they rode and well, 
Into the jaws of Death, 
Into the mouth of hell 
   Rode the six hundred. 

Let me stop right here, I'm sure you get the idea. Anyway, as I sat there envisioning their gallant charge with no regard for their own lives, God began to deal with me in that regard. The Bible states in Revelation 12:7-11 that 7And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,
 8And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. 9And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

 10And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.
 11And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.

As I read this passage it came to me that as soldiers of the Lord, covered in the full armor of God, We are Gods "Light Brigade." Our Job is to bring God's light to the lost, no matter what the cost. Jesus told His disciples "14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.

15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.

16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." in Matthew chapter 5.

We have a mandate from our "commander and chief" to be light for a dying world, and we must carry that light, even if it turns out to be a suicide mission. I don't know about you all but, I'm not ready to die. But even more important than that is I don't want to die before I completely carry out my mission. I want to hear God say "well done Brother Darrell, come and enter into my rest." I don't want to hear "Get away from me, I never knew you." 

We have our work cut out for us because the world loves darkness as stated in John 3:17-2117 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

18 “He who believes in Him is not condemned, but he who does not believe is condemned already because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil.

 20 For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. 21 But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.”

Half a league, half a league, half a league onward, we must advance the love and light of God into the darkness of a dying world. charge!!
               

God bless you all, Brother Darrell, Speaking Off the wall

I AM SIMON OF CYRENE: REVISITED 2

Praise the Lord, I first posted this at this time the last two years and I was blessed by the response. During this time of prayer and reflection, I was moved to re-post it this year. To God be the glory.



Praise the Lord everybody! I pray everyone is enjoying these holy days leading up to Resurrection Sunday. These are days of wonder, days to look back in retrospect at what Jesus did for us. The other night I was watching the "Passion of the Christ" and as I watched I was again appalled by the brutality of His death. I also was intrigued by the plight of Simon of Cyrene who helped Jesus carry His cross. As I meditated on it I was moved to write the following account as seen through Simon's eyes. Luke 23:26
26 As the soldiers led him away, they seized Simon from Cyrene, who was on his way in from the country, and put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus. 


I am Simon of Cyrene and a heartbreaking but wonderful thing happened to me on a  Friday many years ago as I entered the city. There were crowds everywhere and as I neared the via Dolorosa I heard the sound of the woman weeping and wailing mixed with the shouts of men.I could not see to whom or to what all this emotion was directed, so I pressed in closer to get a better view.

It was then that I saw this large wooden cross that seemed to be dragging itself down the stone covered street surrounded by Roman soldiers. I said to myself "how is it that the cross moves?" Then I saw Him, half hidden by the crossbar a bowed and bloody figure stumbling under its burden. Blood was pooled in his every footprint as He grunted and groaned with His every step. Every part of him I could see was ripped and bruised, His flesh hung in ribbons.

As I detachedly watched, the agonizingly slow procession I was suddenly thrust into the surreal scene when I heard a voice loudly growl "YOU!! YES, YOU! COME HERE AND HELP HIM CARRY HIS LAST BURDEN!" as the soldiers laughed, I hesitated and started to protest, then I thought about running but thought the better of it.
As I approached this poor soul I could feel his pain and anguish, it was weird. I sped up to avoid the lash and arrived at his side just in time as he fell into me placing all his weight and that of the cross on me. I summoned all my strength and somehow kept us both upright.

Just like that, I found myself going from onlooker to the eye of the storm, surrounded by a whirlwind of emotions. As I joined in this obvious death march I was conflicted as I looked upon Priest and Pharisees and other devout men cursing this man yelling "blasphemer!! Crucify him!!" as they spit at us as I now shared in his shame. I thought to myself "my God what has he done to deserve this?"

At that point, he lifted up his eyes to me and I saw tears, not tears of anger or pain but tears of compassion FOR ME!! FOR ME! OF ALL THINGS!  he was concerned for me, even as he was suffering in what was undoubtedly his final moments. He looked at me and never said a word but that look said it all.
He then righted himself and continued on ahead of me leading me and his cross toward Golgotha the hill where hey liked to crucify and leave them hanging to be seen by everyone as an example. He could barely carry his own weight and as we drew nearer stumbled again and again, finally I dragged Him, myself and the cross to the top of the hill.

"OK you can go on your way now!" barked the Centurion as they began to unload the hammers and the nails. They ripped him out of my grasp and though I wanted to turn and run away I reached out to Him and asked "Who are you?" but He did not speak but again I felt his compassion as I finally turned and walked away covered in his blood. One of the soldiers cried out "YOU SHOULD BE HONORED, He CLAIMS TO BE A KING! KING OF THE JEWS!"

As I walked away I tried to wipe his blood from my person but I am glad I was unsuccessful, even though you can't see it anymore it is always there and the man whose name I did not know, three days later rose from the dead, I know Him now as Jesus the Christ my Lord and my Savior.
                     God bless you all, Simon of Cyrene

     I KNOW IT WAS THE BLOOD!   BROTHER DARRELL, A WATCHMAN

THE BUNNY IS WINNING!!: REVISITED

Praise the Lord everybody!! Let everything that has breath praise His holy name, for He alone is worthy. I pray everyone is enjoying the Holy week. I'd like to share with you a post I wrote on last years "resurrection Sunday." I feel the topic is just as important this year, if not more so. So here it is again for those who missed it, or just want to revisit it, God bless.


I began writing this post today, "Easter" Sunday to the world and known as "resurrection" Sunday to most of us Christians because I noticed something different in the spirit this year. Even though I could not get out to Church because of my disability my wife was able to get out to our Church today and she was able to confirm what I had been seeing, and feeling.

The Bunny is winning! Where are all the "Church folk" with all their finery crowding into churches in reverence to the Lord? On a day that the joy of the Lord is usually seen and felt everywhere, there was a distinct lack of fanfare for our "risen" Savior throughout the city and even the nation. I couldn't even find a decent sunrise Resurrection day service on television or cable, but everywhere I looked on T.V. or social media the "Easter Bunny" was leading the charge.

There were Easter egg hunts everywhere including the White House. Commercials about chocolate bunnies and Cadbury Easter eggs were everywhere. Facebook was filled with pictures of children and pets dressed up as bunnies, and a lot were posted by people calling themselves Christians. I asked myself "where are the tributes to the death and resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ?

Are these the times Jesus was talking about in Matthew 24: 3-14  3 And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?

4 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.

5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.

6 And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.

7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.

8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.

9 Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake.

10 And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.

11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.

12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.

13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

Anyone with eyes can see that we are in the Last days and Jesus said that in those last days, and that "the love of many shall wax cold." Their love for their fellow man and their love for Jesus shall dwindle and is dwindling away and it becomes more evident every day. On the day that celebrates Jesus Christ rise from the grave after dying on a cross for the Sin of mankind, the bunny got more media coverage and more reverence.

In a time when every Christian holiday is being downsized, it is time for Christians to take a stand, especially in the United States of America. The spirit of the anti-Christ is running rampant in America where Christians are trying to blend into the world rather than resisting the world in order to show the world a better way.

Brothers and sisters the bunny is winning and it's time for us to wake up.
          God Bless You All, Brother Darrell, Speaking Off The Wall

REFORMED OR REDEEMED?: WHY DO YOU WALK THE LINE?

Praise the Lord everybody! Let everything that has breath praise his holy name. God is truly worthy to be praised. I love what He is doing in my life and the life of my wife right now. He is preparing us for a whole new world and a new mission. I am spending more time in Gods' word and letting it renew my mind and revitalize my soul for the final push forward in these last and evil days.

The other day as I was talking to a good friend of mine he mentioned something about how the purpose of prisons was to reform the prisoners, making them obedient and useful members of society. My friend also mentioned that maybe they needed to be "redeemed more than reformed." That stuck with me as the day wore on, later that day I heard that soft still voice ask me "Darrell, why are you obedient? Are you reformed or are you redeemed?"

TO REFORM MEANS TO= To improve by alteration, correction of error, or removal of defects; put into a better form or condition: TO RE-FORM OR RESHAPE

TO BE REDEEMED MEANS: a. To set free, as from slavery or kidnapping, by providing money or other compensation.
b. To save (a person or soul) from a state of sinfulness and its consequences. See Synonyms at save1.
c. To restore the honor, worth, or reputation of: You botched the last job but can redeem yourself on this one.
5.
a. To atone for (an error or mistake)

I thought about prisons and reform schools where their goal is to change you through discipline and behavior modification. Your "insides" are still the same except now you are supposed to be able to control your behaviors and be obedient to the rules of society.

I asked myself this time, "why do I obey God? Am I reformed or am I redeemed?" Do I serve because of what God did for me? Because He loved me and died for me and freed me from my sin and addiction? Or am I "dry drinking" as they say in AA, being obedient just because I'm sick and tired of being sick and tired, just "kicking against the pricks"                              

serving God my way according to my own will. Paul talks about it in  2nd Timothy 3: 3-5King James Version (KJV)

3 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.

2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,

3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,

4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;

5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

Paul is not just talking about non-believers here, he is talking about Christians, people in the church who believe in their own minds that they are serving God, they may have given up certain behaviors but at the same time they involve themselves in other ungodly behaviors and have no feeling of a need to repent or seek deliverance. They are the "reformed" of the Lord. The trials of life and or a personal crisis leads them to seek God but they never truly embrace the "program" so to speak. They attend church thinking that is enough to keep them and protect them.


Jesus said in John 14:15-17King James Version (KJV)

15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.

16 And I will pray for the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever;

17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

The "redeemed" believer obeys out of a love for God, because of what He has done, and because of that loving obedience, He sends us the Holy Spirit to lead us, guide us and teach us and also convict us when we sin.
I must admit there was a time when I was more reformed than redeemed. When I finally stopped doing drugs for good that I didn't give God all the glory, telling myself that I stopped because I was tired and getting too old to be running the streets chasing drugs. After a while, I realized that if it wasn't for God I would have gone to hell with a crack pipe in my mouth. I am redeemed, bought with a price and the life I now live I live through Him and because of Him.
So ask yourself, "am I reformed? or am I redeemed?" and if you find yourself on the reformed side ask God to show you what is missing from your relationship with him and the Holy Spirit will guide you into a "redeemed" walk with him.

  God Bless You All, Brother Darrell, Speaking Off The Wall

Carrie Underwood And Crowder Sing 'Lift Your Head Weary Sinner'

THE MOUTH DISCONNECTED

Praise the Lord everybody! He alone is worthy to be praised! I can't thank God enough for what He is doing in my life in these last and evil days. So much going on in the world right now, war and rumors of wars, fear, and paranoia are running rampant in our country. There seems to be a PC backlash going on in this country. At one time everybody appeared to be very concerned about the political correctness of their conversations in their everyday relationships.

That seems to be changing these days. Since Donald Trump became a major player on the political scene, and now President of the United States. We have come to expect these things from the World but when you see them creep into the Body of Christ, Gods' people, it is quite concerning. There is a disconnect going on, a disconnect between the heart, mind, and the mouth.

the bible says in James 1:26     If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion [is] vain.

A lot of us who claim to be disciples of Christ and Holy men and woman of God has perfected the art of appearing "religious" but allow gossip, backbiting and judgemental words to come out of our mouths, directed toward our brothers and sisters in Christ are only fooling themselves and their religion is in vain.

The pain we inflict on each other with our tongues in the household of faith is without excuse. The Bible states in James 3:1-6
 My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.

2 For in many things we offend all. If any man offends not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.

3 Behold, we put bits in the horses' mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body.

4 Behold also the ships, which though they are so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth.

5 Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!

6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.


We go around saying things in so-called jest, and we do not realize the damage we sometimes do with a few words. We declare with our mouths that we meant no harm, but if we examine our hearts many times it would reveal to us that way down inside we meant to cause a little discomfort with our words. the bible says inLuke 6:45 (KJV)45 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.

The Bible tells us that "the heart of man is desperately wicked, who can know it?" this is why we must have the mind of Christ connected between our hearts and our mouths as a buffer. We need to inspect every desire and intention of our heart, bringing them into obedience to Christ before we open our mouths to speak.
The tongue is a volatile member that cannot be allowed to run amok, disconnected.

 If we continually cleanse our hearts and minds with Gods' word and our tongues connected to them both we will be able to keep to Gods' word that says in  Ephesians 4:29-32
29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.

30 And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.

31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:

32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

  God bless you all, Brother Darrell, Speaking Off The Wall