Life-Giving Perfume 1-31-17

“The message of the cross is foolish to those who are headed for destruction. But we who are being saved know it is the very power of God. To those who are perishing, we are a dreadful smell of death and doom. But to those who are being saved, we are a life-giving perfume.” 1Cor. 1:18; 2 Cor. 2:16

It’s a crazy world we live in.  

Lies, packaged as truths, are difficult to distinguish from actual fact.

Misguided love (commonly in the form of political correctness) has taken advantage of Christian kindness, resulting with a “twisted version of love” clashing with God’s actual definition of love in present day pandemonium.

Remember:

A fool finds no pleasure in understanding but delights in airing his own opinions

…His heart rages against the Lord. (Prv. 18:2; Prv. 19:3)

Jesus warns us that in the last days, people will be lovers of themselves and their money, boastful, proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, and consider nothing sacred. They will be without family love, unforgiving, slander others, have no self-control, cruel, hate what is good, betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than love God. They will always be learning but never able to acknowledge the truth, as they choose to bend their ears towards inventions, falsehoods, and fabrications. 2 Tim. 3-4

Good news: God foresaw all of this, and nothing is catching Him off guard. Everything is happening just as He as said it will. And amidst it all, Jesus encourages us, time is drawing near, stay alert, keep our head in all situations, endure hardship, train ourselves to be godly, be alert and diligent with His matters, give the enemy no opportunity, and guard what He’s entrusted to our care. 1Tim. 4-5

Difficult? Yes.

Exhausting? Yes.

Worth it? Most definitely!

Quick thought to ponder: Prv. 16:2 tells us that a man’s ways “seem” innocent to him, but motives are weighed by the Lord.

We each make daily choices.

Where are our small choices leading us? Towards God or away from God?

Jesus is coming soon. May we be ready. The Son of Man will come at an hour when we do not expect Him. He is bringing His reward with Him to repay all people according to what they have done. (Matt. 24:44; Rev. 22:12) Amen.

Much love and hugs this week. May we LOVE people with God’s love and not some illegitimate imitation. We’re in this together, may He grant us understanding and vision to navigate this tricky world we live in!

~Shaun and Betsy

Light Shines in the Darkness 12-19-16

“The light shines in the darkness.” Jn. 1:5

What unworthy commitments are filling up your mind and time?

When God is “little” in our lives, other things are simply more satisfying.

We become scattered, splintered, and weary from “running”. At some point our innovative planning and resourceful coping mechanisms eventually crack and fail us. Enter God.

Refusing to fit neatly into our “God time slots”, Jesus breaks through the darkness to shine light on our misguided perceptions and unwise commitments. And He’s very creative…

“Neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Rom. 8:38-39

God doesn’t overlook our poor choices, but He wants to redeem them. Although relationships and circumstances shape us, they don’t have to define us or keep us enslaved. We can be set free from the vices that ensnare us, small and large.

“In Jesus is life, and that life is the light of men.” Jn. 1:4

Let’s stop neglecting God’s presence, and start living for what truly matters. 

“God is light, in Him there is no darkness at all.” 1 Jn. 1:5-9

Our Lord beseeches us to choose life…real life. (Deut. 30:19-20) May we choose “real life” in our hearts and time commitments this Christmas season, as we celebrate God coming to the world as a babe to save all of mankind.

Much love and big hugs,

Shaun and Betsy

Prayers Heard 11-30-16

“Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard.” Dan. 10:12

There is so much evil in this present world, it can feel overwhelming. As we persistently cry out to Abba Father, we can feel our prayers aren’t heard.

But, don’t be fooled, each one of our prayers are heard by our heavenly Father.

“This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.” 1 Jn. 514

God hears every cry of His kids, but the Bible teaches that unseen forces often hinder our seeing God’s responses. Daniel 10:1-14 vividly describes one such encounter: An angel appears to Daniel and says, “Since the first day you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them. But the prince of the Persian kingdom resisted me 21 days. Then, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, because I was detained there with the prince of Persia. Now I have come…”

In 1 Thess. 2:18, Paul describes a similar struggle: “We wanted to come to you…certainly I, Paul, did, again and again…but Satan hindered us.” Paul goes on to teach that our struggle is against spiritual forces of evil, and our prayers are challenged by powers of darkness and spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

Describing this ongoing “war” in Eph. 6:10-18, Paul emphasizes the importance of persistent prayer: “pray in the Spirit, on all occasions, with all kinds of prayers and requests…for all the saints.” Make no mistake; spiritual forces of evil have been unleashed over America and around the globe. Satan knows he was soundly defeated by Jesus at the cross and resurrection. The devil could not defeat God, so he goes after God’s treasure: us.

Praise God, we believers are “armed and dangerous”. The devil has no authority over believers. God has placed His Spirit within His kids. We believers simply have to recognize, believe and act upon this fact.

~For His glory, God longs to infuse our prayer lives with inconceivable power!

“Prayers of the righteous are powerful and effective.” Jms. 5:16

~Will we believe His promises and diligently fight the good fight with audacious prayers? God ALWAYS proves Himself faithful to those who trust Him wholeheartedly.

We Cleary’s have experienced this divine power in ASTOUNDING ways this past month. From small “help me find my personal item” prayers, to “the seemingly impossible circumstances” prayed over years, to “prayers over nations”, GOD IS FAITHFULLY answering each one! Glory to God, the fulfiller of audacious prayers!!!

Time is cooking up for His return, may we live boldly, shining His light into every remaining dark crevice.

Much love and big hugs, ~Shaun and Betsy

Confused? Discern Truth 10-27-16

“See, I have told you ahead of time.” Matt. 24:25

“Solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.” Heb. 5:14 Jesus is our solid food; as we intentionally walk with Him, His essence is infused into us, helping us discern good from evil on evermore-subtle levels.

Case in point, the USA 2016 Election: There is so much corruption and deception, it’s tricky to discern truth from lie on any subject matter.

Thanks to God, we don’t have to reside in confusion!

Jesus tells us the Spirit of Truth will guide us into all truth, and that God will fill us with the knowledge of His will through spiritual wisdom and understanding.” (Jn. 16:12, Col. 1:9)

The catch?  God’s Word has to be our solid food…meaning, we daily choose to bathe ourselves in His Word, obey His promptings, and keep short accounts with Him as we sin.

God warns us in 1Tim. 4:1 and 2Tim. 4:3 “In later times, some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons…men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.” Lest we be fooled, false prophets of this world’s system aggressively pursue seducing Believers into both adopting unbiblical values and engaging ungodly aims.

Let’s explore.

Remember Gen. 11:5-9 when God confused the languages at Babel so the peoples of the world could not create a one-world order?  Flash forward to present day: Open boarder policies and globalism ideals are becoming popular once again. Principles of sovereignty are being demonized; and psychological pressure is systematically being imposed, with an agenda of shaming challengers to gain consent from the masses.

~Knowing God’s Word gives us a “truth plumb line” with which to discern deception surrounding present day scenarios, and foresight to navigate future days to which God has pre-warned. (E.g.: One world system of Rev. 13)                                                                                                                                                                                

You know what else the Word gives us? Peace. Indescribable peace knowing that nothing is catching our Lord by surprise.

If you are feeling anxious, please put into practice God’s promise:

“If you accept My Words, store up My commands within you, turn your ear to wisdom, apply your heart to understanding, call out for insight, cry aloud for understanding, (and search for her as for hidden treasure)…Then, you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. For the Lord gives wisdom, and from His mouth come knowledge and understanding. He holds victory in store for the upright, He is a shield to those whose walk is blameless, for He guards the course of the just and protects the way of His faithful ones.” Prv. 2:1-8

Concluding with our 2016 election example: None of this election chaos is catching God off-guard. No matter which candidate is elected Nov. 8, God is wholly sovereign and His kingdom calendar is marching forth on schedule. ~One person may simply hasten The Day!

May we rest in Him as we “live large” in our walk with Him.

Much love and hugs, ~Shaun and Betsy

Revealed Heart 9-29-16

“Out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks.” Lk. 6:45

How we view God determines how we view ourselves. If we truly believe God is who He says He is, our thoughts, words and actions will appropriately follow. Authentic faith is verified in our actions.  

God tells us that faith without works is dead (Jms 2:26). If our identity is truly based in Jesus, our works are “an outpouring” of our love for Him. Yet, if our identity is based our own works and accomplishments, at our core, we view God as one who serves us (not visa versa).

This week we visited 4 college campuses and posed this question:

“If you are the only sober person at a party, how do you feel?”

With regard to Believing students, we found 2 responses particularly revealing:

1) One Christian exclaimed that he loves to be the only non-drunk person at a party because he can “run circles around people, intellectually”.

2) Another Christian answered that he enjoys being the only sober person at a party because he can help “protect his friends”, and “my drunk friends let down their guard, allowing us to communicate at a much deeper level”.

What do these 2 very different answers reveal about these 2 individuals hearts?

Only God knows for sure, but the first person seems to reveal insecurity, pride, and desire for control. The second person seems to reveal compassion, love for others and a desire to understand and protect.

In which of these 2 people's actions do you see more of Jesus?

...Yep, so do the many other hungry, thirsty, and hurting who are watching!

God beseeches us to love one another:

“People will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”( Jn. 13:35)   

And He warns us, “Those who oppress the “poor” show contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the “needy” honors God...knowledge puffs up, while love builds up.” (Prv. 14:31, 1 Cor. 8:1)

Jesus created people to be loved and He created knowledge and things to be used.

Our foolish world teaches us the opposite: knowledge and things are to be loved and people are to be used.  

Which value do your actions reflect?

Oh Lord, may we desire to know You more, find You insatiably irresistible, being filled to overflowing as You embrace and infuse us in Your astounding love. Amen.

Much love and big hugs,   ~Shaun and Betsy

“You have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit to unfeigned love of the brothers, see that you love one another with a pure heart fervently.” 1 Pet. 1:22

Coming Home 8-23-16

“The Lord our God is merciful and forgiving,

even though we have rebelled against Him.” Dan. 9:9

An excerpt from David Redding in his book called Jesus Makes Me Laugh:

“A big black Scottish shepherd, Teddy was my dog, and he would do anything for me. He waited for me to come home from school. He slept beside me, and when I whistled he ran to me even if he was eating. At night no one would get within a half mile without Teddy’s permission. During those long summers in the fields I would only see the family at night, but Teddy was with me all the time. And so when I went away to war, I didn’t know how to leave him. How do you explain to someone who loves you that you’re leaving him?

So coming home that first time from the Navy (during WWII) was something I can scarcely describe. The last bus stop was 14 miles from the farm. I got off there that night about 11pm and walked the rest of the way home. It was 2 or 3am before I was within a half mile of the house. It was pitch dark, but I knew every step of the way. Suddenly Teddy heard me and began his warning barking. I whistled only once. The barking stopped. There was a yelp of recognition, and I knew that a big black form was hurtling toward me in the darkness. Almost immediately he was there in my arms. …What comes home to me now is the eloquence with which that unforgettable memory speaks to me of my God…

If my dog, without any explanation, would love me and take me back after all that time, wouldn’t my God?” 

Might you be in a dark space currently? Perhaps desiring to be in God’s loving embrace, yet you can’t fathom Him forgiving you of your sins and taking you back?

Recorded in Scripture is this beautiful pictorial of God’s forgiveness and love:

 “When he was still a long way off, his father saw him. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced and kissed him. The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight. I am not worthy to be called your son.’ But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him…bring the fatted calf …let us eat and be merry for this son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is now found.’” Lk. 15:11-32

God tells us that He rescues us from the dominion of darkness and brings is into His glorious kingdom, casting our sins from His remembrance (Col. 1:13-14, Is. 43:25, Ps. 103:12, Heb. 8:12). Jesus already paid the penalty for our transgressions, it’s our choice whether we choose to humble ourselves, believe He is Who He says He is, accept His free gift and become royal sons and daughters of the King.

“Repent, then and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord.” Acts 3:19

He loves us each so very dearly.     

Much love and squeezes,  ~Shaun and Betsy

Walk, Stand and Sit with Who? 7-31-16

“How long, O men, will you turn My glory into shame?

How long will you love delusions and seek false gods?” 

Ps. 4:2

“Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on His law day and night.” Ps. 1:1-2

Does not walk “halak”: to live as a manner of life, continually, be conversant

In the counsel “etsah”: advice and purpose

Of the wicked “rasha”: hostile to God

Nor stand “amad”: be in a standing attitude

In the path “derek”: of course of life or moral character

Of sinners “chatta”: reckoned as offenders

Nor sit “yashab”: to have one’s abode, to dwell

In the seat “mowshab”: dwelling place

Of scoffers “luwts”: talk arrogantly, to be inflated, show oneself a mocker

Our world is going mad!

Isaiah warns, “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter.” Is. 5:20

In whose counsel are you and I choosing to walk (live as our manner of life)?

In whose path are you and I choosing to stand (be in a standing attitude)?

Where are we choosing to seat ourselves (make our dwelling place)?

There are only 2 teams. We either pick God and His Team, or the devil and his team.

(Remember, 2 Cor. 11:5 tells us that the devil and his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness…. so be very discerning when picking your team!)

For true Believers, our Almighty Loving God promises us:

“You have been born again, not of seed which is perishable but imperishable that is, through the living and enduring Word of God.” 1Pet. 1:23

We’ve been re-born imperishable “aphithartos”: not liable to corruption or decay

Through “dia”: by the means of, reason by which something is or is not done

The living “zao”: to be in full vigour, actively blessed, endless in the kingdom of God

And enduring “meno”: to remain in reference to place, time, state and condition

Word “logos”: the essential Word of God, Jesus Christ, the personal wisdom and power in union with God His minister in creation and government of the universe, the cause of all the world’s life both physical and ethical, which for the procurement of man’s salvation put on human nature in the person of Jesus the Messiah, the second person in the Godhead, and shone forth conspicuously from His words and deeds.

Amidst this crazy confusion, may we live up to the blessings we’ve been promised, consistently choosing to walk, stand and sit with our forever faithful God and His team! 

Big hugs and much love as we eagerly await His return,  ~Shaun and Betsy