Q&A- What Faith are you?

Posted on May 2, 1997 by Denise

Q. What faith are you?
A. Most people ask this question meaning “what religious affiliation or denomination are you”? This allows the person posing the question to determine by your response what “core” beliefs that you associate yourself with.

Most people don’t realize that even those that associate themselves with a “core system of beliefs” generally do not accept, practice or live by them in the first place, so why really ask?

To answer the question, I am not part of any denomination, organization, or association. I do not use titles or associations with any group or organization to identify myself, nor to I suggest that anyone else do either.

I have come to understand that there is a huge difference in what one knows and what one believes in or has “blind faith” about, and I find nothing in the pages of the bible to indicate anywhere that one is to have “blind faith” or that one is to state what “faith” one is to another.

I also find nothing in the commandments of Jesus Christ that he states anyone is to identify himself by a stated “faith” nor that he did by his own example. So for me, if what I live each day is not sufficient to identify who I am and what I know, then nothing that comes from my mouth, ever will. Jesus taught that people will know one another by their “fruits” (what their daily lives produce) and that’s the practice that I follow as well.

The things that a person chooses to accept to practice, live by are all based on a specific moment in time, subject to change as the person learns and grows, and shouldn’t ever be the bases that we use to identify another person. The real question is should it matter what “faith” another person is?? Should a person believing in Jesus Christ not simply know another by their fruits??

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Talk to God!

Posted on April 1, 1997 by Denise
Talk To God!

It is time for all mankind to fellowship with God! To talk to Him, listen to Him and get to know Him! The only way you can get to know someone… is to spend time with them! You don’t get to know someone by reading a book about them, or listening to other people tell you about them, you get to know them by spending time with them, asking them questions, allowing them to answer, and sharing with them what’s on your mind… Spending time with them! God is no different! God created mankind for fellowship with Him! We are not mere servants, but are Children of God!

Men have tried to teach us that being in sin separates us from God… but the bible clearly gives us repeated accounts to the contrary. Adam and Eve “sinned” and were cast out of the Garden, however, it is recorded that God spoke to Eve and gave her another son to replace Abel. Cain (Adam and Eve’s son) killed Abel and was not accepted of God, yet God spoke to him, and even protected him so that no one else would kill him. The list goes on… Moses killed an Egyptian, yet God spoke to him and used him in a mighty way, David committed adultery, killed a man to steal his wife, yet God declared him to be a man after God’s own heart. All of these accounts were before Jesus came and took away the sin of the world! Yet God still talked to His creation!

So why aren’t you talking to God.. and getting to know Him? Have you likewise believed the words of men and the teachings of men instead of the very words of God Himself? Have you not realized unto now that you can? Have you heard one of the following and believed it? Well read on and start talking to God today! Right now!

God cannot look on sin or will not hear me when I am in sin?
As mentioned above, God does talk to people in their sin… (sin being what we think is sin)… and God does hear you when you talk to Him even though you think you are in sin. How? Simple… God knows that He sent HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON to cover all sin… so that HE could have fellowship with HIS OWN. For many years God talked to HIS CREATION.. recorded evidence of it is everywhere in the bible.. yet, when they continued in their rebellion and instead of listening to HIM, turned from HIM, they began to feel that God wasn’t hearing them.. and then went on to tell others that God didn’t hear you when you were in Sin. The truth of the matter was, then and now, that God is always talking… it is only when we refuse to hear him, or get so many distractions in our lives.. and so many other voices are being heard that we cannot HEAR GOD! When we cannot HEAR HIM, we think HE is not talking! Which is wrong! Let me share with you this, which will help you to see what has happened along the way with mankind.

You are at home, you are listening to the television, you have a radio on in the next room, you have family coming in and out of the house, and you are trying to fix dinner. The phone rings… you hear the ringing and you go to answer the phone. You say hello… hello… and you don’t hear anything… the noise in the room with you.. the television, radio, family, and sounds of your own efforts are so loud that you can’t hear what the person on the phone is saying! Is that person talking?… YES! .. it is the distractions… and other “voices” that are around you that prevent you from hearing what is being said to you. What happens? Usually one of two things. One, you say.. “Hold on please”… and you go turn down the television , radio, ask the family to be quiet, and stop rattling the pots and pans, then pick back up the phone and say, “I’m sorry. There was so much going on around me that I couldn’t hear what you were saying”. Then you continue with your conversation! Or, secondly, you say.. “hello… hello”.. and when you still can’t hear… you say, “oh well, no one was talking, and you hang up the phone, never to hear what the person had to say to you. Then you immediately think that they didn’t want to talk to you! How wrong! They did, or they would not have dialed the phone and waited for you to answer it! It was you that didn’t won’t to listen enough to put aside the other distractions and voices to hear that still small voice, coming through to you! Think about it! God wants to talk to HIS CREATION.. He has sent HIS SON and the HOLY SPIRIT to dial your number……

You will not be able to recognize the voice of God! Or How will I know that it is God talking to me?
Some people don’t talk to God because they are not sure that they will recognize HIS VOICE and are taught that only certain people can hear God’s voice and recognize it. Again, very far from the truth. The bible shows us many places where God talked to people, many people, children, women, & men, without exception! How did they recognize this voice? Simple, the same way you would recognize any voice. How is that? You get to know the voice! By hearing it and listening to it. Think about it like this…

Your phone rings, you pick up the phone, and answer it. The person on the other end says, “hello, how are you today, I want to share something with you”! You don’t recognize the voice. What do you do? Simple, you say.. Who is this? They tell you who they are. You continue to listen and talk and you get familiar with hearing the voice. You respond to what the voice is saying to you. Then you hang up.

A few minutes later, the phone rings again, you pick it up, and the same person is on the line. You remember the sound of the voice, but you still aren’t quiet sure who it is, so you say, “Is this you?” And they confirm. The conversation continues, and you hang up. This happens, several times, then, after you have heard the voice and learned what it sounds like, you EASILY RECOGNIZE it, and you will not mistake another voice for it again! Wonderful isn’t it.. and yet so simple.. something that we do everyday… with everyone except God!

Men and the teachings of men, have made having a relationship with God and being in fellowship with Him so difficult! So many rules to follow, so many things to remember, but God is our Father… and the way you got to know your earthly father was the same you get to know GOD.. by spending time with HIM.. listening to what He tells you to do.. watching what He does.. and learning from it.. and doing what He tells you to do out of love for Him. It’s a beautiful relationship and one that far exceeds any relationship or fellowship you have ever had… so enjoy it!

I can’t talk to God about this? It is to bad, or embarrassing! or He will not Understand!
Again, so many people have used so many excuses based on what they have been taught about God that they believe that there are things that you have done, or said that you can’t talk to God about. Have you forgotten that He created you.. and is the all-knowing being? He knows all about you… and sees all that you do… and yet still wants to talk to you and have fellowship with you. Why? Simple! He wants you to have someone you can be completely honest with.. who will not hold grudges, who will not make you feel worse, who will help you see WHO HE REALLY IS and WHO YOU ARE IN HIM. To help you see that He knows you better than you know yourself.

God sees beyond what others see… God sees your heart… people see your actions. People see what you do.. and how you respond to things.. and what your reaction is to things… however God sees the heart.. knows the heart.. and understands that your actions are just the manifestation of what is in your heart. When there is pain … you react by causing pain.. when there is joy in there.. you react bases on joy.. and so when you talk to God you give HIM the opportunity to help you understand why you are doing some of the things that you do. It’s so simple… God wants you to know about you.. for you are HIM.. created in HIS IMAGE.. and what you are feeling and thinking is probably not a lot different that what He has felt or thought…and yet He wants you to understand that so that He can help you to understand YOURSELF!

So many times, people have tried to stop doing things… “get cleaned up” before they come to talk to God.. and get to know Him. They are told that they must do all these things before God will accept them.. and that is so wrong! God knows you better than you know yourself.. and understands you better than anyone ever will… and can help you to work through anything that you think is a problem.. and in most cases show you that what you are going through has nothing to do with HIM.. but more to do with you listening to what others have told you about HIM.. and taught you to BELIEVE HE WANTS instead of listening directly to HIM for yourself. See most of the time we bring misery and guilt on ourselves by listening to what someone else tells us needs to be “cleaned up” in our lives.. instead of what God said. It’s time that everyone starts talking to God.. and doing what He wants you to do.. and eliminating the other “voices” including your own… until you can hear only that still small voice that loves you and wants to have fellowship with you….the one that knows all about you.. and yet loves you anyway!

Will I get the message that God wants me to hear? What if I miss what God is telling me?
Once again, we have been taught by men that you might not be able to understand what God wants you to do, or you might miss what God is trying to tell you. Impossible! God will not allow that to happen. We see clear evidence of it in HIS WORD!
Here are a few examples to help you see God’s way! We see a man who God had told something directly called Balaam. He wanted to do something, and God told him that he could if the men invited him … but they didn’t come invite him… Balaam went to them.. after God had already told him directly. What happened? Did God give up on him and walk away… No! God allowed Balaam’s jackass to talk to him and get the message through to him. Then we have the account of Moses, who was told at an early age that he would be the deliverer of the children of Israel out of their bondage! God used a burning bush to get his attention, and do you know that after God spoke to Moses in the burning bush that it took Moses 40 years before he did what God told him to do. Did God give up on Moses? Absolutely not… like I mentioned… God knew Moses better than Moses knew himself. Then another account we see, is David, God gave him direction first, and David didn’t do it! What happened? God sent Nathan, his best friend and told him about it! Nathan pointed his finger in David’s face and said, “you’re the man”! You are the one that is not listening to God!

God will get the message through to you! We have seen it happen in so many ways in the bible, and so many different ways today. God is not limited when it comes to getting his message to his children, and yet, we must realize something very, very important! God always talks directly to HIS CHILDREN!

God is a loving Father, and doesn’t tell anyone else what He wants you to know! He tells you directly! Then when you are not listening, or you haven’t realized that God is trying to tell you something… then and only then does he use other methods! Talking animals, burning bushes, friends that you care for, total strangers… and many, many other means! God is very resourceful, and very determined! He wants you to always hear it directly from HIM… but if you aren’t hearing, (to many other things going on around you) or you simply aren’t getting the understanding, then He will use other things to help you, as any loving Father would. Think about it like this….

Your father here on earth loves you and cares for you. He has instructions and things that he wants you to know and understand. So what does He do? Does he come to you and say “my child, I have something to share with you and I want you to know this” or does he go across the street to the neighbor’s house and tell them, then direct them to come and tell you! Absolutely NOT! Your father tells you directly! So you will know and understand, and if you have questions.. you will ask HIM! Not go back across the street to the neighbor, ask them, and have them go ask your father for you. So that you get it straight from HIS MOUTH!

God is no different, and yes, sometimes when you are being hard-headed and not listening.. He will send someone, or something else into your life. Only to let you know that He is trying to remind you of what He has already told you! It is ALWAYS confirmation of what GOD has already said to you… or showed you!

God told Adam in the Garden of Eden not to partake of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, and yet when Eve told him to eat.. He did. If you will refer to the word of God.. Adam received the curse not entirely by partaking of the tree, but God mentions first that HE LISTENED TO THE VOICE OF ANOTHER! And what happened.. got the whole world in a mess.. AMEN!

God has and always will talk to YOU… and it is up to you to listen.. or you can expect that He will do whatever it takes to get the message through to you.. .including knocking you off your donkey. Remember Paul.. not getting the message from God.. and going right along with something he thought was right… and what happened… got slapped right off his donkey.. and was never again the same… AMEN! God will get the message to you… you just don’t have to be slapped off the donkey to get it… all you have to do is listen!

This message is directly from the heart of God. He wants His creation to realize what He done by sending Jesus to the earth in flesh.. taking away the sin of the world so that His creation would stop believing what men of old had told them.. and continues to tell us today.. and come to HIM.. talk to HIM.. and get to KNOW HIM.. and listen only to HIM. Isaiah says it clearly… “and thy children shall be taught of the Lord, and great shall be the peace of thy children”… and again “woe to the children, saith the Lord, who take counsel but not of me, who take a cover of covering not of my spirit, and add sin to sin”… Further it is repeated in Luke.. “all men shall be taught of God”… Jesus said to Peter, this is the rock that I will build my church on.. “flesh and blood has not taught you this, but MY FATHER”…

If you want peace, if you want to know God’s will, and to KNOW GOD.. it is simple… talk to HIM! Spend some time with HIM…. listen to HIM and tell HIM everything that is on your MIND… and learn to LISTEN ONLY TO HIM!

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“If We Obey God”- Oswald Chambers

Posted on February 7, 1997 by Denise

If we obey God, it is going to cost other people more than it costs us,
And that is where the sting comes in.
If we are in love with our Lord, Obedience does not cost us anything, it is a delight,
but it cost those who do not love Him a great deal.

If you obey God, it will mean that other people’s plans are upset and they will gibe us with it…
”You call this Christianity?” We can prevent the suffering; but if we are going to obey God,
we must not prevent it, we must let the cost be paid…..

We also can disobey God if we so choose, and it will bring immediate relief to the situation,
but we shall be a grief to our Lord. If we obey God,
He will look after those who have been pressed into the consequences of our obedience.
We have simply to obey and to leave all the consequences to God!

– Oswald Chambers –

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Q&A: Has your views and understanding changed?

Posted on January 3, 1997 by Denise

Q: Has your views and understanding changed since you started this journey?

A:  Absolutely!  Without question!

I’ve been asked this question many times… there seems to be some that think that having our views or understanding change is not to be done or is wrong.. but how is that possible?  How is it that I would ever expect to be taught of God, to learn from God and to be hearing from God and having each day of my life God share with me more wisdom, understanding and knowledge and not have that change my views, and increase my understanding, or in many cases have me toss what I’ve thought I knew aside?

See what I’ve come to understand is that it is what one experiences that one lives that brings to us understanding and wisdom and knowledge.  Most of what I said I knew about God, Jesus and the bible was not based on what I had actually lived and experienced first hand …. but more of a “vain repetition” of what I’ve heard taught, other people had said or claimed to have heard from God… and yet upon careful examination of what is in the pages of the bible… that wasn’t the case at all.

Each writer in the bible shares with us what it is that they heard from God, what God made known to them, revealed to them, etc…. and most all of them were not reading other writings before their time… had no scriptures and no other person available in their lives telling them any of those things.

I knew for myself, from an early age as well, that I had within me a “knowing” that I couldn’t explain but that taught me things, showed me things, and even directed me on doing things or not doing them…. without me having ever read the bible, or knowing what it contained within its pages.

However what I also come to understand, as has many I’ve met along this journey, that “knowing” that is within each of us as children, is what we are in most cases taught not to trust in, not to listen to and not to follow…..and wind up “hearkening to the voice of another” who is not GOD or that which is WITHIN US…. which is why we end up finding ourselves in the need of “reconciliation unto God”… as is outlined in the pages of our bibles, which also was the result of Adam having done the same thing.. “hearkened to the voice of another”.

So yes, a great deal has changed in my life… as it does in each of our lives as even we move from childhood to adulthood.  It should.  We should realize that each of us have a very “limited understanding” of all things…. and should be open and willing to learn something new … to consider new understanding as it comes to us.. as well as change how we do things, and our views as we do increase in wisdom and knowledge and understanding.

As the bible directs.. “in all they getting get understanding”… and I don’t see any way possible for that to continue on, if I cling to what I knew yesterday as if that is the sum total of all that there is ever to possibly know in even one regard, much less in light of “all things”!

A passage from the bible speaks volumes on this point to me….

And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what [is] that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

If as Paul states to those that were in Rome… a directive to be transformed by the renewing of your mind, then how is it that one is able to renew one’s mind if one is not willing to renew one’s thinking and views??

 

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Q&A: Making a Donation?

Posted on January 3, 1997 by Denise

This information on making a donation is being supplied only as a means by which to assist you in doing whatever it is that GOD directs you to do.

Please use the information provided here ONLY in ACCORDANCE with the directions given to you BY GOD!! 

Donations using PayPal

Due to my travel schedule, I’m not in one place very long, so I’ve set up an account with PayPal where you can make donations that will reach me as soon as they are posted with PayPal, IF GOD DIRECTS YOU TO DO SO!

PayPal allows you to send funds from your checking, savings accounts, or your credit card. It is a safe and secure way of making your donations, either one time, or setting up automatic donations as well. To make a donation using PayPal, Click on the Make a Donation Button below!

 

Donations via Mail, UPS, or Fed Ex

Packages and donations are also received at a mailing address that I will provide to you if you will email me for that information. They are then sent to me, once I reach a destination in my travels to receive them, however many times this is only once or twice a month. So if you send a check to this address, do not be alarmed if it does not clear your bank for a few weeks.

We ask that you NOT send perishables or large packages to this address.

Since I have to pay the shipping to have them sent to me, it is preferred, if you’re going to send large packages, that you send them directly to me. Email me for an address where I can receive them directly.

Additional Information about donations!

1.Gift cards from major retailers are welcome! Since my travel schedule takes me to many places, using major retailers enables me to utilize the donations where I am or to pass the gift cards along to others.

2. If you would like to provide lodging in your area, either in your home, or on your property, email me the information. Since we travel in an RV, having a place to park the RV in various areas is always a blessing… and it gives me the opportunity to be in accordance with Jesus’ instruction in meeting and visiting in homes. Click Here to Email me!

3. When available, I also use high speed internet, so I welcome donations to provide those services as well as the small fee I pay each year for hosting this website.

Many of you are aware that EDM Studios has donated time and services for most of our computer & internet needs such as translation and chat software, radio broadcasting software, telephony services, and website design, and updates for the various updates that are done to the website and software that I use. However, there are a few expenses that are not covered by EDM Studios that you are welcome to make a donation to cover if so directed.

4. If you would like to donate “fellowship” or “meeting” space, either in your home, business, or other venue in your area, please email me the details. I make it a point to follow the teachings of Jesus, meeting in public places, in the streets, as well as in the homes of people, and in churches or other places where groups of people meet normally. Click Here to Email me!

5. If what you feel lead of God to do is not covered in this portion of the website, feel free to email me the details. This is only meant to assist, and does not in any way indicate a limitation at all on what God would direct you to do.

As always, doing the will of God in accordance with the teachings of Jesus Christ is what it most important.. I trust God to lead and guide you.. it is the manner in which I live, and encourage others to do so as well!

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Q&A: Donations?

Posted on January 3, 1997 by Denise

Many people ask me about donations or what they can do to help support me in teaching what Jesus Christ said was to be taught, so let me begin by sharing with you what Jesus Christ teaches in regard to giving, and what God has directed me to follow. Jesus instructions are as follows…

Mat 10:42 And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.

Mat 25:35-40 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

Notice first Jesus saying these things to the righteous…(those that desire to do what is right according to God). Jesus speaks of who is to do the giving, who it is that it is to be given to then, what is to be given. Meat, (food), drink (water), took me in (lodging), clothed me, (clothing), visited me and came unto me (fellowship).

Next, Jesus then specifies who it is that it is to be given to, “as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me”, “whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones”, “only in the name of a disciple”. Jesus instructs the righteous to give to those in the name of a disciple… my brethren.. which we read in the bible are those that do the will of God, that are Jesus’ brothers and sisters, and mother as well.

Mat 12:49 And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren!

Mar 3:34 And he looked round about on them which sat about him, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren!

Luk 8:21 And he answered and said unto them, My mother and my brethren are these which hear the word of God, and do it.

According to the teachings of Jesus Christ, it is only to a disciple of Jesus Christ that the righteous should give to … and it is only what is specified by Jesus that should be given. Some of you are probably at this point asking about giving other things or why only this. Let me remind you that a disciple of Jesus Christ is one that first has forsaken all that he has to be a disciple.. so the things that Jesus mentions is all that a disciple of Jesus Christ would have need of to begin with.

Luk 14:33 So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.

If we look a bit further, we will see that it was the Holy Spirit of God that lead those that believed in Jesus to sell all they had and bring it and lay it at the feet of the disciples of Jesus Christ who had been sent out.. (apostles).

Act 4:37 Having land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles’ feet.

So, in accordance with the teachings of Jesus Christ, I accept donations of food, water, lodging, clothing, & fellowship and funds to provide those things. I ask you to be lead by the Holy Spirit and give in accordance to the teachings of Jesus Christ, as God directs you, and to give to those that are themselves followers of Jesus’ teachings and in accordance with the will and purpose of those teachings.

Let me share with you some additional information:

1.We are not a part of any denominational, or association affiliation so your donations are not used for membership dues, association fees, etc.

2. We do not build churches, places of gatherings, schools, worship centers, or family life centers.
Jesus instructed his followers to go into the “nations”….and did not mention the need for building buildings, etc. Jesus taught and had fellowship in the homes of those that he encountered in the streets and mountains, and in the synagogues already built, and we do likewise.

Millions of dollars are spent each year supporting, building and maintaining buildings when those resources should be used by those that follow the teachings of Jesus Christ to meet the needs of the disciples of Christ, and those that “suffer lack”.

3. We use what ever is donated to meet our needs and the needs of people where God sends us!
The people that were lead of the Holy Spirit of God to believe in Jesus Christ and His message sold all they had or brought what they had and put it at the feet of His disciples. (those that had forsaken all they had, and were disciplined followers the teachings of Christ).

The disciples were the ones that God directed others to give to, so that the distribution of what was “laid at their feet” was distributed to those that”suffered lack” and wasn’t used for any other purpose.

Jesus said that “a worker is worthy of his keep”. “Keep” includes the day to day needs of those that are followers of Jesus Christ, the disciples.. and does not include elaborate clothing, expensive cars, houses, airplanes, elaborate travel accommodations, etc, and we do not utilize any donations for such purposes.

4. We trust God to lead you to give according to the teachings of Jesus Christ.
There were people in Jesus’ day that gave all they had, as well as those that gave of their substance, and we know that some of you have been directed by God to sell all that you have and give, and come follow the teachings of Christ, and others of you to give of your substance to see that the needs of the disciples of Jesus Christ and the people are met! Either way, the point is for you to do what God instructs you personally and directly and in accordance with the teachings of Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit of God will never lead you contrary to the teachings of Jesus Christ.

5. We do not limit giving to “money” only!
What we want you to understand is that it must be done in accordance with what God gives you to do…and the teachings of Jesus Christ. If you are lead of the Holy Spirit to give money, it will be used only in accordance with the teachings of Jesus Christ… and if you are lead of God to give food, drink, lodging, clothing, or fellowship it is accepted.  The key here and what my focus is, and what I encourage to be the focus in all things is “as God directs to be done”.. and for all of us to “live by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God” to each of us!!!

We simply want you to know that no matter what it is that God directs you to give, we encourage you to do what God has directed, in accordance with the teachings of Jesus Christ! We know that whatever you are instructed to give, God has a purpose and plan for it, or He wouldn’t have directed you to give it!

6. We are NOT a non profit charitable organization.
We see nothing in the teachings of Jesus Christ that supports being a Non profit charitable organization or being restricted by the government of any nation in teaching the commandments of Jesus Christ, or having governmental benefits provided, such as tax exemptions, for doing what one knows to do as a follower of Jesus.

We encourage people to be lead by God, and to give according to what Jesus Christ instructs, not for a tax benefit! There is no where that we can find in the scriptures where giving was to be done by those seeking tax benefits or those that were disciples of Jesus Christ had “tax exempt organizations”. Jesus says that those that give to those in the name of a disciple shall in no wise loose their reward.

7. We encourage you to ASK GOD and take your direction and instruction from God alone.
Don’t base what you give on what God told someone else, or what you have been told by others that God expects. We encourage you to simply ask God, and then do whatever it is that God directs you!

Jesus has already provided the instructions, as to who it is to be given to, and what is to be given… but it is God that directs WHO is to GIVE!

Jesus made it clear… that anyone giving as much as a drink of water to one of the least of these in the name of a disciple, shall in no wise loose their reward!

Ask God, Hear God, and Do as God instructs you in accordance with the teachings of Jesus Christ!

For more on Donations see the article titled “Making a Donation”!

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Q&A: Do you receive/take tithes and offerings?

Posted on January 3, 1997 by Denise

Q. Do you receive/take tithes and offerings?
A. No. Jesus taught that men should follow what they hear from the mouth of God and do as God directed them. Some gave of their substance, some all of their living, but each as God directed them.

The bible also makes clear that whatever was given was given to those who had first themselves forsaken all to be disciplined in their own lives by the teachings of Jesus Christ, as well as what was given to them or brought to them was to be to be used for.

Next, we see from the bible how what was given to the Christ and His disciples was used.  It was NOT used for the building of buildings, the expenses of having buildings and property, nor was it used to provide extravagance to any man or women.

The bible makes it pretty clear that what was received was to be distributed, so that the needs of people were met. That is the instruction of Christ to his followers, those disciplined by His teachings, and we do the same, and encourage you to as well.

For more on this question, see the article on “Tithes and Offerings”!

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Q&A: What do we do if we feel lead to support what you’re doing….?

Posted on January 3, 1997 by Denise

Q. What do we do if we feel lead to support what you are doing and this website?

A. Do whatever it is that God directs you to do.. Always!

When you do whatever it is that you know you are to do, that is what its all about. That is how each of us are able to live our daily lives in honor of what it is that God is putting in our own hearts and minds to do…. and in accordance with the teachings and life of Jesus Christ himself, as recorded in the bible. So whatever it is that God puts on your heart or in your mind to do…. do it… follow the instructions that come to you as they do…. without wavering in doubt and unbelief… and the rest will take care of itself as it should.

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Q&A: Do you accept Prayer Requests?

Posted on January 3, 1997 by Denise

Q. Do you accept prayer requests?

A. No. This again is something that we have to carefully consider regarding the teachings and example of Jesus Christ.

Jesus’ instructions to His disciples in the pages of the bible is that when they prayed they were to go to their secret place, shut the door and pray to the Father in secret.

Jesus is also shown in the pages of the bible to have as His own practice, going alone away from even His disciples to pray to the Father in secret.

So there are a few things to consider in all of this that I’d like to share with you.  First being, how is it that one can be doing as CHRIST did, or taught, showing our love for Him, if we are not willing to keep HIS commandments and follow them ourselves?

How is it that when I see nothing in the pages of the bible where Jesus ever tells anyone else that they are to take requests for prayer from someone else, rather than directing them to “if you love me keep my commandments” and one of them being “but when thou prayest, go to thy closet, shut the door, and pray to the Father in secret”?

So this is what I know… you have the same access to God that I have, and you have the same relationship with God that I do. God will answer your prayers and talk to you as He does with me, so you don’t need anyone other than God.

If God directs you to contact me, to talk to me, then do so.   No matter what you’re facing, you are not alone!!  However, as outlined in the bible, the way to know the power of God in one’s own life, and to see the faithfulness of God to whatever it is that He says .. is to first hear it from the mouth of God Himself.. to get alone with God, in secret and see God reward you openly for doing so…. because as Jesus also states… “God knows what ye have need of before ye ask”…. Right??

So I’ll be encouraging you to “observe whatsoever Jesus commanded” and helping you to discover what that means for yourself, and to see from the pages of the bible why it is that Jesus is never shown to have asked anyone to pray for him, nor taught anyone else to ask another to pray for them either. It wasn’t the teachings of Jesus nor His example of living, so it is not mine either.  ♥

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Q&A: Do you speak in churchs, conferences, seminars… ?

Posted on January 3, 1997 by Denise

Q. Do you speak in churches, seminars, or conferences?

A. Yes! Jesus commissioned his disciples, those that had forsaken all to be disciplined themselves by his teachings to go into all the nations, teaching others to observe what he had commanded them. Jesus’ example was to share what God had given him to those that came to him, were brought to him, those that called him to come to them, and where God sent him.

I’ve been directed to do as Jesus did in this as well.  To share with others what God has shared with me, the words of Jesus Christ, to those that come to me, are brought to me, those that call me to come to them, and where God says to go.

Jesus “commission” to His disciples were to teach others to “observe whatsoever I have commanded ye”… and the question has to be asked.. is one himself/herself keeping His commandments if doing otherwise??

The issue that often time arises though, and has many times over the years is that when one invites a person to come to them to speak to them, they want to dictate what it is that is to be said, how it is to be done, or a lot of other things that simply is not in keeping with the “way” Jesus did things or taught that His disciples were to do them.

So as Jesus states, one cannot serve two masters, one has to do as one knows that God has given them to do, to speak what it is that God gives them to speak…. and that is no different with me!!

So if you or your church feel God directing you to invite me to come for a visit with you… or you want to come where I am …then by all means do what it is that you know you are to do!!  After all, as Jesus said, “God knows what ye have need of before ye ask”…. and “God provides for the lilies of the field and the birds of the air”… why would you think for you it would be less?? Right??  ♥

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