Psalm 91 from my Husbands new CD "Worship and Meditation"

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"Forgiveness" By Len Paxton

"WOMEN BEWARE"

I was listening to Perry Stone last night and he talked about what women need to beware of in the last days. There were three things he talked about and this note is my way of sharing them with you. Women really need to be watchful of how they go through life. We are an influence to so many people. Lets be the right type of influence. Here is the three things we need to stay away from.

1) Manipulation - to manage or handle with art or skill; to manage skillfully. To change others by artful or unfair means so as to serve one’s purpose.

This is not just a one time thing. The only way to be skillful is to practice. To do something over and over. This is something that you do many times. Also, you study it from others. You master it.

You may have women in your family or in your circle of influence, beware. Manipulation is a powerful thing.

One way women influence others is by using her body. They use sex or their looks to make a man do what they want him to do. They do it to get things they want.

Manipulation includes mind control. Women use words to control others. They try to put fear or try to place guilt on someone to make them do something. A lot of times this can be done by bringing up one’s past sins, to use it against them.

So beware you don’t become one of these women and that you stay away from women like this.

Example in the bible: Delilah, Judges 16


2) Domination - to rule or control, to exercise of mastery or ruling power, governing, or controlling influence

Women beware you do not try to control another person. You are not the ruler of anyone. Do not try to lord over others. When women do this it is for their own gain. They want something and they control others or rule over other to get what they want.

Domination is one setting themselves up as God to rule over someone. These people use their power to control another person. This kind of person also uses manipulation & intimidation. They lord over another to get what they want.


Beware women that you stay submissive to God and the control of the Holy Spirit in your life. Do not allow the spirit of domination to come in.

Example in the bible: Herodias, Matt. 14

3) Intimidation - to make one timid; fill them with fear, to make fearful, to compel or deter by or as if by threats, to frighten into submission, inducing fear or a sense of inferiority into another, reduction to a state where the spirit is broken or all courage is lost.

This type of person will use all three: Manipulation, Domination, and Intimidation.

Beware women you do not put fear on another to get where you want in life. You have no business having anything to do with fear! You are to uplift people, not make them feel inferior to you.

Words can be so powerful, choose them carefully. Words can be used to give threats or can be used to make someone submit to your desires.

This person will use fear to force another person to do something or not to do something. Fear is powerful.


Example: 1 Kings 19


To overcome all of these:

First, you must stay in the Bible and learn what the bible say about who you are in Christ. Read it, study it, memorize it. Humble yourself and stay submissive to God and the leading of the Holy Spirit.

Second, keep your eyes on what Jesus did for you at Calvary. Only doing this will help you. You can not do anything on your own. You need the cleansing power of Christ and the help of the Holy Spirit, which you will get as you place your faith in what Jesus did.

Third, refuse the counsel of the world. Psalm 1:1-2 "Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord and in His law does he meditate day and night."

Everyday we are bombarded with ungodly counsel. Radio, TV, Friends, Family, etc... We can accept the counsel and encouragement of Godly friends and family. We are to help one other and encourage one another.

Last, decide that you will not allow these types of people to influence your life. And that you will not use these three ways to be a part of your life. It is very important that in these last days we protect ourselves from all attacks of the enemy. We do not want to be used by the enemy!! If you see yourself using Manipulation, Domination, & Intimidation, Beware! Resist it. Do not allow yourself to be as those of the world. Women of the world do not think twice about using these things to get what they want. We are not of this world. We will not compromise. We will be controlled and led by the Spirit of God!!!!

"Walk in the Spirit"

Galatians 5:16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.

There is a battle going on. This battle does not start until you are born again. Before that you just walk according to your fleshly nature (Eph. 2:2-3) As soon as you receive what Jesus did for you at Calvary, a war begins. But good news we can win the battle.

First, walking is to regulate one’s life, to conduct one’s self, to make due use of opportunities, to what are you occupying your life in, what are the activities of your life...

We are to walk in newness of life...Rom. 6:4

Walking in the Spirit signifies “by Supernatural power”, in contrast to “after the flesh”, “by natural power”.

We are to set ourselves to act under the guidance & influence of the Holy Spirit.

As we place our faith continually in what Jesus accomplished at Calvary, we are guaranteed to help of the Holy Spirit.

But when we turn to the law or man made laws we are denying the Spirit’s sufficiency to identify us as the people of God & to direct our conduct.


The Spirit is more than adequate to direct our moral behavior. The Spirit is the only sure guide for our behavior.

You will absolutely not gratify the desires of your sinful nature, IF you walk in the Spirit.

There is a battle between the sinful nature & the Spirit. We can be confident in the Spirit’s ability to guide us. Our every choice & every action and outcome of those choices and actions, depends on whether we are walking in the flesh or the Spirit. All aspects of life are to be directed & transformed by the Spirit. The Spirit produces a transformation of our character.

Life by the Spirit involves active obedience to the direction of the Spirit. Complete submission to the control of the Spirit. This is not done by observing the law or a law, but by believing what we have heard about Christ Crucified! Not by flesh, but by the Spirit.

As you place your faith in what Jesus did, you will be empowered by the Holy Spirit.

Let not our life be after the wills & motions of the flesh. We can not attempt to reach any kind of perfection by our own doings. The Holy Spirit is the only power to help us live the Christian life.

So today place your faith in what Jesus accomplished at Calvary for you and allow the Holy Spirit to direct and transform your life.

"Overcame by their testimony"

Revelation 12:11 And 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.

By the word of their testimony... by the utterance of their testimony...

With all the new doctrines that are in the church I see some differences to what is meant by “the word of their testimony”. I hear testimonies like, “the Lord gave me $100.00 dollars”; “the Lord gave me a house”; etc... Don’t get me wrong the Lord does bless us with things, but this is not the testimony that is spoken of here.

The reason I am writing this is because there are many people coming to church and hearing messages about God’s blessings and not about Jesus and what He did at the Cross. When people hear the other message they only look for the blessings of God and that does not produce change in their lives. But when one hears the message of the Cross, their lives are truly changed. It is only the Blood of Jesus that saves, not the things.

What if those things were gone. What if you don’t have a house to live in? What is your testimony then? What if you had to live in your car? What if you lost it all? What if you were like those in Heb. 11:36-39 ...And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise... then what would your testimony be?

People need to hear about Jesus, the Blood, the redemption of Christ, and all that Jesus did. I am not saying that it is wrong to share when God blesses you. But to be an over comer we need to testify personally to what the word of God says about what the Blood of Jesus has done. The work of Jesus at the Cross.

Our testimony is that of redemption through the blood of Jesus, the new life, the new nature that we have in Him. So, redeemed by the blood of the Lamb, the testimony of that redemption, we overcome Satan. We have victory over Satan through the blood of Jesus Christ. The fact that we have been redeemed, purchased. "I am a debtor," Paul said, "not to live any longer after the flesh, not to the flesh to live after it, but to the Spirit." "Know ye not that you are a temple of the Holy Ghost, which is in you. You have been bought with a price, therefore glorify God in your body and Spirit which are His. You are not your own. You have been bought with a price" (1 Corinthians 6:19). The old nature, the old life was worthless. It is dead. We count it dead. We reckon it to be dead that we might live this new life after Christ in the Spirit.



Their testimony evinced their victory over him by virtue of the blood of the Lamb. Hereby they confess themselves worshippers of the slain Lamb. We testify that we are redeemed by the blood. Many talk about God and even bring Him into their sins. But it is by the Blood that we are redeemed and that is our testimony.

Matthew Henry: By the word of their testimony, as the great instrument of war, the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,—by a resolute powerful preaching of the everlasting gospel, which is mighty, through God, to pull down strongholds,—and by their courage and patience in sufferings; they loved not their lives unto the death, when the love of life stood in competition with their loyalty to Christ; they loved not their lives so well but they could give them up to death, could lay them down in Christ’s cause; their love to their own lives was overcome by stronger affections of another nature; and this their courage and zeal helped to confound their enemies, to convince many of the spectators, to confirm the souls of the faithful, and so contributed greatly to this victory.

Our testimony a great instrument of war, WOW. Notice “by a resolute powerful preaching of the everlasting gospel”, not by testifying about the house, car, things, you receive, But by the preaching of the “Everlasting Gospel”.

...when the love of life stood in competition with their loyalty to Christ, they would rather die than give up Christ. You can put anything in that place: “when the love of _________...” you fill in the blank. If the love of anything stands in competition to your loyalty to Christ, you must give it up. Is it a job? Is it money? Is it your family? Our testimony must stay “Jesus Christ and Him crucified”. Anyone or anything that would try to change that must go.

Our testimony must be about Jesus and what He did! This is the true Gospel. Not the “gospel of self”, “gospel of _______” you fill in the blank. Their is a push to get Jesus and the Blood out of our testimony. It is OK to talk about God. It is OK to share messages about love, as long as it does not have Jesus and the blood in it. It is OK to pray as long as it is not in Jesus name.

Oh help us Lord to never compromise. Let us always say: “Nothing but the Blood of Jesus”.

"Accuser of the Brethren"

In the last days there is going to be more and more accusations of the brethren. One day he will be cast out, but until then he will keep bringing charges against you. The charges may be true charges. Maybe you did things in the past that was a sin against God and he is bringing those things up. The charges also can be made up and total lies. Most of the time they are a mixture of both. Like Eve in the garden. Satan likes to mix a little truth with a lot of lies.

Revelation 12:10(Amplified Bible)
...for the accuser of our brethren, he who keeps bringing before our God charges against them day and night, has been cast out!

In the last days there will be troublemakers, slanders, and those who callous and inhuman. They are relentless and will not let a truce come and they will continue to accuse and make accusations to those of God.

Timothy 3:3-5(Amplified Bible)
3[They will be] without natural [human] affection (callous and inhuman), relentless (admitting of no truce or appeasement); [they will be] slanderers (false accusers, troublemakers), intemperate and loose in morals and conduct, uncontrolled and fierce, haters of good.
4[They will be] treacherous [betrayers], rash, [and] inflated with self-conceit. [They will be] lovers of sensual pleasures and vain amusements more than and rather than lovers of God.
5 For [although] they hold a form of piety (true religion), they deny and reject and are strangers to the power of it [their conduct belies the genuineness of their profession]. Avoid [all] such people [turn away from them].

This is a hard one for me, because at the end it says from such people turn away and some of those people happen to be family members. Sometimes our own family will be the very ones who will bring up our past sins and accuse us. If they have not truly given their lives to the living God, they will not understand God’s forgiveness. How God casts our sins away and remember them no more. (Repentance!)

Isaiah 43:25(King James Version)
25I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.
Psalm 103:12(King James Version)As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.

These people who are doing the accusations have become a law unto themselves.

Romans 2:14-15(King James Version) For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves:15 Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;)



What are we to do when accusations come?

First we must examine ourselves. Have we sinned? Have we repented? Have we received what Jesus did for us at the Cross? Have we turned from our sin? (this is done only as we place our faith in what Jesus did and we will receive the help of the Holy Spirit to turn away)

We need to be void of offense toward God and toward men.

Acts 24:16(Amplified Bible)
16 Therefore I always exercise and discipline myself [mortifying my body, deadening my carnal affections, bodily appetites, and worldly desires, endeavoring in all respects] to have a clear (unshaken, blameless) conscience, void of offense toward God and toward men.

We need to have a good conscience. (this is not done with works or by anything that we can do ourselves)

Acts 23:1and Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day.


Matthew Henry’s commentary “Let us therefore take heed that we give him no cause of accusation against us; and that, when we have sinned, we presently go in before the Lord, and accuse and condemn ourselves, and commit our cause to Christ as our Advocate.”

Jesus is our Advocate and we must come to him to have a clear conscience.

We can be over comers. Here is how:

Revelation 12:11(Amplified Bible) And they have overcome (conquered) him by means of the blood of the Lamb and by the utterance of their testimony, for they did not love and cling to life even when faced with death [holding their lives cheap till they had to die for their witnessing].

Matthew Henry

By the blood of the Lamb, as the meritorious cause. Christ by dying destroyed him that hath the power of death, that is, the devil. [2.] By the word of their testimony, as the great instrument of war, the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,—by a resolute powerful preaching of the everlasting gospel, which is mighty, through God, to pull down strongholds,—and by their courage and patience in sufferings; they loved not their lives unto the death, when the love of life stood in competition with their loyalty to Christ; they loved not their lives so well but they could give them up to death, could lay them down in Christ’s cause; their love to their own lives was overcome by stronger affections of another nature; and this their courage and zeal helped to confound their enemies, to convince many of the spectators, to confirm the souls of the faithful, and so contributed greatly to this victory.

Acts 26:1-29 This is an example of an over comer. Please read. Paul was accused, told his testimony of God’s saving grace. He almost made King Agrippa a believer in the process. Sometimes our testimony will bring others to Christ and that is one thing that Satan does not like.

1 Peter 3:16-17(Amplified Bible)
[And see to it that] your conscience is entirely clear (unimpaired), so that, when you are falsely accused as evildoers, those who threaten you abusively and revile your right behavior in Christ may come to be ashamed [of slandering your good lives].
17 For [it is] better to suffer [unjustly] for doing right, if that should be God's will, than to suffer [justly] for doing wrong.

Matthew Henry’s commentary, “A good conversation in Christ is a holy life, according to the doctrine and example of Christ. "Look well to your conscience, and to your conversation; and then, though men speak evil of you, and falsely accuse you as evildoers, you will clear yourselves, and bring them to shame.

The most conscientious persons cannot escape the censures and slanders of evil men; they will speak evil of them, as of evildoers, and charge them with crimes which their very souls abhor: Christ and his apostles were so used...
...but thinking themselves at liberty to say and do what they please,” Ps. 12:4.

Psalm 12:4(Amplified Bible)
4 Those who say, With our tongues we prevail; our lips are our own [to command at our will]--who is lord and master over us?

There is so much that could be said, but the main thing is we go to God for forgiveness, repent, turn from our sins and turn to God, then let our Advocate Jesus fight the accusers.

"Sanctification by Works?"

This is in response to my earlier post. When I said this: “Your works are not contributing to your Justification, but your works manifest the Sanctification that is in progress in you!”

The responses left me feeling that we could work our way to Sanctification. Sanctification is not a part of our works. Works is a part of the Sanctification process in us. The work of the Holy Spirit in us will produce the works that we do. He makes us Holy. We can not make ourselves Holy through our works. We are Sanctified by His blood and the work of the Holy Spirit in us & we are being sanctified daily the same way.

To say we have to work for our sanctification, is like saying we have to work for our salvation. (Eph. 2:8-10) Don’t get me wrong we do works. But it is only as we place our faith in what Jesus did for us at the Cross, that the Holy Spirit works through us and that work in us produces works.

Romans 15:16..being sanctified by the Holy Ghost.
(By the Holy Ghost, not by works)

1 Corinthians 1:30But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:
(God made unto us sanctification, not our works)

1 Corinthians 6:11And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. ( we are sanctified in the name of the Lord and by the Spirit of God)

2 Thessalonians 2:13 ...because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: (through sanctification of the Spirit, not through our works)

Hebrews 2:11For both he that sanctifieth...(It is He that Sanctifieth, not our works)

Hebrews 2:11(Amplified Bible) For both He Who sanctifies [making men holy]...(Through the Sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit) (Through the work of the Holy Spirit, not through our works)

Hebrews 9:11-14But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building;
12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.
13 For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh:
14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? (our works are dead if we think our works can sanctify us. It is through our faith in Christ, not through our faith in our works, that sanctify us)

Hebrews 10:10By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.(Not of Works)

Hebrews 13:12Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate. (Nothing but the blood!!! Nothing but the blood saved us & nothing but our faith placed in the blood will produce sanctification in our lives. Once we place our faith in the sanctifying blood of Jesus, God gives us Grace and the Help of the Holy Spirit and that will produce our works)

1 Peter 1:2Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit...(of the Spirit, not through our works)

Jude 1...to them that are sanctified by God the Father...

Sanctification is a process. We are Sanctified when we receive what Jesus did for us at the Cross. The same way, as we keep looking to the Cross, we are Sanctified. Our sanctification does not depend on our works. Our Sanctification depends on our faith being placed and focused on Jesus, then the Holy Spirit will produce proper works in us. If we are focusing on our works to sanctify us we will fail. I hear Jimmy Swaggart put it in a perfect way, “Proper works never produces proper faith, but proper faith will always produce proper works.” In other words we can not depend on, look to, try really hard to sanctify ourselves. We can not do anything on our own. We must continue everyday to place our faith in what Jesus did and that alone and we will receive help from the Holy Spirit and that WILL produce proper works in us!! (this by in no means are all that can be said about this subject. I just felt I did not want to leave the impression that I was for sanctification by works. We must keep our focus on the Cross and the Cross alone)

3rd Podcast available on itunes

I Am writing again today to announce that we have added yet a 3rd podcast on itunes. This particular podcast contains our very popular devotional video's only and it is called " Len and Angie's Devotional Podcast" That is what you need to type in itunes to find this one. You can download these videos to your ipod and carry them with you to inspire you at breaktime at work, school, or just anywhere. Great for busy people.


So here is a synopsis of our podcasts: New Podcasts available on itunes.

1- The Len Paxton Teaching Series
These are video podcasts of our television program as aired on UpNorth 2 and blip.tv
These shows are downloadable and look great on itunes small screen. These are not ipod formatted.

2- Acts 26:18 Ministries
Audio only can go on ipod

3- Len and Angie's Devotional Podcast
This consists of our popular devotionals and can also be downloaded to your ipod. This podcast is video only. This podcast IS formatted for your ipod.

Angie and I pray that you will take advantage of this excellent material.

"Things I have learned"

These are some things I have learned from the word, my husband, Jimmy Swaggart, & Loren Larsen.

These words really blessed me and I wanted to share them with others.

Gal. 2:16 I am only Justified, reckoned righteous, & in right standing with God through faith & obsolete reliance on & adherence to & trust in Jesus. NOT BY WORKS {wholly & solely through Christ]

The law shows me my condition, my sin. It can not save me. Any thing I do as a law or ritual will not save me.

My works are not contributing to my justification, but my works manifest the sanctification that is in progress in you.

I am separated from the penalty of sin by Christ’s death. I am separated from the power of sin by drawing upon the help of the Holy Spirit.

Justification is for me. Sanctification is in me.

Justification removes guilt & penalty of sin. Sanctification removes the power of sin in my life.

Justification declares me righteous. Sanctification makes me righteous.

Good works do not make a good man.

Gal. 3:3 I was saved by faith in the message which is Jesus Christ & Him crucified, why would i try to work my way to victory (perfection).

God reaches down to me. I place my faith in what Jesus did at the Cross. That causes reconciliation with God. That gives me grace and the help of the Holy Spirit. Works are produces by the work of the Holy Spirit in me.

Rom. 6:10 I have no business having a relationship with sin, only unbroken fellowship with God, through Jesus. KEY: unbroken & in Christ.


When I place my faith in what Jesus did at the Cross, that gives the latitude to the Holy Spirit to work in my life.

It is not confession that brings salvation, confession confirms the salvation I already have received when I place my faith in what Jesus did at the Cross.

No matter what type of person I try to be, I can not do it with self. I must totally rely on God, looking to Jesus, the author and finisher of my faith. Then let the work of the Holy Spirit change me into the person God wants me to be.

The good things I do, do not & did not pay my sin debt. Jesus paid the debt and broke the bondage of sin.

Proper faith will always birth proper works. But proper works CAN NOT produce proper faith.

Look unto Jesus daily. Make what Jesus did, the object of my faith daily.

The law shows me my true colors & my need for a savior, Jesus!

My Focus: Jesus, Jn 1:6
Object of my faith: the Cross, Rom. 6:3-5
Power source: The Holy Spirit, Rom. 8:1,2,11
Results: Victory, Rom. 6:14

Focus: my works
Object of faith: Performance, Gal. 2:21
Power source: Self, Gal. 5:2
Results= Defeat

I can not be the best I can be. I must die to self. I can be the best He is making me. We try to improve on self and we can not. We try to work our way to God and we can not. Our works did not save us and can not save us. I am saved by faith, through grace only!!!!!!

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The Fellowship of the Cross

"A Word to the Married Women"

The days we are in a women is expected to be a certain way. Most of the time the focus is all ungodly. Independent, in charge, and her own women. I grew up in a house where women were in charge. The men were ungodly and thoughtless. Some of you have too. BUT, that does not mean you have to follow that ungodly way. The world would say it is OK to say what you want, you have the right, you are in charge of your own life. You are to think your own thoughts. You don’t have to agree with your husband. You can just divorce him if you don’t love him anymore, or don’t like what he says. Or you just are not compatible anymore. This is what Satan wants. He is after the family. He will stop at nothing to break up families. I feel women are very influential and really need to be careful of their actions towards their husbands.

I read something from a women’s Lib article that I thought was interesting. The women libbers argue that centuries of being “brainwashed” by a male dominated culture have made women passive, seeing their role as inferior, and oh the last one is a big one, they even like their roll as a homemaker and child-raiser. Wow! Oh what a bad thing to like being a homemaker and a child-raiser. There is much to say about both husband and wife, both male and female. But I only want to share some scriptures on the wife. Yes, the husband is to treat his wife as Christ does the church. He is to be and do many things. But lets look at some scriptures about how the wife is to be.


Eph. 5:33 (AMP)

let the wife see that she respects and reverences her husband that she notices him, regards him, honors him, prefers him, venerates, and esteems him; and that she defers to him, praises him, and loves and admires him exceedingly].

1 Peter 3:1-2 (AMP)

1) IN LIKE manner, you married women, be submissive to your own husbands [subordinate yourselves as being secondary to and dependent on them, and adapt yourselves to them], so that even if any do not obey the Word [of God], they may be won over not by discussion but by the [godly] lives of their wives,

2) When they observe the pure and modest way in which you conduct yourselves, together with your reverence [for your husband; you are to feel for him all that reverence includes: to respect, defer to, revere him--to honor, esteem, appreciate, prize, and, in the human sense, to adore him, that is, to admire, praise, be devoted to, deeply love, and enjoy your husband].

Eph. 5:22 (AMP) Wives, be subject (be submissive and adapt yourselves) to your own husbands as [a service] to the Lord.

Col. 3:18 Wives, be subject to your husbands [subordinate and adapt yourselves to them], as is right and fitting and your proper duty in the Lord.

Wow, look at all the detail of how we should act, honor, esteem, appreciate, prize, respect, admire, praise, love, enjoy, and much, much, more. The part that most women have is “be subject, be submissive, adapt yourselves”. One reason is the world has made those bad words. They have twisted them so women feel if they follow this way they are brainwashed and less of a women. They look down on Christian women.

Don’t worry about your husband doing his part. You pray to God and ask Him to help your husband. You are the Father’s daughter and your husband will have to answer to God and so do you. Don’t be pulled into the worlds way of thinking. As the scriptures say above it is your service to the Lord, your proper duty in the Lord, and it is right and fitting.

Even though the world puts women in a lower position, the Bible exalts women who found fulfillment in many ways.
For instance:
• Hannah’s life centered on her family (I Samuel 1-2)
•
• Miriam excelled as a prophetess (Exodus 15:20)
•
• Deborah achieved greatness as a judge, military leader and poet (Judges 5)
•
• Esther successfully led her people through intriguing political conspiracies (Esther 4-7)
•
• Naomi and Ruth sold real estate (Ruth 4:3-9)
•
• Women aided in the defense of Thebez
•
• An woman turned the tide of that battle against the wicked aggressor, Abimelech (Judges 9:50-55)
•
• The inspired description of an excellent wife given in Proverbs 31 contains ambitious standards for her family relationships, but no one can honestly say that she was a domestic slave to a chauvinistic husband. Indeed, she found fulfillment, in addition to her home, in real estate investments (31:16), as well as in retail and wholesale distribution of the clothing she manufactured (31:24).
•
• The first European convert to Christianity, Lydia of Thyatira, was a “seller of purple fabrics, a worshiper of God” (Acts 16:14).


One interesting scripture that really stands out is the Proverb 31 women. She does not look to me as being a passive low life of a women. She is strong, creative, loving, and very devoted.

Our relationship with our husbands need to be as our relationship with Christ. Which is sincere, pure, and constant. Walking in Love.

I know there are women whose husbands are not Godly. You still need to do your part. Pray for direction and guidance. In the last days Satan wants to divide. He wants to divide the family, friends, church, and more. A house divide can not stand. You can do your part. You can be a Godly women in an ungodly world!!!

"Remember your Past Victories" By Len Paxton

When it appears that your dreams will never come to pass, remember the previous victories that God brought to pass in your life. I heard another preacher say one time, your live moves in the direction of your most dominate thoughts. If you think negative thoughts all the time, such as I can’t, it is impossible, it will never come to pass, then that is the way your life is going to move. That is the direction your life will move in. The Bible says, “As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he.” Prov. 23:7

When you think positive and remember that God has done it before and He can do it again. When you remember that God is bigger than this adversary, then your life is going to move in the right direction.

I heard this same preacher say, “your memory has two files of your past”. File number one, failures. File number two, successes. File number one contains all your painful experiences. File number two contains all your most pleasurable experiences. Your memory will give you the one you seem to lean on the most. Have you ever seen a file cabinet that is so full, worn out and beat up and the handle is about to fall off because it has been so used more than all the others. The reason some people have so many negative thoughts about so many unpleasant experiences is because they go to that file cabinet more than they go to their victory file cabinet.

It doesn’t matter how bad your life has been. You have had some good times somewhere in the midst of all that hurt and pain. You might say Preacher you don’t know my life. There has never been anything good. Well I can tell you one thing, one good thing right now, You are still breathing. And the Bible says “Let everything that has breath Praise the Lord” So start praising God for the breath that you have. That might have to be your starting point. When the painful memories come up cast them down. When those memories of failure come up, cast them down. Think about the times that God came through. Think about the times the Blessings came. Praise God. Think about the lion and the bear that God has delivered you from and then old Goliath won’t look so big.

Replaying past triumphs and victories is a powerful way to keep your attention focused on your dreams. If you keep replaying them, the dream you are waiting for won’t look so impossible.

Lets read Phil. 3:13, “forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth to those things which are before”.

Don’t give a thought to the bad experiences of the past. Don’t even bring the up. Forget them. Rejoice in what God is doing right now and what He will do in the future.

Ps. 101:3 (NAS) “I will set no worthless thing before my eyes. I hate the work of those who fall away it shall not fasten its grip upon me.”

There is nothing you and I can do to change the past. So don’t bring it up. It is worthless! And it is designed to fasten its grip on you. Seize you and capture you and to cause you to let go of your dream. Let go of the past and focus on your Glorious future that God has for you in Jesus Christ. Amen

Heavenly Father I thank you for Jesus today. I thank you for the Cross today. I thank you for the God dreams that you have given us today. Father let us rise up in 2009 as the body of Christ, as a mighty marching army. Father God, let us minister to those who are in need. Let us minister hope, victory and joy to people everywhere. Father do a work in us this year. Do a work in us by the Blood of the Lamb. In Jesus Name. Amen.

"THE WARFARE IS ACCOMPLISHED AT CALVARY" By Len Paxton

"Comfort ye, comfort ye my people,saith your God. Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she hath received of the Lord's hand double for all her sins. [IS 40:1-2]


"When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, He said, IT IS FINISHED: and He bowed His head, and gave up the ghost.
[St John 19:30]


As long as you and I live in the body we will face challenges and struggles. It is a story as old as time. But on the Cross of Calvary, Jesus Christ won the victory for all who will place their faith in Him. During hard and difficult times I do not have to lose my peace and joy because Christ is my peace and joy as well as everything I need. The world around me may be shaking and falling apart at the seams but as a Christian, my confidence is in what Jesus has provided for me.


With faith and patience we inherit the promises[Hebrews 6:12]. Jesus has already defeated the powers of satan on the Cross[Colossians2:15]. Because of Calvary, we can have a clean heart and walk in the purity and righteousness of the Word of God. The battle is no longer our battle but the Lord's battle.

Here are several things to consider when you are in a battle and waiting for the victory to manifest itself in your life.
1- Satan can cause a battle to happen, but he cannot determine the final outcome.
2- Your reaction to the trouble will determine if God, or the enemy, is allowed to work in the situation.
3- A setback is only temporary and not final. A small defeat is no sign that the enemy has won.
4- God has already set a day, hour, and moment for you to come out of your fiery furnace. You must keep your faith in what Jesus did for you at the Cross until you see the victory take place.
5- God calls this fight " the good fight of faith"[2 Timothy 4:7] A good fight is a fight that is already won. God says to us through Calvary " The warfare is already accomplished!!"

God is never surprised when conflict comes to us. He already knew all about it before satan even began his strategy. The Lord wants us to keep our faith in Him at all times. The victory is already WON!!!

God says "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope."[Jeremiah 29:11 NKJV].

Every battle is already predetermined that YOU come forth the victor, because Jesus is the victor...
When the battle comes, some give up, give in and lose heart. Only then can satan take advantage of us.
Faith in what Jesus did at Calvary will ensure a completed victory.
The warfare is accomplished at Calvary!

“A WORD TO MEDITATE ON”

You are Blessed, Happy, Fortunate, Prosperous, & to be Envied as you walk in the counsel of God, not in the counsel of the ungodly. Don’t follow their advise. Don’t heed their counsel. Don’t follow their plans & purposes.

Don’t even for one minute submit to them. Don’t become submissive and in active, meaning don’t submit to their ways and become inactive in the ways of the Lord. Don’t stand, Don’t stop in your path, to be in theirs.

Don’t sit down, relax, or rest with them in their ways. This doesn’t mean we can’t talk to sinners. There are sinners all around us. Everyday we come in contact with sinners. But, we are in the world, not of the world.

But our delight, our desires, our plans & purposes, and our ways are in the Law of the Lord. His counsel, His precepts, His instructions, His teachings! We habitually meditate, ponder, & study them day and night. This is how we stay away from deception. This is how we truly prosper & come to maturity. This is how we live, & move, and have our being!!!!

“It is not Normal!”

The other day I went to the dentist and I had some small symptoms that I have learned to live with. The person cleaning my teeth said to me, “That is not Normal, you should get it checked out.”

This really made me think about how many things we let into our lives that we have learned to live with. Or we do not recognize them because we are so used to them being there. Satan is good at lulling and causing us to except and disregard things that are in our lives that are “Not Normal” for us as children of God. He does not want us to do anything about them, because he knows if we do we will do might things for God. There is a lot of little things that we just because we think it is normal and also because the enemy has lulled us to sleep. He does not want us to recognize what he is doing. Solomon 2:15 says that it is the little foxes that spoil... It is time we do not look at what the world think is normal. The normal now is not even the same as normal was 100 yrs. ago. But normal with God does not change. It is time we awake: ROm. 13:11; 1 Cor. 15:34; Eph. 5:14. We must be on guard = 2 Peter 3:17 (Amp.) Let me warn you therefore, beloved, that knowing these things beforehand, you should be on your guard, lest you be carried away by the error of lawless and wicked [persons and] fall from your own [present] firm condition [your own steadfastness of mind].

We might feel alone, BUT, Heb. 11 & 12, we are not alone! Heb. 13:5(Amp.) I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support. [I will] not, [I will] not, [I will] not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor let [you] down (
relax My hold on you)! [Assuredly not!]

Live worldly = Not normal = Col. 2:20
Being Tossed = Not Normal = Eph. 4:14
Poor = Not Normal = 2 Cor. 8:9
Sick = Not Normal = Is. 53:5 , 1 Peter 2:24
Lost = Not Normal = 2 Peter 3:9
Living in strife = Not Normal = Phil. 2:3; Rom. 13:13

There is many more, add to the list of things that we allow in our lives because we just think, “OH that is Normal”. Don’t stop fighting the Normal things. Normal things of the world, is not normal for the people of God. Live today as though God is God! Satan will try to convince you that God’s word is not true. He will steer you away for what God calls Normal. He will keep you focused on things God says to forget.

2 Corinthians 13:5  (Amp)Examine and test and evaluate your own selves to see whether you are holding to your faith and showing the proper fruits of it. Test and prove yourselves [Not Christ]. Do you not yourselves realize and know [thoroughly by an ever-increasing experience] that Jesus Christ is in you--unless you are [counterfeits] disapproved on trial and rejected?

Are you truly walking in the things of Christ or are you a counterfeit? Examine yourself, see if you are excepting things in your life that you have become familiar with and think now, “That is Normal”. Praise God for His word and His way of being Normal. Reject the Normal of the world!!!!!!

"THE GREAT TRIUMPH" BY LEN PAXTON

“FOLLOW ME”

Many times we are asked to follow regardless of what others around us do.

John 21:21 (Amplified Bible)
21 When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, Lord, what about this man?

John 21:22
Jesus said to him, If I want him to stay (survive, live) until I come, what is that to you? [What concern is it of yours?] You follow Me!


Follow me, no matter what plans I have for others.

Though no one else follows me, you follow me. The others are of no concern to you.

We can not look at what others are doing or not doing. This world is a world of followers. Our main goal is to follow Christ, no matter what others do!

John 6:64-68 (King James Version)

 64 But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him.
 65 And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.
 66 From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.
 67 Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?

We are not of those who turn back. Though none go with me, I will follow. That is what attitude we need. In these last days many shall depart from the faith and we need to stand strong. Will you go away too?

Matthew 10:38
And he who does not take up his cross and follow Me [ cleave steadfastly to Me, conforming wholly to My example in living and, if need be, in dying also] is not worthy of Me.

Matthew 16:24
Then Jesus said to His disciples, If anyone desires to be My disciple, let him deny himself [disregard, lose sight of, and forget himself and his own interests] and take up his cross and follow Me [ cleave steadfastly to Me, conform wholly to My example in living and, if need be, in dying, also].

Mark 8:34
And Jesus called [to Him] the throng with His disciples and said to them, If anyone intends to come after Me, let him deny himself [forget, ignore, disown, and lose sight of himself and his own interests] and take up his cross, and [ joining Me as a disciple and siding with My party] follow with Me [continually, cleaving steadfastly to Me].

Joshua 24:15 (King James Version)
 15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.

Say today: As for me and my house we will serve the Lord!!

Do not look at others! Be steadfast, focused, and take up your Cross and Follow Him, no matter the outcome!

"I AM"

The Answer to all you questions to life’s issues and to all your needs is as God said unto Moses, “I AM THAT I AM”
No matter what you face, He is the answer, He is the “I AM” of your life and your situation. Meditate on this today!

You say, “I made a mistake” = He says, “I AM”
You say, “If I would have only...” = He says, “I AM”
You say, “If only...” = He says, “I AM”
You say, “I should have...” = He says, “I AM”
You say, “I am sick” = He says, “I AM’
You say, “I am alone” = He says, “I AM”
You say, “But, I don’t have...” = He says, “I AM”

Gen. 15:1 “I am” your shield, your very great reward.

Gen. 15:7 "I am” the LORD, who brought you out...

Gen. 26:24 “I am” ...fear not, “I am” with thee, and will bless thee...

Gen. 28:15 “I am” with thee, and will keep thee...I will not leave thee...

Ex. 3:14 “I AM” THAT “I AM”

Ex. 6:6-11 “I am” the LORD, ...I will bring you out from under the burdens...I will rid you out of your bondage, and I will redeem you...I will take you to me...I will be your God...I am the LORD your God...I will bring you out from under the burdens...I will bring you in...I will give it you for an heritage: “I am” the LORD.

Ex. 15:26 “I am” the LORD that healeth thee.

Ex. 31:13 “I am” the LORD that does sanctify you.

There are thousand of scriptures when the Lord reminds His people that He is the Lord, He is their God...

Ex. 18-26 He says over and over, “I am” the Lord, “I am” your God, “I am” the Lord your God, over and over again. Reminding them “He IS”. Not He was! Then He reminds them of what He will do. There are Thousand of Scriptures that says: “I will”!

Jehovah-Jireh = “I AM” God that will provide (Gen. 22:14)
Jehovah-Shalom = “I AM” God your peace (Judges 6:24
Jehovah-Tsidkeenu = “I AM” God your righteousness (Jer. 23:6)
Jehovah-Sabaoth = “I AM” God of Hosts (Isa. 1:3)
Jehovah-Shammah = “I AM” God who is present (Exek. 48:35
Jehovah-Elyon = “I AM” God most high (Ps. 7:17)
Jehovah-Rapha = “I AM” God who heals (Ex. 15:26)

Rev. “I AM” Alpha & Omega, the beginning & the end...

Praise God He is God (“I AM”) and I am not!!

"Thoughts on Unbelief"

Unbelief turns you to your own thoughts and your own ways.
Unbelief opens the door to so may other sins.
Unbelief griefs God.
Unbelief is a thief of God's blessings.
Unbelief insults God.
People you are in unbelief have not the word of God in them.
Unbelief does not please God.
Unbelief is a block to the gospel.
Unbelief comes from a harden heart.
People who are in unbelief are condemned.
Those in unbelief shall die in their sins.
Those in unbelief shall not rest.
Those in unbelief reject Christ, the Gospel, and God's word.
Those in unbelief have an evil heart, are slow in heart, and have a harden heart. Those who are in unbelief are opposed to the divine will of God.
Unbelief shuts you out of God's rest.

Those in unbelief will:
Revelation 21:8 (King James Version) But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

But we must adhere to, trust in, rely on, have confidence, cleave to, have faith in, remain steadfast, constantly believing in what Jesus did for us at the Cross.

We must believe whole hearted.

One place in the amplified bible it says to trust, rely on, and remain steadfast to) the Lord your God believe [being full of joyful trust that He is the Christ, the Messiah].

Are we really believing what the bible says? Are we really trusting God? Are we looking to what Jesus did for us?

Let us all say:

I rely on, I trust in, I cleave to You, oh Lord! I believe, constantly! As I place my Faith in What Jesus did for me at the Cross, I know that gives me the help of the Holy Spirit in my life and I can be more than a conquerer. Praise God!!

“STOP HITTING THE REWIND BUTTON”

Many people live in the past. First they replay in their minds the good old days. They think about it over and over. They meditate on it over and over. Then that is all they talk about. “I remember when...”, It was better times back then.” They talk about it over and over. Then others look back to the bad times they had and the things that they went through. Those things that made a strong impression on their minds. Mistakes that they mad or times where someone hurt them really bad. They replay it over and over in their mind. Then they start talking negative and get depressed. People do not know how to live in today. Don’t get me wrong I believe some people have been hurt. But we do not & should not live in the past.

Paul give us words to live by:

Phil. 3:13-14 do not consider, brethren, that I have captured and made it my own [yet]; but one thing I do [it is my one aspiration]: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the [supreme and heavenly] prize to which God in Christ Jesus is calling us upward.

He said he had not arrived to the place he was talking about, but he aspired and pressed forward to that goal. The goal of Forgetting those things behind & pressing forward to win the heavenly prize...

Many times our minds get stuck in rewind mode. We must remember our past holds nothing for us. We can not change it or relive it.

One of the ways of the Devil is to keep you thinking and meditating on the past. He uses fear to keep you there. Fear of rejection, fear of failure, ect... Not just fear but TERROR.

Terror defined in Webster’s 1828 dictionary, “a state of intense fear, violent dread; fright, fear that agitates the body and mind”.

Fear paralyzes, it keeps people from moving forward or afraid to change directions.

Lets look at the disciples in Mark 6:46. Earlier Jesus had fed the multitude with some fish & bread. He told them to get in the boat and go to the other side. Then He went and prayed and had fellowship with His Father. The bible says Jesus seen that they were troubled and tormented. Then He walked on the water towards them. Then they saw Him and were agitated (troubled and filled with fear and dread)... He said take heart, “I am”! Stop being alarmed and afraid.

First, when they went in the boat what were they thinking and talking about? They were not thinking or talking about what happened earlier on the land, if they would have been, fear would not have come. Jesus just fed all those people with just a little fish and some bread and had some left over, what a miracle. He told them to go to the other side, could he not get them there safe? But later in Mark it says, “...for they failed to consider or understand {the teaching} meaning of the miracle of } the loaves, [in fact] their hearts had grown callous [had become dull and lost the power of understanding].

Wow they failed to consider, they failed to remember, and they failed to ponder on what had happened earlier that day when Jesus feed the multitude. The result was fear and terror.

1 Peter 3:14 & 15 ... Be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled: But sanctify the Lord God in your hears: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear.

Be not afraid of the terror, neither be troubled...

BUT... sanctify the Lord God in your heart...

Holman Illustrated Dictionary says: Sanctify: The idea behind the word is to stand in awe of something or someone... to reflect His Holy nature... Believers are set apart to God in conversion and they live out this dedication to God in holiness. They believe and act it out in their lives.

So instead of rehearsing the problem or the terror or trouble, rehearse, reflect, and live out and reflect His nature in your hearts and lives.

Hit the rewind button on His goodness, His Character, and be in awe about him.

You are a new creature in Christ. Old things are pasted away, all things have become new. You are no longer what you used to be. You are different than even one minute ago. If you did something wrong, repent and He will forgive and cleanse you and then it is not longer there.

Col. 2:15 Having disarmed (spoiled) principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it. (Jesus defused, shut down satan’s power through the Cross)

Praise God, Rehearse that, rewind that over and over. Jesus defused and shut down satan’s power through the Cross. your faith is placed in what Jesus did at the Cross, there satan’s power is shut down in your life. You do not need to live in the condemnation and fear of the past.

Lets look at some things to ponder and meditate on.


Gen. 9:16 ... Remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature...

Deut. 8:1,18 : 16:3,12 Remember what the Lord has done, where He has brought you through, and where He has brought you from.

1 Chron. 16:12 Remember His marvelous works and His wonders...

Ps. 63:6 Remember Him and meditate on Him day and night.

Like David in Ps. 9:1 I will Praise you, OH Lord, with my whole heart: I will show forth (recount & tell aloud) all your marvelous works and wonderful deeds!

Ps. 16:7-11 I will bless the Lord, who has given me counsel. Yes, my heart instructs me in the night season. I have set the Lord continually before me, because He is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.

Ps 18:33 He makes my feet like hinds feet [able to stand firmly or make progress on the dangerous heights of testing & trouble]: He sets me securely upon my high places.

Eph. 4:23 ... be renewed in the spirit of your mind.

You are no longer a slave of your past or your former way of life!!

There are so many scriptures that we can meditate on.

Phil. 4:8-9 8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

9 Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

Fix your mind on these things... Practice & model your way of living on it...

Forgetting those things behind, pressing forward, fix your mind on the Cross and your Faith in the Cross will produce:

Phil. 4:13
I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ's sufficiency].

So live today, do not look back or meditate on the past. Cover it with the Cross. Only Hit the rewind button on His goodness, His word, and sanctify your heart unto Him. This must be done daily. When satan tries to bring things up, tell him that is under the blood. Then tell him, My God... My stregth...My savior...My Redeemer...My Sheild...MyBuckler...My Shepherd...My Light...My Righteousness...My Salvation...My Deliverer ...My Refuge...My Lord...My God..., My Great Physician ...is in me. Greater is He that is in me, than He that is in the world. Satan the blood of Jesus is against you. Praise God be set free from the bondage of Fear and Terror!!!!!!

“This is the Day the Lord has made”

Ps. 118:24 This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.

How can we rejoice when the world is in such turmoil? How when there is so much sickness & hurt?

This is not the only reason.

Because He knows the end from the beginning & He has already provided the way out. He has already put things in motion for our deliverance. He provided His Son for deliverance before the foundation of the earth. Before He was even needed.

This day is already done in the eyes of God. He has already brought us through what ever we are going through. Even when we make the wrong decisions, He knew that & has already provided a way of escape.

BE IN HIM!!

Today is the key. We must be in Him today. Being in Him yesterday is not good enough. We must walk daily in Him. He has supplied today's needs. He has made a way today. Yesterday is done. Yesterday can be a hindrance to you today if you let it be. That is why Paul said,

“Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,” Philippians 3:13

THIS IS THE DAY - today, be in it.... The past is past & you can’t live the future. You can plan & prepare for the future, But that is today.

The Lord has already made today. He knows what is going on today & a minute from now. Don’t you think He knows what you are going through & what you have been through?

THIS IS THE DAY THE LORD HAS MADE!!! He has made it, done, it is finished. No more for Him to do this day, it is done.

Then why pray, it is already done. He knows what you will do & what you would pray & He has already provided the answer. He has made... that is why the answer is on the way before you even pray it. OK then if it is already done, I don’t have to pray or do anything. Let’s not be stupid. If He has done it, He knew we would or would not pray. He knew if we were going to be rebellious or lazy. We must pray as though He has not finished it yet 7 believe like it is already done. Know it, it is finished. HE HAS PROVIDED.

Heb. 11:39 -40 And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:
God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.

These did not receive the promise, because God had us in mind... He knew back then what we needed today. We don’t know why we go through things, but could it be so someone else can be saved? or receive God’s best? or so we can encourage others through their storms of life? (2 Cor. 1:4)

So today look at our examples: That is why God made the bible for us. Heb. 12:2 looking unto Jesus the Author & FInisher of our faith...

He had joy because He knew that enduring the Cross had a result that was eternal. That we needed the Cross, vs 3 so that you may not grow weary or exhausted, losing heart and relaxing and fainting in your minds.

The Cross was to reconcile us with the Father. He paid the price & had Joy doing it.

James 5:10-11 They were our examples we count them happy (joyful) who endured. They encouraged us even now rejoice no matter what you are going through. (think of Job)

We have see the purpose of the Lord. James 5:11 You know how we call those blessed (happy) who were steadfast [who endured]. You have heard of the endurance of Job, and you have seen the Lord's [purpose and how He richly blessed him in the] end, inasmuch as the Lord is full of pity and compassion and tenderness and mercy.

We must rejoice in the day knowing God has a purpose & a plan & an end to all we go through. (He will provide a way of escape, not from the situation, but through the situation)

1 Pet. 4:12-13 Think is not strange what you are going through, vs. 13 BUT REJOICE...

Rejoice! There that rejoice is again!

How can we rejoice, because we know the end is already accomplished by God.
Psalm 5:11-12 But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee.
For thou, LORD, wilt bless the righteous; with favour wilt thou compass him as with a shield.

In the beginning God made... This is the day the Lord has made I will rejoice and be glad in it!!!!!!