HAPPY PASCH!

 HE IS RISEN FROM THE DEAD! HALLELUJAH! (YES, I'M AWARE I'M SHOUTING FROM THE ROOFTOP AT THE TOP OF MY LUNGS IN CYBER SPACE!) HALLELUJAH! I KNOW THAT MY REDEEMER LIVETH! THE LORD OUR GOD, THE ALMIGHTY REIGNS!!! (There, I feel better, now. ;-)

HAPPY SPRING, EVERYONE! YIPPEE! IT’S HERE AT LAST!!!!

HERE ARE A COUPLE OF SCRIPTURES TO ENCOURAGE YOU ABOUT WHAT GOD GAVE US, AND WHAT HE DID NOT GIVE US.

THE WORDS, “FEAR NOT, FOR I AM WITH YOU”, IN THE FOLLOWING SCRIPTURE VERSE, WERE USED AS LYRICS FOR A POPULAR CONTEMPORARY CHRISTIAN GOSPEL SONG THAT I HAVE SUNG IN CHURCH WORSHIP SERVICES.

“fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” (Isaiah 41:10, The Holy Bible, English Standard Version © copyright 2001)

“…God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” (2 Timothy 1:7, The Holy Bible, King James Version)

A BIBLE PROMISE FOR PEACE

“… the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, 

will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:7, The Holy Bible, New International Version © copyright 2011)

CHEER UP!

BE ENCOURAGED. GOD KNOWS YOUR TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS. 

“Anxiety weighs down the heart, but a kind word cheers it up.” (Proverbs 12:25, The Holy Bible, New International © copyright 2011)

CHOOSE LIFE AND BLESSINGS!

 HERE’S A SCRIPTURE TO ENCOURAGE YOU:

“I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live. (Deuteronomy 30:19, The Holy Bible, New International Version © copyright 2011)

A SAINT PATRICK'S DAY BLESSING

‎"The LORD bless thee and keep thee: the LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace. (Numbers 6:24-26)

HOW TO PRAY THE LORD’S PRAYER TO OUR FATHER.

 IF YOU KNOW HOW TO DO IT, AS THE SNEAKER AD SAYS, “JUST DO IT.” LIKE A CHAMPION ATHLETE, RUN THE RACE AS IF TO WIN.

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” (Hebrews 12:1, The Holy Bible, New International Version)

PRAY THIS PRAYER FERVENTLY.

 “Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.’ (James 5:16)

 THE FOLLOWING SCRIPTURE PASSAGE IS A JEWEL FROM HEAVEN. JUST DO IT! THIS TELLS YOU HOW:

5”…when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 6But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. 7And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. 8Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

9“This, then, is how you should pray:

“ ‘Our Father in heaven,

hallowed be your name,

10your kingdom come,

your will be done,

on earth as it is in heaven.

11Give us today our daily bread.

12And forgive us our debts,

as we also have forgiven our debtors.

13And lead us not into temptation,^a

but deliver us from the evil one.^b ’

14For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” (Matthew 6:5-15, The Holy Bible, New International Version © copyright 2011)

May God richly bless you,

Pauper Bill

CALL ONLY GOD YOUR FATHER.

Here’s a scripture to encourage you, my bro’s:

“… do not call anyone on earth 'father,' for you have one Father, and he is in heaven.” (Matthew 23:9, The Holy Bible, New International Version © copyright 2011)

“Don’t Worry, Be Happy”, (Bobby McFerrin)

Remember that song? J Here are some scriptures to encourage you, my brothers:

“… my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19, The Holy Bible, New International Version © copyright 1984)

“22…Jesus said to his disciples: “(Therefore) I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear.23For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. 24Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! 25Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life^b ? 26Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?

27“Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 28If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you—you of little faith! 29And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. 30For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. 31But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.” (Luke 12: 22-31, The Holy Bible, New International Version © copyright 1984)

“LET THERE BE PEACE ON EARTH AND LET IT BEGIN WITH ME.”

HERE IS SOME SCRIPTURE TO ENCOURAGE YOU TO BE AT PEACE WITH YOUR NEIGHBOR:

“…they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore.” (Micah 4:3b, The Holy Bible, King James Version)

“…though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds; casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.” (2 Corinthians 10: 3-5, The Holy Bible, King James Version)

AN EYE-OPENER TO ME ABOUT BABYLON

“…the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.” (1 Corinthians 1:25)

MANY YEARS AGO I READ A BOOK CALLED, “THE RICHEST MAN IN BABYLON”. IT WAS MAN’S WISDOM ABOUT A MAN WHO GOT RICH IN A RICH CITY. IT WAS A SKINNY, LITTLE BOOK, ABOUT THE SIZE OF, "THE REVELATION TO JOHN" IN "THE HOLY BIBLE".

A FEW YEARS AFTER THAT, I READ A BOOK CALLED, “THE HOLY BIBLE”. I REALIZED THERE IS LIFE AFTER THIS LIFE. I REALIZED THERE ARE RICHES BEYOND OUR WILDEST BELIEF IN THE NEXT LIFE IN A CITY CALLED THE NEW JERUSALEM (HEAVEN), WHERE WE CAN GO IF WE BELIEVE IN JESUS.

 IF WE GET CAUGHT UP IN THE RICHES AND THINGS OF THIS LIFE, THEY CAN PROVE TO BE A SNARE AND CAN STRANGLE OUR ETERNAL LIFE. IF WE GET CAUGHT UP IN WORLDLY RICHES WE MISS OUT ON THE RICHES GOD THE FATHER HAS PLANNED TO GIVE US; NOT ONLY IN THIS LIFE, BUT IN THE NEXT, AS WELL. THE BIBLE TELLS US WE CANNOT SERVE GOD AND MONEY (MATTHEW 6:24).

THE FOLLOWING EXCERPT GIVES US A SPIRITUAL GLIMPSE OF WHAT THE CITY OF BABYLON IS. I WISH YOU WOULD READ THE HOLY BIBLE SO YOU CAN SEE THE TRUTH ABOUT THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN VERSUS BABYLON. THE OLD TESTAMENT PROPHETS WARN US ABOUT BABYLON.

 I HOPE YOU WON’T GET LEAD ASTRAY BY THE SNARES OF THIS LIFE. I BELIEVE, THE HOLY BIBLE PROMISES YOU CAN HAVE PROSPERITY, HEALTH AND SUCCESS, NOT ONLY IN THIS LIFE, BUT IN THE HEREAFTER, AS WELL. THE FOLLOWING IS A FEW VERSES FROM THE BOOK OF THE REVELATION TO JOHN:

“…[the angel] bore me away [rapt] in the Spirit into a desert (wilderness), and I saw a woman seated on a scarlet beast that was all covered with blasphemous titles (names), and he had seven heads and ten horns.

The woman was robed in purple and scarlet and bedecked with gold, precious stones, and pearls, [and she was] holding in her hand a golden cup full of the accursed offenses and the filth of her lewdness and vice.

And on her forehead there was inscribed a name of mystery [with a secret symbolic meaning]: Babylon the great, the mother of prostitutes (idolatresses) and of the filth and atrocities and abominations of the earth. (Revelation 17:3-5) (Scripture quotations taken from THE AMPLIFIED BIBLE, Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved. Used by permission. (www.Lockman.org)

I HOPE THIS ENCOURAGES YOU TO PLAY IT SAFE AND STAY CLOSE TO THE GOOD SHEPHERD.

PEACE AND JOY,

BILL

JESUS CAME SO THAT WE MIGHT HAVE ABUNDANT LIFE

“STANDING ON THE PROMISES OF CHRIST MY KING…” FAMILIAR WITH THE FIRST VERSE FROM THAT OLD TIME GOSPEL SONG? HERE’S A WONDERFUL PROMISE TO STAND ON, MY NEIGHBOR:

“The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10, The Holy Bible, King James Version)

BE ON GUARD AGAINST THE HARLOT AND THE ADULTERESS, YOUNG MAN!

“… a prostitute will bring you to poverty, but sleeping with another man's wife will cost you your life.” (Proverbs 6:26, The Holy Bible, New Living Translation, © copyright 2007)

JESUS ASCENDED AND OPENED THE GATES OF HEAVEN AND IS COMING BACK!

THE HOLY BIBLE TELLS US, JESUS NOT ONLY RESURRECTED, BUT HE ASCENDED INTO HEAVEN BEFORE THE VERY EYES OF HIS DISCIPLES. THE SACRED SCRIPTURES RECORDED THE EVENT IN THE FOLLOWING EXCERPT FROM THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES. IT ALSO PROMISES HE WILL COME AGAIN JUST AS HE LEFT. HOPE YOU’RE GETTING READY. CHECK THIS OUT!

10They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. 11“Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.” (Acts 1:10, 11, The Holy Bible, New International Version © copyright 1984)

I WILL POUR OUT MY SPIRIT ON ALL FLESH

IT’S A BEAUTIFUL DAY OUTSIDE IN THE CITY WHERE I LIVE. LET’S REJOICE AND BE GLAD, BECAUSE THE LORD MADE THIS DAY. IT’S TIME FOR PAUPER BILL TO SHARE A SCRIPTURE THAT’S BEEN ON MY HEART SO MUCH. I HOPE IT ENCOURAGES YOU IN YOUR WALK WITH CHRIST. IT’S FROM THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET JOEL:

‘…it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:

And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.” (Joel 2: 28, 29, The Holy Bible, King James Version)

RESPONSE TO A QUESTION ABOUT JOHN 14:26 POSTED 3/5/2013

On Tuesday, March 5^th, I posted the following scripture:

 “But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” (John 14:26, The Holy Bible, New International Version © copyright 1984)

 A friend asked in response, “What’s that supposed to mean?”

Perhaps, you wondered the same thing. If so, read my answer to that question below. Hope it might answer the same question you may have had about that scripture.

Dear Mike,
John 14:26 is one of several promises that Jesus gave us before He died, which are recorded in the scriptures. He had The Holy Spirit in order for Him to heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils, walk on water, feed five thousand men by multiplying a few loaves of bread and a few fish, turn the water into wine and do all the other miraculous signs and wonders He performed. This scripture you're wondering about is a promise that we can also be given this Holy Spirit of the Father, as His followers.

Acts 1:8 promises, "...you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

The second chapter of The Acts of The Apostles, is about the day of Pentecost, when this promised Holy Spirit was given to Jesus' disciples  in Jerusalem. If you have a Holy Bible, read Acts of The Apostles, Chapter 2. I would quote it to you now, but, you could go to Biblos.com, if you don't have a Bible, and read it on the internet. Just put in Acts Chapter 2. That should show it to you. I'll give you a few verses now.

"When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them." (Acts 2:2-4)

As believers in Jesus, The Holy Bible promises we can receive this same Holy Spirit. It is the same Spirit that gave Moses the Law. It is the same Spirit that spoke to the prophets. It is the same Spirit that resurrected Jesus from the dead. It is the Spirit of the Father, of which Jesus spoke in the gospel. The gospel writers had to recall Jesus' teachings after they received this promised Holy Spirit. They needed The Holy Spirit to help them write what is now considered scripture. The gospels were written years after Jesus resurrected. The Holy Bible promises that all scripture is inspired by God.

"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works." (2 Timothy 3: 16- 17)

I prayed every form of prayer and petition for about three and a half years before The Holy Spirit started speaking to me. I had to knock off sin (I repented) so I could be on speaking terms with God. Jesus said to "watch and pray". I did that every day for years. At one point I became desperate to have God talk to me like He did to so many men you can read about in The Holy Bible. I recall getting so desperate one day in church, waiting for Mass to start, that I took my rosary, which I had been praying every day for over three years, and threw it across the church. (No one was in the church at the time. :-) I said to God, something like, "You've got to show yourself real to me or this just isn't happening."

I was ready to give up the faith. I would have, if God hadn't revealed Himself to me in the Person of The Holy Spirit. It happened within a few days after that point of desperation in my life. Don't know what to say other than it happened to me. My day of Pentecost happened in September of 1985. It was a very wonderful thing. I remember being ecstatic. I went into something of a state of bliss at that time.

 Don't know what to tell you other than give you testimony that God loves you and cares about you and deserves to have all the glory, honor, praise, riches, power and blessing because, well, He's God! If I were God I'd want all the glory for being the Creator of everyone and everything. Life isn't about the Harlot, or the works of our hands. It's about God. He's Abba; Our Father Which art in heaven.  He loves us. We need to love Him, too.

Mike, hope this helps you to have some idea of what the scripture you're wondering about as well as many other scriptures of that nature mean to me. I believe God wants you to know Him in a personal way like no one else does. I believe He know how many hairs are on each and every one of our heads, and gives us the desires of our hearts. I believe The Holy Bible tells us it is God Who sends us delusions if we don't follow Him. I believe it's God's way of punishing us as only God can.

"They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness." (2 Thessalonians 2: 10b, 11)

I sure know. I've had strong delusions which, for a brief time, I believed. I know I need to stay close to The Good Shepherd so I, hopefully, won't believe a delusion. I'm hopeful God will tell me when I have a delusion. I hate having delusions. I need to know the truth.

Jesus said, "...ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." (John 8:32) "So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed." (John 8: 36) "Jesus answered, 'I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6)

Peace and joy to you my friend,
Bill                                                                         

COME NEAR TO GOD AND HE WILL COME NEAR TO YOU

HERE’S ANOTHER OF PAUPER BILL’S BIBLE PROMISES:

“God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you.” (James 4: 6b-8a, The Holy Bible, New International Version © copyright 1984)

BE FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT!

SOME ENCOURAGEMENT FROM PAUPER BILL: THIS IS A COMMAND FROM OUR HEAVENLY FATHER! BE FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT! WOW! WE CAN HAVE THE SAME SPIRIT THAT RAISED CHRIST FROM THE DEAD AND INSPIRED MOSES AND THE OTHER SCRIPTURAL WRITERS FILLING US! HOW AWESOME CAN YOU GET?! IT HAPPENED TO ME! CAN ANYBODY TESTIFY?! COME ON! LET’S WORSHIP JESUS!

“Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.” (Ephesians 5:18, The Holy Bible, New International Version © copyright 1984)

DID YOU HEAR ANY GOOD NEWS TODAY?

 IF YOU WATCH DAY TIME T.V., YOU PROBABLY HEARD NOTHING BUT BAD NEWS. OR, IF YOU WATCH T.V. AT ALL, YOU PROBABLY HEARD NOTHING BUT BAD NEWS FROM THAT MEDIUM.

HERE’S A PROMISE FROM JESUS WHO DIED ON THE CROSS FOR YOUR SINS TO BE FORGIVEN. THIS IS AWESOME! I MUST TESTIFY THAT I RECEIVED THE PROMISED COUNSELOR, THE HOLY SPIRIT. CHECK IT OUT. READ SOME GOOD NEWS FOR A CHANGE:

"When the Counselor comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father, he will testify about me.” (John 15:26, The Holy Bible, New International Version © copyright 1984)

YOU CAN RECEIVE THE HOLY SPIRIT!

“But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” (John 14:26, The Holy Bible, New International Version © copyright 1984)

LOVE ME OR HATE ME, HERE’S ANOTHER BIBLE QUOTE FROM PAUPER BILL, NAILED TO THE CROSS. HOPE IT ENCOURAGES YOU AS MUCH AS IT DOES ME:

“7To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, (How about The Revelation to John, for example! Hello! Read through that a few times. How about the sacred scriptures known as The Holy Bible!) (These are Pauper Bill’s notes here in parentheses.) there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 8Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” (2 Corinthians 12: 7-10, The Holy Bible, New International Version © copyright 1984)

A BIBLE PROMISE: RESIST THE DEVIL AND HE WILL FLEE FROM YOU! YOU CAN DO IT!

“Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” (James 4:7, The Holy Bible, New International Version © copyright 1984)

A BIBLE PROMISE: GOD FORGIVES YOU!

“as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.” (Psalm 103:12, The Holy Bible, New International Version ©copyright 1984)

WE CAN BECOME RIGHTEOUS!

“God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Corinthians 5:21, The Holy Bible, New International Version © copyright 1984)