The Ballestero Blog

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Archive for August 2020

My Dog Doesn’t Like Being A Dog Anymore!

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My Dog Doesn’t Like Being A Dog Anymore!

 

Rusty And The Love Of His Life… Marcia Ballestero

 

My dog doesn’t like being a dog anymore. Some might even say that he is going through an identity crisis. It’s so obvious that even a non-professional picks up on the situation. The canine in our house is currently choosing not to act like a dog anymore.

Little 6 lb. Rusty thinks he is human. He seems to enjoy passing himself off as a person, rather than a puppy.

For a short time, he seemingly enjoyed just being a puppy. He had his own puppy food, puppy toys, puppy snacks, puppy playpen, puppy bed, puppy stroller, puppy travel crate, and puppy play area. He was a happy and contented little pooch.

But, Rusty’s whole world has now changed. It changed when he tasted a bit of people food. Once he found out what people ate, his food didn’t taste as good to him as it used to. Whenever he now sees us seated at the table, he stands on his short hind legs and taps us on our legs to get our attention. He never gives up or stops trying until he is rewarded.

It didn’t stop with the food issue. He feels that if his mistress is sitting on a comfortable couch, that is where he should be, too. Oh, and now the bed. Yes! He doesn’t like his bed now. He wants to be on the same bed as his master.

Before you criticize Rusty, please be aware that he is just like you. You were happy being a sinner until you tasted of heavenly things. No wonder David wrote: Psalms 34:8 “O taste and see that the LORD is good…”

Once you have tasted of the mercies and goodness of the Lord and have sat together with him in heavenly places, you come into His presence, and He can tell by the look in your eyes that you are not identifying as the dog you used to be, but you want to be like Him; You want to eat Angel food, rest in His arms, and be comforted by His care.

Once you have been baptized in Jesus’ Name and been filled with the Holy Ghost, your nature changes. You won’t want to be a dog anymore!

 

 

Written by Martyn Ballestero

August 12, 2020 at 2:35 pm

Posted in Christian Living

It’s Time To Drain Your Swamp!

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To “Drain The Swamp” Has Become An Oft Heard Political Figure Of Speech.

The phrase is used to promote the idea that the other government party’s control, partisan thinking, and corruptness needs to be removed from power.

But, that’s not my focus and altogether how I see its meaning.

 

Swamps Are Not Easily Navigated. Most Of Us Do Our Best To Avoid Going There In The First Place.

Merriam Webster Defines A Swamp As:

  1. a wetland often partially or intermittently covered with water especially: one dominated by woody vegetation
  2. a tract of swamp
  3. a difficult or troublesome situation or subject

 

When We See A Swamp, What Our Untrained Eye Sees Is:

  • Pollution
  • Scum
  • Stench
  • Brackish water
  • Disease Potential
  • Mosquitos
  • A Home For Snakes, Alligators, And Vermin.

 

One doesn’t have to look far or even leave their home to find the swamp that needs to be drained the most. It needs to be drained every day.

 

The Greek New Testament Word For Drain Or Empty Is Kenosis.

It first came alive to me when I read Philippians 2:6-7.

Philippians 2:6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:

Philippians 2:7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

 

kenoō; from G2756; to empty: — emptied (1), made empty (1), made void (2), make…empty (1).

 

In coming to earth, Jesus did not cease to be God, and He did not become a “lesser god.” Whatever the “emptying” entailed, Jesus remained fully God: “Col. 2:9  For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.”

His self-emptying is our example. We too must empty our lives of every hindrance and everything that displeases Him. We are commissioned in God’s Word to drain our swamp. No one can do it for us.

 

Draining Your Swamp, Or Emptying Your Swamp Includes But Is Not Limited To:

Denying Yourself

Luke 9:23  And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.

 

It’s A Daily Command. Every Day, We Must Say No To Our Flesh, Then Take Up Our Cross And Follow Him.

Heb. 12:1  Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

2 Corinthians 7:1 Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

 

It’s Possible To Drown In Your Swamp… Please Drain It!

1 Timothy 6:9  But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.

 

Don’t Drown, Drain.

Drain The Pollution, Scum, Stench, Disease, Vermin, Filth, And The Sin. Drain The Potential Hazards From Your Heart And Life.

 

Are You Bitter?

It’s Time To Drain Your Swamp!

 

Do You Love The World?

It’s Time To Drain Your Swamp!

 

Do You Have A Problem With Standards?

It’s Time To Drain Your Swamp!

 

Do You Have Problem With Submission And Obedience?

It’s Time To Drain Your Swamp!

 

Do You Have A Lust Problem?

It’s Time To Drain Your Swamp!

 

Do You Have The Desire To Be Unfaithful To Your Spouse?

It’s Time To Drain Your Swamp!

 

Is Giving God Your Tenth Too Hard For You?

It’s Time To Drain Your Swamp!

 

Is Your Church Attendance Hit And Miss?

It’s Time To Drain Your Swamp!

 

Don’t tell yourself that you can’t.

Don’t believe the lie that it’s in your DNA.

Don’t tell me, “I can’t change.”

 

Before the Holy Ghost was given, Jesus said to those He healed… “Go thy way and sin no more.”

  • Not sinning is a choice.
  • Chose to drain your swamp.
  • Chose not to sin.
  • Chose to live a life pleasing to God.

 

Now For The Good News!

What you find when you drain your swamp will surprise you!

 

When You Empty Yourself, He Fills The Void With Himself!

You Have Never Lived Until You Are Completely Filled With Holy Ghost Power!

 

Do It Today.

Drain Your Swamp.

 

It’s Time To Drain Your Swamp!

 

 

Written by Martyn Ballestero

August 8, 2020 at 3:00 pm