Here I Am, Lord – – tqministries.com

Regrets Can Last For Eternity

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have Everlasting Life” (John 3:16).

Our introductory verse is probably the best known verse in the Bible. The verse, or its reference John 3:16, has been displayed publicly at many places including sporting events and other venues for entertainment. Most of us have seen this scripture displayed many times as we have gone about our daily lives.

The Lord, in this verse, is showing mankind His way to the gracious Salvation He offers to “whosoever will” hear Him and come His way. His way was to send His Son to die on the Cross to pay the sin debt owed by man. The Lord is promising Eternal Life to all those who realize their need for a Savior and come to Him in repentance and faith – faith in Christ and Him crucified. He does not ask us to preform any great work, only to believe. It’s all by Grace, through faith. That’s it. It’s an incredible display of the Lord’s mercy and Grace.

For those that have heard the Lord’s clarion call and have not heeded its message; hopefully they will have a “shoulda” moment and reverse course and come to the Lord. There are important moments in all of our lives, times when we have an important decision to make. Understanding and accepting what the Lord is graciously offering here will determine where a person spends eternity. There could be no greater moment of choice in our lives than when we hear the Gospel presented.

Regrets in this life are something we must accept and live with. There are levels of regret, some more serious and important than others. Having heard the way to Salvation offered by the Lord and not seeing its importance in one’s life is something that will result in a regret of unmeasurable significance if one continues on that path. Hopefully, for those traveling this path, there will be a realization of what “coulda” been and a reaching out to the Lord for His provision of Salvation for whosoever will simply come to Him and acknowledge that He is God and that loves us and has reached down to us with His Mercy and grace. There is time for a course correction here. We have this life to make things right with the Lord.

The Lord Jesus is coming again in the Rapture of the church. All those that are born again will be caught up to meet Him in the air. The Apostle Paul explains this in 1 Thessalonians chapter 4. If someone has not come to Lord after hearing the Lord’s clear call, he will experience a “woulda” moment after this great event takes place. He would have gone in the Rapture had he obeyed the Lord’s Word. The Rapture of the church is the next prophetic event to take place. It could happen at any moment.  The Great Tribulation will follow the Rapture and will bring destruction on this earth as never seen before. It is the time of God’s judgment on a rebellious world that rejects Him.

If you have heard the Lord call out to you through the Holy Spirit after reading or hearing the Gospel, and have not harkened to His call; I strongly encourage you to come to Him today. This will result in becoming a child of God and in spending eternity with the God that loves you. Hear Him calling out to you today and come to the One Who  died on a cruel Cross to pay the sin debt owed that you might be saved.

Coulda, shoulda, woulda times come in our lives. We deeply regret some of the decisions we have made in our lives. By making a decision for Christ today we will avoid spending eternity with unimaginable regrets. Hell is final and looking back to what we “woulda” had if we had accepted the gracious Salvation offer will not change anything. All our chances for Salvation are for whatever time the Lord has given us in this life. Don’t be of those whose regret results in the knowledge that they should have trusted in the Lord, could have believed and become a child of God, and would have spent eternity safe and secure in the presence of the Lord. 

“….Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the Day of Salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:2)

Always Remember,

God Loves You!

Find podcasts of this article, and all the articles on this website on the “Here I Am Lord” podcast on Spotify for Creators, Google Podcasts, Breaker, Pocket Casts, and RadioPublic.

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Here I Am, Lord – Tom Quinn Ministries – tqministries.com 2025

The Lord Seeks Out Those With A Heart Towards Him

Originally published in 2020

“For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost. ” (Luke 19:10)

Cornelius was a Gentile and “a centurion of the band called the Italian band.” He was in charge of about one hundred men. We will see that he was a good man and a person well respected in his city of Caesarea. The Bible has the following to say about him:

“A devout man, and one who feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God always.” (Acts 10:1)

So, here we have a devout man who feared God, provided for those in need, and prayed to God faithfully. We will see that although all these qualities were admirable, and something we should all strive after, they did not save Cornelius. Cornelius was unsaved. However, this man’s good life was noticed by the Lord. We will see that the Lord, through the Apostle Peter, will show Cornelius the way of salvation. The Lord always responds to those with an earnest heart.

“He (Cornelius) saw in a vision…..an angel of God coming in to him, and saying unto him, Cornelius…. And he (the angel) said unto him, your prayers and your alms are come up for a memorial before the Lord.” (Acts 10)

Cornelius was instructed by the angel to send for Peter in Joppa so that he might hear the Gospel and be saved. By the way, this would be the first Gentile to be saved as recorded in the Book of Acts. The Lord was opening the door for “whosoever will” to come to the saving knowledge of the Lord. On this occasion, Peter received a vision from the Lord as well.

“And (Peter) saw Heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending unto him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to earth. (Acts 10)

In the sheet coming which came down from Heaven were “all manner of four feated beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air.” These would be seen by Peter as unclean animals.

“And there a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill and eat.” (Acts 10)

Peter responds to this by telling the Lord, no, that he had “never eaten anything common or unclean.” These were seen by the Jews as defiled and forbidden by the Law of Moses. The unclean animals were representative of the Gentiles in the vision. Through this vision, the Lord would show Peter that what was done on the cross was for the Gentile (all other nations) as well as the Jew. As Peter pondered these things, men sent by Cornelius arrived.

“While Peter thought of the vision, the Spirit said unto him, behold, three men seek you. Arise therefore and get down, and go with them, doubting nothing for I have sent them.” (Acts 10)

Peter, of course, agreed to go with them, and when he arrived in Caesarea he found Cornelius waiting for him with his whole family. Peter shared with them what the Lord had shown him, that he, “should not call any man common or unclean.” And Cornelius explained to Peter that he had been fasting and an angel had appeared to him and instructed him to send for Peter. And now that Peter had arrived, he and his family were anxious to hear all the Lord had commanded Peter to share with them.

“Peter opened his mouth, and said, of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: but in every nation, he who fears Him, and works righteousness, is accepted Him (Christ). (Acts 10)

Peter goes on to share the Gospel with Cornelius, starting with John the Baptist who introduced Christ. How Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, went throughout Israel doing good and healing all. He shared with them that the Apostles and others were witnesses to all He did and that God was with Him. How He was crucified and rose from the dead, and that all that believe in Him will receive remission of sins. Cornelius and his family believed all that Peter shared with them. The Bible goes on to say that, now saved, the Holy Spirit fell on them all.

“While Peter yet spoke these words, the Holy Spirit fell on all them which heard the Word.” (Acts 10)

Cornelius and his family believed and were saved and filled with the Holy Spirit showing that salvation was for all and not limited to the nation of Israel. This record of the salvation of Cornelius shows us that the grace of God is for all those who believe and that salvation is by grace (unmerited favor) alone. Just as the Lord looked favorably upon Cornelius; He seeks out and will come to all those who look to Him with a sincere heart.

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Begotten Son, that whoever believes on Him, shall not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:16).

See The A,B,C’s of salvation page on this website. Link below.

https://wordpress.com/page/tqministries.com/5448

Always Remember

God Loves You

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Tom Quinn Ministries – tqministries.com 2020

Reserved In Heaven For Us

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to His abundant Mercy has Begotten us again unto a lively hope by the Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (1 Peter 1:3).

The Father has rescued us from our fallen condition and brought us into our present living hope due to the Resurrection of Jesus. We were dead in our sins as a result of Adam’s fall in the Garden. We should thank the Lord each day for the Mercy and Grace He has shown us. We have been born again spiritually and have become partakers of the Divine nature.

“For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the Sons of God.” (Romans 8:14).

We are Sons of God through adoption into the family of God. The Lord is now our Father and we are the children of God. This gives us victory over the world, the flesh and the Devil. We walk in this victory by placing our faith in Christ and Him crucified which results in the Holy Spirit leading us and giving us victory in our lives.

” … You have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father” (Romans 8:15b).

This adoption into the family of God was accomplished by the Holy Spirit. He baptizes us into Christ and we are given “Newness of Life.” Just as adoption of a child gives the child all legal rights, our adoption into the family of God is a legal work and God becomes our Heavenly Father.

The Spirit itself (Himself) bear witness with our spirit, that we are the Children of God: and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ…” Romans 8:16,17a).

We have the witness of the Spirit within our spirit when we come to the Lord. We know we are saved by this witness of the Holy Spirit within us. We are the children of God, heirs, and joint heirs with Christ.

“Behold, what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called the sons of God…..Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it does not yet appear what we shall be: but we know when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is” 1 John 3:1a,2).

I love this verse because it points to the incredible love that brought us our Salvation and brought us into the Kingdom of God as His sons and daughters. Incredible, but true. We are now children of God and await our Lord’s return for His church. We know that when He appears we will see Him as He is, and be like Him. This speaks of our glorified bodies that we will be given at the Resurrection (Rapture). We look for that “Blessed Hope.” Our closing verses tell us what happens on that day – THE DAY we look forward to with great anticipation.

“Looking for that Blessed Hope, and the glorious appearing of the Great God and our Savior Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13).

“For the Lord Himself shall descend from Heaven with a shout…and the dead in Christ shall rise first: then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, tkomeet the Lord in the air: and we shall ever be with the Lord” ( 1 Thessalonians 4:16a,c, 17,18).

Always Remember,

God Loves You!

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Here I Am, Lord – Tom Quinn Ministries – tqministries.com 2025

The Lord Reached Down His Hand For Me

“Call on Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you know not”  (Jeremiah 33:3).

The following letter is a testimony to the faithfulness of God to all those who seek Him.

Dear God,

Life can be difficult and discouraging at times. I was on the wrong path for many years seeking happiness and fulfillment in all the wrong places. My life was a good life by most standards, but something was missing. There was something deep inside that was not satisfied with the life I was living. I couldn’t put my finger on it at the time, but I knew I was missing the mark and lacking something extremely important in my life.

In quiet desperation; I called out to you. I remembered my youth when I had gone to church and heard the Bible stories. After experiencing some of the trials and difficult times that life presents us with, I wanted to know if you were real – if I could come to you and know the God I had heard about in my youth. You reached down and revealed yourself to me in your love. A love for me that I clearly experienced as I read your Word, and that love drew me to you. It was a love that called out to me through your great sacrifice at the Cross. A love whose chief desire was to call me to you so that I might be with you throughout eternity. You reached down your hand for me and I have never been the same.

I surrendered to that love acknowledging that I needed a Savior. I realized I was unable in myself to measure up to all you required of us as a Holy God. I saw your great Sacrifice on the Cross as your great love for us displayed for all to see, and it was the answer to my own need. I was separated from you by sin and the Cross was the bridge that crossed that gap. You were offering me new life in you. I repented of my sin and the life I had lived without you. In an instant, all the guilt lifted and I was free. I had been born of your Spirit and I now had a personal relationship with you. It was joy unspeakable and full of glory. The very best day of my life!

I then heard about the Baptism with the Holy Spirit. Your Word told me it was a second work of the Holy Spirit and was for power for service with the initial evidence of speaking with other tongues. Your Word said that it was available to all. I sought, and received, this Baptism with the Holy Spirit. I cannot tell you how blessed I have been throughout my life with the Holy Spirit helping me as I have sought to share the joy that I have found in You with others. Tongues, or my prayer language, has encouraged and strengthened me each and every day.

I also came to realize that you have provided for me in another way as I walk out my life. When I place my faith totally in you and your great work at the Cross each day, the Holy Spirit works mightily in my life to bring me the victory over the world, the flesh, and the Devil. I’ve come to realize that I am not called to fight against sin, or to seek victory in what I do, but to place my faith in the Cross for the victory you have already provided. That realization has blessed me with a rest in you and your great work at the Cross that I did not previously have. Some say it is like being born-again, again. To this, I wholeheartedly agree!

I am grateful beyond words for the love you have shown for me, and for your Mercy and Grace. You have provided me with a complete Salvation which is by faith from first to last. You have promised me that when this life has passed; I will be with you for eternity. You are worthy of praise and I lift up your Name. I surrender to your love unreservedly today desiring to do your will in my life, and knowing that I am truly blessed in knowing you. I come to you today with thanksgiving and praise in my heart for all you have done for me – when you reached down your hand for me!

In Christ I Stand,

Signed

The One You Love

“For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen” (Romans 11:36).

Always Remember,

God Loves you!

Find podcasts of this article, and all the articles on this website on the “Here I Am Lord” podcast on Anchor, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Breaker, Pocket Casts, and RadioPublic.

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Here I Am, Lord – Tom Quinn Ministries – tqministries.com

(2021 – amended 2025)

The Kindness of God Appeared

“For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived and serving diverse lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. But after that the kindness of God our Savior appeared” (Titus 3:3,4).

Our introductory verse reminds us of our condition prior to coming to faith. We were lost in our fallen state and unable to be free of this condition in which all unsaved men find themselves in. It was the kindness of God that brought us to Him.

This “kindness of God” is speaking of the coming of our Lord and Savior into this world to save whosoever will come to Him in repentance and faith. He accomplished this at Calvary, and by it the kindness and love of God was manifest for all to see.

Looking again to our introductory verse, the Apostle Paul is pointing back to a time in our lives when we walked in disobedience, being deceived, foolish, and enslaved to our passions. This is quite a list the Apostle Paul presents as our condition prior to Salvation, but it accurately presents the true condition of an unsaved person. We were dead in our sins and unable to free ourselves from the prison of our fallen nature that was our home. But after that, in His mercy and love, God reached down to us. We will see, in the next verse in Titus, the result of God’s kindness to those who wish to escape the prison of their fallen nature.

“Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His Mercy He has saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Spirit” (Titus 3:5).

“Not by works of righteousness” points to the very fact that we are unable in our lost state to do any works of righteousness. The Lord came and died on the Cross for us because it was the only way that we might walk in Righteousness – His Righteousness – and imputed Righteousness made possible through the Lord’s Mercy and Grace.

This “washing of regeneration” is the born again experience by which we are washed  and cleansed from our sins by the Lord’s great sacrifice at Calvary. His Blood shed at Calvary for us not only cleanses us of all sin, but defeated the power of sin in our lives.

The “renewing of the Holy Spirit” speaks of our daily walk with the Lord. We were raised in “Newness of Life” by faith in His finished work at Calvary and the Holy Spirit now lives in us and helps us live out a life of victory enabling us to become more Christlike.

So, we are saved by the Mercy and Love of God by His Grace that comes to us as we repent of our sins and the way we lived prior to coming to the Lord and place our faith in Christ and Him crucified. We are regenerated, washed and cleansed from all sin, and the renewing power of Holy Spirit comes to live within us to bring us victory in our Christian lives as we continually place our faith in Christ and His redeeming work at Calvary. The following verse speaks of this kindness and love that made all this possible.

“Which (kindness and love) He shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior; that being justified by His Grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of Eternal Life” (Titus 3:6,7 with commentary mine).

Always Remember,

God Loves You!

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Here I Am, Lord – Tom Quinn Ministries – tqministries.com 2025

The Fork in the Road of Life

“He who has the Son has Life; and he who has not the Son has not Life” (1 John 5:12).

The Gospel of John tells us that “In Him was Life and that Life was the light of men. All “Life” comes through Christ and what He accomplished at the Cross. Without Him, we are dead in our sins and without hope in this world. We have a fallen nature and are unable to  save ourselves from ourselves. It took the Father’s love in sending His Son to point the way to the “Life” He graciously offers to us through Calvary.

We have a choice in this life. Do we continue in the way we have lived our lives, or do we admit that we have lived our lives without the God Who loves us and come to Him in repentance for our sins and faith in Christ and His sacrificial death at Calvary. Should we choose the former, we will die in our sins and  out of the presence of God for eternity. If we choose the later, we will be born spiritually and become children of God with an inheritance in the Kingdom of God.

The “Life” that the Father gives us through His Mercy and Grace is in His Son. Calvary stands as a beacon of light to all those who will harken to the clarion call. He calls out to whosoever will come through His death at Calvary. His “Life”, the Life of God, comes to us by the Person of the Holy Spirit the minute we come to Him in faith.

Eternal Life is defined as God’s Life in us by faith in His provision. The sin debt was paid at Calvary bring Life to all those who believe. The work God requires of us for our Salvation is that we believe in the One He sent. That’s it!

Jesus said, “I come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” Faith in the “Son” is the only path to Eternal Life and faith in the Son will result in life more abundant. In other words, we are saved by faith in the Son, and we are kept by our continued faith in Christ and His finished work at Calvary.

In conclusion, there is a fork in the road for all those who walk out this life. Do we go the way the Lord has provided for us and find Eternal Life in the presence of the God that loves us, or do we go our own way which will result in eternal puishment away from the presence of God for all eternity. God’s Word tells us that we can know that we have Eternal Life today. Our closing verse clearly states that those that believe in the Son have Eternal Life.

“These things have I written you who believe on the Name of the Son of God; that you may know that you have Eternal Life, and that you may believe (continue daily believing) on the Name of the Son of God” (1 John 5:13 w/ commentary mine).

Always Remember,

God Loves You!

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Here I Am, Lord – Tom Quinn Ministries – tqministries.com 2025

So Unworthy of the Blood

Here I am, so unworthy of the Blood. Unworthy of the Blood that set me free. Here I am, so unworthy of the Blood, yet it flowed for me.

(Unworthy of the Blood lyrics)

We come to the Lord empty handed with nothing to offer but our repentance and faith in the precious Blood of Jesus. He saved such unworthy ones, as we all are, by His sacrificial death on the Cross. That Blood flowed for you and me, our sins nailed Him to the Cross. We all stand guilty before Him in need of His Mercy and Grace.

“For all have sinned, and come short of the Glory of God; being justified freely by His Grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus” (Romans 3:23).

This tells us succinctly that all have sinned and stand guilty before a Righteous God. We, of ourselves, cannot live a life of Righteousness. What we need is the Lord’s Mercy which is given to us freely as we come to Him admitting our condition. His Grace is needed on a continuing basis as we walk out our Christian lives. We all fall short of the Glory of God not matter where we are on our walk with the Lord. 

“In Whom (Christ) we have Redemption through His Blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His Grace” (Ephesians 1:7).

Our sins were forgiven by the Lord through the shedding of His Precious Blood at the Cross. The riches of His Grace cannot be used up. It is there for us on a daily basis and comes to us through the work of the Holy Spirit as we continue to place our faith in Christ and Him crucified.

“For you know that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation (lifestyle) received from traditional from your fathers; but with the Precious Blood of Christ, as of Lamb without spot” (1 Peter 1:18,19).

It took the Lord of Glory coming and dying on the Cross to save us from our fallen state. We could not save ourselves, and we cannot walk out this life of faith by our own strength, or some combination of faith and works. The Christian disciplines (prayers fasting, church attendance, etc.) are all things we should do, and they will bless us, but they will not give us victory as we walk out our lives. It took Christ going to the Cross to save us and it will take our faith in His sacrificial death there to bring us victory over the clinging vines of the Fall.

“And from Jesus Christ, Who is the faithful Witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the Prince of the kings of the Earth. Unto Him Who loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own Blood” (Revelation 1:5).

The Book of Revelation, which is the Revelation of Jesus Christ regarding the things that are to come, begins with a Revelation of the Lord’s earthly Life and what He accomplished here. It is a testimony to His great love for us and it is a witness to our total need for all He offers us through His abundant Mercy and Grace. He lived a Life here of perfect obedience as the “Faithful Witness.” He showed forth His love for us by washing us from our sins in His Own Blood. By this, His love for us shines forth as beacon drawing all men to Him. And finally, He is the Prince of this Earth and will come in the Second Coming to rule this world. He loved us with and Everlasting love and we stand in awe of that love and are so thankful for the Blood – the Blood of the Lamb shed for us.

Here I am, so unworthy of the Blood, but yet it flowed for you and me.

(Unworthy of the Blood lyrics)

Always Remember,

God Loves You!

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Here I Am, Lord – Tom Quinn Ministries – tqministries.com 2025

Fallen From Grace

The Answer For Those Living Defeated Christian Lives

“Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ has made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage” (Galatians 5:1).

The Galatians were contemplating going back into Law after coming to Salvation by faith. Paul is warning strongly against this as it would shipwreck their faith. False brethren had come from Jerusalem teaching that the Galatians must be circumcised to be saved. They were strongly encouraging these new converts to obey the Law of Moses. The Apostle Paul said the following regarding this:

“I testify again to every man who is circumcised, that He is a debtor to do the whole Law” Galatians 5:3).

We are saved by faith in Christ and Him crucified and we are sanctified in the same manner. Jesus fulfilled the Law in totality and we fulfill the Law through our faith in Christ. We are not to attempt to live this life in our own strength to become more Christlike. These Galatians were saved but were considering adding the Law to their faith to please God and walk out their Christian life. Again, Paul warns strongly against any attempt to sanctity ourselves by what we do.

“Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now made perfect by the flesh? (Galatians 3:3)

We are saved by faith and we are kept, and sanctified, in the same manner. We are not to attempt to bring about our spiritual growth by self-effort. It will lead to defeat, as Paul warns the Galatians in the following verse.

“Christ is become of no effect unto you, whoever of you are justified by Law; you have fallen from Grace” (Galatians 5:4).

Wow! Strong words from Paul regarding the Galatians starting to look to the Law. If we move our faith from Christ and the Cross to anything else we have fallen from Grace. Grace comes to us by our faith in Christ and Him crucified by the power of the Holy Spirit. All blessings come by way of the Cross. The Holy Spirit works within the parameters of the finished work of Christ. He will not work outside of the finished work of Christ. This is the Law of God.

“For the Law (Law of God) of the Spirit (Holy Spirit) of life (Newness of Life) in Christ Jesus (by His finished work at the Cross) has made me free (victory in our Christian walk) from the Law of Sin and Death” (Romans 8:2 w/commentary mine).

This verse shows us the way to walk in the victory that we have in Christ. This is the most powerful Law, the Law of the Spirit in Christ Jesus, and it is stronger then the Law of Sin and Death. In it, we see our way forward to victory in the power of the Holy Spirit. This is our road map, so to speak. When we make Christ crucified the object of our faith, the the Holy Spirit will work mightily in our life. There is no other way  – it’s the Law of God.

We fall from Grace not due to our sin, but by moving the object of our faith to something other than the Lord and His sacrificial death at Calvary. That’s what Paul is saying when he warns about being entangled again in the yoke of bondage. Leaving the Cross for Law, or works, would result in the Galatians living a defeated life with no victory over the sin nature. Sin is the result of falling from Grace, but not the cause, of our losing our way. Paul continually points us to the way, that way is faith. We are to walk in the Spirit and not try to obey any law, or do any work, to gain the victory in our lives.

“But if you are led of the Spirit, you are not under Law” (Galatians 5:18).

[ We are to do good works as God’s Word tells us, but we are not to look to works to gain God’s approval, or to have victory in our lives over the sin nature. As Christians, we are to encourage each other in love and in good works as a result of having received such a great salvation.

“And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works” (Hebrews 10:24)]

Always Remember,

God Loves You!

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Here I Am, Lord – Tom Quinn Ministries – tqministries.com 2025

A Witness to the Israelites Crossing the Jordan

A Fictional Narrative

(Joshua 3:9-17)

I was sitting on the bank overlooking the Jordan River when I saw it. It was the most incredible sight. It concerned the people who were delivered out of Egypt by their God – that is, that is what they claimed. We have been anticipating their arrival for some 40 years.

Again, I was sitting on the banks of the Jordan. I live in the area of Gilgal and visit the Jordan often. This day would be different than any other – an experience I still stand in awe of. It started with a group of men stepping into the water caring something with staves. As their feet entered the water, the water of the Jordan receded on both sides of them standing in a wide swatch. I looked on in total amazement.

The next thing I saw was a man, on the far side of the Jordan, standing up before these people who had come out of Egypt. It looked to me like he was giving them some instruction prior to their crossing.

It is said that when they came out of Egypt they came out with the riches of Egypt that the people of Egypt gave them upon their departure. It is also rumored that they came out healthy and remained that way throughout their wandering in the wilderness. The most amazing thing that has been said of them is that their God supplied all their needs while wandering there. It is said He even provided sustenance for them that they gathered each morning. I didn’t know how much of this was true, but after witnessing what I saw today; I do believe all that is said about these people. I believe that just as the Jordan parted, the Red Sea parted for them and they walked through on dry ground.

After the man finished speaking to them they started across the Jordan. The men caring something with staves remained in the middle of the Jordan while the people crossed. There were many, many, of them and I watched this incredible sight which went on for a very long time. Once all the people had crossed, the men standing in the middle of the Jordan came out behind them and the Jordan returned to its normal flow. What an incredible happening!

Seeing this incredible sight, I now believe all that has been said about these people and I believe that their God does truly watch over them. I believe He delivered them from Egypt and parted the Red Sea and I personally witnessed the parting of the Jordan. It has been said that those men standing in the middle of the Jordan were priests and that they carried the Ark of the Covenant in which the very Presence of their God went before the people and protected them. Their God parted the waters and brought them into what they referred to as the Promised Land. I have come away from this incredible experience wanting to know this God Who watches over and protects His people. 

“And Joshua said unto the Children of Israel, Come hither and hear the Words of the LORD your God. And Joshua said, Hereby you shall know that the Living God is among you…The Ark of the Covenant of the LORD of all the Earth passes over before you into Jordan” (Joshua 3:9,10).

“And the Priests who bore the Ark of the Covenant of the LORD stood firm on dry ground in the midst of Jordan, and all the Israelites passed over on dry ground, until all the people were passed clean over Jordan.” (Joshua 3:17)

[The Priests were types of Christ Who brings us safely and securely through this life as we place our faith in His sacrificial death at Calvary. We walk out this life by faith just as the Israelites crossed the Jordan by faith in the God Who called them out of Egypt. The Lord has called us out of this world to a Salvation that cost Him greatly. We can depend on His constant care and know that He will bring us into the Heavenly Promised Land to be with Him for eternity. If our witness in our story called on the God who delivered the Isralites into the Promised Land, he would have been saved. For ALL who call on the Name of the Lord will be saved.]

Always Remember,

God Loves You!

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Here I Am, Lord – Tom Quinn Ministries – tqministries.com 2025

A Life Long Journey of Faith

A Fictional Narrative

“The Lord your God is in your midst, a Mighty One Who will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness; He will quiet you by His Love; He will exalt over you with loud singing” (Zephaniah 3:17).

We continue with the story of Joey having begun our journey through the life of Joey with his Salvation and continuing with Joey’s receiving of the Baptism with the Holy Spirit. Our story continued with Joey coming to faith in the rest that is found in Christ through the Word of His Grace.

Joey, now in his later years, has walked with the Lord for many years. He has seen many changes in the church as a whole, many of which were not for the good. The church as a whole had lost its way. Of course, Joey knew that there were many good churches left, but the remnant was smaller than it was when he first came to the Lord. Joey had seen the Lord’s great Mercy in his life and had dedicated his life to the Lord wanting all the Lord was offering those who come as seekers and lovers of God. It was his constant prayer that many, in this troubled world, would see their need and come to the Lord in repentance and faith in His sacrificial death at Calvary. He tells all that he comes across that if they call upon the Lord they will be saved.

The result of his pilgrimage was a life of “joy unspeakable and full of glory.” The Lord had lead him by the hand through all that life brought him – the good, and the not so good. He came to trust the Lord completely and knew that whatever situation he faced in life, the Lord was there for him and would see him through. He knew the importance of bringing all his concerns to the Lord. He found many years ago that when he did that, like David of old, the Lord would bring him through whatever the situation might be. He would look back on these time and see that the Lord had brought him through even the most difficult situation, and could see the Lord’s care in the outcome every time. He didn’t understand all ways of the Lord, but through trials and tribulation he learned to trust the Lord.

He had made up his mind that he wanted all the Lord offered in this “Newness of Life” that the Lord has given us through faith in the sacrificial death of our Savior at Calvary. The Baptism with the Holy Spirit was part of that which the Lord wanted us to have. Joey sought the Lord for this and the Lord answered Joey by giving him the Baptism with the Holy Spirit with the initial evidence of speaking in tongues. Joey knew everything we receive from the Lord is by faith.

When Joey first come to the Lord, he struggled with sin in his life. He wanted to serve the Lord with all his heart but sin brought defeat and shame. How could he sin against the Lord when the Lord had done so much for him. He brought this to the Lord and the Lord showed him that he could not live this Christian life by his own will power. It always leads to defeat. Also, the few victories that may be attained this way can only lead to self-righteousness.

The Lord showed him that this “life” that He offers can only be walked out by faith. Joey realized that the Lord was offering a complete Salvation through faith in Christ and His sacrificial death at Calvary. He came to understand that this was the way the Holy Spirit worked. So Joey placed his faith totally in Christ and the Cross and the Holy Spirit worked grandly in this life. Joey did not believe in sinless perfection, but a daily walk of faith where the Holy Spirit brings both victory and all the benefits of this “more abundant life” the Lord has provided for us.

As Joey’s long journey approaches its final chapter, his advise to those that come the way of faith is this: Know the Word of God and pray. By knowing God’s Word we avoid wrong paths and false doctrine and we honor God. By praying we have fellowship with the Lord and He leads us. The Word brings “light to our path” and prayer builds fellowship with the Lord, “one with another” as 1 John tells us. Also, Joey prays that all those that are seekers of the Lord will seek God for all He has for them in this life. Joey has sought to do just that and he has found that the Lord will meet us where we are and draw us to Himself. Joey has found that this life of faith is a wonderful life, one he is so glad he found and one where the journey gets sweeter every day.

You (the Lord) have said, “Seek My Face.” My heart says to You, “Your Face, Lord, do I seek.” (Psalm 27:8)

Always Remember,

God Loves You!

Find podcasts of this article, and all the articles on this website on the “Here I Am Lord” podcast on Spotify for Creators, Google Podcasts, Breaker, Pocket Casts, and RadioPublic.

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Here I Am, Lord – Tom Quinn Ministries – tqministries.com 2025