News you won't see in controlled mainstream media.

A Christian's Journey

Ephesians 3:14-21
_____________________
That you may be
filled with all the
fullness of God.
--Ephesians 3:19
~~~
The journey of the Christian life on earth begins at the moment of faith in Jesus and ends when the believer goes to be with the Lord. This raises an important question: What happens in between?

A rich and full life is available to all who believe in Jesus. The apostle Paul prayed that believers would "be filled with all the fullness of God" (Eph. 3:19). He wanted them to know life "abundantly" (John 10:10). But how many of us experiene even a small part of the abundant life Christ promised to those who are faithful to Him?

God desires to give us a marvelous beginning with salvation and a great ending in Glory--with MUCH in between. --D. Egner
~~~~~~~~~
:rainbow:A life given fully to God becomes a God-filled life.

Our Daily Bread
Blessings, Abishag

Chosen in Him ~

Ephesians 1:1-14 -
--
"For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight." (Ephesians 1:4)-

Have you ever felt like you were living your life swimming upstream? Swimming upstream is difficult, if not impossible. You might make some headway in a wide, slow-moving river. But, if you are in whitewater rafting territory, forget it. You are going downstream, and no matter how hard you paddle, your strength will not save you. You might even die.

Instead, picture yourself seated in an unsinkable, inflated boat as you head down the river. It's inevitable; you will wind up downstream at your destination simply because you are in the boat, whitewater or not.

As a believer, you were chosen in Christ from before the foundation of the earth. Your destination, holiness and blamelessness before God, is assured because you are in the unsinkable boat: Christ. It is not because you've been "paddling" so hard to meet God's standard of holiness that you "arrive." It is because He is taking you.

Be assured that when you "pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you" (Isaiah 43:2) because He is there!!---
Stop paddling. You are assured by God's choice to be blameless before Him. Worship Him today. --
--
Haven Today Ministries ~~

Stop the Struggle ~

1 Corinthians 1:26-31
---
"It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God--that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption." (1 Corinthians 1:30)

If you ask around to find out how people became Christians, the responses will vary. Some will say it was because of Billy Graham or because of their mother who faithfully prayed for them. Others attribute it to a friend who faithfully exemplified the Christian life so that when the time came, they were open to the Gospel. All of these are valid means, but Scripture gives Someone else the credit.

Paul writes in 1 Corinthians, "It is because of him (God the Father) that you are in Christ Jesus..." Now that makes me feel better. Salvation is initiated by God, not by me. While I have never had the sense that the kingdom of God rested on my shoulders, I did feel that somehow I was responsible to make things happen, especially in the lives of others I know. What a relief! It is because of Him.

This doesn't take us out of God's plan. We need only be available for God's love so that the Gospel is extended through us. We are instruments in His hands. The response in the heart of others is because of Him. -
---
Do you find yourself pressured for Gospel results? Remind yourself that is because of the Father that anyone is found in Christ. -
---
Haven Today Ministries

Absotively!

You cannot save anyone who isn't called. You cannot save anyone at all. God saves, and at most one can hope to be on hand and be permitted to be useful.

Thank you for your input, CTD! Blessings!

--Alive in Christ
Romans 6:5-11

"In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus."
(Romans 6:11)
---
The greatest miracle of all time is the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. Considering that event and its implications makes me want to lie prostrate in worship and jump and shout at the same time. It is an event that elicits both holy awe and extreme joy. Death has been conquered. Sin has been conquered. Satan has been conquered. And Christ, the God/Man is alive forevermore. Hallelujah!

Think about this amazing truth: when Christ arose and conquered death, sin and Satan, 'I was there in Christ'. As Jesus breathed His last, He had you and me in mind! I was not there physically, of course, and neither were you. But we are now alive in Christ, recipients of His victory over evil. Just as we were chosen in Him from before time, so too we were alive in Christ in His resurrection. WOW!

Many people in the world know of these truths but have not awakened to an understanding of what good news this is. Embrace the glory of the gospel--that the victory won by Christ is ours because 'we are in Him'.
~~~~~
Do you struggle with sin? Listen to Paul's admonition to consider yourself dead to sin but alive to God in Christ. ~~

Haven Today Ministries

---JESUS CALLING ~~~
-- --
'EXPECT TO ENCOUNTER ADVERSITY in your life, remembering that you live in a deeply fallen world. Stop trying to find a way that circumvents diffulties. The main problem with an easy life is that it masks your need for Me.

When you became a Christian, I infused My very Life into you, empowering you to live on a supernatural plane by depending on Me.

Anticipate coming face to face with impossibilities: situations totally beyond your ability to handle. This awareness of your inadequacy is not something you should try to evade.

It is precisely where I want you--the best place to encounter Me 'in My Glory and Power'. When you see armies of problems marching toward you, cry out to Me! Allow Me to fight for you. Watch Me working on your behalf, as you 'rest in the shadow of My Almighty Presence.'

~~~~~~~~~~~~~
JESUS CALLING
By: Sarah Young

~~~~~~~~~~~
REVELATION 19:1: PSALM 91:1

Staying in the Light
1 JOHN 1:8-2:2

John used the metaphor of darkness and light to describe a life of sin versus a life in Christ (1 John 1:7). God is pure and perfect light (v. 5) shining through an obedient person. However, when we invite darkness—sin—into our life, there is immediate conflict. Darkness and light cannot mix.

The way to keep a pure spirit in this dirty world is to confess sin. Let's be clear. We are made clean by Jesus Christ's work on the cross. Nothing can change a redeemed believer's identity as God's holy child. However, wrongdoing does interfere with the fellowship between us and the Lord. Left unchecked, sin can so thoroughly choke our spirit that only thin shafts of the light of Christ can squeeze through.

Confession breaks the stranglehold. We agree with God that our actions, thoughts, or words are in violation of His law or will. While it is tempting to confess in a general sort of way—"I'm sorry if I've sinned against You"—that isn't a helpful method of chasing out darkness. We must be specific about our wrongs. The Holy Spirit isn't general in His conviction—He points to the exact problem. And God expects that we'll deal with sin promptly so that we are neither tarnished by it nor tempted to continue on that path.

Believers who honestly acknowledge their sin and take responsibility for it stay in right relationship with the Lord. John's letter confirms God's desire to cast out darkness and keep us fully in the light of His love. Our part is to deal promptly with the dirt that Satan and this world throw at us.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Charles Stanley
In Touch ~ We must stay in the light. Claim 1JN.1:9

--Joy of Adversity
By: Jack Graham

-For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.

-- Romans 8:18

Most of us have an innate sense of justice and fairness within us,don't we?

We have the idea, and it's a good idea, that when we do the right thing that good results will follow. Now, you and I may also have the idea that if someone does the wrong thing then failure or punishment will follow.

But things don't always work that way do they? It certainly
didn't work that way in the life of Joseph. In the Old Testament
we read that he was mistreated and misrepresented and even sent to prison, but not for doing the wrong thing, but because he did the right thing.

Joseph is an extraordinary example of someone who responded with
faithfulness to God and to his convictions in spite of unfair
circumstances. Whether he was going through adversity or prosperity,
Joseph responded with faithfulness toward God.

Can you say that? Well, no doubt most of us would choose to avoid adversity if given the choice. But it's precisely these moments that draw us closer to God. Difficult times have a way of focusing our need for God like no other time can.

If you're going through adversity follow Joseph's example.
Call on the name of the Lord! Don't focus on the problem but
turn your eyes upon him and he will give you the strength to endure and to glorify him!

DIFFICULT TIMES HAVE A WAY OF FOCUSING ON OUR NEED FOR GOD THAT NO OTHER TIMES CAN. AMEN!

--Walk with God ~
Hebrews 11:5-6 -

"Enoch walked with God; then he was no more, because God took him away." (Genesis 5:25) "For before he was taken he was commended as one who pleased God." (Hebrews 11:5b)-

My children tell me walking keeps me in good physical shape, and I agree. As vital as physical conditiong is, our walk with God is more important. Paul said, "Physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come".
(1 Timothy 4:8)

Just like two close friends walk, Enoch kept in step with God, not lagging behind or running ahead. His life was pleasing and honoring to God. Like Enoch, we walk with God by faith. The brief reference to Enoch in Genesis indicates that Enoch didn't experience death.

Are you wondering if by "walking with God" you might escape death, too? Have you put your trust in the saving grace of Jesus through His death for you on the cross? If so, you have escaped death! Jesus did not escape it, of course; He took it on and conquered it. And He came back from the dead, granting us the comfort of His Holy Spirit so that each day of our lives might be a welcomed walk with Him. -
---
The best exercise we can have is walking with God. Believe that God exists and that He rewards those who seek him. (Hebrews 11:6) ~~

ANCHOR
Haven Today Ministries

MORE THAN
LOAVES ~~

John 6:25-36 -
----
You seek Me, not
because you saw the
signs, but because
you ate of the
loaves and were
filled. --John 6:26 -
----
ISAAC Pennington, a seventeenth-century Quaker leader, said: "The Lord has been teaching me to live upon Himself--not from anything received from Him, but upon the life itself." The people in John 6 wanted to live off Jesus, but not for the same reason. It was not because their hearts were loyal to Him, but because their hearts were loyal to what they thought He could provide for them--namely, food and deliverance from Roman oppression.

Jesus' provision of the loaves and fish was a confirmation in their minds of what He could do for them. Jesus knew that behind their interest in Him was their hope that He would become a different kind of king, so He withdrew from them (John 6:14-15). The next day they found Him and continued to follow Him because of what they thought He could provide (vv.22,25-26). But Jesus turned the tables and identified Himself as the Bread of Life (vv.32-33). They wanted a better life from Him, but He told them He came to offer tham eternal life (v.40). Only those who believe in Jesus can find true fulfillment--now and forever.

Follow Jesus, not just because He can provide "the loaves," but because He can satisfy your deepest hunger--the quest for eternal fellowship with Him. ~

I came to Jesus, and I drank
Of that life-giving stream;
My thirst was quenched, my soul revived,
And now I live in Him.
----------
You can experience complete fulfillment
if your life is filled with Christ.

ODB/MW

LIVING LOW
2 Chronicles 26:3-19
---
When he was strong
his heart was lifted
up, to his destruction.
--2 Chronicles 26:16
~~~
DWIGHT L. Moody said, "When a man thinks he has got a good deal of strength, and is self-confident, you may look for his downfall. It may be years before it comes to light, but it is already commenced." This was true of King Uzziah.

Everything seemed to be going so well in his life. He was obedient, submitted to spiritual mentorship, and sought God's guidance during most of his reign. As long as he asked God for help, God gave him great success--evidenced by his many accomplishments (2 Chron. 26:3-15).

Uzziah's life was one of great power and human success until he became blinded by it. His pride was evidenced in several ways: he challenged God's holiness by trespassing the temple and presuming upon a position he would never be able to have (v.16); he viewed God's power as good but not absolutely necessary for his leadership (vv.5, 16); he refused godly correction and counsel (vv. 18-19); he bypassed his opportunity to repent; and he ignored, instead of feared, the consequences of his sin (vv.18-19).

When God gives us success in any area of our lives, let's not forget the Source of our success. May we choose humility, for God gives grace to the humble.
-
Is thy heart right with God,
Washed in the crimson flood,
Cleansed and made holy, humble and lowly,
Right in the sight of God?
-------
God lifts us high when we choose to live low.
ODB/MW

--WHAT IS IN
YOUR HAND?

Exodus 4:1-5
~~~~
So the LORD said to
Moses, "What is
that in your hand?"
--Exodus 4:2
~~~~ ---
IF you have a tendency to despair over lost opportunities or if you worry about the future, ask yourself this question: "What is right in front of me?" In other words, what circmstances and relationships are currently available to you? This question can get your focus off a past regret or a scary future and back to what God can do in your life.

It's similar to the question God asked Moses at the burning bush. Moses was troubled. Aware of his own weaknesses, he expressed fear about the Lord's call for him to lead Israel out of bondage. So God simply asked Moses, "What is that in your hand?" (Ex. 4:2).

The Lord shifted Moses' attention away from his anxiety about the future and suggested he notice what was right in front of him--a shepherd's rod. God showed Moses that He could use this ordinary staff to perform miracles as a sign for unbelieving people. As Moses' trust in God grew, so did the magnitude of miracles God worked through His servant.

Do you think about past failures or have fearful thoughts about the future? Recall God's question: "What is that in your hand?" What current circumstances and relationships can God use for your benefit and His glory?
Entrust them--and your life--to Him. --
--------------
You can't change the past, but you'll ruin the present
by worrying about the future. ~~

ODB/DF

--False Messages
John 5:19-30

"The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth." (John 1:14)-

HAVE you ever received a message with contradictions and falsehoods? What a mess it created! The more you tried to address it, the more confused you became. Eventually, you had to get back to the beginning to figure out the truth in order to correct what went wrong.

Incorrect messages come to us on many different levels, and it is one of the most subtle and damaging tactics Satan uses on us spiritually and emotionally. He gives us just enough truth to make his lies seem plausible, making sin look acceptable, and other people and things worth worshiping. And if we are not prepared, we march right in accepting his deceptive messages as truth. It can happen to any one of us, at any time.

How do we guard against responding to his false messages? We must first understand and acknowledge how inclined our hearts are towards sin, how very frail we are. Then we must guard our hearts by knowing God, His Word, and His Son. When the truth of Jesus Christ grips our lives, false messages vanish. ~
---
The first false message was delivered by Satan in the Garden, and Eve fell for his deception. Now we must keep our eyes on the Truth--Jesus the Christ.

Haven Today

Coming Through as Pure Gold
Devotional thought from the messages of Adrian Rogers

BIBLE MEDITATION:
Job 23:10 - "But He knoweth the way that I take: when He hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold."

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
In order to refine gold, a goldsmith places gold over a fire until it bubbles and glows. He skims off the impurity from the top and knows that when he can see his reflection, the gold is pure.

That is what the Lord is doing when you go through trials. When He can see His likeness reproduced in your life, He'll know that you have become gold fit for His use and for His glory.

But the fire is hot! Yes, but God controls it. No jeweler is more careful with his gold than a father with his children. He knows what He is doing.

But what about those things He is burning out of my life? You don't need them. If you needed them, your loving Father would make sure you kept them.

ACTION POINT:
Anything that comes into your life today, whether good or bad, has had to pass through the grid of God's sovereignty and His permission. Look to Him, for He is not only your refiner, but also your redeemer and a loving Father. He already sees the finished product He's working on and perfecting in your
life.
---

--Secondhand Spirituality?

"Draw near to God, and
He will draw near to you."
---James 4:8

--Some of us have tried to have a daily quiet time and have not been successful. Others of us have a hard time concentrating. And all of us are busy. So rather than spend time with God, listening for His voice, we'll let others spend time with Him and then benefit from their experience. Let them tell us what God is saying. After all, isn't that why we pay prechers?...

If that is your approach, if your spiritual experiences are secondhand and not firsthand, I'd like to challenge you with this thought: Do you do that with other parts of your life?...

You don't do that with vacations....You don't do that with romance....You don't let someone eat on your behalf, do you? [There are] certain things no one can do for you.

And one of those is spending time with God.--

JUST LIKE JESUS
--Max Lucado

We Christians are running a race!

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God."
-- Hebrews 12:1-2 ---

In today's passage, the author of Hebrews compares living the
spiritual life to running a race. Now imagine running a race with barbells on your shoulders or wearing scuba diving
equipment. While that sounds ridiculous, it's essentially what many Christians try to do when they hold onto sin in their lives!

Now the Scripture tells us in Romans 14:23 that "Whatever does
not proceed from faith is sin." That means that when you're not accomplishing what God wants you to do by faith, you
are living in sin!

So often, people come up and tell me, "Pastor, I just feel
stagnant in my walk with Christ and I don't know why." But
do you know what their problem usually is? They aren't living by faith. Sure, they're moral people and live good lives, but they've never really stepped out and completely trusted God.

Their 'walk' is just that, a walk and not a race!

Now in your race, you may be avoiding the sins of commission like drunkenness and lust. But are you unknowingly committing sins of omission like not serving others or failing to step out in faith?

My prayer is that you learn to trust in God with everything: your relationships, your finances, and even your own life. When you begin to do that, your spiritual race will be taken to whole new levels, and you will finish well!

DON'T GROW STAGNANT IN YOUR SPIRITUAL RACE, BUT ENTRUST
EVERYTHING TO GOD AND BOLDLY RUN THE RACE SET BEFORE YOU!

--Jack Graham

How to Stay the Course and Finish Well
Devotional thought from the messages of Adrian Rogers

BIBLE MEDITATION:

2 Timothy 4:7 - "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith."

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

Do you know the way to finish the course? Keep looking to Jesus.-

I've been preaching the Gospel for over 50 years, and God knows I have my faults and sins. He also knows I have repented and aim to get right with Him each and every day. I am far from perfect, but I can say that this same God has kept me on course. He has kept me preaching the Gospel.

Finishing the course that God has planned for us is never easy. It takes discipline and hard work. It takes picking ourselves up, dusting ourselves off, and starting over. One of these days you are going to have to look back on your life. And I hope you will be able to say that you fought as a warrior and finished as an athlete.

ACTION POINT:

"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, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith..." (Hebrews 12:1b-2a).

Keep short accounts with God. Confess quickly. Get back on the track.

--You Are a Letter
2 Corinthians 3:1-6

"You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everybody...written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God." (2 Corinthians 3:2-3a).

When you write a letter of recommendation for someone, you try to promote the person's strengths. A good letter of recommendation may get him the foothold in business or elsewhere that he's hoping for.

Paul's words to the believers in Corinth were remarkable since they had not exactly been loyal (1 Corinthians 1:10-17) or commendable (1 Corinthians 3) in their behavior. Despite the Corinthians' failures, Paul is certain of the work of the Holy Spirit in their lives, saying that their best letter of recommendation is themselves. It's without Paul pushing them into the limelight at all. Everything they do as followers of Jesus Christ, testifies of His grace in their lives.

Do you see how we are the visible commendation of Jesus, too? We are a walking letter of testimony to Him! Without even using words, and often despite our sin, we give praise to Him. Such confidence in this is ours because Jesus Christ has washed us with His blood and presented us as His own.
--- -
I want to be not a letter that promotes me and my accomplishments, but a letter for Christ that calls out "HALLELUJAH!", to Him.

Haven Today~

THE OUTCAST ~

James 2:1-9
--
If you show partiality,
you commit sin.
--James 2:9 -
---
James issued a serious warning for people who show partiality. He said, "If you show partiality, you commit sin" (2:9). Favoritism based on appearance or economic status has no place in God's family. In fact, it means we have "become judges with evil thoughts" (v.4).

Fortunately, we can guard against preferential treatment by loving our neighbor as ourselves--no matter who our neighbor may be. Reaching out to the homeless man, the hungry woman, or the heartbroken teen means we "fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture" (v.8).

In a world that keeps the outcast at arm's length, let's show the love of Christ and embrace the one who needs our care the most. We all need the love of the Lord Jesus!
--
True Christian love helps those who can't return the favor.

JESUS CALLING ~

By: Sarah Young

"BRING ME YOUR WEAKNESS, and receive My peace. Accept yourself and your circumstances just as they are, remembering that I am sovereign over everything. Do not wear yourself out with analyzing and planning. Instead, let thankfulness and trust be your guides through this day; they will keep you close to Me.

"As you live in the radiance of My Presence, My Peace shines upon you. You will cease to notice how weak or strong you feel, because you will be focusing on Me. The best way to get through this day is step by step with Me. Continue this intimate journey, trusting that the path you are following is headed for heaven."
I LOVE YOU, JESUS
----
PSALM 29:11; NUMBERS 6:24-26;
PSALM 13:5 -

JESUS CALLING...
By: Sarah Young

--"COME TO ME FOR REST and refreshment. The journey has been too much for you, and you are bone-weary. Do not be ashamed of your exhaustion. Instead, see it as an opportunity for Me to take charge of your life.

"Remember that 'I can fit everything into a pattern for good', including the things you wish were different. Start with where you are at this point in time and space, accepting that this is where I intend you to be. You will get through today one step, one moment at a time. Your main responsibility is to remain attentive to Me, letting Me guide you through the many choices along your pathway.

"This sounds like an easy assignment, but it is not. Your desire to live in My presence goes against the grain of "the world, the flesh, and the devil." Much of your weariness results from your constant battle against these opponets. However, you are on the path of My choosing, so do not give up!

'Hope in Me, for you will again praise Me for the help of My Presence."
--I LOVE YOU, JESUS ~~
---
ROMANS 8:28 (AMP); PSALM 42:11 (NASB)

-ANTICIPATION!

1 Thess. 4:13-18
---
"I will come again
and receive you to
Myself."
--John 14:3 --
---
AT the beginning of March, my friend began a countdown. Marked on the calendar in her office were the 20 days left until the first day of Spring. One morning when I saw her, she volunteered, "Only 12 more days!" A few days later, "Only 6!" Her enthusiasm started to rub off on me, and I began to keep track as well. "Just [u]2 more days, Jerrie!" "I know!" she beamed.[/u]

As believers, we have something to look forward to that is even more exciting than the anticipation of budding flowers and lots of sunshine after a long winter. God has made many promises in His Word, and each one has been or will be fulfilled. But the certainty that Christ will return is one of the greatest promises of all. "For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God...Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air," and we'll be with Him forever (1 Thess. 4:16-17)

Although no one knows the exact day, we have God's promise that Jesus will come back (Acts 1:7-11). As we celebrate the Spring and coming Easter season, let's encourage each other in anticipation of that day!

He is coming! Oh, the rapture
To behold His lovely face,
And to tell Him how I love Him
Who has saved me by His grace. ~~
-----
Christ is coming--perhaps today!

ODB/CHK

True Meekness Is Strength Under Discipline
Devotional thought from the messages of Adrian Rogers
==
BIBLE MEDITATION:
"Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth." Matthew 5:5

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

Meekness is one of the most confused adjectives in all of the Beatitudes because most people confuse meekness with weakness. Jesus said He was "meek and lowly" (see Matthew 11:29), but He wasn't weak.

The word "meek" means "strength that is brought under control."

When horse trainers "break" horses, they describe what they do as "meeked." They don't cripple the horses or take away their strength. They train them to use their strength in control.

In the same way, God doesn't come into your life to cripple you. Why would He follow with "for they shall inherit the earth"? God did not make this world for the devil's crowd. He made the world for you.

ACTION POINT:

Ask your heavenly Father today to break the strongholds in your life, break your strong will, and replace it with His strength under discipline. He will do it, if you give Him permission. This is the heart of true meekness.
-

--ARE WE
THERE YET?

Deuteronomy 8
---
The LORD your
God led you...in
the wilderness, to
humble you and test
you, to know what
was in your heart.
--Deuteronomy 8:2 --
--
Whenever I read the books of Moses, I wonder how many times he heard that question from the Israelites, "Are we there yet?".

Before rescuing them from slavery and leading them out of Egypt, Moses told them that the Lord would lead them to "a land flowing with milk and honey" (Ex. 3:8). He did, but first
they spent 40 years wandering in the wilderness. But they were not lost; they were wandering for a purpose. After 400 years of slavery, the children of Israel needed to have their hearts, souls, and minds reoriented toward God. This was accomplished in the wilderness (Deut. 8:2,15-18), but not before an entire generation died because of their disobedience (Num. 32:13).

In life, it sometimes seems as if we are wandering in circles. We feel lost. We want to ask God, "Are we there yet? How much longer?" At such times, it helps to remember that the journey, not just the destination,is important to God. He uses it to humble us, test us, and show us what is in our hearts.
----
It's the journey, not just the destination, that's important.

ODB/JAL

-All The Way My Savior Leads Me/ Chris Tomlin

You lead me and keep me from falling

You carry me close to Your heart
And surely Your goodness and mercy will follow me.

All the way my Saviour leads me!


Thank you Russ, Laura and Herb Allure for allowing His Word and music to travel all over the WWW! God Bless You!

-Running Your Race Without Distraction
-By: Adrian Rogers

BIBLE MEDITATION:
"I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." Philippians 3:14-

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
Runners train themselves to be focused on one thing the finish line. They have one desire, and they are not going to let what is going on in the stands or who is lagging behind distract them.

Paul had the same sense. He, too, believed that you could not win a race by looking over your shoulder or glancing to the right or the left. You can't see what is ahead when you've got your headlights on the rear bumper.

ACTION POINT:
Paul forgot his past glory, past mistakes, past grief, past everything. Paul refused to let his past keep him from reaching his goal. What are you doing in your race to claim the prize of a closer walk with God?

Take a few minutes over the next couple of days to reflect upon what Jesus Christ did for you on the Cross.- In light of that, analyze how you are running your race. What changes do you want to make to better run the race?

~~The Word of God
It's Essential For Your Growth

BIBLE MEDITATION:
"For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe." 1 Corinthians 1:21 -

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
The Word of God is indispensable for salvation. We are conceived by it. 1 Peter 1:23 says that we are "born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the Word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever."

The Word of God is indispensable for sanctification. We are cleansed by it. 1 Peter 1:22 says, "Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren."

The Word of God is indispensable for sustenance. We are completed by it.

"And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to Me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on Me shall never thirst" (John 6:35).

ACTION POINT:
Do you want to grow? Then you'd better get into the Word of God.
<http://youtu.be/4PPP7wk1VWw> / WORD OF GOD SPEAK~

Jesus is the Word of God. "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being." JOHN 1:1-3 KJV

-WEARING
YOURSELF OUT

Exodus 18:13-27
--
You will surely wear
yourselves out.
--Exodus 18:18
--
My friend Jeff was asked by his daughter to officiate at her wedding. This would be a great joy as they traveled to an exotic and romantic location for the ceremony. But there was one major problem--because the wedding party was very small, Jeff would have to perform three separate roles that could be in conflict. He would be the officiating minister, the father of the bride, and the wedding photographer!

Have you ever felt as if you were wearing too many hats? Jethro thought his son-in-law Moses was (Ex. 18). Leading the Israelites, arbitrating personal disputes, and handing down legal judgments for a great multitude was taking its toll. Finally, Jethro approached Moses, telling him: "This thing is too much for you; you are not able to perform it by yourself" (v.18). He counseled Moses to delegate smaller disputes to other advisors and take the more challenging cases himself (v.22).

Whether you're a mother with small children, an over-whelmed business executive, or an overworked church volunteer, you too can take a lesson from Moses. Why not prayerfully discern if there may be tasks you can delegate to others or even discontinue--so that you don't wear yourself out.
--
If we don't come apart and rest awhile,
we may just plain come apart!

ODB/DF

-PONDER
YOUR PATH

Proverbs 4:14-27
---
Keep your heart with
all diligence...
Ponder the path of
your feet.
--Proverbs 4:23,26
--
A 47-year-old Austrian man gave away his entire $4.7 million fortune after concluding that his wealth was keeping him from real life and happiness. Karl Rabeder told the Daily Telegraph (London): "I had the feeling I was working as a slave for things I did not wish for or need. It was the biggest shock in my life when I realized how horrible, soulless, and without feeling the 'five-star' lifestyle is." His money now funds charities he set up to help people in Latin America.

Proverbs 4 urges us to consider carefully our own road in life. The passage contrasts the free, unhindered path of the just with the dark, confused way of the wicked (v.19). "Let your heart retain my words; keep my commands, and live" (v.4). "Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life" (v.23). "Ponder the path of your feet, and let all your ways be established" (v.26). Each verse encourages us to evaluate where we are in life.

No one wants to go through life on a selfish, heartless road. But it can happen unless we consider where we are going in life and ask the Lord for His direction. May He give us grace today to embrace His Word and follow Him with all our hearts.~

If we pursue mere earthly gain,
we choose a path that ends in pain;
But joy remains within the soul
When we pursue a heavenly goal. -D.DH
---
You are headed in the right direction
when you walk with God.

ODB/DM

The Gnat vs. the Bee

BIBLE MEDITATION:
"But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed." James 1:25 -

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
James 1:23-24 paints a picture of a man in a hurry. He has a lot on his mind. He takes a casual glance at himself and rushes on. If the Bible is like a mirror, then this man is simply getting a glimpse into the Word and not really applying it to his life.

Most Christians I know today are this kind of Bible student. They are like a gnat bouncing here and there instead of being like a bee and diving in and staying long enough to extract the sweetness.

Contrastingly, the man in verse 25 gazes into the Word. This is someone who delights in God's Word, who applies God's Word, who cherishes God's Word.

Are you like that? Or do you take a passing glance at God's Word and move on to the next thing on your 'TO DO' list?

ACTION POINT:
Which sounds more like you...the passing glance or the careful gaze?

--Adrian Rogers

-BE AN
ARMOR-BEARER

1 Samuel 14:1-14
----
Do all that is in your
heart. Go then; here
I am with you.
--1 Samuel 14:7
---
THE Israelites and the Philistines were at war. While Saul relaxed under a pomegranate tree with his men, Jonathan and his armor-bearer left camp quietly to see if the Lord would work on their behalf, believing that "nothing restrains the LORD from saving by many or by few" (1 Sam. 14:6).

Jonathan and his helper were about to cross a path between two high cliffs. Armed enemy soldiers were stationed above them on both sides. They were only two men against who knows how many.

When Jonathan suggested they climb up after them, the armor-bearer never flinched. "Do all that is in your heart," he told Jonathan. "I am with you, according to your heart" (v.7). So the two climbed the cliff, and with God's help they overcame the enemy (vv.8-14). We have to admire this courageous young armor-bearer. He lugged the armor up that cliff and stayed with Jonathan, following along behind and killing those Jonathan wounded.

The church needs strong leaders to face our spiritual foes, but they must not be left to face them alone. They need the support of everyone in the congregation--loyal "armor-bearers" like you and me who are willing to join them in battle against the "enemy of our souls."
-----
Leaders are their best when people get behind them.

ODB/DE

-FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT OF FAITH!

Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.1 Timothy 6:12

Every now and then I'm asked, "Pastor, what is your greatest concern about the church in America today?" And you
know what my greatest concern about the American church is? It is that somehow we would think that we've arrived, that we've
finished everything that God wants us to do, that we would get in a zone of neutrality rather than pressing the battle to the limit!

What a tragedy it is! How heartbreaking it is to see some Christians who are content with a casual, just-get-by, conventional kind of Christianity rather than seeking new challenges that the Lord has for them.

If only the church today would heed the words of the apostle Paul, who saw the Christian life as a fight to the end. And on that day, we'd be able to cross the finish line of life knowing that we lived by faith in God and by the power of the Spirit!

God's plan is for you to sail wide open by the winds of the
Spirit by faith. Don't ever accept less than the best in your
life! Don't be content with the status quo. Step out and live by faith and you'll see God do things you never would have imagined!-

THE CHRISTIAN LIFE IS A FIGHT TO THE END. SO INSTEAD OF JUST BEING CONTENT WITH THE STATUS QUO, STEP OUT AND LIVE BY FAITH IN EVERYTHING YOU DO!

-On the Proving Ground

BIBLE MEDITATION:
"Examine me, O LORD, and prove me; try my reins and my heart. For Thy lovingkindness is before mine eyes: and I have walked in Thy truth." Psalm 26:2-3

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
How do automobile manufacturers make sure their vehicles are safe for people to drive? They put their vehicles onto a proving ground. They're driven hundreds of miles over rough roads and through water and heat--screeching, turning, twisting, hitting the brakes, accelerating to top speeds. They want to see if that automobile will stand the test.

It is the same with our spiritual lives. God gives the test first and the lesson afterwards. Read throughout Scripture and you will find this to be true. Joseph was tested. David was tested. Moses was tested. Peter was tested.

When God gets ready to prove you, He is not going to test you in the good times because that is not a test. Anybody can serve God in the sunshine.

ACTION POINT:
The test is not how you behave when there is victory all around; the test is how you behave when God brings you to the wilderness. He wants to know what is in your heart. Are you fully devoted to God?

--Adrian Rogers
http://youtu.be/empiUulYcDs /GIVE ME JESUS!

-Live by Example
1 Timothy 4:1-16

"Command and teach these things. Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith, and in purity." (1 Timothy 4:11-12)

THE Greek culture placed great value on a person's age and experience. Timothy was a young man, and Paul was instructing him to lead by being a godly example to others. This principle is true for any of us, regardless of age. In an "anything goes" kind of world, it's necessary for believers to be concerned about the example we give in all areas of life: in our speech, our decision-making, our relationships, etc. Sometimes it is from the Lord's very youngest of believers that we older people observe Christ-likeness in speech, life, love, faith, and purity.

We are to live in such a way that it is evident that Jesus is alive and well in us. Paul clarifies this in Colossians 3:17. "And whatever you do whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus." It's a lifestyle of bringing honor to God in every aspect and activity of our daily living. It's being sure His name has not been forgotten in our homes.

God specializes in taking the broken pieces and shattered dreams of our lives and bringing life back together so that even in the hardship, we give testimony to His goodness.

What impression do people have of Christ because of the way we live?

--Haven Today
<http://youtu.be/6b1Cb_2Ls1E> / GIVE ME WORDS TO SPEAK~

-HIS HOLD, NOT OURS

There is a beautiful story told of McLeod Campbell, the Scottish preacher. One day a friend came to him in spiritual perplexity. "Tell me how do you know that you have always got hold of God?"

For a long minute the minister was silent, and then, with a great wistfulness in his eyes, he said: "How do I know that I have always got hold of God? I don't always know; but I do know He always has hold of me!"

--Harvester
<http://youtu.be/u52_5VuwKVI> / Watch Over Me! (Aaron Shust)

-UNBELIEF MAKES GOD A LIAR[b]!
-By: David Wilkerson[/b]

“He who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed the testimony that God has given of His Son” (1 John 5:10).

Consider all the ugly sins listed against Israel in the
wilderness; murmuring,complaining, idolatry, ingratitude, rebellion, sensuality. Yet none of these provoked God’s wrath. It was their unbelief that angered God! “And the Lord
said to Moses: ‘How long will these people reject Me? And how long will they not believe Me, with all the signs which I have performed among them?’”
(Numbers 14:11).

God said to Moses, “These people make a lie out of everything I have done for them! I have performed miracle after miracle and delivered them time after time. When will they ever trust and rest in Me?”

Stop for a moment and think about all the things God has done for you: He has kept you, He has answered this prayer, that prayer. He has met you in a crisis here, a crisis there. He has brought you through trials, fed you with manna from heaven, done things for you that are nothing short of miraculous.

For thirty-eight long years Israel forgot God’s Word and dismissed His miracles from their minds. And because they fell back so often into murmuring and unbelief, God said, “I will strike them with the pestilence and disinherit them” (v. 12). He told Moses, “I am giving up on My people because they will never come to the place where they trust Me!”

When Israel was on the victorious side of Jordan, Moses made a solemn declaration: “Look, the Lord your God has set the land before you; go up and possess it...Do not be terrified, or afraid of them. The Lord your God, who goes before you, He will fight for you...Yet, for all that, you did not believe
the Lord your God...And the Lord heard the sound of your words, and was angry, and took an oath, saying, ‘Surely not one of these men of this evil generation shall see that good land of which I swore to give to your fathers’” (Deuteronomy 1:21, 29-30, 32, 34-35).

God magnifies His Word above His name. He means every word He says and all of these things God told Israel are the same things He has told us. I ask you: Will we not also incur His wrath if we act in unbelief?

We read His Word and hear all His promises from the pulpit but then we go to our corner and fret because we do not see Him immediately doing what we think He should do for us. When we do not let His Word anchor our souls, when we hear great and precious promises and then act as if we have been abandoned, we make God out to be a liar!

--Spiritually Shortsighted
LUKE 16:19-31

"Now there was a rich man, and he habitually dressed in purple and fine linen, joyously living in splendor every day. And a poor man named Lazarus was laid at his gate, covered with sores, and longing to be fed with the crumbs which were falling from the rich man's table; and the dogs were coming to lick his sores...." (read on, please)
------
In Luke 16, Jesus told a story about a rich man who lived for himself and ignored God. After death, he experienced the consequences of his choices --eternal separation from the Lord.

Jesus described him as one who lived in luxury every day (v.19), providing for himself the best that money could buy but giving little to the poor at his gate. It is important to realize that this man wasn't judged harshly by God because of his wealth. The heavenly Father is not opposed to our success. Nor was the man separated from the Lord because of his lack of charity toward others. He did not deliberately harm others but, rather, overlooked those in need and focused on himself.

The rich man's mistake was that he prepared everything for the body but nothing for the soul. Our culture practices a similar style of living. Acquiring material riches and satisfying self is the primary pursuit of many in our world. Having what one wants seems to be the goal whether it's a struggle to make ends meet or the bank account is overflowing.

Scripture says we were created to be in a relationship with the Father through faith in His Son. The rich man ignored God and paid the ultimate price. Our eternal desetiny depends on our decision about Christ.

Despite what our culture thinks, life is not about us. It's about having a relationship with the Lord. Whoever accepts Christ's gift of salvation will live eternally with Him in heaven. Those who reject God will suffer. If you know any spiritually shortsighted people, pray that they will trust in Jesus.'

--In Touch

-Paying Attention to How We Live
-LUKE 12:16-21
----
One day we'll give an account of ourselves to the Lord (Rom. 14:12). We must, then, pay attention to how we live.

The rich man in Luke 16:19-31 made the tragic choice of living for himself without regard for the Lord. He also made two other mistakes.

First, he invested everything for himself and nothing for the life to come. When we are blinded by our own desires and personal satisfaction, it is easy to become lukewarm about spiritual matters. We forget that this life is not all there is. Scripture tells us to store up treasures in heaven, not on earth. Where our treasure is reflects where our heart is (Matt. 6:19-21).

The rich man's other mistake was to prepare everything for himself and nothing for others. Crumbs falling from his table (v. 21) were the only form of assistance he gave a poor man named Lazarus. The one who had much wealth did not share it with the one who had little. Jesus explained what our priorities should be to love the Lord wholeheartedly and to love our neighbor as ourselves (Luke 10:27).

We see the rich man's mistakes repeated in another parable. This time a wealthy man builds bigger barns to store crops so he will have plenty for the future. God calls him a fool for such shortsightedness (Luke 12:20).

The Bible repeatedly warns us to pay attention to spiritual matters--the Lord is to have first place in our lives and be the center of our affections. He urges us to store up heavenly treasure by caring for the lost and hurting people around us. On whom is your attention focused?

--In Touch

-INVITE
QUESTIONS ~~

Exodus 12:1-13
---
Always be ready to
give a defense to
everyone who asks
you a reason for the
hope that is in you.
--1 Peter 3:15
---
When I teach, I sometimes use the motto "Question Authority" to get the attention of my students. I am not inviting them to challenge my authority; I am encouraging them to ask me questions. Some education experts say that more learning takes place when teachers answer questions than when they impart information. By nature, we all place a higher value on what we want to know than on what someone wants to tell us.

There is, of course, a place for both types of teaching, but encouraging questions is one of the first that is found in Scripture. Even before the Israelites left Egypt, the Lord instructed Moses to institute a practice that would invite questions. The Passover celebration would serve two purposes: It would remind the adults of God's deliverance, and it would cause their children to ask about it (Ex. 12:26).

"Why" can be an annoying question, but it can also be a wonderful oppportunity to give a reason for our faith (1 Peter 3:15). Instead of being impatient when others ask questions, we can be thankful they have a heart and mind open to learning. Questions give us the opportunity to answer lovingly and carefully, knowing that our words may have eternal consequences.
------
-HONEST QUESTIONS CAN LEAD TO FAITH-BUILDING ANSWERS.

-ODBJAL

-PEACE FOR ANXIOUS DAYS
-By: Max Lucado
--
When my daughters were single-digit ages—two, five, and seven—I wowed them with a miracle. I told them the story of Moses and the manna and invited them to follow me on a wilderness trek through the house.

“Who knows,” I suggested, “manna may fall from the sky again.”

We dressed in sheets and sandals and did our best Bedouin hike through the bedrooms. The girls, on my instruction, complained to me, Moses, of hunger and demanded I take them back to Egypt, or at least to the kitchen. When we entered the den, I urged them to play up their parts: groan, moan, and beg for food.

“Look up,” I urged. “Manna might fall any minute.”
Two-year-old Sara obliged with no questions, but Jenna and Andrea had their doubts. How can manna fall from a ceiling?

Just like the Hebrews. “How can God feed us in the wilderness?”

Just like you? You look at tomorrow’s demands, next week’s bills, next month’s silent calendar. Your future looks as barren as the Sinai Desert. “How can I face my future?” God tells you what I told my daughters: “Look up.”

When my daughters did, manna fell! Well, not manna, but vanilla wafers dropped from the ceiling and landed on the carpet. Sara squealed with delight and started munching. Jenna and Andrea were old enough to request an explanation.

My answer was simple. I knew the itinerary. I knew we would enter this room. Vanilla wafers fit safely on the topside of the ceiling-fan blades. I had placed them there in advance. When they groaned and moaned, I turned on the switch.

God’s answer to the Hebrews was similar. Did he know their itinerary? Did he know they would grow hungry? Yes and yes. And at the right time, he tilted the manna basket toward earth.

And what about you? God know what you need and where you’ll be. Any chance he has some vanilla wafers on tomorrow’s ceiling fans? Trust Him.

“Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes” (Matthew 6:33-34).
-------
From Great Day Every Day: Navigating Life’s Challenges with Promise and Purpose
-- Max Lucado

-Seeking Guidance
-Psalm 25:4-5

"Make me know Your ways, O LORD;
Teach me Your paths.
Lead me in Your truth and teach me,
For You are the God of my salvation;
For You I wait all the day." -

When you're facing a decision, whether big or small, it is important to wait upon God for His direction and timing. And though it may sound paradoxical, there are three ways that we can take an active role in the process while we wait.

-First, we should examine our heart, asking the Holy Spirit to expose any wrongs. If He brings something to light, it is important to take care of that sin immediately--by confessing, repenting, and doing whatever's needed to correct the situation. At times we push this task aside because the impending decision seems like our main concern. Yet we cannot hear from God or receive His full blessing until we deal with transgression.

-Second, when seeking direction, we should listen patiently and attentively for the Lord to give the go-ahead. It can be difficult to wait, especially when emotions or logic lead us to favor one choice.

-Third, the answer to our prayer at times requires our involvement. For instance, when people tell me they're out of work and trusting God to provide, I always want to know if they are actively looking for a job. Some are not; they are simply praying. We have responsibility not only to present God with requests and seek His guidance but also to be active in the process. Waiting on God is not an excuse to be lazy.

Prayer is a beautiful privilege that the heavenly Father gives to His children. He desires to lead us into a life of abundance. We should take an active part in seeking His will and listening for His voice. As we follow the Holy Spirit's guidance, we will experience all that the Lord has for us.

--In Touch

--They're Cheering for YOU!

-BIBLE MEDITATION:
--
"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." Hebrews 12:1

-DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
A soft-spoken woman went to a high school football game. She'd been quiet the entire game until there was a fumble on the field. The substitute quarterback, a little scrawny kid, picked up the ball and started running past the other players toward the goal.

And this little lady exploded! She jumped up and said, "Run, baby, run! Run, baby, run!" He was her son.
That's what the saints are saying, as they watch us on the playing field of life. They are cheering us on from the heavenly grandstand to "run with patience, the race that is set before us."

-ACTION POINT:
Do you need a lift today? Imagine a grandstand the size of heaven cheering you on to victory!

---God Forgives Our Sin
--Read | Ephesians 1:3-8

-The Bible is a guidebook mapping the route to our eternal home. But travelers must read and follow the directions. Some people claim they will get to heaven because of their morality, their religious observances, or even their belief that God exists. But those paths lead to death.

The only road that leads to the Lord’s eternal home is faith in Jesus (John 14:6). Scripture gives us three landmarks along the route—points when there is an awareness of Christ and our need for Him.

--Landmark 1: I am a sinner. Everyone has done wrong (Isa. 53:6; Rom. 3:23). But only someone under the convicting power of the Holy Spirit recognizes that sin is what separates us from our holy God (John 9:31). When the spiritual seeker has this awareness about iniquity, he is accountable for his response.

--Landmark 2: Jesus is perfect. Christ’s sinless sacrifice on the cross is what spans the chasm between the Father and His creation. Our Savior paid all past, present, and future sin debt.

--Landmark 3: I need Jesus.. The defining moment on the journey is the point when the traveler believes Jesus is who He claimed to be. Belief is accompanied by repentance—a turning away from old sins. The pilgrim is given a brand-new nature and is welcomed into God’s family (2 Cor. 5:17; John 1:12).

Are you on the road to discovering the Lord? Here is a peek at what is ahead if you stay the course: redemption (Rom. 3:24), eternal life (John 3:15), and a great adventure walking with Jesus. Trust in the Savior, and thank Him for His mercy and grace.~~
--IN TOUCH~~/ AMAZING GRACE (...My Chains Are Gone / C.Tomlin)
<http://youtu.be/Jbe7OruLk8I>
--------

---Your Life Is Your Time
--Ephesians 5:14-17

--"For it is light that makes everything visible. This is why it is said, "Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you."
Be very careful, then, how you live--not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is."

-Our lives are governed by time. That's why we're surrounded by clocks and calendars that dictate our activities. As the minutes tick by, we wonder where the day went. When responsibilities and pressures mount, we complain, "I just don't have time to get it all done!" But the reality is that God has given us enough time to do exactly what He's planned for our lives. Perhaps the bigger issue is whether we are using our time to do our will or the Lord's.

Time is a gift from God, and He has allotted each of us a measure in which to live and accomplish His purposes. We have only two options—to spend it temporally on our own interests or invest it eternally. Since time can never be retrieved or reversed, it's critical that we make the most of every opportunity the Lord provides.

The key to investing in eternity is following God's plan for your life, not just filling your days with activities. Jesus was allocated just thirty-three years of life on earth, but only the last three were spent in fulfilling His Messianic ministry. To us that seems like a waste of time. Yet Christ accomplished everything His Father gave Him to do. That's why on the Cross He could say, "It is finished" (John 19:30).

Scripture compares earthly life to "a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes" (James 4:14), but eternal life never ends. It's foolish to spend your life on a vapor when you can reap everlasting benefits by following God's will for your time here. Each day is an opportunity to choose.~~
--IN TOUCH-/ All the Way My Savior Leads Me~ Chris Tomlin

<http://youtu.be/1Yhyc3qt3ow>
--------

--Approaching God

-Jesus invites us to approach God the way a child approaches his or her daddy! And how do children approach their daddies? I went to a school playground to find out. When a five-year-old spots his father in the parking lot, how does he react?

“Yippee!” screamed a redheaded boy wearing a Batman backpack.

“Pop!” Over here! Push me!” yelled a boy wearing a Boston Red Sox cap who scooted straight to the swings.

Here’s what I didn’t hear: “Father, it is most gracious of thee to drive thy car to my place of education. Please know of my deep gratitude for your benevolence. For thou art splendid in they attentive care and diligent in they dedication.”

I heard kids who were happy to see their dads and eager to speak to them! God invites us to approach Him in the same manner. What a relief!
[Yes, Come to the Father, through Jesus the Son, and give Him the glory great things He has done. Praise the Lord! We are told to receive Christ as a little child. Trusting Him, loving Him, and praying to Him for His wonderful blessings. He is our God-Man. Yet can relate to little children, even on their level. WHY? Because 'God is Love'.]
--WHAT A FRIEND WE HAVE IN JESUS! / Paul Baloche~

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hoog1LA-oA0
--------------

--Accusation Vs. Conviction / Learn to Tell the Difference!~
--By: Adrian Rogers

“Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send Him unto you. And when He is come, He will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment.” - John 16:7-8

The devil accuses you of sin. The Holy Spirit convicts you of sin. Do you know the difference? The devil accuses you to drive you from Christ. The Holy Spirit convicts to draw you to Christ.

The devil wants you to get under a load of guilt so you’ll say, “I’m no good. I can’t live the Christian life. There’s something wrong with me. God doesn’t hear my prayers. It doesn’t do me any good to go to church.”

When you believe those lies, you let the devil drive you away from God! He accuses you to destroy you.

The Holy Spirit convicts you to reclaim you. He is trying to correct you and bring you back, that you may know the fullness of joy. The Holy Spirit draws you to Christ that you may confess your sins and be cleansed!

--Confess, be cleansed, and go your way rejoicing!
-- ALL THE WAY MY SAVIOR LEADS ME ~~ CHRIS TOMLIN`
http://youtu.be/Jeav7N-r2Lc
-----------

---Victory Over Guilt
--John 3:16-17

-At times, people are bound by guilt long after the feeling should have been resolved. Some rightly live with it because they refuse to give up the sin that brought it on. Meanwhile, others suffer the weight of false guilt because they harbor shame that doesn't belong to them. Whatever the root cause of your condemnation, the battle plan remains the same.

Victory over guilt begins with understanding that Jesus took our shame to the Cross and paid our penalty. There is no way that we can pay for our own sin. But we do need to honestly identify the source of our guilt and confess before God. That means we agree with His perspective on what we've done. In other words, we admit when we're wrong. Repentance goes a step further: we turn away from the wrong and choose to do right.

Confronting guilt in this way replaces the weight of shame in our heart with peace and joy, which are far lighter and more freeing. And an amazing side effect is that we have wisdom to share. Openness about our past mistakes, resulting consequences, guilt burdens, and forgiveness can reveal the Lord to those in our sphere of influence. Through our witness, God may reach others who need their guilt chains broken.

The battle to overcome guilt is one that should not be delayed. The feeling won't just go away. Whether your condemnation is true or false, it needs to be dealt with quickly. Stop running, and face the source of your guilt. It's time to end your captivity and start walking in the joy of God's blessing.
--IN TOUCH~ / NO FEAR ~ DON MOEN
<http://youtu.be/dUqfW_zF0gI>

---THE BATTLE IS ALREADY WON! JESUS PAID OUR SIN-DEBT!

"Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world."
---1 John 4:4
--------------
--Satan doesn’t want you to know this, but as a follower of Christ, you are victorious!

Yes, you have a very real and very deadly enemy. Yes, you’re engaged in a spiritual battle with him every single day. But you are victorious in Jesus Christ! The battle is already won.

As believers, we fight from a position of strength, not from a position of weakness. We fight from victory..…not for victory. When Jesus cried out “it is finished” (John 19:30) on the Cross, Satan was finished. And because of the Cross, we have victory in Jesus.

When we came into the Kingdom of God, we were not only transformed, we were translated from the kingdom of darkness into the glorious Kingdom of God. We were 'born again' into the family of God as His children. (John 3:3)~~ And because we’re children of God, we are 'combined-together' heirs with the Lord Jesus Christ. That means everything is ours because of Him!

Since you and I have been born into the family of God, the risen, resurrected Redeemer is living in us. The Holy Spirit has taken up residence in our lives and as a result, “He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world”!

That’s our victory in Jesus and that’s why we can say we fight, not for victory, but from victory, from the strongest possible position of strength! According to God’s Word, through Jesus Christ we are invincible against the attacks of the enemy…invincible.

For the Scripture says in 1 John 2:17, “Whoever does the will of God abides forever.”

I want to leave you with one last thought today: Satan may frighten you…but he cannot hurt you. Because as God’s child, you are in His omnipotent grip! As it says in 2 Corinthians 4:8-9, “We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed”!!

It’s my prayer that the Lord Jesus would encourage you with these words..…no matter what you may be going through today.

----THE BATTLE IS ALREADY WON!--/ ALL THE WAY MY SAVIOR LEADS ME/ C. Tomlin~~
--
<http://youtu.be/z1fMaJzev_s>
-----------

--Out of Our Comfort Zone

--BIBLE MEDITATION:
“For whosoever shall be ashamed of Me and of My words, of him shall the Son of Man be ashamed, when He shall come in His own glory, and in His Father’s, and of the holy angels.” Luke 9:26

--DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
How much have you suffered because you have named the name of Jesus? Have you refused to budge on an issue that would dishonor His name? Second Timothy 3:12 says, “All that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.”There’s no escaping persecution for true Christians. We will be persecuted when we endeavor to “live godly in Christ Jesus.”

Now, on the other hand, if you’re not being persecuted, don’t say you must be doing a wonderful job. Very frankly, you’re doing a poor job. Let me ask you: If you were arrested for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you? Regrettably, most people would have to say no.

--ACTION POINT:
Get out of your comfort zone today. Check into a short-term mission trip; start a Bible Study; witness to your neighbor; take a homeless person to lunch; take a walk in the park and tell someone that Jesus loves them.
[Get on a website that can pass on the Word of God. People are dying 'for lack of knowledge'. It is up to us, His people to spread His Word. Please let's 'Redeem the Time', as the Bible says. Jesus said, "No one knows the day or hour that the Son of Man will come. Be ye always ready." The time is short. We must reach out to others, in Jesus Name. Come on, fellow-Christians, we're in a battle down her. (spiritually)~ 'Onward Christian Soldiers, marching on to war, with the Cross of Jesus going on before!" ~~-ONWARD CHRISTIAN SOLDIERS! Gaithers~~
https://youtu.be/0Vua7LwiAQ0
-------

---The Power of Love

---May I meddle for a moment? What’s the one thing separating you from joy? How do you fill in this blank: “I will be happy when____?” When I’m healed…when I’m promoted…when I’m married…when I’m single…when I’m rich? With your answer firmly in mind, answer this. If your dream never comes true, if the situation never changes, would you be happy? If not, then you’re sleeping in the cold cell of discontent.

You need to know what you have in your Shepherd. You have a God who hears you, the power of love behind you, the Holy Spirit within you, and all of Heaven ahead of you. If you have the Shepherd, you have grace for every sin, direction for every turn, a candle for every corner, and an anchor for every storm. You have everything you need!

--Traveling Light/ML
--Come on, Beloved. Jesus loves you with an everlasting love and underneath are His everlasting arms! Give Him PRAISE! He died so that you and I are free! "Whom the Son sets free is free indeed."
<https://youtu.be/IBnjmP0UDVQ>
---------

--TRUE FREEDOM IN CHRIST ~~
-“But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.” - Romans 6:22

When Jesus Christ comes into your life, He changes you. Maybe you have a problem with drugs or alcohol. Maybe you struggle with lust, fear, doubt, or self- pity. Maybe you’re a slave to public opinion or perfectionism. But I want to tell you that the Jesus Christ who set Adrian Rogers free is the Jesus Christ who will set you free.

-Our freedom in Jesus Christ isn’t the privilege to do what we want.. Instead it is the glorious, abundant, supernatural power to do what we ought.

It is saving grace that sets us free. It is sustaining grace that keeps us free.

-Bow before the Lord and thank Him for the freedom you’ve been given through the great price of Calvary. "Thanks be to God who gives us the VICTORY, through Jesus Christ our Lord!"~~
--Adrian Rogers~/ Come Now is the Time to Worship / Philips, Craig and Dean
<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NPWq8eM4lu8>

--HIS PEACE AND JOY IN SUFFERING~~

---BIBLE MEDITATION:
“For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow His steps.”
-- (1 Peter 2:21)

--DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

--CHRIST SUFFERED FOR YOU.

“But I don’t want to suffer for Him.”

You’re going to suffer anyway—whether you are saved or lost. That is life in a fallen world.

When you submit to Jesus Christ and obey the Word of God, He is going to arch a rainbow of hope over your suffering. He is going to write Romans 8:28 over what you are going through. You will know that your current trial is for your good.

--ACTION POINT:
Surrender and submission to God is the only way to get His grace and power over your life. Joy, peace, and worry-free days are ahead for the one who lays his life down for the glory of God. Suffering will come, but joy will follow.~~
--Adrian Rogers~

-Most of us like to read 'The Beatitudes' (Matthew Chapter 5:1-12). When Jesus saw the crowds, He went up on a mountainside and sat down. With His disciples, he began to teach them saying:

'Blessed are the poor in spirit,
For theirs is the kingdom of Heaven.

Blessed are those who mourn,
For they will be comforted.

Blessed are the meek
For they will inherit the earth.

Blessed are those who hunger and
Thirst for righteousness,
For they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful,
For they will be shown mercy.

Blessed are the pure in heart,
For they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
For they will be called sons of God.

Blessed are those who are persecuted
Because of righteousness,
For theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven."

(vs.11)-"Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in Heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you."~~
-----------
Yes, we are overcomers through Jesus Christ. We will be persecuted, hated by all men, ridiculed, and mocked. They did it to Jesus, should we expect less? We are to 'Walk in His Footsteps." Great is your reward in Heaven! Secular people live for the here and now. Christians look forward to a Heavenly Home. Eternity with Jesus awaits us. (see Hebrews 11:1-16) We walk by faith and not by sight. God has prepared a City for us. Shout for JOY! For great is your reward in Heaven! Jesus paid our sin-debt by dying on that old rugged Cross. Keep your eyes on Him. Call out to Jesus, "Light the Fire Again!" / Brian Doerksen~ ~~
<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1pD2O3FarRM>
-------------

---CONFIRMATION OF THE GOSPEL
--By: Henry M. Morris, Ph.D.
---Evidence for Creation

“Even as it is meet for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart; inasmuch as both in my bonds, and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, ye all are partakers of my grace.”
---(Philippians 1:7)

--The gospel, of course, embraces all the truths concerning the person and work of Jesus Christ, from Creation to Consummation. Since these truths have been under Satanic attack throughout all the ages, it is vital that the gospel both be defended against its enemies and confirmed in the hearts and minds of its friends.

The word for “defense” (Greek apologia) is the same as “answer” in 1 Peter 3:15, where we are commanded to “be ready always to give an answer . . . a reason of the hope that is in you.”
Colossians 2:7= “Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith.”
Thus, the saving gospel of Christ—from its foundation in genuine Creationism to its Consummation in His coming kingdom with its central focus on the crucifixion and resurrection—is both to be defended against false teaching and established as truth. These two aspects correspond in general to apologetics in defending the faith and Christian evidences in establishing the faith.

This is not merely a job for certain theological or scientific specialists, however. All believers need to be “partakers” of this grace (literally “convinced co-participants”). Real “partakers” do not just go along for the ride but are firmly committed and fully comprehending supporters. However, both those who lead out in such a work, as well as those who are “partakers,” are exhorted to do so in grace!

“Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man” (Colossians 4:6).
"Be ye always ready for no one knows the day or hour the Son of GOD will return." (Matthew 24:42)
--ICR/HMM--THE POWER OF YOUR LOVE - Hillsong ~
<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H9_0jiO5ZRM>
--------------

--A REMOTE LOCATION/ WE FOLLOW JESUS~

--Tristan da Cunha Island is famous for its isolation. It is the most remote inhabited island in the world, thanks to the 288 people who call it home. The island is located in the South Atlantic Ocean, 1,750 miles from South Africa--the nearest mainland. Anyone who might want to drop by for a visit has to travel by boat for seven days because the island has no airstrip.

Jesus and His followers were in a somewhat remote area when He produced a miraculous meal for thousands of hungry people. Before His miracle, Jesus said to His disciples, "These people have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. If I send them home hungry, they will collapse on the way" (MARK 8:2-3). Because they were in the countryside where food was not readily available, they had to depend fully on Jesus. They had nowhere else to turn.

Sometimes God allows us to end up in desolate places where He is our only source of help. His ability to provide for us is not necessarily linked with our circumstances. If He created the entire world out of nothing, God can certainly meet our needs--whatever our circumstances--out of the riches of His glory, in Christ Jesus (PHIL. 4:19). ~~

'Dear God, thank You for all that You have provided through Your Son, Jesus Christ. You know what my needs are. Please reassure me of Your care and power. Thank You, in Christ Jesus Holy Name.' ~~

--WE CAN TRUST GOD TO DO WHAT WE CANNOT DO. WITH GOD ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE~~
--ODB/JBS-/Creation Calls (please have your speakers turned up! Praise the Almighty Jehovah Yahweh, YHWH!) Brian Doerksen
<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LwGvfdtI2c0>

--THE CONSEQUENCES OF DRIFTING~~
----(Please Read/ Hebrews 3:12-13)

--Spiritual drifting--the gradual wandering away from God and His will--takes place when a believer ceases to steer toward the Lord. Like an empty boat set loose upon the waters, he or she makes a slow and lazy glide away from good practices like disciplined obedience, regular Bible study, prayer, and assembling with fellow Christians. And there are consequences for casting yourself on uncharted and dangerous waters.

A life adrift is outside of God's will and therefore in sin. The Holy Spirit pricks a believer's conscience to send a message when he is off course, but the drifter is prone to ignore such warnings. If a Christian continually excuses his wandering ways and denies sin, then his conscience gradually numbs. A person who becomes desensitized to wrongdoing has paved the way for more sinful behavior with less guilt. Can you imagine a more dangerous situation?

As the drifting believer's conscience becomes anesthetized, his spiritual ears are also deadened--truth cannot gain entrance because he has invited wrong attitudes and philosophies into his thinking process. What's more, his heart hardens to the things of God. Shrinking away from testimonies about divine power, grace, and mercy, he avoids situations that might reawaken the conscience and stir his spirit to repentance.

-People drift from God in search of more--more freedom, choices, and pleasure. But since the consequences are a hard heart, a numb conscience, and dead ears, what they end up with is less. The drifting believer sacrifices the victorious life in Christ for an existence devoid of permanent satisfaction.
--IN TOUCH~~ / The Heart of Worship / Matt Redman
<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0a9T0UtJBQ>
-----

---GOD MEETS OUR NEEDS~~
--(Please Read/ Philippians 4:19)

-Our heavenly Father has promised to provide everything we need. Let’s consider some of the good gifts that are ours in Christ Jesus.

One universal human need is love. Through faith in Jesus, we’ve been adopted as the heavenly Father’s beloved children. But before this could take place, God’s justice had to be satisfied.

You see, we were all born with a sinful nature that is bent away from the Lord. Because of the Father’s great love, He sent Jesus to take our place and experience judgment for our sin. Out of deep compassion for us, Jesus willingly suffered and died so we might become part of God’s family and experience His rich affection for us (John 3:16). Through our relationship with Him, this need for love is fully met.

In fact, by means of salvation, our Father also provided for two other basic needs—companionship and security. When we accept God’s offer of forgiveness, the Holy Spirit comes to live within us, fulfilling Jesus’ promise never to leave us (Heb. 13:5). This new relationship is permanent. What Jesus accomplished on the Cross was fully accepted by God as payment for our sin debt. Furthermore, Christ Himself promised that no one can ever snatch us out of His hand (John 10:28). Therefore, we can rest in the knowledge that we are God’s children forever. That is true security.

Our deep need for love, security, and companionship is satisfied in an intimate relationship with the Lord. Have you trusted Christ so you could be permanently adopted into God’s family?
**--IN TOUCH~~**--/How Deep the Father's Love For us / Fernando Ortega~
<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dLDGVl8D5UU>
------

--NOTHING HIDDEN~~

IN 2015 an international research company stated that there were 245 million surveillance cameras installed worldwide, and the number was growing by 15 percent every year. In addition, multiplied millions of people with smartphones capture daily images raging from birthday parties to bank robberies. Whether we applaud the increased security or denounce the diminished privacy, we live in a global, cameras-everywhere society.

The New Testament book of Hebrews says that in our relationship with God, we experience a far greater level of exposure and accountability than anything surveillance cameras may see. His Word, like a sharp, two edged sword, penetrates to the deepest level of our being where it "judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account" (HEB 4:12-13).

Because Jesus our Savior experienced our weaknesses and temptations but did not sin, we can "approach God's throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need" (VV.15-16). We don't need to fear Him but can be assured we'll find grace when we come to Him.
Jesus is always ready to receive a person into His kingdom when we acknowledge we are a sinner in need of a Savior, we confess our sins, and ask Jesus to forgive us, giving us eternal life with Him and all those believers who go on to Heaven when we depart this earth. ~~

--NO PART OF OUR LIVES IS HIDDEN FROM GOD'S GRACE AND POWER.

--ODB/DM--'STRANGERS HERE' --Tenth Avenue~~
<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=STimL3CzJB0>
----------

---LACK NOTHING~~

--'God is able to bless
you abundantly, so that
...you will abound in
every good work.'
--(2 Corinthians 9:8)

--IMAGINE going on a trip without luggage. No basic necessities. No change of clothing. No money or credit cards. Sounds both unwise and terrifying, doesn't it?

But that's exactly what Jesus told His twelve disciples to do when He sent them out on their first mission to preach and heal. "Take nothing for the journey except a staff," said Jesus. "No bread, no bag, no money in your belts. Wear sandals but not an extra shirt." -(MARK 6:8-9)

Yet later on when Jesus was preparing them for their work after He was gone, He told His disciples, "If you have a purse, take it, and also a bag; and if you don't have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one" (LUKE 22:36).

**So, what's the point here? It's about trusting God to supply.**
When Jesus referred back to that first trip He asked the disciples, "When I sent you without purse, bag or sandals, did you lack anything?" And they answered, "Nothing" (v.35). The disciples had everything they needed to carry out what God had called them to do. He was able to supply them with the power to do His work (MARK 6:7).

Do we trust God to supply our needs? Are we also taking personal responsibility and planning? Let's have faith that He will give us what we need to carry out His work.~~

"You are good, Lord, and all You do is good. Help us in our endeavors to pray and to plan and to trust You." ~ amen

--GOD'S WILL DONE IN GOD'S WAY WILL NEVER LACK GOD'S SUPPLY.~~
--[HUDSON TAYLOR, FOUNDER OF CHINA INLAND MISSION]
--'EVEN IF' / MercyMe~<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yu5q7RKhF_s>
--------

---LET'S FINISH THE RACE ~~~

-'Two are better than
one...if either of
them falls down, one
can help the other
up.'--(Ecclesiastes 4:9-10)--

--IN THE 2016 Rio Olympics, two athletes in the 5,000-meter race caught the world's attention. About 3,200 meters into the race, New Zealander Nikki Hamblin and American Abbey D'Agostino collided and fell. Abbey was quickly up on her feet, but stopped to help Nikki. Moments after the two athletes had started running again, Abbey began faltering, her right leg injured as a result of the fall. It was now Nikki's turn to stop and encourage her fellow athlete to finish the race. When Abbey eventually stumbled across the finish line, Nikki was waiting to embrace her. What a beautiful picture of mutual encouragement!

It reminds me of a passage in the Bible: "Two are better than one...if either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up" (ECCL. 4:9-10). As runners in a spiritual race, we need one another--perhaps even more so, for we are not racing in competition with each other but as members of the same team. There'll be moments where we falter and need someone to pick us up; at other times, someone may need our encouragement through our prayers or presence.

The spiritual race is not to be run alone. Is God leading you to be a Nikki or Abbey in someone's life? Respond to His prompting today, and let's finish the race!~~

-'Dear Lord, thank You for the encouragement of fellow believers to help me on my journey. Help me to look for ways to encourage others.' ~~

--WE NEED EACH OTHER TO GET WHERE GOD WANTS US TO GO. ~~
--ODB/PFC

---NO SECRETS ABOUT THIS LIFE~~

---God has kept no secrets about this life. He has told us that we 'will' experience trouble. Disease 'will' afflict bodies. Divorce 'will' break hearts. Death 'will' make widows and devastation 'will' destroy countries. We shouldn’t expect any less.

Yet just because the devil shows up and cackles, we needn’t panic. Jesus says in John 16:33, “In this world you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” He speaks of an accomplished deed. “I HAVE overcome the world” It’s finished! The battle is over.

Be alert but don’t be alarmed. Satan is loosed for a season, but the season is oh, so brief. The devil knows this and in Revelation 12:12 we are told, “he is filled with fury because he knows that his time is short.” Just a few more turns in the road, and his end will come! And we will have a new beginning.

--'From/ When Christ Comes/ML'~ 'JESUS I BELIEVE' By: Big Daddy Weave ~<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qIg5tI8yFqE>
--------------

---TO DIE IS TO LIVE~~

“For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it.” (Mark 8:35)--

The principle expressed in this verse must be of paramount importance, for it is found repeated in one way or another probably more often than any other single principle in the New Testament. Note the following examples representing at least four separate messages from the Lord Jesus:

**Matthew 10:39: “He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.”

**Matthew 16:25: “For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.”

**Luke 9:24: “For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.”

**Luke 17:33: “Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it.”

**John 12:25: “He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.”

-- This remarkable divine paradox—that to die means to live—is also found expressed in many other ways in the epistles. Paul says, for example: “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live” (Galatians 2:20). Note also such Scriptures as Romans 12:1-2; 2 Corinthians 5:14-15; 6:9-10; Philippians 1:21-24; 2 Timothy 2:11-12.

There are many pietistic Christians who interpret such passages as implying a so-called “deeper life” that is attained by certain Christians and not by others through some 'mystical experience.'

However, Jesus did not say to lose one’s life for a deeper life, but for “my sake and the gospel’s”! Christ wants us to live in simple obedience to His will as recorded in His Word, proclaiming in all we say and do that He is Creator, Savior, and coming King.

--ICR/HMM ---"Lover of My Soul" / Kari Jobe ~ /<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ze6j68p17PM>
------------

----PATIENCE IN AFFLICTION~~

--"[Be] rejoicing in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.”
---( Romans 12:12)---

--“Patient” in this verse is the Greek word hypomeno. It is a verb that means, “To remain; not recede or flee; to persevere; under misfortunes and trials to hold fast to one’s faith in Christ; to endure, bear bravely and calmly ill treatments.” Jesus told His followers, “In this life you will have trouble. But take heart, I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). Trouble, or affliction, is a given. We live in a fallen world filled with fallen sinners, of which we are counted.

Let’s just be honest and get it out on the table that it is HARD to be patient in affliction, isn’t it? When Christ saves us, we don’t automatically become infinitely patient. We do, however, instantly receive the power of the Holy Spirit to be patient – but we still must choose. With every circumstance, we have a choice. Will we react according to our natural, sinful desires; or will we yield control to His Spirit living in us and draw from the limitless fountain of His grace and choose patience? One choice relies on self, the other denies self. One choice is easy, the other is hard. I’m sure you can guess which is which.

-------- I recently read this quote:

“A waiting person is a patient person. The word patience means the willingness to stay where we are and live the situation out to the full in the belief that something hidden there will manifest itself to us.” – Henri J.M. Nouwen

No offense to Mr. Nouwen, but I think he should have said, “…in the belief that Someone hidden there will manifest Himself to us.” God is present in every situation we face, although He may not always be readily visible. He hides in the storms and trials, waiting to see if we trust Him enough to endure patiently that which He uses to shape and grow us into the image of His Son.

--{Note] --Affliction isn’t a sign of God’s anger in the lives of His children, but rather of His grace. Without affliction we would not know His peace. Without want we would not know His satisfaction. Without need we would not recognize His provision. And without testing our faith would not grow. We need only be patient, believing that He will manifest His presence to us in all things.

--"Father, It is so hard to wait for You to move when I’m facing hard circumstances or suffering. Give me the strength to be patient so that others will see that You are faithful in all things and at all times. In Jesus’ Name, Amen."
---Touching Lives/ James Merritt~~
[**Friends we also do well to read Hebrews Chapter 12. Jesus is our Prime Example. Beginning in verse 4 reading through verse 11, "A Father's Discipline".
Whom the Lord loves he chastens. Our Lord and Savior is our Shepherd. We must trust Him at all times. "All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness." - [verse 11]. Because Jesus is our Example, we are to walk in His steps. Yes, we will fall occasionally. We live in a fallen world. We then, repent. -"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."--(1 JOHN 1:9)

--Self-Denial on Behalf of Others ~~
--(Please Read/ Romans Chapter 15:1-6)

--"Each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up.".
--(Romans 15:2)---

---LINCOLN'S POCKETS ~

----The night US president Abraham Lincoln was shot at Ford’s Theater in 1865, his pockets contained the following: two spectacles, a lens polisher, a pocketknife, a watch fob, a handkerchief, a leather wallet containing a five-dollar Confederate bill, and eight newspaper clippings, including several that praised him and his policies.

I wonder what the Confederate money was doing in the president’s pocket, but I have little doubt about the glowing news stories. Everyone needs encouragement, even a great leader like Lincoln! Can you see him, in the moments before the fateful play, perhaps reading them to his wife?

Who do you know who needs encouragement? Everyone! Look around you. There isn’t one person in your line of vision who is as confident as they seem. We’re all one failure, snide comment, or bad hair day away from self-doubt.

What if we all obeyed God’s command to “please our neighbors for their good, to build them up”? (Romans 15:2). What if we determined only to speak “gracious words” that are “sweet to the soul and healing to the bones”? (Proverbs 16:24). What if we wrote these words down, so friends could reread and savor them? Then we’d all have notes in our pockets.
And we’d be more like Jesus, who “did not please himself” but lived for others (Romans 15:3).

--"Loving God, help me to encourage others with my words, actions, and presence. Thank You, Lord Jesus for dying that I (we), will live with You in eternity. In Christ's Name" Amen~
--ODB/MW

--Blessings In the Goodness of God~

----[Bethel Music and Jenn Johnson]

"How great is Your goodness,
Which You have stored up
for those who fear You,
Which You have wrought for
those who take refuge in You,
Before the sons of men! --(PSALM 31:19]
[Also Psalm 100 is a wonderful Psalm to Read and Meditate on the Goodness of Jehovah God~]

---"Goodness Of God" <https://youtu.be/HnGFNgViCc4>

---WHAT IS A CHRISTIAN~~
--[CARM/ Christian Apologetics & Research Ministry]

----[By/ Matt Slick]

~~~What is a Christian? Many think they are Christians because they claim to believe in Jesus. But, believing in Jesus often means nothing, or anything, particularly here in America where pluralism and relativism are rampant. Intolerance is the only thing not tolerated by the postmodernist who says, "My truth is different from your truth so don't judge me with your outdated morals." Such commentary by the non-thinking and spiritually dead is all too common. But it doesn't change the true meaning of what it means to be a follower of Christ. So, what does it mean to be a Christian?

First of all, to be a Christian, you must first know who Christ is. Biblically, He is God in flesh, the second person of the Trinity (John 1:1, 14; Col. 2:9).- He is the great "I AM" (Exodus 3:14; John 8:58). He is the Savior who was born of a virgin (Isaiah 7:14), who died, was buried, and rose from the dead (1 Cor. 15:1-4), physically (John 2:19-21). He alone is the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6). Only by the name of Jesus may a person be saved (Acts 4:12), and all who do not trust in Him alone for the forgiveness of their sins will be judged (Matt. 25:41) accordingly. Jesus is both God and man (Col. 2:9; 1 Tim. 2:5; Phil. 2:5-8). He is our eternal intercessor (Heb. 7:25) who mediates our salvation to the Father (1 Tim. 2:5). To Him be the glory.

It is not merely some man who was wise (Secularism). He was not the product of sexual relations between a god and goddess from another world (Mormonism). He is not a man in tune with the divine consciousness (Christian Science). He is not the first created thing in the universe (Jehovah's Witnesses). He is not the harmonious, really-neat-teacher (New Age). He is the creator of all things (Col. 1:16-17; Isaiah 44:24). He is Lord!

Once you know who Jesus is, you must trust Him to forgive you of your sins. Ask Him to forgive you. He will. Then, once you are saved, you are a Christian. But, you are not a trophy to be placed on a shelf and left alone. You are more like a pair of sneakers to be used. That is what it means to be a Christian. It means you have found the true Savior--not a false one of the cults. It means you have been saved by God's grace through faith (Eph. 2:8) and are now seeking to please Him in your life by following His commands (1 John 2:4). Such obedience does not save you nor contribute to your salvation. This obedience is motivated by love and thankfulness and is a response of being saved.

So, being a Christian means knowing the true Christ and following Him in truth.~~
---

--Sometimes It's Not Easy to Forget the Past~~

-"Cease from anger, and forsake wrath."
---(Psalm 37:8/ KJV)-

--"Can I open it?" my daughter asked. She was holding up a large cardboard box, red with yellow flowers, that she had found in the storage locker we were clearing out. I shook my head. "Oh please, Mom. I want to see what it's like."

In the box, unopened for thirty-seven years, was my wedding dress. My mother had made the dress, far away in the English village where I was born. It was beautiful--white silk-trimmed with lace and a long veil. She could sew better than anyone I've ever known. But my mother was not at my wedding to see me walk down the aisle in the dress she had made.

My parents had disapproved of my husband-to-be without even meeting him. He was American, of a different religious denomination, and worst of all, he was of German heritage. My parents had lived through two horrible world wars.

Finally, I said, "Okay, sweetheart. Open it if you like."

There it lay slightly yellowed, but otherwise just as it had been all those years ago. I touched the skirt. The silk was smooth and gentle. As I looked down at my fingers, I realized that even after my husband was accepted and the family happy again, I had never stopped being hurt and angry that my parents weren't there on the day that changed the rest of my life.

As my daughter held up the dress, saying, "Oh, Mom, it's beautiful!" I looked my hurt and anger in the eye and let it go forever.

~"Lord, let me remember that forgiveness is a divine gift to the forgiver as well as to the forgiven. Thank You, Jesus, for dying on the Cross to forgive me of my sins. Help me to do the same to others who may hurt me, as 'they know not what they do.' "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" (Philippians 4:13) ~~

--Guideposts~~BW--"You Make Me Brave" (lyrics)//Amanda Bank =<https://youtu.be/2YE3l0tEh3c>
~~~~~~~

----New Every Morning ~~
--[Please Read / Lamentations 3]

-"My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD, in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up."
---(PSALM 5:3)--

--My favorite time of the day is just before dawn. It requires rising early, but it is worth the effort. Daybreak gives an opportunity to see a new miracle each day as it happens. When the sun appears, I think I get a little sense of God's pleasure when He said, "Let there be light," and there was light! We can experience this many times if we rise early and look to the east.

God's mercies are also new every morning, and great is His faithfulness. The prospect of a new supply of mercy and grace for the issues of today is like watching darkness being chased away by light.

Yesterday with all its pain or regret is gone forever. If I have succumbed to bitterness or self-pity or greed or lust, I have another chance to implore God's mercy and live in victory. If I have be bullied or insulted, I have a new supply of grace available to see God's had at work in cultivating humility in me. The prospect of what may happen today need not make me fearful that I will fail again.

Being born-again is not a one-time experience. After the initial new birth by repentance and faith, God continues to give new starts. The trials of life call us to Him for new mercies every day. Each new day gives me a new empty sheet to fill with whatever God's mercy and grace will enable me to do. What a blessing! Indeed, "great is thy faithfulness."

--'Beside Still Waters'/LH~
-[(Hold On, Hold On,) 'Help is On the Way'(Amanda Lindsey Cook)~~ --<https://youtu.be/SrZzfRgNYY4>
~~~~~~~~~~~

--LIGHT IN THE DARK ~~

--"You, LORD, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light."
---(Psalm 18:28)

~~~A severe thunderstorm passed through our new town, leaving high humidity and dark skies in its wake. I took our dog, Callie, for an evening stroll. The mounting challenges of my family's cross-country move grew heavier on my mind. Frustrated by the countless ways things had strayed so far from our high hopes and expectations, I slowed to let Callie sniff the grass. I listened to the creek that runs beside our house. Tiny lights flashed on and off while hovering over the patches of wildflowers climbing up the creek's bank. Fireflies!

The Lord wrapped me in peace as I watched the blinking lights cutting through the darkness. I thought of the psalmist David singing, "You LORD, keep my lamp burning" (Psalm 18:28). Proclaiming that God turns his darkness into light, David demonstrated confident faith in the Lord's provision and protection (vv. 29-30). With God's strength, he could handle anything that came his way (vv. 32-35). Trusting the living Lord to be with him through all circumstances, David promised to praise Him among the nations and sing the praises of His name (vv. 36-49).

Whether we're enduring the unpredictable storms in life or enjoying the stillness after the rains have passed, the peace of God's constant presence lights our way through the darkness. Our living God will always be our strength, our refuge, our sustainer, and our deliverer. ~

--ODB/XD
--"There Was Jesus"// (lyrics/ Zach Williams and Dolly Parton) = <https://youtu.be/3CNqhpRycfY>
~~~~~~

--WITNESSING WITH THE RIGHT ATTITUDE / RIGHT MESSAGE ~
--PLEASE READ/ 1 Corinthians 1:18-25 / 1 Corinthians 2:1-5) --

If you’ve been a Christian for any length of time, you’ve probably heard that the gospel of Jesus Christ is the only message God has given us by which people can be saved (Acts 4:12). It doesn’t change with the times or cultural patterns, and we are not to adapt it to be more appealing to a lost world.

Paul said the word of the cross was a stumbling block to the Jews and foolishness to the Gentiles, but that didn’t stop him from preaching Christ crucified. In that era, crucifixion was shameful, and the thought of a Savior nailed to a cross was offensive and ridiculous. How could such a God save anyone?

The gospel is still offensive today, though it’s usually because people don’t want to admit they are sinners or accept that Jesus is the only way to the Father (John 14:6). Some believers may be tempted to downplay the role of sin and shame when sharing the good news; however, neglecting to mention sin, repentance, and the exclusivity of Christ robs listeners of the chance to genuinely be saved. When the true gospel [God's Holy Word], is presented, God’s Spirit is able to overcome the offense and bring people to Jesus Christ.

--IN TOUCH~
--"He must increase but I must decrease," [John 3:30] , said John the Baptist. That is true for all followers of Jesus. ~~
~~~~~~~~~~

~~FACING DOUBTS ABOUT SALVATION ~~

---[Please Read/ 1 John 3:19-24]

Nothing drains spiritual energy like fear. When believers are repeatedly worried about their salvation, anxiety can cloud their thoughts and distract them from God’s purpose for their life. Furthermore, it robs them of the peace and joy that the Lord promised His followers.

There are several reasons why some Christians struggle with doubts about whether they are saved:

Sin. Salvation brings forgiveness and a righteous standing before God. But when we focus on our sins and failures, we may doubt that God could forgive us.

Emotions. Sometimes we rely solely on our feelings, rather than the truth of God’s Word, to determine our salvation.

Immaturity. Due to ignorance of Scripture or the slow process of change, new believers may begin to question whether they are truly saved.

Legalism. Some Christians evaluate their eternal security by their performance. If they fall short of a standard they themselves set, uncertainty can take root.

~~1 John 3:19 says we can know that we are of the truth and assure our heart before God. The word assure means to pacify and calm our soul so we’re not consumed by fearful doubts that prevent us from enjoying our new life in Christ.
~~~~~~
-["Therefore everyone who confesses Me before men, I will also confess him before my Father who is in heaven.
"But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven. --[Matthew 10:32-33 / NASB] -]

----DO I LOVE GOD?

-"For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments; and his commandments are not grievous."
--(1 John 5:3) -

--DO I TRULY LOVE GOD and His Son Jesus Christ? Today's key verse indicates that if we love God, we will keep His commandments and not think them grievous. But too often we fall short of fulfilling His commandments as we would like. That is why we need to abide in Christ. In John 15:4 Jesus said, "Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me." What is meant by this abiding? It means to stay, continue, or dwell in Christ.

My love is evident in my interests. Do I have stronger interests in earthly things than in eternal things? Is my first priority the things of the present or those of the hereafter? David testified in Psalm 16:8-9, "I have set the LORD always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth : in my flesh also shall rest in hope." This passage is quoted in Acts 2:26, but the words "my glory rejoiceth" are rendered as "my tongue was glad." I show love for God by words of rejoicing in Him.

We cannot love Christ without faith that He is the Son of God. Grace, faith, and love are available in exceeding abundance. "And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus" (1 Timothy 1:14). To fully comprehend the love of God is beyond our natural powers! Yet Paul prayed that the believers at Ephesus might "know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all fulness of God" (Ephesians 3:19).

~~"Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life." --[Jude 21]

--"Beside Still Waters/FB~

--We All Are On A Journey // Let's Be Sure It's With Our Lord Jesus~

--PRINTED ON OUR HEARTS~~

--"Bind them on your fingers; write them on the
tablet of your heart. " [Proverbs 7:3]

~~WHEN Johannes Gutenberg combined the printing press with moveable type in 1450, he ushered in the era of mass communications in the West, spreading learning into new social realms. Literacy increased across the globe and new ideas produced rapid transformations in social and religious contexts. Gutenberg produced the first-ever printed version of the Bible. Prior to this, Bibles were painstakingly hand-copied, taking scribes up to a year to produce.

For centuries since, the printing press has provided people like you and me the privilege of direct access to Scripture. While we also have electronic versions available to us, many of us often hold a physical Bible in our hands because of his invention. What was once inaccessible given the sheer cost and time to have a Bible copied is readily at our fingertips today.

Having access to God's truth is an amazing privilege. The writer of Proverbs indicates we should treat His instructions to us in the Scriptures as something to be cherished, as "the apple of [our] eye" (Proverbs 7:2) and to write His words of wisdom on "the tablet of [our]heart" (v.3). As we seek to understand the Bible and live according to its wisdom, we, like scribes, are drawing God's truth from our "fingers" down into our hearts, to be taken with us wherever we go. ~~

--"Loving G-D, our Creator, help me (us) to know Your Word intimately that I might live in the way You desire. All glory to You, our Sovereign One. In Jesus Name." Amen~ '

--ODB/KH~
--"Till I Met You"// (lyric video) Laura Story // <https://youtu.be/6T5cRCyQaf4>
~~~~~~~~~~~

--We All Are On a Journey / As We Travel, Let Us Edify One Another In the Faith ~~

--SUFFERING TOGETHER

--"If one part suffers, every part suffers with it."
--(1 Corinthians 12:26) --

--[PLEASE READ/ 1 CORINTHIANS 12:14–26]

~~In 2013, seventy-year-old James McConnell, a British Royal Marine veteran, died. McConnell had no family, and staff from his nursing home feared no one would attend his funeral. A man tapped to officiate McConnell’s memorial service posted a [social media] message: “In this day and age it is tragic enough that anyone has to leave this world with no one to mourn their passing, but this man was family. . . . If you can make it to the graveside . . . to pay your respects to a former brother in arms, then please try to be there.” Two hundred Royal Marines packed the pews!

These British compatriots exhibited a biblical truth: we’re tied to one another. “The body is not made up of one part, but of many,” Paul says (1 Corinthians 12:14). We’re not isolated. Just the opposite: we’re bound in Jesus. Scripture reveals organic interconnection: “If one member suffers, all the members suffer” (v. 26 ). As believers in Jesus, members of God’s new family, we move toward one another into the pain, into the sorrow, into those murky places where we would fear to go alone. But thankfully we do not go alone.

Perhaps the worst part of suffering is when we feel we’re drowning in the dark all by ourselves. God, however, creates a new community that suffers together. A new community where no one should be left in the dark. Let's stand together, brothers and sisters.
-- We need each other in this fight of faith, as we journey to the Celestial City with our Lord Jesus. ~~

--ODB/WC~--"The God Who Stays" // Matthew West ~<https://youtu.be/flJF1fMvz5Y>
~~~~~~~~~~~

--WHICH ROAD ARE YOU ON? ~

--"Enter ye in at the strait gate; for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth
to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat." --[Matthew 7:13] --

--WE ARE all on a journey from the cradle to the grave, as the poem says, and there is no turning back once we start out. Some people believe that when the journey is finished, that's the end. Are they right? Let's consider Jesus' words in today's Bible reading. He spoke of two ways on which all people are traveling. One is the broad way and the other is the narrow way.

On the broad way their are restrictions and plenty of liberties. People can freely fulfill their passions and indulge their lusts, and many others are traveling along with them. But most of the people seldom consider what lies ahead. If they continue on this road, it will take them to hell, the bottomless pit, destruction.

The other road is the narrow way that leads to Heaven. Jesus is inviting us all to travel that way; the Bible also calls it the way of the Lord or the way of holiness. How can we get on the narrow way? We must repent of all our sins, leave our sinful habits, and believe in Jesus Christ for salvation. He is the only One who can take away the burden and guilt of sin, and give us true peace and joy in our hearts.

To travel the narrow way, we need to read the Bible daily, allow the Holy Spirit to teach us, and belong to a church where God's Word is taught and obeyed. We must always remember to follow Jesus, who is "the way, the truth and the life" (John 14:6). Is that the road you are traveling?

--"Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto
life, and few there be that find it." --[Matthew 7:14]

--BSW/CM
-"Call on the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved."--[ACTS 2:21]
~~~~~~~

--Yes, we all are on a journey through life. Let's be sure our destiny is in Heaven with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
--Jesus said, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." --[JOHN 14:6 / NASB]
~~~~~~~~~
---"To everything there is a season." --[Ecclesiastes 3:1 / KJV]--

--THIS PAST weekend I visited a town in northwest Arkansas where one of my best friends lives. She invited my girls and me to join her at her house on Beaver Lake, where we rode on her boat, swam, and relaxed. As we always do, we reminisced about the years I lived down the street from her, when we first became friends.

I asked about people I'd known in those days and she gave me updates on their lives--how they're doing, if they have kids, and their current job status. Driving home, I thought about them all, which led me to think about other people I've known who aren't a part of my life anymore. This is a relief with a few people, but mostly it makes me feel a little sad.

The writer of Ecclesiastes tells us there's a season for everything, and we see that truth reflected in the life of Jesus. Even in His short thirty-three years, He had different types of relationships, and people moved in and out of His life. Peter, James, and John were His inner circle, and [then] the twelve disciples. Mary, Martha, His mother, Mary, and Mary Magdalene were the women most prominent in His life. Then there were onetime encounters with individuals, as well as the multitudes He fed.

Relationships vary with season and stages of our lives. Sometimes we have control, but often we don't. Living in the moment, appreciating what has been, and trusting Jesus for the future is where peace lies.
On our journey, let's be sure to share the love of Jesus with those we come in contact with. We may be the vessel the Lord wants to use to spread His Word. ~~

--Guideposts/GFF~
~~~~~

~~CREATED FOR UNITY / WE NEED EACH OTHER~

~~"They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer."
--(ACTS 2:42-/NIV) --

~~I misread this sentence for many years. I thought it meant that the people devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship—that they liked covered dish dinners. But that’s not what it says, is it? It says they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the community of faith.

--Americans are known for our rugged individualism, our tendency to ride in like John Wayne with the reigns in our teeth and a pistol in each hand and say, “I’ll handle this, fellas. I don’t need any help.” One of the things I regret about the American Church is that we have brought that attitude into our congregational life. The truth is that we are created to live in community. We need each other. We strengthen and sharpen one another. We will not finish the course that God has called us to without one another. While you truly may not need help in a given situation, it will only be a matter of time until you do.

THINK ABOUT IT
Isolating yourself will cut you off from the fellowship you need to give you the encouragement, insight, and opportunities to use Your gifts for His glory. Can you identify areas where you could incorporate more fellowship with other believers?

PRAYER
--"Heavenly Father, I want to walk in Your light, but I cannot do it alone. Make my love for others in Your Body increase and overflow. Help us bear each other’s burdens. May the unity You give us bear witness to our resurrected Lord. In Jesus’ name, amen."

Blessings,
Pastor Allen Jackson
~~~~~~~~~~

--"God’s Quest for the Heart of Humanity'
--[Please Read/ Genesis Chapter 3 // The Fall Of Man~]

--We’re accustomed to a God who remains in one place, a God who sits enthroned in the heavens and rules and ordains. Dare we envision a God who follows us with goodness and mercy all the days of our lives? Who tracks us down and wins us over?

Isn’t this the kind of God described in the Bible? You’ll have to go no farther than the third chapter of the first book before you find God in the role of seeker. Adam and Eve are hiding in the bushes, partly to cover their bodies, partly to cover their sin. But does God wait for them to come to him? No, the words ring in the garden: “Where are you?” (Genesis 3:9). With that question God began a quest for the heart of humanity that continues up to and through the moment you hear these words.

Every day, our Lord is calling out to us. "This is the way, walk in it." He does not force Himself on anyone. "If we walk in the Light as He Himself is the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin." - [1 John 1:7]

--"Begin Again"/ ML~

--TIGHT GRIP ON HOPE ~~

--"May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word."
--[2 Thessalonians 2:16-17 / NIV) --

Have you ever been hopeless? I have, and it’s an awful feeling. Hopelessness doesn’t come from having one bad day. Hopelessness comes when a series of things rolls across your life, each one of them driving hope a little further away, until you finally lose sight of the possibility that life can ever be different. I encourage you not to yield your hope easily. Don’t cultivate the attitude of “poor me,” because “poor me” will be tempted to yield territory that you should be fiercely defending. Remember that if you’re a Christ-follower, you are neither powerless nor alone. You have the power of Jesus’ name and the authority of His shed blood, and the Spirit of God dwells within you. I have good news—hopelessness is not a permanent condition. I am a living testimony to that. God has breathed hope into my life again and again, and I know He will do that for you too.

THINK ABOUT IT
Even when it seems all hope has been wrung out of you and you can’t imagine a resolution that brings any comfort, God is not far from you. He never leaves, forsakes, or abandons us. Think about a time when He has rescued you from hopelessness, and then praise Him for it. We all are on a journey. Let's be sure we are on the right path to the Celestial City with Jesus.

PRAYER
--"Heavenly Father, You are the God of encouragement and hope—thank You for all the times You have given me hope in time of need. Now I ask for Your Holy Spirit’s help that I might be an encourager and a source of Your hope to others. In Jesus’ name, amen."
Blessings,
Pastor Allen Jackson

--OUR CALLING IN TROUBLED TIMES~~

--[Please Read / John 14:26-28] --

--We've been living in difficult times lately, and the more tumultuous life becomes, the easier it is to be self-centered. Even though the future is uncertain, we can't afford to let ourselves be consumed with fear and anxiety regarding how we might be affected.

God wants us to get our mind off ourselves and onto Him because He is our rock and refuge in trouble. When we rely on our own limited perspective, confusion and hopelessness are the likely outcome. Instead, we must look at the greatness, promises, and purposes of our God as revealed in His Word, because divine truth is our anchor in the storms of life.

Think about how the early church responded to their turbulent time. They went forward boldly--even willing to lose their life--because they knew the Gospel was the only hope for a lost world. When persecution broke out against them in Jerusalem, they scattered and took the Gospel wherever they went (Acts 8:1-4). God doesn't want us to retreat from the world and focus on ourselves in times of crisis or instability. This is our opportunity to give hope to others through the message of salvation in Jesus Christ. ~~

"There is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved. " [Acts 4:12] JESUS SAVES!." -- "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved." --[ACTS 16:31]
~~~~~~~~~

---THINKING DIFFERENTLY ~~

---"Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect."
--[Romans 12:2] --

(-PLEASE READ ROMANS 12:1–3)

---During college, I spent a good chunk of a summer in Venezuela. The food was astounding, the people delightful, the weather and hospitality beautiful. Within the first day or two, however, I recognized that my views on time management weren’t shared by my new friends. If we planned to have lunch at noon, this meant anywhere between 12:00 and 1:00 p.m.. The same for meetings or travel: timeframes were approximations without rigid punctuality. I learned that my idea of “being on time” was far more culturally formed than I’d realized.

All of us are shaped by the cultural values that surround us, usually without us ever noticing. Paul calls this cultural force the “world” (Romans 12:2). Here, “world” doesn’t mean the physical universe, but rather refers to the ways of thinking pervading our existence. It refers to the unquestioned assumptions and guiding ideals handed to us simply because we live in a particular place and time.

Paul warns us to be vigilant to “not conform to the pattern of this world.” Instead, we must be “transformed by the renewing of [our] mind” (v. 2). Rather than passively taking on the ways of thinking and believing that engulf us, we’re called to actively pursue God’s way of thinking and to learn how to understand His “good, pleasing and perfect will” (v. 2). May we learn to follow God rather than every other voice.

--"Heavenly Father, I don't even recognize my assumptions and values most of the time. Help me to live out Your truth and Your mind in it all. In Jesus Name I pray.~ amen"

--ODB/WC~