News you won't see in controlled mainstream media.

presenting yourself to your creation in a way that was personable and as non-threatening as possible..

At arms length but yet so close..
And by the things seen.
Through nature..
Through the birds and bee's and the flowers and tree's and singing and music and sunrise and sunsets clouds and rain and sun and snow and rivers of water..
children and laughter and hugs and smiles and all we humans are capabile of enjoying and doing endowed by our creator..

But also through free will and prophets and letters and vision to be able to see the good and the bad so to know the differences of...
for to be able to make much better choices but also with the offer of hope and promises of a much better world ahead of us..
without all the pain we see in life thats there to teach us and instruct and make us want more and to better understand the differences between..
life and death, good and evil & right and wrong..
Life is truely a gift..
Is that kind of what you mean by God presenting himself???
I'm sure there is more then just that..
Besides stars and planets and rainbows..
The awesome universe indeed..
Through Jesus' sacrifice to the world.
How personal can one get but that???
Interesting Russ..
Interesting concept.

Take Care
Lynn

He's already done so in the person of Jesus Christ. Even then He played down His majesty and cloaked Himself instead in humility.

Isn't it interesting that a God that has everything to boast about, is so humble? But then that's what also makes Him good.

Before presenting Himself in the flesh in the form of His Son, He's always given us the evidence all around to believe in Him and praise Him as Creator.

I couldn't think of any better way to do it Russ. Seriously! Even some of the signs He's given me, He's been subtle enough not to shock me too much at the time. It's usually through hindsight that I see it.

Though a supernatural miracle was certainly not subtle I admit - but I didn't lose my senses in shock and fear - but yes I was awestricken. However, even then I couldn't help but be aware that somehow He moulds these things around what people are able to cope with and His grace is always sufficient.

Jesus performed some outstanding miracles that must have shocked many, but never enough to strike one senseless or dead - (unless it is about His justice/punishment, yet even then there are warnings). But again, He knows the timing, the type of miracle and depending on people's response, I'd imagine He can increase or temper it at will.

Jesus' way of giving evidence to His divinity was through His works. The same way as God the Father does with being our Creator - through His works/creation.

I simply cannot find fault, nor could I think up a better way.

Nicely said.

Christ often said, "Do not fear!" to His disciples. What a better way to prevent unnecessary fear than to appear to us in a familiar form.

The Face of JESUS!

"To open their eyes and to turn them from darkness to light..." Acts 26:18

The blind man, Bartimaeus, threw off his cloak and ran trembling to Jesus. And Jesus said, "What do you want me to do for you?" He said, "Lord, that I may receive my sight." In that moment as he said, "Lord," his spiritual eyes were opened. And Jesus said, "Your faith has made you whole."

Notice--not your intellectual understanding, not your money, not your works--but your faith. FAITH! That's all it takes! Immediately Bartimaeus, who had been blind all of his life, began to open his eyes, and the first thing he saw was the face of Jesus!

What an experience---to open one's eyes and look straight into the strong, tender face of Jesus!

Bartimaeus met Jesus and the record says he "followed Jesus in the way." When you go back to your business, or your home, or your neighborhood, or your friends, or your school, you don't go alone. Christ goes with you.

Prayer For The Day:

Thank you, Lord Jesus,
for healing me from my spiritual blindness!

Billy Graham
Day by Day <><
Blessings, Abishag

Imagine Seeing God --

"May the LORD bless you from Mount Zion,
he who made heaven and earth." PSM. 134:3

~~~The Hebrew writer gives us a 'National Geographic' piece on heaven. Listen to how he describes the mountaintop of Zion. He says when we reach the mountain we will have come to "the city of the living God. ...To thousands of angels gathered together with joy. ...To the meeting of God's firstborn children whose names are written in heaven" (Heb. 12:22-23).

What a mountain! Won't it be great to see the angels? To finally know what they look like and who they are? ...

Imagine the meeting of the firstborn. A gathering of all God's children. No jealousy. No competition. No division....We will be perfect...sinless..

And imagine seeing God! Finally to gaze in the face of your Father. To feel the Father's gaze upon you. Neither will ever cease. --HALLELUJAH!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Max Lucado
Blessings, Abishag WOW!

From the Inside Out ---

"And I will pray the Father,
and He shall give you another
Comforter, that he may abide
with you for ever;
Even the Spirit of truth:
whom the world cannot receive
because it seeth him not, nei-
ther knoweth him: but ye
know him: for he dwelleth with
you and shall be in you."
JOHN 14:16-17
______
~~~Do-it-yourself Christianity is not much encouragement to the done-in and worn-out.

Self-sanctification holds little hope for the addict...

At some point we need more than good advice; we need help. Somewhere on this journey home we realize that a fifty-fifty proposition is too little. We need more....

We need help. Help from the inside out....Not near us. Not above us. Not around us. But in us. In the part of us we don't even know. In the heart no one else has seen. In the hidden recesses of our being dwells, not an angel, not a philosophy, not a genie, but God.

~~~~~
When God Whispers Your Name
Max Lucado -
Blessings, Abishag <><

~~Fix Your Eyes on Jesus --

'May he enlighten the eyes of your mind
so that you can see what hope his call
holds for you.'
EPHESIANS 1:18 NIV

~~~What [does] it mean to be just like Jesus? The world has never known a heart so pure, a character so flawless. His spiritual hearing was so keen he never missed a heavenly whisper. His mercy so abundant he never missed a chance to forgive. No lie left his lips, no distraction marred his vision. He touched when others recoiled He endured when others quit.

Jesus is the ultimatae model for every person...God urges you to fix your eyes upon Jesus. Heaven invites you to set the lens of your heart on the heart of the Savior and make him the object of your life.

---
Max Lucado
Just Like Jesus +
Blessings, Abishag <><

~~~ "They shall see His face...." Revelation 22:4

ONE of the great bonuses of being a Christian is the great hope that extends beyond the grave into the glory of God's tomorrow.

A little girl was running toward the cemetery as the darkness of evening began to fall. She passed a friend who asked her if she was not afraid to go through the graveyard at night. "Oh, no," she said, "I'm not afraid. My home is just on the other side!"

We Christians are not afraid of the night of death because our heavenly home is "just on the other side." The resurrection of Christ changed the midnight of bereavement into a sunrise of reunion; it changed the midnight of disappointment into a sunrise of joy; it changed the midnight of fear to a sunrise of peace.

Today faith and confidence in the resurrected Christ can change your fear to hope and your disappointment to joy.
---------
Prayer For The Day:

"Whatever I fear the most, Lord Jesus, I put into
your loving hands, knowing You will give me peace and courage. One day I will be 'absent from the body and face to face with You', my Lord."

Billy Graham/Evangelist
Day by Day ~
Blessings, Abishag

--ALWAYS
WITH YOU -

Psalm 25:4-10
----
Behold, I am with
you and will keep
you wherever you go.
--Genesis 28:15 --

~~Why do we sometimes try to go it alone in life when at every moment we have access to God? He said: "I am with you and will keep you wherever you go".(above text) And He assures us: "I will never leave you nor forsake you" (Heb. 13:5).


Scottish matematician and preacher Thomas Chalmers (1780-1847) wrote: 'When I walk by the wayside, He is along with me. When I enter into company, amid all my forgetfulness of Him, He never forgets me...Go where I will, He tends me, and watches me, and cares for me."

What a comfort to know that God is always with us--we don't need to go through life alone!

As I travel down life's pathway,
Jesus keeps me day by day;
And altough the road is winding,
Yet, with Him I need not stray.
---
GOD'S PRESENCE BRINGS GREAT COMFORT. --

---THE SUPREME EDUCATION OF THE SOUL COMES THROUGH AN INTIMATE ACQUAINTANCE WITH JESUS CHRIST OF HISTORY.

--Rufus M. Jones

---The Christian ideal has not been tried and found wanting. It has been found difficult and left untried.

--G K Chesterton

Jesus Identifies
with Our Needs ~~

READ/ Hebrews 4:14-16
~~~~~
WE often forget that during His stay on earth, Jesus identified with us--not only in meeting 'our' needs but also in experiencing His own. Although Christ was fully God, He was at the same time completely human, with all humanity's weaknesses except for sin.

When Jesus had finished a 40-day fast in the wilderness, He experienced physical hunger and an onslaught of temptation from the Devil (Matt. 4:1-2). Later, after an exhausting day of healing, teaching, and feeding a crowd of more than 5,000, the Son of God required time alone with His Father for spiritual refreshment (Matt. 14:23). And in the Garden of Gethsemane, Christ was under tremendous spiritual and emotional pressure as He faced the ordeal of paying for the sins of mankind through His death on a cross (Matt. 26:38-39).

In each weakness,Jesus turned to His Father. The Word of God was His defense in temptation, prayer was His source of strength for ministry, and submission to the Father's will was His pathway to victory over sin and death. By passing through every difficult situation without sin, He became our High Priest, who intercedes for us and invites us to draw near to God's throne for help in time of need.~~
----
Whatever your needs may be, you can follow Christ's example and experience the Father's provision. The Word of God is your protection, prayer is your strength, nad submission to the Father is the way to victory over sin. Draw near with confidence, and let the Lord shower you with His grace. ~

In Touch Ministries
Pastor Charles Stanley <><

(No one knows what Christ looked like. But this beautiful drawing captures His love for us, His sheep. Thank you, Bex!)

--Our Father in Heaven
Matthew 6:9-13

"For this is what the high and lofty One says--he who lives forever, whose name is holy: 'I live in a high and holy place, but also with him who is contrite and lowly in spirit.'" (Isaiah 57:15)

We use forms of the word "heaven" to refer to different places. We call the atmosphere encircling our earth the heavens. The vast area of space made up of planets, stars, solar systems, etc. has been called "the heavenlies." But the scopoe of heaven--where God dwells and where loved ones of ours who've gone on before us are--is outside of our human imagination.

On the earth there are billions of people including you and me. Have you ever felt insignifanct in the midst of all of this? Really, we're hardly more than mere microscopic specks. To think that the Father in Heaven would be interested in us!
It's beyond our comprehension to know how the Lord can hear all of us--perhaps millions of prayers offered up at the same time! The Bible tells us that God, the high and lofty One, is also our Loving Father who intimately knows and loves each of us. His Holy Spirit is infused within us so that throughout our lives, He is always present.

Our Father reigns in heaven, but He also reigns in our hearts.
---
As we read our Bibles and pray, we learn more about our Father who loves us, cares about us and is with us forever.
Haven Today Ministries

His Spirit Answers to the Blood/ ICR

"But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you." (Romans 8:11) -

The fourth verse of the hymn "Arise, My Soul, Arise" speaks of God the Father answering the request of God the Son and granting salvation to a repentant sinner, adopting him into His family.

The Father hears Him pray, His dear Anointed One;
He cannot turn away The presence of His Son.
His Spirit answers to the blood, (repeat)
And tells me I am born of God.

As Christ the Messiah (which literally means "the anointed One") hung on Calvary's tree, God the Father turned away, unable in His holiness to look upon Christ as He bore "the sins of many" (Hebrews 9:28). "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" (Psalm 22:1) He cried in His agony.

But once God's righteous justice was satisfied, the Father turned back and answered Christ's prayer, even from the horns of the altar, as it were (Psalm 22:21). "I and my Father are one," Christ had said (John 10:30), and once sin's penalty was paid, there would be no more separation.

And when a sinner comes to God, claiming the blood of Christ as a full payment for his sins, and Christ Himself prays for the sinner's full forgiveness and acceptance, the Father cannot turn away, for "he loved us, and sent his son to be the propitiation for our sins" (1 John 4:10).

In our text, the same Spirit which raised up Christ grants the spiritually dead sinner new life, and declares him to be born of God. "Marvel not that I say unto thee, Ye must be born again [literally, 'born from above']" (John 3:7). "Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God" (1 John 3:1).

----
Institute for CREATION Research
Days of Praise/JDM
Hallelujah! What a Saviour! JESUS IS CREATOR! JESUS IS GOD!-

David WilkDavid Wilkerson Today


KNOWING GOD BEGINS WITH KNOWING JESUS!

You cannot know God in fullness until you see Christ as God wants you to see him. Jesus said, “He that hath seen me hath seen the Father” (John 14:9).

We must see Jesus not as man teaches, but as the Spirit reveals him to us, as God wants us to know and see him.

There are many volumes in my library about Jesus, written by good men. Yet, I believe many of these men have never seen Jesus as God would have us see him.
We are to get God’s vision and testimony of Christ, then we will know God as he desires to be known.

Here is how I believe God wants us to see his Son:
“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning” (James 1:17).

Jesus was a gift! God wrapped all his resources up in Jesus, “and he gave his only begotten Son.” Christ is God’s good and perfect gift to us, come down from the Father.
(John 3:16)

Do you see Jesus as God’s perfect gift to you? Do you see
him as all you need to live joyfully, victoriously, righteously, full of peace and rest?

In the Old Testament, God gave Israel many wonderful gifts in the wilderness: A cloud to shelter them from the desert sun. Fire at night to assure and lead them. Water out of a rock. A branch to heal bitter waters. A brass serpent to heal the snake-bitten. Yet all of these good things were only shadows.

Who was the rock from which water came? Who was the fire? The manna? The brass serpent? Everything God did for Israel was through Jesus. That’s right—Jesus was every one of those gifts.

“Brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea…and did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they
drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ” (1 Corinthians 10:4).

Today we have much more than the shadow. We have the actual
substance—Christ himself! And he lives in us.

JESUS IS ALIVE! HE LIVES INSIDE OF US, HIS FOLLOWERS! AMEN!

The Ultimate Father-Son Relationship
JOHN 5:19-20

God is called by a variety of names in the Bible, and each one sheds light on an aspect of His nature. Jesus' favorite title for Him was Father. Surprisingly, this name for God is used only 15 times in the Old Testament, but in the New Testament, it's recorded 245 times!

Many of God's names speak of His majestic and lofty attributes that separate Him from mankind, but Father conveys intimacy. Jesus used this name not only because He was God's Son, but also to help people realize that Jehovah isn't some unapproachable Deity gazing down on them from a distance. Rather, He is their loving heavenly Father, who cares about them and wants to be involved in their everyday lives.

Throughout His time on earth, Christ revealed by example what this kind of love relationship was like. He depended completely on His Father for daily direction, power, and provision and obediently carried out every instruction. He often left the demands of ministry just to find a secluded place to be alone with Jehovah. We know Jesus successfully conveyed the riches of this relationship to His disciples, because in John 14:8, Philip said, "Lord, show us the Father"--he wanted to know Him the way Christ did.

Do you long for that kind of intimacy with God? He wants to relate to you as a Father to His child, and He's given you the privilege of drawing near to Him.

In fact, He chose you before the foundation of the world and waits with open arms for you to enter His loving embrace.
-----

--Uncreated One
By: Chris Tomlin

Oh, Great God be glorified
Our lives laid down, Yours magnified,

There is none like You.

JESUS CALLING ~
By: Sarah Young

"YOU ARE MINE FOR ALL TIME--and beyond time, into eternity. No power can deny you your inheritance in heaven. I want you to realize how utterly secure you are! Even if you falter as you journey through life, I will never let go of your hand.

Knowing that your future is absolutely assured can free you to live abundantly today. I have prepared this day for you with the most tender concern and attention to detail. Instead of approaching the day as a blank page that you need to fill up, try living it in a responsive mode: being on the lookout for all that I am doing. This sounds easy, but it requires a deep level of trust, based on the knowledge that 'My way is perfect.'
--With Love, Jesus ~ -
----
Psalm 37:23-24; Psalm 18:30

Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus / By: Alan Jackson

Turn your eyes upon Jesus --

Look full in His wonderful face.

And the things of earth

will grow strangely dim,

in the light of His glory and grace.



Thank you Russ, Laura and Herb Allure!
We will see Jesus face to face soon. Praise His Name!

-If You Keep Your Eyes on Jesus...

BIBLE MEDITATION:

"And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you." John 16:22

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

When I was a boy and living on the Florida coastline, my brother and I were a little disappointed when a hurricane passed us by because of the exhilaration we experienced leaning into the wind and tasting the salty air! I can remember waves sometimes reaching fifty feet in the air. What a sight! But did you know there has never been a storm to move the ocean floor?

There will be storms that will course across the surface of our lives with raging torment, but the child of God can know a deep-down joy that nothing can take away. If you keep your eyes on Jesus, He will bring a joy that no man can take from you.

-ACTION POINT:

Oh, thank God for the steadfastness of His power, love, and mercy. Is your joy full in Christ today despite the winds of adversity?

-----

---THE UNKNOWN CREATOR~~

"He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not." (John 1:10)
---
THIS verse is surely one of the saddest, most poignant verses in all the Word of God. In the Lord Jesus Christ, our Creator/Redeemer, "we live, and move, and have our being" (Acts 17:28). The atoms of our bodies are sustained by Him (Colossians 1:17, yet multitudes ignore Him, ridicule Him, and take His name in vain. What presumption! What foolishness!

Once we even entered visibly in the world He had created so that people actually could 'hear' His words of life and 'see' His works of love. But they willfully refused to acknowledge Him, and then hung Him on a Cross to die.

The height of irony and the depth of foolishness are reached when those whose very minds and bodies were created by Christ refuse even to admit the fact of creation. In effect, they turn Psalm 100:3 upside down and claim: "It is not he that hath made us--it is we ourselves!" Not only do modern men deny His creation, they also reject His salvation, thinking they can save themselves.

It is important to note that John 1:10 specifically refers to the refusal of the "world" to know Him as its Creator. It was made by Him, but would not acknowledge His work of creation. How then could the world ever "receive" Him as it Savior (v.11)? Only its Creator could ever become its Savior, since no one else in all creation was both deserving and capable of such a mission.

Even more inexcusable than those who rejected Him when He was here in the world are those who reject Him today. With all the marvelous evidences of creative design in nature as revealed by modern science, plus the answerable evidences of His own bodily resurrection from the dead, it is wicked foolishness for modern men and women still to reject Him as their Creator and Savior.~~

--ICR/HMM /INDESCRIBABLE ~~ CHRIS TOMLIN
<http://youtu.be/lpLqAUJcUbo>
---------

---Our Refuge
--By: John D. Morris, Ph.D.

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea” (Psalm 46:1,2).

“The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble” (Psalm 9:9). What a comfort it is, in these days of turmoil and opposition, to know that our Lord is “a strength to the poor, a strength to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shadow from the heat” (Isaiah 25:4).

Our refuge is strong and secure. The psalmist testifies: “I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in Him will I trust” (Psalm 91:2). Then God answers: “Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation; There shall no evil befall thee” (Psalms 91:9,10 and see also vv.10–13).

Not only does our refuge provide us safety and protection, but no other refuge will do. After identifying our refuge by the words= “Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste [or be ‘alarmed’]” (Isaiah 28:16). God warns that those who refuse His true refuge will receive instead His “judgment,” for He “shall sweep away the refuge of lies” (Isaiah 28:17).

The apostle Peter, fresh from his personal encounters with his risen Lord, confronted the Jewish leaders with their serious error of rejection. "This is the stone which was set at nought of you" (Acts 4:11). In his charge, however, he included the precious truth: "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved" (v.12). Our refuge, our sure foundation, is none other than our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, to whom we have "fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us" (Hebrews 6:18).

--ICR/JDM / - OUT OF ZION = Sharon Wilbur
<http://youtu.be/NxoV5oF0lGk>
-----------

--The Face Of God
--By: Norman P. Spotts, D.D.

"Make thy face to shine upon thy servant" (Psalm 119:135).

One of David's great concerns was that God would no longer look upon him with favor and blessing. He thus prays, "Hide not thy face from thy servant; for I am in trouble" (69:17); "Hide not thy face from me; put not thy servant away in anger" (27:9); and, "Hide not thy face from me, lest I be like unto them that go down into the pit" (143:7).

David realized that it was absolutely essential to have the light of God's countenance upon him. He also prays, "Lord, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us" (4:6). "Make thy face to shine upon thy servant" (31:16 and above text). "When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek" (27:8). His request for mankind is, "Seek the LORD, and His strength: seek His face evermore" (105:4). His personal request: "Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities" (51:9).

In Psalm 42 David expresses the truth that the actual presence of God was his only hope and help. "Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise Him, who is the health of my countenance." David knew that the help of God's countenance would make his countenance healthy (v.11).

In thinking about the face of God, David gave a serious warning to all those who will not seek His face. In Psalm 34:16 he stated, "The face of the LORD is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth."

One day all unbelievers will look into the face of the Lord Jesus Christ, the God and Judge of the universe, at the Great White Throne, to be forever judged (Revelation 20:11-15).

But the promise to believers throughout all eternity is, "And they shall see His face" (22:4). ---ICR/NPS
/ SHOW ME YOUR FACE / By: Paul Wilbur
<http://youtu.be/F0nV5xbu014>
---------

--"GORGEOUS INSIDE" ~
-Romans 8:1-11
-----
-"To be spiritually minded is life and peace."
--Romans 8:6
-----
IT'S A rather nondescript house that sits on a busy thoroughfare. With no distinctive characteristics, this plain home is easy to ignore. But as I drove past it the other day, I noticed a "For Sale" sign in the yard. Attached to the sign was a smaller notice that happily announced: "I'm gorgeous inside." While I'm not in the market for a new house, that sign intrigued me. What could make this otherwise forgettable house 'gorgeous' inside?

It also made me wonder: 'Could that sign apply to us as followers of Jesus?' No matter what we look like on the outside, shouldn't there be within us a beauty that reveals God's love and work in our lives?

What does the Bible say about inner beauty? We might start with Romans 7:22, which says, "In my inner being I delight in God's law" (NIV). A few verses later in Romans 8:6, Paul speaks of a Spirit-controlled mind that is characterized by "life and peace." And in Galatians, we see that letter the Spirit take charge of our inner being will build in us the "fruit of the Spirit" (5:22), a beautiful array of qualities such as love, joy, peace, patience, and kindness.

Delighting in Scripture and allowing the Spirit to work in our heart will make us look good on the inside-- and will pay off in a life that honors God.
--------
--RIGHTEOUSNESS IN YOUR HEART
PRODUCES BEAUTY IN YOUR CHARACTER. ~~
--YOU'RE BEAUTIFUL / BY: PHIL WICKHAM
<http://youtu.be/_ZEltZXQpuM>
---------

--THE ROCK!

--Matthew 7:24-27
--Ephesians 2:18-22
---
Jesus Christ Himself
[is] the Chief
Cornerstone. --
--Ephesians 2:20
----
The Bible refers to Jesus as a Rock (1 Cor. 10:4), who never changes (Heb 13:8). He is the solid Rock on which we can build our lives. The church (the body of believers) is built on a foundation with "Jesus Christ Himself being the Chief Cornerstone." In Him all believers are joined together (Eph. 2:20-22).

Jesus is the solid Rock we can cling to when the storms of life beat against us (Matt. 7:25). Writer Madeleine L'Engle said: "It's a good thing to have all the props pulled out from under us occasionally. It gives us some sense of what is rock under our feet and what is sand."

Plymouth Rock is an interesting mass of minerals with an intriguing historical significance. But Jesus is a precious Cornerstone, and those who trust in Him will always have a solid Rock to depend upon.
------------
--CHRIST, THE ROCK, IS OUR SURE HOPE.~

--ODB/DHK~ / ON CHRIST THE SOLID ROCK I STAND!
<http://youtu.be/OQgD_Wg9DG4>
---------

--HOW GREAT THOU ART!

-Revelation 19:6-9
----
-The marriage of the
Lamb has come, and
His wife has made
herself ready.
---Revelation 19:7-
----
Believers in Christ don't have to just hope--they are assured of a royal marriage in heaven. John talks about it in the book of Revelation: "Let us be glad and rejoice and give him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready. And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints" (19:7-8). Jesus is the Lamb, who is the Bridegroom talked about in that Scripture, and believers are His bride.

As the bride of Christ, we are to make ourselves "ready" for that day by striving to live close to Him now in anticipation of our future with Him in heaven. There we will "be glad and rejoice and give...glory" (v.7) to the King of kings and Lord of lords! "Oh Lord, 'How Great Thou Art.'"
-----------
-There is no greater privilege than to know the King of kings. ~~

--ODB/DF/ O LORD, HOW GREAT THOU ART!
<http://youtu.be/Cc0QVWzCv9k>

--PUBLIC PRAISE!
---Psalm 96
----
Declare His glory
among the nations,
His wonders among
all peoples.
---Psalm 96:3
------
-I LOVE the YouTube video of people in a food court of a mall, who in the midst of their ordinary lives were suddenly interrupted by someone who stood up and boldly began singing the "Hallelujah Chorus." To the surprise of everyone, another person got up and joined the chorus, and then another, and another. Soon the food court was resounding with the celebrative harmonies of Handel's masterpiece. A local opera company had planted their singers in strategic places so that they could joyfully interject the glory of God into the everyday lives of lunching shoppers.

Every time I watch that video, it moves me to tears. It reminds me that bringing the glory of God into the ordinary situations of our world through the beautiful harmonies of Christlikeness is exactly what we are called to do. Think of intentionally interjecting God's grace into a situation where some undeserving soul needs a second chance; or sharing the love of Christ with someone who is needy; of being the hands of Jesus that lift up a weary friend; or of bringing peace to a confusing and chaotic situation.

As the Psalmist reminds us, we have the high and holy privilege of declaring "His glory among the nations, His wonders among all peoples" (Ps. 96:3).
----
Thank You, Lord, for filling us with the capacity to take
Your glory "public" through the way we act and react
toward others.
Give us the grace to interject the surprising
beauty of Your wonderful ways into each encounter. amen~~
----
---Surprise your world with the wonders of
-Christ shining through you!/ Hallelujah!

--ODB/JS / "Hallelujah Chorus"
<http://youtu.be/SXh7JR9oKVE>
---------

--O GLORIOUS
---DAY!

-Matthew 27:27-31;
28:1-6
--------
-He is not here;
for He is risen.
---Matthew 28:6
-----
-IT was the day after. My favorite team had just lost its final game and the dream of a championship was now over. It was cold out and a bit gloomy as I got in the car to go to work. None of this should have mattered much, but it was shaping up to be a blue Monday.

But then a song came on the radio that transformed my perspective. It was Casting Crowns singing "Glorious Day."
"One day they led [Christ] up Calvary's mountain, one day they nailed Him to die on a tree." Nothing encouraging yet. "Suffering anguish, despised and rejected"--more bad news. But then the song describes the good news of Christ's resurrection and His victory over death.

Out of that worst of days--out of the noontime darkness on that Jerusalem hillside--has come the only true hope for mankind. Because Jesus "took the nails for me," as the song says, "He carried my sins far away." And one day He's coming back---"O glorious day!"

Perhaps you face trouble that threatens to turn this into a day of despair. Turn your attention to Jesus. Review what He did for you at Calvary and how He conquered death by His resurrection: "He is not here; for His is risen"! (Matt. 28:6)That can make any day a glorious day!

Living, He loved me; dying, He saved me;
Buried, He carried my sins far away;
Rising, He justified freely forever;
One day He's coming---O glorious day!
-----------
--CHRIST'S EMPTY TOMB FILLS US WITH HOPE! O GLORIOUS DAY!!

--ODB/Dave Brannon
<http://youtu.be/xODpgyqGCYM>
------------

--BENEFICIAL
---POWER!

-2 Chronicles 16:6-13
-------
The eyes of the LORD
run to and fro...,
to show Himself
strong on behalf of
those whose heart is
loyal to Him.
--2 Chronicles 16:9
------
ONE aspect of God's glory is His almighty power. But how does He show His strength? He doesn't do it by rearranging the galaxies before our very eyes, changing the color of the sun at a whim, or freezing a lightning bolt as a trophy to His strength. Instead, in His love and compassion for needy people like ourselves, God has chosen to "show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him" (2 Chron. 16:9).

The pattern is consistent throughout Scripture. From the dividing of the Red Sea, to the marvel of manna in the wilderness, to the miraculous Virgin birth, and ultimately to the power of the resurrection, our Almighty God has chosen to demonstrate His strength to bless, preserve, and protect his people.

Be assured that He delights in showing Himself strong in the challenges of our life. And when He proves His power on our behalf, let's remember to give Him the glory!
-------------
--All of God's promises are backed
-by His wisdom, love, and power.
---ODB/JS/ =Uncreated One/ Chris Tomlin
<http://youtu.be/gD0MwOuMwPc>
------------

--A GOOD LONG DRINK~~
--John 7:37-39

-"On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, 'If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink.'"
--(John 7:37)
----
I tend to avoid praying when I need it most. If I'm spiritually down, I feel disqualified. I think, "First let me straighten out my heart. Then I can pray." Once I heard a sermon titled, "Ten Reasons God Won't Answer Your Prayers." The pastor set the bar so high that a lot of people probably gave up praying right then and there.

The wonderful truth is that Jesus sets the bar really low. He just says, "Come." When we're at our worst, when we're needy and thirsty, that's when we qualify for his open invitation: "Come to me and drink." With the Psalmist we can say "...you are my God...my soul thirsts for you..." (63:1).

Living without Jesus is like living in a dry and thirsty land, and even believers find themselves in that place at times. We need to come to Jesus and ask Him to refresh us with living water. John tells us Jesus was talking about the Holy Spirit when He made this offer (v.39). He was promising to pour out the thirst-quenching water of the Spirit into the hearts of all who thirst for Him.~~

--Anchor--/ COME NOW IS THE TIME TO WORSHIP-Brian Doerksen
<http://youtu.be/OScMhYOALVY>
-----------

I would do it as He has done it because HE IS GOD, HE IS PERFECT. I can't come up with anything better than He!
He manifests Himself in many ways: the Shekinah Glory over the Tabernacle, the Burning Bush, His Presence as "Wind" or a "Cloud," the Way He met with Moses on the mountain, Yeshua HaMashiach (Christ Jesus), the Holy Spirit, and so many others. Can you see Him in the WORD?

Hello Fibromom,-

I gather you are a New Member to this forum? If so, I welcome you.

Regarding your reply, yes all that you have posted is Biblical, however, I truly believe our God 'can' and 'does' manifest to people today in ways not mentioned in your post.

In invisible, yet spiritual ways, he comes to our rescue. As Russ stated, "Personable yet non-threatening." He has done that for me many times, and I 'knew', it was my Lord, the great 'I AM'.

How do I know this? Because Jehovah Rophe', the God that heals worked miracles through my medical doctors to heal me of a 'cranial aneurysm'. It is God, not man, that heals. He uses mankind, just as He uses medicines and angelic beings. I totally believe that our "Lord Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He never changes." (Hebrews 13:8). And YES, I see Him in his Word.

The Lord bless you. JESUS IS LORD! Abigail ~~

--Seeing Him Who is Invisible~~


--BIBLE MEDITATION:
“Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.” ---Matthew 5:8

--DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
Let me tell you how to experience God: Get your heart pure, and you will see God with the eyes of faith.

You see, Jesus is not talking about your physical body. You get your spiritual heart right and your spiritual eyes will see.

Hebrews 11:27 says that Moses “endured as seeing Him who is invisible.” You get your heart right and you’ll see the invisible God…

....in circumstances

....in nature

....in the face of your spouse, your child, your grandchild.

You’ll see Him in the Scriptures. God will become a bright, living reality to you.

--ACTION POINT:
Put on the eyes of faith today and find God creating and sustaining life. Maybe there is a garden newly abloom with spring flowers. Do you see the hand of God?

--Adrian Rogers~

---Jesus Lives Forevermore!

--BIBLE MEDITATION:
“I am He that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore.” Revelation 1:18-

--DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
I went to see Lenin’s tomb when I was in Moscow. He is sealed in a crystal case. You can see his waxen face and his trimmed beard, and on that tomb these words are written: “He was the greatest leader of all peoples of all countries of all times. He was the lord of the new humanity. He was the savior of the world.”

Do you notice it’s all 'past' tense? He was. Jesus is alive. He is the great I AM. It is an encounter with the living Christ that makes the difference in our lives. We serve a Savior who is alive and listening to our every prayer. He is bottling every tear and rejoicing with every victory.

--ACTION POINT:
Thank God for His plan of love that sent His Son to die for you. Praise Him that Jesus lives forevermore!
--Adrian Rogers~~

------------

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
---John 1:1

--What does “the Word was God” in today’s verse mean? It means “face to face with God.” It describes the most intimate kind of communion and union.

Christ left the intimacy and “face-to-faceness” with God… He left the glory of heaven and the majesty of God’s presence… and came to earth.

Think about that for a moment. Jesus left Heaven to be born in a stable….. to walk among men on the dirty streets of Galilee. He lived and died and rose again as a human being.

Isn’t it amazing that God would walk among us? But why would He do this?

He did it because He loves you and me… and He wants you and me to come into a personal relationship with Him. But because we are separated from God by our sin, we can't know God or experience God or get near to God in His absolute holiness. So God came near. He came down in the person of Jesus Christ and paid the price for our sin by dying on the Cross.

So let me ask you, how have you responded to Jesus Christ in your life?

If you’ve accepted Him your personal Lord and Savior, I praise God that you’ve made the best decision you will ever make. But if you haven’t made this decision, what’s stopping you from accepting God’s 'free gift' of eternal life right now?
We are told in Scripture that we are to 'fear God'. That does NOT mean (be afraid of or scared of), IT DOES MEAN Holding our mighty Creator, Jehovah ELOHIM, in 'reverential fear'. The Creator of all the earth and the entire world!

So awesomeness is His great power that to not honor Him, is to reject Him, neglect Him, and not trust in the God, who was born in human flesh to save the world from going to Hell. Jesus Christ came to earth to redeem the curse of Satan in the Garden of Eden. He has conquered the grave, He arose from the dead. HE IS ALIVE! Do you believe that? If you answer, "YES, MY GOD'S NOT DEAD"!, then one done, perhaps soon, we will see him together with all the saints gone on before us. Oh, How He Loves You!
"No greater love has any one than this, to lie down His life for the sins of the entire world." He did that, JUST FOR YOU!
Please receive Jesus into your life, and live forever!

FACE TO FACE WITH GOD
'OH, HOW HE LOVE US ALL!'~~<http://youtu.be/2FxaUYjRtkc>

--What is the Gospel?

-"For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received; that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that He was buried, that he was raised and on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve." =
--1 Corinthians 15:3-5

--This is so true! When a person is truly 'born again' of the Spirit of the Living God, (not of the flesh), he must change. The old sin-nature has died, it has been crucified with Christ, and THEN we begin our new life living for Christ. In fact, You will be so enthusiastic to tell everyone of this new way of life, because there are only two choices in eternity, Heaven with Jesus- or Hell with Satan. Yes, both places are real. Don't let anyone deceive you into believing that when you die, you just 'cease to be', or are reincarnated. That is a lie from Satan.

"The Gospel is Jesus Christ."

Now, what do I mean by that? Well, think of it this way; you can take Buddha out of Buddhism and still have the basic tenants of that religion. You can take Muhammad out of Islam, and you'd still have the same principles. But if you take Christ out of Christianity, there is nothing left because our faith is not in a system, but in a Person, JESUS!

Christianity, at its very heart, is not a code; it's not a cause; it's not a creed; and it's not a church. Christanity is Christ! It is the Gospel concerning Jesus, it doesn't consist of a list of rules or a philosophy on life. The Gospel is JESUS!

Stop trying to just live according to rules Instead, live according to the life of Christ in you. Allow Him to determine your steps. And as you press into Him, He'll transform the way you think, how you act, and will give you joy like you've never experienced! You will have 'joy unspeakable and full of glory!"

-----------
--LET YOUR NEW LIFE PUSH OUT THE OLD LIFE!

“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” - 2 Corinthians 5:17

--OUR eyes delight to see those trees in Autumn which turn glorious colors, then drop their leaves one by one. But there are certain trees that hold their leaves until Spring. They wither and turn brown, but they don’t drop. Not until Spring do these trees lose their leaves—when the new leaves push out the old leaves.

That’s exactly what happens to our old habits and our old lives when we accept our 'free life' in the Lord Jesus. The new life pushes that old life off, it is dead to me, and I live unto Jesus.

It’s not a matter of plucking off this leaf and knocking off that leaf. The Christian life is not forged in that manner. Our new life replaces our old life when we are born again. We are growing from the inside out, in JESUS CHRIST! \o/

--PP/JG = FROM THE INSIDE OUT~~ HILLSONG
<http://youtu.be/X-afZJ9_TIM>
----------

'Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.'
--James 1:12

--Like it or not, suffering is a required course in God’s curriculum. He had one Son who was without sin, yet suffered. So why should we live life thinking we should be exempt from suffering? It is impossible to pass through this life as a believer without passing through dark valleys.

Now, those valleys look different for each person and they look different depending on the culture in which we find ourselves. But all Christians will suffer. The question is, how do you respond when life gets hard?

Some people… when the heat is on… fold up their tents and go home. They can’t take it. It’s not what they bargained for… and they turn their backs on God.

Other people… and I pray that you fall into this camp… look at their suffering as a time of learning… as a time of testing and proving of their faith. It’s not that these people like to suffer or would choose to suffer… it’s just that their peace and contentment in God is disconnected from their circumstances in life.

Today, I pray… no matter where you find yourself in life… that you will remember that Jesus has His eye on the clock and His hand on the thermostat! He won’t let you suffer beyond what you can bear.

So cheer up, knowing that He’s in control and that He only wants what’s ultimately best for you.

---JESUS WON'T LET YOU SUFFER BEYOND WHAT YOU CAN BEAR.
--JESUS IS AS CLOSE AS THE MENTION OF HIS NAME! CALL OUT TO JESUS IN ALL OF YOUR PAIN. "YOU ARE LOVED WITH AN EVERLASTING LOVE AND UNDERNEATH ARE HIS NAIL-PIERCED HANDS, AND EVERLASTING ARMS."
--PP/JG

--The Eyes of the Lord
--By: Henry Morris, Ph.D.
---Evidence for Creation

“For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. Herein thou hast done foolishly: therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars.” (2 Chronicles 16:9)

Since God in His essence is Spirit (note John 4:24) and is omnipresent, one might wonder how He could have physical eyes. The fact is, however, that the Bible frequently refers to His eyes. In fact, this phrase, “the eyes of the LORD,” occurs no less than 21 times in the Bible.

While this is hard to understand in one way, it is wonderfully clear when we remember that God is omnipotent and omniscient, as well as omnipresent. “He that formed the eye, shall he not see?” (Psalm 94:9). We may not be able to understand the actual seeing mechanism of spiritual eyes; nevertheless, “the eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good” (Proverbs 15:3).

The prophet Zechariah reminds us not to “[despise] the day of small things,” for they will be observed by “the eyes of the LORD, which run to and fro through the whole earth” (Zechariah 4:10). The phrase is used first of all in connection with those terrible times when “the wickedness of man was great” and “the earth was filled with violence” (Genesis 6:5, 11). Yet God could still see righteous Noah there. “Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD” (Genesis 6:8), and he and his family were saved through the awful worldwide Flood.

The last usage of the phrase is in Peter’s epistle, quoting Psalm 34:15: “For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil” (1 Peter 3:12). We do well to remember always that one of the great names of God is “Thou God seest me” (Genesis 16:13) and then conduct ourselves accordingly, aware that our God is indeed watching us with deep love and concern.
--ICR/ HMM - / NOBODY LIKE YOU--Paul Wilbur
<http://youtu.be/GwlMG1y2i2o>
----------

--WALK BEFORE ME ~~

-“I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect.” (Genesis 17:1)

-Abraham had been “walking” in the land of Canaan nearly 25 years when God gave this command to him. He had experienced the shameful rebuke in Egypt by Pharaoh and a marvelous victory against Chedorlaomer—and then had demonstrated both humility and obedience before Melchizedek.

God had been explicit in His promises to Abraham, but the promised heir had not yet come. Now, in spite of the awful lapse of faith with Hagar and the nagging burden of Ishmael, God insisted that Abraham “walk before” Him and “be perfect.”

The Hebrew language here is unusual. The word translated “before me” is panyim, basically meaning “the face.” This is the term used in the first commandment where we are told to “have no other gods before me” (Exodus 20:3).

In Genesis 17:1, the phrase could well be translated “walk, looking at my face.” The first commandment could also be translated “don’t let any other god get between your face and my face.”

The implication is obvious. God expects us to live in such a way that His “face” (person, character, presence) is always “before” us so that our “walk” (lifestyle, behavior) is “perfect” (complete, whole, healthy), with nothing inhibiting the relationship “of him with whom we have to do” (Hebrews 4:13).

“Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations” (Genesis 6:9). After warning Israel of the dangers of the pagan nations surrounding them, Moses still insisted that they should “be perfect with the LORD thy God” (Deuteronomy 18:13). No matter what the circumstances may be, if we are looking at God’s “face” we will walk perfectly.
--ICR/ HMM III --POWER OF YOUR LOVE- HILLSONG
<http://youtu.be/H9_0jiO5ZRM>
------

--UPHELD BY HIS HAND ~~

--BIBLE MEDITATION:
“Thou hast also given me the shield of Thy salvation: and Thy right hand hath holden me up, and Thy gentleness hath made me great.”
-- Psalm 18:35

--DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
--In World War II, General Jonathan Mayhew Wainwright led a gallant but vain fight that led him to become a prisoner of war. For months, the Japanese mocked him and beat him. Then one day, the news arrived that the Allied Forces had won. The prison guards thought Wainwright hadn’t heard the news, so they approached him to inflict their daily habit of abuse. Though Wainwright had grown frail and weak, he stood up straight and tall and said, “From now on, I’m giving the orders around here.”

The devil doesn’t want you to know the Good News that Jesus has won the victory, either. But you must resist him and claim the power of God in your life.

--ACTION POINT:
Where do you think you’d be if Psalm 18:35 said, “I have saved myself. My hand has held me up. My gentleness has made me great”? Praise God that your salvation is from Him! Tell Him, "Thank You, Lord, because of your death on the Cross, I am more than a conquerer through You!"
--Adrian Rogers~~ // VICTOR'S CROWN - Darlene Zschech~
<https://youtu.be/m3UQ42qmiI8>

--------

-A man is never the same after he simultaneously sees his utter despair and Christ's unbending grace.

--When everyone else rejects you, Christ accepts you. When everyone else leaves you, Christ finds you. When no one else wants you, Christ claims you. When no one else will give you the time of day, Jesus will give you the words of eternity.~~

--'Come unto Me all who are weak and heavy laden and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn of Me. You will find rest for your souls. And eternity for your life. Come..... '

--------
--A PORTRAIT OF JESUS~
--(Please read Isaiah 53:4-12)
----
--"We have turned,
everyone, to his
own way; and the
LORD has laid on
Him the iniquity of
us all." (v.6)~~
----
--IN PORTRAITS OF FAMOUS AMERICAN WOMEN, Robert Henkes writes, "A portrait is not a photograph, nor is it a mirror image." A portrait goes beyond the outer appearance to probe the emotional depth of the human soul. In a portrait, a true artist tries "to capture what the person is really about."

Over the centuries, many portraits have been painted of Jesus. Perhaps you've seen them in a church or museum of art or even have one in your home. Not one of these is a true portrait, of course, because we have no photograph or mirror image of our Lord's physical appearance.

We do, however, have a magnificent word portrait of Him in Isaiah 53. This God-inspired description captures in vivid detail what He is all about: "Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering...But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities;...and by his wounds we are healed" (vv.4-5 NIV).

This passage enables us to see love and sorrow, anguish and pain on Jesus' face. But His lips do not accuse or condemn. He has no sins of His own to grieve; only ours to bear. And deep inside, He knows that "He shall see the labor of His soul, and be satisfied" (v.11).

---WHAT A PORTRAIT OF CHRIST!
----
---LOVE WAS WHEN GOD BECAME A MAN.
--ODB/DM
<https://youtu.be/a_8VjLH2Fxw>
---------

--WHERE IS MY FOCUS?
---(Hebrews 10:32-39 Please read)

-Early in September 2011, a raging wildfire destroyed 600 homes in and around the city of Bastrop in central Texas. A few weeks later an article in the Austin 'American Statesman' newspaper carried this headline: "People who lost the most, focus on what wasn't lost."
The article described the community's outpouring of generosity and the realization of those who received help that neighbors, friends, and community were worth far more than anything they lost.

The writer of Hebrews reminded first-century followers of Jesus to recall how they had bravely endured persecution early in their life of faith. They stood their ground in the face of insults and oppression, standing side by side with other believers (Heb. 10:32-33). "You suffered along with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions" (v.34). Their focus was not on what they had lost but on eternal things that could not be taken from them.

Jesus told His followers, "Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also" (Matt. 6:21). As we focus on the Lord and all that we have in Him, even our most precious possessions can be held lightly.~~

-'Lord Jesus, open our eyes to see You and to embrace what is most important each day. We want to be more like You, our Savior, Lord, Rock and our Redeemer. ' ~amen
---
-ODB/DM

---THE NEW BIRTH AND BAPTISM~~
-----(Please Read/ Romans 6:3-10)

Jesus commissioned His followers to go and make disciples, “baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit” (Matt. 28:19). As the early church spread the gospel message, baptism would follow a new believer’s response of faith. It publicly signified that the individual was now a follower of Jesus.

Metaphors often communicate on a level that words cannot. Baptism is a powerful picture of our salvation experience. Through this act, we proclaim the good news that Jesus died on the Cross for our sins, was buried, and rose again—and testify that we’ve welcomed His transforming power into our lives.

The Greek word for “baptize” in Scripture is the same term used to describe a cloth dipped in dye—it refers to total change. So by being plunged into the water, we declare that we’re choosing to die to our old way of life and are uniting with Christ. Our sin is buried with Him, and its power is conquered through His atoning death on the Cross (Rom. 6:14). When we’re raised up out of the water, we affirm His resurrection. Baptism is a symbolic way of expressing that just as the Lord conquered death and rose again, we are spiritually resurrected from death into new life. We are born again and irrevocably transformed through the power of His Holy Spirit.

In the Bible, the word 'believe' isn’t a conceptual word describing intellectual agreement alone. It is a word of action. Our belief should never be hidden like a light placed under a basket (Luke 11:33)—when unbelieving family and friends look at our lives, they need to see the Gospel in action.
Do others see Christ in you? Jesus tells us to 'Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven." --(See Matthew 5:14-16)~~
------
--IN TOUCH~~

--GOD'S FACE ~~

-TODAY'S READING
(2 Corinthians 4:4-15)
----------------
For God...made his light shine
in our hearts to give us the
light of the knowledge of God's
glory displayed in the face of
Christ." --(2 Corinthians 4:6)--- ~
--------------
--MUCH OF MY CAREER as a writer has revolved around the problem of pain. I return again and again to the same questions, as if fingering an old wound that never quite heals. I hear from readers of my books, and their anguished stories give human faces to my doubts. I remember a youth pastor calling me after he had learned that his wife and baby daughter were dying of AIDS because of a tainted blood transfusion. "How can I talk to my youth group about a loving God?" he asked.

I have learned to not even attempt an answer to these "why" questions. Why did the youth pastor's wife happen to get the tainted bottle of blood? Why does a tornado hit one town and skip over another? Why do prayers for physical healing go unanswered?

One question, however, no long gnaws at me as it once did: "Doe God care?" I know of only one way to answer that question, and the answer is Jesus. In Jesus, God gave us a face. If you wonder how God feels about the suffering on this groaning planet, look at that face.

"Does God care?" His Son's death on our behalf, which will ultimately destroy all pain, sorrow, suffering, and death for eternity, answers that question. "For God, who said, 'Let light shine out of darkness,' made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God's glory displayed in the face of Christ, our Lord and Savior.~~ (2 Corinthians 4:6).~~

--God's love for us is an expansive as the open arms of Christ on the Cross.
--ODB/PY~~ // 'WHEN HE WAS ON THE CROSS'-- Sung By: Holly Rector--[SPEAKERS NEEDED!]
<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9L-YaD9WKYY>
---------

---SEEING GOD~~

--AUTHOR AND PASTOR ERWIN LUTZER recounts a story about television show host Art Linkletter and a little boy who was drawing a picture of God. Amused, Linkletter said, "You can't do that because nobody knows what God looks like."

"They will when I get through!" the boy declared.

We may wonder, 'What is God like? Is He good? Is He kind? Does He care?' The simple answer to those questions is Jesus's response to Philips's request: "Lord, show us the Father." Jesus replied, "Don't you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who who has seen Me has seen the Father" (JOHN 14:8-9).

If you ever get hungry to see God, look at Jesus. "The Son is the image of the invicible God," said Paul (COL. 1:15). Read through the four gospels in the New Testament: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Think deeply about what Jesus did and said. "Draw" your own mental picture of God as you read. You'll know much more of what He's like when You're through.

A friend of mine once told me that the only God he could believe in is the one he saw in Jesus. If you look closely, I think you'll agree. As you read about Him your heart will leap, for though you may not know it, Jesus is the God you've been looking for all your life.~~

'We're so prone, Lord, to want You to be something You are not. Help us to see You clearly on the pages of Scripture. Help us reflect Your Son in our lives.' prayer amen~

--THE CLEARER WE SEE GOD, THE CLEARER WE SEE OURSELVES~~
--ODB/DR~~--/ NOEL RICHARDS / "WE WANT TO SEE JESUS LIFTED HIGH"~~<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=09I7-VKXLes>
-------------

----THE FINGERPRINTS OF GOD~~

--"For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."
---—(Ephesians 2:10)--

Lygon Stevens loved to climb mountains with her brother Nick. They were experienced climbers and both had summitted Mt. McKinley (Denali), the highest point in North America.

Then, in January 2008, they were swept off a Colorado mountain by an avalanche, injuring Nick and killing twenty-year-old Lygon. When Nick later discovered his sister’s journal in one of her satchels, he was deeply comforted by its contents. It was filled with reflections, prayers, and praise to God as seen in this entry: “I am a work of art, signed by God. But He’s not done; in fact, He has just begun. . . . I have on me the fingerprint of God. Never will there ever be another person like me. . . . I have a job to do in this life that no other can do.”

Although Lygon is no longer physically present on earth, through the legacy of her life and her journal she inspires and challenges those she left behind.

Because we are made in God’s image (Genesis 1:26), each person is a “work of art, signed by God.” As the apostle Paul says, “We are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Ephesians 2:10).

Praise God that He uses each of us, in His own time and way, to help others. —Dennis Fisher
~~~~~~~~~
**How would You like to use me, Lord? I am open and willing.**

--- ---**Each person is a unique expression of God’s loving design.

**INSIGHT: Genesis 1:26-27 says we were created in God’s image. Similarly, Genesis 5:1 and James 3:9 tell us we were made in His “likeness.” What does it mean to be made in God’s image? We were created with characteristics that set us apart from other creatures. We have the capacity to reason, to make moral choices, and to be in relationship with others. We also have the capacity to do good works, and Jesus set the precedent: He “went around doing good” (Acts 10:38). Ephesians 2:10 tells us we were not only created “to do good works” but “God prepared in advance” the good works we would do. Our task is to stay near to God (Hebrews 10:22), be alert for opportunities, and rely on the Spirit for strength and help.

--ODB/Alyson Kieda
/ 'FINGERPRINTS OF GOD' / Steven Curtis/ <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M8oZXSZBBBM>
----------

---THAT SMILING MAN~~

-"Whatever you do,
work at it with
all your heart, as
working for the
Lord, not for human
masters."
--(Colossians 3:23)--

---GOING TO THE GROCERY STORE isn't something I particularly enjoy. It's just a mundane part of life--something that has to be done.

But there is one part of this task I've unexpectedly come to look forward to: checking out in Fred's lane. Fred, you see, turns checkout into show time. He's amazingly fast, always has a big smile, and even dances (and sometimes sings!) as he acrobatically flips (unbreakable) purchases into a plastic bag. Fred clearly enjoys a job that could be seen as one of the most tedious around. And for just a moment, his cheerful spirit brightens the lives of people in his checkout lane.

The way Fred does his job has won my respect and admiration. His cheerful attitude, desire to serve, and attention to detail all line up well with the apostle Paul's description of how we are to work in Colossians 3:23: "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord."

When we're in relationship with Jesus, any job we have to do gives us an opportunity to reflect His presence in our lives. No task is too small...or too big! Tackling our responsibilities--whatever they may be--with joy, creativity, and excellence gives us an opportunity to influence those around us, no matter our job. ~~

--THE BEST WAY TO DO SATISFYING WORK IS TO DO IT FOR THE LORD. ~
--ODB/AH~~
[Let's remember when the Ark of the Covenant was Brought to Jerusalem. (See 2 Samuel Chapter 6/ verses 14 thru 15 NASB~)~ King David was so excited..."DAVID was dancing before the LORD with all his might, and David was wearing a linen Ephod.
"So David and all the house of Israel were bringing up the Ark of the LORD with shouting and the sound of the trumpet."](There is a brief advertisement before the song. It's worth the wait!) --SHAKE! -- MERCYME~~<https://youtu.be/YJFA5Bitv7w>
--------

---JESUS SAID, "I AND MY FATHER ARE ONE."
--(JOHN 10:30)~~

----OUR HEAVENLY FATHER~~
--(Please Read/ Matthew 6:9-13)-

When Christ taught His disciples to pray, He told them to call God “Our Father” when communicating with Him. Jesus often addressed God as “My Father,” but now they, too, shared in that privileged family relationship. All of us who’ve been born again are part of the household of God and have this same right.

Consider some of the ways our heavenly Father cares for His children. He ...

**Loves. God’s love is unconditional, since it’s based on His nature rather than our performance (1 John 4:16).

**Listens. When we pray, He gives us His full attention (Psalm 55:16-17).

**Provides. The Father assumes responsibility for meeting all our needs (Phil. 4:19).

**Guides. He is the one who directs our path when we trust in Him (Prov. 3:5-6).

**Protects. The Lord shields us spiritually, emotionally, and physically, sifting every experience through His sovereign fingers (Psalm 121).

**Stays. He’s not an absentee parent, since He will never leave or forsake us (Deut. 31:8).

**Disciplines. The Lord disciplines us for our good, so that we may share in His holiness (Heb. 12:5-11).

-Though experiences with our earthly dads may have distorted our perspective of the heavenly Father, we can learn to see Him as He truly is. By viewing Him through the truth of Scripture instead of our preconceptions, we will see evidence of His loving care and discover a security we’ve never known before.

--IN TOUCH~~'Praise the Father, Praise the Son, Praise the Spirit three in one'/ Chris Tomlin~-- <https://youtu.be/3ZKs0CSWtPg>
---------

---CELEBRATING 100th in HEAVEN / BILLY GRAHAM (2/21/2018)

--ON WEDNESDAY, NOV. 7, as we commemorate my father's 100th birthday, he is celebrating before his Father in Heaven. In his last decade, he often told us that he hoped God would let him live to 100. After he died February 21, President Trump called me to offer his condolences, and he said, "I guess your father didn't make it to be 100 years old."

I told him, "Yes, Mr. President, actually he did. Add nine months. He was 100 years from conception. If you count the nine months he was in the womb, he did live to 100."

The Bible says, "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; before you were born I sanctified you: I ordained you a prophet to the nations" (Jeremiah 1:5, NKJV). My father believed that life is sacred, that it begins at conception, and that it is everlasting for all of us who trust Jesus Christ as our Savior. He wanted our Nation to protect the unborn as he called us to turn away from our sins and turn back to God. "See ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness." -(Matthew 6:33, KJV)~~
--'WELCOME HOME, BILLY GRAHAM!'
--DECISION- (November 2018)-/Franklin Graham~
------YOUR PRESENCE IS HEAVEN TO ME~~(By: Free Chapel)
------<https://youtu.be/Z5a-hW9AJQI>
---------

--GOD'S AMAZING HANDS~~

-"Into your hands I
commit my spirit;
deliver me, LORD,
my faithful God."
--(Psalm 31:5)--

--TWENTY MINUTES into a flight from New York to San Antonio, the flight plan changed as calm gave way to chaos. When one of the plane's engines failed, debris from the engine smashed through a window causing the cabin to decompress. Sadly, several passengers were injured and one person was killed. Had not a calm, capable pilot been in the cockpit--one trained as a Navy Flight Pilot--things could have been tragically worse. The headline in our local paper read, "In Amazing Hands."

--In Psalm 31, David revealed that he knew something about the Lord's amazing, caring hands. That's why he could confidently say, "Into your hands I commit my spirit" (V.5). David believed that the Lord could be trusted even when life got bumpy. Because he was targeted by unfriendly forces, life was very uncomfortable for David. Though vulnerable, he was not without hope. In the midst of harassment David could breathe sighs of relief and rejoice because his faithful, loving God was his source of confidence (VV. 5-7)

Perhaps you find yourself in a season of life when things are coming at you from every direction, and it's difficult to see what's ahead. In the midst of uncertainty, confusion, and chaos one thing remains absolutely certain: those who are secure in the Lord are in His amazing hands, always.~~

"Father, help me to be encouraged knowing that Jesus prayed Psalm 31:5 when He was on the Cross. In the midst of pain and suffering, He committed His life into Your hands. Thank You, Lord Jesus, that we can call on you 24/7's and You promise, "I will never leave you, nor forsake you. I have your name engraved on the palm, of My nail-pierced hand. Blessed be Your Holy Name YAHWEH = YHWH--Amen" ~ (Live Concert/ be patient if there is an AD, This too shall pass!) --"How Great Thou Art" / Shane and Shane / --<https://youtu.be/EueRjHaGbS4>
-----------

---CLEAR AS GLASS ~~

--'The Cleaner Our Hearts, the Better We See.'

--IF YOU'VE EVER TRIED to see through a dirty windshield, you probably appreciate washer fluid and working wipers. Mud or even mist can make a trip dangerous. You've got to keep your heart clear, too--if you're not sure how, consider the example of John the Baptist and those who first recognized Jesus as Messiah. The only way to maintain clear vision is to stay in the scriptures, talk to God, and listen to wisdom.

[Please Read/ John 1:29-51 ~ ]

~~BACKGROUND~~

The Israelites have been waiting for the Messiah for hundreds of years. Jesus is appointing His 12 apostles and will soon begin His public ministry.

~**REFLECT~~

~~Many people observed Jesus when He walked the earth, but few truly saw Him.
** Forms of look, see, or behold occur 18 times in 22 verses--John 1:29-51 is clearly about vision, but perhaps not the ordinary kind. After being asked to "come and see" the prophesied One, Nathanael declares Jesus to be the Son of God and King of Israel (vv. 46,49). How would you describe this kind of vision? Of all the people who see Jesus as Messiah in this passage, whose experience is most similar to your own recognition of Him?

**Evangelizing is often less difficult than we fear, since it's God who opens people's eyes, and Christ's glory and beauty speak for themselves. If we truly see Jesus for who He is, we'll almost certainly fall in love, for He is "full of grace and truth" (v. 14). What are some ways you, like Philip, might simply invite others to "come and see" the King?

--Despite his initial bias, Nathanael has a heart pure enough to recognize Jesus for who He is.

**Matthew 5:8 says, "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God." The word pure means clean or unstained, like Jesus' linen burial cloth or gold from which all imperfections are removed. How, then, would you describe a pure heart? The John 1 passage tells of numerous people who saw God in the form of Jesus. What is the significance of verse 47 (an Israelite indeed, in whom there is not deceit") in explaining why Nathanael was among them?

**Jesus says that He saw Nathanael under the fig tree (v.48). What does this tell you about the relationship between reading the Bible and cleansing your heart? About how God enjoys us as we enjoy Him?

**John the Baptist didn't recognize Jesus on his own; God the Father gave him a sign that revealed the Messiah (John 1:33-34). When we're listening to God, we see things that might otherwise escape us. Are you surprised by John's confession? Can you describe a time something similar happened to you?

**When two of John's disciples hear him testifying about the Savior, they follow Jesus (vv. 35-37). Many scriptural accounts show that listening to godly people can help us hear from the Lord, whereas ignoring their counsel could result in missed blessings. But in order to act on John's words, what inner hesitations might those two disciples have had to overcome? Is there something challenging you've heard through God's servants recently that might bring blessing?

**REFLECT~
~Seeing God is a blessing for the pure-hearted. ~~

Though Jesus hasn't physically been visible here on earth for 2,000 years, He is still seen today by those who have a clean heart. As His followers, we may see God in the form of His truths revealed in His Word, the people standing before us who carry His Spirit, a Pastor, or some other way. In every case, the privilege is a divine, sacred, and holy experience. Be sure to stay prayed-up, read the Holy Bible daily. Keep short accounts, in other words, when you know you have sinned, repent. [1 John 1:9 NASB / "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteouness."
--IN TOUCH~~

--PLEASE READ ALL OF PSALM 91 ~~

--The song below beautifully displays words and song. Be blessed!
--[Security of the One Who Trusts in the Lord]

-"For He will give His angels charge concerning you,
To guard you in all your ways." --[Psalm 91:11]

--"Psalm 91" // New Creation Church // <https://youtu.be/kgvx9drZXpk>
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

--SEEING GOD'S FACE ~~

--"The cloud of the LORD was over the tabernacle by day, and fire was in the cloud by night, in the sight of all the Israelites during all their travels!"
--[Exodus 40:38] -- :

--ON January 28, 1986, the US Space Shuttle Challenger broke apart seventy-three seconds after takeoff. In a speech of comfort to the nation, President Ronald Reagan quoted from the poem" High Flight" in which John Gillespie Magee, a World War II pilot, had written of "the high untrespassed sanctity of space" and the sense of putting out his hand to touch "the face of God."

Although we can't literally touch God's face, we sometimes experience a stunning sunset or a place of meditation in nature that gives us an overwhelming sense that He's near. Some people call these moments "thin places." The barrier separating heaven and earth seems to grow a little thinner. God feels a little closer.

The Israelites may have experienced a "thin place' as they sensed the nearness of God in the desert wilderness. God provided a pillar of cloud by day and pillar of fire by night to lead them through the desert (Exodus 40:34-38). When they were staying in the camp, "the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle" (v.35). Throughout all their travels, they knew God was with them.

As we enjoy the incredible beauty of God's creation, we grow conscious that He's present everywhere. As we talk with Him in prayer, listen to Him, and read the Scriptures, we can enjoy fellowship with Him anytime and anywhere. ~

--"Father, help me to seek and find You even when I'm alone or in a desert place. Thank You for being with me at all times. In Jesus Name. Amen'~
--ODB/CHK~

--Do We Seek Jesus and the Things of God?

--"What wilt thou give?" / [Hosea 9:14 / KJV) -

---I tried to think of something special to make my husband's face light up at Christmas. Gene had once shared a childhood memory about the boy who lived down the hill from him back in Indiana. His friend had received a new bicycle for Christmas and Gene had ridden it a few times. But Gene had never been able to have one of his own.

We happened by a store and I pointed out a spiffy bicycled in the window. "I just might get you one, " I said teasingly. .
"I do not need a bicycle. Do not get me one, Gene said emphatically. Deflated, I said nothing.

Later that week we were reading our mail in the living room. Gene with his pile, me with mine. "Here's the bicycle I want, honey," he announced loudly. Was he teasing me?

I moved over next to him and looked at the catalog he was holding.. It showed a bike surrounded by an overjoyed father, a smiling mother, and seven skinny, happy children. They lived in an underdeveloped country, and the bike would provide transportation so the father could get a job. The catalog explained that anyone could give a bicycle, garden seeds, or even an ox.

Gene got his bicycle for Christmas--and halfway around the world lives would be changed forever. ~

--"Father, I have so much to learn about true giving. Teach me.
--Guideposts/ MBW
~~~~~~~