News you won't see in controlled mainstream media.

-Jesus Paid Our Sin-Debt
--"Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of
sin." Jesus paid the price we could not pay.

--It was required that the blood was not to be tainted. Jesus was the perfect Lamb, slain before the foundation of the world.

--THE RANSOM PRICE
�Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.� --(Matthew 20:28)

--The thought that the death of Jesus and His shed blood were somehow the ransom price paid to redeem lost sinners from an eternal prison in hell has been a stumbling block to many of those very sinners. Yet that is the teaching of Scripture, whether it appeals to their reasonings or not. �Ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold.. . . . But with the precious blood of Christ� (1 Peter 1:18-19). In the Old Testament economy, ransoms were paid for various reasons, such as freeing slaves. The last use of �ransom� in the Old Testament, however, seems to foreshadow the New Testament concept. �I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death� (Hosea 13:14).

But to whom was the ransom of Christ to be paid? Not to the devil, of course, or to any human king. It can only have been paid to God Himself, for He had set �the wages of sin� to be �death� (Romans 6:23). For a time, these wages had been paid in part �by the blood of goats and calves� offered on the altar as a temporary covering for sins. But that was only until the true ransom could be paid. �How much more shall the blood of Christ, who . . . offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?� (Hebrews 9:14).

Such a sacrifice was not foolishness as the scoffer claims, but �the power of God, and the wisdom of God� (1 Corinthians 1:24). �For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time� (1 Timothy 2:5-6). Praise God�the ransom has been paid and we have been redeemed!
--ICR/HMM / REDEEMED! / Big Daddy Weave ~
<https://youtu.be/V1dxK-kqjtY>

--Safety of Abiding in the Presence of God~~

--PSALM 91 ~~

-'He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High
Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress;
My God, in Him I will trust."

Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler
And from the perilous pestilence.
He shall cover you with His feathers,
And under His wings you shall take refuge;

His truth shall be your shield and buckler.
You shall not be afraid of the terror by night,
Nor of the arrow that flies by day,
Nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness,
Nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday.

A thousand may fall at your side,
And ten thousand at your right hand;
But it shall not come near you.
Only with your eyes shall you look
And see the reward of the wicked.

Because you have made the LORD, who is my refuge,
Even the Most High, your dwelling place,
No evil shall befall you,
Nor shall any plague come near your dwelling place;

For He shall give His angels charge over you.
To keep you in all your ways.~
In their hands they shall bear you up,
Lest you dash your foot against a stone. -(vs.1-12)

"Because he has set his love upon Me,
Therefore I will deliver him;
I will set him on high, because he has known My name.
He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him;

I will be with him in trouble;
I will deliver him and honor him.
With long life I will satisfy him,
and show him My salvation." (vs.14-16)~~

<https://youtu.be/3sDv5px7prA>
~~~~~~~~~~~

--CHRIST IN YOU ~

�To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.� (Colossians 1:27)

--The New Covenant includes a mystery Paul had the privilege of revealing to the Gentiles (Colossians 1:24-29). The history and prophecies of the Old Covenant contained a few hints of God�s plan for the last days, but the focus was centered on the �fulness of time� when the Messiah would come (Galatians 4:4).

Paul seemed thrilled to �preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ� (Ephesians 3:8) and to have the responsibility of unveiling �the grace of God which is given me to you-ward� (Ephesians 3:2). More than the obligation, Paul felt a dread judgment if he failed (1 Corinthians 9:16). It follows that we should be clear in our own declaration of this mystery.

Simply put, the mystery is �Christ in you, the hope of glory.� Obviously, that is the result of salvation. The new message is the completed work and resurrection of the Lord Jesus. The promises of the prophets and the long history of Israel tend to obscure the eternal plan of God (Ephesians 3:11)�thus the detailed effort of the New Testament writers to amplify the �whosoever will� aspect of the gospel message.

�Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow. Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven� (1 Peter 1:10-12).

-Now it is possible for the whole world to have a personal and eternal relationship with Jesus Christ.
--ICR/ HMM III

--THE PROMISE OF ETERNAL LIFE~~

--(1 John 5:5-12)
-"Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.

'This is the one who came by water and blood--Jesus Christ. He did not come by water only, but by water and blood.
Anyone who believes in the Son of God has this testimony in his heart. Anyone who does not believe God has made him out to be a liar, because he has not believed the testimony God has given about his Son. And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life."
-(selected verses)
----
-OUR CULTURE IS OBSESSED WITH LONGEVITY. While the desire for a lengthy existence of good quality is natural, it's also shortsighted. The Bible does emphasize living a godly life now. But it also contains numerous reminders that believers will remain after this old world is gone.

No pill or diet can extend our days on earth beyond the number God has willed. But we can live forever in a flawless home with a perfected body, doing soul-satisfying work. When we believe Jesus Christ is God's Son and trust Him as our Savior, we receive the gift of eternal life. Believers get to spend eternity serving and fellowshipping with the Lord.

Although followers of the Son of God are promised a place in heaven, eternal life isn't really about location. The true value of having a soul that never dies is that we are always in the presence of God. For those who reject the offer of everlasting life with the Lord, there is an alternative. We call it hell. The souls ending up there suffer a terrible fate--agony and complete separation from the living God. After death, no mercy or grace can bridge the gap between hell and heaven. The matter must be settled while we are on earth (Hebrews 9:27).

Eternal life is irrevocably linked to the person of Jesus Christ. As John wrote, "He who has the Son has the life" (1 John 5:12) Reaching a healthy old age is a laudable goal, but nothing's more important than receiving the Savior and the gift of eternity in His presence.~~

--IN TOUCH~ / Lord Take Up Your Holy Throne/ Paul Wilbur
<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dzn7hHgEDP0>

-A SPECIAL PEOPLE- / 'Christ Followers'
--(Please read: 1 Peter 2:9-10)

--Whenever feelings of low self-worth threaten us with discouragement, we need to rely on the truth of God�s Word rather than on our emotions. Today we are going to examine four phrases that describe how the Lord sees every believer.

1.) A Chosen Race. God chose you and me to be part of His kingdom and family because He wanted us. No one who has been specially selected by almighty God is insignificant.

2.) A Royal Priesthood. As believers, we are children of God and, therefore, part of a royal family. In other words, we are �heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ� (Rom. 8:17). Just as Jesus fulfilled the roles of both King and Priest, so God has also entrusted us with priestly responsibilities of worship and intercession for others.

3.) A Holy Nation. The church�or body of Christ�is a group of people who are holy, which means �set apart� for the purposes of God. Our lives are never meaningless, because living for the Lord is the greatest purpose one can have.

4.) A People for God�s Own Possession. You and I are the heavenly Father�s personal possessions. (See Deut. 14:2; Titus 2:14; 1 Pet. 2:9.) Because He sees us as precious, He sent His Son to die on the Cross in our place so we could belong to Him.

Each of these descriptions shows the high value God places on you. Satan may whisper lies of condemnation and criticism, but he can�t change who you really are. Begin today to demonstrate the truth of Scripture by remembering your real identity and living out your high calling from the Lord.
--IN TOUCH~
[-Jesus tells us to live one day at a time. Yes, we strive to live as He would have us live on this earth, but this world is NOT the Christian's real Home. Our Home is in Heaven with Jesus Christ, and soon we will see our Savior, Jesus Christ, face to face! Praise the Lord! I know who holds my hand. Be sure of your eternal destiny by asking Jesus to be your Lord and Savior, to forgive you of all your past sins, and help you to live each day to give Him glory. (See Romans 10:9-10) THEN you can be SURE where you will spend eternity, with our Lord and Savior, Jesus the Christ. ~~ -/I Know Who Holds Tomorrow / Alison Krauss & Susan Cox~
<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2n3iLXHzX9k>
----------

--NOTHING CAN SEPARATE US~
---(Please read/ Romans 8:32-39)

--THE LORD has an amazing plan to save us for all eternity. A persuasive argument for believing in life eternally secured is found in two of the apostle Paul's questions in Romans 8.

--WHO WILL BRING A CHARGE AGAINST GOD'S ELECT? The answer is simple: No one can bring an accusation against believers and make it stick. Satan certainly tries, but God has justified us through His Son Jesus Christ--He has declared that we are no longer guilty. No matter what new sin we might commit after we are saved, we can't be tried in God's court a second time. If you fall into a stage of unbelief or sinful living, you may lose your reward, but you cannot lose your eternity in Heaven with God (1 Cor. 3:12-15).
[ Remember the 'Parable of the Prodigal Son?' (See LUKE 15:11-22). After the younger son had received his inheritance money, he went out and spent all of it on loose living, and sinning. He then ran out of money and was feeding swine to earn some money. He was so hungry he thought to eat the swine's food.

But when he came to himself, he said, "How many of my father's hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!"
He returned to his father's house, only to find him running to greet him and welcome him home, and fell on his neck and kissed him.

And the son said to him, "Father I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son." But the father had his servants make a big feast to welcome him home. For he said, "My son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' And they began to be merry."~~
That is how Jesus will respond to those of us who have fallen, but in need of forgiveness. He is our Shepherd who always waits to restore our relationship with Him. ~~]

-WHO WILL SEPARATE US FROM THE LOVE OF CHRIST? Undoubtedly, there are many experiences that test our faith, but we are ultimately saved by God's grace. Jesus understands our trials and doubts, and He is not interested in casting us away at our first misstep. God always knew we would make thousands of mistakes after we received Christ, but He saved us anyway.

Some followers of Jesus Christ worry that embracing eternal security will motivate people to go out and live a life of sin because they have nothing to lose. If we think about the wonder and majesty of our heavenly Father, doesn't it make more sense that people would be motivated to praise Him for saving them out of the filth of their disobedience? The more we know of Jesus and His love for us, the more we will love Him and want to please Him. Forever.
--IN TOUCH
We must remember that God knows our hearts. We look on the external. But our Lord requires a 'broken spirit and contrite heart.' We sincerely repent, and He receives us back.~~/BEFORE THE THRONE OF GOD/ Shane & Shane~
<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_666r89jEZ4>
---

---TRIUMPHANT IN CHRIST~~

--We honor the triumphant. The determined explorer returning from his discovery. The winning athlete holding aloft the triumphant trophy of victory. Yes, we love triumph. Triumph is fleeting, though. Hardly does one taste victory before it is gone.

The triumph of Christ is not temporary. �Triumphant in Christ� is not an event or an occasion. It is not fleeting. To be triumphant in Christ is a lifestyle�a state of being! To triumph in Christ is not something we do, it�s something we are.

A victor in the world rejoices over something he did. But the believer rejoices over who he is�a child of God, a forgiven sinner, an heir of eternity. Nothing can separate us from our triumph in Christ. Nothing! Even though we are pressed on every side, the victory is still ours. Nothing can alter the loyalty of God!

--God is With You Everyday/ML~~/ Man of Sorrow-/ Hillsong
<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s7ZJ5D5q54g>
-----

-----BEYOND TIME~~

-"Lord, to whom shall
we go? You have the
words of life. We have
come to believe and to
know that you are the
Holy One of God."
--(John 6:68-69)
--------
--DURING 2016, THEATER COMPANIES in Britain and around the world have staged special productions to mark the 400th anniversary of the death of William Shakespeare. Concerts, lectures, and festivals have drawn crowds who celebrate the enduring work of the man widely considered to be the greatest playwright in the English language. Ben Jonson, one of Shakespeare's contemporaries, wrote of him, "He was not of an age, but for all time."

While the influence of some artists, writers, and thinkers may last for centuries, Jesus Christ is the only person whose life and work will endure beyond time. He claimed to be "the bread that came down from heaven...whoever feeds on this bread will live forever" (V.58).

When many people who heard Jesus's teaching were offended by His words and stopped following Him (JOHN 6:61-66), the Lord asked His disciples if they also wanted to leave (V. 67). Peter replied, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God" (VV.68-66).

When we invite Jesus to come into our lives as our Lord and Savior, we join His first disciples and all those who have followed Him in a new life that will last forever--beyond time.~~

'Lord Jesus, thank You for the gift of eternal life in fellowship with You today and forever. amen~'

--JESUS IS THE SON OF GOD, THE MAN BEYOND TIME WHO GIVES US ETERNAL LIFE.~
--ODB/DM-- Singer: Josh Groban / 'To Where You Are' ~
------------
<https://youtu.be/__kDzC4k5-A>

--UNDERSTANDING YOUR CALL~~
----(Please Read/ Mark 8:34-35)

--I like to use the word believer when talking about God�s children, as it specifically refers to those who have trusted Jesus Christ as Savior. That is a much smaller population than those who label themselves �Christian.� But did you know that even fewer people could rightly be called �followers�? These are the people who passionately pursue the Lord�s will in all things.

Are you a believer or a follower? Trusting in Jesus Christ is fundamental, but doing so is the first step, not the culmination, of a person�s faith. Our primary purpose is to take a life-long journey following in the Lord�s footsteps, honoring Him with our actions and speech, and always increasing in biblical wisdom.

A follower�s life is summed up in the phrase complete obedience. In fact, Jesus defined true Christians as those who prove their love for Him by keeping His word (John 14:23). When it comes to obeying God, there are really only two responses��I will� or �I won�t.� It�s tempting to say, �I will, but ...� as some of Jesus� would-be disciples did, but that�s a roundabout way of saying no. Followers remain faithful to the Lord�s plan whether doing so is easy or hard. Not only that, but they proclaim Him in both blessing and calamity, and go even when they don�t like where He leads.

Followers pursue the Lord because they know that the reward is a deeper, more passionate relationship with Him. They are not just waiting to spend eternity with God in heaven. They realize that eternity begins now, as they accompany Him on the righteous path He has set before them.
--IN TOUCH~~--/'He is Exalted (Yahweh)' YHWH ~ Chris Tomlin ~
<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bj0s8fCypA0>
----------

--GOD IS LOVE~~

'Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because GOD IS LOVE.

This is how God showed his love among us. He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through Him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.
--(1 JOHN 4:10)--LOVE NEVER FAILS YOU/ Brandon Heath~
<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aNOutV3MM0I>
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--ALREADY JUDGED ~~
---(Please Read/ John 3:17-18)

As a society, Americans are fond of their rights. We're very protective of our liberties, even when they might bring harm rather than good. That can be true of spiritual matters as well. For example, exercising the "right" to reject God's plan of salvation leaves a person in a condemned condition..

I have heard the following phrase often in my years of ministry: "I don't believe God is going to condemn me to hell." I agree, but not with the comment's intended meaning--that a person is worthy of heaven on the basis of his own merit. You see, it is true that the Lord doesn't condemn people to hell. He allows them to opt for that eternal destination themselves. They have a right to choose.

God says that those who do not believe in Jesus Christ have been judged already (v. 18). In other words, by rejecting--or politely ignoring--their need for a Savior, unbelievers have chosen to remain unsaved and unforgiven. Scripture teaches that there will one day be a judgment, but God has already determined that those who trust in Christ will stand with Him while the rest will be sent away (Matt. 25:34-46). An unrepentant man or woman is not condemned by God but, rather, has chosen to remain in the company of all those condemned by their own free will.

God desires that everyone come to a saving knowledge of His Son Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:9). To that end, He has granted each person the right to decide whether or not to follow in obedience. However, those who reject the Savior are forewarned that they have settled for condemnation.~
--IN TOUCH~~
[Friend, God does not force himself on anyone. He loves you. He died a cruel and brutal death to save you from spending eternity separated from Him. He leaves that choice to you.
We see God all around us. He is Creator of all things visible and invisible. Just open your eyes and see the magnificence of our great Creator, Jesus Christ. (Colossians Chapter 1)
There are some people who say, 'There is no God.' To this the Bible tells us in PSALM 53:1 "The fool has said in his heart, "There is no God." "Choose you this day whom you will serve. As for me and my house we will serve the Lord." --(JOSHUA 24:15B)]--Creation Calls/ Brian Doerksen~~
<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dw4m42MYoZI>
---------

---HIS LOVE COVERS ALL THINGS ~~

--Would you do what Jesus did? He exchanged the worship of angels for the company of killers. If you were God, would you? I wouldn�t, but Christ did! Jesus humbled Himself. He went from commanding angels to sleeping in the straw. Why? Because that is what love does. It puts the loved before itself. Your place in heaven was more important to Him than His place in heaven, so He gave up His so you could have yours.

It�s time to let His love cover all things in your life. Every promise broken, every cross word, and harsh word. His love covers all things. Let it! Do it for His sake. For the peace of your heart. And do it for their sake. For the people in your life. Let His love fall on you so yours can fall on them.

--"In the Manger"/ML~~
--"All For Love"/ Hillsong~~/ <https://youtu.be/hNAti01dDWM>
------------

----THE HIGHEST PURPOSE~~~

"It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God�s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up."
---(Ephesians 4:11-12 NIV)-

--There is no greater investment of a human life than serving God. I hear parents hoping that their children will have careers that pay well, but I do not hear many parents expressing a desire that their children will grow up to serve the Lord. There have been times in the history of the Church in this nation when parents aspired that their children would spend their lives and their strength in the service of the Lord. Certainly not everyone is called to full-time Christian ministry. But our highest purpose, whether we are a butcher, a baker, or a candlestick maker, is to serve the Lord with our lives in the midst of those callings.

**THINK ABOUT IT
Our attitudes about ministry are easily conveyed to those around us, even children. Do your words and actions convey positive messages about being called as a prophet, evangelist, pastor, or teacher?

**PRAYER
-"Heavenly Father, whatever I do and wherever I go I choose to put You first. May I always seek Your ways above my own ways. I desire the help of Your Holy Spirit as I serve You in my home, at my job, and with my friends and family. Help me live my life honoring You and caring for Your people. In Jesus� name, amen."
[**Jesus was asked a most important question, when He was asked, (testing Him),
"Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?"
And He said to him, "You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.'
This is the great and foremost commandment.
"The second is like it, "You shall love your neighbor, as yourself.'
On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets." --(Matthew 22:35-40 NASB)~~]

***Blessings,
**Pastor Allen Jackson
*Intend Ministries[/color]--/"Beneath the Waters (I Will Rise) --Hillsong ~~<https://youtu.be/mTwA3NLEjY4>
------------

--GOD- THE GREATEST LOVER OF ALL ~~
----(PLEASE READ/ Jeremiah 31:3)

---God�s love is totally different from ours. For one thing, His love is everlasting. He bestows it on us continuously, and there is absolutely nothing that can interrupt or interfere with it. This is because His love is not based on a feeling but flows from His very nature. Therefore, it is perfect, unchangeable, and trustworthy (1 John 4:8). In contrast, disagreements and other circumstances can cause human love to fluctuate or fail.

What�s more, God�s love is unconditional�there�s nothing we can say or do to either deserve or deter it. We never have to wonder if the Lord still loves us. Every day you and I walk under the canopy of His love, which remains unaffected by our behavior, whether good or bad. Even if we wander from His will or fall into disobedience, we don�t have to worry that the canopy will be removed. We did not build it, so we can�t dismantle it. The source of God�s love is God Himself, and His love is eternal, perfect, and without any conditions whatsoever.

Notice I did not say you would necessarily enjoy life because He loves you; nor did I say that God would overlook transgressions. Disobedience is a matter of grave consequence for the Christian. Yet even in our foolishness and sin, the Lord is our loving Father, who faithfully disciplines His children. We must always remember that sin does not affect God�s boundless love for us.

The heavenly Father has always loved you, and He always will. As you release any misconceptions about His everlasting love, you�ll be able to rejoice under His canopy.
-IN TOUCH~~--/ 'Imagine Me Without You' / By: Jaci Velasquez ~~ <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CrG9GFuVvTM>
-------------

---THE LOVE OF GOD~~
--(PLEASE READ/ Genesis 3:1-6)

Signs on the highway show us many different sorts of things. Speed limits. Animal crossings. How to find a rest stop or avoid a construction site. Similarly, all of creation is a sign communicating God�s message to us. He speaks to us through a full moon, waves crashing against rocks, or a vividly colored aspen tree. As we look upon the wonders of nature, something inside us resonates with the glory, power, love, and beauty of the Creator.

The Lord expresses His message in still another way that may initially be hard for us to comprehend as love: through the fall of man. You might wonder, 'If God loves us, then why would He let the first couple sin, spoiling the perfection they enjoyed in the garden and breaking the fellowship they had with Him?'

The connection between God�s love and man�s sin is freedom. In giving Adam and Eve the option to obey or disobey, God demonstrated that He has not created us as robots, incapable of making choices. His love does not restrict our freedom to do right or wrong�even if that involves our saying �no� to the God who created us. However, having the freedom to choose means we will make mistakes and disobey the God who loves us.

-But the wonderful news is that God expresses His love toward those who have rebelled against Him, through His gracious offer of salvation and forgiveness. Jesus Christ, who paid our sin debt on the Cross, is the ultimate expression of divine love. Have you responded to His love by believing in Christ and receiving Him as your personal Savior?
--IN TOUCH~~--'The Power of Your Love'--/ Hillsong <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H9_0jiO5ZRM>
--------

---THE GREATEST ACT OF LOVE~~
----(Please Read/ Romans 5:6-11)--

--What do you think about when you see a depiction of Christ on the Cross? Most of us are overwhelmed by the physical and emotional suffering that He endured--the scourging, beating, thorns, nails, mocking, and shame. We are horrified at the cruelty of the Romans and the hard hearts of the Jewish rulers.

But during the crucifixion, far more was happening than the eye could see. God was carrying out His plan to rescue mankind, providing everything we need for salvation:

-1.) Redemption.Jesus paid the full price of the debt we owed for transgression: death. His payment set us free from bondage to sin.

-2.) Forgiveness. God could now release us from the punishment we deserved.

-3.) Propitiation. Christ�s payment satisfied
the Father by fulfilling His demand for justice while letting Him forgive us.

-4.) Justification. On the basis of Jesus� sacrifice, the Lord now declares believers not guilty. Although we will still sin in this earthly life, our standing before God is one of righteousness. This is a legal declaration that can never be reversed.

-5.) Reconciliation. The sin barrier that separated us from the Father was removed by Christ�s death on our behalf. We�re now God�s children--we have open access to Him and fellowship with Him.

-- The crucifixion was the only way to rescue lost humanity. If there had been any other way, the Cross would have been a grotesque display of divine cruelty. But because so much was at stake, it can truly be called 'The Greatest Act of Love By Both the Father and the Son.' --"Above All" By: Michael W. Smith~ <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PtS7UuNI2Vk>
----------

----REFLECT HIM ~~~

--"Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men, because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does. . . .
--(Ephesians 6:7 thru 8 NIV-- )

Many of us think of our work as just a way to put food on the table and keep the electricity turned on. Work is that, certainly, but it is much more than that. God modeled work for us, and the way we go about our work and interact with our coworkers is an expression to the world of our relationship with Him.

Do you work with integrity? Are you truthful and trustworthy? Do you arrive on time and give a full day�s effort? Do you do what you say you will do? Do you encourage cooperation and unity? Do you value and respect your coworkers? Are you compassionate and concerned about them as people? Do you treat everyone fairly? Do you give credit where credit is due? Work is God�s idea, so don�t go about your workday as if you are working for someone else&#8213;you are working for God.

**THINK ABOUT IT
God has given you a sphere of influence in the workplace, and the people there matter. What do your attitudes and behaviors in your workplace say to others about your relationship with God?

**PRAYER
--"Heavenly Father, thank You for the job I have and the influence You have given me. I know it is important to keep in mind that I am working for You, wherever I am and whatever I am doing. Let me do it to the fullest to fulfill Your will for my life. In Jesus� name, amen."

**Blessings,
***Pastor Allen Jackson
**Intend - Allen Jackson Ministries
("Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father." --(Colossians 3:17)

----THE JOY OF THE LORD IS OUR STRENGTH~~

--"And the ransomed of the LORD
will return and come with joyful
Shouting to Zion, With everlasting
Joy upon their heads: They will
Find gladness and joy,
And sorrow and sighing will
Flee away." (ISAIAH 35:10) --

---Most of us have a plan for finding pleasure and happiness, but we are unaware of the significance of joy in our lives. This verse is an interesting collection of opposites: When you find gladness and joy, sorrow and sighing will run from you. If your life has too much sorrow and sighing, the antidote is not pleasure and happiness. It is gladness and joy. This is an attitude of our spirit more than the condition of our body or our emotional state. If we don’t leave enough space in our hearts for joy, we have missed the contentment that could be ours. Begin to say to the Lord, “Help me understand what joy is and how I can let it emerge in my heart so that I can lead a contented life, not dependent on my physical circumstances or my emotional state, but something that transcends them.” Begin to let the joy of the Lord define your life, not your circumstances or the people around you.

--*THINK ABOUT IT
--What plan could you develop to find and cultivate gladness and joy? Would you have to reprioritize other plans to make room for the things that bring God’s joy?

--PRAYER
--"Heavenly Father, help me walk in Your joy. Set me free from any hindrances in my attitude, and help me to know true contentment by making more room for joy. In Jesus’ name, amen."

Blessings,
Pastor Allen Jackson
World Outreach Church

--NONE BUT JESUS~~

--"Trust in the LORD
with all your heart and
lean not on your own
understanding."
--(Proverbs 3:5)--

----Your Way, Not Mine, LORD~~.

--Before Jesus went to the Cross, He prayed "Father, if you are willing let this cut pass from me; yet not my will, but yours be done" (Luke 22:42).

By praying "take this cup," Jesus asked not to go to the cross; but He submitted to the Father out of love for us.

Surrendering our desires to God isn't easy, and His wisdom can be difficult when we are going through many trials on Earth. Yet, we know we must always trust in our Lord Jesus. He always does what is right. Jesus understands all the struggles we go through. Even when, for our sake, His request was not answered, He showed us how to trust our God in every need. Stay close to Jesus and He will bring you through. --"None But Jesus" / Hillsong~~

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

--MASTERED BY LOVE ~~
--Pastor James Merritt~

�Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.� (1 Corinthians 13:7)

When looking at Paul�s description of the fruit of love in 1 Corinthians 13, almost all of the attributes (13 out of 15) seem to fit into two categories: love is enduring and it is humble. Today I�d like to focus on the category of endurance. Paul says:

Love is patient (long suffering)

Love bears all things (to cover over and protect, to preserve)

Love believes all things (to credit or place confidence in)

Love hopes all things (to trust in with joy and full confidence)

Love endures all things (remains, doesn�t recede or flee)

If you were to ask people how they would describe love, I would bet that very few would use the word endurance. We tend to think of love as a soft, fluttery feeling. But Paul describes just the opposite. Love is an action, a choice we make. It takes effort to love well. Christ-like love does not just happen because you are a Christian. It must be cultivated and learned.

As the Body of Christ, are we being mastered by love? Remember, this chapter is part of a letter Paul was writing to the struggling church in Corinth. The Corinthians were not acting in love. They were �boasting in men� (3:21). They were prideful even in sin (5:1-2). They were unwilling to bear all things and were taking each other to court (6:1-8). They were insisting on their own way and causing others to stumble (8:11-12). They were jealous as they compared their spiritual gifts (12:21-22). Paul wasn�t merely defining love, he was applying love to the messed-up Corinthian church. He was saying, �This is not how love acts or feels.�

I think it is important to point out something about the enduring quality of love. Wherever there is love, there will be pain. Love suffers long, bears, and endures. This is a comforting truth. This is why love must endure, believe and hope. Marriages will struggle, friendships will be tested, and those you love and who love you will disappoint you. This does not diminish love. In fact, it can deepen love if we allow God to work in and through us in our relationships.

Dear Father, Please help me not to be easily offended, but to be willing to overlook a wrong. I want to love with endurance in all of my relationships. In Jesus� Name, Amen.
--" LOVE COVERS A MULTITUDE OF SINS" --(1 PETER 4:8) //--"How Deep The Fathers Love For Us"/ Owl City~ <https://youtu.be/27sB79_NhOw>

--SHARING THE GOOD NEWS~~

-[Please Read/ Romans 10:8-17)

-CAN YOU IMAGINE filling a ship with precious cargo and launching it into the sea, only to watch it repeatedly dock without offloading anything? I imagine silent Christians are much like this ship. God has personally blessed believers with salvation and eternal life and entrusted to them the message of the Gospel, yet too few of His children are willing to share with others the Good News of salvation in Christ.

What causes us to stay silent? We know that Jesus has commanded us to go and make disciples (Matt. 28:18-20). Furthermore, He has assured us that we will be empowered by His authority and presence with us. God is offering the invitation of salvation to "whoever will call on the name of the Lord." He has even made it clear that our communicating the Good News is the means by which people will come to saving faith (Romans 10:13-14).

Sometimes Christians who don't share their faith defend that choice by saying, "My faith is private. It's between me and my God." But that is not the model we see in Scripture. Genuine faith is confessed with the mouth and shared with the world.

Every believer has been entrusted with the Good News of salvation through Christ. It is unquestionably the single most important piece of information we have, because it offers the only door to heaven. In John 14:6, Jesus said, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me." We have to courageously step forward in faith, be willing to set aside worldly concerns, obey God, and tell someone about Jesus. ~~
[Come on Christian brothers and sisters! Let's tell others about the Lord Jesus Christ and what He has done to save our souls. Many people are dying and have never heard. We must TELL THEM! LET'S GO!]
--IN TOUCH~~--Favorite Song of All/ Phillips, Craig and Dean~<https://youtu.be/MfScJFY3_GQ>
---------

--PUT IT INTO PRACTICE ~~

~~"Prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers."
--(James 1:22)--

--YOU MAY know a lot about the Christian life, but are you actually living it out? Your walk with Jesus was never intended to be a matter of book learning or head knowledge. God wants you to put into practice the principles He teaches you. The Bible tells us repeatedly to get wisdom and understand, but then it challenges us to apply what we have learned in real-world situations. Your knowledge of God's Word is incomplete until you actually make it an active part of your life.

You will find this ultimately fulfilled and perfected in your service to God. What you believe and how you behave is truly challenged and developed when you help others in Jesus' name. This is when what you believe is put to the test, and you can see the Lord's power and presence transform lives through your obedience to Him. Others will see 'Christ in you, the hope of glory.' ~

So consider = are you serving God? I'm not talking about sitting on committees, but actively pouring your life into others. Have you asked Him, "How would You have me serve You? Who do you want me to minister to in Your name?" If you've never asked Him these things, do so right now and obey what He shows you. If you are a father, ask the Lord Jesus to show you how to be a good example for your children. ~~

"Jesus, how can I serve You? Who can I minister to in Your Name? Lead and guide my steps. Thank You, my Lord, Savior, Rock and Redeemer. ~~ amen"

--MY HOPE IS IN JESUS BECAUSE HE TRANSFORMS LIVES. HE ANSWERS MY PRAYERS. ~~

--Jesus, Our Perfect Hope/CS ~ --"[Lord,] I Want To Be Just Like You" / Phillips, Craig and Dean ~ <https://youtu.be/4Z8bXcBRIU0>
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

--JESUS IN DISGUISE~~

--"Whoever is kind to
the poor lends to the
LORD, and He will
reward them for what
they have done."
--(Proverbs 19:17) --

--MY SON GEOFF recently participated in a "homeless simulation." He spent three days and two nights living on the streets of his city, sleeping outside in below freezing temperatures. Without food, money, or shelter, he relied on the kindness of strangers for his basic needs. On one of those days his only food was a sandwich, bought by a man who heard him asking for stale bread at a fast-food restaurant.

Geoff told me later it was one of the hardest things he'd ever done, yet it profoundly impacted his outlook on others. He spent the day after his "simulation" seeking out homeless people who had been kind to him during his time on the street, doing what he could to assist them in simple ways. They were surprised to discover he wasn't actually homeless and were grateful he cared enough to try to see life through their eyes.

My son's experience calls to mind Jesus's words: "I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me....Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me" (Matthew 25:36,40). Whether we give a word of encouragement or a bag of groceries, God calls us to lovingly attend to the needs of others. Our kindness to others is kindness to Him. ~~

-"Lord Jesus, help me to see You in the needs of others today and to love You by loving them. Lead me to know when You would have me to reach out to others, in Your holy Name, our Rock and Redeemer." amen~

--ODB/JB "The Love of the Lord Endures" / Julie Elias / <https://youtu.be/1cboigEg9xE>
~~~~~~~~~~

---PRESENT TENSE TRUTH/ MY PAST IS NOT MY FUTURE!~~

--"Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God."
---(1 Corinthians 6:9-11/ NIV)--

--The churches of today are not that different from the congregation at Corinth: Sitting in my seat and yours are the sexually promiscuous, worshippers of other gods, greedy thieves, drunkards and drug addicts, and lying cheaters. That�s us! But that is what we were�we�ve been changed! We�ve been washed, sanctified, and justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Through the blood of Jesus we are new creations with new hearts, minds, dreams, and priorities. The Holy Spirit is our friend who leads us along new paths of righteousness, because we now desire to live in a way that honors our God. When you doubt your worthiness to approach the Lord in prayer or minister in His name, remember that who you were is not who you are. That is wonderful news!

THINK ABOUT IT
--When you become discouraged about your own ability to follow the Lord obediently and consistently, refocus you confidence on Him. You are His workmanship and He is still working�in you.

PRAYER
--"Heavenly Father, because of the Cross, my past is not my future. Help me walk in Your abundant grace, and let Your power be perfected in my weakness. I will resist every accusing lie with confidence in Your redemption and plan for me. 'Thank You, LORD, for your Word, "If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine: and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free" --(John 8:31-33).
Blessings,
Pastor Allen Jackson

----IGNORANCE AND INNOCENCE~~

"So that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through
Jesus Christ our Lord." --[Romans 5:21]

--Some people avoid church for the same reason others avoid going to the doctor; they don't want to find out that anything is wrong. Ignorance of our sin, however, doesn't make us innocent.

Roman law is sometimes considered the source of the idea that ignorance of the law excuses no one. But the concept originated much earlier. When God gave the law to Israel, He established that even unintentional sin required a sacrifice for forgiveness (Leviticus 4 = Ezekiel 45:18 thru 20).

The apostle Paul addressed the issue of ignorance. When people were ignorant of God's righteousness, they made up their own (Romans 10:3). When we live according to our own standards, we might feel good about ourselves, but that doesn't make us spiritually healthy. Only when we are measured by God's standard of righteousness (Jesus) do we know the condition of our spiritual health.

None of us can achieve the righteousness of Christ, but thankfully we don't have to. He shares His righteousness with us (5:21). The good news is that the Great Physician can make us well.

--ODB/JS
["For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God. It is not as a result of works, so that no one may boast."=Ephesians 2:8-9)
Jesus said, "I and My Father are One." --(John 10:30)

---"Run To The Father"/ Matt Maher --https://youtu.be/UeOtBiQw_B0
~~~~~~~~~~

--PSALM 23 ~~ THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD ~~

--The LORD is my shepherd,
I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside quiet waters.--

"He restores my soul;
He guides me in the paths
of righteousness
For His name's sake.

"Even though I walk through the valley
of the shadow of death,
I fear no evil, for You are with me.

Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence
of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil;
My cup overflows.

Surely goodness and lovingkindness
will follow me all the days of my life,
And I will dwell in the house
of the LORD forever." --[PSALM 24 / NASB]
--"You Are Everything" (Everything I need/ ~ You are)/ Brian Doerksen ~~ =<https://youtu.be/b6gfrK-WCbI>
~~~~~~~~~

---GOD'S CLOCK KEEPS PERFECT TIMING ~~

--"Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking
forward to the redemption of Jerusalem."
---(LUKE 2:38)--

~~~I visit two elderly women from time to time. One has no financial worries, is fit for her age, and lives in her own home--but always has something negative to say.

The other woman is crippled with arthritis, lives in simple accommodations, and is very forgetful. But to every visitor, her first comment is always the same; "God is so good to me." On my last visit, I noticed that she had written on her reminder pad: "Out to lunch tomorrow! Wonderful! Another happy day with Jesus!"

Anna was a prophetess at the time of Jesus's birth, and her circumstances were hard (Luke 2:36-37). Widowed early and possibly childless, she may have felt purposeless and destitute. But her focus was on serving God. She yearned for the Messiah, but she kept busy about God's business--praying, fasting, and teaching others all that she had learned from Him.

Finally the day arrived when she--now in her eighties--saw the infant Messiah in Mary's arms. Her patient waiting was worthwhile. Her heart sang with joy as she praised God and passed the glad news on to others. ~~

[Friend, our Lord Jesus knows what you are going through at this time. He cares very much and loves you even more. Please call on Jesus to help you. He knows the end of the story (of our lives). We simply must trust Him. May the Lord bless you and that more abundantly. + ]

---ODB/MJ~--"Blessings"/ Laura Story //<https://youtu.be/Cd6J6Wgnv4M>
~~~~~~~~~~~

~~~OUR BLESSINGS, HIS LOVE ~~

---"To him who led his people through the wilderness; His love endures forever."
----(Psalm 136:16)

~~~~In 2015, a woman discarded her deceased husband�s computer at a recycling center�a computer that had been made in 1976. But more important than when it had been made was who made it. It was one of 200 computers hand built by Apple founder Steve Jobs, and was worth an estimated quarter of a million dollars! Sometimes knowing the true worth of something means knowing who made it.

Knowing that it�s God who made us shows us how valuable we are to Him (Genesis 1:27). Psalm 136 catalogs key moments of His people�ancient Israel: how they had been freed from captivity in Egypt (vv. 11-12), journeyed through the wilderness (v. 16), and were given a new home in Canaan (vv. 21-22). But each time a moment of Israel�s history is mentioned, it�s paired with this repeated refrain: �His love endures forever.� This refrain reminded the people of Israel that their experiences weren�t random historical events. Each moment had been orchestrated by God and was a reflection of His enduring love for those He�d made.

Far too often, I allow moments that show God at work and His kind ways to simply pass by, failing to recognize that every perfect gift comes from my heavenly Father (James 1:17) who made me and loves me. May you and I learn to connect every blessing in our lives to God�s enduring love for us.

~~"Heavenly Father, please don�t allow even one blessing that You�ve given pass by without me recognizing that it came from You, and You alone! I give you praise, honor and glory for Who you are, our Almighty King. In Jesus Name~ Amen"

--ODB/PC--"Come Thou Almighty King" //Mark Miller = <https://youtu.be/dxewqX-FIzE>
~~~~~~~~

---BETHLEHEM ~~

~~~The town of Bethlehem, where Jesus was born, is about five miles from Jerusalem and is now controlled by the Palestinians, but thousands of Christians
still gather for a magnificent international Christmas celebration. The whole city comes to life with light and color as a large procession moves from
Shepherd's Field to Manger Square, ending at the Church of the Nativity. Some locals are also attracted to the celebration as well, giving it a unique
sense of unity. The Grotto inside the Church of the Nativity is said to be the exact spot where Jesus was born. ~~

~~ MERRY CHRISTMAS! JESUS IS THE REASON FOR THE SEASON! Emmanuel, GOD WITH US! ~~

--Article /The Vine and the Branches --(December 2019)
---"Emmanuel"/ Amy Grant // <https://youtu.be/FOPtmWQ5Bp8>
~~~~~~~

---COURAGE TO OBEY ~~

---"When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth. And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on him."
---(Luke 2:39-40 / NIV)--

God�s plan for Joseph and Mary was joyful but also awkward and disruptive. Gossip and skepticism are not new. I�ll bet someone in Nazareth was keeping a calendar of announcements and deliveries. But Joseph put his reputation on the line with Mary�s: �I believe you. We�ll walk the streets of this village with our heads up.�

-- He didn�t let any aspersions be cast or do anything to salvage his reputation. He honored Mary in public, and he will be forever known as Jesus� earthly father. I never think about the Christmas story without thinking about the pressures on this young couple. Scripture gives no indication that they did anything other than a fine job of parenting this most unusual boy. Your circumstances may not be perfect, and they may not be what you have dreamed of, but the hand of God can be present to do amazing things if you will invite Him into your life.

THINK ABOUT IT
Has embarrassment over what people might think ever slowed down a positive response to a God-invitation? No! If you had a do-over, could you accept His invitation now? I remain a Christ-Follower~~ YES!, Emmanuel= GOD WITH US!

PRAYER
---"Heavenly Father, I will put my reputation on the line with Jesus��neither the praise nor the scorn of men will determine my response to Your invitations for me. I want my faith in You to be marked by courage. In Jesus� name, amen."
Blessings,
Pastor Allen Jackson
[Jesus said, "Therefore everyone who confesses Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father in heaven.
But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven." --[Matthew 10:32-33] --"Messiah" / Francesca Battistelli //<https://youtu.be/D14wX0K9XJQ>
~~~~~~~~~

~~~THE PROMISE REMAINS~~

--"Joseph was the husband of Mary, and Mary was the mother of Jesus.
Jesus is called the Christ." ~~(Matthew 1:16)--

~~Seems like the only common bond between [Jesus' not-so-great grandparents] was a promise. A promise from heaven that God would use them to send His Son.

Why did God use these people? Didn't have to. Could have just laid the Savior on a doorstep. Would have been simpler that way. And why does God tell us their stories?...

Simple...He wants us to know that when the world goes wild, He stays calm.

Want proof? Read the last name on the list [of Jesus' lineage]. In spite of all the crooked halos and tasteless gambols of his people, the last name on the list is the first one promised--JESUS.

No more names are listed. No more are needed. As if God is announcing to a doubting world, "See, I did it. Just like I said I would."
--'When God Whispers Your Name"/ML~~
-["For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace" [ISAIAH 9:6/ NASB]
--"His Name Shall Be" //By: Matt Redman ~~<https://youtu.be/VWzLWNxh8fE>
~~~~~~

--Birth and Reign of the Prince of Peace ~~
-[ISAIAH Chapter 9 verse 6]

-"For a child will be born to us,
a son will be given to us;
And the government will
rest on His shoulders;
And His name will be called
Wonderful Counselor,
Mighty G-D
Eternal Father, Prince of Peace" -- ---- ~~-
--"A Strange Way To Save The World"/ By: 4HIM / [Christmas through the eyes of Joseph]~~ // <https://youtu.be/Rm24XZLvGIE>
~~~~~~~~~

~~THE LOVE OF CHRIST ~~

--"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him,
and who have been called according to his purpose"-[Romans 8:28 NIV]

~~ONE SUNDAY AFTER church, my husband's aunt requested his help with a leaking faucet. Since we had plans to visit a new Thai restaurant for dinner, I went home to wait on John's return. The time to repair his aunt's plumbing took longer than John expected. And as I sat on the couch waiting, my stomach began to growl from hunger. I had two options. I could cook dinner or jump in the car to purchase our meal at a nearby fast-food restaurant. Neither option was desirable.

Right when I opened a carton of milk to prepare a bowl of cereal, the phone rang. It was my neighbor Mrs. Ward. "Alice," she said, "I made stuffed cabbage and corn bread for John and you."

I thanked her, slipped on my shoes, and ran across the street to receive her kindness. I love stuffed cabbage! My mother used to cook that, one I seldom cook. It is always a winner!

Jesus told the disciples that God knows what we need before we ask for it (Matthew 6:8). And on that Sunday, my Lord's intimate knowledge of my hunger and His immediate ability to command the arrival of sustenance became apparent to me. What do I know for sure? Jesus is forever ready to feed our needs. And oftentimes, He supplies our wants. I am confident the Lord's faithfulness will see us through. ~~

"Thank You, Lord, that You know what we need and also what we desire. Thank You for supplying both. We give you praise, honor, and glory.

--"Confident"/ Steffany Gretzinger (feat. Bobby Strand) ~~<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cvLWBB6hgJk>
~~~~~~~~

---IS GOD THERE?

"I will wait for the LORD...I will put my trust in him." --[Isaiah 8:17]-

---Lela was dying of cancer, and her husband, Timothy, couldn't understand why a loving God would let his wife suffer. She had served Him faithfully as a Bible teacher and mentor to many. "Why did You let this happen?" he cried. Yet Timothy continued to be faithful in his walk with God.

"So why do you still believe in God?" I asked him frankly. "What keeps you from turning away from Him?"

"Because of what has happened before," Timothy replied. While he couldn't "see" God now, he recalled the times when God had helped and protected him. These were signs that God was still there caring for his family. "I know the God I believe in will come through in His own way," he said.

Timothy's words echo Isaiah's expression of trust in Isaiah 8:17. Even when he couldn't feel God's presence as his people braced for trouble from their enemies, he would "wait for the LORD." He trusted in God because of the signs He'd given of His continuing presence (v.18).

There are times when we might feel as if God isn't with us in our troubles. That's when we depend on what we can see of His works in our lives, in the past and present. They're the visible reminder of an invisible God-- a God who is always with us and will answer in His own time and way. ~~

"Father, thank You for always being there for me. Give me the strength to trust in You even
when I don't understand what's going on. I know You are in control. in Jesus Name. amen~"
--ODB/LK
--"You Gave" (lyrics) New Creation Church //<https://youtu.be/9lDZWZOvGu4>
~~~~~~~~~

---"THE FACT OF CHRIST'S RESURRECTION" ~~
--(Please Read/ 1 Corinthians 15:1-4)

~~~Try to imagine a world without Bibles. The reality is that there are places on earth where Scripture is unknown, and the people who live in those cultures don�t know anything about Jesus Christ. This truth should stir us to pray not only that God�s Word will reach them, but also that they will realize how valuable the Bible is. Without it, none of us would have any idea how to be saved�or even that we needed salvation.

***� The Bible reveals God�s holiness and exposes mankind�s sinful, hopeless condition (Rom. 3:23). Our sin makes us His enemies, and we can�t do anything to remedy this situation.

***� Scripture explains what God did through Jesus Christ to provide a means of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:19-21). The Father sent His Son to earth to become a substitute sacrifice to pay the penalty we deserved for our sin.

***� God�s Word explains that we can receive Christ�s gift of salvation by repenting of our sin and trusting in Him (Mark 1:15).

The next time you pick up your Bible, stop and thank God for giving you such a precious gift. And praise Him for making His wonderful plan of salvation known to you. This is a true Miracle, G-D, JESUS Christ is ALIVE! \o/
--"Miracles"/ Colton Dixon// (lyric video) =<https://youtu.be/Uhc2YdCzXtE>
~~~~~~~

~~TRUST IN THE LORD~~

--"And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God; many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the Lord."
---(Psalm 40:3) --

---A remarkable quotation goes like this: "Perfect obedience would be perfect happiness if only we had confidence in the power we were obeying." This statement is interesting because it connects obedience with happiness and trust. It is possible to obey someone without trusting him, but there is no particular satisfaction in that. The key to satisfaction is found in Psalm 37:4. "Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart."

But how can we gain confidence in the Lord if it is not present? And how can we learn to trust God enough to obey Him gladly? One key is to recognize how greatly God loves us--so much that He gives us direction and correction for our own good. "For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth" (Hebrews 12:6). We might think this would drive us away from God, but it has the opposite effect if we respond right. Psalm 119:67 says, "Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word."

So trust and obedience are mutually dependent, and when both are in place, the result is perfect happiness. There are other blessings too, as Jesus said in John 14:21: "He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him." Nothing will draw us closer to God than complete trust and obedience do. This leads to a relationship that will last through eternity.

~~"By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God" [Romans 5:2] ~~
--BSW/FB
--"Who You Are To Me"// (lyrics=Chris Tomlin /Lady A (and friends) // <https://youtu.be/7RIWWFxXkDs>
~~~~~~~~~~~

--REFINED IN THE FIRE~~

--"These trials will show that your faith is genuine."
--(1 Peter 1:7/ NLT )--

--Twenty-four-karat gold is nearly 100 percent gold with few impurities. But that percentage is difficult to achieve. Refiners most commonly use one of two methods for the purification process. The Miller process is the quickest and least expensive, but the resulting gold is only 99.95 percent pure. The Wohlwill process takes a little more time and costs more, but the gold produced is 99.99 percent pure.

In Bible times, refiners used fire as a gold purifier. Fire caused impurities to rise to the surface for easier removal. In his first letter to believers in Jesus throughout Asia Minor (northern Turkey), the apostle Peter used the gold-refining process as a metaphor for the way trials work in the life of a believer. At that time, many believers were being persecuted by the Romans for their faith in Christ. Peter knew what that was like firsthand. But persecution, peter explained, brings out the "genuineness of [our] faith" (1 Peter 1:7).

Perhaps you feel like you're in a refiner's fire--feeling the heat of setbacks, illness, or other challengers. But hardship is often the process by which God purifies the gold of our faith. In our pain we might beg God to quickly end the process, but He knows what's best for us, even when life hurts. Keep connected to the Savior, seeking His comfort and peace. ~~

--"Father God, help me see how the trials of my life bring out the gold in me, for Your glory. In Jesus Name~ amen"
--ODB/LW
--"Christ In Me / (live/ lyrics/ Bright City) <https://youtu.be/sXyR6bVGlCw>
~~~~~~~~~~

--"Lord Jesus, thank You for Your faithfulness, for Your steadfast love, and for Your eternal presence. May I always honor Your presence in my care for others, and may I honor the sanctity of life wherever it is found In Jesus Name. ~~"

~~"Teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
--(Matthew 28:20) --

--Recently, I received the sort of phone call that would bring any parent to his or her knees. Justin, my twenty-five-year-old son, said, "Mom I want to end my life. I just want out of this world. I can't take this life anymore." In that moment, I felt panic, fear, sadness, helplessness, and loneliness all at the same time.

Justin has struggled with major depression disorder since the age of twelve. We have had many crises, but I thought he was doing better. As I spoke to my son, trying with every part of myself to save this child I love so purely, my prayer was, "Jesus, please, please be with him. Show me what I should do or say to him."

As a parent it was excruciating to hear how painful life is for my child. There was nothing I could do or say to make a difference in Justin's thoughts at that time. The only hope was for Jesus to be with us. I prayed the most sincere prayers of my life that day, imploring Jesus to take control. In our desperate situation, indeed Jesus came.

Jesus walked with Justin and me that day. He was the voice of a family member who helped locate a hospital for my son. Jesus was the steady and reassuring manner of the nurse who took Justin to his room there. He was with me as I sat in the waiting room crying uncontrollaby. Through this trying time in our family, Jesus faithfully walked alongside us and kept Justin safe not only that day, but every day since. ~~

--Guideposts/JS~// "Jesus, Lover of My Soul"// (lyrics) Chris Eaton //<https://youtu.be/b8aVzgqTrYE>
~~~~~~~

~~~GOD GAVE HIMSELF ~~

~~~This is John 3:16: �For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life!� I read these words and realize they are to Scripture what the Mississippi River is to America� an entryway into the heartland. Any serious consideration of Christ must include them!

God so loved the world. We�d expect an anger-fueled God. One who punishes the world, forsakes the world, but loves the world? This world? And He loves so much he gave his�declarations? Rules? Dicta? Edicts? No, the mind-bending claim of John 3:16 is this: God gave his Son�his only Son! Scripture equates Jesus with God. God then, gave himself so that whoever believes in him shall not perish!

----'3:16 / The Numbers of Hope' // Max Lucado
-[ Friends, we will never understand this in our finite minds. We must take this by faith. Jesus is G-D. Jesus became a man, and at the same time was God. Thus, God-Man. No person can look on a holy and just Jehovah G-D and live. Moses asked to see the LORD's glory. Jehovah God said, "You cannot see my face, for no man can see Me and live!" (Please read Exodus 33: 17 thru 23). The Lord Jesus Christ came to die, so that we may live eternally with Him in heaven. If you accept this by faith, you will live eternally. 'There is salvation in no one else...' (See Acts 4:11-12) ]

--THE NEED FOR A SACRIFICE ~~

-[Please Read Hebrews 10:1-4] --

--Have you ever read about sacrifice in the Old Testament and wondered what it was for? The only payment for sin is death (Romans 6:23), and the Lord graciously allowed animals to be offered as a substitute for human lives. So people regularly brought sacrifices to God as atonement. However, it was only a 'temporary' solution and had to be repeated often.

In order for mankind to be eternally freed from the guilt of sin, God required that the one-for-all sacrifice had to be completely pure (Leviticus 22:20). What's more, it could not be an animal. After all, the guilt belonged to man; therefore, the world was in need of a perfect and sinless person to be offered.

What an impossible situation: Man was responsible to pay the price, but God alone was capable of sinlessness. The only possible solution was for Jesus Christ--who was wholly God and wholly Man--to offer His life on our behalf. Unlike the one-time payment for all sin. Jesus never sinned.

**This is why we say that we're saved by the blood of Christ. Jesus did what we could not--He set us free from our sins. Consider the immensity of the sacrifice He made on your behalf. Have you thanked Him today?

"For in Him we live and move and exist [have our being]" // [Acts 17:28]

--IN TOUCH~-//"Breathe" --/Oslo Gospel Choir// Netherlands <https://youtu.be/4A31k-qyxJs>
~~~~~~~~

--OUR GREAT HIGH PRIEST~~

--[Please Read/ Hebrews 7:23-28] --

---WHEN YOU feel convicted about a particular sin, how do you react? Do you mourn with regret for days? Many Christians act as though God's desire is for them to continually wallow in guilt, but this could not be further from the truth.

The Old Testament sacrifices had to be repeated over and over. Why? because those animal offerings were only a 'temporary' substitute for the perfect sacrifice God required. The New Testament tells us that the once-for-all, fully sufficient, substitutionary atonement has been accomplished--it took place when God's own Son, Jesus, died on the cross in our place. As the hymn lyrics state, Jesus truly "paid it all."

In the old system, a High Priest took an animal into the temple and offered it as a sacrifice to God on behalf of the sinner. Christ, however, entered heaven itself and presented His life to the Father as the perfect atoning sacrifice (Hebrews 9:13-14).

This means that the work of forgiveness is done. If you are in Christ, then His sacrifice has already paid for your sin. So, when the Holy Spirit brings conviction, address the sin and move on. Do not cling to burden of unforgiveness that Jesus has lifted from your shoulders.

**If you have unconfessed sin in your life follow= 1 John 1:9 / "If we confess our sin, He is faithful and just to forgive our sin and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

-"The LORD has established His throne in the heavens, And His sovereignty rules over all." ~~ [PSALM 103:19]
--IN TOUCH~

--"Sovereign Over Us"// Shane and Shane (lyric video) // https://youtu.be/FFO_87VBwNc
~~~~~~~~

~~Living in Peace / Jesus Is Always With Us~

--"Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows."
--(Psalm 23:4-5 / NIV)

~~�The valley of the shadow of death� sounds scary, doesn�t it? The psalmist says you should not be afraid, even in that situation, because God is with you.
If God prepares a table for you in the presence of your enemies, how can you enjoy that meal? It is because He anoints your head with oil, which is symbolic of the Holy Spirit. If the Spirit of God is upon you, you can walk through any valley without fear because He is with you. God can seat you across the table from the most intense adversaries you�ve ever known, and His Spirit will be upon you. When you devote yourself to God, it doesn�t mean you won�t face challenges or obstacles. It means you will pass through the valley with His help. It means you�ll not only enjoy the meal, but you�re going to have dessert, too!

THINK ABOUT IT
In the face of an adversary, is your instinct to stand down or stand up? Knowing that God is your refuge and will fight your battles for you can help you come to the table He prepares �in the presence of your enemies� and eat in peace. Reading King David�s psalms will help center you in that knowledge.

PRAYER
~~"Heavenly Father, help me possess what Scripture says about Your provision: Through the blood of Jesus, fear has no place in me. Thank You for Your Holy Spirit�s anointing that helps me declare, �When I am afraid, I will trust in You.� In Jesus� name, amen."
Blessings,
Pastor Allen Jackson--"There Was Jesus" (lyrics/video)// Zach Williams and Dolly Parton //<https://youtu.be/F_cXBD1LkrI>
~~~~~~~~~

--FIRE IN THE DESERT / GRACE UPON GRACE~~

~~"I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt."
--[Exodus 3:10] --

--As Moses was tending sheep in a Middle Eastern desert, he saw an odd sight that grabbed his attention--a flaming bush that didn't burn up (Exodus 3:2). When God Himself spoke form the bush, Moses realized he had come to something far grander than it had first appeared. He told Moses, "I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham" (v.6). God was about to lead an enslaved people to freedom and show them their true identity as His children. (v.10)

More than six hundred years earlier, God had made this promise to Abraham: "All peoples on earth will be blessed through you" (Genesis 12:3). The flight of the Israelites from Egypt was but one step in that blessing--God's plan to rescue His creation through the Messiah, Abraham's descendant.

Today we can enjoy the benefits of that blessing, for God offers this rescue to everyone. Christ came to die for the sins of the whole world. By faith in Him, we too become children of the living God. It is totally only by His grace that we are allowed to come into His presence. ~~

--ODB/TG~

--"By grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;
Not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.
For we are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them."
--[Ephesians 2:8-10]
--"Grace Upon Grace" - (lyrics/video) Matthew West //<https://youtu.be/jqxO1qVSpTo>
~~~~~~~~~~

~~THE DECISION IS YOURS

~~"When the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy."
---(Titus 3:4-5/ NIV) --

---I attended Oral Roberts University when Dr. Oral Roberts was still there. He was famous for his one-liners, like: �Expect a miracle� and �Something good is going to happen to you.� One of his favorites to remind students was, �God is a good God, and the Devil is a bad devil.�

~~It�s one thing to hear a famous preacher say that and nod our heads. It�s another thing to wrestle with that and decide if we believe it. Do you believe there is evil in the world, and that you are capable of being influenced by it? Do you believe there is a merciful God who has made a way to deliver you from that evil? If you do believe those things, how do your beliefs change your life? These decisions cannot be made by anyone but you. It doesn�t matter what your friends, your parents, your spouse, your favorite author, or your preacher believes�the decisions are yours.

THINK ABOUT IT
What do you believe about God? How does that effect your life?

PRAYER
~~~"Heavenly Father, I believe You are the Creator of all things, a God of both mercy and judgment, who provided entrance into Your presence through the sacrifice of Your Son, Jesus Christ. I gratefully accept Your trustworthy plan for my life. In Jesus� name, amen."
Blessings,
Pastor Allen Jackson
~~~~~
---"My Soul Sings" and "He is Yahweh" // Cory Asbury =<https://youtu.be/174mohvTnko>
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

---THE WORD MADE FLESH~~

"And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth."
---(JOHN 1:4)-

~~We hadn't known Erin and Peter very long when they invited us to their house for dinner. We were surprised to discover that they lived in one of Nashville's grand old homes. Every room was impressive, but when Erin ushered us into the dining room I was astonished, by the dazzling chandelier that set the entire room ablaze.

"Oh my goodness!" I gasped. "That's the most gorgeous thing I've ever seen!"
Erin looked at me, surprised. "You like the chandelier?"

"I love it!"
"Do you want it?"
I was struck mute.
"It's just not our style," Erin continued. "We've already bought a replacement. We have an electrician coming next week to install it."

"Oh no," I answered, "I couldn't take take it."
"I'd like to give it to you," she said. "Why don't you think about it?

As we drove home, I talked it over with David.
"Why don't you take it?" he said. "Erin is showing great kindness in offering you such a lavish gift. Are you being a little prideful?"
He had a point. Why did I feel embarrassed when Erin offered me the chandelier? How would I feel if I offered someone a gift, no matter how big or small, and she refused to take it?

Finally, I found myself dialing Erin's number. Peter answered. I swallowed hard. "Peter, Erin offered me your chandelier. I would love to have it...if...you're sure... "

"Great!" Peter answered. "Erin will be so happy. We'll both be happy, Pam."
These days, one of my favorite things is to get up early, grab a cup of coffee, and sit in my blue chair in the living room. From there I have a full view of the dining room and the most beautiful chandelier I have ever laid eyes on. On top of my coffee table is the Word of God, full of grace and truth. ~~
--Guideposts/MJC
--"This Is Amazing Grace"(lyric video)//Phil Wickham //<https://youtu.be/zPQKj2Zptr0>
~~~~~~~~~~

~~CONSTANT, CONSISTENT LOVE

--"Hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us."
----(Romans 5:5/ NIV) -

--Have you ever desired the love of someone who said they loved you, but their love seemed to come with conditions? Perhaps your parents only expressed their love when you performed well in public. Perhaps your spouse treats you lovingly in front of others but rudely when you are alone. God�s love is not fickle like that. Paul says that He pours His love into us. This is not a sprinkle or a splash; this is a constant, steady flow that never ceases. Scripture offers no explanation for the love that God extends to us. It simply says that God loves us, values us, and has sent His Spirit to dwell within us. You matter to Him. You are important to Him. He has a purpose and a plan for your life, and it�s not because you have fooled Him into thinking you are perfect. In spite of all of your weaknesses, failures, and inconsistencies, He loves you and wants to do amazing things in you, for you, and through you.

THINK ABOUT IT
~~We don�t stop loving our children because we cannot accept their actions, and neither does God. He may not always approve of your behavior, but that never diminishes His love for you. Believing that truth can be a life-giving source of great joy and hope.

PRAYER
--"Heavenly Father, thank You that Your love cannot be stolen or diminished. I am grateful that it provides access to You through the cross, and gives me a life of peace and freedom. May Your inexhaustible love be fully formed within me. In Jesus� name, amen."
Blessings,
Pastor Allen Jackson
--[Recommended Reading/ [DANIEL 4:32b] //"Recognize that the Most High is ruler over the realm of mankind and bestows it on whomever He wishes." // ~ Our job is to be obedient and leave the results to Him. -]
~~~~~~

--Christ Be All Around Me / [Spiritual Notebook]

--[A Spanish teacher was called up as a Marine reservist. How would her students react?
--GUIDEPOSTS/MGN~]

--I popped open my front door in Long Island, my arms overflowing with cards, boxes and bags stuffed with colorful tissue paper. I put the goodbye gifts on the kitchen table and sat down with a sigh. I'm going to miss these kids so much, I thought. Today had been my last as a Spanish teacher in a public high school, at least for the foreseeable future.

A Marine Corps reservist for 12 years, I'd spend one Friday a month and two weeks every summer as an interrogator and translator in the intelligence field. It was meaningful work, and I was proud to serve--with the comfort of coming home in the evenings. Now, however, I'd been called to active duty for Operation Desert Storm.

Other reservists had been called up, but I didn't believe it would happen to me. Then I received my activation notice on February 4, 1991. I read the letter, almost shaking from nerves, my mind spiraling. What will this mean for me? In two weeks, I would report to Camp Pendleton in California, but for how long? Would the Marines send me to Kuwait after that? Who would take care of my students?

The next two weeks went by in a rush. Who should get my power of attorney? What did I need to pack? I told my principal, fellow teachers and students all I knew. "I'm sorry I have to leave you," I said. "I'm going to California to work for the Warrior Training Command."
Some of my students were visibly nervous.
"Are you going to be okay?"
"I'll be fine," I said.

I wanted to believe that, but I had no idea what to expect or how I would cope without having school life to ground me. Though I had a reputation as a tough teacher--"Watch out, she's a Marine!" -- I cared so much about my students. Not just their grades but their feelings, challenges, and well being. I poured my heart into teaching. Did the kids know how much they meant to me?

I looked at the pile of gifts on my kitchen table, guessing they held perfume, candy and other traditional going-away presents. I unwrapped a box and unfolded tissue paper to find...a Bible? I opened the note attached.
"Dear Miss Nuzzi, This is my most priced possession, my Bible. Prayer is so important, especially in times like these. I want you to have it."

My breath caught. A sophomore girl had passed on something to me so meaningful, so personal! I picked up a brown paper bag with a note from an eleventh-grade Boy Scout. 'This is so you don't lose your way in the desert,' it said. Inside the bag was a small compass. Another box held a Saint Christopher medal from a student who was always drawing in my Spanish class. 'Sorry about the doodles,' his note read. Other kids gave me lip balm and hand cream for protection against the desert sun.

With each gift, my eyes grew wider to the real message of teaching. We touch lives not only through classroom lessons and textbooks but by who we are. And that connection goes both ways. I cared deeply about my students, and they cared about me--enough to send me these tokens of themselves for my journey into the unknown. I will always remember, 'Jesus is as close as the mention of His Name.' Did He not say, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." ?
--GUIDEPOSTS/MGN~
--"Christ Be All Around Me" // (Performed by:) Gabriel Hughes //<https://youtu.be/AEsr_8N6FN0>
~~~~~~

--THE PRIORITY ~~

~~"I will be found by you," declares the LORD."
--[Jeremiah 29:14]

~~A sea captain was convinced the wreckage of an ancient, treasure-laden ship lay somewhere off the coast of Florida. Finally, after many years and setbacks and thousands of unsuccessful dives, the ship was located, abounding with priceless medallions and riches.

Seeking God requires similar convictions. We must be convinced that nothing is as valuable as our relationship with Jesus. He wants to be our First Love. He is the King of glory--worthy of any sacrifice He asks of us.

Until we recognize the incomparable worth of our life in Christ, we will seek other things before God--wealth, relationships, pleasure, or whatever it might be. So ask yourself: How important is your relationship with Jesus really? Do you hunger and thirst for Him?

Decide that God is the preeminent desire of your life and pursue Him. Daily, ask the Lord to speak to you through His Word. Pray without ceasing. Keep an attitude of prayer. Don't turn back from God, regardless of the disappointments or frustrations. And always obey faithfully.

That determination will set your spiritual sail even when the winds of circumstances are contrary. Keep your eyes on Jesus, our Faithful Shepherd, Our First Love~ .

--IN TOUCH ~
--"First Love" / (lyrics= Kari (Jobe) Carnes // <https://youtu.be/4LHgx9E-j2o>
~~~~~~~~

----In Jesus' Name~~

----"Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do."
--(JOHN 14:13)

~~~Why do we pray "in Jesus' name"? Some may use this phrase as the standard conclusion to their prayers and not really realize the significance of it. Praying in Jesus' name, however, represents the foundation of our prayer to and relationship with the Father. When we pray in His name, we pray according to:

--Jesus' access. = Christ's death atoned for our sins and ushered us into the presence of the Father. We can approach the Lord because He made us spiritually alive and able to interact with Him.

--Jesus' advocacy. = Like an appointed court attorney, Christ represents us wisely and intercedes for us before the Father in a way that honors Him and blesses us. This isn't a blank check, but a call for His wise leadership.

--Jesus' authority. = Our prayers are influential because Christ's sovereign power is at work on our behalf. The voice that spoke the universe into existence provides the way for His will be be carried out in our lives.

--You pray in Jesus' name because it represents His access, advocacy, and authority. There is wisdom and power in your prayers because He carries them. So the next time you pray, remember that--and make sure to give Him the praise. ~~

---"Lord Jesus, thank You for Your access, advocacy, and authority in my prayers. I give all praise to You, my Savior, Lord and Redeemer."

--MY HOPE IS IN JESUS BECAUSE HIS NAME IS ABOVE ALL OTHERS!
--"Oh My Soul" // (lyric/ Casting Crowns) //<https://youtu.be/3DIi0DRq6ww>
~~~~~~~~~~

---ROOTED IN LOVE / GOD IS LOVE! ~~

~~"I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power . . . to grasp . . . the love of Christ."
---(Ephesians 3:17-18) --

--[PLEASE READ/ EPHESIANS 3:14�21 ]

~~�That�s all it takes!� Megan said. She had clipped a stem from her geranium plant, dipped the cut end into honey, and stuck it into a pot filled with compost. Megan was teaching me how to propagate geraniums: how to turn one healthy plant into many plants, so I would have flowers to share with others. The honey, she said, was to help the young plant establish roots.

Watching her work, I wondered what kinds of things help us establish spiritual roots. What helps us mature into strong, flourishing people of faith? What keeps us from withering up or failing to grow? Paul, writing to the Ephesians, says that we are �rooted and established in love� (Ephesians 3:17). This love comes from God, who strengthens us by giving us the Holy Spirit. Christ dwells in our hearts. And as we begin to �grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ� (v. 18), we can have a rich experience of God�s presence as we�re �completely filled and flooded with God Himself� (v. 19 amp).

Growing spiritually requires rooting into the love of God�meditating on the truth that we are beloved by the God who is able to do �immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine� (v. 20). What an incredible basis for our faith!

--ODB/AP~`

--"LORD G-D , thank You for Your love for me. Help me to meditate on the truth of that love. May Your love grow in my heart, bringing beauty to my life and to a world in need. Help me to be a light shining for You and your glory, in Jesus Name. amen" ~
~~~~~

~~~GOD HOLDS US / TRUST HIM!

---"I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."
----[Isaiah 41:10] --

--[PLEASE READ ISAIAH / 41:1�10]

----South African Fredie Blom turned 114 in 2018, widely recognized as the oldest living man. Born in 1904, the year the Wright Brothers built their Flyer II, he�s lived through both World Wars, apartheid, and the Great Depression. When asked for the secret for his longevity, Blom only shrugs. Like many of us, he hasn�t always chosen the foods and practices that promote wellness. However, Blom does offer one reason for his remarkable health: �There�s only one thing, it�s [God].. He�s got all the power . . . . He holds me.�

~~Blom echoes words similar to what God spoke to Israel, as the nation wilted under the oppression of fierce enemies. �I will strengthen you and help you,� God promised. �I will uphold you with my righteous right hand� (Isaiah 41:10). No matter how desperate their situation, how impossible the odds that they would ever find relief, God assured His people that they were held in His tender care. �Do not fear, for I am with you,� He insisted. �Do not be dismayed, for I am your God� (v. 10).

No matter how many years we�re given, life�s hardships will come knocking at our door. A troubled marriage. A child abandoning the family. Terrifying news from the doctor. Even persecution. However, our God reaches out to us and holds us firmly. He gathers us and holds us in His strong, tender hand.

~~"God, assure me that You�re holding me because I feel like I�m only hanging on by a thread. I trust that You�ll help and uphold me. Thank You, LORD, for loving me and never leaving me. I know there is nothing impossible for you. I love you, my Lord, Rock, Savior and Redeemer. In Jesus Name.~ amen"

--ODB/WC~
~~~~~~~~

---GOLDEN SCARS ~~
---"If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness."
----[2 Corinthians 11:30]

---PLEASE READ 2/ CORINTHIANS 12:1�10 //

---In the Netherlands, a group of fashion designers offer a �Golden Joinery� workshop. Inspired by the Japanese technique Kintsugi, where broken porcelain is visibly repaired with gold, participants collaborate in mending clothes in ways that highlight the mending work rather than trying to mask it. Those who are invited bring �a dear but broken garment and mend it with gold.� As they remake their clothes, the repair becomes ornamental, a �golden scar.�

Articles of clothing are transformed in ways that highlight the places where they were torn or frayed. Perhaps this is something like what Paul meant when he said that he would �boast� in the things that showed his weakness. Although he�d experienced �surpassingly great revelations,� he doesn�t brag about them (2 Corinthians 12:6). He is kept from getting proud and overconfident, he says, by a �thorn� in his flesh (v. 7). No one knows exactly what he was referring to�perhaps depression, a form of malaria, persecution from enemies, or something else. Whatever it was, he begged God to take it away. But God said, �My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness� (v. 9).

--Just as the rips and tears in old clothes can become sights of beauty as they�re remade by designers, the broken and weak places in our lives can become places where God�s power and glory may shine. He holds us together, transforms us, and makes our weaknesses beautiful.

--"Father God, may all my scars become golden as You heal and repair me in ways that bring glory to Your name. Thank You, Lord, for sending your only begotten Son, Jesus, to die on the Cross to pay my sin-debt. Blessed be Your Holy Name."
--ODB/AP~
~~~~~~~~

--Serving Others in Jesus Name ~~

--"If anyone gives even a cup of cold water...that person will certainly not lose their reward."
---[Matthew 10:42]
--[Please read / Matthew 10:32 thru 42 ]

--ASHTON and AUSTIN Samuelson graduated from a Christian college with a strong desire to serve Jesus. However, neither felt called to a traditional ministry in the Church. But what about ministry in the world? Absolutely! They blended their burden to end childhood hunger with their God-given entrepreneurial skills, and in 2014 launched a restaurant that serves tacos. But this isn't just any restaurant. The Samuelsons operate from a buy-one-give-one philosophy. For every meal bought, they donate money to provide a meal specifically designed to meet the nutritional needs of malnourished children. So far, they've made contributions in more than sixty countries. Their goal is to be a part of ending childhood hunger--one taco at a time.

Jesus' words in Matthew 10 are not cryptic. They are astoundingly clear: devotion is evidenced by actions, not words (vv. 37-42). One of those actions is giving to the "little ones." For the Samuelsons, that focus is giving to children. But take note, the "little ones" isn't a phrase of "little account" in the eyes of this world: the poor, the sick, and prisoner, the refugee, those disadvantaged in any way. And give what? Well, Jesus says "even a cup of cold water" (v.42). If something as small and simple as a cup of cold water classifies, then a taco surely fits right in line too. ~~

-Who in your life are little in the eyes of the world? What's something small you can do today to serve these less fortunate people. It may be a meal, a ride, a bag of groceries. It could be a prayer, in Jesus Name. We all need encouragement. Reach out in Jesus Name and obey His word, the Beatitudes.~ [Luke 6:20 thru 31].

"Lord Jesus, give me eyes to see and ears to hear today, so that I can serve, even in a small way, the least of these who cross my path, all for Your glory. "
---ODB/JB~
~~~~~

---DESTROY THIS HOUSE ~~

---"Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days."
---[John 2:19]
--[PLEASE READ /JOHN 2:13�25-- / ]

--In Pontiac, Michigan, a demolition company bulldozed the wrong building. Investigators believe that the owner of a house scheduled to be demolished nailed the numbers of his own address to a neighbor�s house to avoid demolition.

~~~Jesus did the opposite. He was on a mission to let his own �house� be torn down for the sake of others. Imagine the scene and how confused everyone must have been, including Jesus� own disciples. Picture them eyeing one another as He challenged the religious leaders. �Destroy this temple,� Christ said, �and I will raise it again in three days� (John 2:19). The leaders retorted indignantly, �It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and you are going to raise it in three days?� (v. 20).. But Jesus knew He was referring to the temple of His own body (v. 21). They didn�t.

They didn�t understand He�d come to show that the harm we do to ourselves and to one another would ultimately fall on Him. He would atone for it.

God has always known our hearts far better than we do. So He didn�t entrust the fullness of His plans even to those who saw His miracles and believed in Him (vv. 23-25). Then as now He was slowly revealing the love and goodness in Jesus� words that we couldn�t understand even if He told us. ~~

"Heavenly Father, please help me to believe that You�re always working in the background doing far more�and much better�than I know or understand. Help me, Lord to never be ashamed of You and your Word, in Jesus Name. amen" ~
--ODB/MH~

----A CLEAN SLATE ~~

~~"Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone.
Forgive as the Lord forgave you."

~~"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just (righteous) to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
---(1 JOHN 1:9) --

---I basted my horn, but not in time to stop a woman from backing into my silver Nissan in the convenience store parking lot. She leaned her curly white head out of her car window. "I'm so sorry, honey," she said, followed by, "My husband is going to kill me!"

I surveyed the damage quickly and determined she had struck my door in almost the same spot as another parking lot driver had recently. I had postponed having it repaired because of some expensive medical tests I'd undergone.

"My car doesn't have a scratch on it," the lady said. "But yours--oh my! And I have a five hundred dollar deductible."

My eyes fell to the cross dangling from the bracelet on my wrist. A gift from my now deceased friend Cathy who taught me about the path of forgiveness. We had been hospital nurses together. Once when I was headed to a board meeting to determine the fate of another employee accused of a minor infraction, Cathy whispered: "To err is human, Jane, to forgive, divine."

Mindful of Cathy's words that day, I listened carefully as the situation was described at the board meeting. The damage was minuscule, the employees repentant. "I vote for a second chance, I said to the board. The others concurred.

Now, I smiled at the lady in the parking lot. " I wouldn't want your husband to kill you, dear. How about if I just give you a clean slate? "

--Thank You, Lord Jesus, for friends who model forgiveness and point me to You. Help me to be a light shining for You in this dark world. In Jesus name.`amen"

---GUIDEPOSTS/JM
---"Space" (live/ lyric video//Mock Brock) <https://youtu.be/hJT9j_g4gPY>
~~~~~~~~~~

~~A FRIEND IS WAITING

~~~Hebrews 10:12 says, �After he had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, [he] sat down at the right hand of God.� --

~~Of course Jesus sat down. All that needed to be done had been done. Why don�t you receive this great miracle of mercy? Let the grace of God flow over you like a cleansing cascade, flushing out all dregs of guilt and shame. Friend, nothing separates you from God. Your conscience may accuse you, but God accepts you. Others may dredge up your past, but God doesn�t. As far as he is concerned, the work is once-and-for-all-time finished.

Keep running the race. And, as you run, be assured a friend is waiting for you at the finish line. When you cross it, he�ll catch you in his arms. Don�t be surprised if he says again what he said then: �It is finished.� Remember, friend, you are never alone. ~~

--"You Are Never Alone"/ML ~
-[**Friend, Jesus has already paid our sin debt. For those who will accept His gift of eternal life and ask Him to come into their heart (spiritually), then you will be saved. "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God not as a result of works, so that no one may boast." --[Ephesians 2:8-9] Nothing more needs to be done. Yes, 'when Jesus died on the Cross, He said, "It is finished!" And He bowed His head and gave up his spirit." Don't let anyone tell you that you must 'do works' to be saved. The price has been paid in full. What we should want to do, is to tell others of the saving grace of Jesus through his death on the cross. ~~]

~~Talk to Jesus When In Need ~~

--"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart,
and you will find rest for your souls." -- [Matthew 11:28-29]

~~MANY NIGHTS I've had trouble sleeping. Even when I'm exhausted and desperate for sleep. When I can't sleep at night, I start tossing and turning, and there's nothing worse than looking at the clock and seeing the hours roll by. Then I start worrying about how I'm going to feel the next day without having had enough sleep. But this isn't how Jesus means for us to live. He longs to give us rest. Jesus doesn't want us to worry. He wants us to talk to Him about our worries. When we pray, we transfer our doubts and fears and worries to the One who can take care of them. Jesus is our endless source of peace and strength.

We need rest physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. Sleep deprivation can lead to various problems. Psalm 4:8 (NIV) encourages us, saying, "In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety." Jesus offers us hope encouragement, peace and safety if we reach out to Him and depend on Him. Jesus will give us complete rest for our bodies, minds, and souls. Psalms 23:1-2 (KJV) reminds us that, "The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures: He leads me beside the still waters."

Now when I lie down each night, I pray. Sometimes I am so relaxed when talking to Jesus I fall asleep. But what better way to fall asleep than talking to our Shepherd Jesus Christ, the One who loves us so much that He died to take away our sin-debt. Jesus wants us to come to Him, 'Casting all your burdens on Him.' ~

--Guideposts/KMJ~
--"The Hope Of Jesus" (lyrics) // Hope Darst <https://youtu.be/cuuGCsYXq3I>
~~~~~~~~~

---Jesus Came to Serve Others ~~

----"God said to Solomon, "Because your greatest desire is to help your people and you did not ask for wealth, riches, fame, or even even the death of your enemies or a long life, but rather you asked for wisdom and knowledge to properly govern my people--I will certainly give you the wisdom and knowledge you requested. But I will also give you wealth, riches, and fame such as no other king has had before you or will ever have in the future!"

Our Lord came not to be served but to serve others" (Matthew 20:28) ~~
Solomon could have had anything he wanted. God told him, "Ask, and I will give it to you!" (2 Chronicles 1:7). So Solomon asked for wisdom, because he genuinely wanted to help his people more than he wanted to help himself. And because of that, God blessed him more than he could have imagined.

We're blessed when we bless others. Solomon affirmed this in Proverbs: "Those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed" (Proverbs 11:25). With that in mind, the "blessing prayers" are among the most refreshing in the Bible. There are prayers for exalting God, prayers that seek His kindness for others, and also requests for personal blessings.

Most of the blessing prayers in God's Word are prayers of intercession that were prayed aloud for others to hear. They start early in the Old Testament and keep coming all the way through the Revelation. They are beautiful examples of "love on its knees" where the benefit of others is the main goal of what is asked.

Praying like this lifts our vision to the goodness of God and stretches our souls. The blessing prayers of the Bible help us follow in the footsteps of Jesus who "came not to be served but to serve others" (text).

God wants to replace the unfulfilling "lean and hungry" self-focus of our old sin nature with better things. His Word encourages us in Philippians to "take an interest in others" just as Jesus did. He "gave up his divine privileges" so that we may be saved and blessed forever. As a result, "God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all names" (2:4,7,9). God's best personal blessings often come into our lives through unexpected routes, in moment when we're reaching beyond ourselves for what pleases Him most of all.

Need to be encouraged and refreshed? God's Word makes the way to this blessing clear. May He richly bless others through you as you pray, and as you bless Him for His faithfulness! In the end, you will be blessed most of all. ~~

--"Praying The Prayers of the Bible/JB~
--"What A Beautiful Name" // Hillsong / Brooke Ligertwood // https://youtu.be/CUBBIddm_rM
~~~~~~~~~~

~~JESUS IS LORD OVER IT ALL!

--Cataloged in the file entitled "Maybe this wasn't such a good idea" is an account of the day I nearly fell out of the sky. I was riding in the back of a single-engine plane when, well let's just say, had I been a Catholic, I would have rubbed the rosaries raw.

The story began when my flight lessons did. That's correct. I decided I wanted to get my pilot's license. It dawned on me one afternoon during a four-hour layover that maybe travel would be simple if I could handle it myself. I'd heard of people doing it: Orville and Wilbur--types who satisfied the FAA's requirements and set out for their destinations with the ease of a commuter driving to work. No more airport parking garages, no more flight delays, no more serpentine security lines. Sounded good to me.

So I set out to learn to fly. And within twenty or so hours of instruction, I can honestly say I succeeded. I knew how to fly a plane! I could take off. I could turn right and left, ascend, descend, accelerate, decelerate. Just call me Lindbergh. I knew how to fly a plane.

What I didn't know was how to land a plane.

On the day I nearly fell from the sky, I had completed a lesson and employed my instructor, Hank, to fly me to Dallas for a speaking engagement. A good friend was traveling with me, and since I'd spent the morning in the plane, I offered the front seat to him, and I climbed in the back. This left him in the copilot's position and me in the snoozing position. I was well into a good nap when I heard the voice of Hank come over our earphones.

"Guys, I'm about to be sick."
I sat up and leaned forward. Hank was the color of the clouds around us. Tiny beads of sweat were popping out of his forehead. Earlier that day he'd mentioned that his kids were home sick with the virus. I'm no doctor, but I deduced that the virus wasn't limited to Hanks' home.

"Say that again, Hank" I asked.
"I gotta put this plane down. I'm not able t fly."

In the book entitled Words You Never Want to Hear a Pilot Say, that phrase deserves its own chapter. Hank set about the task of finding the nearest airport, and I set about the task of praying for a safe landing. As I mentioned earlier, I was in the back seat. Had I been in the front, I might have felt better. I'd never landed a plane, but I had tried. And if Hank passed out, at least I knew how to descend. But I was in the back, absolutely unable to do anything. I couldn't reach the controls. I couldn't radio for help. I couldn't fly the plane. I couldn't even blame anyone. I was utterly, totally entirely helpless.
Ever been there?

Not in a plane perhaps, but in a courtroom, in a doctor's office, in a jail cell. In a tight place, in a squeeze, in a pickle. With a rock one one side and a hard place on the other, you can't do anything. It's not that there is little you can do or that you have limited resources to use or restricted options your disposal. You can do nothing.

Nothing, that is, except turn to Jesus. You may be out of options, but according to the Bible you are never out of hope. Jesus came for the helpless and the hapless. He came as a friend. And He knows how to land this plane called life.

By the way, we landed safely. Hank held control over his stomach long enough to spot a landing strip that sat in the middle of a cotton field. and to bring the plane down. I've put my flying lessons on hold. For some reason I'm more interest in hiking boots than in airplane wings. ~~

--We know that Jesus is in control of our lives. Yes, He is Sovereign. We have the choice to let Him fly our planes in life, or take the control. Jesus is always as close as the mention of His Name. Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, take control, Lord. ~~

--'Jesus, The God Who Knows Your Name'/ ML~
--"Over It All" (lyrics) Planetshakers // <https://youtu.be/81QjYThNKmM>
~~~~~~~~

----THE YARD-SALE CHRISTMAS ~~

--"Godliness with contentment is great gain."
---(1 Timothy 6:6) --

--A mom felt she'd been overspending on family Christmas gifts, so one year she decided to try something different. For a few months before the holiday, she scrounged through yard sales for inexpensive, used items. She bought more than usual but for far less money. On Christmas Eve, her children excitedly opened gift after gift after gift. The next day there were more! Mom had felt guilty about not getting new gifts so she had additional gifts for Christmas morning. The kids began opening them but quickly complained, "We're too tired to open any more! You've given us so much!" That's not a typical response from children on a Christmas morning!

God has blessed us with so much, but it seems we're always looking for more: a bigger house, a better car, a larger bank account, or [fill in the blank] ____.
Paul encouraged Timothy to remind people in his congregation that, "We brought nothing into this world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that" (1 Timothy 6:7-8).

God has given us our very breath and life--besides providing for our needs. How refreshing it would be to enjoy and be content with His gifts and to say, "Lord, You've given me so much! Thank You!" "Godliness with contentment is great gain" (v.6).

--"Father You have blessed me with so much. Teach me each day to give thanks. Thank You, Lord, for dying on the Cross for the forgiveness of my sins. That's the most important gift of all. In Jesus Name. amen."
--ODB/AC~
--"The Heart Of Christmas"// (video with Matthew West) //<https://youtu.be/ASJktrBObrI>
~~~~~~~~~~

---ON THE SAME TEAM ~~

--Encourage one another and build each other up.
--(1 Thessalonians 5:11)

--"Treat others the same way you want them to treat you." -- --[LUKE 6:31]

~~~When Philadelphia Eagle�s quarterback Carson Wentz returned to the field after healing from a severe injury, the NFL team�s backup quarterback, Nick Foles, graciously returned to the bench. Although competing for the same position, the two men chose to support each other and remained confident in their roles. One reporter observed that the two athletes have a �unique relationship rooted in their faith in Christ� shown through their ongoing prayers for each other. As others watched, they brought honor to God by remembering they were on the same team�not just as Eagles quarterbacks, but as believers in Jesus representing Him.

The apostle Paul reminds believers to live as �children of the light� awaiting Jesus� return (1 Thessalonians 5:5-6). With our hope secure in the salvation Christ has provided, we can shrug off any temptations to compete out of jealousy, insecurity, fear, or envy. Instead, we can �encourage one another and build each other up� (v. 11). We can respect spiritual leaders who honor God and �live in peace� as we serve together to accomplish our shared goal�telling people about the gospel and encouraging others to live for Jesus (vv. 12-15).

As we serve on the same team, we can heed Paul�s command: �Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God�s will for you in Christ Jesus� (vv. 16-18).
--ODB/XD~

--"Lord Jesus, help me to show others Your love, grace, and mercy. "GOD IS LOVE"--- In Christ's Name. Amen."

---WHAT TO NAME THE BABY ~~

---"The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son,
and will call him Immanuel." --[ISAIAH 7:14] --

--HERE'S one conversation Mary didn't have to have with Joseph as they awaited the birth of the baby she was carrying: "Joseph, what should we name the baby?" Unlike most people awaiting, a birth, they had no question about what they would call the child.

The angels who visited Mary and then Joseph told them both that the baby's name would be Jesus (Matthew 1:20-21; Luke 1:30-31). The angel that appeared to Joseph explained that this name indicated that the baby would "save his people from their sins."

He would also be called "Immanuel" (Isaiah 7:14), which means "God is with us," because He would be God in human form--deity wrapped in swaddling clothes. The prophet Isaiah revealed additional titles of "Wonderful Counselor," "Mighty God," "Everlasting Father," and Prince of Peace" (9:6), because He would be all of those things.

It's always exciting to name a new baby. But no other baby had such a powerful, exciting, world-changing name as the one who was "Jesus who is called the Messiah" (Matthew 1:16). What a thrill for us to be able to "call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Corinthians 1:2)! There's no other name that saves (Acts 4:12).

Let's praise Jesus and contemplate everything He means to us this Christmas Season! [And every season!] The Church (people of Jesus) should be shouting to the housetop that our Lord Jesus Christ is Alive!

--"Thank You, heavenly Father, for sending us One who is our Savior, our Counselor, our Prince of Peace, and our Messiah. I celebrate His birth because I know that His life and death and resurrection purchased for us eternal life. Blessed be the Name above all names, JESUS CHRIST~ "

--ODB/DB~
--"Your Church Is Alive" // (lyrics) Mack Brock // <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UTElGo1mGOg>
~~~~~~~~~~

---THE LIGHT ~~

--'Then Jesus spoke saying, "I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life."
---[JOHN 8:12]

~~The room was dark as the mother was making her way to the kitchen. She knew the path since she had walked this way hundreds of times. She could even do it with her eyes closed if she wanted to. "Ouch!" She stumbled and tripped. "Who left this toy on the floor?" she wondered as she got back up and found the light switch.

Sometimes life is like this. We think we know the way and we can live life on our own. We don't need anyone to show us the way. But we tend to stumble and hurt ourselves if we don't have the true Light of Jesus in our lives. Just as we turn the light on in a dark room and see the obstacles in our path, we need Jesus Christ to lighten our paths in this dark world of sin.

As we draw closer to the true Light, it will enlighten us and we will see the dirt and grime in our hearts and lives. We need to ask God for forgiveness and help to change our lives. As He begins to cleanse our hearts, the light of Christ will be reflected to those around us. As the light shines in our lives and we see the evil that lies in our path, we will be able to turn aside and not stumble. Then as we turn away from sin, the light will reflect to the world and they will also see the Light. ~
Jesus is our Light all year long. 'Call on me and I will answer you and show you great things that you do not know.'

--BSW/JH~
--"Light Of the World"//(lyric video) // We The Kingdom //<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4aY50QQZNs>
~~~~~~~~~

---We Must Be Broken To Come to Jesus~~

--"But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."
---(Matthew 6:33 /NIV) --

---WHEN I WAS A YOUNG mother, there was always too much to do and too little time in which to do it. Between working, cleaning the house, running errands, cooking, doing laundry, taking children to their activities, etc, etc....being a wife. I was either too tired or too busy to go to church. I missed Bible reading.

But as much as I loved my family, friends, and busy life, I knew there was something missing. One night, feeling tired and empty, I reached out to Jesus. I knew that He needed to be priority in my life. It was time to make changes in my life. The next morning, I began the day with prayer. I listened to worship music on the radio. I realized that Jesus wouldn't mind if I was washing dishes, cleaning the house, or driving while I prayed. He always wants to hear from His children. Jesus is always by my side.

Busyness can get in the way of spending time with the Lord. He longs for a relationship with us. He wants to lead us, guide us, and flood our lives with His grace and mercy. That only happens when we are in His presence, soaking up His love. I will spend more time with Jesus today, whether I'm driving, cleaning house, or preparing for the next day's chores. He must come first. I must stay 'broken' (from the cares of this world), and put Him first.

--Guideposts/KMJ~ --[**Some accounts are closed. If the song is missing, maybe go on youtube and listen. It's really great!]
--"Gracefully Broken"//(lyrics)//Matt Redman // <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQNhfKAVtOc>
~~~~~~~~

---Tell Others About Jesus, Their Eternity Depends on Knowing Him ~~

---"He said to his disciples, "The harvest is great, but the workers are few.
So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more
workers into His field." --[Matthew 9:37-38] --


--Have you ever met a stranger, face-to-face, who turned out to be someone you prayed for in the past? During our church prayer meetings, my friends and I pray for people from all nations to know Jesus Christ as their Savior. When I attended an international publishing conference in Brazil, I met one of the people I'd been praying for! We pray for persecuted believers to persevere in their faith. Even without going to the mission field to minister to these people ourselves, we continue praying for them. Even if we don't meet them personally here on earth, we will meet them in Heaven.

In Matthew 9, when Jesus saw the crowd who was harassed, distressed, and helpless, He told His disciples to pray for laborers to bring the Good News to them. Jesus sees the world today through the same lens of love and care. Today, many people around the world still need to hear that Jesus is the Savior who gives salvation and eternal life--not only in the afterlife--but here and now. With Jesus, we can have a fulfilling life here on earth. Will you be one of Jesus's laborers and help spread the news of His love?

-Jesus said, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.
Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,
Teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always even to the end of the age." --[Matthew 28:18,19,20/ NASB-] ~
--ODB/MLM ~
--"JUST LIKE HEAVEN" // (lyric video) // Brandon Lake ~~<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MfdsQXZQjT4>
~~~~~~~~

---"The Blessing In Forgiving"

--"For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.--[Matthew 6:15-15/ NIV]

---We�ve all struggled with forgiveness. When we are mistreated it�s as if we have been physically hurt�and sometimes we have been, with the scars to show for it. At other times the damage is emotional or psychological, and the scars are not as visible. It is easy to hold onto our hurt and anger and say, �I�m not going to forgive you until you acknowledge what you�ve done, apologize, and make restitution.� The Bible, however, says that we are to forgive others as God has forgiven us. That means we don�t have the blessing of holding onto anger and bitterness, no matter how heinous the behavior. That doesn�t mean we�re validating what was done to us or that we�re getting back in line for more. It means we are saying, �I release you.� In order for us to receive the benefit of God�s forgiveness, we must be willing to forgive and let God take care of the rest.
**Our job is to be obedient and leave the results to God.**

THINK ABOUT IT
Read this scripture and devotional aloud�slowly. It contains a crucial God-principle that you will want to receive and implement until the day you meet the Lord. We need God�s forgiveness, and we need to be a forgiver.

PRAYER
--"Heavenly Father, if there are those who have been speaking or praying against me or my loved ones, seeking to harm us, or who have rejected us, I forgive them, specifically _________. Having forgiven and released them, I bless them in Jesus� name, amen."
Blessings,
Pastor Allen Jackson
~~~~~~~~~~~~

----We All Are Special To G-D / JESUS LOVES YOU!

---"I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well."
--[PSALM 139:14/ ESV] -

--I'd never lost a friend before. Not like this. This wasn't a drifting apart caused by changing schools or moving. This was a rending break, a splintering of bonds, I'd considered unending. To make it worse, I believed the breach was caused by a terrible misunderstanding that honest conversation could heal. But nothing I said or did helped. I had to accept that my friend's regard for me was gone. I was desolate.

The loss sent me into a tailspin. Who was I without this treasured relationship? I found myself tongue-tied in social situations, constantly second-guessing what I thought to say. Maybe it wasn't interesting after all. Did people secretly roll their eyes whenever I walked into the room, wishing I'd leave again? I didn't know I felt paralyzed--unable to trust my judgment.

I confided my heartache to my brother, and it was his reply that proved a turning point for me. "Erin, you are strong enough to weather this," he told me, with conviction.

Strong? What an odd word choice. I'd never felt weaker. But his words stayed with me as we talked about the danger of allowing other people's opinions to determine our self-worth. I'd struggled with that for most of my life. But suddenly, the habit's harmful consequences crystallized into real understanding. The internal voice telling me I'm not good enough is a deceiver that wants me to feel fragile, weak. The truth is, I am a child of God, infinitely valuable in His eyes. Through Him, I'll always be strong enough--just as He made me to be. ~~

"Lord, when I'm tempted to worry over the approval of others, help me remember--I am Your creation and therefore valuable just as I am. Thank You, for loving me. Thank You for your peace that passes all understanding. amen~"

--Daily Guideposts/EJ~
--"Peace Be Still" // (lyric video/ Hope Darst)<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UVBVxcKFNgI>
~~~~~~~

~~ALWAYS IN HIS SHADOW ~`

--"He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the Lord, �My refuge and my fortress, My God, in whom I trust!�
---[Psalm 91:1-2 / NASB] --

--The psalmist reminds us that we dwell under the Shelter of the Most High. I�ve been in some terrible storms in my life, and I know the relief that comes when you run into a shelter. The storms of life will surely come, but we dwell under the protection of the Most High God. The psalmist also says we abide in the shadow of the Almighty. Have you ever tried to stand in someone�s shadow? It requires you to stand so close that there is virtually no space between you. That is what God wants for us�to stand so near to Him that nothing can come between us. No matter what comes, remember that Almighty God, the Creator of Heaven and Earth, is your protector. You are not alone, nor are you left to depend on your own strength or your own cleverness. The Lord of lords and King of kings is our refuge and our fortress, and that is a remarkable thing.

THINK ABOUT IT
Dwelling and abiding suggest a lifestyle of habitation, not temporary residency based on circumstance. God wants us to dwell and abide in Him, settled by our trust that He is our Protector.

PRAYER
--"Heavenly Father, forgive me when I have trusted in anything else besides You for provision and protection. I hand over all of my trust to You, asking You to shelter me and help me live so close to You that I am always in Your shadow. In Jesus� name, amen. --
Blessings,
Pastor Allen Jackson
~~~~~~~~~

----Being Christ-Like ~~

--"Then he began to wash the disciples' feet, drying them with the towel he had around him."
---[John 13:5 /NLT ] --

--I'll admit, I don't keep the neatest office. My bookshelves sag under the burden of more volumes than they were intended to hold. My desk is piled with the detritus of a harried editor--manuscripts, books, letters, magazines, an accordion of sticky notes. It is the area underneath my desk, however, that is the most unsightly. The shoes under my desk are in complete disarray.

One morning recently I ducked under my desk to locate the shoes I wanted to wear only to find everything was mysteriously matched up, the shoes neatly lined up in pairs. I knew I hadn't done it. But who? Who would have known about his hidden mess? It was my little secret, or so I thought.

Jose', who comes evenings to clean our offices, was the culprit. Or angel. He empties the trash can under my desk, which made him privy to my shoe situation. Usually I'm still working when Jose' appears so I just hand him my trash can. But I'd been out for a few days and Jose' had seen the state of affairs.

"Jose'," I said, "you really don't have to do that."
"Oh, it's just a little thing. Don't worry."

Since then, I try to keep my shoes neat....with improving results. Still whenever things get out of control under my desk, Jose' steps in. Maybe it is a little thing, but it's made a big impression on me. Let's remember to thank those who are our (earthly) angels, sent by God. ~~

--"Father, help me to see all the little opportunities You give me to help others. Help me to acknowledge Your love through them. In Jesus Name." ~ amen"

--Guideposts/EG~
~~~~~~~~

---SOURCES OF ENCOURAGEMENT ~~

-"In the world ye shall have tribulation; but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world."
--[John 16:33] --

--My guide was a quiet fellow. I never did learn his name, and I cannot recall even one detail of his appearance. As we slowly climbed to the summit of a high, grassy knoll, a breathtaking view of endless mountains and valleys stretched out before us. I have hiked many mountain trails, but the indescribable peace and beauty of the land below was unlike anything I had even seen before. "What is it?" I asked my guide. "What makes this land so overwhelming in its beauty?" There's no sin there"--he replied. And with a start I woke up.

I have never placed much significance in my dreams, yet this one is an exception and continues to be a strong encouragement to me. It may not correspond to any Biblical description of Heaven, but where else is there a land without sin?

Galatians 6:9 advises us to "not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap if we faint not." A rainbow, a brilliant, a hardwood forest in the riot of Fall colors, and a Spring meadow covered with wildflowers are a few of the natural phenomena that can lift our spirits as we reflect on the majesty and love of our great Creator, the Lord Jesus Christ. But sincere expressions of love, concern, and sympathy from other people are by far the most effective in comforting us and dispelling the discouragements brought by this world's trials.

The overwhelmed, the fearful, and the disillusioned are all around us. May God give us the wisdom to recognize them and the love to encourage each one with divinely inspired messages of deliverance and hope. ~~

-"But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin." -[Hebrews 3:13]

--BSW/PL~

--God and His Word are One / Jesus is God ~

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

--"O how I love thy Law! It is my meditation all the day. --(Psalm 119:97]

--"Cling to the Bible" is a song we sing sometimes. What are we really doing when we cling to the Bible? It is more than just holding on to an object made of leather and paper. Indeed. we should take care of the Bible and handle it reverently, because its message is God's inspired Word. This not just another book. It is irreverent to throw the Bible around or trample it or handle it carelessly in any way. There are people in some countries who have no Bible, while we often have extra copies. Our extras must be appreciated and cared for with a spirit of gratitude.

Of greater importance than how we handle the Bible is how we respond to its message. It the message of the Word is precious to us, we will not get tired of reading and studying it. The Bible contains the Gospel, the Good News of salvation for all mankind. It is our road map to Heaven. It has many great and precious promises which we cling to and claim for ourselves. We can memorize precious Scriptures that will be a help to us in times of trials and temptations .The book of Psalms in particular has many encouraging Scriptures for us to read in various situations. The Old Testament has many prophecies of Christ that are fulfilled in the New Testament.

God and HIs Word are one. John 1:1 says, "In the beginning was the Word, and Word was with God, and the Word was God." (text) We cannot truly love God without clinging to the Bible and obeying it as His Word. ~~

--BSW/BG~

--Remember His Marvelous Works ~~

--"Remember His marvelous works which He has done. His wonders, and the judgments of His mouth. --[ 1 Chronicles 16:12]
--"This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it."--[Psalm 118:24]

--There are many aspects or technology that I enjoy: my laptop, smartphone, and DVD, and the ability to stream music. But in some ways I'm old school. I have friends who have almost completely replaced paper with apps, calendars, and alerts on their phone or computer. Not me--I still use paper. I have a wall calendar hanging in the kitchen and a day planner sitting on my desk. My drawers contain small notebooks for jotting down products to research, DIY recipes that were successful, and other info., such as the last time the last time I fertilized the houseplants. Periodically, I update my list of birthdays and addresses of family and friends. A magnetic pad on the memo board keeps a running grocery list. Each day I divide my to-do list into three parts: phone calls to make, emails to write, and tasks to get done. If I want to remember something, I write it down--on actual paper with a pen or pencil.

One day a though struck me: Why not write down things I want to remember about Jesus? The Bible shares wonderful truths about Jesus and our relationship with Him. But sometimes I forget the exact truth I need to remember during trials, periods of loneliness, times of crisis, or just in the pressures of day-to-day living. So now I've stared a to-do remember list: Jesus loves me unconditionally. His Spirit lives inside me. He's promised to never leave me. He will work out every circumstance in my life for good. [Romans 8:28] He's prepared a perfect eternal home for me.

Simply reading the first few items is enough t to brighten my day. I will keep my devotions and read this every night. I will remember scripture verses that speak to our needs everyday. Jesus loves you! Jesus loves me. Let's be sure to share His love with a lost and lonely world. ~~
--Guideposts/DNM~

--The Love of Christ ~~

----COMPASSION ~~

--"But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion on them."
--(Matthew 9:36)
[Please Read/ Luke 10:25-42]
-------
--Today's key verse shows that Jesus was given to compassion. It was characteristic of HIs entire life. As Christ's followers, we are called to possess the same virtue. "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 2:5). Stephen is an example of this In his dying moments, as the stones rained down on him, he prayed for his persecutors: "Lord lay not this sin to their charge" (Acts 7:60).

Peter wrote, "Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another" (1 Peter 3:8). It is easy for me to scratch your back if you scratch mine. But by nature we find it difficult to show compassion to those who oppose us. The martyrs of old were called to exemplify Christ under grueling circumstances, and it is still so today. Only with the mind of Christ can we be compassionate to those who hate or mistreat us.

In today's Bible reading both the priest and the Levite held respected positions, but neither had time or compassion for the needy. Though each saw the need and was able to help, both passed by the man in distress. Along came a Samaritan who knew how it feels to be rejected and looked down on. The despised are often the ones with enough compassion to stop and offer help. The Samaritan not only gave assistance but also paid for the victim's medical care.

How is it with us? When we see someone in distress, do we take time to give compassionate help? Are we willing to get down in the dirt and even get our hands bloody to minister to the suffering? We need the compassion of Christ to identify with needy ones and help them as we would want to be helped.

--"Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." --[Luke 6:31]
--BSW/DY~

--THE LOVE OF CHRIST ~~

---"Thank You, Lord Jesus, for loving me and dying so I can have eternal life with You. Please show me if and when I put other things before You, my Rock and my Redeemer. In Christ's Name."

---"Though your riches increase, do not set your heart on them."
---[Psalm 62:10 / NIV] --

---WHEN MY husband, Kevin called to say the insurance company totaled our Cadillac after a deer rammed it, I sighed. (Ok,, I cried.) We'd only had that cherry-red beauty for ten weeks. It was a gift from Jesus--through friends who's recently purchased a new car. The prettiest, fanciest vehicle we'd ever owned. And I loved it.

Every time someone complimented the Caddy, I'd say, "Jesus gave us that car" or "It was a gift." I didn't want anyone to think we were getting rich from Kevin's salary as a pastor or my writing royalties. Even so, my heart filled with pride whenever I drove it.

I was not happy when we had to go car shopping. I knew we'd never find another vehicle I loved as much with our insurance money. We settled on a boring blue SUZ that seemed able to withstand future deer collisions. But it was only a car, not my adored Cadillac.

While praying a few days after purchasing our SUV. I finally admitted that the luxury car had made me feel important, special, and significant. Jesus's voice in my heart gently reminded me, 'You were important and special before you owned the Caddy and after you lost it. Your possessions don't define you. I do--and I love you dearly.'

I'm certain Jesus didn't cause that deer to crunch our Cadillac to prove His point. He has nothing against us owning pretty things, as long as we don't love them--like I did. I thanked Him for not rebuking me for my prideful attitude. He simply loved me and brought me back to where I belong: with my eyes on Him. ~~

--"You are loved with an everlasting love and underneath are His everlasting arms."

--Guideposts/JL~
~~~~~~~~~~

-"You are loved with an everlasting love and underneath are His everlasting arms."

[Please Read Psalm 23] --

--God's Amazing Love and Promises For You ~

--Many people deal with anxiety. News reports or circumstances at home often cause concern and fear about our future. But as believers, we're encouraged not to worry (Luke 12:22). Instead, we're to seek God's kingdom and rely on Jesus to provide all our needs (v.31). This is opposite of the world's philosophy, which tells us to rely on ourselves or other people for security.

We can confidently depend on our eternal King Jesus because He Himself is truth (John 14:6), and His promises are true. According to Titus 1:2, God cannot lie and never makes a promise that He won't keep. And He certainly has to power to keep His word, for "Nothing will be impossible with God" (Luke 1:37).

The Lord is also mindful of all our needs. Looking at His excellent provision for birds and flowers, we can be confident of His even greater care for His beloved children. What a relief to know our heavenly Father is both intimately acquainted with our needs and eager to meet them.

Will you believe God, seek His kingdom and rest in HIs peace that surpasses understanding (Phil 4:7) ? The promise is given the fulfillment is certain, and now the choice is yours. ~~

--IN TOUCH.
--God Leads His Dear Children Along" // Selah ~~<https://youtu.be/IqoQe5Xg7-0>

-----HOLY DETACHMENT ~~

----"He must increase, but I must decrease. --[John 3:30]

---"Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is freedom (liberty)". (2 Corinthians 3:17)

--When we talk about people being "detached," we usually mean they're indifferent or apathetic. The word often evokes a sense of coldness, distaste, or disdain toward others. But what if not all detachment is bad? What if there was a version that could even be consider part of godly character? The early church had a name for this kind of detachment---It's what referred to as apatheia.

--In Greek, apatheia means without suffering," but over time, society, came to interpret the word as meaning "without feeling" --apathy. While the concept of apatheia has origins in ancient philosophy, the early church used the term to mean freedom from our disordered emotions, urges, evil thoughts, addictions, or obstacles that prevent us from fully experiencing the Lord. Through the healing power of Jesus in the Holy Spirit, we come to a place of no longer being affected by what once controlled us, triggering sinful responses. As Paul wrote, "Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom" (2 Cor. 3:17/ ESV).

This healthy kind of detachment increases our ability to love God and others. Imagine how it would feel to finally be untangled from sinful patterns--free at long last to walk in the Lord's renewal, so that we can become closer and closer with Him. We don't stop feeling or experiencing these desires or tendencies, but we learn to stop accepting them and instead seek to peace of Christ.

We have a model of perfect apatheia in our Savior, the "One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin" (Hebrews 4:15). When Jesus was temped by Satan in the wilderness, His appetites were tested but He did not submit to them. Instead, He relied on what was true about God--responding to the devil again and again with Scripture (Matthew 4:1-11). This way of living is accessible to to everyone who calls on Jesus' name, and follows Him.

Think about how you navigate your daily life now, including the way you manage stress and the amount of time you spend praying, reading God's Word and even fasting. As you identify opportunities to reorient your efforts and time, remember we don't have to get there all at once. It's a lifelong process of trusting the Holy Spirit every day, allowing Him to guide us in putting the things we love in order. Then we're able to renounce what gets in the way of our oneness with the God who gave His life to save us. .~~

-"He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him" --[John 3:36]

--IN TOUCH~~
--"Less Like Me" // Zach Williams // <https://youtu.be/DOOVx9lBMOs>
~~~~~~~~~~

----SHADOW OF DEATH ~~

--Please Read/ Psalm 23 ~~

--How many times have I heard a minister read the
Twenty-third Psalm at the funeral of a
loved one?

How many times have I traced the scripture with
my finger?

"The LORD is my shepherd,
I shall not be in want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures,
He leads me beside quiet waters,
He restores my soul.

He guides me in the paths of righteousness
for His name's sake.
Even though I walk through the valley of the
shadow of death ,
I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod
and your staff, they comfort me."

I wonder what it really means to walk through the
shadow of death ,
I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod
and your staff, they comfort me."

I wonder what it really means to walk through the
valley of the shadow of death?
When I read these words, my mind conjures up
rocky cliffs and deep ravines.
I tremble at the though of a journey
to an unknown place.

But in your mercy, God, you draw me to these
familiar words once again, bringing revelation
and comfort.

To walk through. Not to stop or stay but to
pass through.

Not the valley of death but the valley of the shadow
of death.
If there is a shadow, there must also be light.
Your Word promises me that Jesus is the
Light of the world!

I will fear no evil.
Praise God for the fullness of Light that will safely
lead me Home. ~~
~~~~
"When I am afraid,
I put my trust in you.
In God, whose word I praise,
in God I trust; I am not afraid;
what can flesh do to me?"
--[Psalm 56:3-4]

"The people living in darkness
have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of the
shadow of death
the Light has dawned.
--[Matthew 4:16]
--Living With Purpose/MB ~
.
----'I Look To You'/ Selah // https://youtu.be/FagB9YoCx94
~~~~~~~~~