News you won't see in controlled mainstream media.

--THE UNIQUENESS OF CHRIST
----Matthew 16 / Please Read-

--When Jesus asked His disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” they replied, “Some say John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; but still others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets.” But Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matt. 16:13-16).

--What set Jesus apart as the Messiah?

His birth: He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born, as prophesied, in Bethlehem to a virgin. Though angels announced His arrival and He reigns over all creation, Jesus entered our world in a lowly manner so He could be identified with the meek and the poor.
His wisdom: At age 12, He spent three days with rabbis, asking questions that showed his uncommon understanding.
His baptism: Though He didn’t need cleansing, Jesus asked John to baptize Him so He could identify with sinners and demonstrate His love to them.
His temptation: Satan tempted Him relentlessly for 40 days, yet He did not sin.
His ministry: He challenged man-made religious traditions. And by healing people—regardless of nationality—raising the dead, and forgiving sins, He revealed that God wants to be involved personally in our lives. Leading Pharisees wanted Him dead, but the Father protected His life until the crucifixion.

-Many people deny Christ’s deity, calling Him simply a “prophet” or “good teacher.” But Jesus was never merely human. As complex as it is for us to comprehend, He was fully God and fully man. This is the unique way in which our heavenly Father chose to demonstrate His eternal love for us.
--IN TOUCH -- Mary, Did You Know?
<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qHDubMpFZsI>

-IS JESUS LORD OF ALL? OR IS HE LORD, NOT AT ALL?

--BIBLE MEDITATION:
“Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; And declared to be the Son of God with power…” Romans 1:3-4.

--DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
May I ask you a personal question? Do you believe that Jesus Christ is Lord?

You do? Then may I ask you another question? Is He your Lord?

Let’s be more specific.

• **Is He Lord of your tongue?
• **Is He Lord of your time?
• **Is He Lord of your treasure?

• **Is He Lord of your talents?
• **Is He Lord of your testimony?
• **Is He Lord in deed as well as word?

Is He truly Lord? Now, don’t answer too quickly.

--ACTION POINT:
Think about it: It’s one thing to sing “Bring forth the royal diadem and crown Him Lord of all.” It’s another thing to mean it. Crown Him “Lord of all” in your life today.
--Adrian Rogers~~
["Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him, I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven." -(Matthew 10:32-33]~~/ "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. (Matthew 16:24-27]
<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z1fMaJzev_s>
--------

--DIRECT ACCESS TO FATHER GOD ~
“For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.” (1 Timothy 2:5)

--This is one of the key verses of Scripture for several reasons. In the first place, in the midst of a pantheistic and polytheistic society governed by the kings and rulers for whom Paul had just exhorted believers to pray, it was important to reemphasize that there was only one Creator God—the One to whom even kings must give account and the only One to whom we can rightfully pray.

Secondly, Christ Jesus, who was Himself “God . . . manifest in the flesh” and then “received up into glory” (1 Timothy 3:16), was nevertheless still “the man Christ Jesus.” He is still a man, even though His human body has been resurrected and glorified. Therefore, He can, indeed, “be touched with the feeling of our infirmities;” and we can “come boldly” to His “throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:15-16).

Then, because He is both omnipotent God and perfect man, “in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin” (v. 15), He is uniquely able to serve as the one and only “mediator between God and men.” Furthermore, as the only God-man, fully and eternally both God and man, He is the only one through whom we can reach God’s throne in prayer.. “I am the way, the truth, and the life,” He said, “no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6). JESUS CHRIST IS THE ONLY WAY TO THE FATHER.

No one else—man or woman, saint or priest, angel or demon—has direct access to God, for the Son is the one mediator between God and man.. We can come to God, however, for “we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous” (1 John 2:1). “Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them” (Hebrews 7:25)..
--ICR/HMM

--The Reason For Our Boldness- / SALVATION!

--(Philippians 1:19-20 / Please Read)

--Even though Christians are familiar with the Gospel, many are reluctant to share their faith with others because they don’t feel capable of explaining it. When we lack confidence in our knowledge of salvation through Jesus Christ, fear of negative reactions or possible questions can keep us silent. What if we don’t have the answers or end up looking like a fool? It’s just too intimidating.

But remember, God has given us the most important message in the world. Since we’re confronted by so many unscriptural philosophies and religious deceptions, we need to understand the gospel and be able to present it with confidence and boldness. We can’t let fear or ignorance keep us from giving lost people the only message that can change a person’s eternal destiny. Jesus instructed us, His disciples, to "Go and tell what you have both heard and seen."

The apostle Paul welcomed every opportunity to tell people about Christ, because he focused on the gospel’s life-changing power. If we look at the hurting people around us, express a genuine interest in them, and ask God to open a door for us to share our faith with them, He will answer that prayer. The Holy Spirit is the One who opens the hearts to receive, repent, and accept Christ as their Savior. We are to be His vessels of honor.

We tend to be motivated by temporal activities that eventually fade away. But souls are forever, and people need to know the Savior. Look for opportunities to reach out to those around you—notice their expressions; ask how they’re doing. When their need stirs your heart, you’ll be eager to offer them the Gospel.
--IN TOUCH~
["Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven." (Matthew 10:32-33)"~~"He who testifies to these things says, "Surely I am coming quickly."Amen~ "Even so, Come Lord Jesus! The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen~" (Revelation 22:20-21~~]
<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-UEb2mQ_c4>

--The Perfect Balance of Our Solar System ~~

-Let us think on these scripture verses firstly, "Preeminence of Christ."

--He [Jesus] is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.
And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.

For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His Cross.
--(Colossians 1:15-20)

Yes, Jesus is God, the second Person of the trinity. God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit are inseparable. All three were together when Creation began. Now let's take a look at some of this majestic creation.
----
--The Perfect Balance of our Solar System~~

-When we look up in the sky we wonder how awesome it is. How does it stay together without things running into each other?

Scientists can't figure it out. Astronomers are puzzled! Unfathomable! Our Omniscient Unfathomable Creator spoke all of this into existence. "Let there be...., and God saw that it was good."
----
“Almost nothing is turning out as we expected,” “astronomers are searching for a whole new theory,” “by some absolutely incomprehensible quirk of nature,” “fiendishly difficult to explain,” “fatally out of kilter,” “deeply weird”—these comments don’t seem very scientific. They reflect the desperation of the secular scientists’ worldview.
-------
The satisfying answer to the question of our solar system’s origin is found in the opening pages of Genesis. Our solar system was designed complete, intact, and perfectly balanced by the Creator, for the full benefit of us His creatures, during the creation week just thousands of years ago.
-- Check it out! Nothing is impossible with Jehovah Shamma, our ever-present God!
--The Perfect Balance of our Solar System/ ICR
<http://www.icr.org/article/9006>
~~~~~~~~

--The Uniqueness of CHRIST~

--"For through [Christ] we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father."
--(Ephesians 2:18)
---
--THE TRINITY IN EPHESIANS
“There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.” (Ephesians 4:4-6)

Paul’s letter to the church at Ephesus is surely one of the most profoundly doctrinal—yet intensely practical—books of the Bible, and it is not surprising that the doctrine of the triune God breaks into his message so frequently.

More often, however, it appears not in a succinct formula like this but rather in interconnected references to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, always implying that each is deity, but never that they are three different “gods.” Paul prayed that “the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him” (Ephesians 1:17).

He also prayed “unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, . . . That he would grant you, . . . to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith” (Ephesians 3:14, 16-17). Thus, the believer is “filled with all the fulness of God” (v. 19).

We are exhorted to “grieve not the holy Spirit of God, . . . even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you” (Ephesians 4:30, 32). And “be filled with the Spirit; . . . Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Ephesians 5:18, 20).

There are others, but note especially our text, speaking of our unity in Him and His triunity in us. “There is . . . one Spirit . . . One Lord, . . . One God and Father of all, who is above all [i.e., the Father], and through all [the Son], and in you all [the Spirit].” All this is a magnificent mystery, but a wonderful reality!
--ICR/HMM / Praise the Father, Praise the Son, Praise the Spirit, Three in One ~ Chris Tomlin ~
<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T14AajCstNs>
-----

--'WHAT IF' CHRIST JESUS HAD NOT COME TO EARTH?~~

--BIBLE MEDITATION:
“Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men; and, being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore, God also hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in Heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2:5-11.

--DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
John Blanchard estimated that of all the people who’ve ever lived, from the beginning of creation to now, there have been about 30 billion here on earth. Of those, few have had any major effect on human history. One person stands out unique above all the rest. That one person, Jesus Christ, has attracted a greater combination of attention, devotion, criticism, adoration, and opposition than any other of those 30 billion.

Every recorded word He spoke has been studied, sifted and analyzed from generation to generation by theologians, philosophers, and historians. At this moment multiplied millions around the globe in every time zone are studying what this one individual had to say.

He is Jesus of Nazareth. He preached and taught in a tiny little land called Israel some 2,000 years ago. Yet the birth of this baby has divided the centuries into “B.C.” (before Christ) and “A.D.” (Anno Domini, or “the Year of our Lord.”) He divides world history.

--ACTION POINT:
Whether you are on death row or Wall Street, you need Jesus. He’s the saving Son of God. There’s no one that He cannot save. There’s no one that He will not save. Jesus is what the world needs today. Thank God for Christmas. If there had been no Christmas, think what that would mean.
--Adrian Rogers~~

[If there had been no Christmas, there would have been no Christ Jesus. Jesus came into this world to save sinners. He took our sin-debt and carried it on His shoulders, to the death on that old rugged Cross. He literally paid our sin-debt! If He had not come to earth, we would be totally lost and bound for hell. Jesus is the Key to the Door of Heaven. He is both the Key and the Door.

"There is no other name given among men whereby we must be saved." JESUS SAVES! (ACTS 4:12)
If you have not accepted His 'free gift' of salvation, please do so today. "Call upon the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved."]
--Adrian Rogers~~
<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2FxaUYjRtkc>

--A Living Hope / Once Saved Always Saved?

---A LIVING HOPE

----(1 Peter 1:3-5)
-"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy He has give us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade--kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time."
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--Corinth was a city characterized by sexual immorality and many other forms of ungodliness. (See 1 Cor. 6:9-11.) Believers there had once been like their fellow citizens—filled with greed, envy, wickedness, deceit, anger, and malice. But now they were new creations in Christ, indwelt by the Holy Spirit and adopted into the family of God. The Corinthian lifestyle no longer matched who they’d become in Jesus.

In that passage from 1 Corinthians, Paul reminded the believers not to be influenced by their culture or old patterns of thinking. The apostle was not warning them that they might miss out on the kingdom. Instead, he was encouraging them to abandon their old ways and bring their behavior in line with who they really were—children of God.

We, too, should know salvation is permanent and faith should positively affect conduct. What’s more, understanding the basis for our salvation—Jesus’ finished work on the cross—banishes fear and fills us with hope.

We could never earn our way into God’s family, nor could we pay our own sin debt. But our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ willingly paid the penalty on our behalf, satisfying divine justice and the Law’s demands (Rom. 3:25-26). To show the sacrifice was accepted, God raised Jesus to life and brought Him to heaven, where He reigns at the right hand of the Father (Mark 16:19).

What God has accomplished—pardoning our sins, giving us a new nature, and adopting us into His family—no one can undo. That gives us a living hope to sustain and uplift us all our days.
--IN TOUCH~
[ Please note, this is speaking of Christians. Once they were lost, but then they accepted Jesus Christ's finished work on Calvary, repented of their sins, and have been born again to a New Living Hope, in Jesus Christ. (See John 3:5-6)]/At the Cross/ Hillsong (Read Matthew 27:45-55 /vs. 51 'At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.')
<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AkRudaBidHc>

--HOW TO WALK WITH GOD~~
---(Genesis 5:21-24/ Please read)

--ENOCH'S WALK WITH THE LORD was so close that Scripture tells us, "God took him" (Genesis 5:24). This implies Enoch didn't die but was taken directly into the presence of God. What a wonderful testimony!

As we seek to follow God with this same passion, let's review some specific steps to help us keep up in our walk with the Lord.

**RECONCILIATION./ This concept carries the sense of God moving toward us. We can be joyful because the responsibility is all His. Through the Cross of His Son Jesus Christ, God has already made His move in our direction.
Scripture says, "Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation" (2 Corinthians 5:18). When we trust in Christ, we immediately take part in that reconciliation.

**TRUSTING GOD./ We must have faith, not only that God is concerned with our walk, but that He has, through Jesus Christ, provided all we need to walk intimately with Him anytime.

**AGREEMENT./ To appreciate the closeness God longs to have with us, we must agree with what Scripture teaches about His Son, His Word, the Church, and our problem with sin.

**FELLOWSHIP./ Just as human relationships fall apart without regular contact, our intimacy with God weakens when we don't spend time with Him.

--Walking with God is not an impossible mission, but it does require careful attention to the details of our Christian lives. When we set our course for God, He'll always be there to direct our paths (Proverbs 3:5-6)~~
--IN TOUCH~
-------
[ There are many churches that do not believe in the Triune God, the Trinity. Max Lucado's brief explanation of this.]

--THREE IN ONE~~

--Have you ever wondered...

**About the Trinity?

**How to relate to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit?

--(Read: Mark 1:10,11; Matthew 28:19)

--IN TWO THOUSAND YEARS, biblical scholars have yet to explain the Trinity in fewer than five hundred words. The Trinity is one of those beautiful, divine mysteries that we'll never full understand--not until we stand in heaven and share God's wisdom. We can accept that God doesn't intend for us to understand everything in life. We can be satisfied that God understands, and He has revealed as much as our limited minds can contain.

These verses from Matthew and Mark shed some light on the Trinity. It's astounding to imagine a God who is everywhere all the time, and yet was also crucified on one Cross thousands of years ago. This God is not a cold Spirit, watching from atop a cloud. He is with you--right here, right now.

-[Jesus said, "I and my Father are One." (John 10:30]
"The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all."

--(2 Corinthians 13:14)/This I Believe/Hillsong~
<https://youtu.be/h0mPk_3dXSg?list=RDh0mPk_3dXSg>
-----

--JEHOVAH ~~

-- CHRIST is Jehovah Jesus and the Lord of the Old Testament, as well as Jesus of the New Testament. They are inseparable. We serve a Triune God....
---God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.
----
--"And Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands."
--(Hebrews 1:10)~

--THE PRIMARY NAME FOR GOD in Scripture is the majestic name Jehovah, occurring nearly seven thousand times. The early Jews were reluctant to use that name, for fear of using it lightly (Exodus 20:7), and substituted the word 'Adonai' (meaning Master or Lord) in its place. Our English versions have followed suit, using the term "LORD " for Jehovah (small or all caps to distinguish it from Adonai, or Lord). Thus, the name Jehovah appears only four times in the King James and causes us at times to miss the full impact of the passage.

This is especially true in the New Testament quotations from Old Testament passages which used the name "Jehovah" for which "Lord" has been substituted. Now, in the English versions, the name "Lord" appears. If "Jehovah" (i.e., deity) were read instead, much richer meaning would be gathered, and it would prove beyond a doubt the full deity of Christ.
-Consider two examples.
-First, our text quotes from Psalm 102:25-27. The entire psalm consists of praise to Jehovah, and here in Hebrews it addresses the Son. If we read "thou, Jehovah, in the beginning hast laid the foundations of the earth" and realize that Jesus is the subject of the passage, we recognize that Jesus can be none other than the Creator God.

Also, in Matthew 3:3, where John the Baptist fulfilled his prophesied role by teaching "Prepare ye the way of the Lord," quoting from Isaiah 40:3, we see Jesus equated with the Jehovah of the Old Testament, for Isaiah uses the term LORD, or Jehovah.

In these and many other examples, we see Christ as the Jehovah Jesus and that the Lord of the Old Testament is the Jesus of the New Testament.~~
--ICR/JDM
[We find Jesus Christ from Genesis to Revelation. He is both Jehovah God and Jehovah Yahweh, YHWH= our loving, covenant-keeping God.]

--JESUS IS HUMAN~~
-By: Henry M. Morris III, D.Min.

-“Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren.” (Hebrews 2:17)

--There will always be an inability to grasp how the omnipotent and omniscient God could become fully human, yet such is the clear teaching of Scripture. Please notice that “all things” were incorporated into the life of Christ when it “behoved him” to be made like the ones He would call His brethren (our text).

**He experienced pain, hunger, mental exhaustion , etc. (1 Peter 2:23; Matthew 4:2; Luke 8:23; John 19:28).
**He experienced the testing of evil (Luke 4:1-2; Hebrews 4:15; 2:18).

**He was representative of all men in substitutionary death (John 3:14; 12:32).
**He was identified with Adam, the federal head of humanity (1 Corinthians 15:45-47).

**He ascended bodily into heaven (Acts 1:9-11; Ephesians 4:10).
**He still identifies with man (Revelation 1:13-16).

The apostle Paul gave us the simplest summary of what took place among the Trinity as the Lord Jesus “made himself of no reputation.” The Greek term used is 'ekenosen'. Essentially, it means to make empty, to divest, to make void that which was formerly owned. Jesus, the eternal Second Person of the Godhead, “emptied” Himself and “took upon him the form of a servant.” Then, he “was made” in the likeness of men (Philippians 2:7).

Please notice the action of the verbs. Jesus did the “making” and the “taking” of the servant likeness that was prepared for Him (Hebrews 10:5). Once emptied and in the body that was made for Him, He “became obedient unto death, even the death of the Cross” (Philippians 2:8).
--ICR/ HMM III-/ 'Worthy is the Lamb' / Hillsong (Some have named this song, 'Thank You For the Cross.' They are the same.)
<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vz5F4ntVKvU>

--We Can Trust God's Unchanging Word.

-GOD'S ENDURING WORD~~

-"Heaven and earth will
pass away, but my words
will never pass away."
--(Matthew 24:35)
---
-AT the beginning of World War II, aerial bombings flattened much of Warsaw, Poland. Cement blocks, ruptured plumbing, and shards of glass lay strewn across the great city. In the downtown area, however most of one damaged building still stubbornly stood. It was the Polish headquarters for the British and Foreign Bible Society. Still legible on a surviving wall were these words: "Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away" (MATT. 24:35).

Jesus made that statement to encourage His disciples when they asked Him about the "end of the age" (v.3). But His words also give us courage in the midst of our embattled situation today. Standing in the rubble of our shattered dreams, we can still find confidence in God's indestructible character, sovereignty, and promises.

The Psalmist wrote: "You word, LORD, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens" (PS. 119:89). But it is more than the word of the Lord; it is His very character. That is why the Psalmist could also say, "Your faithfulness continues through all generations" (V.90).

As we face devastating experiences, we can define them either in terms of despair or of hope. Because God will not abandon us to our circumstances, we can confidently choose hope. His enduring Word assures us of His unfailing love. ~~
-----
--WE CAN ALWAYS TRUST GOD'S UNCHANGING WORD.~~
--ODB/DF--/Awesome God--/ Rich Mullins
<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mEuqVQvIgFo>
----

-----ABIDING FRUIT ~~

-“Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.” (John 15:16)

Every true Christian desires to be a fruit-bearing Christian, not one who is “barren” and “unfruitful” (2 Peter 1:8). He or she also earnestly desires that the fruit—whether that of a godly character (Galatians 5:22-23) or that of others won to Christ (Romans 1:13)—will not wither but remain strong and healthy before the Lord.

The promise of Christ in our text is that our fruit will remain, if He has chosen us and we go forth praying in His name and seeking sincerely to bear fruit for His name’s sake. It is significant that the Greek word translated “remain” (that is, 'meno') is also commonly translated “abide,” as well as “continue.” In fact, it occurs no less than 12 times in John 15:4-16, the last being in our text verse above.

To “abide in Christ” does not mean to be continually aware of His presence or perpetually thinking only of Him, but it does mean to continue believing His Word and serving Him. “Continue ye in my love,” He commands (v. 9). To do that, He says that “if ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love” (v. 10).

He also has said, “If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed” (John 8:31). “If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you” (John 15:7).

**Note the progression. He says, “Abide in me, and I in you” (v. 4). This means He says that “my words abide in you,” and also we are to “continue in my love,” which implies that “ye keep my commandments.” It follows, then, that as we “continue” in His Word, we shall “bring forth fruit” that will “remain”!
--ICR/HMM --'HERE I AM TO WORSHIP' / Phillips, Craig and Dean ~
<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Ljtmdp0myc>
~~~~~~

---WHAT SHALL WE DO [TO BE SAVED]?

“Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?” (John 6:28)-

This question is often asked by people who try to work their way into heaven. It was also asked in various ways by men in the New Testament, and it is vitally important to get the correct answer to such questions there and nowhere else.

For example, a rich young ruler once asked Jesus, “What shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?” Jesus answered, “Go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor . . . and come, take up the cross, and follow me” (Mark 10:17, 21). That is, there is nothing of his own that one can bring to Christ to earn salvation; one must simply be willing to yield himself fully to Christ.

A lawyer had asked Jesus the same question, “tempting him.” This time, His answer was, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself” (Luke 10:27). But this standard is humanly unattainable by any child of Adam, so in effect, the lawyer was told it was impossible for him to do anything himself to inherit eternal life.

When the crowd asked Peter on the day of Pentecost, “pricked in their heart” because they had crucified Christ, “What shall we do?” Peter answered, “Repent, and be baptized . . . in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins” (Acts 2:37-38). What they had to “do” was an inward act of repentance and faith toward Christ and an outward public testimony demonstrating the reality of that inward change of heart and mind.

Years later at Philippi, a jailer asked Paul the apostle one night, “What must I do to be saved?” The answer was simply, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved” (Acts 16:30-31).
--ICR/HMM
[ Friend, there is nothing more that you can do to be saved. Jesus already paid our sin-debt by dying on the Cross. We can not buy our way, pray our way, do good deeds, or give to charities to earn salvation. These all are good deeds that Christians will do 'after' they are saved. Once you are born again, as (John Chapter 3:3-6), tells us. We will no longer feel like we MUST DO SOMETHING,(earn) our way into Heaven. Because if that were true, Jesus would not have had to die on the Cross. He was our perfect sacrifice. He was sinless. The price has already been paid, we simply must receive this 'free gift' by faith, and follow in Jesus steps. The Bible is our road map to heaven. Read it, and follow the instructions in it.
Some have used the acrostic for BIBLE= Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth.
Are you saved? Are you born again? Jesus said, "You must be born again to inherit the kingdom of heaven." To be 'born-again' means you have done a 180* turn. You have become a new person in Christ. No longer do you want the things of the world, you will want MORE of Jesus Christ. "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved." In believing you will follow in His steps. "We are saved by grace through faith and that not of own, it is a gift of God not of works lest anyone should boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9)] -/ I SURRENDER ALL / NEWSBOYS~~
<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yp2Y65cS7L4>
----

--WHAT MUST I DO TO BE SAVED?

--Please Read Romans Chapter 10 verses 9-13.

--"That if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved;

'For with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation."

"For the Scripture says, "Whoever believes in Him will not be disappointed." --(Isaiah 28:16)

"For whoever will call on the Name of the Lord will be saved." (JOEL 2:32)~~
We find Jesus in the Old and New Testament. Jesus is Messiah. Jesus said, "I and My Father are One." Accept this by faith. JESUS LOVES YOU!
--"Now My Life Songs Sings" / Casting Crowns<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQrWMfWO0Kw>
--------

---JESUS CHRIST, BONDSERVANT ~~

--(Please Read/ Philippians 2:5-7)

The disciples gathered around a table to celebrate Passover with Jesus. If one of them had been more thoughtful of the others—or possessed a spirit of servanthood—he would have done the very thing Christ did: take water and a cloth, kneel before the 12 other men, one at a time, and wash their feet. Jesus came into this world as a servant (Matt. 20:28). He was willing to do whatever was necessary to move men and women’s hearts and bring them to a saving knowledge of God.

A bondslave was the lowest of household servants, and he had the distasteful job of washing the feet of anyone who entered the home. This is the very task Christ voluntarily performed that evening, right before His trial and sufferings would begin. His act was a foreshadowing of the service He was about to render on behalf of the whole world—by dying on the cross for humanity’s sin.

We who believe in Jesus Christ do not call Him “slave”; we identify Him as our Master. So when He says that a servant is not greater than His master, He is speaking of our relationship with Him (John 13:16). Believers bend their knees to God’s most humble servant, His Son. How are you serving the almighty Lord?

Christians are God’s workmanship, created for the purpose of good works (Eph. 2:10). In other words, we were saved to serve. Therefore, there is no valid excuse for refusal. When you surrender to the Lord, you step onto the pathway of Jesus Christ, which is the best possible way to live.
--IN TOUCH~--(NO WORDS ON SCREEN/ Turn up Speakers!)
--/'LET IT BE JESUS' / Christy Nockels/ Passion / <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N2h9Hm9JZho>
-----------

--THE INVITATIONS OF CHRIST~

“He saith unto them, Come and see. They came and saw where he dwelt, and abode with him that day: for it was about the tenth hour.”
-----(John 1:39)

-This is the first of the gracious invitations of the Lord Jesus to “come” to Him. On this occasion, right after His baptism by John, He invited two potential disciples to come with Him to His dwelling place. Very likely, this was an outdoor mat somewhere, for He soon afterwards acknowledged that “the Son of man hath not where to lay his head” (Matthew 8:20).

Nevertheless, one night of abiding with Jesus changed their lives. Soon afterwards, He issued another invitation to them. “Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men” (Mark 1:17), and they never went home again. First He invites us to come to see and know Him, then to come with Him to win others.

There is also the wonderful invitation to come to Him for relief from our burdens and cares. “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). And note His promise to those who do accept His invitation: “Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out” (John 6:37).

There were also personal invitations. To Zacchaeus, the seeking sinner glimpsing Jesus from a sycamore tree, He said, “come down; for to day I must abide at thy house” (Luke 19:5). To His friend Lazarus, dead and bound in a tomb, He cried, “Lazarus, come forth” (John 11:43), and not even the grave could prevent his accepting such a call.

-There are other invitations from the Lord with gracious promises to those who come, but note especially the final invitation of the Bible: “And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely” (Revelation 22:17).
**My friend, there is no sin that you may have committed that He will not forgive. He truly will do whatever it takes. His grace riches lower than your mistake. Come Home to Jesus, He's calling you. Jesus paid your sin debt by dying on the Cross.
--ICR/ HMM --/ "He'll Do Whatever It Takes" / Phillips, Craig and Dean~ <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=90mE9PE7aUQ>
--------

--RECOGNIZING THE SON OF GOD~--
---By: Henry M. Morris, Ph.D.
---Evidence for Creation

“For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” (2 Peter 1:17)

Most people today consider Jesus Christ to have been a great man but will not believe He is the unique Son of God. Nevertheless, He is indeed God’s only begotten Son.

Before His birth, the angel Gabriel predicted it. “That holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God” (Luke 1:35). John the Baptist identified Him: “And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God” (John 1:34). His disciples recognized Him. “Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God” (John 1:49).
“Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16). John said that the very purpose of his gospel was to demonstrate “that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God” (John 20:31). After Christ’s resurrection, even Thomas exclaimed, “My Lord and my God” (John 20:28).

-The powers of darkness grudgingly acknowledged who He was: “And unclean spirits, when they saw him, fell down before him, and cried, saying, Thou art the Son of God” (Mark 3:11). Even the centurion who supervised His crucifixion had to confess, “Truly this was the Son of God” (Matthew 27:54). Most important of all was the testimony of God the Father from heaven to Christ’s Sonship, both at His baptism (e.g., Mark 1:11) and on the Mount of Transfiguration, as Peter records in our text.

Therefore, it is necessary for our salvation that we also believe this. “He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God” (John 3:18).
-[Please Read: Colossians Chapter 1 verses 13 through 20]
--ICR/HMM--"Praise the Father, Praise the Son, Praise the Spirit Three in One." --/ Chris Tomlin
<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1nOjPtIUTQo>
-----------

---CHRIST OUR LEADER~~

“For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.” ---(Hebrews 2:10)--

The Lord never asks us to go anywhere that He has not gone before. He is the captain (literally, the “leader”) of our salvation, and we only need follow our divine leader. The same word is used in Hebrews 12:2, where we are exhorted to be “looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith.” “Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps” (1 Peter 2:21). “Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince [same word] and a Saviour” (Acts 5:31).

The same wonderful truth appears under various figures. He is our Shepherd, for instance, and He says, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish” (John 10:27-28). He also illumines our path. “I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life” (John 8:12). He guides us along the way by His indwelling Holy Spirit. “When he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth. . . . and he will show you things to come” (John 16:13).

With such a dauntless leader, a perfect example, a loving Shepherd, a clear light, and an infallible guide, we are (or should be) happy to follow Him, even if the way sometimes seems steep and hard.

-He is the goal and prize at the end of the journey. For Him, Paul said, “I have suffered the loss of all things.... that I may win Christ . . . forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:8, 13-14).
--ICR/HMM -- / 'IN CHRIST ALONE' --/ OWL CITY ~--<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xnWw24s5gG8>
--------

---SON OF GOD~~

-“Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.” (Romans 1:3-4)-

It is noteworthy that the identification of Jesus Christ as the Son of God is directly associated with His resurrection from the dead. “The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death” (1 Corinthians 15:26), and since only God Himself can conquer death, Christ’s bodily resurrection is the conclusive affirmation of His unique deity: “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16). Many others have claimed divine sonship, but all are dead—only Christ validated that claim by defeating death. “God . . . hath raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the second psalm, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee” (Acts 13:33). “Death is swallowed up in victory . . . . through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:54, 57).

Jesus is explicitly called “the Son of God” about 44 times in the New Testament, only half as often as He is called “Son of man.” Nevertheless, this great truth is clearly taught in numerous other ways than by the use of the title itself. It is so important that there is no salvation for the one who denies it. Jesus said plainly, “He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God” (John 3:18).

Because He lives, we who believe on His name will also live forever! “Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? . . . He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life” (1 John 5:5, 12-13).
--ICR/HMM-- / 'SAVIOR KING'/ Don Moen
<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YK9JRoo8wyw>
------------

---THE ONLY WAY~~

"Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life. no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
--(John 14:6)--

---This is surely one of the best-known, best loved, most important, clearest, yet most profound verses in the Bible. There is no other way to come to God except through Christ, no other truth than that which is founded and centered on Christ, and no other eternal life except the life of Christ imparted to the believer--through faith in Christ.

All who teach otherwise are "thieves and robbers" of the soul, for Jesus said, "I am the door" (John 10:8-9). There is no other door to heaven and no other Shepherd of the sheep. He is the only "light of the world" (John 8:12) to illumine a world otherwise blackened by sin, "For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts to give the life of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ" (2 Corinthians 4:6).

He is "that bread of life...the living bread which came down from heaven; if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever" (John 6:48,51), and there is no other such life-sustaining eternal food for the hungry soul.

Likewise, He is the "living water." "If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink" (John 7:37-38). No other water satisfies. He is also the one "true vine" in whom we must abide for fruit-producing life. He said, "for without me ye can do nothing" (John 15:1,5).

-The Scriptures have made it abundantly plain that there is "none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved" (Acts 4:12).

There is no other way; the Lord Jesus Christ is the all-sufficient way, and the perfect way, to God. It is not that He shows the way: He is the way and all who want to come, can come to God through Him.
--ICR/HMM~~--/"Be Exalted, O God" / John Michael ~

<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q6PaSuI1gig>
--------

--PRAISING THE LAMB OF GOD~~
----(Please Read/ Revelation 5:1-12)

--In heaven, there is unceasing worship and praise of God. Revelation 4 and 5 describe John’s vision, in which four living creatures proclaimed God’s holiness day and night. The apostle then heard 24 elders respond with a declaration of God’s worthiness (Revelation 4:8-11). He listened as they sang a new song of praise, declaring that the Lamb of God had purchased men for God—and then witnessed multitudes of angels proclaiming Jesus’ worth (Revelation 5:9-12).

What was it about Jesus that motivated such heartfelt worship? It was who He is, what He has done, and what He will do. He is ...

• God the Son, who laid aside His divinity so that He might rescue us (Phil. 2:6-7).

• The Savior who took on human form and died so that we might be saved (Phil. 2:8).

• The only One who revealed God the Father to us (John 14:9).

• The Son of Man, who chose to identify with us because of His great love (John 1:14, John 15:13).

• The Lamb of God, who took away the sins of the world (John 1:29).

• The Lion of Judah, who will return as the judge, the ruler, and the authority over all (Revelation 5:5).

--These same attributes should motivate our praise and worship of Jesus. Ask the Lord to help you establish a pattern of praising Him and responding in adoration each time you think of Him. Heavenly music is to be sung by the redeemed on earth for all to hear.
--IN TOUCH~~
---ROSE OF BETHLEHEM--SELAH ~~ <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SqfXy-qgxRY>

--THE NAMES OF CHRIST~~
----(PLEASE READ/ Philippians 2:5-11)-

The Bible ascribes many different names to Jesus, all of which provide great insight into His character and person. Here are some from John’s gospel that I find particularly revealing:

**The Good Shepherd (10:11) protects his sheep at all cost from predators. They know His voice and follow Him.

**The Door (vv. 7-9) is the only way to enter heaven.. Whoever enters through the “gate” of Christ will be saved.

**The Vine (15:1-10) is the source of our spiritual life. When we stay intimately connected to Jesus, we bear fruit. If we do not remain in Him, we wither.

**The Bread of Life (6:25-35) the only one who can truly satisfy our hearts. Jesus feeds our souls with sustenance that never leaves us wanting for more.

**The Light of the World (9:5) shines His light through our countenance as a ministry and testimony to a dark world.

**The Way (14:6) to happiness, peace, joy, and eternal life is Jesus Christ.

**The Truth (14:6) of His revelation, as recorded in the New Testament, is the reason we can know as much as we do about God.

**The Life (14:6) Jesus imparts to believers is powerful, effective, and fruitful, not only in eternity but here on earth as well.

--In biblical times, Israelites would choose a baby’s name based on the child’s characteristics or a hope or prayer of the parent. The names given to Jesus tell a great deal about His ministry on earth 2,000 years ago. The scriptural names describing Him reveal who He was and is and will be for eternity.
--IN TOUCH~~/ 'I AM' / 365 Names of God/ (SPEAKERS NEEDED/ no words on screen) JESUS IS 'I AM'. Jesus said, "I and My Father are One."
<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8UQf9zZBzv4&t=2109s>
___________________

--GOING AGAINST THE FLOW~~
--(Please Read/ Psalm 62:1-6)--

---A majority may rule in the culture, but in your personal life, there should be only one ruler—and that’s God. It makes no difference if 10,000 people tell you what you ought to do. Once you have decided to follow the Lord, it’s best to stand right where you are until you get marching orders from Him.

Does this mean we should never take godly counsel? Not at all. It simply means that when we know God hasn’t said to move, we shouldn’t yield to the temptation to please others by following their directives or timeline. In other words, while seeking scriptural advice, believers should also listen for the Holy Spirit’s promptings and warnings. For example, when dealing with your children, you may sense there’s a time to bring up an issue and a time to hold off (Eccl. 3:7).

Sometimes, however, a fear of failure may discourage us from doing things God’s way, making us think, 'What if things don’t turn out as I planned? What if I’m ridiculed by my peers?' But ultimately, we must ask ourselves whether we’re going to listen to God or the world. Remember, you don’t have to fear failure when you obey the Lord. He’s the one who intervenes in times of hardship. And He promises to act in behalf of the one who waits for Him (Isa. 64:4).

-Remaining steadfast takes courage. That’s why Paul said, “Be strong in the Lord” (Eph. 6:10). All the pressure in the world can’t make you budge when you trust the Rock upon which you stand. With God’s guidance, you can act with complete confidence of a successful outcome.
--IN TOUCH~--/ - "Stronger" / By: Hillsong ~<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G7YdtfjMAIc>
------

---THE STUMBLING BLOCK~~

“Let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ -- this Jesus whom you crucified.”
--(Acts 2:36 NASB)

Christ is not a name attached to Jesus of Nazareth; it is a title. I believe that Jesus of Nazareth is the Christ -- the Anointed One, the Messiah. And I believe He is the Son of God. This understanding is at the center of the Christian faith and the reason a great deal of the pushback on the Christian faith focuses on Jesus. You can say He was a teacher, a miracle worker, a healer, and a wise man who impacted human history and get almost universal agreement. But He becomes a stumbling block when you assert that He was God’s Son, the Anointed One, the Messiah who died on the Cross for you and me. Yes, “the message of the Cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God” (1 Cor. 1:18 NIV®).

**THINK ABOUT IT
How do the descriptions “Anointed One,” “Messiah,” and “Son of God” help you understand the life and work of Jesus? How does the message of the cross bring to you the power of God?

**PRAYER
--"Heavenly Father, thank You for sending Jesus. I acknowledge my need of a Savior; forgive me of my sins. Jesus, be Lord of my life. I want to live for Your glory and Your honor. I yield my will to You. Let the name of Jesus be lifted up. Let the name of Jesus be exalted. Let the name of Jesus be honored in this generation. In Jesus’ name, amen."

--Intend Ministries
--Pastor Allen Jackson ~~-/
["Behold, I lay in Zion a Choice Stone, A Precious Corner stone, And He who believes in Him will not be disappointed." --[1 Peter chapter 2 verse 6/ Also ISAIAH 28 Verse 16])
"This precious value, then, is for you who believe; but for those who disbelieve,
"The Stone which the
Builders rejected,
This Became the very Corner Stone, and,
A Stone of Stumbling and a Rock of offense;"
for they stumble because they are disobedient to the
word, and to this doom they were also appointed."
---[1 PETER 2:verses 7 thru 9 NASB]
--'CORNERSTONE'--/ Leon Patillo~
<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jUScdfiOdMc>
-----

---FREE TO WORSHIP~~

-"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 11:29)--

--We weren't meant to direct our own lives, Jesus is Lord and King of all Creation. He is the Creator of all things visible and invisible. (Read Colossians Chapter 13 thru 20).

Our Lord and Savior, Christ Jesus, promised that in seeking Him we will find the rest we long for (Mattew Chapter 11 verses 25 thru 28). Unlike many other religious teachers' emphasis on rigorous study of Scripture or an elaborate set of rules, Jesus taught that it's simply through knowing Him that we know God (v.27). In seeking Him, we find our heavy burdens lifted and our lives transformed.

Because following Him, our gentle and humble Leader (v. 29), is never burdensome--it's the way of hope and healing. Resting in His love, we are free to worship King Jesus. We serve a Holy, Righteous and Just King above all kings. Jesus died a very painful and brutal death on the Cross to pay our way into His Kingdom. Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father except through Me." Jesus is the great 'I AM'. ~~

--TRUE FREEDOM IS FOUND IN FOLLOWING CHRIST~

--ODB/MB~ "For His Name is Holy"/ Paul Wilbur ~ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xcx2O9WXvn8

---HOW CHRIST MODELED HUMILITY~
--(Please Read/ Philippians 2:1-11)-

Although humility is not highly valued in our society, it’s essential in the Christian life. And the one who set the pattern for it is Jesus Himself. Therefore, as His followers, we too should seek to have a humble spirit. Humility is lowliness of mind that does not seek to exalt or assert self, and from today’s passage, we learn that it’s characterized by several traits:

**Humility is other-focused (Phil. 2:3-4). Christ was looking out for our interests when He came to earth to rescue us from sin and condemnation.

**Humility doesn’t grasp rights and privileges (Phil. 2:6-7). Although Jesus was fully God, He emptied Himself and took on the limitations of humanity.

**Humility willingly serves others (Phil. 2:7). The Lord didn’t come as a self-serving ruler who wanted to conquer and subjugate the world. Instead, He came as a lowly slave serving others.

**Humility obeys God (Phil. 2:8). The Son came to earth in full obedience to the Father. He did and said only what His Father commanded Him (John 5:19), including His ultimate act of obedience: laying down His life on the Cross to pay for the sins of mankind.

**These qualities are the exact opposite of the ambition, self-promotion, and self-advancement our culture values. Humility requires the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit. From the world’s perspective, humility is weakness. But which takes more strength—to deny self or to promote self? Humility overcomes our natural self-centeredness. Instead of being a sign of weakness, it’s actually a sign of Christ’s life in us.
--IN TOUCH~--'IN CHRIST ALONE' ~~ Travis Cottrel <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AjR_A2pGPrY>
--------------
------------

----DO YOU WANT TO SEE JESUS? HE IS ALIVE TODAY! TALK TO HIM!

--THE SUFFERING SERVANT~~
--ISAIAH Chapter 53 (selected verses)~

"Who has believed our message?
And to who has the arm of the LORD been revealed?

For He grew up before Him
like a tender shoot,
And like a root out of parched ground;

He has no stately form or majesty
That we should look upon Him,
Nor appearance that we should be attracted to Him.

He was despised and forsaken of men,
A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief;
And like one from who men hide their face
He was despised and we did not
esteem Him.

Surely our griefs He Himself bore,
And our sorrows He carried;
Yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken,

Smitten of God, and afflicted.
But He was pierced through for our transgressions,
He was crushed for our iniquities;
The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him,
And by His scouring we are healed.

All of us like sheep have gone astray,
Each of us has turned to his own way;
But the LORD has caused the iniquity
of us all to fall upon Him.

He was oppressed and He was afflicted,
Yet He did not open His mouth:
Like a lamb that is led to slaughter,
And like a sheep that is silent
before it shearers,
So He did not open His mouth.

But the LORD was pleased
To crush Him, putting Him to grief;
If He would render Himself
As a guilt offering,
He will prolong His days,
And the good pleasure of the
LORD will prosper in His hand.

He Himself bore the sin of many
And interceded for the transgressors."

---JESUS CHRIST PAID OUR SIN-DEBT BY DYING ON THAT CROSS. ~~----"Take Me In to the Holy of Holies"-- / Petra<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hqAfQ_mYJvU>
---------

--WALKING ON WATER~~

-"Jesus immediately
said to them: 'Take
courage! it is I.
Don't be afraid.'"
--(Matthew 14:27)--

---When the disciples saw Jesus walking on the water, their response was great fear. But Jesus responded, "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid" (Matthew 14 verses 26-27). Peter was able to overcome his fear and step out to Jesus. Jesus was still there, near enough to simply reach out His hand to rescue him.

If you are facing a situation today where Jesus is calling you to do something that may seem as impossible as walking on water, take courage. The One who calls you will be present with you.~~

--WHEN WE CALL OUT TO GOD, HE HEARS AND COMES TO OUR NEED. JESUS SAID, "LO, I AM WITH YOU ALWAYS EVEN UNTIL THE END OF THE AGE." ~~

--ODB/LS---'SOVEREIGN' / Chris Tomlin~
<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=52SZo0QADSQ>
------

---BLESSED ASSURANCE ~~ YOU CAN KNOW!
---(Please Read/ Hebrews 10:22-23)--

How do you know whether your salvation is genuine? Is there any way to be absolutely certain, or do you have to live in uncertainty, fearing that you may do or say something that could nullify your acceptance by God?

Although Scripture assures us that we can be absolutely certain we are saved, many Christians are continually plagued by doubts. Sometimes sin triggers the thought that we’ve gone too far this time. Another problem is reliance on shifting emotions as verification of our standing with God.
--Perhaps we’ve been comparing ourselves with other believers who seem more righteous and then conclude we must not be saved. Or maybe we’ve listened to false teaching that claims eternal life can be lost.

Basically our lack of assurance boils down to two issues: We don’t believe what God’s Word says, and we think we are the ones who must hold onto our salvation. Jesus said that no one can snatch His sheep out of His hand (John 10:27-29). He’s the one who holds us, and He’s promised that He will lose none of those whom the Father has given Him (John 6:39). If we begin to doubt for any reason, we must go back to Scripture and let the Lord assure us of His love and provision.

Those who are saved are guaranteed eternal life, but how can you be certain that your salvation is genuine? One test is perseverance. God uses trials to test your faith (1 Peter 1:6-7). When trials come and you do not fall away, your faith has been proven genuine.

**What’s more, Romans 8:16 tells us, “The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God.” Our Lord asked the question, "Why do you call me Lord and do not do the things I say?" Read your Holy Bible. Do what Jesus says, and then others will see 'Christ in you the hope of glory.'
Ask yourself, "Who Am I?" You should be able to know and hear in your heart, "You are my child. I bought you with my shed blood on Calvary." ~~

--IN TOUCH~--'WHO AM I?"/ Casting Crowns~~<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_RqMSEJw-E>
--------------

---WHAT IS SIN?

“Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.”
-----(1 John 3:4)--

---The Bible warns that “the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23), and “the soul that sinneth, it shall die” (Ezekiel 18:20). These are strange days, however, and there are many “that call evil good, and good evil” (Isaiah 5:20). Who is to say what is right and wrong, when even our U.S. Supreme Court implies that there are no absolutes?

God is the one who defines sin because it is He who will judge sin. The definition is multifaceted, for sin takes many forms. Most basically, as our text says, sin is the transgression of the law—not just certain laws but all of God’s law. “For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all” (James 2:10).

But there must be more than just formal obedience to God’s commands, for “all unrighteousness is sin” (1 John 5:17). Furthermore, there are sins of omission as well as sins of commission. “To him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin” (James 4:17).

When there is no specific law or command to guide our actions in a particular situation, the principle to follow is that of faith—that is, the confident inward assurance that we are doing that which honors the Lord, for “whatsoever is not of faith is sin” (Romans 14:23).

There is much more that could be noted, but it is clear that no one could ever measure up even to these demands, “for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). All of us deserve the wages of sin, “but God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). Now “the righteousness of God without the law is manifested. . . . Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ” (Romans 3:21-22).

--ICR/HMM --"God of All My Days" / Casting Crowns~ / <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RocPcgqCDE0>
-------

---BEST FRIENDS ~~

"I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead."
---(Philippians 3:10-11 / NIV)

--I have lived for several years with a rather simple idea: I want to be Jesus’ friend. You and I know what it means to be a true friend. We want to really know them. We learn what is important to them and try not to intentionally aggravate them. We learn what they like and what they don’t like, and we try to do things that make them happy. Being Jesus’ friend is similar to that notion. We want to live in a way that pleases Him and respects what He thinks is important.
--Someday when I see Jesus face to face, I want Him to be glad to see me. I want Him to smile at me, not the polite smile of a casual acquaintance but the huge smile we give a friend. For me, that is the essence of being a Christ-follower. It’s not about a set of rules or a building I go to on the weekends. I just want to be Jesus’ friend.

**THINK ABOUT IT
Is your relationship with Jesus a real friendship? What do you imagine Jesus’ expression will be when you see Him face to face?

**PRAYER
--"Heavenly Father, knowing and loving You is my deepest desire. Teach me to sit quietly before You and listen to what You say in Your Word. Teach me to do the things I say I believe in, such as loving my neighbor, telling the truth, and giving with a cheerful heart. Thank You for the suffering Jesus chose in order that I might have a relationship with You and be His friend. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen."

**Blessings,
***Pastor Allen Jackson
**Intend Ministries
~~~~~~/ "I AM A FRIEND OF GOD"/ Phillips, Craig, and Dean ~
<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lcxKRsn-hGc>
------------

---ALL IN ALL~~

--“Because I will publish the name of the LORD: ascribe ye greatness unto our God. He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.”
----(Deuteronomy 32:3-4)--

It is a thrilling exercise to note all the holy and gracious attributes attached to the name of God by the writers of Holy Scripture. In our text, for example, taken from the song of Moses, God is called a “God of truth..” According to the prophet Isaiah, the Lord is a “God of judgment” (Isaiah 30:18).

David called God both the “God of my righteousness” and “the God of salvation” (Psalms 4:1; 68:20).

In the New Testament, Stephen called Him “the God of glory” (Acts 7:2). Paul called Him both “the God of hope” and “the God of patience and consolation” (Romans 15:5, 13) when he wrote to the persecuted believers in the great capital of the Roman Empire.

To the carnal Christians in Corinth, He was called “the God of all comfort” and “the God of love and peace” (2 Corinthians 1:3; 13:11), and to the suffering believers in Philippi, Paul identified Him as “the God of peace” (Philippians 4:9).

The apostle Peter called Him “the God of all grace” (1 Peter 5:10), and the writer of Hebrews recognized Him as both “God the judge of all” and “the God of peace” (Hebrews 12:23; 13:20).

Our God is, indeed, the God who is all in all to His people. He is the God of truth and righteousness, of peace and love, of patience and comfort, of hope and grace, glory, and salvation. “Great and marvelous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints” (Revelation 15:3). Is He, above all, “Lord of all” in us who know Him?
--ICR/HMM --/ "You Are My All In All" -- Singer: Charmaine~~ / <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nekxcLkMgB4>
------

--JESUS KNOWS WHY~~

-"When Jesus had
finished saying
these things, the
crowds were amazed
at His teaching."
--(Matthew 7: verse 28)-

--In Mark 8:22 thru 26, we read the story of Jesus healing a man born blind. Jesus first took the man away from the village. Then He spit on the man's eyes and "put his hands on him." The man said he now saw people who looked "like trees walking around." Then Jesus touched the man's eyes again, and this time he saw "everything clearly."

In His ministry, Jesus's words and actions often amazed and baffled the crowd and His followers (Matthew 7 verse 28) and even drove many of them away (John 6 verses 60 thru 66). No doubt this two-part miracle also caused confusion. Why not 'immediately' heal this man?

We don't know why. But Jesus knew what the man--and the disciples who viewed his healing--needed in that moment. And He knows what we need today to draw us closer in our relationship with Him. Though we won't always understand, we can trust that God is working in our lives and the lives of our loved ones. And He will give us the strength, courage, and clarity we need to persevere in following Him.~~

--OPEN OUR EYES, LORD, WE WANT TO SEE JESUS. ~

--ODB/AK~--"Strong Enough" / Matthew West ~<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JCJNZydWoOg>
--------

--God's Omnipotent Voice~~

--(Please Read/ Psalm 29)--

--FROM GOD'S FIRST STATEMENT in Genesis chapter 1 verse 3--"Let there be light"--to Jesus' last words in Revelation 22:20--"Yes, I am coming quickly"--divine omnipotence is demonstrated. The voice that brought all things into existence sovereignly controls time, circumstances, and nature.--

The Lord sat as King, bringing judgment over the whole earth with the flood in Noah's day, and He continues to reign over the Earth's tumultuous upheavals today. Although we may be tempted to craft for ourselves a gentler version of God, we know who He truly is when we accept all that Scripture says about Him.

David likens God's voice to a violent storm sweeping in from the Sea with fury as it covers the land (Psalm 29 verses 3 thru 9), yet he also mentions that the Lord strengthens His people and blesses them with peace (v. 11). All God's attributes blend together perfectly. He's powerful yet loving, just and merciful, and both righteous and forgiving.

Whether in Noah's day or our own, the messages is the same: "The LORD sits as King forever" (V.10). Trust and intimacy grow with familiarity and experience. As you learn to know God through His Word and experience His faithfulness, your trust will grow, and you'll long for the day when His splendor, majesty, and power are known throughout the Earth.~

--IN TOUCH~~ --"IN JESUS NAME" /Kutless~ <https://youtu.be/TaKML4AHwzo>------
----------

---BLESSING OUR ENEMIES~~~~
---(PLEASE READ/ Luke 6:27-28)--

As stories of the persecuted church reach us, we learn about Christians who respond to imprisonment, beatings, and harassment with unimaginable grace and dignity. These saints have learned to obey Christ’s command to “love your enemies” (Luke 6:27), even in the harshest of circumstances.

We may never face physical persecution for our faith, but we will run across people who hate and mistreat us. The most natural response is to dislike them in return, but harboring ill will and bitterness chokes our witness and poisons our souls. Instead, Jesus instructs us to love our adversaries and treat them well.

The Greek word for this kind of love is agape—this is not a feeling based on the other person’s likability or favor toward us but, rather, an action of the will that does what is best for the other person. It’s the type of love God has and, therefore, is not something we can muster within ourselves. But as the Holy Spirit produces His fruit in us, agape love will flow through us, even to our enemies.

When someone wrongs or hurts us, it’s an opportunity to be a witness for Christ. Rather than harboring animosity or seeking revenge, we are told to pray for our adversary. Instead of begging the Father to defeat our enemy, we can ask Him for the strength to express genuine Christlike love in the face of opposition.

--That’s the kind of prayer God is delighted to answer. And when we are privileged to meet the need of one who despises us, we might just see an amazing change in his life.
--IN TOUCH~~--"Your Unfailing Love"/ Hillsong~~<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dm1gMlg0a6U>
---------

----10 REASONS WHY JESUS IS GOD~~

-- -Please take the time to read and listen this post. It is totally scriptural and it also identifies those who are NOT TRUE FOLLOWERS OF JESUS CHRIST. Have your speakers, and spiritual hearts open.
JESUS SAID, "I am the way the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me."--(John 14:6)

<https://youtu.be/R9OGg6qPwTo>
-----------------
-(Please read the video above firstly. It will make this song more spiritually powerful!
--THE LION AND THE LION/ BIG DADDY WEEVE<https://youtu.be/rMTfj4xOjZk>
-------------

---THERE IS ONE GOD MANIFESTED IN THREE PERSONS ~~

-----GOD IS TRIUNE ~~
--BY/ HENRY M. MORRIS III, D.MIN.

“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.” (Matthew 28:19)--

The foundational plank of Israel’s worship was Deuteronomy 6:4—“Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD.” Even the great apostle James acknowledged, “Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble” (James 2:19).

Some have suggested that the Old Testament does not teach the Trinity and that the New Testament is making a “god” out of Jesus to foster the new religion. Nothing could be further from the truth. Both sections present the triune God.

-- The Father is named in Malachi 2:10: “Have we not all one father? hath not one God created us?” Jesus Himself insisted that we pray to the Father. “After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name” (Matthew 6:9).

-- The Son is clearly declared in both Testaments. “The LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee” (Psalm 2:7). Jesus said, “I and the Father are one” (John 10:30), and the apostle Paul insisted that the Lord Jesus was “all the fulness of the Godhead bodily” (Colossians 2:9).

-- The Holy Spirit is hardly a stranger to both Testaments. King David knew that “the Spirit of the LORD spake by me, and his word was in my tongue” (2 Samuel 23:2). And as the Lord Jesus was preparing to go back to the Father, He promised that “the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you” (John 14:26)

-- This much is clear: There is one God, who is manifested to us in three Persons.
---ICR/HMM III--/ "THIS I BELIEVE"-( The Creed)- by Hillsong~ <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6GuOrkjoMKs>
-------

--GOD CALLS YOUR NAME~~

--"This is what the Lord GOD says: I, myself,
will search for my sheep and take care of them.'
---(EZEKIEL 34 verse 11)

~~~~He's waiting for you. God is standing on the porch of Heaven, expectantly hoping, searching the horizon for a glimpse of his child. You're the one God is seeking.

God is the waiting Father, the caring Shepherd in search of his Lamb. His legs are scratched, his feet are sore, and his eyes are burning. He scales the cliffs and traverses the fields. He explores the caves. He cups his hands to his mouth and calls into the canyon.

--And the name He calls is yours.....

The message is simple: God gave up his Son in order to rescue all his sons and daughters. To bring his children Home. He's listening for your answer. When you put your trust in Jesus Christ as your Lord, Savior, and Redeemer. He will carry you all throughout this life on planet Earth and also straight into Heaven to live eternally with Him. He's calling your name.

--If you haven't given your life to Jesus, please do NOT put off another day before Admitting you are a sinner in need of a Savior, Believing in your heart that Jesus died for your sins, and Confessing your sins and need for Jesus to carry you. He's waiting for your call. ABC~

--God Is Calling Your Name~/ML~~ --"He Will Carry You." by: Scott Wesley Brown~ <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vzv6_2uqDx4>
---------

--THE WAY TO FATHER GOD~~

-There is only one way and one Person who can lead you to Father God. His Name is Jesus Christ. If you Accept Him as your Lord and Savior, Believe He is the only way to Father God, and Confess Him as your Lord and Savior, He will not turn you away. We do this by FAITH. Confess that you are a sinner in need of Jesus as your Savior. ABC~
~~~~~~~~
--"Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God." ~
----(Romans 10:17)

"Without FAITH it is impossible to please God; for He that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him."
----(Hebrews 11 verse 6)

Jesus said (unto him), If thou canst BELIEVE, all things are possible to him that BELIEVES. That is FAITH in action.
---(Mark 9 verse 23)~~

"For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world; and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our FAITH." --(1 John 5 verse 4).

-Jesus also said, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." --(JOHN 14 verse 6)
--4HIM--'Where There is Faith'~~https://youtu.be/QZ5MKJmc3mQ>
---------

--THE ETERNAL REIGN OF THE LORD~~

---THE LORD reigns, He is clothed with majesty;
The LORD is clothed,
He has girded Himself with strength.
Surely the world is established, so that it cannot be moved.
Your throne is established from of old;
You are from everlasting.

The floods have lifted up, O LORD,
The floods have lifted up their voice;
The floods lift up their waves.
The LORD on high is mightier
Than the noise of many waters,
Than the mighty waves of the Sea.

Your testimonies are very sure;
Holiness adorns Your house,
O LORD, forever. ~~ All Praise to You, My Lord, Savior, Rock and Redeemer! \o/ ~~
~~~~~~~
--MATT HAMMITT/ "LET IT BRING YOU PRAISE"~
----<https://youtu.be/opn_AtOjK5M>
~~~~~~~~

--HOPE IN GRIEF

-"Then their eyes
were opened and they
recognized Him, and
He disappeared from
their sight."
--(Luke 24:31)--

--IN LUKE 24, two disciples, confused and brokenhearted after Jesus's death, didn't realize they were walking with their resurrected Teacher Himself, even as He explained from Scripture why the promised Savior had to die and rise again. Only when He took bread and broke it was it revealed that this was Jesus (vv. 30 thru 31). Although the followers of Jesus had faced death in all its horror when Jesus died, through His resurrection from the dead God showed them how to hope again.

Like those disciples, we might feel weighed down with confusion or grief. But we can find hope and comfort in the reality that Jesus is alive and at work in the world today--and in us. Although we still face heartache and pain, we can welcome Christ to walk with us in our tunnel of grief. As the Light of the world (John 8:12), He can bring rays of hope to brighten our fog. ~~

-"Lord God, thank You for being the light in the darkness. Bring hope when I'm sad and confused, and help me to see Your glory. Thank you Lord, that You are our blessed Hope."

--THOUGH WE GRIEVE, WE HAVE HOPE IN JESUS CHRIST, OUR SAVIOR, LORD, REDEEMER AND CREATOR. ~~
--"All My Hope" / Hillsong Live~
<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8fGRQnRWCjA>
------

--AT THE CENTER ~~

-"Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.” Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing in the center of the throne. . . ."
---(Revelation 5:5-6 NIV)--

---The Bible concludes with the book of Revelation, the apostle John’s recounting of the amazing vision of the Kingdom of God that Jesus had given him. In John’s vision he is weeping because there is a scroll that contains the end-times story, but there is no one in heaven who is worthy to open it. His host says to him, “Don’t weep! The Lion of the tribe of Judah is worthy to open the scroll.”

-John looks to see who has the power and authority to unleash God’s perspectives for His people on the earth; there he sees Jesus, the “Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing in the center of the throne.” We are far removed from animal sacrifices, but it would have been a familiar image for a first-century audience. A lamb that had been killed in a ritual manner before it was offered as a sacrifice would not be standing. It would have been lying still, lifeless, and its wool would have been stained with blood. Yet this Lamb, Jesus, though bearing the marks of death, still lives and stands, triumphant in the center of the throne. What was the price that stood between our bondage to sin and our new life of freedom? The blood of the Lamb of God, Jesus of Nazareth. The image is just as powerful for us today as it was for John’s first readers all those centuries ago.

**THINK ABOUT IT
What is the significance of Jesus standing in the center of heaven’s throne? What does that say to us about His deity?

**PRAYER
--"Heavenly Father, I am unworthy of the price paid to bring my freedom. Joy fills my heart with gratitude for what Jesus Christ did when He willingly gave his life and shed His blood on the Cross for me. Jesus was innocent of any wrongdoing, and yet He paid it all for me. He was like a lamb at the slaughter, yet He lives and makes intercession on my behalf. Thank You for thinking of me when You created the world. In Jesus’ name, amen."

**Blessings,
***Pastor Allen Jackson
**Intend Ministries-----/ "You're The Lion of Judah" --Paul Wilbur ~~<https://youtu.be/4gIFzdipdoo>
--------

---JESUS CHRIST IS LORD~~
--(Please Read/ Romans 14:7-9)--

“Jesus is Lord” is the confession of every Christian because it is fundamental to our faith. In order to be saved, the apostle Paul says we must confess with our mouth Jesus as Lord (Rom. 10:9). Such doctrine is central to Christianity, and those who are devoted followers of Jesus Christ believe that He is Lord of all creation and all time.

However, when we say “all,” it means us as well. If Jesus truly is the sovereign Lord of heaven and earth, then He is also the Master of our individual lives. Christ’s sovereign rule is not limited to governing the vast universe; it’s also a personal issue. He is Lord of our normal, daily lives—our choices, priorities, activities, attitudes, words, everything.

Paul captured this truth in Romans 14:8 when he wrote, “For if we live, we live for the Lord, or if we die, we die for the Lord.” The apostle considered it impossible to compartmentalize Christ’s lordship. He knew his life belonged wholly to Jesus.

Jesus doesn’t want to be part of our life; He made that clear with His disciples. When we give the Lord just a portion, then we are telling Him there are other things we consider at least as important as He is. Do you know what the Bible calls this? Idolatry.

**Jesus never called people to give Him a try. He demanded full surrender: “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me” (Luke 9:23). We can’t squeeze Jesus into one segment of our life and continue living as we please. If we’re truly His, then Jesus is our life.
--IN TOUCH~~--/ -EL ELYON -- / Paul Wilbur ~~<https://youtu.be/2LMqFk2WWVU>
-------

--RADICAL LOVE~~

"When you give a
banquet, invite the
poor, the crippled,
the lame, the blind."
--(Luke 14:3)---
------
--JUST ONE WEEK before her scheduled wedding date, Sarah's engagement ended. Despite her sadness and disappointment, she decided not to waste the food she had purchased for her wedding reception. She did, however, decide to change the celebration plans. She took down the gift table and revamped the guest list, inviting the residents of local homeless shelters to the feast.

Jesus upheld this sort of no-strings-attached kindness when speaking to the Pharisees, saying, "When you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind,and you will be blessed" (Luke 14:13 thru 14). He noted that the blessing would come from God because these guests would not be able to repay the host.

When we consider that Jesus spoke these words as He sat at a meal given by a Pharisee, His message seems provocative and radical. But real love is radical. I've heard it said that love is giving to meet the needs of others without expecting anything in return. This is how Jesus has loved each of us. He saw our inner poverty and responded by giving His life for us.

Knowing Christ personally is a journey into His infinite love. All of us are invited to explore and share, "how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ Jesus." (Ephesians 3 verse 18).

--ODB/JBS---"Obvious" / 4HIM~
<https://youtu.be/us3CSoynJqc>
-----------

----THE DIVINELY INSPIRED BOOK~~
--(Please Read/ 2 Peter 1:12-21)--

--How important is your Bible to you? If you’re like most Christians in the Western world, you probably have several copies of Scripture in your home. But the number of Bibles we own is no measure of their value to us. It’s what we do with God’s Word and what it does in our heart that reveals how much we treasure it.

The Bible is the most important book in the world because it’s the only one that is the inspired Word of God. Nothing else ever written can match the wisdom and revelation of the Scriptures.

How then did God give us this sacred text? 2 Peter 1:21 says that the writings did not result from “an act of human will” but came to be through “men moved by the Holy Spirit.” While retaining their own personalities, intellect, and vocabularies, these human authors were borne along by the Spirit of God, writing only what He willed them to say.

Amazingly, the same God who created the universe divinely inspired the writing of Scripture. He did so to reveal Himself to us and to explain how sinful mankind can be made right with a holy God. Everything we need for life and godliness is found within its pages (2 Peter 1:3).

**And He hasn’t left us on our own to interpret what He has written (2 Peter 1:20). The truth is that in ourselves, we can’t understand it. But God has given us His Holy Spirit so we can know His mind through the Bible (1 Corinthians 2:10-16). However, if we rarely open it, we won’t know His thoughts and as a result will forfeit His blessings and wisdom.
--IN TOUCH~~--"I SEE THE LORD" / By: Lindell Cooley ~<https://youtu.be/PQDTqA6asDc>
--------

----THE LORD,OUR SHEPHERD~~
--(Please Read/ John 10:7-15)--

---In the ancient world, the man who was given charge of the flocks had a challenging job. He had the responsibility of leading the sheep to new pastures and fresh water, defending them from predators, and finding the lost ones when they strayed. But his was a humble job because it was lonely and dangerous. The shepherd lived among the flock and slept across the doorway of the fold to keep the sheep in and the wolves out. This was hard, constant, and thankless work.

Yet Christ sat among His followers and said, “I am the good shepherd” (John 10:11; John 10:14). The modern church misses the impact of those words. We have a rustic but rosy view of Jesus as a shepherd. The sovereign God of the universe humbled Himself and got His hands dirty working directly with beings just as errant, willful, and sometimes dumb as sheep.

Remember you read a moment ago that tending the flock required lying across the doorway of the sheep pen? Well, Jesus did exactly that—He became the door for us (John 10:9). He sacrificed His life for the great flock of humanity so that anyone who chooses to believe in Him may enter God’s fold (John 3:16). And once inside, we are provided for, sought when we wander, and protected from enemies.

--Jesus sees Himself as mankind’s Shepherd. Thankfully, we are more than just a herd to Him. He knows everything about each one of us—our name, character, and flaws—and loves us despite all of our imperfections. What better way to show love in return than to know His voice and follow wherever it leads us?--
--IN TOUCH~~----[No person knows what Jesus truly looks like. But we do know scripture was fulfilled in Him. Jesus is LORD! (Video does tell a small video of Jesus' Life.) / "Mary, Did You Know?"/ Clay Aiken ~ <https://youtu.be/_srtfgf2gqQ>
~~~~~~~~~~~~

---THE UNKNOWN CREATOR ~~

--“He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.”
----(John 1:10)---

--This verse is surely one of the saddest, most poignant verses in all the Word of God. In the Lord Jesus Christ, our Creator/ Redeemer, “we live, and move, and have our being” (Acts 17:28). The atoms of our bodies are sustained by Him (Colossians 1:17), yet multitudes ignore Him, ridicule Him, and take His name in vain. What presumption! What foolishness!

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

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

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

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

--ICR/HMM
[Some people ask Christians, "How can you say you are 'FREE' if you are enslaved to that Bible?" No, my friend. That is backward. "Whom the Son sets free is free indeed." The person who is enslaved to this world, must follow it's evil ways. To be a follower of the One who created and died to save us from our sin, is Christ Jesus. He wants to save all those that call upon His Name. Ask Him to come into your heart, Believe Jesus is our Savior and Lord, and Confess your need for Him. He never turns away a sincere seeker. Please come today. We are not promised tomorrow. Jesus is knocking on your hearts door. He does not force himself on anyone. Please, do not wait. When we pass through this world we choose, either Heaven with Jesus, or Hell with Satan and his demons. He leaves that choice up to you. "Choose ye this day whom ye will serve. As for me and my house we will serve the Lord."
------------
--- Jesus said, "If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not.~~~
"But if I do, though ye believe not Me, believe the works; that ye may know, and believe that the Father is in Me, and I in Him. I and my Father are One." --
----(John 10 verses 30,37,38)--"Revelation Song"-Phillips, Craig, and Dean ----<https://youtu.be/S3LK3wIHnVE>
-----------

---SET FREE~~

--"Therefore,
there is now no
condemnation for
those who are in
Christ Jesus."
---(Romans 8:1)--

--WHEN WE PUT our faith in Jesus, He graciously delivers us from sin and the hold that Satan had on us. However, because it may take time to change our sinful habits and behavior, Satan can make us feel trapped. But God's Spirit has set us free; He doesn't enslave us. Paul told the Romans, "Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death." --(Romans 8:1-2)

Through our Bible reading, prayer, and the power of the Holy Spirit, God works in us to cleanse us and to help us live for Him. The Bible encourages us to be confident in our walk with Jesus without feeling as if we are not set free.

Jesus said, "If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed." (John 8:36)~~
May the freedom we have in Christ spur us on to love Him and serve Him.~~

-MY CHAINS FELL OFF, MY HEART WAS FREE, I ROSE, WENT FORTH, AND FOLLOWED THEE.~~

--ODB/LD---/--UNTO THE LAMB, I CAN SEE JESUS~~House of Bread Church
--<https://youtu.be/aBT5BYGtynU>
------

---BEFORE THE BEGINNING~~

"You loved Me
before the Creation
of the World."---
---
---WHEN JESUS prays to His Father in John 17, He says, "Father,...you loved Me before the creation of the World." (V.24) This is God as revealed to us by Jesus: Before the world was ever created, God was a trinity (God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit)--all loving each other and being loved. When Jesus was baptized, God sent His Holy Spirit in the form of a dove and said, "This is my Son, whom I love" (Matthew 3:17). The most foundational aspect of God's identity is this outgoing, life-giving love.

What a lovely and encouraging truth this is about our God! The mutual, outgoing love expressed by each member of the Trinity--Father, Son, and Holy Spirit--is key to understanding the nature of God. What was God doing before the beginning of time? What He always does. He was loving because He is love (1 JOHN 4 verse 8.) ~~

--WE ARE CREATED IN THE IMAGE OF A GOD WHO IS LOVING AND RELATIONAL.~~

--ODB/AP--/JESUS IS THE LION AND THE LAMB. Sung by: Big Daddy Weave ~~

-----

--- IS JESUS CHRIST THE CREATOR GOD?
--By: Russell M. Grigg
---6-day creation
--ARTICLE FROM: Creation.com

The Bible affirms in several places that Jesus Christ is the Creator God. For example, ‘All things were made by him [the Word, = Jesus Christ]’ (John 1:1,3), and ‘For by him [Jesus Christ] were all things created’ (Colossians 1:16).

If this is true, we should expect to see some parallelism between what happened at creation and the works of Jesus during his ministry on earth. What do we find?

First let us consider what kind of evidence we are looking for.

Some of the essential and distinctive elements of creation, as revealed in Genesis chapter l, as well as elsewhere in the Bible, are:

Creation involved the act of God in bringing into being immediately and instantaneously matter which did not previously exist, without the use of pre-existing materials or secondary causes; for example, in the creation of the heavens and the earth, as recorded in Genesis 1:1.

Creation also involved the shaping, combining, or transforming of existing materials, as when God created Adam from the dust of the ground (Genesis 2:7), and Eve from Adam’s rib (Genesis 2:21–22).

Creation involved the imparting of life to otherwise lifeless matter.
The mechanism of creation, or the means whereby the above aspects were accomplished, was by the Word of the Lord, that is, God said (= God willed it to happen1) … and it happened.
The purpose or motive of God in creating was to display His glory, to make known His power, His wisdom, His will, and His holy name, and that He might receive glory from His created beings.

Note: We should not expect to find exact parallels between the miracles of Jesus and what happened at Creation, as Jesus did not come to re-create the universe, but ‘to seek and to save that which was lost’, and ‘to give his life a ransom for many.’ With this in mind, let us compare these four aspects of creation with the works of Jesus.
--1.) Creation out of nothing and/or from existing materials

Several of Jesus’ miracles involved the creation of new material. Whether this was out of nothing or from existing materials is not spelt out by the Gospel writers, as they major on the fact of the miracles and the effects they produced (John emphasizes the teaching that Jesus drew from them), rather than on any analyses of the modus operandi.

Jesus’ first miraculous sign to His disciples involved the creation of wine (His first miracle recorded in the Gospels is actually the creation of the universe (John 1:3), as mentioned above). At a wedding breakfast, Jesus instructed the waiters to fill six stone water-pots with water, and then to take them to the master of ceremonies of the wedding banquet. When they arrived, the water had been turned into wine, that is, there had been the instantaneous creation of the carbon atoms and chemical molecules that made up the grape sugar, carbon dioxide, colouring matter, etc., of the wine.

Other examples are the two times when Jesus fed a multitude: on the first occasion more than 5,000 people from five loaves and two fish, and on the second occasion more than 4,000 people from seven loaves and a few little fish.

Here there were bread and fish to begin with on both occasions. Jesus either caused these original items to multiply, or He may have dispensed all the original food and then created new loaves and fishes until everyone was fed. Either way, Jesus created sufficient extra bread and fish, not only to feed many thousands of people, but also to provide 12 basketfuls of leftovers on the first occasion and seven basketfuls of leftovers on the second. This involved not just the creation of the appropriate carbohydrate, protein and other molecules, but their immediate arrangement into the complex forms and structures needed to make baked bread and fish (albeit dead and cooked).

Some of Jesus’ miracles of healing, for example, of lepers, the blind, and paralytics, involved the instant repair of tissues, nerves, muscles, etc., and the instantaneous growth or regrowth of healthy cells. The net result was the creation of healthy functioning parts of the body to replace diseased, non-functioning or atrophied parts.
2. The giving of life

Jesus gave life to the dead on three occasions: to a widow’s son, to Jairus’ daughter, and to his friend Lazarus.

In the case of Lazarus, the body had been in the grave for four days, and Martha’s words are recorded for us: ‘…by this time there is a bad odour, for he has been there four days.’

This shows that the process of decomposition whereby a dead body eventually becomes dust had already begun. So here we have a parallel with what happened on the sixth day of creation when God formed Adam from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and Adam became a living being. Jesus called Lazarus back to life, and the molecules of matter that were in the process of becoming dust became, again, a living human being.

In the case of the widow’s son and of Jairus’ daughter, death was more recent, that is, probably on the same day that Jesus gave life to their dead bodies. The principle still applies.
3.) The method Jesus used

Jesus appeared to use a variety of means in performing His miracles. These included touching lepers, the blind, and the deaf; the use of saliva to heal a deaf mute and a blindman; the use of clay (with instructions to wash) to heal a blind man; and the word of command to heal, to raise the dead, and to exorcise demons.
***What happened in these and in all of Jesus’ miracles was that Jesus willed the event to happen and it did.

However, what happened in these and in all of Jesus’ miracles was that Jesus willed the event to happen and it did. This is nowhere better illustrated than in the healing of the nobleman’s son. Jesus was at Cana in Galilee and a certain royal official asked Him to travel to Capernaum to heal his son who was close to death. The Apostle John records what happened, as follows:

‘So He came again to Cana in Galilee, where He had made the water wine. And at Capernaum there was an official whose son was ill.’

‘When this man heard that Jesus had come from Judea to Galilee, he went to Him and asked Him to come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death.’

‘So Jesus said to him, “Unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe.”’

‘The official said to Him, “Sir, come down before my child dies.”’

‘Jesus said to him, “Go; your son will live.” The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and went on his way.’

‘As he was going down, his servants met him and told him that his son was recovering.’

‘So he asked them the hour when he began to get better, and they said to him, “Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him.” ’

‘The father knew that was the hour when Jesus had said to him, “Your son will live.” And he himself believed, and all his household.’ (John 4:46–53).

Capernaum was about 27 kilometres (17 miles) from Cana as the crow flies, which means there was no way that the sick son, or anyone else in Capernaum, could have heard Jesus or been influenced by His physical presence in Cana.

Jesus willed the sick boy to recover, at a distance of 27 kilometres, and he did so. Similarly, Jesus willed the water to become wine, as it was being taken into the wedding feast in Cana, and it did so. He willed the bread and fish to form and they did, and He willed the 10 lepers to become well after they had left Him and were on their way to the priests, and they were healed.

It is interesting that a Gentile centurion recognized this authority of Jesus. The centurion had sent servants to request Jesus to come and heal his servant, as Luke records:

‘And Jesus went with them. When He was not far from the house, the centurion sent friends, saying to Him, “Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you come under my roof.’

‘Therefore I did not presume to come to you. But say the word, and let my servant be healed.’

‘For I too am a man set under authority, with soldiers under me: and I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”’

‘When Jesus heard these things, he marveled at him, and turning to the crowd that followed him, said, “I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith.” ’

‘And when those who had been sent returned to the house, they found the servant well.’ (Luke 7:6–10)

The centurion recognized that the voice of Jesus could not be heard by his sick servant, but the result, brought about by the exercise of Jesus‘ authority, would be no less effective because of this.

--4.) Jesus’ glory seen in his miracles

After narrating Jesus’ first miraculous sign to His disciples—the turning of water into wine—the Apostle John says, He ‘manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him.’ When Jesus heard that Lazarus was sick He said, ‘This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified’. And then, after Lazarus had died and before Jesus raised him to life, He said to Martha, ‘Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?’

John calls Jesus’ miracles’ signs and in his Gospel John shows which way the signs point: ‘these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.’
--CONCLUSION~~
Jesus Christ is the Creator God. Not only does Scripture affirm it, but during His earthly life and ministry He did the very things we would expect the Creator God to do. He did them in the way that we would expect the Creator God to do them—by His word of authority and the exercise of His will. And the doing of them displayed His glory.

--This is a source of praise and inspiration for those who believe the Word of God, and at the same time it is a reproof of the doctrine of theistic evolution. The thought that Jesus might have used evolutionary chance random processes to heal the sick or give life to the dead is as unsustainable as the idea that He used such processes to create and give life to all things ‘in the beginning’.~~--"MY CREATOR KING"/ Don Moen /
-----

--JESUS IS GOD --/ GOD IS LOVE~~

--"Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.

"The one who does not love does not know God, for GOD IS LOVE."-- (emphasis mine) -
--(1 John 4:7-8)--

--"The reason my Father loves me
is that I lay down my life...No one
takes it from me, but I lay it down of
my own accord."
---(John 10:17-18)

--As Jesus endured His darkest moment, He didn't merely tell us He loves us; He showed it in specific ways. He showed it to the mocking soldiers who had just nailed Him to a Cross: "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing" (Luke 23:34). He gave hope to a criminal crucified with Him: "Today you will be with me in paradise" (v.43). Nearing the end, He looked at His mother. "Here is your son, " He said to her, and to His close friend John, He said, "Here is your mother" (John 19:26-27). Then, as His life slipped from Him, Jesus's last act of love was to trust His Father: "Into your hands I commit my spirit" (Luke 23:46).

Jesus purposefully chose the Cross in order to show His obedience to His Father--and the depth of His love for us. To the very end, He showed us His relentless love. ~~

---EVERY WORD OF JESUS WAS SPOKEN IN LOVE. ~~
--ODB/TG--'Amazing Love' --Newsboys ~ / <https://youtu.be/e762W8EgVL8>
--------

--CHANGE IS POSSIBLE~~

-"It is God who works
in you to will and to
act in order to fulfill
his good purpose."
--(Philippians 2:13)--

--One Saturday afternoon, some youth group members from my church gathered to ask one another some hard questions based on Philippians 2:3-4 / "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of others."

As I listened, I was encouraged by their honest answers. The teenagers agreed that it's easy to acknowledge our short comings, but it's hard to change, or--for that matter--desire to change. As one teen lamented, "Selfishness is in my blood."

The desire to let go of our focus on self to serve others is only possible through Jesus's Spirit living in us. That's why Paul reminded the Philippian church to reflect on what God had done and made possible for them. He had graciously adopted them, comforted them with His love, and given His Spirit to help them (Philippians 2:1-2). How could they--and we--respond to such grace with anything less than humility?

Yes, God is the reason for us to change, and only He can change us. Because He gives us "the desire and power to do what pleases Him" (V.13), we can focus less on ourselves and humbly serve others. As we submit to our Lord Jesus, He will work through us to help spread his Good News. We truly serve an Awesome God~/ "Awesome God"/ Rich Mullens / <https://youtu.be/5IuL60_1-Fw>
~~~~~~~~~~~~

--THE PRODIGAL SON ~~


--( Please Read/ LUKE 15:11-32 / NASB~)--

--And Jesus said, (a parable) = " A man had two sons.
The younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me the share of the estate that falls to me.' So he divided his wealth between them.

"And not many days later, the younger son gathered everything together and went on a journey into a distant country, and there he squandered his estate with loose living.

"Now when he had spent everything, a sever famine occurred in that country, and he began to be impoverished.

"So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.
"And he would have gladly filled his stomach with the pods that the swine were eating, and no one was giving anything to him.

"But when he came to his senses, he said, 'How many of my father's hired men have more than enough bread, and but I am dying here with hunger!
"I will get up and go to my father, and will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight;
"I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me as one of your hired men."'

"So he got up and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion for him, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.

"And the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.'

"But the father said to his slaves, 'Quickly bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet;
And bring the fattened calf, kill it, and let us eat and celebrate;

For this son of mine was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.' And they began to celebrate.

"Now his older son was in the field, and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing.
"And he summoned one of the servants and began inquiring what these things could be.

"And he said to him, 'Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has received him back safe and sound.'
"But he became angry and was not willing to go in; and his father came out and began pleading with him.

"But he answered and said to his father, 'Look! For so many years I have been serving you and I have never neglected a command of yours; and yet you have never given me a young goat, so that I might celebrate with my friends;
But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your wealth with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him.'

"And [the father] said to him, 'Son, you have always been with me, and all that is mine is yours.

'But we had to celebrate and rejoice, for this brother of yours was dead and has begun to live, and was lost and has been found.' "

-[Many of us also have a 'prodigal' son. It may be a girl or guy that once followed Jesus, and now have left to follow worldly ways. We must keep praying for these people. Please remember, "All things are possible with Jehovah G-D."-[Luke 18:27]
---"When God Ran"/ Phillips, Craig and Dean // <https://youtu.be/BsjOFh7uIhU>
~~~~~~~~~~~

---COME TO ME~

--"Then Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me
will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty."
--(JOHN 6:36) --

--"When Jesus lived on earth, He invited people to come to Him, and He still does (JOHN 6:35). But what do He and the heavenly Father have that we need?

~~**SALVATION. / Jesus is the only way to have forgiveness of sin and the promise of heaven. "Everyone who believes may have eternal life" (JOHN 3:15).

~~**PURPOSE./ We are to give all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength to following Jesus. "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me" (MARK 8:34).

~~**COMFORT. / In trial or sorrow, the "God of all comfort..comforts us in all our troubles (2 Corinthians 1:3-4).

~~**WISDOM./ We need wisdom beyond our own. "If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God...and it will be given to you" (JAMES 1:5).

~~**ABUNDANT LIFE./ The fullest life is found in Jesus. "I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full" (JOHN 10:10).

**Jesus said, "Whoever comes to me I will never drive away" (JOHN 6:37) ~~ COME!

--ODB/AC--"Awesome God" // Rich Mullins<https://youtu.be/5IuL60_1-Fw>
~~~~~~~

----LEARNING FROM LITTLE ONES ~~

-"From the lips of children and infants you, Lord, have called forth your praise."
--(Matthew 21:16) -- /

--When a friend and I rode into one of the slums in Nairobi, Kenya, our hearts were deeply humbled by the poverty we witnessed. In that same setting, however, different emotions--like fresh waters--were stirred in us as we witnessed young children running and shouting, "Mchungaji, Mchungaji!" (Swahili for "pastor").
Such was their joy-filled response upon seeing their spiritual leader in the vehicle with us. With these tender shouts, the little ones welcomed the one known for his care and concern for them.

As Jesus arrived in Jerusalem riding on a donkey, joyful children were among those who celebrated Him. "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!...Hosanna to the Son of David" (Matthew 21:9,15). But praises for Jesus were not the only sounds in the air. One can imagine the noisiness of scurrying, money-making merchants who were put to flight by Jesus (vv.12-13). Furthermore, religious leaders who had witnessed His kindness in action "were indignant" (vv. 14-15). They voiced their displeasure with the children's praises (v.16) and thereby exposed the poverty of their own hearts.

We can learn from the faith of children of God of all ages and places who recognize Jesus as the Savior of the world. He's the One who hears our praises and cries, and He cares for and rescues us when we come to Him with childlike trust. ~~

---"Now, faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen" -[Hebrews 11:1]
---"So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God" -[Romans 10:17]
--"For we walk by faith, not by sight."- [2 Corinthians 5:7]
--ODB/AR~
--"Lord Jesus, help me to see You for who You are--my Lord and Savior. Blessed be the name of the Lord!"

--"What Faith Can Do" //Kutless ~~<https://youtu.be/3BQUAfC2jhU>
~~~~~~~~

---RESOLVED TO BE LIGHT ~~

--“Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.”
---(Matthew 5:16 / NASB) --

--Darkness is a part of our world, both physically and spiritually. The dictionary defines it as partial or total absence of light. In other words, darkness only exists when there is no light—and that’s just as true in the spiritual world as in the physical world.
Darkness doesn’t have the power to overcome the light, and the tiniest beam can be seen from a great distance. The only way for darkness to become more intense is for the light to be dimmed. It is natural to be angry at the darkness in our world, but let’s channel that energy into shining more brightly for the Lord. In our families and neighborhoods, on the ball teams where our children are involved, in the schools they attend, in our groups of friends, around our hobbies and interests, and in our places of business—we are called to shine our light in such a way that we glorify God. I know that can be a challenge, but the rewards are great, so let’s turn up the light!

THINK ABOUT IT
Your acts of service, attitudes, conversations, conduct, and responses to challenges are just a few areas where your light can shine and bring glory to God. The Lord stands ready to help as you resolve to shine for Him.

PRAYER
--"Heavenly Father, I believe that You are at work in me. I want to reflect Your glory to those around me in all my behaviors. Turn my desire to glorify You into effective actions for Your Kingdom. Let the light of Christ shine through me. In Jesus’ name, amen."

Blessings,
Pastor Allen Jackson
-[ Friends, Somewhere along the line a terrible veering away from the strait and narrow gate to get to Jesus has been taken. We must stay close to Him. Especially in these end-times. We read in 2 Corinthians 5:17 = "Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature (creation); the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. If there is not a change in a person after receiving Jesus as Lord and Savior, that person has been misled. Please get right with the Lord. He could come at any time and many are not ready. // The question comes up often, 'Is it possible to experience the new birth, and later fall away and be lost.' / **Yes, please read (2 Peter 2:20-22/- NASB ). NOTE/ VS 21 *"For it would be better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn away from the holy commandment, handed on to them." - ]

----JESUS IS GOD~ JESUS IS CREATOR ~ JESUS IS EVERLASTING~ JESUS IS YESHUA of THE OLD TESTAMENT--HE IS CHRIST OF THE NEW TESTAMENT
---JESUS IS MESSIAH~~

--THE SUN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS~~
----[ICR/HMM]

--FINAL ADMONITION IN THE OLD TESTAMENT BEFORE [the] 400 SILENT YEARS ~~

--PLEASE READ ALL OF MALACHI CHAPTER 4 ~~

~~“But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.”-- - (Malachi 4:2)
--

This is the very last of the numerous Messianic prophecies of the Old Testament. After this, there were four centuries of silence from heaven, as far as inspired Scriptures were concerned. Thus this prophecy must have special significance.

The Messiah (“Christ”) is called “the Sun of righteousness” in contrast to “all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly” that “shall burn as an oven” when “the day cometh” (v. 1)—that “great and dreadful day of the LORD” (v. 5), and it “shall burn them up, saith the LORD of hosts” (v. 1).

The “Sun of righteousness” clearly refers to the coming Savior, for He will come “with healing in his wings.” The sun does not have wings, of course, so many commentators think this word refers to the rays of the sun, with their lifesustaining energy. However, the Hebrew word means “wings,” and nothing else. It is as though the sun is rising rapidly on great wings, dispelling the world’s darkness with its light, dispensing healing to its sin-sick soul.

The “Sun of righteousness,” of course, can be none other than God Himself, for “the Lord God is a sun and shield” who “will give grace and glory” to “them that walk uprightly” (Psalm 84:11). It is the LORD Jesus Christ, the “light of the world” (John 8:12) coming “from heaven with his mighty angels [his ‘wings’?], in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God” (2 Thessalonians 1:7-8).

But “you that fear my name” in that day “shall be mine, saith the Lord of hosts,…when I make up my jewels” (Malachi 3:17). In the last prophecy of the Old Testament, Christ is the rising Sun; in the last prophecy of the New Testament (Revelation 22:16), He is “the bright and morning star.”

--ICR/HMM
[ **Friend, Please be ready! Accept the work on the Cross from Christ's dying, to pay your sin-debt. He died so you can be free. Those who do not accept His sin-debt, will die in their sins. Jesus never sinned. He is GOD-MAN. He is alive right now. He loves you. Talk to Him. Ask Him to reveal Himself to you. He never turns away a sincere seeker. Jesus said, "I have come to give you life and that more abundantly." Everyone can see the signs-of-the-end-times around us. Please 'Come to Jesus, and live eternally.' He doesn't have the answer, HE IS THE ANSWER! "Call on Me and I will show you great and mighty things that you know not." --"You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me" [JOHN 5:39]. The Bible is a Love Letter to each (individual) person. Read it to find Him. Then follow in His steps. He will lead, guide and direct you. IN CHRIST IS ETERNAL LIFE. You will not find that from any other person or religion. Jesus is not a religion. Christ is a PERSON. HE IS ALIVE! "Come unto Me, all that labor and are heavy laden 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. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light [Matthew11:28-30]."]
~~~~~

~~KNOWING THE FATHER THROUGH THE SON ~~
--[Please Read // John 1:1-34] --

--In the above verses we read about 'The Deity of Jesus Christ' / 'The Witness of John' / 'The Word Made Flesh' / JESUS IS THE WORD OF GOD~

How do you know who God is?
~~Many people today have arrived at their own perception of Him, based on their personal ideas, reasoning, and desires. And some don’t want anyone interfering with their preconceived notions of God. This is nothing new—it was true in the first century, just as it is today.

Jesus came to His own people, the Jews. But despite the testimony of John the Baptist—that Christ was someone who surpassed him in rank and existed long before arriving on earth—they didn’t want Him. Our Savior came to die in order to save those who would believe in Him, but He also came to explain the Father. Jesus has both the knowledge and the authority to do this, because He is God the Son and the only one who has seen and fully knows God the Father.

Therefore, if you want to know and understand who God is, look at Jesus—not just in the Gospel accounts of His earthly life but in the entire New Testament. This is the best way to make sure that you are not deceived in your understanding of Him. Being confronted with the truth now is much better than discovering too late that you are following the wrong god.
Jesus is GOD-MAN / He never ceased being God while living on this earth as Man. He said, "I and My Father are One"-(John 10:30) ~~JESUS IS MESSIAH, THE CHRIST. ~~

-"Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!" [ John 1:29] = [John the Baptists Testimony] ~
~~IN TOUCH~
---"Jesus Messiah"/ (lyrics/ Chris Tomlin) <https://youtu.be/p57bAK-p30s>
~~~~~~~~~~

~~~Why Do I Believe in Recent Creation?
--BY BRIAN THOMAS, PH.D. * |
-[ICR/BT]

~~~A student recently asked what I believe about the age of the earth. I replied that at one time I felt absolutely certain that the world was billions of years old. I even wrote a song that mentioned “the age of dinosaurs.” Now, however, I believe the dinosaurs that got fossilized lived when (but not where) Noah lived. They got locked in rocks through Noah’s Flood only 4,500 or so years ago. Four specific facts helped change my mind.

The change began when a Christian friend challenged me to debunk creation-believing scientists. The information he gave me revealed key facts my college professors and textbooks never noted.

For example, I had never heard that the 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens deposited debris partly in layers. Or that in two short years those layers hardened enough to form steep-sided canyon walls. I’d always taken for granted what my teachers told me—forming rock layers needs lots of time. When I learned that instead sedimentary rocks form from lots of water, I started to doubt deep time.

Another fact that raised my eyebrows was the small 1982 eruption that carved a huge gorge through those fresh Mount St. Helens layers and through some lava rock beneath them. I always thought it took millions of years of gradual erosion to excavate canyons one grain at a time. But, just like the new rock layers, this canyon formed in one catastrophic day.

The third fact that shook my faith in Earth’s supposedly great age involved radioisotopes. After Mount St. Helens’ 1980 eruption, smaller lava burps built a dome of rock in the new crater atop the mountain. According to standard thinking, radioisotope “clocks” can reveal the exact time lava hardened. This fresh rock offered a chance to test a common radioisotope dating method.

Scientists who believed in biblical creation—which holds that Earth is only thousands of years old—got permission to collect the lava rocks for testing.-- They already doubted the millions of years so often pinned to radioisotope counts, but the lab technicians they sent their rock samples to had no such disbelief. The technicians’ radioisotope-based “age” for the one-decade-old rock was half a million years!1 Other tests of historical lava flows with known ages haven’t shown accurate ages either.2

Probably the rock’s molten state never wound the isotopic clocks back to zero like the theory suggests. For the first time I began to ask how anybody can know the true isotope ratios of these rocks. And which other published results could be completely wrong like these?

I realized I needed to find a more reliable source of Earth history. That’s where the fourth fact led me. I found in the pages of the Bible a collection of reliable eyewitness accounts that list the number of years since the beginning of the world—about 6,000. In a law court, reliable eyewitness testimony would trump circumstantial evidence such as isotope ratios. The prophets who wrote Scripture lived through the events they described. Secular scientists who taught me about billions of years never saw those supposed years. Science can’t even measure them.

Why do I believe in biblical creation? Layers form fast, canyons form fast, radioisotope results aren’t trustworthy, and the testimony of reliable prophets who lived in Bible days tells us how and when God made the world—by His power only thousands of years ago.

References

Austin, S. A. 1996. Excess argon within mineral concentrates from the new dacite lava dome at Mount St. Helens volcano. Creation Ex Nihilo Technical Journal (Journal of Creation). 10 (3): 335-343.
Snelling, A. A. 1998. The Cause of Anomalous Potassium-Argon “Ages” for Recent Andesite Flows at Mt. Ngauruhoe, New Zealand, and the Implications for Potassium-Argon “Dating.” In Proceedings of the Fourth International Conference on Creationism. R. E. Walsh, ed. Pittsburgh, PA: Creation Science Fellowship, 503-525.
----If you study this out, it fits perfectly with our time. The Earth is NOT millions of years old. It is closer to 6,000 yrs old. Study it out. Get it right. Too many people are falling into the trap of not believing what our Lord Jesus taught. ~~ May the Lord open your/our eyes to the TRUTH. Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me."

----HIS GOOD WILL ~~

--"If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love."
---(John 15:10) --

~~HAVE YOU ever considered what motivates your commitment to Jesus? Is it because you know He loves you, and you are grateful? Or is it because you are afraid of losing His acceptance? Some may think today's verse suggests that you can lose His love when you fail to submit to Him and inherently doubt His motives. But actually, it means He works His loving will through you when you choose to trust His direction.

God's will is always good. So when you're not sure you want to obey Him, consider this question: would you rather obey God and experience His blessings, or disobey Him and spend the rest of you life wondering what He would have done if you had obeyed?

The truth is, there are many good people who find themselves looking back to a time when they stood on the threshold of a decision and because of fear, lack of faith, stubbornness, or weakness, chose to serve self instead of God. They are forever left to wonder what He would have done if only they'd submitted to Him--would those deep desires have been met?

Don't allow that to happen to you. Obey His commands, abide in His love, and discover all He can do through your life. Always remember, Jesus loves you with an everlasting love and underneath are His everlasting arms. He knows we are human and will fall at times. We pray, confess, repent, and get back on track with our Lord, Savior, and Redeemer. ~~

--"Lord Jesus, I am grateful for Your love and will obey You. Help me to remember You are a loving, forgiving and understanding Savior. In Your name I pray. amen~"

--In Touch ~~
--"I Stand Amazed" // Chris Tomlin //<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ue8ZCAc9xQ8>
~~~~~~~~~~

--THE REASON TO REST ~~

--"What do people get for all the toil and anxious striving with which they labor under the sun? "
--[Ecclesiastes 2:22] --

---IF you want to live longer, take a vacation! Forty years after a study of middle-aged, male executives who each had a risk of heart disease, researchers in Helsinki, Finland, followed up with their study participants. The scientists discovered something they hadn't been looking for in their original findings: the death rate was lower among those who had taken time off for vacations

Work is a necessary part of life--a part God appointed to us even before our relationship with Him was fractured in Genesis 3. Solomon wrote of the seeming meaninglessness of work experienced by those not working for God's honor--recognizing its "anxious striving" and "grief (Ecclesiastes 22::-23). Even when they're not actively working, he says their "minds do not rest" because they're thinking about what still needs to be done (v.23).

We too might at times feel like we're "chasing after the wind" (v.17) and grow frustrated by our inability to "finish" our work . But when we remember that God is part of our labor--or purpose we can both work hard and take time to rest. We can trust Him to be our Provider, for He's the giver of all things. Solomon acknowledges that "without him, who can eat or find enjoyment?" (v.25). Perhpas by reminding ourselves of that truth, we can work diligently for Him (Colossians 3:23) and also allow ourselves time of rest. ~~

--"Lord God You bring meaning and purpose to all our labors. Help us, Lord, to come to You when we are feeling unable. You are the God of Miracles! In Jesus Name~ amen"

--ODB/KH~
--"Waymaker / God of Miracles" // Michael W. Smith //<https://youtu.be/m6kTtsb6c7A>
~~~~~~~~~~~~

---THE LIVING WORD / JESUS ~

--“And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14)

--This is the great verse of the Incarnation, declaring to us that the Creator of all things, the eternal Word of God (John 1:1-3) actually became a man, being “made flesh” (our text). Since this verse and the following verses unequivocally refer to “Jesus Christ” (v. 17), there is no legitimate escape (though many have tried) from the great truth that the man called Jesus of Nazareth was the great God and Creator, as well as perfect man and redeeming Savior. Furthermore, He has assumed human flesh forever, while still remaining fully God. He is Immanuel, “God with us” (Matthew 1:23).

He is not part man and part God, or sometimes man and sometimes God, but is now the God-man, fully and eternally true God and perfect man—man as God created and intended man to be. See also Philippians 2:5-8 and 1 John 4:2-3.

When He first became man, He “dwelt among us” for a while. The word “dwelt,” however, is actually the Greek word for “tabernacled.” As in the tabernacle (or “tent”) prepared by Moses (Exodus 40:33) in the wilderness, the glory of God in Christ dwelled on Earth for a time in a “body” prepared by God (Hebrews 10:5). We also “beheld his glory,” says His beloved disciple, John. The Greek word for “tabernacle” (skene) is a cognate word to shakan (the Hebrew word for “dwell”), both being related to what has come to be known as the Shekinah glory cloud that filled the ancient tabernacle (Exodus 40:34).

--Eventually, when the Holy City descends out of heaven to the new earth, then “the tabernacle of God” will forever be “with men,” and He will “dwell with them” and “be their God” eternally (Revelation 21:3). Thus, God’s “Living Word” is now and always our living Lord! --JESUS CHRIST IS GOD INCARNATE.

--ICR/HMM~~

---A BROKEN SPIRIT AND CONTRITE HEART ~~

---“The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.” (Psalm 51:17) --

---God prescribed a system of animal sacrifices for sin in the Old Testament. These sacrifices pointed forward to Jesus, who offered Himself as the once-for-all sacrifice for sin (Hebrews 10:11-12). King David understood the importance of the prescribed animal sacrifices but knew that what God truly wanted is a person’s heart.

--In Psalm 51, David, who was described as “a man after [the LORD’s] own heart” (1 Samuel 13:14), demonstrated God’s heart in his attitude toward his own sin. The occasion of writing was David’s transgression with Bathsheba (2 Samuel 11). He asked God to forgive his sins, both specifically in the matter of Bathsheba (“this evil,” v. 4) and in general (“blot out all mine iniquities,” v. 9). He recognized that sin was in his heart long before he committed adultery and praised his Creator by repenting of his rebellion against God’s commands.

David had committed two death penalty crimes: adultery (Leviticus 20:10) and murder (Genesis 9:6). No animal sacrifice could atone for David’s sin (Psalm 51:16; cf. Hebrews 10:4), yet God forgave him (2 Samuel 12:13). David’s words show a deep awareness of and contrition for his sin. Only when a person acknowledges his or her sin with “a broken and a contrite heart” (Psalm 51:17) can that person truly appreciate God’s forgiveness.

Praise God that Jesus Christ, the Creator of the universe, became a man and died to pay the penalty for sin, offering salvation to all who turn from sin to Jesus and trust in Him alone for salvation (John 1:14; 3:16; Romans 3:25; 2 Corinthians 5:21). Thanks to Jesus’ atoning work, “if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).

--ICR/WP
-[Our Lord does not make it hard to understand who He is and what He requires. Don't make it complicated. -- "WHAT DOES THE LORD REQURE OF THEE?- - 'HE HAS TOLD YOU, O MAN, WHAT IS GOOD, AND WHAT DOES THE LORD REQURIE OF YOU; BUT TO DO JUSTICE, TO LOVE KINDNESS, AND TO WALK HUMBLY WITH YOUR GOD" --[MICAH 6:8] ~]

--- TRUST THE LORD / WAITING ON THE LORD JESUS ~

--"Yet those who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength;
They will mount up with wings as eagles,
They will run and not get tired,
The will walk and not become weary."
--[Isaiah 40:31] --

--I'm waiting for the electricity to kick on. Like many others in our neighborhood who survived a massive storm, my husband and I are living a back-to-basics life. Temporarily disconnected from traditional sources of communication, work, leisure, and entertainment, we're reading more. We're eating simpler meals. (Who knew you can boil beans fresh form the garden in an aluminum foil "bowl" on the barbecue grill?) We're finding enjoyment in talking about the books each other has read. .

For the first day or two, we were a little lost. Nothing in the house works without electricity--not the water pump, water heater, lights, stove, microwave (gasp!), or our landline phones. Now even the footrest on my husband's recliner. It's stuck in the raised position until the power comes back on. Now, that's a first-world problem!

The electricity outage may last a few more days, we're told. So we've settled into calm and quiet routines. Yes, the laundry is piling up. Yes, we miss being able to regulate the temperature in the house. But we're making do while we wait for the electricity to kick on.

And while I miss many creature comforts I've discover a deeper joy in Jesus as I wait. Time is passing in a marvelous way as I linger with Him; abiding in His presence, and resting and nesting in Him in a way that's not possible with technology always at hand. Waiting with Jesus brings peace, joy and renewed strength. It turns out that waiting for the electricity to be restored isn't so bad after all. ~~

--Guideposts/CR~

---Joy-Filled Cross Bearing ~~

--"My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations."
---(James 1:2)
-[Please Read/ Hebrews 12] -

---SOME TIME ago we had the privilege of attending a church service where several young people were baptized. Before the ceremony, the applicants were asked to give a short testimony and share a favorite Bible verse. There was only one boy in the group. When he got up to speak, I could see that he had a handicap of some kind. His speech was slurred, and he had a hard time holding his head straight.

I assumed that he had been born with his malady, and I found it noteworthy that he chose to quote today's key verse. Afterward I learned that he had been completely healthy until a year or two earlier. It was both inspiring and convicting to consider that here was a teenage boy who was losing his muscle control for seemingly no reason at all--yet he was able to count it all joy.

Today's Bible reading tells how Jesus was able to endure the cross because of the joy set before him. How do we face the trials in our life? The pursuit of happiness is considered a personal right in America. But as followers of Christ we have a much higher calling than "living for the moment."

We all face trials, struggles, disappointments, and temptations that sometimes seem overwhelming. At such times it's important to reflect on the suffering Jesus endured and to remember that the troubles we experience are only temporal.
"For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory (2 Corinthians 4:17).

--BSW/MY~

--"It's Always Been You" // Phil Wickham (lyric video) //<https://youtu.be/UktgUxHt6l4>
~~~~~~~~~~~

----Search the Scriptures / Witness of the Scripture ~~

--"You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify of Me."
--[John 5:39] --

----Sweat ran down my back in rivulets as the hot afternoon sun made yard work difficult. I was weaving a lattice of bendable decorative boards through a metal fence.

Finally, I arrived at a part of the project I'd been dreading--a grapevine I had planted several years ago. It had never borne fruit, and Margi and I talked about removing it, but I held out hope. Over the years, the vine had wrapped through through the fence I was working on. Now I had to remove some branches to finish my project.

I got out my pruners and reluctantly cut several branches. As I untangled the freshly pruned branches from the fence, I made a painful discovery. I found six clusters of tiny grapes clinging to the branches. The grapes were small, but the clusters were big. Yet, in one of the more questionable moves as an amateur gardener, I had just lopped them off. My heart sank. The goodness was there, but I just hadn't seen it.

So many times, there is beauty and goodness and abundance in my life, but I'm too focused on other things to see them. I let the negatives and the labor and the problems hide the gift of fruit.

Before snipping off another branch, I made careful inspection I found half a dozen more clusters on the vine. When I looked carefully for the good, I found it. That hot sun had given us homegrown grapes, and they were delicious. ~~

--"Thank You, Heavenly Father that you stay tuned to my heart to see Your goodness and grace every single day. Help me to keep my focus on You, in Jesus Name."

--Guideposts/BG~
--"Call On Your Name" // Elle Limebear / (lyric video) <https://youtu.be/CT5WPNV0ecU>
~~~~~~~~~~~~

----SEEK THE FACE OF JESUS~~

--And the King will answer them, "Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of
these my brothers, you did it to me." --[Matthew 25:40 / ESV] --

---I HAVE FOUND that university graduations exude both hope and relief: hope for the future and relief at having finished the academic requirements. My son Justin graduated this past spring from LSU Health Sciences Center. With almost a thousand graduates, it was a long morning. Aside from seeing Justin walk across the stage, the other highlight of the ceremony was the graduation speaker.

The graduation speaker was an alumnus and a physician. It was a captivating speech on may levels, but when he mentioned he was sharing a story called "The Face of Jesus," my attention was fixed. Jesus is not usually mentioned at state university graduations. The speaker shared with this group of new dentists, medical doctors, nurses, and allied health professionals the important of seeing the face of Jesus in those served the the health-care field. He described the harrowing circumstances in which they will find themselves--tired, irritated, shorthanded, treating patients with self-inflicted illness, and depleted of compassion. He explained in those inevitable moments, it is essential to see the face of Jesus in patients; each patient is someone's patient, spouse, child, or friend. How profound!

Now, whenever my compassion is lacking , I try to see the face of Jesus in the person next to me, whether it's at work, at home, or out in the world, and give everyone reverence, care, love.

--"Dear Lord, help us to see Your face in the face of our family, of our neighbors, and of those
we come into contact with. May we honor You in the care we bestow upon others. Shine through
me to a lost and dying world. In Jesus Name.' ~

--Guideposts/
---"Gratitude" // Brandon Lake (lyric video) <https://youtu.be/LDHCzm0mhuk>
~~~~~~~~~~~~

--I Will Not Fear / Jesus Christ Is always With Me ~~

--"Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new
every morning; great is your faithfulness." --[Lamentations 3:22-23] --

--I'm in my car and my mind races. There are only two weeks left this school year and then this Fall my son, Solomon, will be entering his senior year. There are lists of things we need to do, Exams he needs to take, and he still has got to schedule his driver's test--so much to do and still my heart both wanting and not wanting this next milestone that will come whether I'm ready or not.

I spot a school bus ahead. Ugh. I timed my afternoon quick strip to the store complete wrong. I'll be stuck behind the bus dropping off kids for the next five miles.

The lights flash and a little girl gets off the bus and hugs her mom. Half a block ahead a boy gets off and runs to the doorstep as his mom watches from the window. I think of all the days I've waited for Solomon, anticipating how his day went, hope for the best.

I decide to go a different way and turn down a lonely road. Ahead, a deer darts across and I come to a full stop in time to see a tiny fawn, just a by, and then, another crossing. They catch up to their mom, who waits by the thick brush. When she sees they've made it, she disappears into the woods, trusting her babies will follow in her footsteps. Not unlike our Lord, we must stay in step with our Creator. ~~

--"Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life . No one comes to the Father except through Me." ."--[John 14:6] --

--Guideposts/SC~

--Your Presence Is A Promise // Mack Brock //<https://youtu.be/qipJcM5k_mI>
~~~~~~

----FLOURISH AGAIN ~~

The more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and spread. Exodus 1:12
--[READ Exodus 1:6–14]
-"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever." --[Hebrews 13:8] -

Given enough sunlight and water, vibrant wildflowers carpet areas of California such as Antelope Valley and Figueroa Mountain. But what happens when drought strikes? Scientists have discovered that certain wildflowers store large quantities of their seeds underground instead of allowing them to push through the soil and bloom. After the drought, the plants use the seeds they've saved to begin to flourish again.

The ancient Israelites thrived in the land of Egypt, despite harsh conditions. Slave masters forced them to work in fields and make bricks. Ruthless overseers required them to build entire cities for Pharaoh. The king of Egypt even tried to use infanticide to reduce their numbers. However, because God sustained them, “the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and spread” (Exodus 1:12). Many Bible scholars estimate that the population of Israelite men, women, and children grew to two million (or more) during their time in Egypt.

God, who preserved His people then, is upholding us today as well. He can help us in any environment. We may worry about enduring through another season. But the Bible assures us that God, who “cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and [are gone] tomorrow,” can provide for our needs (Matthew 6:30 nlt).

--"Father, sometimes it’s so hard to keep going. Please meet my needs today, and help me to persevere through the power of Your Holy Spirit. In the Name of your Son, Jesus Christ. amen~"

---ODB/JBS~

--ARE YOU READY ?

---PREPPING [PREPARING] FOR ETERNITY~~

----“You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.”
---[Luke 12:40] --

Preppers, or survivalists, are a subculture that has emerged in recent years. They encourage people to become self-sufficient in order to be ready for every eventuality, from economic collapse, to biological terrorism, to nuclear war.

---There are websites and companies that provide information and materials to help you learn how to survive various disastrous events. Certainly, reasonable care about the future is wise, but I’m more concerned about preparing spiritually than I am about building a nuclear fallout shelter in my backyard. You see, if we are unprepared spiritually, we are unprepared in the most fundamental way. While much of what people so earnestly prepare for may never happen, we know with certainty that the Son of Man will return to judge the earth. And the best way to prepare for that is to nurture a real, vibrant faith in Almighty God—who also has promised to protect you and provide for you.

--THINK ABOUT IT
--How are you preparing for your future? If a stranger reviewed your expenditures, and your calendar, and talked to your closest friends, what would be their conclusion?

PRAYER
--'Heavenly Father, Jesus is returning soon as Judge and King of the whole earth. Christ-followers will rule with Him, so we must be ready for that role. Teach me to hear and obey Your voice, that a vibrant faith in You might flourish. In Jesus’ name, amen.'
Blessings,
Pastor Allen Jackson

---UNITED TO GOD THROUGH CHRIST~~

---Throughout the centuries, people have grappled with the amazing mystery that believers enjoy union with God through Christ.-

~~For instance, Bernard of Clairvaux, a twelfth-century French monk, used the ordinary things of life to explain this wonderful truth. He noted how a drop of water seems to disappear into a glass of wine, taking on the wine's flavor and color. Or how a red-hot iron in a fire becomes indistinguishable from the fire's glow. Or how a beam of light transforms the air lighting it up.

Jesus promised to dwell in those who follow Him. During His last long conversation with His friends after they ate supper together, He assured them that He wouldn't leave them as orphans but would come to them (John 14:8). And that because He lives, they would live: "On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you" (v.20). Just as Jesus and the Spirit dwell with the Father, so we are in Him, and He is in us.

No wonder we need illustrations from ordinary things. It's mind blowing to consider that God through Christ and the Spirit would dwell with us! What does this mean for us in our daily lives? Everything. With Jesus living within us, we find comfort when we face uncertainty and peace when we feel anxious. We can stop ourselves from over-reacting if someone slights us. We can speak out against injustice, using our voices for those who are oppressed.

Christ dwells in you [believers] spiritually. As you ponder that truth today, ask Him to show you how He can change you from within.--
--[Christ lives within His people, "Christ in you, the Hope of glory... -- Colossians 1:27 ]

---ODB/ABP

---UNSEEN WONDER ~~

--"Though you have not seen Him, you love Him;
and even though you do not see Him now,
you believe in Him."--[1 Peter 1:8] --

---IN THE TWILIGHT of her years, Mrs. Goodrich's thoughts came in and out of focus along with memories of challenging and grace-filled life. Sitting by a window overlooking the waters of Michigan's Grand Traverse Bay, she reached for her notepad. In words she soon wouldn't recognize as her own she wrote:

"Here I am in my favorite chair,
with my feet on the sill
and my heart in the air.
The sun-struck waves on the water below,
In constant motion--
To where I don't know. --

But thank You --dear Father above --
for you innumerable gifts and
Your undying love! It always amazes me--
How can it be?
That I'm so in love with the One I can't see.

Thank You Father for Your Son's sacrifice
that set me free, and soon to be in ...
Heaven above, because of Your great love,
.
I'm alive because of His sacrifice on the Cross
The Cross is my joy and eternal promise of
Jesus' love and gift of eternal life.
Because of His scars, I will live eternally."

The apostle Peter acknowledged such wonder. He had seen Jesus with his own eyes. but those who would read his letter had not. "Though you have not seen Him...you believe in Him and are filled with inexpressible and glorious joy" (1 Peter 1:8). We love Jesus not because we're commanded to, but because with the help of the Holy Spirit (v.11) we begin to see how much He loves us.

It's more than hearing that He cares for people like us. It's experiencing for ourselves the promise of Christ to make the wonder of His unseen presence and Spirit real to us at every stage of life.

-"Our Father in heaven, please help me to see the miracle of Your love and presence in Your Son and to believe in Your Holy Spirit. Help me to share this promise of eternal life. "

--ODB/MD~

--THE LIFE OF PEACE ~~

--"The peace of God, which transcends all understanding,
will guard your hears and your minds in Christ Jesus."
---[Philippians 4:7]

--IN Perth, Australia there's a place called Shalom House where men struggling with addictions go to find help. At Shalom House, they'll meet caring staff members who introduce them to God's shalom (Hebrew for peace). Lives crushed under the weight of addictions to drugs, alcohol, gambling, and other destructive behaviors are being transformed by the love of God.

Central to this transformation is the message of the Cross. The broken people of Shalom House discove that through the resurrection of Jesus, they can find their own lives resurrected. In Christ, we gain true peace and healing.

Peace isn't merely the absence of conflict; it's the presence of God's wholeness. All of us need this shalom, and it's only found in Christ and His Spirit. This is why Paul pointed the Galatians to the Spirit's transformation al work. As the Holy Spirit operates in our lives, He generates His fruit that includes love, joy, patience, and more (Galatians 5:22-23). He give us that vital element of true, enduring peace.

As the Spirit enables us to live in God's shalom, we learn to bring our needs and concerns to our heavenly Father. This in turn brings us "the peace of God, which transcends all understanding" -- the peace that "will guard [our] minds in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:7).

In Christ's Spirit, our hearts experience true shalom.
"Father God of shalom, thank You that Your desire is for peace to reign in my life. Thank You for the work of Jesus to make peace available and the work of the Holy Spirit whose fruit in my life brings peace. I give you praise. In Christ's Name. amen"

---ODB/BC~