News you won't see in controlled mainstream media.

GOD'S MAJESTY

Exodus 33: 1-11
_________________
You cannot see My
face; for no man shall
see Me, and live.
---Exodus 33:20
---------------------
The Hebrews in the Sinai wilderness saw evidence of God every day, heard Him speak, and lived under a contract signed in His own hand. Out of this relationship emerged a great gift from the Jews to the world: monotheism--the belief in one sovereign, holy God.

Today many treat God like a cosmic good buddy. We could use a refresher course from the Old Testament on God's majesty.

Pastor Gordon MacDonald writes, "The most costly sins I have committed came at a time when I briefly suspended my reverence for God.....I quietly (and insanely) concluded that God didn't care and most likely wouldn't intervene were I to risk the violation of one of His commandments."

MacDonald says his own love for God has moved away from a sentimental model, which never satisfied him, to something closer to a father/son model. He is learning to reverence, obey, and thank God; to express appropriate sorrow for sin; to pursue a quietness in wich he might hear God whisper. He seeks a relationship with God appropriate to the profound difference between the two parties.

As God's children, we may "come boldly to the throne of grace" (Heb 4:16). But let us ever be mindful of our Father's inestimable majesty.--
~~~~~~~~~~~
To worship is to recognize
the supreme worth of God.

Blessings, Abishag <><
Our Daily Bread + + +

---INDESTRUCTIBLE !

Hebrews 7:11-21
_________
[Christ] has come
...according to the
power of an endless
life.--
Hebrews 7:16

THE space shuttle reenters Earth's atmosphere at more than 25 times the speed of sound! Friction from wind resistance raises the spacecraft's outer temperature to 3,000 degrees Fahrenheit. To keep the shuttle from burning up, 34,000 separate tiles protect its underbelly. These tiles must be virtually indestructible against high-speed friction.

In this world of death and decay, nothing is truly indestructible. Yet the Bible tells us of an indestructible life. Comparing the Lord Jesus to the works of the law, we are told, "[Christ] has come, not according to the law of a fleshly commandment, but according to the power of an endless life (Heb. 7:16). The Greek word translated "endless" is best rendered "indestructible."

The Messiah is our Great High Priest whose priestly duties required His own sacrificial death for our sins. His resurrection guarantees eternal redemption for all who repent and believe in Him.

The loss of health, relationships, or finances can make us feel as if our life has been destroyed. But for the believer, nothing could be further from the truth. Through our spiritual union with Christ, we have the promise that we'll share in His own indestructible life (John 14:19).

--Marvelous day, all suffering ended,
Glorious bodies now like to His own;
We will be kings and priests in God's kingdom,
With glory and honor around the Great Throne. --
____________________________________________________________
NOTHING CAN SHAKE THOSE
WHO ARE SECURE IN GOD'S HAND.

Our Daily Bread/df
JESUS IS LORD ! Go tell somebody today!

PRELUDE
OF PRAISE ~~~~

Psalm 150
~~
I will sing praise to
Your name forever,
that I may daily
perform my vows.
--Psalm 61:8
____
WE enter a concert hall, find our seats, and listen with anticipation as the members of the orchestra tune their instruments. The sound is discordant, not melodic. But the tuning is simply a prelude to the symphony.

C.S. Lewis suggested that's how it is with our devotional practices and even our worship services. Sometimes they sound discordant, but God hears our prayers and praises with fatherly delight. We are really preparing for participation in the glorious symphony of heaven. Now we are making a minuscule contribution to the harmonies of angelic and redeemed hosts. But our adoration, though feeble, pleases the heart of the Divine Listener more than the finest rendition of earth's greatest orchestra.

Are we eagerly awaiting our participation in Heaven's symphony of praise? Are we joyfully participating in the adoration that delights the heart of God? Or do we regard devotion as more of a discipline than a delight?

Our attitudes will be transformed when we realize that praise delights God's heart. Praise helps us to tune our lives to heavenly harmonies and prepares us for the worship that will be our eternal joy. "Let everything that has breath praise the LORD" (Ps. 150:6).
--------------------------
THE HEART FILLED WITH PRAISE BRINGS PLEASURE TO GOD.

Our Daily Bread/vg
Blessings, JESUS IS LORD!/ Jesus is coming back! Are we ready

"The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is
mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over
thee with joy...." ZEPHANIAH 3:17 ---

THE world's millions could come down to the beach and reach out their hands to be filled with sea water. They could each take as much as they wanted, as much as they needed--and still the ocean would remain unchanged. It's might and power would be the same, the life in its unfathomable depths would continue unaltered, although it had supplied the needs of every single person standing with outstretched hands along its shores.

So it is with God. He can be everywhere at once, heeding the prayers of all who call out in the name of Christ; performing the mighty miracles that keep the stars in their places, and the plants bursting up through the earth, and the fish swimming in the sea.

There is no limit to God. There is no limit to His wisdom. There is no limit to His power. There is no limit to His love. There is not limit to His mercy.

Prayer For the Day:

'Almighty God, how glorious are my thoughts of You,
for You are everywhere---loving and caring for the minutest
details of our lives!
Oh Lord, my God, how majestic is your Name in all the earth!'

Billy Graham/ Evangelist
Blessings! JESUS IS LORD! Tell somebody today of His great Majesty! JESUS LOVES YOU!

Alienation From God?!

Problem Solved!

READ/ 1 Peter 1:1-25

~~~MANKIND was created to have a loving relationship with God. However, this relationship was broken when Adam and Eve listened to the Devil and disobeyed the Lord. Sin entered their very natures and has been passed down to all their descendants.

Now we all have a big problem: alienation from God. But our all-knowing Lord had a plan of salvation in place even before He created anything (1 Peter 1:18-20). When the time was right, the Son of God paid our penalty for sin with His substitutionary death, and in so doing, He opened the door for forgiveness and reconcilation.

In His grace, God saves us on the basis of faith in His Son, Jesus Christ, and calls us to a "ministry of reconciliation" (2 Cor. 5:18-21). Together, believers make up the body of Christ--or "the church"--through whom He achieves His work on earth.

The Lord gives us new natures empowered by the Holy Spirit, who comes to live within each Christian. He transforms our characters into the image of Christ and enables us to live godly, obedient lives.

One day we will all stand before the Judge, and He will pronounce our eternal destiny--either heaven or the lake of fire. Those who have been reconciled with God through Christ will be welcomed into their heavenly inheritance.
-------------------------

EARLY LIGHT/ We need these truths firmly planted in our minds. Then we will grasp not only our desperate situation but also the goodness and love of God, as revealed in His amazing rescue plan. He has proven His care for us in our most urgent need. Will He not, then, provide for every other need in our lives?

Pastor Charles Stanley
In Touch Ministries
JESUS IS LORD! Blessings, Abishag <><

--IN JESUS' NAME --

READ/ JOHN 14:9-14

SOMETIMES we may wish Jesus had said to His disciples, "Ask Me anything, and I will answer." But that instruction would not have adequately described how to connect to heaven's throne. Therefore, the Lord gave very specific instructions for petitioning Him: "Whatever you ask 'in My name', that I will do," (John 14:13).

The power of Jesus Christ's name throws open the doors to Father God's throne room. In fact, we are granted 'eternal' access when we call upon Him for salvation. Formerly, the way was barred because holy God will not tolerate sin stains. But since believers have been made righteous, they can enter His presence with confidence (2 Cor. 5:21; Heb.4:16). Furthermore, our association with Jesus gives us authority to petition the Almighty Father and expect an answer (Matt. 7:7; 1 John 5:14).

Yet the phrase "in Jesus' name" isn't some magic incantation that automatically gets what a person desires. Rather, it is a way to ensure that hearts are right and requests are in line with God's will. When we ask in Jesus' name, we are telling Him we want an answer that is based upon His complete knowledge of our situation. Moreover, we are surrendering our desires to be denied, changed, or granted as He sees fit. ~

EARLY LIGHT/ We must not treat our prayer privilege lightly. Asking for silly or selfish things in the Lord's name is useless. He isn't about the business of granting wishes. Instead, believers are invited to tap into Jesus' power for the purpose of seeing His will done and His gospel spread.<><

IN TOUCH
Pastor Charles Stanley
JESUS IS LORD---He's coming back. Are we ready?

BECOMING
WHOLE ~~

Romans 7:13-25
-----
Work out your own
salvation with fear
and trembling.
---Philippians 2:12 -
---
WHEN a friend fell off her bike and suffered a severe brain injury, doctors weren't sure she would survive. For several days she remained suspended between life and death.

The first good news came when she opened her eyes. Then she responded to simple voice commands. But with every small improvement, anxiety remained. How far would she progress?

After one difficult day of therapy, her husband was discouraged. But the very next morning he exclaimed: "Sandy's back!" Physically, emotionally, and mentally, Sandy was becoming the "self" we knew and loved.

Sandy's fall reminds me of "the fall" of mankind (Gen. 3). And her struggle to recover parallels our struggle to overcome the brokenness of sin (Rom. 7:18). If only her body healed, recovery would be incomplete. The same world be true if her brain worked but her body didn't. Wholeness means that all parts work together for one purpose.

God is the one healing Sandy, but she has to work hard in therapy. The same is true of us spiritually. After God saves us through Christ, we must "work out" our salvation (Phil. 2:12)--not to earn it but to bring our thoughts and actions into agreement with His purpose.

More like the Master I would ever be,
More of His meekness, more humility;
More zeal to labor, more courage to be true,
More consecration for work He bids me do.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
TO BECOME WHOLE, KEEP YIELDING TO THE HOLY SPIRIT! -

Our Daily Bread/jak--

We serve a BIG and MIGHTY God. Never, ever underestimate the power of His out-stretched arms. AMEN! Hallelujah!
JESUS IS LORD! We celebrate His birthday soon. Please remember JESUS IS THE REASON FOR THE SEASON! MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Abishag <>< +

Jesus Christ is the Word of God!

He is the great Prophet in whom all prophecy is fulfilled.
He is able to say: " I and my Father are one."
----John 10:30

The perfect Prophet is found in Jesus Christ.
Amen!

Thank you, Lynn. Yes and Amen...JESUS IS GOD! The Light of the world!

The Glory in the Ordinary ~~
By: Max Lucado

~~A small cathedral outside Bethlehem marks the supposed birthplace of Jesus. Behind a high altar in the church is a cave, a little cavern lit by silver lamps.

You can enter the main edifice and admire the ancient church. You can also enter the quiet cave where a star embedded in the floor recognizes the birth of the King. There is one stipulation, however. You have to stoop. The door is so low you can't go in standing up.

The same is true of Christ. You can see the world standing, tall, but to witness the Savior, you have to get on your knees.

So....
----while the theologians were sleeping
---------and the elite were dreaming
-----------and the successful were snoring,
---------------the meek were kneeling.

They were kneeling before the One only the meek will see. They were kneeling in front of Jesus.

God Has It All Under Control
Devotional thought from the messages of Adrian Rogers

BIBLE MEDITATION:
Colossians 1:17 - "And He is before all things, and by Him all things consist." -

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
We sing about the Lord having the whole world in His hands. But do you know what is more remarkable than that? He has the whole universe in His hands.

God's the One who spoke it into existence. He's the One who keeps it going. He's the One who is going to fold it up like a garment and tuck it away in a drawer somewhere. He regulates it, He rules it, and He runs it. When you pick up the newspaper and read something alarming, you don't need to panic.

That just says "Praise God, I told you so!" God is in control! He, who flung the stars in space, has the whole universe in His hands!

ACTION POINT:
Take the hand of a child today and look at the stars twinkling in the night or a leaf changing color, then share about the awesome Creator and Sustainer of all.

___________

--Sarah's Lie
Genesis 18:9-15 --

"'Why did Sarah laugh and say, Will I really have a child, now that I am old?...Is anthing too hard for the Lord?'..Sarah was afraid, so she lied and said, 'I did not laugh.' But He said, 'Yes, you did laugh.'" (Genesis 18:13-15)

God told Abraham, age 100 and Sarah, age 90, they would have a child, though they felt too old to fulfill God's promise. The thought of having a son seemed ridiculously impossible to Sarah. She laughed to herself.

Well, of course God knew she'd laughed because He knows our thoughts even before they reach our lips. When God confronted her, she lied. What would I have said to Sarah? Probably, "Shame on you for lying! Now there will be no son for you!" But God didn't scold her. He gently exposed the truth. "I know you did laugh." Even to His dishonest, untrusting people, His promises never fail and His compassion never ends.

I've heard people say, "I can't pray about that subject. I just can't talk to God about it." Since God knows everything about us, it's illogical to think anything could be kept from Him.

He sees the hidden places of our souls. Can we hide anything from Him? He knows all out thoughts, including the "top-secret" things buried deep in our heart. And He loves us still!
---
God is the same today. He whispers, "I know everyting about you, My child--the good and the bad. I love you unconditionally."

Haven Today Ministries

--SAFELY SECURED
Romans 8:35-39

----
Abide in My love.
---John 15:9

I'm so thankful that God's love is steady; it can sustain us when love here on earth drifts away. In fact, it's so reliable that Jesus invites us to abide in His love (John 15:9). He wants us to know it's okay to settle in and get comfortable.

We can always remain in God's tender embrace because "neither death nor life, no angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come" (Rom. 8:38), or anything else, can ever separate us from His love through Christ. Once we trust Christ as Savior, the guarantee of God's love is ours forever.

You and I can always rest in God's affection--His constant care will keep your heart safely secured.
----
Our salvation is secure because God's Word is sure.

ODB/JBS

AMAZING GRACE / By: Chris Tomlin


<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AXV6HJxUebg>

"Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone)"

Amazing grace
How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me
I once was lost, but now I'm found
Was blind, but now I see

'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear
And grace my fears relieved
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed

My chains are gone
I've been set free
My God, my Savior has ransomed me
And like a flood His mercy rains
Unending love, Amazing grace

The Lord has promised good to me
His word my hope secures
He will my shield and portion be
As long as life endures

The earth shall soon dissolve like snow
The sun forbear to shine
But God, Who called me here below
Will be forever mine
Will be forever mine
You are forever mine.

Praise the LORD! We've 'been set free', in JESUS!

YES! Jesus is ALIVE! Scroll down to bottom, to begin the music/song as you listen and read the words! Yes, this song is a few years old, but JESUS STAYS THE SAME, Yesterday, to day, and forever!
HEBREWS 13:8 --

--He's Alive / By: Don Francisco

The gates and doors were barred and all the windows fastened down
I spent the night in sleeplessness and rose at every sound
Half in hopeless sorrow and half in fear the day
Would find the soldiers breaking through to drag us all away.

And just before the sunrise I heard something at the wall
The gate began to rattle and a voice began to call
I hurried to the window and looked down into the street
expecting swords and torches and the sound of soldiers feet.

There was no one there but Mary so I went down to let her in
John stood there beside me as she told us where she'd been
She said they've moved him in the night and none of us knows where
the stone's been rolled away and now his body isn't there.

We both ran t'ward the garden and then John ran on ahead
We found the stone and the empty tomb just the way that Mary said
But the winding sheet they wrapped him in was just an empty shell
and how or where they'd taken him was more than I could tell.

Something strange had happened there just what I didn't know
John believed a miracle but I just turned to go.
Circumstance and speculation didn't lift me very high
'cause I'd seen them crucify Him, and then I saw him die.

Back inside the house again the guilt and anguish came
Everything I'd promised Him just added to my shame
When at last it came to choices I denied I knew His name
and even if He was alive, it wouldn't be the same.

Suddenly the air was filled with a strange and sweet perfume
Light that came from everywhere drove shadows from the room
Jesus stood before me with his arms held open wide
and I fell down on my knees and I just clung to him and cried.

He raised me to my feet and as I looked into His eyes
love was shining out from them like sunlight from the skies
Guilt and my confusion disappeared in sweet release
and every fear I'd every had just melted into peace.

He's alive, He's alive, He's alive and I'm forgiven
heaven's gates are opened wide

(repeat chorus two more times)

He's alive, He's alive, He's alive . . . He's alive!!!

<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VbSnk1R31vg>

EYEWITNESSES OF HIS MAJESTY
by Max Lucado
* * *

Christianity, in its purest form, is nothing more than seeing Jesus.

Christian service, in its purest form, is nothing more than imitating Him who we see.

To see His Majesty and to imitate Him,that is the sum of Christianity.
* * * --

FOR FIFTY-ONE YEARS BOB EDENS WAS BLIND. He couldn't see a thing. His world was a black hall of sounds and smells. He felt his way through five decades of darkness.

And then, he could see.

A skilled surgeon performed a complicated operation and, for the first time, Bob Edens had sight. He found it
overwhelming. "I never would have dreamed that yellow is so . yellow," he exclaimed. "I don't have the words. I am amazed by yellow. But red is my favorite color. I just can't believe red.

"I can see the shape of the moon-and I like nothing better than seeing a jet plane flying across the sky leaving a vapor trail. And of course, sunrises and sunsets. And at night I look at the stars in the sky and the flashing light. You could never know how wonderful everything is."

He's right. Those of us who have lived a lifetime with vision can't know how wonderful it must be to be given sight.

But Bob Edens isn't the only one who has spent a lifetime near something without seeing it. Few are the people who don't suffer from some form of blindness. Amazing, isn't it? We can live next to something for a lifetime, but unless we take time to focus on it, it doesn't become a part of our life. Unless we somehow have our blindness lifted, our world is but a black
cave.

Think about it. Just because one has witnessed a thousand rainbows doesn't mean he's seen the grandeur of one. One can live near a garden and fail to focus on the splendor of the flower. A man can spend a lifetime with a woman and never pause to look into her soul.

And a person can be all that goodness calls him to be and still never see the Author of life.

Being honest or moral or even religious doesn't necessarily mean we will see him. No. We may see what others see in him. Or we may hear what some say he said. But until we see him for ourselves, until our own sight is given, we may think we see him, having in reality seen only a hazy form in the gray
semidarkness.

Have you seen him?

Have you caught a glimpse of His Majesty? A word is placed in a receptive crevice of your heart that causes you, ever so briefly, to see his face. You hear a verse read in a tone you'd never heard, or explained in a way you'd never thought and one more piece of the puzzle falls into place. Someone touches your painful spirit as only one sent from him could do and there he is.

Jesus.

The man. The bronzed Galilean who spoke with such thunderous authority and loved with such childlike humility.

The God. The one who claimed to be older than time and greater than death.

Gone is the pomp of religion; dissipated is the fog of theology. Momentarily lifted is the opaque curtain of controversy and opinion. Erased are our own blinding errors and egotism. And there he stands.

JESUS.

Have you seen him?

Those who first did were never the same.
"My Lord and my God!" cried Thomas.
"I have seen the Lord," exclaimed Mary Magdalene.
"We have seen his glory," declared John.
"Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked?" rejoiced the two Emmaus-bound disciples.

But Peter said it best. "We were eyewitnesses of his majesty."

His Majesty. The emperor of Judah. The soaring eagle of eternity. The noble admiral of the Kingdom. All the splendor of heaven revealed in a human body. For a period ever so brief, the doors to the throne room were open and God came near. His Majesty was seen. Heaven touched the earth and, as a result, earth can know heaven. In astounding tandem a human body housed divinity. Holiness and earthliness intertwined.

Has it been a while since you have seen him? If your prayers seem stale, it probably has. If your faith seems to be trembling, perhaps your vision of him has blurred. If you can't find power to face your problems, perhaps it is time to face JESUS.

One warning. Something happens to a person who has witnessed His Majesty.
---
He becomes addicted. One glimpse of the King and you are consumed by a desire to see more of him and say more about him. Pew-warming is no longer an option. Junk religion will no longer suffice. Sensation-seeking is needless. Once you have seen his face you will forever long to see it again.

My prayer for this book-without apologies-is that the Divine Surgeon will use it as a delicate surgical tool to restore sight. That blurriness will be focused and darkness dispersed.

And, that we will whisper the secret of the
universe, "We were eyewitnesses of his majesty."

_________________________________
From God Came Near
Copyright (Thomas Nelson, 1987) Max Lucado

--Days of Elijah

"Remember ye the law of Moses my servant, which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel, with the statutes and judgments.

"Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD:

"And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse." --MALACHI 4:4-6

-Works of Darkness

"And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them." (Ephesians 5:11)
----
What are these "works of darkness" which we must avoid? Some of these works are enumerated in Romans 13:12-13: "Let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, . . . not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying." A Christian is thus to "cast off" all such works of darkness from his or her own life, to "have no fellowship" with those who practice them, and even to openly "reprove them."

"This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness" (Ephesians 4:17-19).

Such works of darkness stem directly from a denial of God as sovereign: "When they knew God, they glorified him not as God, . . . and their foolish heart was darkened" (Romans 1:21). This darkening of the heart is soon followed by a darkening of the life: "Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness. . . . Even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient" (Romans 1:24, 28).

In these days of moral confusion, with attitudes and actions once outlawed by society now being defended and favored (e.g., sexual promiscuity and perversion), and with once-honored attributes now ridiculed (e.g., chastity, spirituality), there are great pressures on Christians to compromise with these works of darkness.


God and His standards do not change, however, and He still expects us to shun and reprove them.
--ICR/HMM
----------
We are told in scripture, "Little children, it is the last time; and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time."

"They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if that had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us; but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not of us."

"Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father; [but] he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also."
--1 JOHN 2:18,19,23)

"And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life." 1 JOHN 2:25 / PRAISE THE LORD!

-Our Righteousness
-Ephesians 2:1-10 - (Please read verses)

Anyone who thinks of himself as a pretty good person ought to take a look at God's assessment of humanity. He says we all come into the world spiritually dead and are ruled by Satan, his world system, and our own sin nature, or flesh. In the Lord's eyes, we are children of wrath who deserve only punishment.

On the other hand, God is so pure and holy that He is totally separated from all sin and cannot look upon it with any favor or approval (Hab. 1:13). Everything He does is appropriate and beneficial; by comparison, even mankind's righteous acts are like filthy rags (Isa. 64:6). Yet even though we have nothing of value to offer Him, the Lord wants us for His own and has done everything necessary to draw us close.

Those of us who have placed faith in Jesus Christ have been made spiritually alive in Him, and all our sins have been forgiven. There's a striking contrast between what we were and who we now are in the Lord. But this change has nothing to do with how good we've been. Even the faith with which we respond to the Savior comes from God. We can never make ourselves righteous; it's all a gift from Him. And once He declares us justified, we will never be pronounced guilty again.

God has said that in the ages to come, He wants to show the "surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us" (Eph. 2:7). For all eternity, we will be showered with this awesome demonstration of His love. As great as our blessings are now, they'll pale in comparison to what awaits us in heaven.

--In Touch

-THERE IS NOW A NEW COVENANT
-By: Gary Wilkerson

“But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet. For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified” (Hebrews 10:12-14, ESV).

What a sacrifice! God now says the covenant is not like the covenant made with the angels. It is not like the covenant made with Adam — and Adam failed. Nor is it like the covenant of circumcision — where the children of Israel failed.
It is not like the covenant made with the Law of Moses and it is not like the covenant of the high priestly sacrifice. God says that this is a new covenant made through His Son, Christ Jesus. It is a better covenant, a more excellent covenant, a holy covenant. It is Christ’s covenant coming to bring us into new life, new creation. He is taking out the old and making all things new.

This is not a covenant based on our works. It is not a partnership with God. It is not God dealing with His people on mutual terms of performances. It is not God saying, “I will perform this if you will perform that.” Instead, God said, “Have you had enough of these old covenants? Are you weary enough now of failing?” Are you tired and frustrated of trying in your own moral power to show how holy you are before God? Are you tired of seeing yourself as equal with God, as if God could bring His bargain to the covenant and then you could bring your bargain and stand on equal ground?

The Word says that every single covenant God made long ago had one purpose — to show us the inability of our moral fiber, our inability to be covenant keepers on equal ground with God (Hebrews 1:1). It finally drove us to the point — as God does through the law now, even in the New Testament times —where we say, “I cannot do this myself. Nothing in my hand I bring to you, Lord. Without You taking both parts of the covenant, Your side and mine, without You fulfilling Your promises Yourself and fulfilling my promises for me, I cannot stand.”

-There is now a new covenant!
~~~~

-Is It Too Late for National Revival?

-BIBLE MEDITATION
"If My people who are called by My name shall humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, and forgive their sin and heal their land." 2 Chronicles 7:14

-DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
I am believing God for a national revival. You know, sometimes we think that it's just too late and we need to hunker down. That's what the devil wants us to do.

It's always too soon to quit. God has sent revival in the darkest days before, and there's not one shred of Scripture that says we cannot have revival in dark days.

It is not too late for America. And I don't want you to say, "My country, right or wrong." No, I want you to get right. One by one, let's get right with God and then we can say it, sing it, pray it and mean it, "God bless America." But there's something more important than America, and it's the kingdom of God. I'm not interested in making America a better place to go to hell from. People need to be saved.

-ACTION POINT:
The best thing you could do would be to lead another person to Jesus Christ. Then you will not just have a better citizen--you'll have a new creation and a citizen of God's kingdom! If someone asked you today how to be saved, are you prepared to lead them to Jesus Christ?
-JESUS IS LORD! He is the only way to spend eternity in heaven. Don't listen to the TV shows and people on talk shows saying, "There has to be more than one way!" BOLOGNA!
Jesus said, "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me."

--Living Every Moment to God's Glory~

~~"Look carerfully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil." --Ephesians 5:15-16

~Benjamin Franklin once wrote, "Dost thou love life? Then do not squander time, for that's the stuff life is made of."

But every now and then I'll hear someone say, "Well, I'm just killing time." Well, if you're killing time, then you're dying by degrees because your life is measured in time! If you don't believe me, take a walk through a cemetery and you'll see that on every headstone there's a date of birth and a date of death. That's your life!

And the reality is that before you were even conceived, God knew your birth date as well as your death date. You were planned and prepared in your mother's womb by God Himself. He gave you the the breath of life and He will one day take that breath of life away.

God has given us the gift of time on this earth. And He wants you and me to make the most of every moment He's given us. So when you wake up in the morning and take in that first conscious breath of a fresh new day, thank God for the opportunity that He's given you to live for His glory. And throughout your day, cherish every single moment and live it to the glory of God.

~Thank God for the time He's given you on earth and live every moment for the glory of God!~
--Daily Word/JG
----
[As we take in our breath, let's remember to keep Russ in prayer. He is having a terrible time with the chemtrails. Those horrible chemtrails have basically 'stolen his life'. At this time, he cannot breathe without a special wet mask.
"God have mercy on Russ, give Him clean air, as you originally made it. Lord, Come against this horrible chemtrail spraying that has already caused many deaths and difficulty breathing. We are calling on you, our Lord and Saviour, to intervene for your people, in Jesus Name. -Amen"]

-The Voice of the Lord

"The voice of the LORD is powerful; the voice of the LORD is full of majesty." (Psalm 29:4)

This solemn phrase, "The voice of the Lord," occurs seven times in Psalm 29, centered especially on the awful judgment of the great Flood in the days of Noah. "The voice of the LORD is upon the waters: the God of glory thundereth: the LORD is upon many waters" (v. 3). It occurs many other times in the Old Testament as well, with a wide variety of applications and circumstances.

The very first time it occurs, however (and this is also the first occurrence of "voice" in the Bible, indicating thereby that it is God's voice--not man's--that we must hear if we seek guidance for life), is in the Garden of Eden immediately after man brought sin into the world. "And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden. . . . And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou?" (Genesis 3:8-9). Mankind is lost and separated from God, but God calls unto each of us as He did to Adam, and we desperately need to hear His voice if our lives are to be fulfilled and spiritually fruitful.

In contrast to this scene of alienation, the final occurrence of a "voice" in the Bible is a beautiful scene of reconciliation when God again speaks to lost mankind, this time in glorious restoration of that broken fellowship. "And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God" (Revelation 21:3).

To hear His voice then, however, we must first hear His voice now, through His Word. Jesus said, "He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life. . . . the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live" (John 5:24-25).

--ICR/HMM

--MERRY CHRISTMAS RUSS and LAURA! BLESSINGS FOR A NEW YEAR 2013 ! JESUS IS LORD!

-Living in Grace
-Read | 2 Corinthians 5:17

Before the apostle Paul's conversion, if someone had suggested that he would impact the world for Jesus, he'd probably have laughed. In fact, his original goal was to rid the world of Christians.

God's grace can impact anyone; no sin is beyond the reach of His forgiveness. This amazing gift of redemption changes lives. Contrary to what many think, being a Christian does not mean adding good deeds to one's life. Instead, believers receive forgiveness by God's grace, and a completely new nature. Our inward transformation results in obvious outward changes.

A beautiful illustration of this is the butterfly's metamorphosis. Once it's in a chrysalis, a caterpillar doesn't merely act or appear different from the outside; it truly has changed inwardly as well.

Transformation for believers occurs in many areas. For example, our attitudes change--salvation by God's grace results in humility and gratitude. Out of thankfulness for this undeserved free gift flows compassion for the lost and a desire to share the gospel with them. Experiencing Christ's forgiveness also results in a longing to serve Him. This does not need to be in a formal church setting; we serve Him by loving others, helping those in need, and telling them about salvation.

While there are still natural consequences for our sin, God offers us forgiveness and redemption through Jesus. He made a way to restore our broken relationship with Him. What's more, our Father transforms our lives so we will become more like His Son and reflect His heart to others. ------

-The Power In Us
-By: Henry Morris, Ph.D.

“Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us” (Ephesians 3:20).

This amazing assurance of God’s unlimited ability to answer our prayers is related to a unique “power [Greek dunamis] that worketh in us.” Paul had used the same word twice before in this same epistle, speaking of “the exceeding greatness of His power to usward who believe,” and “the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of His power” (Ephesians 1:19; 3:7). “Effectual working” in the original is one word, energeia, from which we get our word “energy.”

Such power working in us is actually nothing less than the presence of God Himself. Its very first occurrence is in the model prayer. “For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever” (Matthew 6:13). It is this “power of God unto salvation” which is received when we first believe on Christ through the gospel (Romans 1:16). It has been so ever since the fulfillment of Christ’s promise when He told His disciples that “ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you” (Acts 1:8).

This remarkable power of God is thus imparted to us and energized in us by the Holy Spirit. Because of this, we can be filled “with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost” (Romans 15:13). Furthermore, He thereby provides impregnable security for time and eternity, for we “are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time” (I Peter 1:5).

With such a resource of unlimited spiritual power working in us, God is able indeed to accomplish far more than we can ever imagine, as He works in and through those yielded to His will.
--ICR/ HMM

-When God Became Man
-By: Henry Morris, Ph.D.

"In the beginning was the Word, . . .
and the Word was God . . . . All things were made by Him; . . .
And the Word was made flesh (John 1:1,3,14).
---
We can never understand the doctrine of the incarnation, whereby God the Creator became man the creature, for it is beyond the limits of finite comprehension. But we can believe it, and rejoice in it!

In fact, we must believe it, for "every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God" (I John 4:3). "If ye believe not that I am He," said the Lord Jesus, "ye shall die in your sins" (John 8:24).

We not only must believe, but we can believe, for He has proved Himself to be God incarnate by "many infallible proofs" (Acts 1:3), especially by His bodily resurrection after dying for our sins. Thereby has God "given assurance unto all men, in that He hath raised Him from the dead" (Acts 17:31). Only the Creator of life could defeat death. Buddha is dead and Mohammed is dead, and so are Confucius and Plato and all the great men who ever lived, but the "Word made flesh" who was "put to death in the flesh" (I Peter 3:18) has been raised from the dead and is "alive for evermore" (Revelation 1:18). "Wherefore He is also able to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him" (Hebrews 7:25).

How Could the Creator Become Man?
--- /BE SURE TO CHECK IT OUT!Here is an article from the Institute for Creation Research:
When God Became Man (http://www.icr.org/article/375/)

-THE PERFECT CHRISTMAS ~~
-Peace, Not Perfection ~~
-- --
~A partially paralyzed man was having trouble navigating the store aisle crowded with holiday shoppers. As he passed me, the bustling crowds pushed us toward each other, and I hear him whisper shyly, "Merry Christmas." His body was broken, but he radiated peace.

I was reminded that Christmas is about God's peace coming to dwell in the midst of our imperfections. After all, that first Noel didn't seem perfect. No woman wants to give birth surrounded by farm animals. Riding a donkey in the ninth month of pregnancy doesn't rank high on anyone's list, either. But every detail, every inconvenience and indignity, was part of God's mysterious plan.

We can get caught up in the myth of a perfect celebration when it reflects what we want for ourselves. But Christmas is about the truest gift: peace in a fallen world and the call to trust in God's plan.

And the big day comes whether, we're ready or not. Though the thought may strike fear in some, this too, is God's grace. His blessings aren't held captive by busy schedules. Peace is not a reward for those who wrap up everything by December 24. There can be no mad rush, no frantic preparations for the real spirit of Christmas; it simply fills our hearts as we are and where we are. Much the same, Christ did not need us to finish our work before He could save us. God's salvation has always found us in the most unlikely of places and conditions--even kneeling at a manger in a stable.

And that is an unlikely place to be, indeed, especially for a new mother. I often think that if Joseph had planned better, they could have gotten to Bethlehem earlier. They might have gotten a room. Mary would have been more comfortable. The whole situation seemed to be a frustrating mess.

But in that stable, God celebrated the birth of His Child and the culmination of centuries of waiting and preparation. If anyone had a right to demand that everything be perfect on that day, it was God. Perhaps the Father wanted privacy--an intimate, quiet setting for the birth of His Son. After all, if Mary had gotten a room in the inn, she wouold have been surrounded by people, and nothing is more distracting than a helpful stranger. But God gave us Jesus on His terms and in His way. If that first Christmas morning seemed less than ideal, it was something else entirely. It was divine.

You may not spend Chrirstmas morning in a stable. You may get a room at the inn. You may even finish your shopping and bake the cookies and decorate the tree. But should your body become weary, if your path becomes difficult, and if nothing goes as planned, remember that you can embrace Christmas right where you are. Reject the false promises of perfection. You don't have to wait for peace, because peace didn't wait for you. It is here now. Kneel at the manger and see.

-PEACE= IT IS JESUS, THE PRINCE OF PEACE!
--G. Garrett/

-YOU ARE I AM / MercyMe-

--JOY!

LUKE 2:8-12
---
I bring you good
tidings of great joy
which will be to
all people.
--Luke 2:10
---
After Adam and Eve disobeyed God, joy was lost. God expelled them from their garden home to prevent something worse from happening. If they had eaten from the tree of life after eating from the tree of knowledge of good and evil, they would have lived forever in their misery.

Life outside the garden was not easy. Adam and Eve had to work hard for their food. The reality of death was everywhere, and animals preyed on one another. Even worse, the couple's firstborn son murdered his younger brother. What could be worse? Sin had pierced their lives, and the couple could not stop joy from draining out.

But God had a plan to restore joy. Joy was lost in the Garden when death came, but joy returned through birth--the birth of God's own Son. "I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people" (Luke 2:10). Jesus grew up to heal the sick, give sight to the blind, and raise the dead. But this was just a taste of things to come. God entered our world, experienced our sorrow, and conquered death, giving us hope that He will keep His promise to end pain, and eliminate sorrow and death (John 11:25-26; 1 Cor. 15:3-4; Rev. 21:4).
No wonder Christmas is the season of joy!
------
THE JOY OF CHRISTMAS IS JESUS. Jesus was God in human flesh. That means He was all that the Father is.
"JESUS, YOU ARE I AM!"

--MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A BLESSED NEW YEAR 2013!

-The Lamb and the Lion
- By Henry Morris III, D.Min.

One of the more vivid biblical portraits of the Lord Jesus is the paradox of His presentation as a lamb and also as a lion. In the magnificent book of Revelation, the scene in heaven unfolds as the great seven-sealed scroll is revealed. The apostle John aches when no one is found worthy to open the scroll, but one of the enthroned elders says: “Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book…and, lo, in the midst of the throne…stood a Lamb as it had been slain” (Revelation 5:5-6).

Perhaps the best way to understand the dual emphasis of the lamb and the lion is by gaining the perspective of these portraits revealed in the rest of Scripture.

-First Mention of the Lamb in Scripture
God asks Abraham to sacrifice his son in this poignant record, in which we first see the mention of a lamb as the sacrificial offering (Genesis 22:2-8). When young Isaac asks what the sacrifice will be, the original wording of the text is quite unusual, saying, “God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering.” The Greek translation of that Hebrew passage is literally rendered “the God (will) later himself furnish unto a whole burnt offering, a son.” There is no punctuation in the early languages. Thus, the ending of this phrase with “son” could easily be understood that God will later furnish His Son as an offering.

Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise [crush] him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. (Isaiah 53:10)

--CHECK IT OUT FROM ICR! / "Behold the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world."


Here is an article from the Institute for Creation Research:
The Lamb and the Lion (http://www.icr.org/article/7095/)

-The Reason for Our Boldness
-Read | Romans 1:14-15
----
Even though most Christians are very familiar with the gospel, many are reluctant to share their faith because they just don’t feel capable of explaining it to someone else. When we lack confidence in our knowledge of salvation through Jesus Christ, fear of negative reactions or possible questions can keep us from opening our mouths. 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 are 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 a lost world the only message that can change a person’s eternal destiny.

The apostle Paul welcomed every opportunity to tell people about Christ, because he focused on the gospel’s life-changing power rather than the negative reactions he might encounter. Oftentimes, the reason we are ashamed to talk about our faith is that we’re concerned about ourselves. But if we begin to look at the hurting people around us, express genuine interest in them, and ask God to open a door for us to share our faith, He will answer that prayer.

We tend to be motivated by temporal activities that eventually fade away. But people are forever, and they need to know the Savior. Look for opportunities to reach out: 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) JESUS
------------

--THE GIFT~

-Colossians 1:19-27
---
And you...He has
reconciled in the
body of His flesh
through death, to
present you holy, and
blameless, and above
reproach in His sight.
--Colossians 1:21-22 --
---
WE refer to Christmas as the season of giving. Most of us try hard to find gifts that friends and family will like, but not all gifts are equal. Some gifts come with a subtle hint, like an exercise machine or a book about weight loss. Other gifts are those that the giver really wants for himself. But the best gifts are those that come from someone who loves us and knows what we want.

Last Christmas, my pastor, Jim Samra, challenged us to think about Christ's coming in another way. We know that Jesus was God's perfect gift to us (Rom. 6:23), but Pastor Jim added another thought. He said that His coming to earth could also be looked at as a gift that Jesus gave to His Father. Jesus loved His Father and knew that what He wanted more than anything else was for us, His creation, to be reconciled to Him. Through His incarnation, Jesus made it possible for us to be a holy and blameless present to God (Col. 1:22).

Thinking of ourselves as a gift to God makes us want to be a present worth the cost, "fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God" (v.10).

Dear Lord,, from whom all blessings flow,
Most precious gifts dost Thou bestow;
So truly faithful may I be
As Thou art gracious unto me.
---
-GOD'S HIGHEST GIFT SHOULD AWAKEN OUR DEEPEST GRATITUDE.

--ODB/JAL

--BECAUSE OF LOVE
-Luke 2:1-7
---
[Mary] brought forth
her firstborn, Son,
and wrapped Him in
swaddling cloths, and
laid Him in a manger.
--Luke 2:7
---
I received some nice Christmas gifts last year--ski pants, a bracelet, and a Kindle reader. But what I enjoyed the most were the gifts of time with people: playing with nine grandnephews and grandnieces; having a niece and her husband and their 18-month-old daughter attend our church's Christmas Eve service with us; visiting with a retired co-worker and his wife who are suffering with some health issues; celebrating the season with long-time friends; reading the Christmas story with loved ones. These were all special gifts because of the love we share

God the Father, because of love, sent a gift to this world 2,000 years ago. Jesus was wrapped in swaddling cloths and laid in a manger (Luke 2:7). The shepherds knew He was an amazing gift because an angel announced His birth to them in the middle of the night while they were in their fields. (vv.8-18). They rushed to see Him and then couldn't help but share the news of this Gift with others (vv.16-17). Yet many later rejected Him, and He was crucified for our sins and buried. But He rose from the tomb and now offers salvation to all who receive Him.

Thank You, God, for the Gift You gave--because of love.

Because of love God sent His Son
From heaven's throne to earth
To rescue us from sin and death--
A Gift of priceless worth!
---
--God's gift to the world is the life-giving Savior.
[Let's also take time out this Christmas to thank our Lord and Savior, Jesus the Christ, for giving us such a beautiful creation. And just think, THE BEST IS YET TO BE! \o/ ]
--ODB/AC

-The Greatest Gift of All
-Recommended reading: JOHN 3:15-21
---
Even children understand that unless a present is opened and explored, its value will remain unknown. Yet many people neglect "unwrapping" God's gift of salvation through Jesus. They receive His forgiveness but fail to discover the marveloous treasures made available to them as children of God.

When God the Son came to dwell on earth, He took on human flesh. This mystery is known as the Incarnation. Jesus, who was fully God, lived a sinless life. Yet He was also fully human. Without Christ, we would be eternally separated from God the Father. The sin we all inherited through Adam does not allow fellowship with the perfect God. So the Savior took our iniquities upon Himself and endured the death penalty in our place. Jesus paid our sin debt by nailing it to a Cross. And then He rose from the dead.

In doing this, Jesus redeemed us and opened the door for eternal fellowship with the Father. Any who so choose can accept mercy instead of punishment. It is God's 'free gift', which includes an eternal home in heaven. We will live forever with Christians from every generation and can look forward to reuniting with loved ones who have already died in the Lord. A small baby in a manger was truly the greatest gift of all time.

Do you have a relationship with Almighty God? Jesus came to redeem you. If you haven't accepted His salvation, take this opportunity; admit your need for forgiveness, and ask Christ to be your Savior. The gift is wrapped and ready, waiting for you to open and enjoy all God has given. It's yours, won't you please accept it?
----
-Do you know God?
The Lord has done everything to provide for your redemption. Now it's up to you to accept what Christ did on your behalf. He humbled Himself and became a man so He could die in your place to pay the penalty for your sin. But His offer of forgiveness is effective only if you receive it.

If you believe that Jesus is the Son of God and trust Him as your Savior. He'll forgive all your sins and provide a place for you in heaven (John 14:1-3). You can use the following prayer or your own words:

'Lord Jesus, I believe You are truly the Son of God. I confess that I have sinned against You in thought, word, and deed. Please forgive all my wrongdoing and let me live in relationshp with You from now on. I receive You as my personal Savior, accepting the work You accomplished on my behalf once and for all on the Cross. Thank You for saving me. Help me to live a life that is pleasing to You. Amen.
-----
We will gladly send you our free 'All Things Are New' kit to help you take the next step in your relationship with God. Contact our Customer Care department at 800-789-1473, or visit <www.intouch.org> for more information.-------

-WHO IS THIS JESUS?
-Read: Matthew 16:13-16

THROUGHOUT history, no one has made a greater impact on this world than Jesus Christ, yet many people simply do not understand who He is. Some believe that His life began in a manger in the ancient town of Bethlehem, but in reality, He existed long before that (Micah 5:2).

As a member of the Trinity, Jesus is the eternal Son of God, which means He has no beginning or end (John 1:1). His birth in Bethlehem was merely His physical entrance into the world that He created.

Jesus was the long-awaited Messiah, who came to earth to carry out the mission given to Him by His Father. At one point, He asked his disciples, "Who do you say that I am?" (Matt. 16:15). This is the question each of us must answer. There is no middle ground when it comes to deciding who Jesus is, because He claimed that He was the only way to the Father (John 14:6). Either He is the Son of God, or He's a fraud.

In Matther 16:16, when Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God," Jesus told Him that the Father had revealed this truth to him (v.17). We, too, need the Lord's help to comprehend who Jesus is. The best way to understand Him is to examine His birth, life, and ministry as recorded in the Scriptures.

Simply learning what the Bible says about Jesus is not enough. Once you've heard who He is and what He came to do, you must respond. What will you do with Jesus? To hear the truth and reject it is spiritual suicide, but those who believe and accept Christ receive eternal life.
--In Touch

--Discovering Christ's Beauty in Nature~~

"For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse."
---Romans 1:20

It’s funny how, when we’re young, we’re not morning people at all. I remember back in the days when getting up at 7:00 a.m. was early. But as I’ve gotten older, I’ve become much more of a morning person.

I made this discovery when I lived in Florida. Our house was near the inter-coastal waterway, so I began to get up early to watch the sun rise over the ocean as I had my devotional time with God. I loved basking in the magnificence of creation, watching the colors explode on the water as the sun would begin to make its daily appearance.

As I think about the Christmas season, I’m reminded of those brilliant sunrises. You see, Jesus came into the world much like a sunrise. The light began to shine on the horizon when He was born. And that night, the brilliant colors began to explode as the glory of God filled the skies and countless angels sang praises to God.

And like the day, Jesus’s life ended when the sun set and He was crucified. But three days later, the sun rose again more brilliant than ever with His resurrection! What an amazing truth – and the wonderful gift of eternal life we have!

-CREATION TESTIFIES TO THE BEAUTY OF JESUS’ LIFE, DEATH, AND RESURRECTION. THANK GOD FOR THE AMAZING GIFT OF HIS SON AS YOU’RE REMINDED EVERY DAY!

-GOD GAVE HIMSELF~~
-By: Dr. Henry M. Morris,PH.D.

-"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16~~

It is singularly appropriate that we look at this greatest of all verses on Christmas Day (Season), for it records the greatest of all gifts. THe theme of giving is very prominent in the Bible, with such words
as "give," "gift," "gave," etc., occurring more than 2,100 times. The first is Genesis 1:17 when God created the sun, moon, and stars "to give light upon earth," and the last is Revelation 22:12 when Christ will return with His rewards to "give every man according as his work shall be." "He ...gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons," as well as "life, and breath, and all things" (Acts 14:17; 17:25).

But the greatest gift clearly, was when God gave Himself for a lost and undeserving world. It was the greatest gift because it met the greatest need, revealed the greatest love, and had the greatest scope and greatest purpose of any gift that could ever be conceived in the heart of an omniscient Creator.

That was not the end of giving, of course. "He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things"? (Romans 8:32). "Trust...in the living God, who giveth us rightly all things to enjoy" (1 Timothy 6:17).

This great gift of God is abundantly sufficient to provide salvation and everlasting life for the whole world. But a gift only becomes a gift when it is accepted, and the greatest of all tragedies is that this greatest of all gifts has been spurned and even ridiculed, or--worst of all--simply ignored by multitudes who need it so greatly. Sadly, when they refuse God's free gift of everlasting life, they can only perish in everlasting death. God did all He coud do when He gave His Son, JESUS; for when He gave His Son, He gave Himself. ~~
WE DELIGHT / Cademon's Call

--THE GOOD LIFE

--Psalm 73:21-28
---
It is good for me to
draw near to God.
--Psalm 73:28
---
-Beauty, wealth, power, love, marriage, and pleasure are good things, but they're not the best. The best is loving God and taking in His love--bringing Him glory and making Him our friend for life. That leads to the best possible life because it gives us satisfaction and joy now (John 10:10), and it's what Christians are going to be doing forever.

That's why we should make time for God and rest in His love--the love that made you and me. It is the reason for our existence and the means by which we will make the most of our lives. I like the way the psalmist put it: "It is good for me to draw near to God; I have put my trust in the Lord God, that I may declare all Your works" (Ps. 73:28). In other words, the good life is drawing close to the One who loves us like no other.

And how can we "draw close" to Him? Here's a practice I began many years ago: Take a few minutes every morning to read some verses from the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John) and note what Jesus said or did. After all, He came to show us what God is like (Heb. 1:1-3). Put yourself in the story--in the place of the leper He healed with His loving touch, for example (Mark 1:40-45). Think about how much He loves you and then thank Him!
---
--The wonder of it all--just to think that Jesus loves me!
--ODB/DR --"Majesty, Worship His Majesty" (acappella)

-A Samaritan Woman Meets Her Messiah
-By: Max Lucado
--JOHN 4:1-26
(A paraphrase by Max)

-Situation-
Although the Jews did not like the Samaritans, Jesus purposely went through their territory. His disciples were amazed to find Jesus talking with a Samaritan--especially a woman!

-Observation-
Jesus knows everything about us before we tell Him.

-Inspiration-
Remarkable...It wasn't within the colonnades of a Roman court that He announced His identity.

No, it was in the shade of a well in a rejected land to an astracized woman. His eyes must have danced as He whispered the secret.

"I am the Messiah."...

Don't miss the drama of the moment. Look at her eyes, wide with amazement. Listen to her as she struggles for words, "Y-y-y-you a-a-a-are the M-m-m-Messiah!?"

Suddenly the insignificance of her life was swallowed by the significance of the moment. "God is here! God has come! God cares...for me!"...

That is why she grabbed the first person she saw and announced her discovery, "I just talked to a man who knows everything I ever did...and He loves me anyway!"

The disciples offered Jesus some food. He refused it--He was too excited! He had just done what He does best. He had taken a life that was drifting and given it direction.

-He was exuberant!
(From: Six Hours One Friday/ML)

-Application-
-What doubts and misgivings about Jesus do you have that hinder your faith? First, realize that even the disciples doubted, right up to the end (Matthew 28:17). Second, commit your doubts to the Lord, and ask for faith to live for Christ. Third, have confidence in Jesus the Living Word. He will refresh your faith.
---

--The Virgin Birth—Does It Matter?
--Read | Luke 1:26-37 (Recommended Reading)
----
I find it interesting that people choose parts of the Bible to accept as true. The virgin birth is often a rejected miracle—the argument I hear is, “As long as I believe in Jesus, the rest doesn’t matter.” But that rationale isn’t logical. Apart from the virgin birth, Jesus would have been just another man and therefore unworthy of anyone’s faith.

Consider the implications if Mary were not a virgin. If that were the case, then the following things would be true: 1) She was a liar who claimed to have been visited by an angel and told that she would bear the Son of God; 2) She was unfaithful to her intended husband and, consequently, 3) Jesus was an illegitimate child with no divine nature. Not only that, but if the virgin birth were a lie, then Jesus was a crazy man who claimed to be the Son of God and died a martyr’s death trying to prove it.

In fact, for Jesus’ death to provide atonement, the virgin birth had to be true. A child born of a man and woman comes into the world with a sinful “flesh” nature (Rom. 5:12), but God required a perfect sacrifice to pay for sin. That message is all through the Old Testament (Deut. 17:1). Only Jesus, who was born of the Holy Spirit (Matt. 1:18), could have paid our penalty in our place.

We cannot treat God’s Word like a religious buffet, where we choose the parts we will believe. Every fact, promise, and principle is included for a reason.
The Father placed His Son in the womb of a virgin so that no one could doubt He was something special—the Lamb of God, Savior of the world.

--In Touch

-- A Spring of Water

"Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life." (John 4:13-14)

Water is necessary for life, and no one can live for long without it. Jesus, when talking to the Samaritan woman at the well, used this simple and well-known fact to teach timeless truth, both to her and to us.

The two occurrences of the word "drinketh" in today's verse are actually in two different forms. The construction used in Greek implies a continual, habitual drinking in the first case, but a one-time action in the second.

Likewise, while the woman referred to a "well" (v. 12) (literally "a hole in the ground"), Christ referred to a "flowing well," or "spring," using a different word.

Furthermore, when He said one who drinks from His spring shall "never thirst," He said so in a very emphatic way. Not only is "thirst" emphasized by the sentence structure, but it is compiled of two negatives preceding the verb "thirst," which is further strengthened by the word "forever," i.e., "shall not, shall not thirst, forever."

One who drinks from the wells of the world will thirst again, for sinful pleasures never satisfy. But just a single drink from the springs of "living water" (4:10; 7:38) of which Christ spoke eliminates spiritual thirst forever.

That one drink is a drink of eternal life, and it becomes in the believer a veritable spring, inexhaustible in its quantity and unsurpassed in its quality. The water is, of course, a reference to the work of the indwelling Holy Spirit, sent by Jesus to minister to His followers in His absence. One day we'll be with Him, and then, as well as now, He completely satisfies.

--ICR/ JDM

-But He Made Himself of No Reputation

-BIBLE MEDITATION:
"But made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men." Philippians 2:7

-DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
Jesus came in a manger for you and for me. He willingly left the glories and riches of heaven to be born in a stable.

Jesus became poor so that we might become rich. He lived a life of such abject poverty that when He had to pay taxes, He had to look for a coin in a fish's mouth. When He sent out His disciples, He told them to take nothing but a staff and the power of the Holy Spirit (Mark 6:7-9). He was put to death like a common criminal so that we could wear a royal robe!

-Child of God, you are rich! I am rich! Praise God!
-ACTION POINT:
-Read Philippians 2:6-11 with your family or friends today as a Christmas devotional. Spend time praising God for His Son, Jesus.

-The Fire of God
-"For our God is a consuming fire." (Hebrews 12:29)

-Fire was considered by certain of the ancient pantheistic philosophers to have been the primeval element out of which all things had evolved, and this same myth is promulgated today by evolutionary cosmogonists in the form of their "Big Bang" theory. The fact is, however, that fire is a creation of God used both actually and symbolically as God's vehicle of judgment on sin.

It is significant that both the first and last references to fire in the Bible mention both fire and brimstone, used in flaming judgment on human rebellion against God. First, "the LORD rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven" (Genesis 19:24). And finally, "the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death" (Revelation 21:8).

Today's verse is a reference to Moses' words to the tribes as they were preparing to enter the promised land after his death. Warning them against corrupting their faith through idolatry, he said: "For the LORD thy God is a consuming fire, even a jealous God" (Deuteronomy 4:24). Its New Testament context is a grave warning against rejecting God's Word: "See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven" (Hebrews 12:25).

In a sense, God's Word is also God's fire. "His word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay" (Jeremiah 20:9). It is better to be refined with the fire of God's Word than to be consumed by His judgment fire. ICR/HMM
"LORD, LET YOUR FIRE FALL!"/ Paul Wilbur
--
<http://youtu.be/Ogv6Cyj0IP4M>

--True Worship
"God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth." (John 4:24)

The word "worship" is used frequently today in Christian circles--in addition to worship services, we now have worship choruses, worship teams, worship manuals, worship seminars, etc. Often, however, the basic meaning of worship is misunderstood.

In the original Hebrew and Greek, the respective words translated "worship" mean simply to "bow down"! The Hebrew is so translated the first time it is used. When Abraham saw God and two angels approaching, "he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed himself toward the ground" (Genesis 18:2). That is, he recognized God's "worthy-ship" and was submitting himself to do His will.

The last time "worship" is used is when John "fell down to worship before the feet of the angel." He was corrected by the angel with these words: "See thou do it not: . . . worship God" (Revelation 22:8-9). Only God, our Creator and Savior, is worthy of true worship, and that worship involves simply bowing down in submission to do His will.

That is why it must be "in spirit and in truth." Our spirit must submit to God who is Spirit, and this can only be in truth. Remember the words of the Lord Jesus concerning the Spirit whom He would send to indwell His followers: "When he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: . . . He shall glorify me" (John 16:13-14).

He would do this by revealing God's Word to the writers of the New Testament, just as He had for the Old (2 Peter 1:21). In His prayer to the Father, recorded by John, Christ prayed for us, saying, "Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth" (John 17:17). True worship is simply submitting to and doing God's will as made known by His written Word and the guidance of His Holy Spirit, thereby glorifying Christ.

--ICR/ HMM

--GOD IS DRAWN TO HUMILITY~~

"Has not my hand made all these things,
and so they came into being?" declares the LORD.

"This is the one I esteem:
he who is humble and contrite in spirit,
and trembles at my word." [ISAIAH 66:2]-
---
GOD is drawn to humility. We can understand that; we're the same way. Most of us have a negative reaction to those who are proud, and we enjoy the company of the humble. So it's no surprise that God--who made us in His image--exhibits the same attraction to those who are selfless and unassuming. It's the way He meant us to be.

God deeply desires intimacy with us, but it has to be an intimacy of integrity. A relationship based on false assumptions isn't a real relationship, and pride is a false assumption. It's an overestimation of our own abilities or resources. It's a sense of independence from the One who made us who we are and gives us everything we have. The arrogant keep God at arm's length.

If we want God to manifest His Presence in our lives, we have to position ourselves to receive it. That requires a lot of humility, a sense of dependence, and an awareness of need. God comes to us as the source of life on the condition that we know we need His life in us. He comes to fill us only when we know we're empty. He comes to meet our needs only when we realize how deep they are. He comes as our strength on the condition that we know our weakness. Pride blinds us to these realities; humility, even if such honesty is uncomfortable. Know that letting down all walls and being completely vulnerable opens you up to His life-giving Presence. Only empty vessels are ready to be filled.

-'Father I come to You as an empty well, I bring nothing but space for You. Fill me with Yourself.'

-Experiencing God's Presence/CT

-BEHOLD THE LORD!

-Life Lessons
-Regarding: Psalms 75:1-76:12
-By: Max Lucado
----
-SITUATION--
-Asaph grew in confidence that God would bring the wicked to judgment. God would not let anyone deserving judgment slip free unnoticed.

-OBSERVATION-
-God's holiness contrasts with our sinfulness. Without mercy from God, we all would be judged.

-INSPIRATION-
-According to legend, the first American Indian to see the Grand Canyon tied himself to a tree in terror. According to Scripture, any man privileged to peek at God has felt the same.

-Sheer terror. Remember the words of Isaiah after his vision of God? "Woe is me, for I am undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts" (Isaiah 6:5).

Upon seeing God, Isaiah was terrified. Why such fear? Why did he tremble so? Because he was wax before the sun. A candle in a hurricane. A minnow at Niagara. God's glory was too great. His purity too sterling. His power too mighty.
--(From: When God Whispers Your Name/ML)
~~~
-APPLICATION-
God is much more than a cosmic buddy. Be careful not to think too little of God. When you pray, approach Him with respectful, humble attitude.

-EXPLORATION-
--
-Cup of God's Judgment--
Isaiah 51:17; Jeremiah 25:15; 49:12; Habakkuk 2:16; Revelation 14:10; 16:19; 18:6. ~~~
~~~~~

-GOD'S MAJESTY!
---
--When We Abide in Christ
“Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me." (John 15:4)

The Lord Jesus has told us to be careful always to “abide" in Him. The Greek word means “remain," “endure," “continue," or “dwell." He is to be our motivation, our standard, our home, our everything. When we do abide thus in Him, the Scriptures indicate that it will make a great difference in our lives right now, as well as in the life to come.

For example, “he that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked" (1 John 2:6). Furthermore, “whosoever abideth in him sinneth not" (1 John 3:6). Love for our Christian brethren will be evident, for “he that loveth his brother abideth in the light" (1 John 2:10). We will obey His word, for “he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth |same word| in him, and he in him" (1 John 3:24).

In Christ's discourse on the vine and the branches (John 15:1-16) are several wonderful promises to the Christian. “He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit" (v. 5). “If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you" (v. 7). “These things have I spoken unto you that my joy might remain |same word| in you, and that your joy might be full" (v. 11). “I have chosen you . . . that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain" (v. 16).

If we dwell in Christ, we actually are abiding in the Father and the Spirit also. Jesus said that “the Spirit of truth . . . dwelleth with you," and “|my Father and I| will come unto him, and make our abode with him" (John 14:17, 23).
Therefore, let us “abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming" (1 John 2:28).
--ICR/ HMM --/ MAJESTY!(Here I Am)= Michael Janz~
<http://youtu.be/IcOLw3HA51Y>
---

---Sufferings of Christ -

"Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me."
--(John 16:32)

Though the murderous throng are surprised and awed by what they have seen and felt, their assurance and hardihood return as they witness the boldness of Judas in touching the person of Him whom so recently they have seen glorified.

When the disciples saw that He permitted Himself to be taken, they were offended, and forsook Him and fled, leaving their Master alone. Christ had foreseen this desertion, and in the upper chamber, before it took place, had told them of what they would do: "Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave Me alone; and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me."

He was betrayed by a kiss into the hands of his enemies; He was hurried to the judgment hall of an earthly court, by sinful men to be derided and condemned to death.

There the glorious Son of God "was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities." He bore insult, mockery, and shameful abuse, until his "visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men."
----
Thank you, Lord Jesus, that You died so that we, your people will live eternally with You. You conquered death for us. Blessed be your Wonderful Name.

--NOW I SEE!

-John 14:15-27
---
-The Helper, the Holy
Spirit, whom the
Father will send in
My name, He will
teach you all things.
---John 14:26
---
DEBORAH Kendrick loves to attend Broadway musicals even though she is blind and always struggles to understand the setting and the movements of the characters onstage. Recently, however, she attended a play that used a D-Scriptive, a new technology that conveys the visual elements of the stage production through a small FM receiver. A recorded narration, keyed to the show's light and sound boards, describes the set and the action as it unfolds onstage. Writing in The Columbus Dispatch, Deborah said, "If you ask me if I saw a show last week in New York, my answer is Yes!...I genuinely, unequivocally mean that I saw the show."

Her experience struck me as a vivid illustration of the Holy Spirit's role in our understanding of God's Word. Just before Jesus went to the Cross, He told His followers that "the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you" (John 14:26).

As we open the Bible to read or study, the Spirit of Truth is with us to guide us into all truth (16:13). On our own we are blind, but through the guidance of God's Holy Spirit we can see.
-----
-THE FATHER GAVE THE SPIRIT TO TEACH US FROM THE WORD.

--ODB/DM

--He Became Poor
--By: Henry Morris, Ph.D.


"For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich." (2 Corinthians 8:9)
-

The doctrine of Christ's kenosis, or self-emptying, is one of the most amazing of all biblical truths. The extent to which He who was not only "in the form of God" but also "equal with God" condescended to "make himself of no reputation" (the translation of kenoo in Philippians 2:6-7), is utterly beyond human comprehension.

He who once sat on the throne of the universe came to Earth "lying in a manger" (Luke 2:12). Throughout His public ministry, He had "not where to lay his head" (Matthew 8:20). Because He had no money to pay the tax, He had to catch a fish with the necessary coin in its mouth (Matthew 17:27). In His agony at Gethsemane, none of His friends would pray with Him, and when He was arrested they all "forsook him and fled" (Matthew 26:40, 56). No one defended Him at His trial.

On the Cross, the soldiers stripped away His only personal possessions—the clothes on His back—and then "parted his garments, casting lots upon them, what every man should take" (Mark 15:24). When He died, His body had to be buried in a tomb belonging to Joseph of Arimathea (Matthew 27:59-60). No home, no money, no possessions, no defenders, not even a tomb of His own in which to lie.

But He had a cross on which to die, and because He was obedient to the death of the cross, "God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name" (Philippians 2:9). Through His poverty we become rich, through His homelessness we have a mansion in heaven, and through His terrible death on Calvary we have everlasting life. Yes, we do know the grace of Christ!

--ICR/HMM/ http://youtu.be/LJtl7lKWQAk>

--A Still, Small Voice
--By: Henry Morris, Ph.D.
------
“And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice” (I Kings 19:12).

Elijah was in hiding for his life, even though God had spectacularly answered his prayer with fire from heaven. Jezebel, however, had not been intimidated by Elijah’s victory and swore she would kill him. He fell into such depression that he wanted to die. If Jezebel could not be impressed with fire from heaven, how could Elijah ever hope to defeat her and her armies? Not even an angel could remove his doubts.

But then was sent “a great and strong wind,” and “after the wind an earthquake” (I Kings 19:11). But the Lord was not in the wind or the earthquake or the fire. God finally reached Elijah with “a still small voice,” and that voice assured him that God was well in control of all circumstances. Similarly, Moses told the children of Israel, as they faced the Red Sea: “Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD” (Exodus 14:13).

It was prophesied of the Lord Jesus that “He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause His voice to be heard in the street.” Nevertheless, it was also promised, “He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till He have set judgment in the earth” (Isaiah 42:2,4; see also Matthew 12:19,20).

In our human impatience, we think God should always move immediately in great strength. Unless there are large numbers of converts and displays of power, we grow discouraged, like Elijah.

But God more often speaks in a still, small voice and works in a quiet way. “And therefore will the LORD wait, that He may be gracious unto you, . . . And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left” (Isaiah 30:18,21).

--ICR/HMM

---BEHOLD! The Bush Burned!
--Exodus 3:1-15

"And the Angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire from the midst of a bush. So he looked, and behold, the bush was burning with fire, but the bush was not consumed." (Exodus 3:2)

--MOSES was doing a humdrum job in the desert. Does that ring a bell with you? Does life feel mundane, average? Even the most significant job can sometimes be like that. Moses saw a bush which appeared to be burning yet not burning up. He didn't think, 'It's probably a trick of light' and carry on. He went over to investigate. He "turned aside" as the KJV says, and had an amazing encounter with God. Moses was made the architect of one of history's most momentous events: the Exodus, the liberation of God's people and the foretaste of the Greater Exodus which Jesus wrought on the Cross. God even told Moses His Name, which defies human definition, a name meaning that God is ever-present and always there for His people.

All this was because Moses "turned aside" one typical, mundane day. The burning bush was not just another inexplicable, trivial thing. Moses wanted to learn. The "behold" in our passage reminds us that God is near indeed, revealing Himself significantly in the insignificant places of life.
---
'God is in the ordinary. Poet Francis Thomson ("The Hound of Heaven") wrote of seeing the Lord walking the common London places as well as Galilee.'

--Haven=/ How Great Is Our God!
<http://youtu.be/jjxPG_mRHDs>

--Remember the Day of Rest
--By:Henry Morris, Ph.D.

"Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates." (Exodus 20:8-10)

The Hebrew word for "remember" actually means to "mark" or "set aside." The Israelites didn't need to be told to "remember" the sabbath, because all nations had been keeping time in weeks ever since creation (Genesis 2:13). (Note the references to the sabbath in the sending of God's manna, prior to the giving of this commandment [Exodus 16:23-29].) But they did need to be reminded to mark it as a holy or rest day, as God had done in that first week.

The Hebrew word for "sabbath" does not mean "Saturday" any more than it means "Sunday." It means, simply, "rest" or "intermission." The institution of the sabbath (that is, one day out of every seven days to be "set aside" as a day of rest, worship, and remembrance of the Creator) was "made for man" and his good (Mark 2:27). It was even of benefit to the animals used by man (note the mention of "cattle" in the commandment). It had been a pattern observed since the completion of God's six days of creation and making all things at the very beginning of world history (note Genesis 2:1-3; Exodus 20:11).

It is still appropriate today, as well. "There remaineth therefore a rest [that is, 'a sabbath-keeping'] to the people of God" (Hebrews 4:9). All men have a deep need to remember their Creator and His completed work of creation at least once each week, as well as His completed work of salvation—especially in these days when both of these finished works are so widely denied or ignored.

--ICR/ HMM [NOTE: The Sabbath Day of Rest means on the seventh day after working, 6 days, not necessarily Sunday.]

--WE CAN TRUST JESUS, ALWAYS!

-Matthew 10:32-38
-----
Bless those who curse
you, do good to those
who hate you, and
pray for those who
....persecute you.
---Matthew 5:44-
----
-I KNOW very little about persecution. My physical well-being has never been threatened because of what I believe or what I say. What little I "know" about the subject comes from what I hear and read. But that is not true for many of our brothers and sisters around the world. Some of them live in danger every day simply because they love Jesus and want others to know Him too.

There is another form of persecution that may not be life-threatening, but it is heartbreaking. It's the persecution that comes from non-Christian family members. When loved ones ridicule us for what we believe and how we express our love for God, we feel rejected and unloved.

Paul warned believers that following Jesus would result in persecution: "All who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution" (2 Tim. 3:12), and we know that sometimes rejection will come from those we love (Matt. 10:34-36). But when people we love reject the God we love, the rejection feels personal.

Jesus told us to pray for those who persecute us (Matt.5:44). God is able to give us grace to persevere through persecution even when it comes from those we love.
-----------
--People may mock our message
but they can't stop our prayers. ~~
--ODB/JAL

THE GLORY APPEARED ~~
--Exodus 40:34,35

"The the cloud covered the Tent of Meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle." (Exodus 40:34)

Where did they get all that gold, silver, bronze, colored yarn, and linen? They had plundered the Egyptians, at God's command. But surely they didn't have room in their backpacks for all of those things as they left on their hasty journey. Maybe not, but these things were for a very special purpose.

The last few chapters of Exodus tell me that God made some elaborate preparations for His very special meeting place with His people. Look at the climax! The Tabernacle is erected for the first time, and "the glory of the Lord filled the Tabernacle." What must that have been like?

The closest I can come to an understanding of that experience is our own--"The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have see his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth" (John 1:14).

When we gather to worship, especially around the Communion Table, we can get a glimpse of God's glory in our midst. That's Jesus, the ultimate expression of God's glory among us. ~~
----
--Open our eyes, Lord, that we might see the glory of Your Presence in our midst!~~

--Haven Today/ YOU"RE BEAUTIFUL! = Phil Wickham~
<http://youtu.be/3KXp5nGBre4>
------------

--DON'T BE LIKE THEM ~
--Leviticus 18:1-5

"...I am the Lord your God. You must not do as they do in Egypt...and you must not do as they do in the land of Canaan..."
--(Leviticus 18:2-3)

ONE of the biggest mistakes the children of Israel made, throughout their history, was their unwillingness to be different. After they settled in the Land, their cry was, "Now appoint a king to lead us, such as all the other nations have. We want to be like the other nations!" ( (see 1 Samuel 8:5)

God had told them to honor Him as their Lord and not to be like the Egyptians or Canaanites. But, like us, that seemed to be a hard word for them to follow. Our unfortunate tendency is to conform to the culture around us.

Paul challenges us to "'Come out from them and be separate,' says the Lord. '...I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters'" (2 Corinthians 6:17-18).

Often from a very young age on, we do not want to "come out and be separate" for Jesus. But note what is promised along with that command: an intimate relationship with God. We need to take advantage of it by being willing to be different. Recall the line from an old song: "Take the world, but give me Jesus."
---
-Cultural conformity can lead to spiritual catastrophe.~~

--Haven Ministries

---Teaching Universe/ The Glory of God!

“The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge.” (Psalm 19:1-2)

This familiar psalm, extolling God’s creation (vv. 1-6) and God’s Word (vv. 7-14), begins with a beautiful summary of the testimony of the physical universe. “The heavens” and the “firmament” are synonymous (Genesis 1:8), both being equivalent to our modern scientific concept of space. The “glory of God” refers to His infinite power, or energy, and “his handywork” implies the infinite variety and complexity of physical systems, or matter, in the universe. This interaction of matter and energy occurs everywhere throughout space, but also has to operate and be understood in the context of time, “day unto day” and “night unto night.”

The entire marvelous complex of space/time/matter/energy is continually “uttering speech” and “showing knowledge,” teaching men and women of all times and places that there is a great Creator God who made it all. “The invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen” (Romans 1:20).

The boundless space, the endless time, the infinite energies, and the innumerable complexities of the matter of the universe all unite in irrefutable testimony to the God of creation.
The whole creation, indeed, declares the glory of God!

--ICR/HMM / I SEE THE LORD, By: Lindell Cooley
<http://youtu.be/ebzoET4XIj8>
----------

--The Lord

“Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.” (2 Timothy 2:19)

-The title “Lord,” when applied to Christ, is not merely a title of respect but an acknowledgment of relationship. We belong to Him, just as bondservants (slaves) belong to their owners. He owns us, having bought (i.e., “redeemed”) us with His blood, and the distinguishing seal of His purchase is that His servants are expected to “depart from iniquity.”

Thus, whenever “Lord” is attached to His name, there is an implied confession of His Lordship in that particular area of life. For example, to be saved, one must “confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus” (i.e., “Jesus as Lord”) and “believe on the Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 10:9; Acts 16:31). Following that, we are commanded: “As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him” (Colossians 2:6).

Even in the mundane affairs of life, He is our Lord. “Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake” (1 Peter 2:13); “Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit, serving the Lord” (Romans 12:11). Obedience to the Lordship of Christ is, of course, absolutely essential for a truly Christian and happy family. “Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. . . . Husbands, love your wives, . . . even as the Lord the church. . . . Children, obey your parents in the Lord. . . . And, ye fathers . . . bring [your children] up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord” (Ephesians 5:22, 25, 29; 6:1, 4).

As our text reminds us, Christ’s Lordship implies holiness and full submission to Him. “Put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh. . . . For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord” (Romans 13:14; 14:8).

--ICR/HMM

--HAVE THE RIGHT ATTITUDE FOR WORSHIP~~

And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.
---Cossians 1:17–18

Several years ago when Warren G. Harding was President of the United States, he regularly attended a particular church in Washington D.C. A lady heard he was a regular attender at this church and wanted to meet Harding. So she showed up at church one Sunday.

Not seeing the President, she walked up to the pastor before the service and asked him, “Sir, is the President going to be in the service today?” The pastor looked at her and said, “I’m not sure, ma’am, but the King of kings will be here today!”

Many churchgoers today are a lot like that woman. They see church as an opportunity to see the right people or be seen as a good person, and they completely miss the real meaning of church. But the truth is that church is about much more than just seeing people. It’s about those people coming together to bring glory to the Almighty God.

Don’t fall into the idolatrous notion that church is all about the people who are there. Yes, go for the fellowship with others. But more important, join with others in the faith and focus your worship on the true King!

HAVE THE RIGHT HEART IN WORSHIP BY MAKING SURE YOU’RE FOCUSED ON THE ONE TRUE KING: JESUS!
--HEART OF WORSHIP/ MATT REDMAN
<http://youtu.be/Y0a9T0UtJBQ>
--------------

--JESUS, THE LION OF THE TRIBE OF JUDAH!
---Revelation 5 / The Book With the Seven Seals~~ A Heavenly Revelation of the Lamb of God~~ Universal Worship of the Lamb~~

-----------
-"And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals. I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, 'Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?'
No man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth was able to open the book.

And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book. And one of the elders said unto me, "Weep not: behold the Lion of the tribe of Judah the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof."

And lo, in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth. And He came and took the book out of the right hand of Him that sat upon the throne.

And when He had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them, harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sang a new song, "Thou art worth to take the book; and to open the seals thereof; for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by the blood out of every kindred, and tongues, and people, and Nation; And hast made us unto our God kings and priests; and we shall reign on the earth.
"Worthy is the Lamb- - that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory and blessings!"

--Hallelujah! JESUS, THE LAMB OF GOD IS COMING AGAIN!!
<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gS6E2b4m3ao&feature=share&list=PL7B5EF33196ACB4EE>

---MAGNIFY THE LORD WITH ME!
---- --- /
"Oh, magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt His name together." --PSALM 34:3 [NKJV]

SOME translators don't like to use the word 'magnify' in verses like this, perhaps for concern of implying that the infinite God has the potential to become larger. And while we can certainly agree that God is already infinitely large, we know He isn't as big as He needs to be in our own hearts and minds. Our perspective is distorted. We need to magnify Him in our own vision.

In fact, we need to do that a lot. That's because we have a tendency to magnify our issues to be greater than God. And even if we don't underestimate His power, we easily underestimate His willingness to show it. We know He 'can' overcome any obstacle we face or any problem we have, of course, but we don't expect that He 'will'. We believe in His Presence without practically knowing it. And it's usually because we don't magnify Him and "exalt His name."

Fill your thoughts with God's greatness, and your experience of His greatness will increase. Focus on the depths of His love, and your experience of His love will grow deeper. When you face a crisis, be excited about the opportunity to magnify Him in the midst of the lesser issue, knowing that He already has a solution for whatever it is. Praise Him for His zeal to fight your battles and come to your defense. Your victories often depend on your acknowledgment of the Victor; your strength on your praise of the mighty Warrior; your healing on your trust in the Healer. Magnify Him in every way--thoughts, words, and deeds--and the infinite God will become larger to you.

-'Lord, You are the great and mighty God, exalted above every person, every passion, every problem. Fill my heart with Your praise--and with You. Let me experience the wonder of who you are.' amen~~

--Experiencing God's Presence/CT

---We’re Only on the Threshold of Knowing Him!

-“Of old hast Thou laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of Thy hands.” - Psalm 102:25

-I have been preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ for more than fifty years, but I feel I’m just on the threshold of discovering Him. I want to move closer and closer to Him and learn more and more about Him.

Do you know what Paul said at the end of his ministry? That he may know God (see Philippians 3:10). Did he know God? Yes, but he knew so little about Him.

Let me ask you a question. Did Christopher Columbus discover America? Well, he touched on the shores of America. But even today there are thousands of unnamed lakes, forests, and more where no one has yet completely explored.

--There is so much in Christ.

-You may have “touched on” Christ, but God’s plan is that you know Him more and more each day.

--Adrian Rogers~~
[These are the verses that are,(personally selected), on my car license plate.
"I want to know Christ and the power of His resurrection. To know the fellowship of His sufferings,
becoming more like Him even unto His death." (Philippians 3:10-11)]=Abigail~~//I WANT TO KNOW YOU=Jesus Culture / (approx. 8:30minutes/ be ready to worship Him.)
---------
<http://youtu.be/V7C2cQfJdo4>
-----------

---GOD'S MAJESTY!

--BOLD AS A LION!

-Be firm, be bold, be strong, be true,
"And dare to stand alone;"
Strive, strive for the right, whate'er you do,
Tho' helper there be none,
Tho' helper there be none.

Stand for the right, and hold your ground,
Tho' proud lips coldly sneer;
A poisoned arrow cannot wound
A conscience pure and clear,
A conscience pure and clear.~~

--By: Frederick Whitfield
~~~~~~~~
"The wicked flee when no one pursues,
but the righteous are bold as a lion."
--Proverbs 28:1, ESV
~~~~~~~~~~~~
[Christian boldness] requires a determined support of the
truth. It is cowardice to yield. We might fight manfully for
the truth; so Christ did, so did the Apostles; so did the
early Christians. We must defend the truth everywhere, in
all our [interaction] with [those in error].
There must be no yielding, no compromising, no disposition to lower down
truth, to hide its point, to make the sword of the Spirit
powerless, no unwillingness to use it if called upon.'

----Anonymous~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
'Lord, look upon their threats and grant
to your servants to continue to speak
Your word with all boldness.' ~~ Amen.

--The Early Church
------
--Decision Mag./September 2014~~
--Vertical Church Bank / 'STRONG GOD' ~~
<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1hig3RpyR3M>
----------

--FATHER OF BELIEVERS

“And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.” (Genesis 15:6)

--The key New Testament doctrine of imputed righteousness, received through saving faith in the Word of God, is foreshadowed beautifully in the life of Abraham. Because of his strong faith, demonstrated again and again in difficult acts of obedience, Abraham has been called “the father of all them that believe” (Romans 4:11). Our text verse is quoted four times in the New Testament (Romans 4:3, 22; Galatians 3:6; James 2:23) and is made the basis of the great gospel theme of salvation and righteousness. This is obtained, not by one’s good works, but by imputation, and is received through faith in the gracious promises of God through Jesus Christ. “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him” (2 Corinthians 5:21).

“Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure . . . to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all” (Romans 4:16). Just as “Jerusalem which is above . . . is the mother of us all” (Galatians 4:26), so faithful Abraham is “the father of us all.” Spiritual Jerusalem speaks of salvation by grace rather than by law, and Abraham testifies of righteousness through faith rather than by works. And yet, 12 of the 40 verses of Hebrews 11, the great “faith chapter,” deal with the outward evidences of Abraham’s inner faith.

There is still another reference to Abraham’s spiritual seed: “Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham” (Galatians 3:7). As Abraham’s spiritual children, therefore, we also ought to believe God’s Word at whatever cost, demonstrating the reality of our faith to the world—as did father Abraham—by obeying God.
--ICR/HMM / Jesus Paid It All/ Colton Dixon
<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TrCWihmPsN4>

--UNEXPECTED MAJESTY~~

--At 7:51 AM, January 12, 2007, a young musician took his position against a wall in a Washington DC metro station. He opened a violin case, removed his instrument, and began to play. For forty-three minutes he performed six classical pieces. During that time 1,097 people passed by. In his open case, they tossed a total of $32.17. Only seven people paused longer than sixty seconds—and of the seven, only one recognized the violinist, Joshua Bell.

-Three days prior, Bell had filled Boston’s Symphony Hall. But no one expected majesty in such a context. Who had time to notice beauty in the midst of busyness? Most did not. From the perspective of heaven, Jesus was playing the violin.
(Read/ Matthew 25:31-46)

--God is With You Everyday/ML~/--Your Majesty~ TD Jakes~--(GIVE HIM PRAISE! JESUS IS COMING SOON!)

<https://youtu.be/ME3cHf4xKnE>

--BEGIN WHERE YOU ARE~~

"The heavens declare
the glory of God;
the skies proclaim
the work of his
hands." -(Psalm 19:1)

--All nature declares the beauty of the One who made it. Our response can be worship, adoration, and thanksgiving--for the radiance of a cornflower, the splendor of a morning sunrise, the symmetry of one particular tree.

Author C.S. Lewis describes a walk in the forest on a hot summer day. He had just asked his friend how best to cultivate a heart thankful toward God. His hiking companion turned to a nearby brook, splashed his face and hands in a little waterfall, and asked, "Why not begin with this?" Lewis said he learned a great principle in that moment: "Begin where you are."

A trickling waterfall, the wind in the willows, a baby robin, a tiny flower. Why not begin your thankfulness with this?~~

--[GOD] IS THE BEAUTY BEHIND ALL BEAUTY.~~
--ODB/DR--/ MAJESTY (Here I Am) / Michael Janz ~~
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IcOLw3HA51Y>
-------

--NOTHING IS USELESS~~

'Nothing you do
for the Lord is ever
useless.'
--(1 Corinthians 15:58 NLT)--

--IN MY THIRD YEAR battling discouragement and depression caused by limited mobility and chronic pain, I confided to a fried, "My body's falling apart. I feel like I have nothing of value to offer God or anyone else.

Her hand rested on mine. "Would you say it doesn't make a difference when I greet you with a smile or listen to you? Would you tell me it's worthless when I pray for you or offer a kind word?"

I settled into my recliner, "Of course not."
She frowned. "Then why are you telling yourself those lies? You do all those things for me and for others."

I thanked God for reminding me that nothing we do for Him is useless.

In 1 Corinthians 15, Paul assures us that our bodies may be weak now but they will be "raised in power" (V.43). Because God promises we'll be resurrected through Christ, we can trust Him to use every offering, every small effort done for Him, to make a difference in His kingdom (V. 58).

Even when we're physically limited, a smile, a word of encouragement, a prayer, or a display of faith during our trial can be used to minister to the diverse and interdependent body of Christ. When we serve the Lord, no job or act of love is too menial to matter.~~

-"JESUS, THANK YOU for valuing us and using us to build up others, in Your Name."

--'Baruch Hashem Adonai' (Blessed be the Name of the Lord')
Messianic Praise~~
<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-EDnrwN9DwM>
---------

---WHOM DO WE REPRESENT?

~~~~"Now then we are ambassadors for Christ."~~ (2 Corinthians 5:20)

~~If the prime minister of Canada should go to some other country, he would represent Canada. If the president of the United States should go to another country, he would represent the United States. Now the question is, 'Whom do you and I represent as Christians?' Remember that Jesus said, "My kingdom is not of this world" (John 18:36). Therefore, His followers represent a spiritual kingdom and not an earthly kingdom.

In today's key verse Paul wrote, "We are ambassadors for Christ," indicating that Christ's servants are His representatives here on earth. Jesus said we should love our enemies and pray for them.

In 2 Corinthians 3:2 Paul said, "Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men." Fellow believers, other people are reading our lives; we might be the closest thing to the Bible that some of them read. Can they see that we have been with Jesus? How is our speech? Is it clean and pure, and do we speak kind, gentle words? How do we act when someone steps on our toes [disagrees with us], takes advantage of us, or becomes angry with us?

We need to pattern our lives after Jesus, the one we claim to represent. Our business dealings should always be open and honest, and we should so live that we can always feel comfortable giving another person a Gospel tract, if they refuse it, we do not take offense. [They are not rejecting us, but our Lord. He will deal with them.] Maybe we need to remind ourselves of 1 Peter 2:13: "Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake."
May God help us to always remember whom we are to represent, the Lord Jesus Christ. When Christ is our King, it should be obvious that we are a citizen of Heaven.

--Beside Still Waters/CM~
~~~~~~~

---Jesus is the Bread of Life ~~

--'Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life; he who comes to me shall not hunger, and he who
believes in me shall never thirst." --[John 6:35/ RSV - ]

--We had a lot of bread to give out at our church's soup kitchen, more than ever before. On Friday nights, the "midnight marauders," as we call them, pick up extra inventory from the nearest Whole Foods for us to hand out to our usual guests. But this Friday it seemed that Trader Joe's had jumped the gun and dropped off bags and bags of bread. Now it was Saturday morning and we were trying to figure out how to give it away. This was more than our food pantry could begin to accommodate.

After tossing around a couple of ideas, we finally settled on setting up a table at the Church's front door around the corner from the soup kitchen's entrance. "Free Bread!" we called to passersby. There was pumpernickel, rye, raisin, sour dough, whole wheat, sprouted wheat. There were English muffins, bran muffins, hot-dog buns, soft rolls, low-sodium bread, all of it quite fresh. A few people came up to investigate, more followed. Soon a line formed up the steps. "Thank you, thank you," came the responses. "God bless you!" we said.

By morning's end, we had given away hundreds of loaves. We folded up the table, gathered up the trash bags and crushed the extra boxes, and I took one loaf home. On my way back through the Church, I looked up at the writing above the the altar: "I am the Bread of Life," it said, "all who come to me shall not hunger." I was used to seeing those words on a Sunday morning. How nice to give them this nourishing spin on a Saturday morning.
"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever." (Hebrews 13:8) He never changes. ~

"Thank You, Lord Jesus, give us this day our daily bread."
--Guidesposts/ RH
--"No Other Name" // Hillsong Worship // (Joel Houston / lead singer) <https://youtu.be/k5CqaW8aR1A>
~~~~~~~~~~~

---GOD'S MAJESTY / JESUS IS ALWAYS WITH US

--"The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent."
---[Exodus 14;14/ ESV] --

---I WAS at the airport and the line through security was over an hour and a half long.

--Prayers were certainly being offered up to the Lord.

You're feeling anxious for me just reading those words, aren't you? I'm sure you can imagine how I felt standing there checking and rechecking my watch, knowing that my plane was taking off in twenty, ten, five, minutes.

Well, spoiler alert: I missed my plane. I sprinted through the airport only only to find that the plane had left ten minutes early. There wasn't even a gate a agent there anymore for me to yell at.
So I did what any completely rational traveler would do at 5:45 a.m. after she missed her flight: I found the nearest gate and yelled at that agent.
Okay, so it wasn't my best moment.

But it certainly was one of his. He smiled and said, "I'm so sorry you're frustrated. Why don't you head over across the hall and get yourself a cup of coffee and I'll figure this out for you?"

I stared at him. I had really unloaded on him, and he he was saying he'd take care of it.

And so I did. Twenty minutes later, I returned with a double latte to find the gat agent standing with a new set of tickets in his hand. He had forwarded my bags, reprinted boarding passes, and gotten me to my destination at approximately the same time.

"Thank you." It was all I could manage. That and a teary handshake as I walked to my gate, realizing that he had fought what was certainly a treacherous battle for me. All I had to do was get a cup of coffee and trust him enough not to interfere. ~~

-"Father God, help me to learn to sit back and trust instead of trying to force my own way. I know that You are in control of all things. Receive glory, Lord"
-"In everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." --[1 Thessalonians 5:18]
-"With God all things are possible" --[Matthew 19:26]
--Guideposts/EM~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~