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Future writings will appear here periodically:
The Levites were a Special and Peculiar People: Numbers Ch 1-vrs 47-54 Commitment is the fuel you turn to when everything else is gone. I believe and I try to do; I commit and I will do. Commitment is that promise I made, encased in purpose, reflecting my character. Commitment has no back doors.
Commitment is not easy, nor it always pretty, but it is a never ceasing force unleashed with a purpose. Faith binds principle and shelters it in grasp of commitment. True peace is not circumstantially driven.
Your commitment can change the history of another.
When selfishness breeds with self-interest and others always suffer… good becomes blurred and right becomes optional. Maturity is the willingness to deal with the unwelcome without compromising your commitment
Life is like being in a car going a hundred miles an hour through life …It is what happens in the car that matters!
Levites were a peculiar people The closer you are to God the more peculiar you will become to the world and unfortunately to other easier believers and half hearted Christians. Commitment not only means I believe it…. also means I will do it. 1. Believers Separated: A. They were not numbered with others V-47 God always differentiated between believer and decuples those who know Him and those who obey Him. The Christians who love Jesus enough to allow God to alter their live are the ones God helps the most. Every Christ becomes separated to some degree from the world the degree of separation can become legalism if you allow separation to become the goal rather than following Jesus example and directions for your life. B. Chosen by God Ch 3 V 12 NT few are chosen You are in Christ alone… the First borne of God The first fruits of Glory ’The first of every creation… first moose, first sheep, and the first creation in the image of Gof ..you. First smile…first love, first hope ..first prayer.. First forgiveness.. C. Given to Aaron so we are the elect of God as well given… to Christ. “I (Jesus speaking). have manifested Thy Name unto the men which Thou has given Me out of this world”. “ All that the Father hath given me shall come with me.”
D. Claimed by God “The Levites shall be Mine.” Who are the Levites of today? “ Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel” that be you!!! Ye are the “High Priest” of your family. Every Christian is a witness either a good one or a bad one. 2. The Believers Occupation: A. Overseers Some are appointed to be overseers of the temple and over everything So the believers ought be concerned about everything spiritual. Your job is to be a caretaker of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. B. Bearers “They shall bear the Tabernacle” Carry the burden of the church and love you family as you do yourself and do unto other as you would have them do it unto you. Carry the burdens of the fellow believers 1 Bear one another’s burdens 2. Everyman must bear his own burden. 3. Cast all of your burdens on Him that cares for you.” It seems that not all professed followers of Christ are willing to be burden barriers … Paul realized this and said “I wish that myself accused for my brethren’s sake.” C. Believers are ministers as well Vrs 50 They shall minister unto Me!” Not only the ministry of the church but the ministry to God. Every Christian has a calling to do the will of God in their life. It is possible that some Christians are willing to minister in the church but no willing to minister unto God… D. Dissectors They shall take it down. Meaning that they had to know what to do and do it rightly (correctly). It reminds us of the admonition to “Rightly dividing the Word of Truth” E. Believers are builders as well Vs. 51 “The Levites shall set it up” None of the above allow for those who want to tear down the church. There is no indication of the destruction of the church here but rather the building up of the church taking it physically down (apart). The lesson here is if you cannot set up God’s house correctly then you better leave it alone. Nothing better good ever comes because a church splits.. Never. God can use use a split group when they honor HIM but that was never His plan He wants unity. Period! F. Believers are mediators as well V. 53 “The believers shall pitch round about the tabernacle that there be NO WRATH upon the congregation .” According to this thought the Believer should be a source of blessing to the congregation not a curse. You are the salt of the earth you should be devoted salt. It indicates here Believer should take their place as teachers of the Word and doers of His will. G. Believers are to be keepers as well. The true believers are the keepers of the treasure that is why they tithed. And kept the Lord’s treasure. We are called to be the ambassadors of reconciliation 2Corth 5:19 Paul reminds us to “keep that which has been committed unto you against that day” He told Timothy “I have kept the Faith!” ===================================================================================================== Sadness occurs when you forget how blessed you are and will be in the moments ahead. Sadness happens when you have lost an irreplaceable someone. Sadness appears when anger exceed happiness. Joy rules when sadness is relegated to its proper place. Sadness happens when loss conquers faith. Sadness can be legitimate but the sheltering sadness from hope brings depression. ===================================================== As a Christian I have mercy without measure, happiness that exceeds expectations, forgiveness I could never deserve. and promises that run throughout eternity. So joy is the result of understanding the blessings we already have and glimpsing to the joy charging our way in the days to come. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ As a Christian, I can choose to be with God but I cannot choose to be without Him. He is always before the next breath of a believer, making a way for them to choose success. The choice is still mine to fail or not, but I need not, if I choose not. Success is a combination of God’s preparation for me and my choice to access His plan. Circumstances never dictate my success, only my opportunities. Spiritual failure is a choice not to do things God’s way; because you cannot fail doing the will of God in your life. It is impossible to do so. Failure is not what you accomplish or what you do not accomplish, but who you are following. Jesus said, “Follow me!” All other choices are subject to that choice. As a Christian, you cannot be placed, sent, or found, where God cannot use you!
BELIEF A PRODUCT OF FAITH Belief is committed Faith. What I believe I organize my life around. What I believe become my principles and those principles become the anchors for me that cannot willing be moved. I live and die by what I truly believe. Belief become active Faith with which I paint the portrait of my life on the canvas of my time on earth. For it is His hand holding my hand, while I journey in this world, that provides the differences between ideas and principles. The less I guess about what I believe and the more I know in whom I believe that more contented I become with life’s’ outcome. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Surrender: Surrendering is handing over the power of
your life to another. In His presence I receive what I could never have had and acquire and received what was never to be mine. Eternal life is the result of my surrender and eternal joy the eternal smile on my life. Surrendering to Christ is gift to yourself that benefits every part of you world. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- HOLY HELP!! When we have nothing to say, the Holy Spirit does the talking for us! Our most confused pleas to the Father are delivered by the Holy Spirit with perfect clarity. What I cannot say, the Holy Spirit has! I am moved by the Spirit to pray, when I would not, or could not! When it is clear that I am hurting, the Spirit expresses that to the Father. In order to pray without ceasing, I need all the help I can get. Jesus taught us how to pray and the Spirit causes us to pray. When I can not longer pray, the Holy Spirit is explaining what I no longer express.. When I can no longer feel God’s presence, the Holy Spirit feels for us. Christianity is not about feeling, but is built on knowing, that the Holy Spirit is our constant companion. Jesus left us so that the Father would send the Holy Spirit, who can never leave us. “The steps of a righteous man are ordered of the Lord”… and the Holy Spirit sees that we get our order straight! When I pray, I try to say what the Holy Spirit is already saying to the Father. It is good to have better helping you towards the best! The Holy Spirit will not tempt us but will lead us in to the Father’s will with thanksgiving. The Holy Spirit is the perfect gift, from a loving Father, through a faithful Son!. When I can do little, the Spirit ca do much! The Holy Spirit is our lawyer, Jesus is our jury, and the Father accepts our plea. When I stop running, the Spirit starts leading. The Holy Spirit provides a Christian with a shared journey. The Spirit leads us to truth, the Son pays our debts, and the Father welcomes us home! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ HOPE PLUS+++ Hope is an investment that clears the present and explains the future. Life is a blitz; hope is a bond on steroids. Hope replenishes itself when used and the returns become a miracle. Sow Hope and reap possibilities. Faith is the vine and hope is the fruit. Faith is the strength for the storm; hope is finding land on the other side. Hope secures what Faith has conceived. Faith and hope without God, as your focus, is totally useless! Only God can deliver hope out of faith. Remember God’s promises are more than hope or faith they are truth! Faith sweats and works hard but never loses hope. The truth that sets you free is the hope we have in Christ! What God has said is not a hope; it is a promise. Hope does not make you right but it makes your will to accept right! To endure hardships, you need to be steadfast in hope. Hope gives what fear tries to take away. From Faith comes Hope; it is just as natural as sunrise and sunset. Give by Faith and receive in Hope. Hope is the understanding that righteousness hungers for me. When you repent of your sins, faith begets hope. As a Christian, Faith becomes the arteries, and hope is the blood that flows through them. Without Faith man perishes because without Faith, one cannot know God! Without Faith man has no hope. With Christ man abounds with both Faith and Hope, as he chooses. The Father said, as your Faith is so shall it be! So, believe and receive or pout and doubt and do without. Because of Faith and Hope, a Christian is as consistent as he chooses to be! Hope the reward of Faith. One of the gifts of faith is expectations. God gives more that you can, when you do more, than you should. Faith carries the burdens of others further than they could alone. Hope entertains the heart, when sorrows would blot out every joy. ------------------------------------------------------------------------
Forgiveness is final! Sin is for the sinner to bear; the Christian has been forgiven. Man has difficulty forgetting his forgiven sins, but God doesn’t. Forgiven sin bears no weight, has no power, and does not count on judgment day!. Only God can forgive sin and only man can commit sin! What I have done is less important that what I will do! Yesterday, cannot be changed; today, I am at work; and tomorrow, is pregnant with possibilities. Life begins at forgiveness and blossoms in discipleship! If you confess your sins and turn from your wicked ways, I will cleanse you from all unrighteousness.. God did not say…. I might!!! Salvation is for the sinner…only! Trickle down Grace, from God the Father, through Jesus Christ, our Savior, delivered by the Holy Ghost, to a repentant sinner like me! God gave, Jesus, His only Son, to pay for what you could not, to forgive what you cannot, so you can live like you would not!
The rules are clear. What you forgive on earth will be forgiven in Heaven. What you will not forgive on earth, will not be forgiven in Heaven! What that does to our eternal security, theologians debate; but I don’t care to find out!
Having your sins forgiven is your special blessing; none will ever be greater! A Christian will never hear about his sins from God again, from man…well, that is another question. After salvation the past has no power…None… Nada… Zip. A Christian is to be envied; he has a forgiven past and a spotless future! Salvation is a gift that only a sinner can open. Perseverance is what you can do, and Grace is for what you cannot do! From God’s view, a Christian has no past, only a present, and a future. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- HOPE IS THE FUTURE: The future is full of what ought to be! The past is there for understanding and direction, and understanding, not for shame and guilt. Forget what you can, forgive what you can’t. The future is crammed with untouched possibilities. The bright lights of tomorrow exceed the dim realities of today. Possibilities become probabilities as the days march on. The future holds what faith can see. Often the present and the past are the “shadows of death” we will face, but the future is untouched hope at its best! A hand in the future can pull you out of the past. The thought of Heaven brightens whatever darkness surrounds you. Faith finds energy in the hope that surrounds tomorrow. Where He is I will also be...is enough hope for me! Yesterdays infections are cured by tomorrow’s hopes. Your affection for eternity is a gift from God! Flee into hope; it is the “warm fuzz” of life’s journey. The past is consumed with can’t be’s, while the future is saturated with can be’s! In Heaven you will have no need of faith or hope but the love there, will be beyond comprehension. We are born with eternity in our DNA; we long for it and seek it diligently. Hope is a greater heritage than all the money you leave behind.
----------------------------------------------------- The Ramifications of Hope.. Hope lurks in the hearts of every man, until all faith is lost. It is because of my afflictions and my weaknesses that I conjure up hope. Hope is faith looking through binoculars. Never measure your value by your talents; measure instead, by your willingness. Even better than your willingness, is to measure by what you are actually doing with your willingness. Men measure from the outside in; while God measures from the inside out. If you are a Christian, you are never “unchosen.” Hope endures the punishment of public opinion. Hope and faith are two twines that when woven together with love cannot be broken. Christians are not “rejectable,” only “directable“. Whenever you have “had enough,” there is still hope. It is our hope, that in our weaknesses, He will make us strong! You can never use up your hope or diminish your faith. God, Himself, has given you Faith, Hope, and Love to strengthen yourself. Failure has little to do with either faith or hope; most likely it will be the execution of them. Everyone has a secret weakness that they struggle with…yes everyone. Your “thorn in the flesh” is to help you build your faith and develop your hopes. Some weaknesses are more noticeable than others, but we all have our weaknesses. What you do in spite of your weaknesses, is what is memorable about your life. Men may reject you, but Jesus embraces you! If you are a Christian, you have chosen to be chosen! A Christian never need concern himself, as his next step has been ordered. Walk faithfully, and you will have hope. Hope is seen on the shoulder of faith, which support one on the knees of prayer. Wealth is what you take to Heaven with you not what you leave behind.
Faith thoughts: Your faith can change the history of another. ----------------------------------------------------------------- Love, boundaries, and obedience:
Love indicates that I am willing to live within the bounds of love. Marriage suggests boundaries of the very nature of the relationship. There are things that I will no longer do and things I will do because of the love that binds our marriage relationship. The degree of commitment to which I obey these boundaries and the obligation of that relationship, will predict the value and longevity of that marriage.
So our relationship to God is bound up in our willingness to live happily within the boundaries of that spiritual relationship. God will never violate His commitments to us and our need to strive in that direction that keeps “what we have committed to Him against that day.” The is a joy in a friendship when we both respect the relationship enough to keep it in good repair. Trust, honor, honesty, are necessary for all of these human relationships. Our spiritual relationship is developed around the same principles.
If we are busy with: “Seek you first the Kingdom of God,” then obedience is a natural progression in that direction. As we become obedient to the boundaries of our relationship with God, our lives are flavored with pre-obedience because we know what we should be doing as we “press towards the mark of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus!
Obedience brings stability and a sense to togetherness of which disobedience has no clue. Finally, obedience to God has its rewards and disobedience has its consequences. You choose by your behavior which is coming your way. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Here is a letter to a person who is caught in the past of parental abuse.. i.e. “You are a nothing and always will be!!! This person is stretching out his life between perfection (so I will be OK...perfection is impossible) and seeking pure heart.
(becoming more pleasing to God…God is already pleased you have sought
Him) not a pure heart you will not succeed. It is the purity in your heart that discusses you with your self-control issues. Self-control is a
diligent walk with God, learning to get up one more time than you fall.
It is also a
rough road at times, however, repentance and faith grease the wheels of
hope. He and others send your way. You will have issues with receiving His love and the love of others until you learn to love yourself, not for what you were, but for who you are becoming in Christ Jesus. Jesus commanded us “to love your neighbor as we love yourselves“. If you do not love
yourself your neighbor doesn’t have much to look forward to! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WHO ARE YOU? WHO AM I? Is your devotion to God is noticeable and meaning for you; your family, and the people who walk in and out of your life each day? How can folks around you, know your are ether with God or in tune with God? Does your life in any way,
even let others know if you are interested in God’s presence in your
life. How can I also provide an atmosphere where other feel my commitment and are in someway, challenged by my faith;
rather than overwhelm by it. There are no private sins; family and other loved ones are hurt by the energy I take away by allowing that sin or the damage the private sin does to me that I cannot see.
You never fail or your never
fall, alone, there are always consequences. God who loves you or Satan,
whose very purpose in the universe is to destroy you and every person
your life touches!. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- God is not like a spouse who you might understand; His are past our ways. I go through stuff He did not plan for me but know I would have to deal with anyway. He is aware of my challenges and has planned for our best, regardless of the circumstance. God does not cause all things, but He is in charge of giving us the grace and the strength to endure whatever is coming our way. He is also designing way for us to benefit from the experience in some manor.. We live in a world that is hindered and distressed by sin; so God does not always get His way, because He gave you, me, and others a free will. When other exercise their “free will” we can be negatively affected but God is there to care for us. Just because all things work together for those who love God; does not mean that some of these “all things” are not welcome in our life. However, neither do we need fear them. ========================================= If you have seen me you have seen the Father for He and I are one! Knowing the Father comes from knowing the Son and the Holy Spirit is the communication system from you to Them. The more you love the Father, the more you find how much He loves you.. The closer you are to Jesus, the harsher sin feels to you. It is the presence of the Holy Spirit who enables you to do what you ought to do rather than what you want. The Holy Spirit is the part of God, that resides in your heart, to lead you away from sin and into happiness. Happiness is a result of loving and pressing towards the Will of God for your life. The more you love God the more you can love others. If you honor His Son, Jesus, the Father will bless you. It is just that simple.
It is the Holy Spirit that leads you to the Heart of God. You discover God-one prayer at a time. You learn about the Father, as you recognize His presence in the blessings that cross your lives, each and everyday. You also, absorb His love when you have asked for the Father’s specific help and you receive it, from His Hand. The Hand of the Father carries you, the Blood of the Son cleanses you, and the Holy Spirit leads you-into all righteousness. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Man can be right but God can never be wrong. Man is in a bit of conflict because we fear Him and love Him at the same time, We desire His Holiness and yet want our own way. We need Him desperately but want our freedom. We recognize our need of His presence and we know we live in His presents; but often live like we think He is busy somewhere else. We crave the Heart of God but give excuses to avoid praying, reading the Bible and going to church. Somehow we feel that we are too busy for Him, so perhaps He is too busy for us. We forget that the Bible tells us that His eye is on us continually, not to judge us but to help, guide and empower us to live a meaningful Christian life. The more we find ourselves comfortable in His “everlasting arms” the more our happiness turns into joy. Joy is a bi-product of doing the will of God in our life. The closer we are to the Father and the more we press towards the goal of becoming Christ like, the more effective, and useful our lives become; at work, at home and in touching the lives God brings into our lives each day. It is Jesus, Himself, that told us to call God, our Father, in the Lord’s prayer, ‘Our father who art in Heaven hollowed be they name…” ------------------------------------------------------------- Advice to a man whose wife has left him,
Other than the above, you have to cast your misery and frustrations upon, the generous love of God, who will Himself intervene in your personal pain. As the tears of rejection are felt; know that the Father, will not ,yea cannot, reject the heart of His own. Take care that those about you, perhaps you children, or significant friends, while sharing your suffering do not succumb to it. Give heed that the bitterness, which can bring such deep regrets to you and your loved one’s lives, be kept at bay. No hurt or injury can heal, when salved with bitterness, no, none, ever. Finally, do not bring greater sorrow into your life by developing a spirit that refuses to forgive. Such a hurtful spirit will bring peril, to all you meet along this journey. May His love, overwhelm your sorrows, His peace replace your pain and His Spirit refresh your soul, while you travel through this most difficult personal valley. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Tragedy awaits us all. It is so important to have ongoing, meaningful relation with Jesus. Such a relationship keeps these tragedies of life from eroding our spiritual foundation. Joy comes from the Lord, the Bible reminds us, and if we choose to find our joy in only what other do, or say, we weaken so that strength available to us in Christ Jesus. He is the one who blossoms our soul in the fields of sadness and bring Hope out of all of your losses in life’s journey. Unless we allow our lives to continually merged with the Father’s, and we value our joint heirs with Jesus status; the bruises of life bring more pain that one can endure. However, when we refuse to live below or privileges in Christ Jesus, then we find peace that passes not only all understanding; but the peace that passes all misunderstandings as well. “Rejoice and again I say rejoice!” The Word says. When I immerse my sorrows, difficulties my victories and my hopes, in the tender love of Jesus, only then, can I rejoice without ceasing and become full of His joy, which makes my joy to overflow! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- We limit ourselves only by
limiting what part of ourselves we are willing to dedicate to God.
Wasn’t it D.L. Moody that said the world is yet to know what God could
do with a man who was thoroughly committed to God!
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Jesus was a perfect man and we
as men can be right, however Jesus can never be wrong.
Mathew 6 Asking of God require both our recognition and are expectations that He will intervene is someway about our concern. We get so occupied in our journey that we forget that He is able to do exceeding, abundantly, above all that we ask or do. It is our lose and our weakness when we fail to ask. He reminded us to come and ask what we will and it shall be done. I am referring to the Lords Prayer that says that we will be forgiving as we forgive others. It is true that mercy of God exceeds what ever little bit of mercy we can give here but Jesus reminded us that we will be judged by the mercy we show here on earth. What we forgive here will be forgiven in Heaven and what we condemn here will be condemned in Heaven.
Prayer requires both time and humanity both are in short supply in our busy lives. We tend to find ourselves; too tired and too stressed to even ask for what for want. We are becoming less convinced that God will help us. When finances, jobs, and most other things are slipping out of our control we tend to depend less rather than more on God. The more difficulties we encounter the less we suspect God is able or willing to help us. We so soon forget that it is, He, who really does run the universe and yet His eyes are upon us continually. Whenever we forget that He desperately loves us, the more we act like orphans. As our patience run low we wrongly assume His are as well. He admonishes us that we will never wear down His longsuffering towards us. Finally, we also forget that He reminded us that “in our weaknesses He will make us strong…and that He who has begun a good work in you will also finish it!” Pray more and doubt less! Pout and doubt and do without.. or pray, believe, and receive . It seems to be our choice whether to be blessed or not.
Check out the "Thoughts For The Day" Page!
Peeking over the Father’s shoulderI often wished that I could just see what the Father was up to and how He was preparing to direct my future. We are allowed to see a little of what is in the eyes of the one who rules the universe sees. We must consider what He has had written in His love letter to our soul.
First, He instructs us to take no thought for tomorrow, as the evils of the day are sufficient. The verse refers to the evil you need to resist as well as the time you should invest today in your life and the lives of those about you. The good news is that another verse says, “where evil does abound. GRACE does much more abound.” So we know that we have a whole lot of extra grace available daily than we will need. So, enjoy your gift of grace everyday. There is a time to laugh and a time to cry, a time to morn and a time to rejoice.
Secondly, we would do well to heed His advice to enjoy each and ever morsel of life that we are given. All to often we mourn for what we don’t have instead of experiencing what is our alone to enjoy. Too many married folks are not the enjoying the fact that they are married. Satan has been given too much time in our lives. We are too busy with other stuff to enjoy the married relationship or your parenting privilege. Your husband, your wife, nor your child will ever be the same again after today. Each and every day is different and unique. Do allow yourself to become too busy to share the treasures of your love with one another today. Remind her that she is the very best partner on this shared journey you are taking together. Remind him that he is the one whose love you cherish and his words of kindness are what you need on this get the most out of you journey today. See your children for the gifts that they are today. Not what they can or will be but today embrace where you are now on this journey. Life is full of choices.
We can feel the pain of losses, the comfort of disappointment, the loneliness of discouragement, or search though the pieces of broken dreams. It is also our choice to embrace the moments of life and savor the goodness of your journey. You can smell the flowers and taste and see that God is good. Choices allow you to take moments out of your busy schedules to encourage your children. They are yours to laugh with, and appreciate.
Take a slice out of your day to participate in the Kingdom about you. Peek over the Father’s shoulder into you spouse’s needs and hopes. Look and see how He would want you to touch your children lives “forever” today. Teach yourself to recognize Kingdom work. Seek to understand how that you can be about something “eternity” each day you have to live. Richard Klein
The Splendor of Beginning
Mornings are special splendors that are always unique and can never be duplicated. Watching the Father swing the doors of morning open is every time is a special occasion. We watch the shades of darkness retreat before the pastels of beginning light. Morning is a blend of miracles and mist, of cool and warmth, and newness advancing while the yesterday retreats. It is time of new beginnings. Like our lives, as they unfold the blossoms of hope beginning that salvation moment. Seeing the shades of darkness being washed away by His light is an extremely moving experience. We see the eyes of faith open to a day of hope, as a soul is resurrected. What a wonderment to behold! The observing of the soul that has been set free is more memorable than describable. It is unique and rewarding as our watching the birthing of a new day.
The sunbeams of the morning are like shooting stars, proceeding the expectations of the grandeur of the coming morning. The confessions of the lost, reaching for hope of forgiveness, are like sunbeams. They are Sonbeams of light assaulting the darkness that had, for years, surrounded their souls. Visions of the newness of life and feeling of the fresh beginning bring deep soul smiles of great joy to the new believer’s brow.
Mornings mix splendor with power and replace night with day. So is the soul that has had the freedom of forgiveness wash across the crevasses of their life. The light of the joy spreading over their soul is unmistakable, as it is unforgettable. Glory to the Father who has given us all the gift of morning to help us comprehend the gift of life. Seeing a soul being set free at the altar of prayer is breathtaking.
A life given to the Father is ripe with the possibilities for the future. No longer are dread and despair their nighttime companions. They have taken the step to give their tomorrows to Him for His investment. Therefore, night has lost its power of fear. Snuggling in the arms of the Master of the universe becomes a believer’s lullaby, unsung yet always heard. Now they have the power to resist sin and the power to point the way to those who live in the turmoil which they have left behind. Light floods their soul, gushing out of the window of our hearts to blind the darkness they have just escaped. Praise to the Father for such power and freedom that comes with the Sonrise in our soul. May it always be an honor to see the newness of the soul being born into everlasting life. We have seen night become day. In the midst of that day is the light that has “no shadow when it turns”. The brightness is the light of Jesus, the lover of our soul, in whom “there is no darkness at all.” Sharing this morning miracle of a soul being brought to life is a fellow believer’s joy. He understands as he recalls his “new morning” with pleasure beyond measure.
Richard Klein
SOUL MAPPING ..Finding our spiritual way
Romans
8:35-39, Job
Faith to knowledge to greater faith to greater knowledge……….
The journey for faith to knowledge is and interesting one. Faith is believing in something to the degree that you are willing accept responsibility for its outcome. It is a friendship with the principles that the faith represents. You can have faith in good things, bad things, or in things that fall somewhere in the middle of those extremes.
Faith is a journey toward knowledge. As one experience their faith they can place that faith into the knowledge part of their thinking and begin to develop a new launch pad for faith based on that knowledge.
Faith is the beginning of belief and the vehicle that gives vision possibilities. There are always sermons about Faith that one could develop and their are a myriad of examples that faith has brought the expected results. How then can I develop faith and how can I exercise it? When do I have a right to claim by faith, to walk by faith or to live by faith? Faith is premised on a certain set of principles.
Faith is usually built on the foundation that others have given us. Our parents, family or our teachers are the main sources of faith-knowledge principles. Friends, our experience and our general personalities will likely, also influence our faith. It is simply easier for some personalities to believe in the expectations of faith.
While others, the doubting Thomas type, need more concrete proof before they make of leap of Faith. Friends more easily influence some personalities than other are. Finally, some of you have developed a faith threshold that is far easier to access than is another’s.
Here is the principle.
The more that you know something to be true or predictable the less faith you need to exercise in your personal life concerning it. If you have experience a certain level of knowledge you can use that level of knowledge to access new possibilities for those principles or ideas. The more you know the less faith it takes to reach that level of confidence again.
The more I knew that God could and would do; the more secure in my understanding was of Him. Also, the more I was able to look beyond how I was going to do something and into How was He going to do it my focus reversed. Now I am preparing to work for Him rather than expecting Him to work for me. When I gave my rights to control what was happening in my life to Him, I could be thankful for the little things instead of waiting to be thankful for the big things.
If you learn to thankful for the moments in your life you will spend a lot more time being happy than if you are only thankful for the year. Miracles are made out of millions of little blessings. Learn to notice the tiny blessing in your life. It is great to be thankful and counting tiny blessings should keep your life full of happiness.
I am a disciple………………………..…I will not be going back! John 8:31 Then said Jesus to those Jews who believed on Him. “If ye continue in My word, then are ye my disciples indeed.” Revelations 12:11 And they overcame him because of the Blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even unto death. NAS Now that I am a disciple………………I will not be going back! John here is speaking of being a disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ. John quotes Jesus . John 8:31 Then said Jesus to those Jews who believed on Him. “If ye continue in My word, then are ye my disciples indeed.” KJV “ If you abide in My word then you are truly My disciples.” NAS I don't care how quick you start, how fast you sprint, or how long you endure, if you are headed in the wrong direction you still lose! If you want to be a Revelation 12:11 believer you have to start here. Jesus implies that there are disciples who are not really His! To say tall implies short; to say fast implies there is a slow. To be my disciple indeed implies there are disciples who are not disciples indeed. To say truly my disciples implies there are those who are not truly His disciples. The people asked Him “Where is your Father?" If you have to asked you don’t know either of Us He replied. They asked Who are you? I am the Christ! I am the Bread of heaven. I am the Light of the world. I am the Living stone you cast away. [1Peter 2:4] Jesus is the final authority. He said. “ I speak and I judge and the Father is with me because I do always what pleases the Father. And I speak from the Father---and that’s who I am.” Jesus is the absolute authority from which there is no appeal. It is either Jesus or everlasting darkness. Either His truth or ignorance. Either his way or Hell. His way arrogance! What intolerance! “I believe in Christian charity but not in Christian tolerance at all!” Says A.W. Tozer. “I think a man that hates the name of Jesus, and who believes that He was not the Son of God, but an imposter, deserves charity on our part. I think if I lived next door to him I would not put up a fence between, and I think if I worked with him, I would not refuse to be his friend, I believe in Christian charity but I do not believe in weak Christian tolerance at all.” The Jesus who just spoke never felt it proper to listen to other doctrines but simply stated “I am the way the truth and the light and no man comes to the Father but through Me! There are not ten good ways to get to heaven there is only one. If we tolerate all of the philosophies of men we lead people into a mental fog and spiritual darkness. We are not acting like disciples but are behaving like cowards! It is not Jesus, Buddha, Confucius and Mohammed. It is Jesus only! If you believe any thing else you are not a disciple! Tozar continued “Let us tolerate all that we can, and let us be charitable to all who we cannot tolerate, but let us not imagine for a minuet that we are called to take the middle of the road stand, never knowing exactly what we believe.” Lest you become one of the other type of disciples rather than a disciples indeed. If I am a disciple……………………….I will not be going back!
And the winners are…………………….…The Christians!!!! Revelations 12:11 “They have gained the victory because they did not shrink even from death.’ Weymouth translation Why Were They Victorious? 1. The blood of the Lamb. 2. The testimony they bore. [You over come by your own personal testimony. ] 3. They did not shrink from death. Dedication is a decision guarded by character. 4. They made no bargain with the enemy. Not even to save their own lives nor the lives of those they loved. They refused to worry! Worry is absolute necessity for anyone who want to be unhappy. But totally useless in the battle against Satan. Some victories are not possible for me to win because of my finances, talents, physical or educational limitations. But the victories I have in Jesus are impossible to lose. You cannot fail doing the will of God in your life! Impossible ! Just try and see. You cannot fail! Courage is smothering fear with faith. We do win. Revelations 19:6-7 And I heard, as it were the voice of a great multitude and as the sounds of many waters and the sound of mighty peals of thunder saying, “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns, Let us be glad and rejoice and be glad and give glory to Him for the marriage of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready.” Your final answer please. I am a disciple……………… I will not be going back!*****************************************************
(Joshua 6:1 - 14) Changing the world one believer at a time... Ridicule the ultimate tool of control. People have used ridicule to control, separate, destroy, Deceive, devalue, to promote disobedience and to develop agendas for everything. 1. Deception Satan has used ridicule from the time he started with Eve in the garden. Would not you want to be like God? God only keeps this tree from you because He knows that you will be as smart as he is if you eat of it. [ You stupid woman God didn’t tell you the truth!] God says sex outside of marriage is fornication and is a sin. Satan says ridicule: Everyone is doing it these days God would send all of these people to Hell. It is OK. The deception is that; if we gang up on God and all decide to do evil that He will have to make our sin OK. WRONG.. God’s word is the same yesterday, today and forever. Now what part of that seems negotiable?
Now God doesn’t really mean what He says. Then Satan begins to tell you what God could not say clearly enough to you that it requires Satan to interpret it for God. Ridiculing things that God has said are not right with the idea that God must have been mistaken. This is what God meant. You don’t rally believe that God created you . You know that you evolved from nothing to monkeys to chimps to people Divorce .. Well under certain conditions it is OK. Jesus said because of the hardness of you heart God allowed divorce but only for immorality and that was not a requirement. Now; what do you suppose that God thinks you means when you swear to live together in holly matrimony when you say for better or worse, in sickness or health, for richer or poorer, until death do us part? Homosexuality.. Well, we have to be tolerant? It is not their fault. But Bible says they will be in the "Hell crowd". So, Satan starts by saying it is really Ok and Movies are everywhere saying that this person is normal. The Bible says he is perverted. Now our doctors say that they are a good environment for child raising. There is a whole lot more important things than a friendly environment to raise children. Like moral character, principals, ethics, and living the gospel. Even the heathens know better that this and while medical science says it is OK. The Bible says it is an Abomination in the site of God. Who to you really believe is right here? Medical Science or God? Of course, they only quote the medical scientist that agree with their conclusion. Take you choice! "Chose you today whom you shall serve" is science be god serve it, It God be God serve Him. Cursing.. You can turn on the TV any day and hear God’s name use in vane. Ridiculing Jesus and the Father to further their own agendas. You can go to any store or walk down most any street and hear God being ridiculed with cursing. Cursing has become a national pastime. The whole country uses Gods name every day but usually for cursing. The more people curse God, the less people reverence God. Cursing is Satan’s way of ridiculing God. It is Satan’s way of devaluing God. 3. Discouragement Satan said to Jesus. Your hungry if you are God then turn these stones into bread. The trouble with Satan is that Jesus already knew that He was God and He also knew that Satan was there to destroy His faith in Himself. Satan will try to do the same with you if he can. That leads to self doubt and to fanaticism. He wants you to doubt your relationship with God "God couldn’t love you with all the stuff in your life so get your act together or God won’t really want you. Contrasted with God’s approach to you .." For God so loved the world that He gave His only son that whosoever will believe in Him will not perish but have everlasting life. Satan challenges you with questions like: When is the last time God really helped you out? instead of the obvious question. When is that last time God didn't helped you out? Satan's ridicule [ Do you really think that God is interested in you?] Self-Doubt Satan scoffs: Are you a Paul or a Silas, an Ester or Mary? Are you Billy Graham, Chuck Swindoll, or a Mother Teresa? Do you think you are a John Wesley, a Charles Spurgen or Martin Luther? Just what have you done for God. What have you done to earn God’s Grace in your life. God is busy with people who are producing… God helps those that help themselves!!! You are lazy, not to good looking and you don’t have any talents. Your can’t preach; you read poorly; you never pray enough. Why would God be interested in you? When it comes right down to it you are a self-center less than average person. Ridicule: God’s got better things to do than worry about you. The truth is that God desperately loves you and gave His only Son for YOU!! From God's point of view you are definitely WORTH IT! Or He would not have paid such a price for you. He goes on to say that; "One soul is worth the whole world and every thing that is in it" God-Doubt. Well, if God doesn’t love me and can’t love then, He must not be God . Maybe there isn’t a God maybe this is all coincidence. Maybe God is dead or busy off somewhere. Doubt and loss of faith are the undertaker’s best friends. When a person loses these factors he has no reason to live. The TRUTH is that His eye is on the sparrow and His eye is on you continually. He love ‘s you with an everlasting love that He has made part of Himself that does nothing but clove and care for you. Not watching you to catch you doing wrong but to help you do right. He wants to lift you up in His everlasting arms and to have fellowship with you, alone individual. He created you to love and to be loved. To love him and to allow Him to love you.
IF, Satan can deceive you and devalue what you believe and if he can get you discouraged then he can destroy you. The ultimate desire of Satan is to destroy you, your influence, your reputation, your faith your family and ultimately you soul. For the soul that sinneth shall surely die. The path to sin flows through all of these paths. Deceive, devalue, discourage and destroy, that is Satan ‘s plan for every believer. Satan is a liar and the father of all liars. The Bible declares. Satan has a different plan for the lost. Sinners don’t need the concentration of confusion that he gives to the believers. Christians backslide and lose their fellowship with the Father because their Faith is weakened not because of sin itself. Christians get to choose to sin or not to sin. However, if you listen to Satan long enough you will begin to believe his lies you wind up where he was leading you. Away from a power filled Blessed and Godly life into a life of dread and discouragement no longer on the verge of Glory but balancing on the abyss of Hell. IF you choose not to listen to Satan and turn to God; then your life fertile for the blessing of the Father to flood your soul with joy unspeakable and to be full of Glory. The next time Satan calls hang up or hand the phone to Jesus, the lover of your soul
Faith Vrs Fear = Freedom or Failure Mark 4:35-41 On the evening of that day, He said to them, "Let us cross over to the other side of the lake." So they sent the crowd home and took Him with them in a little boat in which he had been sitting, accompanied by other small craft. Then came a violent squall of wind that which drove the waves aboard the boat until it was almost swamped. Jesus was in the stern asleep on a cushion. They awoke Him with the words, "Master, don't you care that we're drowning?" And He woke up, and rebuked the wind, and said to the waves, "Hush now! Be still!" The wind dropped and everything was very still. "Why are you so frightened? What has happened to your faith?" He asked them. But sheer awe swept over them, and they kept saying to one another, "Who can He be?-even the wind and waves do what He tells them!"[ The New Testament in Modern English] "You shall worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only." Matt 4:10 Jesus said. We are the ones who choose for God which will rule in our Christian journey. We are the ones that choose to be the doubting Thomas or to be full of the Stubbornness of Saul of Tarsus. The impetuousness of Peter or the steadfastness of John is our choices. We live in a society where fear is its motivator. Our society fears the loss of everything from our youth to our inability to obtain the new toys that are supposed to bring us happiness. We live in fear of failure as if our failure to provide the latest and the greatest is a sign of our weakness. Being satisfied with what we have seems to be declaration of our failure to "surplus" our lives with the "things" society says we "need". Our society is one of excess, which puts us into bondage for our time and dictates the circumstances of happiness for us. The fear of ridicule if I declare my faith. We fear ridicule if we declare our faith. We fear God if we don’t. We have learned to fear what we look like, where we live, when we will die. Fear controls our purchases, our choices in life. Fear dominates our love for God or our lack of it. Fear interferes with our love for others, in our personal life, and our community life as participants in this world. "Master, Master are you not concerned that we are about to drown?" His disciples shouted to a sleeping Jesus. As the scene of this test continues Jesus awakened and spoke to the wind and waves "Hush now! Be still!" The wind dropped and everything became very still. Jesus spoke to His beloved men and said "Why were you so frightened? What happened to your Faith?" This is a simple set of questions to address the turmoil in their hearts. Modern psychologist would tell you that fear is perfectly normal while Jesus said fear is not normal but fear is a lack of faith. He basically gave you an a-b=d [desperation] equation. If A [fear] is present it is because B [faith] is not there so desperation takes over. If you have a B[faith]-A[fear]=C[calm] equation all is well If, A[faith] is first-B[fear] never takes effect, then the peace that passes all understanding takes over. Faith is incompatible with fear! The psychological fact here is that the less faith you have the more fear you have. One key here is the statement teat fear conquers faith or faith conquers fear. Which shall it be in your life? Jesus questioned them "Why are you so afraid? Where is your Faith?" Jesus knew that these men could have exercised their faith but He deeply regretted that they chose not to access their privilege. Here is a privilege that Jesus wanted His people to use. He knew that as their faith grew their fears would shrink. Jesus knew that it was not the things that I feared that were my problem but the fact that my reaction to them was to fear. If we will learn that " Faith can conquer Fear." We have grasped the meaning of this passage. I also must know that this is a learning process. The disciples did not just have it because they were with Jesus but Jesus knew that they could have and perhaps should have learned it by then. Life is full of thing you need to learn on is the Christian walk. Don’t bat "cross-handed" learn to put faith first and fear second. Faith can conquer all kinds of fear: latent fear [fear that has always been in your life but usually in control] perhaps based on negative or bad experiences. "Momentary fears" that come for circumstances, You control them when you exercise your faith. "Free floating fear" [fear that we have kept as a philosophy of life] Life was created that we might learn to fear. The instant that you exercise your God given privilege of faith, whatever fear that is attacking you is vanquished. Secular psychologist deal with four issues in peoples lives; happiness, sorrow, sadness, and fear. It is perhaps that as non-Christians, they are not aware of the Faith issue that is the "Golden key" to a balanced life. David said "I sought the Lord and He answered me and He delivered me from all my fears." ." Ps. 34:4 Isaiah reinforced David’s thought when he said "I will trust Him and be not afraid." The human problem with fear has been given special attention in the Word. Fear is a result of sin and insecurity. Adam’s first recorded words to God are "I was afraid." Gen 3:10 In Hebrews we are referred to as "slaves to fear." Fear is what Jesus came to deliver us from and freedom from fear is His gift to the believers. Our weaknesses come from our fears and our strengths from our Faith.
Fear affects our lives:
THE BIBLE "DO NOT FEARS"
Jesus said "You of little faith why are you afraid?" Faith and fear are on a teeter-totter. Too many people have put on bigger fears than they do faith. When things look bad add faith! Are fears holding you down? Add faith. Some days your faith is up some days it is down some days your fears are up and faith is lacking. When faith is one the downswing the potential for fear is on the upswing. Too often Faith is based on experiences or on the storms. Jesus caught these men when their faith was effected on the storms rather than the fact that they were traveling with the "Son of God" True faith is a matter of volition of your will. Regardless as to the darkness of your situation you can choose faith! Jesus said, "Just believe" We live in a time where a popular gospel is that we are elected and nothing you can do will effect your salvation. I do believe that neither good works, church membership, taking communion nor being baptized is needed for salvation. However, when the Philippine Jailer cried to Paul what must I do to be saved? Paul did not say nothing! Paul said "you must believe…..in the Lord Jesus. And you will be saved!" God enables you to have faith but you must choose to exercise it. Faith is the ultimate tool you have in your life against Satan and the roots of fear, anger, sorrow, timidity, bitterness, hatred, loneliness, stress, anxiety, depression, gossip and embarrassment. All of these come from fear!!!!
Proverbs says "Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trust in the Lord shall be kept safe." "Teeter-totter" Here faith activates a blessing. Trust and you will be safe. Isaiah " Surely, God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid" "teeter-totter" Jeremiah; "But blessed is the man who trust in the Lord, whose confidence is in Him. He will be like the tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when the heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no Worries in the year of droughty and never fails to bear fruit." We, like the tree can put forth our faith roots in to the pure stream from the throne of God and fear not nor have any worries for the outcome of our lives. Faith Cure-all Jesus said to Jairus; "Don’t be afraid just believe and she will be saved" Jesus’ words to His disciples "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in Me. This is the cure for fear! Paul said, "last nigh an angel of God whose I am and I serve stood beside me ad said ’Do not be afraid Paul" and Paul’s "faith cure-all" was to immediately affirm, " I have faith in God.." Hebrews speaking of Moses admonished "By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger; he persevered because he saw Him who was invisible." One last "teeter-totter" principle from Hebrews; "Keep you lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said. ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you’. So we say with confidence; ‘the Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?’"
Changing a pastor is not doing away with the old and bringing in the new it is combining forces against the evil that confronts us. The staff that seems to be retreating will find other avenues of service either at the new pastors request or just because it is there to do. One thing for sure when the new pastor gets here you will find him to be a worker and a diligent man, one that you will be proud to serve with. You will find him to just as pleased to serve with you. The new leader is the old leader in a different form. We are lead by the same spirit and loved by the same Father. We are simply on the journey to the heart of God. The skills that each has are His gifts developed by His strength in us. Our team is now his team and we are looking forward to the new challenges that will come with this change. The new pastors will need your prayers, your patients and your love. They are treasures from God to our congregation. They are the leaders that He has chosen for us as we move to the next section of this grand and glorious journey. A pastor’s is a wonderful person that will bless your life just being around her. She is as talented in her own way as he is in his. She will be our new "First Lady" pray for her as she battles with us. Everyday represents a walk in new time with new opportunities. We are growing and changing while God is the same yesterday today and forever. The challenge for us is to emulate Him and to teach His ways. Most He tells us is beyond our understanding but what we can know about Him we can and must apply. His Word is about that task of teaching us His ways and His purpose. As the new pastor begins to lead our journey he will open up new ideas and new ways of doing some of the same things as well as new thing we need to begin. He will desperately need our prayers and our support for together, we are thrust in the middle of the battle for our souls and the souls of the ones we hold so dearly. We are in the business of pushing back the very gates of Hell. We are taken on the task to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ about the regions of the damned. We cannot fail, must not fail. The world of the "hopeless" desperately need the divine love that fills our hearts to be poured in to their lives. We are on this grand an glorious journey with now, a new leader but the task is the same we need to get shoulder to shoulder to withstand the onslaught of Satan. Remember that "where evil does about Grace
does much more abound." So let us access the extra abundance of Grace
and turn the tide of evil away in our lives, in our families, our
community, our nation an ultimately our world.
The battle is His so let's begin again.
A Woman to Love
A man to love
BLESSED PEOPLE If you woke up this morning with more health than
illness, you are more blessed than the million who won't survive the
week.
The Hem of His Garment
Mathew 9:20-23 20 And suddenly, a woman who had a flow of blood for twelve years came from behind and touched the hem of His garment. 21For she said to herself, "If only I may touch His garment, I shall be made well." 22But Jesus turned around, and when He saw her He said, "Be of good cheer, daughter; your faith has made you well." And the woman was made well from that hour.Touching The Hem (êñÜóðåäïí,
krañspedon):
The classic instance of the use of "hem" in the A Why? 1.Perhaps she touched the garment out of Desperation. It is easy to see Christ and or Christianity as a move of desperation. People often turn to God when tragedy or despair overcomes them. There is good reason to do this for He has promised never to leave you nor to forsake you. Plus He has committed Himself to forgive you when you ask and seek Him with your whole heart. The thief on the cross was a desperation Christian. Many battlefield conversions were desperation conversions. How many times have you prayed over sick loved ones or children when the doctors seemed stymied in the quest to help them. How often have you made promises to God for His help ..Only to forget the promise when the help arrived? All too often we seek God only out of desperation.
How often have you prayed about friend or family member that is destroying their lives with the pleasures of this world selling out for a good feeling that could have been a great feeling if they had done it God’s way? The pleasures that God gave us to enjoy cannot be thoroughly experienced outside of His plan for our lives. They have to become garment touchers! If you marry a no-believer, young folks, just plan on a troubled relationship instead of than blessed marriage. If you are married reach out and touch the garment for your marriage and let the power of God rule your daily lives together. 2. It could be that it was Determination that caused her to reach for the hem. So many people reach God because they become determined to do so. "You shall find me when you search with your whole heart". They have reached a point in life that they are determined to change their focus. They want help in their lives that is beyond what they could get outside of Divine help. They become Garment touchers. Join the "not willing to get by" crowd by seeking the will of God for you, your family, and for our church. Ask God for the help that will you need to change the destination of your descendents. 3.It seems more like likely that she responding from Dedication. Note that Jesus said, "Be of good cheer, daughter; your faith has made you well." She was a believer in the power of Jesus. Faith is believing God even when you don't want too. Faith is believing God when you know better. Faith is Believing God when your friends don't. Faith is believing God when you can't. Faith is believing God when you don't understand. Faith is believing God regardless. However, she wanted to move up to a touching relationship with the Master. She wanted more than she had and was willing to move up to get it. She became a hem of the garment believer! Some of you folks have been believers for years, You have seen the power of God fall on a congregation. You have seen the blessing that the Lord pour out of everyday lives and broken vessels. You have seen the newness, the goodness and the freshness of the God over and over again. The question is. When will your children see this… in our church--or any church? ---Or in your lives --or-- mine? If not us who? and if not now! When? Folks we need to become toucher of the hem ….NOW! We need to join the garment touchers?
B Where? 1, The Hem not the disciples The person not the gown, She didn't want to be with someone who knew Jesus she wanted to be with Jesus herself. She just wanted to be near Him. She wanted to be apart of what He would be doing. She was an enabler of the Kingdom of God. What are you doing to day Father? I want to be apart of it, she didn’t want the glory; she just wanted to be in His presence. She wanted to touch the Master's hem. 2. She had to get near the hem. Getting to the hem took some work. She did not want to argue over who was going to sit at the right or left hand of Jesus she just wanted to get near Him. She wanted Him to stay in the forefront and she just wanted to be apart of His ministry. She found out the if she was apart of ministry, she would be noticed. Jesus always passes out the blessing to those who are touching His hem. Stay near to Him and the Blessing will abound in your life. Blessings are a direct result of how close you are to Him. 3. Touching the King of Kings not just in the presence she needed a touching relation ship with Jesus. Many people are enamored with the church and with Jesus but they live too far away from the Hem of His garment. Only reaching out in times of despair and desperation. The never get to enjoy the joy unspeakable or the peace that passeth all understanding and all misunderstanding. People that have touched the hem of His garment, know that they know that they know. What a privilege it is that you can know Him in whom you have believed. Move toward that hem of His garment and become a reacher of FAITH. Faith does not put the emphasis on what He can do, but in who He is. C. What happened
Lord help us to become Hem of the Garment Christians, a Hem of the garment Church It is possible that the person is simply following the direction that their life is taking. They believe the Father and when times get tough they reach out to the hem of His garment because that is the manor of their lives. The have settled long ago that He is the answer and they reach for Him when the times get tough. What we need are people who do this all of the time every day of their lives. We don’t want to be Hem of the Garment Believers when we need to… but because it is the only kind of believer to be! 8/14/04
The Splendor of Beginning
Mornings are special splendors that are always unique and can never be duplicated. Watching the Father swing the doors of morning open is every time is a special occasion. We watch the shades of darkness retreat before the pastels of beginning light. Morning is a blend of miracles and mist, of cool and warmth, and newness advancing while the yesterday retreats. It is time of new beginnings. Like our lives, as they unfold the blossoms of hope beginning that salvation moment. Seeing the shades of darkness being washed away by His light is an extremely moving experience. We see the eyes of faith open to a day of hope, as a soul is resurrected. What a wonderment to behold! The observing of the soul that has been set free is more memorable than describable. It is unique and rewarding as our watching the birthing of a new day. The sunbeams of the morning are like shooting stars, proceeding the expectations of the grandeur of the coming morning. The confessions of the lost, reaching for hope of forgiveness, are like sunbeams. They are Sonbeams of light assaulting the darkness that had, for years, surrounded their souls. Visions of the newness of life and feeling of the fresh beginning bring deep souled smiles of great joy to the new believer’s brow. Mornings mix splendor with power and replace night with day. So is the soul that has had the freedom of forgiveness wash across the crevasses of their life. The light of the joy spreading over their soul is unmistakable, as it is unforgettable. Glory to the Father who has given us all the gift of morning to help us comprehend the gift of life. Seeing a soul being set free at the altar of prayer is breathtaking. A life given to the Father is ripe with the possibilities for the future. No longer are dread and despair their nighttime companions. They have taken the step to give their tomorrows to Him for His investment. Therefore, night has lost its power of fear. Snuggling in the arms of the Master of the universe becomes a believer’s lullaby, unsung yet always heard. Now they have the power to resist sin and the power to point the way to those who live in the turmoil which they have left behind. Light floods their soul, gushing out of the window of our hearts to blind the darkness they have just escaped. Praise to the Father for such power and freedom that comes with the Sonrise in our soul. May it always be an honor to see the newness of the soul being born into everlasting life. We have seen night become day. In the midst of that day is the light that has "no shadow when it turns". The brightness is the light of Jesus, the lover of our soul, in whom "there is no darkness at all." Sharing this morning miracle of a soul being brought to life is a fellow believer’s joy. He understands as he recalls his "new morning" with pleasure beyond measure. Richard Klein
Guest writer: Reverend Leroy S. Adams missionary to Egypt Carnal and Spiritual Believers AqwaQWAa 1q2q1q
Peeking over the Father’s shoulder
I often wished that I could just see what the Father was up to and how He was preparing to direct my future. We are allowed to see a little of what is in the eyes of the one who rules the universe sees. We must consider what He has had written in His love letter to our soul. First, He instructs us to take no thought for tomorrow, as the evils of the day are sufficient. The verse refers to the evil you need to resist as well as the time you should invest today in your life and the lives of those about you. The good news is that another verse says, “where evil does abound. GRACE does much more abound.” So we know that we have a whole lot of extra grace available daily than we will need. So, enjoy your gift of grace everyday. There is a time to laugh and a time to cry, a time to morn and a time to rejoice. Secondly, we would do well to heed His advice to enjoy each and ever morsel of life that we are given. All to often we mourn for what we don’t have instead of experiencing what is our alone to enjoy. Too many married folks are not the enjoying the fact that they are married. Satan has been given too much time in our lives. We are too busy with other stuff to enjoy the married relationship or your parenting privilege. Your husband, your wife, nor your child will ever be the same again after today. Each and every day is different and unique. Do allow yourself to become too busy to share the treasures of your love with one another today. Remind her that she is the very best partner on this shared journey you are taking together. Remind him that he is the one whose love you cherish and his words of kindness are what you need on this get the most out of you journey today. See your children for the gifts that they are today. Not what they can or will be but today embrace where you are now on this journey. Life is full of choices. We can feel the pain of losses, the comfort of disappointment, the loneliness of discouragement, or search though the pieces of broken dreams. It is also our choice to embrace the moments of life and savor the goodness of your journey. You can smell the flowers and taste and see that God is good. Choices allow you to take moments out of your busy schedules to encourage your children. They are yours to laugh with, and appreciate. Take a slice out of your day to participate in the Kingdom about you. Peek over the Father’s shoulder into you spouse’s needs and hopes. Look and see how He would want you to touch your children lives “forever” today. Teach yourself to recognize Kingdom work. Seek to understand how that you can be about something “eternity” each day you have to live.
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