Quotes

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Praise Him for His Person

Praise Him for His Presence with you

Praise Him for His Purchase of you

Praise Him for His Promises to you

Praise Him for His Perfections

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Praise Him for Salvation,

Praise Him for your Eternal Destination,

Praise Him He is Present with you in your Present Situation!

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Praise Is Not A Problem If We Focus On Him.

And Two reasons are His “Mighty Deeds” and His “Excellent Greatness.”-{Psalm 150:2

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Praise is not trying to work up a feeling

but responding to truth about God,

and praising Him accordingly!

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There are events in your life that are worthy of your praising God,

Salvation, forgiveness, redemption!

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Praise is not trying to work up Something

but realizing Someone is Worthy of Praise!

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Praise is not dependent on mood or favorable circumstances

but a command based on truth of Who He is irrespective of circumstances

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The desire to see Him praised should be personal motivation for evangelism,

“Let Everything that has breath Praise the LORD.”-{Psalm 150:6}

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The one necessity to Praising the LORD?

Breath!

“Let everything that has BREATH Praise the LORD.”-{Psalm 150:6}

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“PRAISE THE LORD” -{Read Psalm 147:13-14}

For His…Protection; {Security}-v13;

Blessing-v13;

Peace- v14;

Provision;{Satisfies } – v14

“Praise The LORD!”

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Some people are like flowers when it comes to love, here today gone tomorrow!. But not God, His love is settled, committed, continuous, eternal!

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When we undermine the Word of God, we undermine God!

When David was confronted by the prophet over his sin of Bathsheba and having her husband killed, he went to the root of the problem when he said, “Why did you despise the word of the LORD by doing what is evil in his eyes? You struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword and took his wife to be your own. You killed him with the sword of the Ammonites.”-{2 Sam 12:9}. And to “despise the Word of the LORD,” we see in verse 14 is “…by doing this you have shown utter contempt for the LORD,” 

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We cannot separate the Word of God from God. As though we can “despise” what He says and claim that we love Him!!

Some will say “doctrine is not important, “… you just need to love Jesus.” But The Bible teaches us what it means to love the Lord Jesus, how do we know otherwise? By whatever we think, what ever comes to our mind? Therefore we are setting ourselves up as all knowing, infallible and if that is the case Jesus wasted His time sending the Holy Spirit whom He said,”… He will guide you into all truth.”-{John 16:13}.

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They Sang in times of Stress!

They Sang of His Splendor!

They Sang as They Advanced in Faith!

“After consulting the people, Jehoshaphat appointed men to SING TO the LORD and to praise Him for the splendor of His holiness as they went out at the head of the army, saying: “Give thanks to the LORD, for His love endures forever.”  -{2 Chronicles 20: 21}

Can you think of a Song to sing to Him?

” I will sing of my Redeemer
and his heavenly love for me;
He from death to life has brought me,
Son of God, with Him to be.
Sing, O sing of my Redeemer!
With His blood he purchased me;
on the cross He sealed my pardon,
paid the debt, and made me free. ” -{PP BLISS}

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Every funeral of a believer, as sad, deeply painful, as it is for loved one’s left behind, is an act of grace. God taking Home His own to enjoy Him and experience the fullness of their salvation in glorification and to bask in the kindness, the grace of God forever and ever and ever without end!

“…so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.”-{Ephesians 2:7}

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None of us need a Book on Pride,…we are the Book!

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Pride is Anti God and God is Anti Pride-

“God Is Opposed to the Proud, but gives grace to the humble.”-{1 Peter 5:5}

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The Gospel of Christ Is Still The Answer To The Human Heart!

Share It!

{Read Romans 1:16; 1 Cor 15;1-5}

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“Exalt me, Exalt me, ” – … because of what you see I have or where you see I live it is the cry of pride,  the  seeking of affirmation of others, because of outward possessions. It is a lack of humility and understanding whatever you have is because of God,”what do you have that you have not received.”

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Trying to meet a Spiritual need of the heart  with Human resources will not meet the need.

“See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces  of this world rather than on Christ.”- {Col 2:8}

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You can retire from a job but you don’t retire from service for the LORD as long as you are breathing!

“ “Now when David had served God’s purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep; he was buried with his ancestors and his body decayed.”-{Acts 13:36}

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God uses circumstances …

1. Sometimes God uses circumstances to reveal what is in us -{Read Luke 6:45}
2. Sometimes God uses circumstances to reveal our self reliance -{ 2 Cor 1:8}
3. Sometimes God uses circumstances to teach us to rely on Him!-{2 Cor 1:9}

 

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To the broken-hearted, He heals
To the weary He gives strength
To the Rejected He gives acceptance To the unsure He gives Wisdom, To the depressed He gives Comfort, to the anxious – Peace, To the Needy, He gives Help, Come and Exchange For He is the Giving God!… Celebrate and Thank Him

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From the passage {Read 1 Peter 5:5-7} we can say,

Humble people Serve others. -“…clothe yourselves with humility toward one another.”

Humble People Submit to God. -“…humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, ”

Humble people have Hope in God -“…that He may exalt you… ”

Humble people Trust God’s Timing. – “…that He may exalt you at the proper time, ”

Humble People Give All of their Anxieties to God. -“…casting all your anxiety on Him,”

Humble People Believe God Cares for them. – “…because He cares for you.”

Proud people Don’t!

God is opposed to the proud,- The word “opposed” is used of  to set an army against, lining up in battle order. The idea is to resist, oppose, to be hostile towards! But God gives Grace to the humble. God blesses the Humble!

At times we exhibit pride as His people…and upon realizing it, we need to humble ourselves to Him, confess our sin and begin afresh..

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TWO REASONS FOR HUMILITY

1. We are Created and God is the Creator.
2. God made all people in His image- Therefore we are on equal footing, not above, or below others. Pride says we are Humility knows the truth and takes its rightful place before God and towards others!

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God is opposed to the proud,- The word “opposed” is used of  to set an army against, lining up in battle order. The idea is to resist, oppose, to be hostile towards! But God gives Grace to the humble. God blesses the Humble! – {Read 1 Peter 5:5-7}

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The great thing about Hope is it reaches beyond this world!

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Thank You LORD for the HOPE You impart {Rom 15:13}, the JOY You lnstil {John 15:11}, the ENCOURAGEMENT You give{Rom 15:4} “In Christ,” which circumstances cannot effect or remove!

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No IV treatments today. So swollen, a lot of inflammation, A lot of pain, home-nurse spent two hours trying to find a vein. .., said I am Badly dehydrated. Though she knows the  large amount of fluids I put in … She is contacting Dr ….said I am sicker than I think. She listed some symptom concerns. She asked “How Do You Feel?” I told her I felt fine until she told me how sick I was  😂- laughter is good medicine  🙂 I’m worn out, but encouraged in His Word- 1 Peter 4:19- feeding on some of His principles…

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Regret?

Don’t live in the lie of regret. Learn from it but don’t live there! –

“Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead,”-{Phil 3:13}

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If Politics is the answer then Christ died in vain!

If Temporal Comfort is the goal then Christ died in vain!

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“What the LAW could not do… God Did!” -{Romans 8:3}

The LAW cannot Justify me, Save me, Change me, release me from condemnation! But Jesus can. Justify me, Save me, Change me, Release me from Condemnation. Because, Jesus fulfilled the Law’s demands on my behalf! Glory to Jesus Christ the Great Liberator and Savior!

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Irritation, frustration, exasperation. Ever feel like that when you just can’t get things to go the way you want them? You have a Plan and you are trying to execute it and why won’t God just help! It is so irritating, frustrating, and exasperating!!! Oops! It’s amazing that we often speak of the Sovereignty of God, that God is in complete control and we love that teaching except when it clashes with our plans!!! And instead of resting in His Sovereignty we display the “gift” of irritability!!!

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“Grace, mercy and peace FROM God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.”-{1 Tim 1:2}

Note Grace always come first, as it is all the Grace of God, His initiation to show Favor to the undeserving who cannot earn it, do not deserve it otherwise it would not be grace! Grace is God in action, His graciousness, His Kindness, His undeserved favor! Mercy for our sins a result, and peace follows as a result!

His GRACE GIVES US BLESSING, we don’t deserve!

His Mercy withholds punishment we deserve, while

His Peace is a result of His grace!

Give Him PRAISE and Thanks.

 

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Partners In The Eternal
“I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your PARTNERSHIP IN THE GOSPEL from the first day until now,”-{Phil 1:3-5}. Though Paul was “Shut In” he was not “Shut Out” from the love of other believers who chose with him to be Partners In The Eternal- The Gospel partnership and it caused him joy and prayers of thanksgiving for their partnership in an Eternal Work!
While some partnerships dissolve with the passing of a partner, and time, only one partnership will count for eternity “Partners in the Gospel!” Invest In The eternal!

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Here is FOUR Promises to encourage your CONFIDENCE in Him!-{John 15:8,16;}

You will bear Spiritual fruit! It will remain! Your life will be productive for God! Your prayers will be answered when you ask in accordance with the Character of the LORD Jesus!

Promise of Spiritual Fruit

Promise of Answered Prayer

Promise of Glorifying God the Father!

Promise of Belonging To Jesus Christ.

He is Your Confidence; Jesus chose you. He picked you out before the foundation of the world, for Himself and He appointed you to to go and bear Fruit!-{Read Eph 1:4}.

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Pray For OTHERS!

Think About OTHERS!

Help OTHERS.

“Do not merely look out for your own interests But also FOR the interests of OTHERS” {Phil 2:4}

Who are those OTHERS in your life that you are Praying for, thinking about and Helping?

 

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PRAYER… “Incline my Heart to…

Desire Your Word – {Ps 119:36}

Delight in Your Word – {Ps 1:2}

Do Your Word – {James 1:22}

”  Incline my heart to your testimonies,
    and not to selfish gain!
³⁷ Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things;
    and give me life in your ways.  “-Psalm 119:36-37

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Bored?
PRAY
for
Others!

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Turn your Thoughts into Prayer. Turn your Temptations into Prayer. Turn your Troubles into Prayer. Turn your Triumphs into Prayer

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You Have A Reason To Sing!

“For God is the King of ALL the earth; Sing Praises with Understanding…” -{Psalm 47:7}. Because God is King You should Sing. Because God is King You Can Sing! God is King… Sing His Praises!

 

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The Safest Place To Be This Moment Is, “In CHRIST,”-

Guaranteed Eternal Safety

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Faith says He cares for me, Fear says He doesn’t!

“Give ALL your worries and cares to the LORD FOR He cares for you.”-
(1 Peter 5:7 NLT)

 

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To choose to live in the fears of the future is to invite anxiety into your present.

“Cast all your cares upon Him, He cares for you.”-{1 Peter 5:7}__

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The Power of Jesus Christ To Liberate through Identification, Emancipation -“…He too shared in their humanity so that by His death He might break the power of him who holds the power of death-that is, the devil- and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.”-{Heb 2:14-15}

One reason Jesus came was to die and render ineffective the evil one’s power of death over you and the fear of death in you! Great News!

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Value People over Possessions!

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“THIS” Too Will Work Out For Your Good.

God’s Promise to you of eternal good, includes whatever “This,” is you are going though!-{Rom 8:28-29}

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Where Is God In Times Of Trouble?

“ I WILL be with him In Trouble. ”-( Ps 91:15)

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God’s Sovereignty Does Not Have A Term Limit!

“God reigns over the nations; God is seated on His holy Throne.”-{Psalm 47:7-8}____________________________________________________________________________________________

Behind The Promises Of God, Is The GOD Who Promises.

While we often emphasize the promises, the Promises emphasize HIM who promises.🙂

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Love

Doesn’t Gossip!

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“Produces” – I love this word, as it gives us an explanation, GOD’S PURPOSE in the text of what “Sufferings, tribulations, great pressures…” have in view as an end…The word means “to work out…to do that which something results, to accomplish, achieve, bring about, result in. “{Thayers}. Sufferings, tribulations have a Goal in God’s hands… how wonderful to know,{though not easy when you are going through them} but to “know,” “to be fully aware” of what God has in mind, His end, to produce, strengthen us with the certainty of His HOPE for us…

Suffering is productive for the follower of Christ!

It is meant to be productive, to produce something good and Godly in a believer’s life and it does when we trust Him and take Him at His Word  by faith obeying and viewing life through the lens of the Scripture, depending on His Spirit to empower us to do His will! God has given us everything we need to live Godly and has given us precious and magnificent promises to be used in our lives and sufferings-{Read 2 Peter 1:3-4}.

Sufferings produce Perseverance or steadfastness, the ability to remain under the trial and keep going doing His will and not giving in to despair, doubts or difficulties, but REJOICING, exulting because we KNOW, we are  “fully aware” of what God is doing!

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“…who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.“-{1 Peter 1:5}. Our salvation is secure. Our eternal safety is guaranteed by Him who promises to keep our soul safe and secure. We cannot lose what He has! He has saved us and secured our souls for safekeeping! We are “kept by the power of God!”

The evil one cannot have me, death cannot have me because God has me!

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Our Hope is not based on what we see,

But on What He says!

“…In His Word I Hope.”-{Psalm 130:5}; “…The Word of the Lord remains forever.”-{1 Peter 1:25}

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To Believe That God Does Not Love You, You Have To Choose To Reject The Scripture And Embrace A Lie! Instead Reject The Lie And Embrace The Scripture.

The Truth? – “To Him Who {Continually} Loves Us…”-{ Rev 1:5}

” God is love.”-{1 John 4:16}

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The Moment You Think God Does Not Love You, You Can Be Assured, That Thought Is Not From The Spirit Of God!

“I have loved you with an everlasting love.”-{Jer 31:3}

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Our Inconsistent Love For God Does Not Alter His CONSISTENT Love For Us! –

{Read Rom 8:31-39}

Amazing Grace!`

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Difficult Circumstances Are Not An Indicator Of God’s Love For You- The Cross Is!

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God’s Love For You Is Irreversible!

“To Him Who Continually Loves us…To Him Be Glory…Forever And Ever-{Rev 1:5-6}

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If God’s Love Depended On Your Performance Then You Would Be Unloved, Loveless… But you are not!

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God’s Love For You Is Personal And Permanent!

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The Love Of Christ Is All-Encompassing. There Is Never A Moment He Does Not Love You! – {Read Rom 8:38}

The Legalist says you must earn His Love. Devoid of Grace!

The Scripture teaches You are A recipient Of His Love! GRACE!

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To Believe God Loves You And Doubt He Likes You Is To Misunderstand And Misrepresent God!

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You Can Afford To Be Geneous In Giving- When It Is Not Your Money- It IS His- You Are A Steward, Not The Owner!

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Jesus Did Not Come To Bless Your Plans But To IMPLEMENT His!

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The Enemy To Your Mind Can Be…YOUR.., Mind!

“And do not be conformed to this world [any longer with its superficial values and customs], but be transformed and progressively changed [as you mature spiritually] by the renewing of your mind [focusing on godly values and ethical attitudes], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His plan and purpose for you].”-{Rom 12:2- Amp, Bible}. Wrong Thinking Leads To wrong conclusions. Biblical THINKING enables you to Think right!

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Remember, Bitter People Have An Agenda. Don’t  Support Or Succumb Or Be Part Of Their Agenda!

“See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiled;   “- {Heb 12:15}

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EXCUSING AND ACCUSING!

We are good at Excusing and accusing. Excusing ourselves as Adam and accusing others. Adam, Martha did this!

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Because You Can’t See A Way, Doesn’t Mean God Can’t Make A Way

– {Read John 6:1-6}

 

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If Christ is not your life, Heaven will not be your Home!-{Phil 1:20-21}

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The problem with bitterness is we don’t recognize it in ourselves and when we do we legalize it in our own minds!

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If we wait till all our troubles are past, before we share, we will share very infrequently as we live in a world of troubles!

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Where Humility Is Absent Love Is Not Present

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In 2 Tim 3:12- Paul points out that faithfulness to the LORD Jesus leads to persecution, suffering on account of Him. Your loyalty to Christ will encounter opposition! Why do we not teach young believers this truth? Indeed why do we not teach all believers this fact!

The intensity, type of suffering may differ from person to person but all who desire to live Godly can count on it they “will suffer persecution”- harassment, for their loyalty to the LORD Jesus!

 It’s not natural to say, I want to suffer but it is un- natural as a Follower of Christ to think you will not suffer for His Name in this life!

To seek to be loyal above all other loyalties is a threat to a worldly system opposed to Jesus Christ.

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Truth Transforms When It is Applied-

{Read Rom 12:2; James 1;23-25}

 

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Don’t Give Up…Look Up…

pray…trust…do the next thing, do the right thing…

keep going

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Today’s Problems

Are To Be Handed Over To The Problem Solver.

He Never Meant For You To Carry one,… “Cast All Of Your Cares Upon Him For He Cares for You -{1 Pet 5:7}

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The Desire To Be Seen and Accepted As “Spiritual” just reveals… you’re not!

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Feeling Down? Look Up!

Your Help Comes From There!

“My HELP comes from the LORD, MAKER of HEAVEN AND earth” -Psalm 121:1

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Feeling Down? Look Up!

Thank God For Three Blessings!

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Feeling Down?

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Are You Feeling Down? Look UP!

Look Up And  See Who Is There?

Look Up, That Is Where You Are Heading!

Look Down On Your Circumstances, Look Up To Him!

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When You Think It’s Too Small To Talk To God About,

You Can Be Sure, You Are Thinking Wrong About God!

“Pray About Everything.”  – {Read Phil 4;6}

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Bitterness;

Don’t Dig Up The Corpses!

 

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Bitter people do not produce good, Godly fruit!

 

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Bitterness Is Not A Fruit Of The Spirit!

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Bitterness Is Not A Virtue

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Bitterness IS Not Godliness

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Bitterness;

Some People Go Fishing In The SEA Of Forgetfulness!

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Bitterness, that sourness of heart, which pours out of you and treats people the way the evil one treats them when we should be treating them the way The LORD treats them!

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FREEDOM!

1.- FREEDOM…”So if the Son sets you FREE, you will be free indeed.”- ( John 8:36)

2.- FREEDOM…”It is for FREEDOM that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.”-( Gal 5:1)

3.- FREEDOM…”For you have been called to live in FREEDOM, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, USE YOUR FREEDOM to serve one another in love.”-( Gal 5:13)

4.- FREEDOM…”Live as people who are FREE, not using your FREEDOM as a cover-up for evil, BUT living as servants of God. Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God,”-( 1 Peter 2:16-17)

Freedom … Not to live independent but in dependence upon God and the ability to Obey His Word and Courage to Share it;

“I will always obey your law, for ever and ever. I will walk about in freedom,
for I have sought out your precepts. I will speak of your statutes before kings
and will not be put to shame”- {Psalm 119;44-46}

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In A World Of Broken Promises, God Never Breaks His!

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Behind The Promises Of God, Is The GOD Who Promises.

While we often emphasize the promises, the Promises emphasize HIM who promises.

 

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THE COST OF YOUR SPIRITUAL FREEDOM WAS THE LIFE OF CHRIST. FREED TO LOVE HIM AND OTHERS …LIVE AND LOVE WELL, ONE CHOICE, ONE PERSON AT A TIME.

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Difficulties Are Opportunities To Know God Better, Develop Your Dependence Upon Him, And See His Glory Manifested!

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“Casting Your Cares Upon Him FOR He Cares For You,”-{1 Peter 5;7}

Whatever Concerns YOU Concerns Him. Give Him Your Worries.

 

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Faith Is Not Blind When Christ Is Your Light {And Guide.}

“I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.”- {John 8:12}

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FAITH IS NOT BLIND WHEN GOD’S WORD IS GOVERNING & GUIDING YOU.

“Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.”-{Psalm 119;105}

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Prayer Is Not Twisting God’s Reluctant Arm To Get Your Way But Submission To Him that  Foremost Would Be His  Name Be Honored And His Will Be Done!

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I had a person once tell me they did not want the LORD to make them content in the circumstances they were in and  guess what? They are not!

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Critical people have no time to be compassionate people as they are too busy being critical!

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Your Life Is Not Your Own. You Belong To ANOTHER, who Loves You as His own

“I have Loved YOU with an everlasting love”-{Jer 31:3}

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“Pretend – A – Friend.”

You have heard of rent-a -truck, rent a r-o-o-m, rent a -car, how about “pretend a fiend.” Some cultures have people who are paid to be a “professional mourners,” who are paid to “pretend to be a friend,” and mourn on behalf of the deceased at their funeral. Judas could be described as a “pretend a friend,” Nehemiah 6 speaks of “Shemaiah” who  was also a “pretend a friend,” but was sent to intimidate him.-{Neh 6:10-13}; Demas was a “pretend a friend,”who forsook Paul because his love for this world. -{2 Tim 4:10}. Don’t be a “pretend a friend!”

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Hmm… Just Wondering. Saw a sign “Do you support prayer in school?”How about “Do u support prayer in church?”

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If Kindness was a currency you spent on others how wealthy would they be because of you?

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If Kindness Was A Currency You spent {dealt in} How rich would those you deal with be because of the amount you deposit into their lives?

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What Can You Rely On Today?

“Jesus Christ is THE SAME yesterday and TODAY and forever.”

HE Is Reliable,… He Is Consistent … Count On HIM!

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A Gossip’s “Fuel” Is The Number Of People Who GLADLY Are Willing To Listen! This IS Where they Often Get Their Significance From. They feed off the attention.

Put out the fire, Don’t Give A Gossip the Attention they crave. Are You Keeping Them In Business?

 

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Old Enough To Know life is Getting Shorter…😂

“Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom” -{Psalm 90:12}

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In A World Of Broken Promises God Never Breaks His!

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Life Changes, Christ Doesn’t.

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”-{Heb 13:8}

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It’s Easy To Be A “Perfect” Parent, when you have no children! You have all the advice on how children should behave and be raised and all the answers, but no experience!

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Legalistic people seek to make others in their own image!

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Legalism is founded and grounded and produces bad fruit from self righteousness. Seeking to elevate external do’s and dont’s as our identity of salvation or spirituality, through external behavior or appearance.

 

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Its bad enough that a person lives under legalism but twice as sad and demonically influenced when they seek to have others live under the bondage of legalism!

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MISCONCEPTION;

People will sometimes ask,”How long do you spend in prayer?” I never speak about my prayer life as I am not in a competition to see who spends the longest amount of time  as if somehow that determines how spiritual you are or who is more spiritual and ‘Godly!’ If we are going to compete lets compete Scripturally in outdoing one another in showing Honor to each other!

“Love one another deeply as brothers and sisters. Outdo {GIVE PREFERENCE TO} one another in showing honor.”- {Rom 12:10} {Christian Standard Bible.}

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The enemy offers legalism in exchange for God’s liberty for us… Here is a precious word…to encourage…”How precious are your thoughts about me, O God. They cannot be numbered! I can’t even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand! …when I wake up, You are still with me!” Psalm 139:18… If we wake up He wakes us and we wake up To Him…NOT to condemnation for He will never do that, “In Christ.” … but His love for us in regards the precious thoughts towards us 🙂 Thank Him for the sleep and His precious thoughts towards you and that when You awake… you wake up to Him who loves you… Awakened by the One who loves you awaken to His love for you. Good News:)

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MISCONCEPTION ON SPIRITUAL MATURITY;

Some People Think That Age Equals spiritual maturity, For example if you are twenty, thirty , forty years a Christian you are more mature, or a “higher rank,” than a six month, six year old in The LORD. Not so. Spiritual maturity is not based on age but on  SPIRITUAL Development, character. Maturity is the ability to take responsibility.

It is possible to be elderly- age wise and not wisdom or character wise.

Note the three stages of spiritual growth in the passage, little children… fathers…young men…

 ^“I am writing to you, little children, because your sins have been forgiven you for His name’s sake.  I am writing to you, fathers, because you know Him who has been from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I have written to you, children, because you know the Father.  I have written to you, fathers, because you know Him who has been from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one.”-{1 John 2:12-14}

WHAT STAGE ARE YOU AT?

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MISCONCEPTION ON SPIRITUALITY;

Some people Mistakenly think that the earlier you arise in the morning to have a’quiet time,” the more “spiritual” you are, when in reality, true spiritual maturity has to do with character not time! – {Read Gal 5:22-23}

 

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A Sadness With A Gossip Is That Upon Hearing Him Or Her Do Not Lovingly Object Or Stop Them. Too Often A Gossip IS Met With A Glad Willingness To Listen to Gossip.

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One sad problem With A Gossip Is They They too Often Find a Ready and Willing Audience Who Wants To Listen.

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If Christ Is NOT Your Life In this World

Then Death will Not Be Gain in The Next -{Read Phil 1:21}

__________________________________________Paul Faced Death  with “Courage”,  v 6, 8. The Word is a verb which means,” cheerful.”  To have happiness, to be confident, to be content, joy…   This is how he faced death…confidently, contented, cheerful, happily because of hat He knew…

We live by faith In A Future Hope Of

• A New Body,
• A Perfect, Flawless Life
• God’s Purpose Coming To Fruition, Being Fulfilled.

We Live By Faith… In What His Word Says! -{2 Cor 5:8}

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My Next Body Will Be My Best Body! – {2 Cor 5:1}

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My Next Life Will Be My Best Life- It will be Flawless,Perfect, .- {2 Cor 5:2-4}

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My Next Life Fulfills God’s Purpose For Me. I was Made For This!- {2 Cor 5:5}

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God Determined My Future In The Past – {2 Cor 5:5} He Prepared a Resurrection for me and all believers! -{Read Rom 8;29-30}

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God’s Purpose Began in Eternity Past And Is Fulfilled In Eternity Future -{2 Cor 5:5; Rom 8:29-30}

“only what you do for the glory of Christ and what impacts your eternity is going to matter. “- {John Mac Arthur}

__________________________________________________________PPaul Faced Death  with “Courage”,  v 6, 8. The Word is a verb which means,” cheerful.”  To have happiness, to be confident, to be content, joy…   This is how he faced death…confidently, contented, cheerful, happily because of hat He knew…

We live by faith In A Future Hope Of

• A New Body,
• A Perfect, lawless Life
• God’s Purpose Coming To Fruition, Being Fulfilled.

We Live By Faith… In What His Word Says! -{2 Cor 5:8}

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Life Is  A Gift, A Stewardship To Honor!

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God’s Purpose Of A Resurrection Body And Making Us Like Christ Will Be Fulfilled Because He Has Given Us The Holy Spirit As A Pledge -{2 Cor 5:5}

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God Will Get You Home! He Has Given His Spirit As A Guarantee! -{2 Cor 5:5; Rom 8:30}

 

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God IS More Interested In people Than Projects!

 

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Today’s Choices Determine Tomorrow’s Crop!

You reap what you sow.

“…whatever a man sows, this he will also reap.For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.” – {Gal 6:7-8}.

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If You Never Loved You Wouldn’t Grieve The Loss Of A Loved One. Grief is an expression of great love.

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“All I have Needed Thy Hand Has Provided, Great Is Thy Faithfulness- LORD unto Me.”

THINK how He has been faithful to you,Ask Him to remind you so that you have “fuel” to Thank Him…and as you thank Him you are Glorifying Him-{Luke 17:15}. May your day be filled with Glorifying Him through…THANKS for His Faithfulness!

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If Your Thoughts Do Not Lead And Leave You With Jesus Christ And His Honor Then Lead And Leave Them Behind, And Replace With Thoughts That Do!

Choose Your Thoughts Carefully And Scripturally!

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Character Is More Important Than Cash!

It’s who you are not what you have that counts! -{Read Heb 13:5}

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The end of this life is the beginning of eternity, either Heaven or Hell.

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The end of this life is the beginning of seeing Christ!

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The Commitment Of Christ Does Not Waver!
His Commitment To Love You
His Commitment To Care For You
His Commitment To Encourage You
His Commitment To Forgive You
His Commitment To Restore You
His Commitment To Empower You.
His Commitment To Strengthen You
His Commitment To Stand With You

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Contentment And Cash.

Too often we equate contentment with how much or little cash we have, we often quote “I will never leave you no nor forsake you,” but forget the verse before it which says“keep your life FREE from the LOVE of money, and be content with what you have.”-{Heb 13:5}.

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If Politics was the answer to the human heart then Christ died in vain!

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You Can Spend Your Life Looking and Living in Past failures, Loss, or Focus On Present Opportunities.
It’s up to you, where you choose to live, in the past or present! Where does God want you live? –

“Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead,   “-{Phil 3:13} ..”…LOOKING {Fixing }Our eyes on Jesus”-{Heb 12;2}

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It takes faith to embrace doubts and live as though they are true! The problem? Doubts cannot give peace but will give turmoil of mind and heart!

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When we Doubt God,
* We reject what He has said.
* We reject the History we have of seeing His faithfulness and fulfilling His Word to us.
* We choose to embrace and believe our doubts and doubt God!
* It is to say I would rather live with my own uncertainties than put my trust in God and His Word.

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Doubt Your Doubts Or They Will Dominate and Deteriorate your faith!

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It Takes faith to commit,submit and obey your Doubts!
The Fruit of Doubts?
1.Anxiety- {Read Luke 10:40 }
2.Fearfulness – {Read Mark 4;38}
3.Despondency -{Read Luke 24:17-21} 
4.Instability – {Read James 1:6-8}.
Who would volunteer to embrace such a life but many of us do.Why? We choose to believe our doubts as truth and doubt God as un-True!
What Doubts are you embracing , meditating upon and submitting and committing to?

 

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Doubt Your Doubts And Believe God

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To embrace Doubts and believe the lies is to reject God and His Word as unreliable!

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Who is behind the doubts but “the father of lies,” and when doubts are embraced it is to reject the God of truth. Have you ever seen your doubts embraced in that light!

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DON’T LOSE SIGHT OF THE END!

“Knowing that sufferings,{Tribulations}  PRODUCE…Perseverance,… proven character… Hope that does not disappoint…”-{Romans 5;3-4}

When we forget the end we end up complaining, despairing, anxious and fearful. The end is what effect God is producing using our sufferings, tribulations to bring about, accomplish. Don’t forget the end!

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Difficulties are new opportunities to Trust Him and testify Of Him!

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Self Cannot Produce The Fruit Of The Spirit, only God Can!-{Gal 5:22-23}

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It’s Only when Christ is our life, will be live life to lovingly serve others! -{Read 2 Cor 4:5}

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Biblical Hope, is “‘confident expectation,” In God. The strength of hope is in God’s ability and RELIABILITY To fulfill All of His Promises!

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The Christian’s hope is a certainty, anchored in Him who is Sovereign, unchanging and able to do the exceeding abundant beyond all we could ask or think!

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The Christian’s Hope looks forward by faith and sees…Him!

“Christ who is our Hope.”- {1 Timothy 1:1}

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Hope has a Good future.

Hopelessness has no future hope.

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_Despair looks at the difficulties, circumstances as insurmountable. Hope looks to God and says , All Things are possible… with Him!

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The Hope of the Gambler is a hope of chance. The Christians Hope is a hope of Certainty anchored in God, His character, Word and promises. The word “hope when used in Scripture means “confident expectation…”

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Prayer is not about persuading God to do what we want but aligning ourselves up with what He wants!

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Some people suffer greatly and the promise of a new day in the morn does not guarantee relief but there is a day coming, the Day of the return of the LORD Jesus when He will bring eternal relief!

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The Future for the follower of the LORD Jesus is glorious for the future is Christ!

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The Day of the LORD is coming closer every day. No one knows when but we know Whom has made the promise and He has never failed to keep one yet!

 

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“Christianity” is called after Christ not you!

The emphasis in Christianity is Christ!

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To keep the fires of resentment burning, it takes an unforgiving and unrepentant spirit.

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The Hypocrisy with Christianity is not Christianity

but at times with those of us who claim Christianity!

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You will find no hypocrisy in Jesus Christ.

Yes, at times in His people, but not HIM!

So, why take it out on Him, and give Him a bad name?

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Christian Hypocrisy is not Christian!

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Pretending to know what the Holy Spirit is doing in someone else’s life is simply that, pretending!  And if you do it long enough and loud enough you can get a following! And with a following, a reputation, that the person finds their  “significance,” as the person to turn to when trying to find out what the Holy Spirit is doing in someone else’s life. They like the attention and it is “good” for their sinful ego! Don’t be a pretender! Don’t stroke the ego of a pretender. Be aware of those who put themselves in the place of the Holy Spirit. Impostors, impersonating the Holy Spirit.

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Impostors. They have more “words from the Lord” and yet often do not know what the Word of The LORD actually says!

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The best the world could do was chain up the demoniac and isolate him. Jesus liberated him and clothed him in his right mind! One is the worlds way the other is the LORD’S way! -{Mark 5:1-20}

 

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His Promise, “… The LORD your God IS with you WHEREVER you go.”-{Joshua 1:9}. We are never alone, nowhere outside of His presence where He is not with… and… for… us. ! It’s never a question of who is not with you but WHO is with you, presently, permanently, He never leaves you to travel life’s journey on your own- ever!- Great news!

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WE SAY, “NOT ENOUGH.”

The word “content” speaks of that which is sufficient, satisfied, enough.

” If we have food and covering, with these we shall BE CONTENT. “-{1 Tim 6:18}

WE SAY, “NOT ENOUGH.”

” Some soldiers were questioning him, saying, “And what about us, what shall we do?” And he said to them, “Do not take money from anyone by force, or accuse anyone falsely, and be content with your wages.”-{Luke 3:14}

WE SAY, “NOT ENOUGH.”

“Keep your 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.”-{Hebrews 13:5}

WE SAY, “NOT ENOUGH.”

We say, His Provision and Himself and promises are NOT ENOUGH for us To be CONTENT, we want MORE in order to be content! MORE than Himself. MORE than His Provision, MORE than His Promises. His desire is we be content  with Him, His Provision, promises. Discontented people say He is not enough. His Provision is not enough. His Promises are not enough!

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While you are waiting For God to do what you want. Why don’t  you do what HE Wants!

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If the Gospel was optional why would He command us to go preach it!

“And He said to them,”Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.”-{Mark 16:15}.

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Bitter people are vengeful people. The cure is to own your own sin before God of bitterness, Repent, and forgive, and be freed to love!

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Bitterness is like opening a can of poison and drinking it and not considering the damage it will do …not to others… but …to…you!  The dishonor and hurt it causes … God. Who would be so foolish?

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When you are under pressure, look outwards, for someone to serve,for Jesus sake!

” Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves;”-{Phil 2:3}.

__________________________________________________Selfishness looks out for Self.

Selflessness looks out for Others!

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The world says “Look out for number one!” The LORD says Look Out For OTHERS

!Who is more important than you humanly speaking? The system that runs the world injecting their value system says, “No one…look after number one!” The Lord says “Others,” are more important. The world says SELF. The LORD says “OTHERS.”

“Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, BUT with humility of mind regard one another as MORE IMPORTANT than yourselves;”-{Phil 2:3}

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Be continually Kind… It’s the Christian way, for it is God’s command. -{Eph 4:32}.

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God’s Sovereignty Does Not exclude Suffering! Consider the Cross…

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It is not the accumulation of knowledge which brings about transformation but the application!

“ Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.   “-{James 1;22}; Read Rom 12:2

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There Is A Kindness In Christ That Few Of Us know much About As Evidenced By How unkind We Are To One Another!

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Your past is not your present, so don’t drag it into the moment and live under it.
“…one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead,”-{Phil 3:13}

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To choose to live in the fears of the future is to invite anxiety into your present.

“Cast all your cares upon Him, He cares for you.”-{1 Peter 5:7}

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Gossips thrive On An Audience!

Don’t Do Either!

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FAITH “SEES” THE INVISIBLE AND RESTS UPON HIM WHO SEES ALL!

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To spend, pour out your life for others good by loving them does not mean you will be loved back! But you do it “…for Jesus sake.”-{Read 2 Cor 4:5}.

“I will gladly spend myself and all I have for you, even though it seems that the more I love you, the less you love me.“-{2 Cor  12:15}.

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YOU ARE HIS BELOVED… HE NEVER GIVES UP ON YOU…

” being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.  “- {Phil 1;6}.

” for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure. “- {Phil 2:13}

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Life can often be a call to labor in the “monotonous” for the Master! Being faithful where you are doing what you do for Him. The ‘monotonous,’ takes on a different view when it is now done for Him.

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters,”- {Col 3;23}

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What they did is more important than we know who they were. But that He knows them is what is most important!

“Yes, and I ask you, my true companion, help these women since they have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are in the book of life.”- {Col 4:3}.

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Un named yet known by Him,whose eye is continually upon you.

 You may not be known by many but like those in Phil 4:3 known by Him and your labor of love in the Gospel. We don’t know the ‘co-workers’ by name, but He does!

“Yes, and I ask you, my true companion, help these women since they have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are in the book of life.”- {Col 4:3}

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If you were sinless you would no longer need the Savior and would be in the presence of Jesus.

“I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. “-{Phil 3;12 NLT}

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Love;

To Love means ” actively doing what the LORD prefers,” -{“Agapao-” “Helps Word study”}. Love is not left up to our interpretation but is defined by Him.- {Read 1 John 3:16… 1 Cor 13;4-7}

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Loving Your Enemies;

There are some people who will delight in your down fall. but you are not responsible for their bitterness and hatred only your response. If you are down get back up  His blood still cleanses from all unrighteousness and begin afresh with Him, loving Him and choosing to love others, even your enemies…

“But to those of you who will listen, I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you,pray for those who mistreat you. ” -{Luke 6:27-28}

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As His Love for you on the cross, so is HIS Love for you today- Total Commitment to you. He has not changed His mind towards you!

“And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord. “-{Romans 8;38-39 NLT}

 

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The  “problem” is often not the problem but reveals our problem, which is lack of faith in Him due to lack of focus upon Him.

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If looking in your past does not lead and leave you with HIM, you are looking through the wrong lens… Look back and see His faithfulness and tell others for you have a story to tell and A SAVIOR to POINT To…

“Only goodness and lovingkindness will follow{Pursue} me all the days of my life,…“-{Psalm 23:6}

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GOD’S SOVEREIGNTY;

As Creator, God has Divine right to do as He pleases with His creation! If sinful men and women cannot control God, they desire to INVENT a “God”- after their own thoughts.

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GOD’S SOVEREIGNTY;

When the Israelite’s refused to wait on Moses who had gone up to the mountain to speak with God, they decided to make a god of their own image. So they made a golden calf and said this is “the LORD!” They formed and fashioned one of their own understanding and came up with a concoction from their own twisted minds and proclaimed a golden calf- this is God. They had INVENTED- “God!” They molded “Him”; invented “Him”; could move “Him”; see “Him” and control “Him.” They were in charge!

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GOD’S SOVEREIGNTY;

The PROUD seek Control, the humble SUBMIT and seek  God and His glory in the situation, trusting Him,  even when they cannot understand events and situations that are painful!

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GOD’S SOVEREIGNTY; 

The natural man bristles and rebels against God being on His Throne. He will “allow” God to be anywhere but upon His Throne and acting as God, independent of all others! Man wants to be in control and have a say, indeed the FINAL say in how God acts and behaves. Sinful man wants to CONTROL God!

 Paul address’s this in Romans 9:20 –

“Who are you O Man to answer back to God? The thing molded will not say to the Molder why did you make me like this, will it? Or does not the potter have a right over the clay, to make from the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for common use…”

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When you find you are more concerned with what people think about you rather than the Fame of Jesus Christ, then you know you have both feet planted in the world system that is opposed to Jesus Christ!

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The Promise that won’t sell?

“All who desire to live Godly will suffer persecution“-{2 Timothy 3:12}.

Thank God for good Christian book stores to aid us in our pursuit and knowledge of Him. But one thing I have not seen is a photo or ornament with this Promise on it. Not sure it would sell well!

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It is better to die being considered a failure by people and honor the LORD Jesus

than to be honored by people and die failing the LORD!

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Who is more consistent? The mail man/woman in delivering the mail or a Christian delivering the Gospel?

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Is the mail man/woman more consistent in delivering the mail than you are in delivering the Gospel to others?

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If the roles were reversed and you were to deliver the mail as often as you deliver the Gospel, when could people expect to get their mail? Daily? weekly? monthly? yearly? or unknown?

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When God takes a Christian out of the World they take with them The Message of Salvation! Solemn thought! A Message Carrier is called Home!

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Faith believes God even when it does not see immediate answers.

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Faith is tenacious. Just Like a dog with a bone between it’s teeth!

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Faith does not walk into the unknown alone!

“Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”-{Psalm 23;4}

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Faith is a trust issue.

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In the hard place, You will always fall back on the one you trust.

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Suffering  does not blur our faith but reveals our faith!

“For this reason I also suffer these things, but I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day. “-{2 Tim 1:12}- {Read Heb 11:23-40}

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GOD HONORING “CURRENCY.”

Just as you go to the store to receive something, you deal in what is mutually acceptable for the transaction to take place… money… so in God’s economy faith is what is the acceptable transaction to give and receive in exchange from God. He has given us “precious and magnificent promises”-{Read 2 Peter 1:4} to cash in on, in order to receive. We often try and deal with Him appealing to our “works” which is the wrong currency when HE ALWAYS and only deals with His currency- “Faith”
To appeal to “self works” is to deal in an unacceptable currency. It is rejected. God has given you all the currency you need. He has provided,”precious and magnificent promises”-{2 Peter 1:4} to cash in, He always honors HIS CURRENCY! –🙂

“…Without Faith it is IMPOSSIBLE to PLEASE God.-{Heb 11:6}

 

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Faith does not mean the absence of troubles but in your troubles you have Someone to trust, who is reliable and trustworthy!

“God is not human, that He should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does He PROMISE and not fulfill?”-{Numbers 23;19}

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Faith Is Still The Currency Of Heaven- His bank Is Still Open To You.  His banking hours are twenty four hours a day, no holiday closures always open and accessible from where you are at. Do You Need To Make A Withdrawal? 🙂

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Money is the commodity we do business with. You give some to receive what you want. In God’s economy Faith In Him is the commodity.  We can cash in His “precious and magnificent” Promises and we receive from Him as He always honors His currency! -{2 Peter 1:4}

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Faith And The Word Have To Be United -“Hebrews 4:2 – For indeed we have had good news preached to us, just as they also; but the word they heard did not profit them, because it was not united by faith in those who heard. ” Unless the Word and Faith are united it will be of no profit!

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Faith rests all in God to be faithful 100 percent of the time because He is faithful all of the time!

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Faith is not “faith in my faith,” But faith in GOD!

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Faith in God to be who He says He is and do what He says He will do, all of the time!

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Faith is the firm persuasion, conviction that God is and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him-{Read Heb 11:6}.

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Faith’s object is God and He is the Source and Hope of our faith!

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Faith in God Has No plan “B”- For none is necessary!

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Faith reveals itself as genuine through changing behavior.{Read Titus 2:11-13}

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The Purpose of prayer is not to get what we want but what God deserves…, Glory!
“Whatever you ask in My name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.”- {John 14:13}

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If Sin is greater than the Grace of God then God’s grace is insufficient, and God is deficient, and sin is MASTER and LORD and God it’s servant!- But it is not! God and His Grace is greater!

Consider sin’s power versus God’s Grace and power;

” The Law came, so that the full power of sin could be seen. Yet where sin was powerful, God’s gift of undeserved grace was even more powerful.” –{Rom 5:20,-Contemporary English Version.}

“…even though I used to blaspheme the name of Christ. In my insolence, I persecuted his people. But God had mercy on me because I did it in ignorance and unbelief.”-{1 Timothy 1;13- NLT}

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DAP. F.C

DENY- yourself

AND

PREFER – others

FOR

CHRIST

{Read Phil 2;3-5; 2 Cor 4:5}

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 Creation Calls Out To You To TRUST the CREATOR!  Place your  CONFIDENCE IN HIM!

“Ah Sovereign LORD, YOU have made the heavens and the earth by YOUR GREAT POWER and Outstretched arm NOTHING IS too difficult for you!” -{Jeremiah 32:17}.

“The heavens are telling of the glory of God; And their expanse is declaring the work of His hands. “-{Psalm 19:1}.

Creation all around are speaking with what you see and call you to trust the Creator!

Place your confidence in Him!

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The HOPE of The Cross Is Not A “Chance” But A “Certainty!”
Where a gambler’s ‘hope‘ is in “chance‘ the Christian’s ‘HOPE’ is a Certainty!

” And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost.  If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied. But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.  For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man.  For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.”-{ 1 Cor 15:17-22}.

“The message of the cross is foolish to those who are headed for destruction! But we who are being saved know it is the very power of God. “-{1 Cor 1:18 NLT}

 

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Your Life Counts! Your Station In Life Counts!

Life can be Tough. Though Elijah had believed a lie that he was the only one left to represent the LORD. He gave him truth for the lie and informed him He had seven thousand who had not compromised, and bowed the knee … God always has His Witness’s! They are everywhere, in fast food restaurants, in schools, in factory floors, in offices, in homes, unemployed, employed, healthy, sick, young, old, in hospitals, in all kind of jobs, home makers, from governments jobs to secretarial jobs. ALL important to Him, all there for Him who have not bowed the knee to Baal. AND if you have confess it as sin, repent and begin a fresh. As long as you are on this earth like David you too can “serve God in this generation” right where you are! {Read Acts 13;36}

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“UNDERCOVER!”I met a young secretary while checking out of a Drs appointment at a hospital, she was enthusiastic about the LORD Jesus. I shared with her that her circumstances could work out to advance the Gospel”{Read Phil 1:12-14} That she was the LORD’S UNDERCOVER… that she could quietly pray for each patient who came before her under her breath, that the LORD would convict them of sin, righteousness, judgement and save them if they did not know Him and if they did He would encourage them. That she could look around and see who was in her circumstances? Staff? Pray for them and if they were ‘mean’ pray  more for them. She was “Appointed” – {Phil 1;16} like a soldier designated with a specific task the word means… and she could PRAY…. as can you, be encouraged as His Undercover servant… The Job or place you are at is but an opportunity to advance the Gospel and if you are not allowed to share as I told her, you can PRAY… The LORD’S Undercover agent in those circumstances. How kind of him that He would so love those who are around you that He would place you there to talk to Him about them!

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Crazy!- The Insanity of  A Self Centered Life;

You crave the Love Of

The People Who Use You

and

You Use The  People Who Love You!

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When we undermine the Word of God, we undermine God!-{ 2 Samuel 12;9,14}.

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To “DESPISE the Word of the LORD,” we see in 2 Sam 12:14 is…
“…by doing this you have shown UTTER CONTEMPT for the LORD,”

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When you have a light attitude towards the Word Of God you have a Light Attitude Towards God -{Read 2 Samuel 12:9,14}

There are no Furrows on The Brow of Almighty God!

“KNOWS,…NEED”- God is not caught by surprise when something happens to you. He is Omniscient, All Knowing. He knew about your Need before you! He is neither taken by surprise, nor perplexed, anxious, wringing His hands, or has furrows on His brow because somehow He has been caught by surprise by your “NEED.” He is ahead of you, He is eternal, not confined by time as though somehow He learns about your “need” the same time as Him and then somehow He is hurrying around to try and somehow figure out what to do next! {‘He Himself knows what He is going to do.”-{John 6:6}.

{Read Matthew 6:6-8}

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We are called to live a life of faith, not to live a life of fears!

-{Read Isaiah 41:10}

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Do You come to Scripture to Evaluate it, rather than allowing it to Evaluate You!

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Lies embraced, believed, acted upon are the blocks that build the “fortress’s/ strongholds,” in our mind.  For they exalt themselves against the knowledge of God, His Person, His Word, His Ways.{ Read 2 Cor 10:4-5}

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TRADING IN  DESPAIR FOR GOD’S HOPE;

HOPE WHEN WE DESPAIR– “Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.”-Psalm 43:5.

Note despair, does not have the final say, you can CHOOSE to trade it in for HOPE, God’s HOPE, and you will PRAISE HIM, Hope in MY SAVIOR, ...MY GOD,”He had a personal relationship with Him and He had imparted him the power to exchange Hope for despair as he has you and me!

 

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Salvation is…

The Choice of God

By The Will of God

Through The Grace of God

For The Glory of God

Because of The Love of God

In Christ Jesus

Wow!   -{ Read Eph 1:3-6}

“Consider your calling…” -{1 Cor 1:26}

Consider God’s Choice of you. Consider the Love of Christ and what it meant to make you child of God… Consider and respond as Paul wrote…

“Let him who boasts, boast in the Lord.”-{1 Cor 1:31}.

 

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Why Is Your Belief System Important?

Because your Belief system determines your actions and reactions!

“ “Everyone then who hears these words of Mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.  And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock “-{ Matt 7:24-25}

” Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.“-{Matt 4;4}

“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect  “-{Rom 12:2}

 

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It Takes faith To Thank God when under pressure and in the midst of trials, but as you chose to by faith , in obedience to what He commands you to do, KNOW THIS….YOU…ARE…PLEASING HIM! -{Read Heb 11:6}

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Thanksgiving Prayer is An ANXIETY Buster { Read Phil 4:)

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Thanksgiving Prayer Is a Means To PEACE of mind and hart-{Read Phil 4;6-7}

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Thanksgiving  Glorifies  God {Read Luke 17:15-17} and  Thanksgiving to God is DOING The Revealed Will of God.-{Read 1 Thess 5:18}!

If you Thank Him ten times , you have GLORIFIED Him ten times  and DONE His Will…. ten times… and you can do so, before you even get out of bed!  Or wherever you are you can KNOW from the Scripture you are Glorifying Him and Doing HIS Will based on the authority of God’s Word…!

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The Holy Spirit is so so kind to us to bring back to remembrance what the LORD has done which I often am, too quick to forget… and as He does

Fill the air with Thanksgiving…

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Live by What He Says… Bank  On What He Says… Cash in His Promises At The Bank Of Heaven…He Honors Them!

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There Is No Need That Is Greater Than God’s Ability To Provide!

{ “My God will supply all of your Needs according to His glorious riches in Christ.”- Read Phil 4:19}

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You Can Admire a Good Meal, Talk about it, Share the ingredients, Point to the Oven, How long it takes to cook, bake… and even give seminars but without Participating and eating you die of starvation while admiring it!

So too in the spiritual realm, God has not called us to admire His Promises, but APPLY Them! -{Read 2 Peter 1:4}

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God Has A Promise To Meet Your Present Need!

{Phil 4:19}

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What is your “need?” God has a promise for you!

{Phil 4;19}

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His wisdom decides which PROMISE is best way to meet your “need!”

– {Read Phil 4;19}

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GOD’S PROMISES HAVE NOT EXPIRED!

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God’s Ability To Execute His Promises  Is A Sure Thing!

Count on Him! -{Read Rom 4:19-21}

 

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GOD’S ABILITY TO EXECUTE HIS PROMISES IS INFINITE!

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“MY God will supply…” He does not say “God…” as though He is impersonal or unknown to him, but says “MY,” it is personal. He knows Him personally and Trusts Him having proven Him in times past, “…will supply.”

{Read Phil 4:19}

 

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The Assurance Of Faith!

“My God… will supply all of your needs…”-{Phil 4:19}

 

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WHAT GOD PROMISES, GOD DELIVERS ON, IRRESPECTIVE OF THE “OBSTACLES” WE “SEE.” –

{I wrote this on Oct 11 2015… and I took it from the message I wrote titled, “Go Back TO Go Forward”}

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God provides for His people who provide for others!

{Read Phil 2;25 “you sent to minister to my need”; Read 4;18-19… Read Phil 4:13; 2 Cor 9:8 “And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others.” NLT}

 

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You have no need that is unimportant or overlooked by God!

His Promise is ” …God will supply all of your needs.”-{Phil 4:19}. If its a need God promises to meet it… and “ALL” of them!

 

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CASH IN HIS PROMISES- AT THE BANK OF HEAVEN! {They Never Bounce, Or Cannot Be Met.}  

” God has granted us …PRECIOUS AND MAGNIFICENT PROMISES….” -{2 Peter 1;4}

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HIS PROMISES  STRENGTHEN OUR FAITH and afford Us the opportunity to GLORIFY HIM!

{Read Rom 4:19-21}

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The GOD OF HEAVEN AND EARTH IS THE GUARANTOR THAT ALL OF HIS PROMISES…WILL BE HONORED.

{Read Phil 4;19}

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If the Promises of God are not true, then the God who promises is a Liar!

“Of course not! Even if everyone else is a liar, GOD IS TRUE. As the Scriptures say about Him, “You will be proved right in what You say, and You will win your case in court.”– {Rom 3:4 NLT}

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If The Promises of God Are not True Then God Is A Liar. Will you call God a Liar? “NO!” WE WOULD STRONGLY PROTEST, Yet, Why do we and Think  as Though He is?

“God is not a man, so HE DOES NOT LIE. He is not human, so he does not change His mind. Has he ever spoken and failed to act? HAS HE EVER PROMISED AND NOT CARRIED IT THROUGH?”- {Numbers 23:19}.

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Since the Promises of God are true then why Choose to  doubt the God of Truth who keeps all His promises?

Scripture shows He keeps His Promises. You yourself have a history  of His keeping His promises to you.  When in doubt, Ask Him to remind you of times He has as a means to strengthening your faith!

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Unbelief is Not- I Didn’t Know. But I Know and a  deliberate, willful Refusal to Trust Him !

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You have been and are being set apart… BY God,…TO God,… FOR God’s use!

“Sanctify them {to live in accordance with} the Truth; Your Word is Truth.{John 17:17}.

 

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What You Need To Know In Times Of The Unknown

“The LORD IS With you.” – {Joshua 1:9}.

 

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{Joshua 1:9}

Be Strong …because… the LORD… IS… with you.
Be Courageous because… the LORD … IS… with you.
DO NOT Yield to Fear {Terrified}… because… THE LORD …IS… with you.
Do Not yield to Discouragement …because… the LORD…IS with you…
The LORD IS With You…Wherever you go.
He…IS PRESENT! Walk on by faith in Him who is your Faithful God…”the LORD …IS… with YOU…wherever you go.” Never a time HE IS not with you! Not a matter of “feelings” but HIS faithfulness. Rest in His Love, His promises and think right about Him.

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“MY GOD SHALL SUPPLY ALL OF YOUR NEEDS…”

My thoughts come this morning out of my own personal trial “BUT GOD… ” answered my prayer to REMEMBER HIS PAST FAITHFULNESS IN MEETING MY NEEDS…help me remember how He has met in times past… My mind went back 29 years and time after time came to mind and all I could do was say, “Thank You Lord!” And the neat thing is Thanksgiving Glorifies HIM {Read Luke 17;15-17; AND IS DOING HIS WILL 1 Thess 5;17-18}

So look at the GOODNESS and how God is working “ALL things including present need for good. “-{Romans 8:28}… to DO HIS WILL, and Glorify HIM… to turn to Him and include and Talk to Him- and I have a a song in my heart… Phew, God is so so good to me!

“Today’s trial is tomorrow’s testimony!!” The first four letters in testimony are T-E-S-T… if we never had a test, we wouldn’t have a testimony !

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OUT OF THE MOUTH OF BABES;”
As I write I am reminded of one of my children, my sweet daughter , many years ago when I shared  with my children of a need we had with them when they were 12 at the time and she prayed, “LORD, THANK YOU FOR THIS TRIAL…” I never heard another word from what others prayed… but this He has brought back this morning to me… and all these years later I too can say “THANK YOU LORD, FOR THIS TRIAL!”

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So much of our spiritual, emotional instability, our seemingly roller coaster living, is a result of Thinking on the wrong things consistently, believing and acting on them!

Phil 4:8 Paul lists 8 things we are to Think Right about God.

” Whatever is TRUE… DWELL{COMMAND CONTINUOUSLY, consider, calculate, evaluate} on these things” {

 

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THINK ON THIS;

You Are moment by moment Living Under The PARDON Of God. {“Bless the LORD… who has Pardons all your Iniquities.”- Psalm 1031:3}

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We are all walking by faith and one moment upon His doing, our walk becomes SIGHT! We will SEE Him! {Read 1 John 3:2}. Glorious thought. We have reason to be of “good courage,” confidence today we are walking towards Home with each passing day…

“Therefore, being always of GOOD COURAGE, and knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord— for we walk by faith, not by sight— we are of GOOD COURAGE, I say, and PREFER rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord.”-{2 Cor 5:6-8}

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“Eager” the word also is “ZEALOUS, AN ENTHUSIAST” not half-hearted but passionately, caring, lovingly, ZEALOUS,… ENTHUSIASTICALLY… living to do GOOD, That which is Beneficial for others.-{Titus 2:14}

THINK on the effect of the Grace of GOD that teaches us… to be ZEALOTS… ENTHUSIASTS… TO DO… WHAT …IS …GOOD!”- {Read Titus 2:11-12}.

This “Good” is characterized by;

1. ENTHUSIASTIC Acts of GRACE, kindness, generosity, enthusiastically.

2. ENTHUSIASTIC Acts of LOVE { Sacrificial, unconditional Love} – “Let all you do, be done in love”-{1 Cor 16:10}

3 ENTHUSIASTIC for The GLORY OF GOD, the Motivation.- “… Whatever you do, do all for the Glory of God.”- {1 Cor 10:31; Matt 5:14}

Others Benefit as a result Of God saving us and training us to be ZEALOTS  TO DO WHAT IS GOOD!

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TAKE IT TO THE BANK…OF HEAVEN!
“He has given us Precious and Magnificent Promises.”-{2 Peter 1:4},
“Precious,” means, “valuable, costly, honorable,” – “Magnificent,” speaks of “very great,’ superlative means …”the greatest”…

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“Precious And  Magnificent Promises.”-{2 Peter 1:4}

We have been gifted the Promises of God and the New Testament shows us them, as His followers…. He wants us to use them. It cost Him His life so we can! His resurrection assures us that His promises are legitimate, not some fairy tale, or positive thinking, But GOD HIMSELF Backing and standing behind each and every Promise He has made!

Sometimes a bank may give a guarantee, or a Credit union or a business, but they have no idea if they can keep it or not. Banks go bust, business fails, economies plunge. But not the eternal GOD. What He says He does and He always Does what He says.

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“God Has GRANTED us Perfect And Magnificent Promises.”-{2 Peter 1:4}

Take your Promise to the “Bank Of HEAVEN,” IT will ALWAYS be cashed , joyously so!

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“He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises,”-{2 Peter 1:4}

As you read in the New Testament,take note of what you have INHERITED in the way of His …PROMISES!!

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As a Christian you have a New STANDING with God

you just need to Grow in your UNDERSTANDING of

All you have INHERITED! – { Read Rom 5:1-2; 2 Peter 3:18}-

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His Companionship amidst the Conflict is Guaranteed!

“…The LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.”-{Josh 1:9}

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“…For we are His MASTERPIECE.”-{Eph 2:10}

WE ARE…A…PRODUCT…OF….GOD!

The word “workmanship” may also be translate “Masterpiece.” Our English word “Poem” comes from this word. The word means something that is composed or constructed, a design produced by an artist. It could be a statue, song, architecture, poem or a painting. It conveys the idea of something artfully created. The word is used in Psalm 143;5 of God’s work in creation!

 

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THE CONSEQUENCES Of…THINKING RIGHT about God for a believer, produces HOPE, based on the LOVE of God through Him who is FAITHFUL who is your PORTION!
…Some Consequences!! –🙂

“Yet this I call to MIND
and therefore I have HOPE:

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I’ve Got A Great Future…🙂
A Future Heavenly Home…
A Future with my Heavenly Father…
A Future With my King…
A Future free of sin…
A Future where His Word said HE WILL “LAVISH His Grace {KINDNESS} on us for all eternity…!!! -{Read Eph 2;7}

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A faith untested, will fail the test, when the test comes!

 

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Love- This Is What Differentiates YOU From Others…YOU Love People!-____________________________________________

Love is a personal choice, that is not dependent on how others treat you but how you CHOOSE to treat others!

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The Cross is His evidence, it cries out I LOVE YOU!

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“Unless we trust we will be troubled!”

{Read John 14:1}

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A PRAYER for One of My Children – “Mary’s Prayer”

I am a bit hesitant in sending this out as it’s so personal to me, but hopefully it will encourage you in your own praying, which is my main priority in sharing this with you…to keep persevering in…PRAYING for loved ones, and even those you have not met, but have heard of…Praying specifically, intentionally.

“MARY’S PRAYER”…is what I call this. I have taken several verses and have prayed for my daughter from these over the years…

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A NEW YEAR -DOESN’T CHANGE ANYTHING! {of eternal value}. Millions gather all over the world to “celebrate” and many believe the lie that a”New” year will change everything, that somehow this “New’ year ‘Guarantees” it! False hopes offered that somehow this “new” date “guarantees” that this “new” year is going to make everything better… but if your spiritually bound and lost, you are spiritually bound, lost and the turning of a date in a calendar, the counting down of the seconds, the cheering of watching the “Big Ball,” drop, the celebrating with fireworks, doesn’t make any eternal difference,. If your spiritually lost, a ball dropping, a date changing, has no power to deliver from the bondage, guilt and power of sin that enslaves, spiritually blinds and grinds you down and leads you like an animal to slaughter to all those who are all heading to a Christ-less eternity!
BUT
A NEW RELATIONSHIP With God CHANGES EVERYTHING- ETERNALLY!!

So we Celebrate the Temporal, Oblivious to the Eternal!
Building our lives on sand rather than on the Rock of His Word!

 

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M-E-R-R-Y C-H-R-I-S-T-M-A-S

M- Messiah has come
E- Emmanuel- God with us
R- Redemption to bestow…
R – Relationships to restore
Y -You He came to save, from self, satan, sin, shame, guilt, grudges etc

 

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_To turn inward and focus on your failures and sin is to fail to look to Jesus, it is to say with your thinking actions and that the Lord Jesus, is not sufficient for me! It is to live as though there was no death to pay for your sin and no resurrection to say God accepted His Son’s sacrifice on your behalf! Get up from your despondency and seek to love Him today through trusting what He says in His Word, obeying Him and reaching out to serve others…Don’t sit in despondency any more- it is not His will

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You Future Is Bright, Your Future Is Christ!

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One day will be someone’s {you know} “last day,” Don’t wait until “that day” to show them you love them!

 

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I Am Never Alone!- {Matthew 28:20}

I WILL NEVER…
Walk Alone…
Face Temptation Alone…
Grieve Alone…
Share The Gospel Alone…
Be sent out to make disciples alone…
Be on my own
Live Alone…
Die Alone…

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WHERE IS GOD IN TIMES OF TROUBLE?
“He will call upon Me, and I will answer him; I WILL BE WITH HIM IN TIME OF TROUBLE; I will rescue him and honor him.”- (Psalm 91:15.)

Note, “ In Time Of Trouble…” the “I WILL’S ” in the verse;

GOD’S ASSURANCE;
“ I WILL answer him…”
” I WILL be with him…”
” I WILL rescue and honor him…” Note what God says of the Psalmist, “he WILL call upon Me,…”

“In Times Of Trouble,”
1.-GOD ANSWERS; God answers prayers – ” I WILL answer him.” Note it is an opportunity to turn to Him, to talk to Him ….but you got to call upon Him!

2.-GOD’S ASSURANCE; God has not abandoned you but assures you “I WILL BE…” No hesitation, reservation but Divine commitment! He is with you “in trouble!”

3.-GOD’S PROMISE; “I WILL rescue you and honor you!”

 

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We will all make it into the ground, but not all will make it to Heaven!

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Faith Is Not Blind When Christ Is Your Focus!-
{Read Luke 24:27; Heb 12:2; 2 Cor 5:7}
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Faith In The Furnace- Weaning And Leaning -{2 Corinthians 1:9}. “But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. “-{2 Cor 1:9}

FAITH is Often Developed in the Furnace of Affliction. Weaning us off self reliance that we might more and more lean on Him!

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Trials;

Sometimes He Delivers “FROM,” Sometimes He Sustains “IN.”

Have you ever thought that being ” Sustained IN” Your Trials by God -(Read 2 Cor 12:8-9) Is As Great An Evidence And Glory To Him And Equally As Worthy To Be Praised As If He ” Delivered,” You Or Others “FROM,” Their Trials -(Read 2 Tim 3:11).

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Never look down, or put down another person. Christ came down to lift them up!

The good Samaratain Stooped Down to LIFT up the one who was down and in need. Both stooped to serve the needy. Both exhibited Love. Love doesn’t look down or put down others but seeks to lift others up!

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There is nowhere in Scripture where we are ever commanded to “discourage” one another!

Although it often seems that many of us are (so-called) “blessed” with “the gift of discouragement” and complaining. We seem to be able to find fault with everyone and everything but God does not desire us to discourage but to encourage

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The accuser will have you sin conscious, the Holy Spirit will convict of sin, but not have you dwell there but upon JESUS CHRIST. He will turn you to Him and have you Christ conscious and will always have you end with HOPE in HIM! His blood paying for your sins, past present, future.  Merciful and good Shepherd! 

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A prayer-less life is a tragic life, for it is steeped in self-sufficiency, self-dependence, and is completely irrational in the spiritual realm.

 

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Prayer is not an art but a necessity, born out of adversity at times, “in my Desperation I prayed and the LORD listened….”-Psalm 34:6 .{NLT}.

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We can pray infatuated with ourselves, our deeds, our…our…our…in no way dependent upon God but, completely independent of Him, and indeed praying at the altar of our ego and self-importance! This is what the Pharisee did! He worshiped himself, prayed to himself!

Jesus was not impressed!

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We too often pray with the attitude asking…

“Hallowed be my name…my kingdom come, my will be done… Father Glorify…me!”

{Put your own name in where “my…me” is, and read it …- Sounds crude doesn’t it.}

 

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Where Prayer is not priority it is often because self is pre-eminent!

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The proud don’t pray, for they do not in their heart of hearts, believe they need to. Oh, they may, as you or me, utter words, and like the Pharisee, who went to pray, be as Jesus says, praying to themselves, impressed by their own credentials, of fasting, and giving, and NOT been like the publican but, the Pharisee went away having “prayed”…not to God…but, to himself, and smug in the fact he had “prayed!”

 

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Psalm 73- is a wonderful Psalm that shows both the wrong concept about God’s “goodness” which like many today is erroneously thought to mean the absence of pain, suffering, hardship anything unpleasant! It is “me- self centered,” rather than the true ultimate definition the Psalmist eventually come to which is “But as for me the NEARNESS OF GOD IS MY GOOD.”- v 28- Communion, fellowship, personal intimacy and relationship with God Himself is the Psalmist definition of good, irrespective of favorable or unfavorable circumstances which can change or not! Indeed anything that would come between that relationship is not “good”- beneficial!

 

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When we truly realize that for too long our definition and indeed our “grading and judging” God and whether He was “good” or not- too often has had to do with pain free living, and favorable circumstances. Such thinking is a manifestation of wrong thinking and has as it’s goal self! “GOD IS MY GOODNESS”– Irrespective of surrounding circumstances! This is what the Psalmist concluded- “GOODNESS” IS A PERSON! Indeed anything above Hell is a Privilege!- {Psalm 73}

 

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FORGIVENESS;

Think about this;
YOU ARE MOMENT BY MOMENT LIVING UNDER THE PARDON, FORGIVENESS OF GOD!

The Proper Response?
“Bless” means to “Praise,” or “To Speak Well of.” Speak Well of The LORD who has Pardoned you. Bless The LORD…!!!

“Bless The Lord O my Soul…Who PARDONS ALL your sins.”- (Psalm 103:3)

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The Birth Of Christ was not an accident but an appointment!

• “But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman,..”-{Gal 4:4}

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The Birth Of Christ Was For A Purpose

• “… But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, … so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.”- {Gal 4:4-5

 

 

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WHEN THE TIME WAS RIGHT!

“GOD SENT…” –
1. – God INITIATED…”God sent forth… His Son”
2. – GOD APPOINTED Jesus – “When the fullness of Time came,”- God sent Him.
3. – God PURPOSED – To Redeem from the curse of The Lord and To adopt us into the Family of God
4. – God’s PROVIDED for you. “Has Sent forth the SPIRIT’…”as Assurance and Authenticy of being His “…in our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!”

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It’s More Important To Be KIND Than Seeking To Be Prominent!

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It’s More Important To Be Kind Than To Be “Important!”

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If Kindness was a “Currency,” you gave away, how enriched {Wealthy} would other people be, because of you?

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STOP… before you speak, PRAY…THINK…SPEAK…words that are “good and helpful. “SO THAT…” With these two words he gives the purpose of speaking “good and helpful ” words, namely  YOUR WORDS “WILL BE AN ENCOURAGEMENT to THOSE who HEAR THEM.” -{Eph 4:29}

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Interesting fact to consider the First fruit {effect} of being “filled with the Spirit” has to do with words you use!!!  “Speaking to one another”- {Eph 5:18-19}

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Examine your motives before you express your words!

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Are your words in alignment with what He says? “Put off” the old way of speaking, “unwholesome,” rotten, unfit words and “put on” this new garment of grace, kindness, of speaking words that are “good and helpful {build up}“So that,” your words may be used to “encourage” strengthen, and build others others up. This is not a case of “flattery,”but of good, beneficial, helpful, encouraging, caring, loving and truthful words, that “build up!” Look to leave people with hope, and encouragement when you have left them! The word “helpful,” means to”edify, Build up.”-{Read Eph 4:29}.

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Speech; If You can’t “Build UP, then Shut Up!” – {Read Eph 4:29}

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Speech; BE LOOKING; Go into the day looking to encourage someone with your “good and helpful” words. God will give you the opportunity! Someone is going to be “encouraged” because of God using you today!

 

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Speech;Ask yourself before you speak,”Is what I am about to say, “good and helpful?” Will it “encourage” those who hear my words? This is what God wants for you and them, when you speak! {Read Eph 4:29}

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“Bought” friends are good for the ego but bad in times of adversity!

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Wealth brings many new friends,

Adversity reveals true friends!

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With new found wealth, at times come new found friends. Invitations to dine out, that never existed before, seems to add a newfound elevation in the eyes of others and can be intoxicating. But is the wealth or themselves that adds to this new attention?

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I have met people who have set themselves up to “evaluate” people. They are not there to serve, but to “evaluate” others!

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Whatever shapes and controls your thinking will influence and control your life!

” Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. “- Romans 12:2 NLT

 

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Don’t allow the circumstances to dictate your faith, allow His Word to rule your focus!

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Look at what you have  versus  what you don’t!

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God’s got an impenetrable Grip on you! {Read John 10:28-30}

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No time to pray? It’s Time to Pray!

 

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Prayer is not about an activity to do, but a relationship to be developed, a life of dependency, that declares self is not the answer but God alone is!

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We falsely believe if we can get enough people to “pray” what we want that somehow God can be manipulated or is obligated to give the answer we demand, based on ..the numbers! We “appeal” to how many people we have “praying!”

“..This, then, is how you should pray:
‘Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be YOUR name,
YOUR kingdom come,
YOUR will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven..”-{Matt 6:9-10}.

 

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Prayer is …Someone to meet With!

“But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. “-{Matt 6:6}

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Pray About Everything-{Phil 4:6}

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INCENTIVE TO PRAY;
“This poor man cried to the LORD and the LORD listened and delivered him out of all his troubles.”-Psalm 34:6

The Psalmist was conscious of his need and conscious of Who could meet him – and he turns to Him because…
* He LISTENS
* He DELIVERS
* He is ABLE. He is not Overcome by “troubles” but had the power to Overcome “all’ the Psalmist troubles, and He did, And He is the same “yesterday, today and forever” to do likewise – “He does whatever Pleases Him,” – {Psalm 135:6}
* He is the LORD!

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Remember Prayer IS Not To Have God align Up With Our Will, But For us to align up with His!
“…Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be YOUR name,
YOUR kingdom come,
YOUR will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.”.-{Matthew 6:9-10}

 

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We can Talk About Prayer, Champion Prayer, Read About Prayer, Agree We Should Pray, but There Is No Substitute To DO Prayer. Sometime It Is as Simple and Yet Profound as “Help LORD!”

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HE PRECEDES YOUR EVERY TEST;
“Where are we to buy bread, so that these may eat?” This He was saying to test him, for He Himself knew what He was intending to do.”-{John 6:6}

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I AM…A PURCHASED POSSESSION
– “…You are not your own.For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.”-{1 Cor 6:19-20}

I HAVE A PURPOSE as His Possession
“… so that now as always Christ will be exalted {magnified-made great, get glory, get praise,} in my body, whether by life or by death.”-{Phil 1:20}

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                  OUR LIMITATIONS DO NOT LIMIT GOD!

“Ah, Sovereign LORD. You have made the heavens and earth by Your Great Power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard {difficult} for You.”-{Jeremiah 32:17}

 

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HOW LONG IS “EVERLASTING?”

“I have loved you with an Everlasting love”-{Jer 31:3}

A LOVE THAT LASTS FOREVER!

PS- So Much For Nothing Lasts Forever:)

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Go Back To go Forward;

You can  go Forward in faith  because you have gone back and remembered the faithfulness of God to you

 DON’T FORGET TO REMEMBER WHAT GOD HAS DONE FOR YOU

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If failure were final there would be no Christians!

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A faithful man is not a flawless man.Peter was not flawless but he pointed to a flawless Savior

{ 2Peter 1:1-2}

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Walk by faith and not by feelings {2 Cor 5:7}

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The evidence of trust is rest. Jesus has it under control. I need not yield to fear, fret, I cast my burdens upon Him who willingly takes them.I trust Him and He gives me His peace. Rest.The great exchange! {1 Peter 5:7; Matt 11:29-30;Phil 4:6-7}

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Heaven’s Reunion Is Because Of Our UNION With Christ! –

” After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage one another with these words. “-{1 Thess 4:17-18}

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Heaven;
Where Christ is seated
Where Christ is known
Where Christ is worshiped
Where Christ gathers His Own
Where Christ will bring you Home!

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HOW LONG IS EVERLASTING?

“I have loved you with an EVERLASTING LOVE…”-{ Jer 31:3}

A LOVE THAT LASTS… FOREVER!

 

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If You are Not Submitting To The Lord You cannot and are not Serving Him -{Psalm 100:3}

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It’s Hard To Be Enthusiastic for the souls of people if you Have No Passion For The Son Of God!

“Don’t you say, There are still four more months, then comes the harvest? Listen to what I’m telling you: Open your eyes and look at the fields, for they are ready for harvest….therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” “-{John 4:35; Matt 9:38}

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For each Of Us There Will Be A Last Day Here On This Earth… In The Mean Time Live Today, Everyday Loving God, Preferring Others and Looking To Further His Gospel…nothing else counts!

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“Unto Us who believe He is {The } Preciousness”- 1 Peter 2:7

If He is not  Precious to you, do you truly believe??

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Look Up & Look Out!

Look Up –
and Love God
Look Out –
and Love Others

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Don’t allow the circumstances to dictate your faith, allow His Word to rule your focus.

He who ruled the waves, still rules.He can calm the troubled winds and waters, He still calms the troubled seas, and in it as with the disciples His goal as with the disciples on that windy and rough seas, that we may Know Him better. and make Him Known !

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To focus on the “What If” is to take the Focus off Him. Subtle, but a faith and praise Sapper ! Fix your FOCUS upon Him!

“What If?”does not change the facts He is worthy to be praised because of Who He is! {Read 2 Chron 20:21-23}

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October 24 – A Nation’s Problem Is Not Political It Is Spiritual!

“The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is?”-{Jer 17:9 NLT}

The heart of every problem is the heart- Sin! The remedy is not political but Jesus Christ.

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TWO PROMISES;
Today you can say based on Hebrews 13:5-6
1. I have the PLEASURE Of His Company.
2. I have the PRIVILEGE Of His Help
Talk to yourself and remind yourself of these two promises and speak to Him

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If Christ is not LIFE
Then death will not be GAIN!

Paul wrote, “For me to live Christ to die is gain”- Phil 1:21

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HAPPY PEOPLE ARE …TRUSTING PEOPLE!
-(Psalm 40:4-5)
“How BLESSED is the
man who has made the Lord his trust,
And has not turned to the proud, nor to those who lapse into falsehood.
Many, O Lord my God, are the wonders which You have done,
And Your thoughts toward us;
There is none to compare with You. If I would declare and speak of them,They would be
too numerous to count..”- (Psalm 40:4-5)
“Blessed!” It is an Exclamation and the word as in Psalm 1:1 means,“oh the happiness’s …” {plural}…Contentment,… is the person who is characterized by what he is about to say in the following verse …

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As Bad As It Seems Now, Your Future Is Bright, Brilliantly,Gloriously, Eternally So – Christ Your Destination, Heaven Your Future Home, God Your Eternal Refuge, Joy, Delight,Permanent Presence. With Each Passing Day… The Sight Of Him Is Closer Than When You First Started To Read This! Each Second, Minute, Hour, Day, Week, Month, Year That Passes, You Are Closer To Seeing Him, Who Loves You. Your Future Is Bright, Your Future Is Jesus Christ, The Lord And Lover Of Your Life. Destination? Jesus Christ!
“…after my body has decayed, yet in my body I will SEE God.”-{Job 19:26}. “… To Die Is GAIN.” – {Phil 1:21}.
Keep on, persevering, seeking His Kingdom Being About Your Father’s Business Today… You’re On Assignment With Him…And On Your Way HOME! –

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Some people find “joy” in being Miserable!

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YOU… AND FORGIVENESS…. IN THE BIBLE

READING…SEEING… BUT NOT BELIEVING…. YOU ARE FORGIVEN!

 

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PRAYING…To HIS End!

The heart humbled before God and conscious of something of His greatness ever learning to pray with right motives will pray to… HIS end,
namely …In the matter, whatever the circumstances…

“Father…

* Hallowed be YOUR Name

* YOUR kingdom come

* YOUR will be done

* Not my will, YOUR will be done …Father GLORIFY YOUR Name…”

Praying to HIS END… Allows us to check what our motives are as we pray. Whose END are we aiming for? Whose END do we have in sight? Are we aiming our prayers towards Him, to END With His GLORY the goal?

At times amidst the difficulties, pain, when satan would seek to inject thoughts to confuse, know it is not the LORD but ask Him to help you align your heart, mind, to aim for HIS END.

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“I HAVE – I AM – I WILL ”
Three Truths to encourage your heart. Speak to yourself and remind yourself of these and seek to encourage someone else by sharing with them of what He says and what to KNOW in regards, “I Have, I Am, I will…”

“I HAVE”
“I HAVE loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.”-{Jer 31:3]

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MEET TEMPTATION WITH SUPPLICATION!
-{Read Phil 4:6}

When tempted turn the Temptation (Whatever type it may be) into Prayer, by Turning To Him And talking To Him. Supplication speaks of “request or petition,” asking Him for something! When temptation To Your Mind Comes, Immediately Turn To Him IN prayer! We often mull over a thought of temptation to the mind and fail to bring it to Him and we carry the load ourselves, and we get weighed down, and live as though HE DOES NOT EXIST … or We fall back leaning to our own understanding ….Ask Him to help you that when temptation to your mind comes to immediately turn to Him… that is faith in action…and faith- your faith,…”pleases Him.”-{Heb 11:6} –

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Prayer is not about an activity to do, but a relationship to be developed, a life of dependency, that declares self is not the answer but God alone is!

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Often The one who is sharing gossip WITH you, will soon be sharing gossip ABOUT You!

“Scoundrels create trouble; their words are a destructive blaze.”
— Prov 16:27 (NLT)

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If You have the Habit of Gossiping about people it says more about your character and those who lustfully listen to such!

 

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If You choose to gossip in order to be significant with those you share with, it shows  what you are willing to do to be accepted, relevant with those you share.  It reveals your disdain for the person you are gossiping about and the arrogant self righteousness you hold yourself in! All that you might be praised, listened to, accepted, but at whose hurtful expense?

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“Why does it take a death, for us to rearrange our schedules and go see a corpse who does not know we are there? For they are not! The flowers perhaps bought and brought to give to them cannot be appreciated for they are not there. What if we determined not to wait till someone died whom we know to re arrange schedules, bought flowers and visited them.” –{this I wrote from a message on ‘Loneliness- 4 Ways you can help them.}

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Humor- If I had Brains I’d Be Dangerous:)

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No U-Haul’s
“After all, we brought nothing with us when we came into the world, and we can’t take anything with us when we leave it.”-(1 Tim 6:7 NLT)

Possess your possessions don’t allow them to possess you!

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Be Kind In Your Speech Today. Being “Right” And Rude In The Process, Is Not Love.-
{“Love is not rude, is not selfish, and does not get upset with others “-1 Cor 13:5}

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Many years ago a man who had once been near dying told me when he retired he would like to do what I did for a “hobby!” Did he say with his words what is true of my or your life, the Gospel is a hobby. A secondary issue, something I will get around to when I have time?

Just imagine if the Gospel of Jesus Christ was the greatest news on the planet and you had experienced its power and could be part of its furtherance what type of attitude, motivation and deeds do you think would consume you? If only the Gospel was true… For in reality it can’t be when we look at the master passions and pursuits and goals of our lives, surely at best it is a “hobby!”

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Where love is expressed, genuine humility is present and others are edified, built up. “…love edifies.”-{1 Cor 8:1}.

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A LOVE THAT IS OUTWARD;
God Gives us LOVE Not To spend on ourselves but to sacrificially spend our lives on OTHERS, for His sake, as HIS representatives..ONE CHOICE at a time…!
{Read …
1 John 3:16-18;
John 14:21; 
John 13:34-35}_

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LOVE ON DISPLAY;
Love- The word brings up many different ideas to people, from sensual to feelings, but the love considering here is that of self denying- others preferring, sacrificial unconditional love, “…FOR JESUS SAKE.”-{2 Cor 4:5}. The motivation “FOR Jesus sake” is imperative as it will keep you from bitterness, self seeking, if you are doing it for HIM!

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LOVE NOT ALWAYS APPRECIATED, WHAT TO DO? LOVE ANYWAY!

Not everyone will appreciate it or respond in affection or love back, Paul encountered this when he wrote,”I will gladly spend myself and all I have for you, even though it seems that the more I love you, the less you love me. “-{ 2 Cor 12:5 NLT}. Their lack of appreciation did not deter him from continuing to love them, ungrateful as they were and unloving as they were. he chose to love them more. How easy it is to withdraw, pull back and justify ourselves… but that reveals our motivation is not for the Savior but ultimately for Self! “…For JESUS Sake.” is something to keep before you and me.

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Love Is Not A Commentator, Spectator But A Participator..! One Choice At A Time!

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Whatever you do REMEMBER….
“Let ALL that YOU DO be DONE in LOVE.”-{1 Cor 16:14}

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LOVE…IS…TAKING OUT…. THE TRASH!
A husband on hearing a message on the love of Christ , came home and wanted to express his love to his wife and said “I love you I would lay down my life for you!” To which she responded, “Would you take out the trash for me?” Love is practical! Love is personal. Love is the choice to deny oneself in order to prefer another by serving them, for their good and God’s Glory ultimately.Love and self love are incompatible! Selfishness is self absorbed. Love is God and other orientated. What would Help this other person?

We are to “abound in love” “excel at love…pursue love” and Show Love…Will you do that for Jesus Sake? Is He worth it ?Love can be as simple as preferring another by choosing to take out the trash!

The Moment you stop lovingly serving another is the moment you stop Loving Him-“As you DO to the least of these My brothers you DO unto Me!”

Who and How can You Show Love to someone else today to?

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Why keep loving when there may be times you just don’t feel like it? “…FOR Jesus Sake!”

Love is living a selfless life empowered by the Holy Spirit, for the benefit of others, making choices, doing deeds of love,
“… FOR Jesus sake.”

Whatever you do REMEMBER….

“Let ALL that YOU DO be DONE in LOVE.”

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_We live in a world, walking among “the spiritually dead,” with the message of Life!- {Read Eph 2:1-6}

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A True Friend Is Hard To Find…Instead Of Waiting For One… CHOOSE To BE The One Today!

 

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“Help The Weak “-{1Thess 5:14}
“Help…”literally means “to hold on by,” to hold one’s self over against, to keep close to…support someone. You have the capabilities to do so. { Read 2 Cor 4:5.}

The idea is of supporting someone by keeping one’s self directly over against the weak one so as to sustain him.

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“It’s easy to beat up on the beaten down”-

{I thought this Nov 23 2015}- and maybe Job’s friends could be included in that thought.

 

 

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Suffering is not meant to make us bitter but a blessing in the lives of others by “continuing to do Good!” – {Read 1 Peter 4;19}.
It’s a choice, Be Bitter or BE A BLESSING!

 

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Don’t Seek To Be Strong, Seek To Be Dependent!

“…My power works best in weakness.”- {2 Cor 12:9- NLT}
“…When I am weak then I am strong!”- {2 Cor 12:10}

 

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Difficulties Afford Us The Opportunity To Develop!

“…Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, BECAUSE you KNOW that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work SO THAT you may be MATURE and complete, not lacking anything.”-{James 1:2-4}

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THERE IS A BLESSING FOR THOSE WHO PERSEVERE;
“Blessed is the one who PERSEVERES under trial because, having stood the test, that person WILL RECEIVE… THE CROWN OF LIFE that the LORD has promised to those who love him. “- -( James 1:12)

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Persevere, keep on praying to Him… and Don’t lose heart.

In the natural realm as the law of gravity pulls down, so in the spiritual realm failing to persevere in prayer will cause you and me to “….lose Heart.”- {Read Luke 18:1}

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PRAY – WHEN you don’t “feel” like Praying, turn that temptation into PRAYER

 

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If Prayer Was Always “easy”
* He wouldn’t Tell Us To Persevere or we will spiritually Faint if we stop!- {Read Luke 18:1}

* He wouldn’t tell us It involves Hard Work, if it didn’t… “LABOR” –
“Epaphras, who is…always labouring fervently for you in prayers. “- {Col 4:12}

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“It’s not my absence but Your Presence that will make the difference.”

{ I said this phrase when I was praying…and reminded of Matt 7:7 from the day before when I couldn’t find… And how close to 25 plus years had lost car key after practice on playing fields, acres of them and asked you to help me find it and looked down as I walked and sitting on top of the grass, no trampled down a I had walked back to the fields to look for it… and yesterday You brought that back to mind and brought Mat 7:7 to my mind and encouraged me to persevere and will receive…will be opened….Thank You so much…{Nov 25 2015}

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“God is for us…!” He was for you before He spoke the world into existence when He chose you for Himself. He was for you when the Lamb of God was slain before the foundation of the world. God was for you before you were born that Christ died for you. God was for you. God is for you! “God is for us…!”{Romans 8:31}

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“God is more than able to take care of our past. He pardons instantly and forgives completely. He is prepared to start with you where you are and He will not belittle you for your past.- A.W. Tozer – The Man Of God.

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“Difficulties seem to help release the roots of our hearts from being drawn into this cursed earth.”- OCT 12 2015- Chris Fowler

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THE “LOOK” THAT LIT A “FIRE” FOR MISSIONS

In 1719 Nicolas Zinzendorf, who would later become the leader of the Moravian brethren visited a museum in Dusseldorf Germany, where he saw a Domenico Feti painting titled, Ecce Homo, “Behold the Man.” It depicted the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. He could not take his eyes off it. The thorns upon His brow, the crucified Christ. He gazed and gazed upon it. Beneath the picture were the words, “This have I done for you – Now what will you do for me?”   Consider Jesus , His Crucifixion for you…

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One life to live ’till soon be past, only what’s done for Christ will last.”- CT Studd

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Death will not be gain if Christ is not life!

-{Phil 1;21}

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Christ is everything or He is nothing at all to you!

– {Col 3:4}

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THE  HUNDRED YEAR PLAN. If you could go forward into eternity and could look back at your  remaining time on earth at choices you have to make and the motivations behind them, what would you do? Live in light of “the 100 year Plan.”   _____________________________________________________________________________________

 

PRAYER; “On my knees in  my heart,” is the posture of the heart, kneeling as it were before the Greatness of God in whom we live and move and have our being, with reverential respect towards Him, realizing He is God and worthy of worship, submission and  respect. Wherever you find yourself, the posture of your heart can and must always be in the place of submission, adoration and ready to intercede for others before God or cry out for them and at times for your self.

 

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TRUSTING THE LORD WITH YOUR “LIST’S.”

One elderly lady, loved to make LIST’S- She would write out her list in the morning and then at times would be very upset if she could not get “her” list done that day. She finally LEARNED to TRUST the LORD with His list for that day. Writing it out and committing it to Him and asking Him to be LORD of her list and what He deemed necessary to get done or not for that day- and it brought “REST” to her heart. She was no longer a slave to her list but now instead of it being a “god” it was now but a “guide” and he was God to her in this area.

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DOES GOD COMMAND YOU TO “FORGIVE AND FORGET.” If you “remember” someone’s sin against you does that mean you have not forgiven them? Some people have been thought in order to forgive you have to “forget” and if you “remember” it means you never have truly forgiven! There are 7 different words used for “forgiveness” in the Bible and none of them are “forget” as part of true forgiveness! Nowhere are we told in The Bible that “Forgiveness” means to ” Forgive and Forget “ When the Bible uses the word, “Forget” of God it is NOT that He erases His memory of sin, but that He CHOOSES NOT TO HOLD SIN AGAINST THAT PERSON,{ see Isaiah 43:25; Heb 10:17;}- He does this based on the acceptable sacrifice of His Son on satisfying His demands and on behalf of that person!

 

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Thoughts On Prayer;
Your Permanent access to God is a Privilege, it cost Jesus Christ His life…, His Resurrection guarantees you may enjoy the Privilege from Him, of …,Talking to Him!
“And so, dear brothers and sisters, we can boldly enter heaven’s Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus.”-{Heb 10:19__

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Thoughts on Prayer;
Persevering In Prayer Is Not Always Easy But Is Essential!(Read Luke 18:1)
…Pray On… –

A.- “devote yourselves to Prayer…”- {Col 4:2}. B.- “…And Jesus told them a parable to the effect that they OUGHT always to pray and not lose heart.”-{Luke 18:1). The word “OUGHT’ has the idea of… Necessity! It speaks of our acknowledged DEPENDENCE upon the LORD!

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Do You Not Know That You being “Sustained IN” Your Trials By God-{2 Cor 12:8-9} is as great an Evidence and Glory to Him and Equally As Worthy Of Him Being Praised as if He “Delivered” you or others “FROM,” Your Or Their Trials-{2 Tim 3:11}🙂

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Getting ready To Attempt Another 6-7 hour IV Treatment Today…Will See How Much I Can Do…Very Very Hard,
“But God…” is…
Our Affectionate One-{Phil 1:8}
Our Daily Burden Bearer – {Ps 68:19}
Our Companion – {Heb 13:5}- 
Empathetic Friend {Heb 4:15}-
Who Sticks Closer Than A Brother,-{Prov 18:24}-
“The Father of Mercies and God of “All Comfort”-{2 Cor 1:3}
Never Alone… -{Heb13:5} 🙂…. It Is Often in The Furnace That Friendship Is Developed… And Displayed …. It was In the Furnace That A Fourth One Was Seen…{Dan 3:25}- Your Trials His Opportunity To Display Himself To You And Through You…

 

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Go back in order to go forward.

You can  go Forward in faith  because you have gone back and remembered the faithfulness of God to you

  DON’T FORGET TO REMEMBER WHAT GOD HAS DONE FOR YOU!

GO BACK TO GO FORWARD.

{Psalm 13:6}

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God Gives A Song Amidst The Sorrows

• {Psalm 13 :1-2, 6}

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Bitterness;

Like An Oil Spill in the ocean does not stay where the spill takes place but spreads far and wide, so too bitterness! -{Heb 12:15; Deut 29:18}

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BITTERNESS-

” Bitterness is like drinking poison and waiting for the other person to die.

Myth: “You must forget in order to forgive.” Truth: Forgiving is not forgetting. The key is how it is remembered…. Forgiving is remembering without bitterness, hatred or resentment (June Hunt – Biblical Counseling Keys – Biblical Counseling Keys)

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Bitterness always inflicts a deeper wound on the person who harbors it than the person against whom it is directed. A man who had car trouble on a lonely road asked a farmer to tow him to the nearest garage. On the way his wife was protesting to her husband the fee the farmer charged. “It is scandalous,” she said, “to charge us ten dollars for towing this car only three miles.” To which her husband replied, “Never mind, dear. I’m having my revenge—I’ve got my brakes on.” Many a person has thought himself to be getting revenge, but all the time the major damage was being done to him. (Speaker’s Quote Book)

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Spurgeon – A few angry words have embittered the friendship of a life. A few bitter sentences have destroyed the usefulness of a sweet sermon, and even of a sweet life. “-Preceptaustin

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BITTERNESS;

“Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with malice.”- {Eph 4:31}

Look at its wicked  companions and sprawn, what it produces, gives birth to…

Bitterness…

Wrath…

Anger…

Clamor…

Slander…

Malice…

 

” Our pastor directed my husband and me to this passage as part of our premarital counseling. He described these emotions as a progression.

• If we don’t deal with bitterness, that bitterness will progress toward extreme anger (that’s wrath).
• If we don’t deal with the anger, we will start to clamor or demand what we want.
• If that doesn’t work, we will start to talk bad about the object of our bitterness in the hopes of recruiting others to agree with and justify our feelings (that’s slander).
• If that goes unchecked, we will eventually have a desire to cause harm to the person we are bitter toward.

All along the way, people are hurt, relationships are derailed, joy is stolen, and growth of the fruit of the Spirit is stunted…

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 Is my clan bitter?

The “bitter root” in Hebrews 12:15 is first described in Deuteronomy 29:18:

“Beware lest there be among you a man or a woman or a clan or tribe whose heart is turning away today from the LORD our God to go and serve the gods of those nations. Beware lest there be among you a root bearing poisonous and bitter fruit.”

Like all weeds, bitterness has a way of spreading. This passage describes one possible progression. A man infects his wife. She infects her children. The bitterness spreads, and soon the whole tribe is infected.

• Is your marriage marked by bitterness?
• Are your children bitter?
• Does your group of friends tend to sit around and gripe?
• Is your church filled with harsh and angry people?
• Is your community prone to placing blame?

Is it possible that your own bitterness has had a ripple effect and that the poisonous root has burrowed past your own heart and into the hearts of the people you love?

“_{Erin Davis- True Woman }

 

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Legalism begins with a preference that becomes a conviction and then passed off as if it is a “command” from God!

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Legalism is elevating “the traditions of men” above the Word of God!

“thus invalidating the word of God by your tradition which you have handed down; and you do many things such as that.” “- {Mark 7:13}

“For you ignore God’s law and substitute your own tradition.” “-{Mark 7:8 NLT}

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M=E=R=R=Y C=H=R=I=S=T=M=A=S!

M- Messiah has come
E- Emmanuel- God with us
R- Redemption to bestow…

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WONDERFUL!

HIS NAME IS – WONDERFUL
Judges 13:18 – ” But the angel of the LORD said to him, ‘Why do you ask my name, seeing it is wonderful?’”
HIS WORD IS – WONDERFUL
Psalm 119:128 – “Your testimonies are wonderful; therefore my soul observes them.”
HIS WORKS Are – WONDERFUL
Psalm 96:3 – “Tell of His glory among the nations, His wonderful deeds among all the peoples.”
HIS COUNSEL IS – WONDERFUL
Isaiah 28:29 – “This also comes from the LORD of hosts, who has made His counsel wonderful and His wisdom great.”
HIS SALVATION IS – WONDERFUL
1 Peter 2:9 – “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.”
HE IS – WONDERFUL
Isaiah 9:6 – “For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; and His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.”
How are YOU to respond to this Wonderful LORD?
1. – REMEMBER – HIS WONDERFUL DEEDS
1 Chronicles 16:2 – “Remember His wonderful deeds which He has done, His marvels and the judgments from His mouth.”
2. – BELIEVE -IN HIS WONDERFUL- WORKS
Psalm 78:32 – “In spite of all this they still sinned and did not believe in His wonderful works.”
3. – TELL- OF HIS WONDERFUL DEEDS
Psalm 96:3 – “Tell of His glory among the nations, His wonderful deeds among all the peoples.”
4. – SING – BECAUSE OF HIS WONDERFUL DEEDS
Psalm 98:1 – “O sing to the LORD a new song,For He has done wonderful things, His right hand and His holy arm have gained the victory for Him.”
5. – GIVE THANKS – FOR HIS WONDERFUL WORKS – KNOW IT
Psalm 139:14 – “I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, And my soul knows it very well.”
6. MEDITATE – ON HIS WONDERFUL WORKS
Psalm 145:5 – “On the glorious splendor of Your majesty And on Your wonderful works, I will meditate.”
7. PRAY – TO SEE HIS WONDER
Psalm 119:18 – “Open my eyes, that I may behold Wonderful things from Your law.”

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“For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles—”-{Eph 3:1}… In A difficult Place? Two Anchoring Truths;
1. I AM HIS – -IN THESE CIRCUMSTANCES. HE IS MASTER, not others, Nor the unpleasant Circumstances! “I… the prisoner of Christ Jesus…” -I KNOW Whose I Am -“… “The Prisoner Of CHRIST JESUS,”

2. I AM HERE – FOR YOU- “FOR THE SAKE OF YOU…”
In these circumstances you are here and one reason is “for the sake of YOU” – For someone else! Their benefit and His Business ultimately! – I KNOW WHY I am Here… for YOU! Look and SEE who is in your present circumstances- and seek to serve them!

 

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We may not  we be able to change our circumstances but we can CHOOSE in our  circumstances to Change Our THINKING to – BLESS THE LORD..._{Psalm 103:1-5}

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“DO Not Grow weary of well doing…DO GOOD to All people….”-{ Gal 6:9,10}

You Need THREE things To Do Good to Someone
1. – Ability -{Prov 3:27}
2. – Opportunity -{Gal 6:10}
3. – A Loving heart! – {1 Cor 16:14}

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This Morning I Got A Call To Go Get Some Blood Work… And From There Sent For Some Scans, That Were Very Painful, as I am In such Pain, The Slightest pressure on me hurts, nauseated from it,… But in Between I Got To Share With The Technician About The Difference Between Religion And Relationship and about Sin and a Dog Returning To Its Vomit..And forgiveness…. Its Amazing As I thought Back On The Day I Also got to Share With A medical Professional As Well how The Lord Circumstances Our Lives And Gives Us Favor And Opportunities I Thought Of Paul’s Words And Was Thankful And Encouraged And Glad, “Brothers I Want You to Know My Circumstances Have Worked Out For The Furtherance Of The Gospel.”-{Phil 1:12}
Whatever Your Circumstances Know They Are Opportunities… For The Furtherance Of The Gospel…. Thankful To Him… and Thankful To Him For You And The Gospel Going Forward Because You Are In Those Circumstances To Further It… Keep Going

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When you are willing to surrender your ALL To Christ, you will Find Christ will be All to you!

 

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You don’t get half a Christ for half a commitment!

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TODAY there will be many calls, remember the main call is a call to be with Him! For all other calls in your life will be temporal, they are tied and die with this world, but His call is eternal, for His all is to Himself, to know Him, enjoy Him and know His love for you. “This is life eternal to know You and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.”- {John 17:3}. He sent His Son, that you might be with Him

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IN TIMES OF TESTING OR PROSPERITY;

The Battle – Is To Trust Him

The Temptation – Is To Replace Him!

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You Never Face The Unknown Alone.

– “I will be with you wherever you go.”- Joshua 1:9

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You were not an afterthought, you were in the mind and heart of God before time began as we know it. In the eternal heart of God.

HE had set His love upon you before He ever spoke the worlds into existence!-{Jer 31:3}

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Moses never would have known God could open the Red Sea, if he had not been in such a place, of the Red Sea before them and Pharaoh’s army behind. The disciples would never have known Jesus could calm the winds and sea if they had not been in a storm. Your testing’s are but opportunities to see God work, in you and at times around you. “Hold that God is faithful,” was the message of Hudson Taylor in his later years. He had suffered much over the years, yet his message to other believers was a message of Hope. “Hope” can be quiet a fragile thing, depending on who or what you chose to place your “hope,” in? Paul wrote to believers in Philippi from a prison. They were poor people. Yet, he writes a word of “hope” to those who themselves had given sacrificially to him, “My God will supply all of your needs according to His glorious riches In Christ.” {Phil 4:19}.  Hope in the God of Moses, the disciples, Hudson Taylor, and Paul!  “I the LORD do not change.” {Malachi 3:6}

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 You can’t have fellowship with failures of the past or fears of the future!

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“Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or discouraged for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”- {Joshua 1:9} Theses were the words spoken to Joshua before he undertook to lead the people into conflict. Several things to note

Conflict is to be expected in the will of God.

Don’t yield to the enemies weapons of “fear and discouraged” {see Nehemiah 6:9}

Choose to be strong be courageous because you can.

The motivation, “the LORD YOUR God is with YOU wherever YOU go.”

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“Beginning with Moses and the prophets he revealed HIMSELF in ALL the Scriptures.” {Luke 24:27}. Two despondent disciples were walking on the road to Emmaus, when the resurrected Jesus walked with them. He “opened their minds to understand the Scriptures.” Later speaking to each other they said, “did not our hearts burn.” And with that they left their home and went 7 miles back to tell the other disciples Jesus is alive! What causes them to go with such haste, rather than wait till the next day? They had an encounter with Jesus. What causes a burning heart today? To have an encounter with Jesus through His Word! Evangelism is not a class, but an encounter with the Living Christ through His Word.

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“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life.” –Psalm 23

These were words of David affirming his confidence in the LORD whom he had come to know as his personal Shepherd! While the enemy will keep your sins, failures before you, David teaches us to look to the Lord and his view is one you must adopt. It is as though you look over your right shoulder into what is behind you, your past and see the Shepherd’s goodness for your steps, and His mercy for your sin! Look back only to see His goodness and mercy!

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“I will never leave or forsake you.”{Hebrews 15:5}. There are five negatives in the Greek to make one positive, irrevocable promise. God is with you forever! It has nothing to do with how you “feel,” but faith in Who He is and what He says.

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   “We don’t know what to do…but our eyes are on You, Lord {2 Chron 20}. Jehoshaphat was facing grave danger and he gathered the people and he honestly turned to the Lord and told Him that they had no idea what to do, but he goes on to say Who they were looking to, “…our eyes are upon You.” Here was the look of faith amidst danger. Jehoshaphat teaches us a powerful lesson, – end with the LORD and not your problem. By faith give Him you problem and look expectantly to Him to meet you in your mind, emotionally, spiritually in the circumstance. Always remember He cares for YOU!

 

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“But God…” End your statement with Him.  When problems, testing’s anxious thoughts come our way, the tendency can be to say, “Yes God… BUT …my problem.” When we should not ignore the difficulty but say, “Yes, this is the difficulty, BUT GOD!” Get your thoughts on His character, promises, Thank God there is a “But God…” for you this moment!

 

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“Anxiety in the heart causes depression…” Anxiety and fear travel together and left unchecked in our thought life will spiral down into depression. Depression in this verse is the fruit of anxiety! Anxiety the root, depression the fruit! How terrible is the writer had ended here, “But God…” the writer finishes with hope for the anxious, hope for those weighed down, but how? “…a GOOD word makes the heart GLAD.” A good word regarding the character of God. The faithfulness of God. The ability of God. The grace of God. The cross of Christ. The resurrection of Jesus from the dead. Forgiveness for sins. Adopted into the family of God. Eternal assurance. A future hope, “Precious and magnificent promises” imparted to you to avail of {2 Peter 1:4}. A word of encouragement from the God who gifts encouragement! {Romans 15:4-5}. How wonderful, you can know, think on and pass on anxiety, despair need not be final “…but a good word makes the heart glad.” {Proverbs 12:25}.

 

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Be Christ conscious not sin conscious!

 

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FAITH AND LOVE.

What will motivate you to continue to trust the Lord? Consider Paul’s words, “the life I live, I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself up for me.”{Gal 2:20{. The love of Christ is what motivated Paul to trust! Think much of the love of Christ for you. Meditate much on the cross of Christ. Indeed the coming of Christ, the laying down of His life for you. In the Gospel of John 15:10 we read “Abide {settle down} in My Love.” Jesus loves you. Allow His love motivate you to trust Him!

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FAITH.

Walk by faith in such a way that when you see God you will not have to change your focus. {Read 2 Cor 5:7}

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 WORSHIP

Like a general addressing his troops the psalmist addresses his soul to “Bless the Lord o my soul and all that is within me.”{Psalm 103:1-5} To “Bless” means to “speak well of, to praise.” Wholehearted devotion that is based on the “blessings” of the LORD. It has nothing to do with how you “feel” or whether others will “bless” the LORD or not. The psalmist gives us several reasons to bless the Lord

1. Bless the LORD… His Holy Name.”

2. Bless the LORD … who pardons all your iniquities

3. Bless the LORD… who heals all the diseases of the soul

4. Bless the LORD… who redeems you from the pit.

5. Bless the LORD… who crowns you with loving-kindness and tender mercies.

6. Bless the LORD… who strengthens you

When you pray, make the above six a part of your deliberate praise, speaking well of “The LORD.”

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Many years ago there is a story told of a village that was infested by rats. The people tried everything they knew to rid themselves of the rats, all to no avail. Someone suggested they place a ton of saw dust at the entrance of the village and the end of the village. At night the rats came and fed on the saw dust, gorging themselves. They grew bigger and bigger. Then one day there were no more rats. They all died. What happened? You see there is NO NUTRITION in sawdust and they all died from MALNUTRITION! Be careful what you “feed” your mind on, don’t feed on what is  the “sawdust” of the world’s system, with its vain philosophies, humanism, legalism, mysticism and those who mix Scripture with psychology which can never meet the need of the soul. Be a Berean! When they heard Paul speak they went back to check the Scriptures to see if these things he spoke of were so. Do not take what someone says as “Gospel” without studying the Scriptures! Choose to be a Berean! {Acts 17:10-11} Feed on the truth of God’s Word, read it, Meditate upon it and apply it by faith. Come look for Jesus in His Word. At times you may not “feel” like reading. We all know about this. Ask God to give you a desire for His Word, meditate upon a verse.

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Some people can read through the Bible and it is to them a “duty,” a “have to do” to “check off my list,” and they can miss Him in the process. It is a wonderful thing to read the whole Bible. But it is a sad thing to read it and not to look for Him{Luke 24, 27, 3}. It is a wonderful thing also to stop, pause and think and meditate upon His Word to see Him and apply what it says.

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Walk by faith in such a way that when you see God you will not have to change your focus.

“For we Walk By Faith Not By Sight.”- 2 Corinthians 5:7

 

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Out of the house {for now} but never out of my heart!

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“ONE THING.”

Keep this before you, many people are people of many things but not many are people of “One Thing”  Himself the goal, desire and pursuit…

“He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures and …. beginning with Moses an the prophets he revealed Himself in all the scriptures” {Luke 24:31, 27}. Look for Him in All the Scriptures

Aidan

 

 

 

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“YOU’LL NEVER WALK ALONE!” {Hebrews 13:5}

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God calls you to Himself, not an organization, affiliation, but Himself,”God is faithful who has called you into fellowship with Himself.” that is wonderful, God’s desire delight, DESIGN is intimacy with Himself David in Psalm 27 was a man of “one thing,” -“ONE THING have I asked of the Lord that I may dwell in the house of the Lord and behold His beauty.” It is said of Mary in Luke 10- “Mary sat at the Lord’s feet{picture of submission} and listened to His Word. Mary CHOSE THE ONE THING needful… and will not be taken away from her.”

Thirty years after his conversion, Paul wrote in Philippians 3; ” That I might KNOW HIM.’ Phil 3:8….. David was a leader, king, yet amidst all he had to do his main thing was a man of “one thing” one over riding passion… Paul a leader, church planter yet even in prison his master passion was a man of “one thing” to grow more intimate with the Lord Jesus, better, and better, -” to Know Him.”- Phil 3:8

Keep this before you, many men are men of many things but not many are men of “One Thing”  Himself the goal, desire and pursuit… “He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures and …. beginning with Moses an the prophets he revealed Himself in all the scriptures”{Luke 24:31, 27…. Look for Him in All the Scriptures

 

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LEGALISM.

Legalism is sin. It displaces the Work of Jesus and the Word of God as ultimate authority.

Legalism replaces the truth of God with their traditions.

Legalism is taking a man made standard and raising it up as though it is God’s standard, which it most certainly is not. Jesus said,”And He continued, “You have a fine way of setting aside the commands of God in order to observe your own traditions!” Mark 7:9. They exalted their “traditions” above the Word of God.

Legalism is concerned with the “outward” appearance.

Legalism is a pride issue. Wanting others to think well of you by keeping “outward” traditions. Beware of legalist’s!

Legalist’s are loveless. They walk with a “standard” and not with the Savior.

Legalist’s measure themselves against others and “grade” each person by their own or someone else’s outward standard.

Legalist’s live by a code of conduct rather than walking with Christ.