Just sharing.

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Thanks be to God!
Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people.

They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over.

Matthew 14:19,20 NIV

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For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools.

Romans 1:20-22 KJV

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Do you not know that when you present yourselves to someone as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness?

But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were committed, and having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.

Romans 6:16-18 NASB

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Thanks be unto God for His wonderful gift:
Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God
is the object of our faith; the only faith
that saves is faith in Him.

 

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“He first findeth his own brother Simon.”

John 1:41

This case is an excellent pattern of all cases where spiritual life is vigorous. As soon as a man has found Christ, he begins to find others. I will not believe that thou hast tasted of the honey of the gospel if thou canst eat it all thyself. True grace puts an end to all spiritual monopoly. Andrew first found his own brother Simon, and then others. Relationship has a very strong demand upon our first individual efforts. Andrew, thou didst well to begin with Simon.

I doubt whether there are not some Christians giving away tracts at other people's houses who would do well to give away a tract at their own — whether there are not some engaged in works of usefulness abroad who are neglecting their special sphere of usefulness at home. Thou mayst or thou mayst not be called to evangelize the people in any particular locality, but certainly thou art called to see after thine own servants, thine own kinsfolk and acquaintance. Let thy religion begin at home.

Many tradesmen export their best commodities — the Christian should not. He should have all his conversation everywhere of the best savour; but let him have a care to put forth the sweetest fruit of spiritual life and testimony in his own family. When Andrew went to find his brother, he little imagined how eminent Simon would become. Simon Peter was worth ten Andrews so far as we can gather from sacred history, and yet Andrew was instrumental in bringing him to Jesus. You may be very deficient in talent yourself, and yet you may be the means of drawing to Christ one who shall become eminent in grace and service.

Ah! dear friend, you little know the possibilities which are in you. You may but speak a word to a child, and in that child there may be slumbering a noble heart which shall stir the Christian church in years to come. Andrew has only two talents, but he finds Peter. Go thou and do likewise.

 

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A Lesson Learned From A Bug
===========================

I pulled out of my driveway heading for my mom's and noticed a
katydid on my windshield. This is rare for the area I live in
since it is more city than farm or wooded area. For those of
you who do not know what a katydid is, it is similar to a
grasshopper. It is green but has a flat (up-down) body
whereas the grasshopper has a round body and is more brown
colored.

As I accelerated, I noticed the wind was making his body flutter,
but the legs were securely attached to the windshield. I was
sure he would lose his battle to the wind, but he kept hanging
on body fluttering in the wind. He did this for a couple of
miles. As I slowed down one time he tried to re-adjust his
footing. He released his grip on the windshield with just one
leg and it was all over, he was gone.

The wind is our trials.

The windshield is like the word of God.

When we hold on to our "windshield" securely, we are secure.

When things start to settle down we often loosen our grip on
God’s word. We start to rely on our strength and understanding
rather than staying in God’s word. That’s when the trials come
back and catch us unprepared and the trials drag us away.

If we hold firm to God's word, we will be ready for the trials
as they come.

 

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The LORD reigns
The desire of a man is his kindness:
and a poor man is better than a liar.

The fear of the LORD tendeth to life:
and he that hath it shall abide satisfied;
he shall not be visited with evil.

Proverbs 19:22,23 KJV

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Many daughters have done virtuously,
but thou excellest them all.

Favour is deceitful,
and beauty is vain:
but a woman that feareth the LORD,
she shall be praised.

Proverbs 31:29,30 KJV

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Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name;
bring an offering and come into his courts.

Worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness;
tremble before him, all the earth.

Say among the nations, "The LORD reigns."
The world is firmly established,
it cannot be moved;
he will judge the peoples with equity.

Psalm 96:8-10 NIV

__________________

Thanks be unto God for His wonderful gift:
Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God
is the object of our faith; the only faith
that saves is faith in Him.

 

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“Understandest thou what thou readest?”

Acts 8:30

We should be abler teachers of others, and less liable to be carried about by every wind of doctrine, if we sought to have a more intelligent understanding of the Word of God. As the Holy Ghost, the Author of the Scriptures is he who alone can enlighten us rightly to understand them, we should constantly ask his teaching, and his guidance into all truth.

When the prophet Daniel would interpret Nebuchadnezzar's dream, what did he do? He set himself to earnest prayer that God would open up the vision. The apostle John, in his vision at Patmos, saw a book sealed with seven seals which none was found worthy to open, or so much as to look upon. The book was afterwards opened by the Lion of the tribe of Judah, who had prevailed to open it; but it is written first—“I wept much.” The tears of John, which were his liquid prayers, were, so far as he was concerned, the sacred keys by which the folded book was opened.

Therefore, if, for your own and others’ profiting, you desire to be “filled with the knowledge of God's will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding,” remember that prayer is your best means of study: like Daniel, you shall understand the dream, and the interpretation thereof, when you have sought unto God; and like John you shall see the seven seals of precious truth unloosed, after you have wept much. Stones are not broken, except by an earnest use of the hammer; and the stone-breaker must go down on his knees. Use the hammer of diligence, and let the knee of prayer be exercised, and there is not a stony doctrine in revelation which is useful for you to understand, which will not fly into shivers under the exercise of prayer and faith. You may force your way through anything with the leverage of prayer. Thoughts and reasonings are like the steel wedges which give a hold upon truth; but prayer is the lever, the prise which forces open the iron chest of sacred mystery, that we may get the treasure hidden within.

 

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Man, You Gotta Love That!


Last summer, my son Jason was a seventh-grader playing in a
seventh/eighth-grade league. A fire-armed pitcher -- more than a
foot taller than my 4-foot-9 son -- blazed a fastball right down
the pike. Strike one. The second pitch scorched across the plate
for a called strike two. The third pitch, unintentionally I'm sure,
came right at Jason. He turned to avoid being hit and fell to the
ground. His bat went flying. His helmet bounced off. The ball
seemed to have skimmed his shoulder.

"Take your base," said the umpire.

Standing in the third-base coach's box, I was happy just seeing
Jason alive, much less getting a free base.

Our fans were most likely thinking the same thing
I was thinking: Take your base, son. You've been wounded, soldier;
your war's over. You're going home...

"But honest, it didn't hit me," Jason pleaded.

The umpire looked at Jason and out to the infield ump, who just
shrugged. "Okay," said the ump, "the count is one-and-two."

Should I intervene? Make him take his base? Jason was already
digging in his cleats in the batter's box. I mentally shrugged and
headed back to the coach's box.

The towering pitcher rocked and fired. A bullet right down the
middle -- the kind of pitch that would send the kid to the dugout.
Instead, Jason ripped the ball into left-center for a stand-up
double. Our crowd roared. The manager of the team in the field was
standing a few feet behind me. He had no idea that the kid on
second base was my son. He spit out his sunflower seeds and slowly
shook his head.

"Man," he said, "you gotta love that."

For the Christian, integrity is something to be cherished and
displayed on an everyday basis, whether it works out in the short
run or not.

 

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Have faith in God
"Have faith in God," Jesus answered.

"I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him.

Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

Mark 11:22-24 NIV

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But whatever happens to me, you must live in a manner worthy of the Good News about Christ, as citizens of heaven. Then, whether I come and see you again or only hear about you, I will know that you are standing side by side, fighting together for the Good News. Don't be intimidated by your enemies.

This will be a sign to them that they are going to be destroyed, but that you are going to be saved, even by God himself. For you have been given not only the privilege of trusting in Christ but also the privilege of suffering for him.

We are in this fight together. You have seen me suffer for him in the past, and you know that I am still in the midst of this great struggle.

Philippians 1:27-30 NLT

__________________

Thanks be unto God for His wonderful gift:
Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God
is the object of our faith; the only faith
that saves is faith in Him.

 

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“The Lord is slow to anger, and great in power.”

Nahum 1:3

Jehovah “is slow to anger.” When mercy cometh into the world she driveth winged steeds; the axles of her chariot-wheels are red hot with speed; but when wrath goeth forth, it toileth on with tardy footsteps, for God taketh no pleasure in the sinner's death. God's rod of mercy is ever in his hands outstretched; his sword of justice is in its scabbard, held down by that pierced hand of love which bled for the sins of men. “The Lord is slow to anger,” because he is great in power.

He is truly great in power who hath power over himself. When God's power doth restrain himself, then it is power indeed: the power that binds omnipotence is omnipotence surpassed. A man who has a strong mind can bear to be insulted long, and only resents the wrong when a sense of right demands his action. The weak mind is irritated at a little: the strong mind bears it like a rock which moveth not, though a thousand breakers dash upon it, and cast their pitiful malice in spray upon its summit.

God marketh his enemies, and yet he bestirs not himself, but holdeth in his anger. If he were less divine than he is, he would long ere this have sent forth the whole of his thunders, and emptied the magazines of heaven; he would long ere this have blasted the earth with the wondrous fires of its lower regions, and man would have been utterly destroyed; but the greatness of his power brings us mercy.

Dear reader, what is your state this evening? Can you by humble faith look to Jesus, and say, “My substitute, thou art my rock, my trust”? Then, beloved, be not afraid of God's power; for by faith you have fled to Christ for refuge, the power of God need no more terrify you, than the shield and sword of the warrior need terrify those whom he loves. Rather rejoice that he who is “great in power” is your Father and Friend.

 

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Because of His Love



Job was not a brilliant man. He swept floors for a living. He believed that Tarzan was a real man, and that all those movies were really documentaries of Tarzan's life. He believed that professional wrestling was a real sport, and he had a list of his "favorites." He was the kindest, truest, most patient man I ever knew, in my young life. He was the butt of many jokes, yet he taught me about the essence of a "real man," with all a real man's virtues: love and respect for women, honor, kindness, gentleness, and a child's simple faith in a loving God.

He was a giant of a man, faithful and noble. Job embraced life in unexpected, simple ways. He showed up for work, on time. He never bragged about himself, and he loved only one woman.his wife, Molly. Job filled a void in my life. He was sober and steady, at a time when my father was a heavy drinker. He was principled and straightforward, in my world of dishonor and lies. He was a humble man, forging through a sea of pride, and he loved God. He loved me as his very own grandchild, even though he was a year younger than my father.

I will never forget my graduation from high school. That was a day of hopeless inevitability for me. My father, who was a heavy drinker, began his celebration very early in the day. By the time we congregated in the high school gymnasium my father had congratulated himself through nearly a case of beer.

I tried to be invisible within a sea of faces. I wanted to run away. Disappear. Most of all I wanted no one to guess whose kid I was. I was betrayed by my last name, which began with the letter "A," so I was the first graduate on the first row. Being a red-head gave me even more exposure, and the baccalaureate speaker, who had never met me, decided to use me as his audio-visual aid.

"This young lady.this bright young lady, with the bright red hair." His voice rolled through the auditorium in sonorous phrases, as I sank lower in my seat. Over to my left, at the door of the auditorium, was a seating arrangement of folding chairs for the "elderly." And there sat Molly, age 61, and Job, age 47, with all of the grandparents. My heart ached when I looked at them, wishing with all my heart that I were, truly, their grandchild. However, I had become a realist by that time, stoically enduring my Dad's lack of sobriety and my mother's helplessness to do anything to make a change in her life.

As the speaker continued with his speech, he reached a point where he had an uncontrollable urge to introduce "all the wonderful people, who have made this day possible!."

"All the siblings of the graduates, please, stand." I slipped lower in my seat, glancing hurriedly around, hoping to remain invisible.

"Now, all the parents, please stand." Dear Lord, I thought, I'm sure my father can't stand, even if he wanted to. I didn't bother to look around.

"Now the grandparents.." I closed my eyes, dreading the hopelessness of my situation. I had no grandparent to stand proudly for me. I finally opened my eyes, and there they were, Job and Molly, standing proudly with all the other grandparents. Job looked over at me, his eyes beaming like diamonds.

"I'm so proud of you," he smiled as he mouthed the words that I will never forget. I knew that he stood there, not out of duty, but because of his love for me!

 

[beensetfree]

Christ has set us free
Now make sure that you stay free,
and don't get tied up again in slavery to the law.

Galatians 5:1 NLT

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Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Hebrews 12:1,2 KJV

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Be on the alert,
stand firm in the faith,
act like men, be strong.
Let all that you do be done in love.

1 Corinthians 16:13,14 NASB

__________________

Thanks be unto God for His wonderful gift:
Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God
is the object of our faith; the only faith
that saves is faith in Him.

 

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“Take up the cross, and follow me.”

Mark 10:21

You have not the making of your own cross, although unbelief is a master carpenter at cross-making; neither are you permitted to choose your own cross, although self-will would fain be lord and master; but your cross is prepared and appointed for you by divine love, and you are cheerfully to accept it; you are to take up the cross as your chosen badge and burden, and not to stand cavilling at it. This night Jesus bids you submit your shoulder to his easy yoke.

Do not kick at it in petulance, or trample on it in vain-glory, or fall under it in despair, or run away from it in fear, but take it up like a true follower of Jesus. Jesus was a cross-bearer; he leads the way in the path of sorrow. Surely you could not desire a better guide! And if he carried a cross, what nobler burden would you desire? The Via Crucis is the way of safety; fear not to tread its thorny paths.

Beloved, the cross is not made of feathers, or lined with velvet, it is heavy and galling to disobedient shoulders; but it is not an iron cross, though your fears have painted it with iron colours, it is a wooden cross, and a man can carry it, for the Man of sorrows tried the load. Take up your cross, and by the power of the Spirit of God you will soon be so in love with it, that like Moses, you would not exchange the reproach of Christ for all the treasures of Egypt.

Remember that Jesus carried it, and it will smell sweetly; remember that it will soon be followed by the crown, and the thought of the coming weight of glory will greatly lighten the present heaviness of trouble. The Lord help you to bow your spirit in submission to the divine will ere you fall asleep this night, that waking with to-morrow's sun, you may go forth to the day's cross with the holy and submissive spirit which becomes a follower of the Crucified.

 

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Heavenly Father's Day

(From Youth Specialties Student Newsletter)


Most Dads hear complaints from their kids. See if any of these have ever come out of your mouth:

* "He never seems to be around when I need him."
* "My allowance isn't big enough. Everybody else gets more than I do."
* "He's kind of old-fashioned and stuck in his ways."
* "I'm not sure he even cares about me."
* "Sometimes I'm embarrassed to be seen with him."

Sometimes it seems as though Dad can't do anything right. If he devotes a lot of time and attention to his kids, we complain that he doesn't buy us enough stuff. And if he starts working extra hours to buy us what we ask for, we complain that he's not around. (Far too many teenagers have to deal with "deadbeat" dads, absent fathers, and other serious problems, but we're talking about typical nuclear families here.)

As we're growing up, it's usually Mom we want around when we're sick, scared, or otherwise distressed. Dad never seems quite as sympathetic to our hurts and worries. When we're toddlers running through the yard and take an ungraceful tumble, Dad usually says something like, "Come here and I'll pick you up. Haw, haw, haw." Mom is the one who treats our barely noticeable scrapes with kisses and cartoon Band-Aids. Mom tends to be the one who cooks and cleans for us while Dad keeps harping on stuff like work and responsibility: "Mow the lawn"; "Get a job"; "Bring up your grades."

When we talk about being "mothered," we refer to an ongoing attention we receive that we don't mind a bit. Yet when we talk about being "fathered," we refer to being born and that's it.

Dads don't always seem to command a lot of respect. Yet when God wanted to communicate how he wants to relate to us, he used the image of a father. Jesus taught us to pray to our Father in heaven, and he encouraged us to refer to God as "Abba" (the equivalent of "daddy").

Yet do we treat our heavenly Father any better than our earthly ones? If we suffer a hard time and God doesn't immediately swoop down and "pick us up," don't we resent it a little--even if he is trying to help us grow stronger? When we see others with more than we have, don't we yearn for a bigger "allowance"? And when we're around certain people, aren't we occasionally embarrassed to be associated with God?

On Father's Day this Sunday, let's cut dad a break. Give the old guy the benefit of the doubt that he has your best interests at heart. Thank him for being around as often as he is.

While you're at it, remember to thank your heavenly Father as well. If you've been a bit distant lately, there's no better time to get a fresh start. God still invites you to call him "Daddy." And that's a priceless invitation none of us should ever turn down.

On your own ...

When have you felt most distant from your father? When have you have felt most distant from your heavenly Father? After you arrive at a specific response for each of these questions, read Luke 15:11-32.
http://biblegateway.com/cgi-bin/bible?language=english&version=NLT&passage=Luke+15:11-32

Is there anything you could do to improve communication with either your dad or your heavenly Father? If so, what's preventing you from initiating a closer relationship? Make it a goal to do SOMETHING to strengthen your father-child relationships by Father's Day.


An infinite God can give all of himself to each of his children. He does not distribute himself that each may have a part, but to each one he gives all of himself as fully as if there were no others.
- A.W. Tozer

What a father says to his children will not be heard by the world, but it will be heard by posterity.
- Jean Paul Richter

We think our fathers fools, so wise we grow; our wiser sons, no doubt, will think us so.
- Alexander Pope

 

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Walk as Jesus Did
The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him - the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of power, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD--and he will delight in the fear of the LORD.

He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes, or decide by what he hears with his ears; but with righteousness he will judge the needy, with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth; with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked.

Isaiah 11:2-4 NIV

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Ye that fear the LORD, trust in the LORD:
he is their help and their shield.

The LORD hath been mindful of us:
he will bless us;
he will bless the house of Israel;
he will bless the house of Aaron.

Psalm 115:11,12 KJV

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When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not be presenting his own ideas; he will be telling you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future. He will bring me glory by revealing to you whatever he receives from me. All that the Father has is mine; this is what I mean when I say that the Spirit will reveal to you whatever he receives from me.

John 16:13-15 NLT

__________________

Thanks be unto God for His wonderful gift:
Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God
is the object of our faith; the only faith
that saves is faith in Him.

 

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“O Lord of hosts, how long wilt thou not have mercy upon Jerusalem? ... And the Lord answered the angel ... with good words and comfortable words.”

Zechariah 1:12,13

What a sweet answer to an anxious enquiry! This night let us rejoice in it. O Zion, there are good things in store for thee; thy time of travail shall soon be over; thy children shall be brought forth; thy captivity shall end. Bear patiently the rod for a season, and under the darkness still trust in God, for his love burneth towards thee. God loves the church with a love too deep for human imagination: he loves her with all his infinite heart. Therefore let her sons be of good courage; she cannot be far from prosperity to whom God speaketh “good words and comfortable words.”

What these comfortable words are the prophet goes on to tell us: “I am jealous for Jerusalem and for Zion with a great jealousy.” The Lord loves his church so much that he cannot bear that she should go astray to others; and when she has done so, he cannot endure that she should suffer too much or too heavily. He will not have his enemies afflict her: he is displeased with them because they increase her misery.

When God seems most to leave his church, his heart is warm towards her. History shows that whenever God uses a rod to chasten his servants, he always breaks it afterwards, as if he loathed the rod which gave his children pain. “Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him.” God hath not forgotten us because he smites — his blows are no evidences of want of love.

If this is true of his church collectively, it is of necessity true also of each individual member. You may fear that the Lord has passed you by, but it is not so: he who counts the stars, and calls them by their names, is in no danger of forgetting his own children. He knows your case as thoroughly as if you were the only creature he ever made, or the only saint he ever loved. Approach him and be at peace.

 

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Me Against the World


Here's a brief reflection on the song "Me Against the World" by Superchic[k]

"Back again one more time
Couldn't keep me down last time
Leaving what I know on faith
To take on the world and make waves."

Have you ever stepped out in faith? I'm the kind of person who always wants all the answers first. But more than once God has said, "Come on, girl. Let's go!" And because of my love for him, I went. And you know, each time I've been glad. Even writing these devotions is an example of obeying when I didn't have all the answers. And what a blessing they've been to me.

When we step out, not knowing where we're going, it's called a "faith walk." One of the best accounts of a faith walk is that of Abraham. One day God came to him and said:

"Leave your country, your relatives, and your father's house, and go to the land that I will show you" (Genesis 12:1).

How would you like it if God said, "Leave all you know and start off, say, east, to a place I will show you?" He didn't even tell Abraham where he was going, how far it was or anything about it. As far as we know, Abraham had never heard from God before. But the next verses tell us Abraham went. He stepped out in faith.

The disciples Jesus called to follow him left their families, homes and livelihoods to do so. The prophets of the Old Testament (with the exception of Jonah) went the first time God said, "Go." Do you have such faith? Do I?

In the song "Me Against the World," Superchic[k] sings that they are going to pursue God in spite of the odds and the world against them. You can do the same. If you know God is asking you to do something new today, do it. It could be as simple as calling someone and telling them about Jesus. It could be to try a new class or a new school. It could be to take a new job or move to a new city. Whatever it is, know this: If God calls you out from where you are, he intends to take you to where you need to be. Trust him today.

 

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Click here for the details.

God Is Worthy
God is worthy of reverence, awe, and respect

The LORD is exalted; for he dwelleth on high:
he hath filled Zion with judgment and righteousness.

And wisdom and knowledge shall be
the stability of thy times,
and strength of salvation:
the fear of the LORD is his treasure.

Isaiah 33:5,6 KJV

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So they shall fear the name of the LORD from the west,
and his glory from the rising of the sun;
for he will come like a rushing stream,
which the wind of the LORD drives.

"And he will come to Zion as Redeemer,
to those in Jacob who turn from transgression,"
says the LORD.

Isaiah 59:19,20 RSV

__________________

"Brothers, what should we do?"

Peter replied, "Each of you must turn from your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. This promise is to you and to your children, and even to the Gentiles --all who have been called by the Lord our God."

Then Peter continued preaching for a long time, strongly urging all his listeners, "Save yourselves from this generation that has gone astray!"

Acts 2:37b - 40 NLT

__________________

Thanks be unto God for His wonderful gift:
Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God
is the object of our faith; the only faith
that saves is faith in Him.

 

[beensetfree]

A Gentle Thunder


Once there was a man who dared God to speak.
"Burn the bush like you did for Moses, God. And I will follow."
"Collapse the walls like you did for Joshua, God. And I will fight."
"Still the waves like you did on Galilee, God. And I will listen."

And so the man sat by a bush, near a wall, close to the sea and waited for God to speak.

And God heard the man, so God answered.

He sent fire, not for a bush, but for a church.
He brought down a wall, not of brick, but of sin.
He stilled a storm, not of the sea, but of the soul.
And God waited for the man to respond.

And he waited...

And he waited...

And waited.

But because the man was looking at bushes, not hearts; bricks and not lives; seas and not souls, he decided that God had done nothing. Finally he looked to God and asked, "Have you lost your power?"

And God looked at him and said, "Have you lost your hearing?"

 

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The Fear of the Lord is Good!
And your eyes shall see, and ye shall say, The LORD will be magnified from the border of Israel. A son honoureth his father, and a servant his master: if then I be a father, where is mine honour? and if I be a master, where is my fear? saith the LORD of hosts unto you,

Malachi 1:5,6 KJV

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But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting
to everlasting upon themthat fear him,
and his righteousness unto children's children;

To such as keep his covenant,
and to those that remember
his commandments to do them.

Psalm 103:17,18 KJV

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This poor man called, and the LORD heard him;
he saved him out of all his troubles.

The angel of the LORD encamps
around those who fear him,
and he delivers them.

Taste and see that the LORD is good;
blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.

Psalm 34:6-8 NIV

__________________

Thanks be unto God for His wonderful gift:
Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God
is the object of our faith; the only faith
that saves is faith in Him.

 

[beensetfree]

“Behold, if the leprosy have covered all his flesh, he shall pronounce him clean that hath the plague.”

Leviticus 13:13

Strange enough this regulation appears, yet there was wisdom in it, for the throwing out of the disease proved that the constitution was sound. This evening it may be well for us to see the typical teaching of so singular a rule. We, too, are lepers, and may read the law of the leper as applicable to ourselves. When a man sees himself to be altogether lost and ruined, covered all over with the defilement of sin, and in no part free from pollution; when he disclaims all righteousness of his own, and pleads guilty before the Lord, then he is clean through the blood of Jesus, and the grace of God.

Hidden, unfelt, unconfessed iniquity is the true leprosy; but when sin is seen and felt, it has received its deathblow, and the Lord looks with eyes of mercy upon the soul afflicted with it. Nothing is more deadly than self-righteousness, or more hopeful than contrition. We must confess that we are “nothing else but sin,” for no confession short of this will be the whole truth; and if the Holy Spirit be at work with us, convincing us of sin, there will be no difficulty about making such an acknowledgment — it will spring spontaneously from our lips.

What comfort does the text afford to truly awakened sinners: the very circumstance which so grievously discouraged them is here turned into a sign and symptom of a hopeful state! Stripping comes before clothing; digging out the foundation is the first thing in building—and a thorough sense of sin is one of the earliest works of grace in the heart. O thou poor leprous sinner, utterly destitute of a sound spot, take heart from the text, and come as thou art to Jesus—

“For let our debts be what they may, however great or small,
As soon as we have nought to pay, our Lord forgives us all.
’Tis perfect poverty alone that sets the soul at large:
While we can call one mite our own, we have no full discharge.”

 

[beensetfree]

He Chose the Nails


The cross. Can you turn any direction without seeing one? Perched atop a chapel. Carved into a graveyard headstone. Engraved in a ring or suspended on a chain. The cross is the universal symbol of Christianity. An odd choice, don't you think? Strange that a tool of torture would come to embody a movement of hope.

Would you wear a tiny electric chair around your neck? Suspend a gold-plated hangman's noose on the wall? Would you print a picture of a firing squad on a business card? Yet we do so with the cross.

Why is the cross the symbol of our faith? To find the answer look no farther than the cross itself. Its design couldn't be simpler. One beam horizontal--the other vertical. One reaches out--like God's love. The other reaches up--as does God's holiness. One represents the width of His love; the other reflects the height of His holiness. The cross is the intersection. The cross is where God forgave His children without lowering His standards.

How could He do this? In a sentence: God put our sin on His Son and punished it there.

"God put on him the wrong who never did anything wrong, so we could be put right with God" (2 Corinthians 5:21 MSG).

Or as rendered elsewhere: "Christ never sinned! But God treated him as a sinner, so that Christ could make us acceptable to God" (CEV).

Envision the moment. God on His throne. You on the earth. And between you and God, suspended between you and heaven, is Christ on His cross. Your sins have been placed on Jesus. God, who punishes sin, releases His rightful wrath on your mistakes. Jesus receives the blow. Since Christ is between you and God, you don't. The sin is punished, but you are safe--safe in the shadow of the cross.

This is what God did, but why, why would He do it? Moral duty? Heavenly obligation? Paternal requirement? No. God is required to do nothing.

Besides, consider what He did. Just for you He gave His Son. His only Son. Would you do that? Would you offer the life of your child for someone else? I wouldn't. There are those for whom I would give my life. But ask me to make a list of those for whom I would kill my daughter? The sheet will be blank. I don't need a pencil. The list has no names.

But God's list contains the name of every person who ever lived. For this is the scope of His love. And this is the reason for the cross. He loves the world.

"For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son" (John 3:16 NLT).

As boldly as the center beam proclaims God's holiness, the crossbeam declares His love. And, oh, how wide His love reaches.

Aren't you glad the verse does not read:

"For God so loved the rich..."?

Or, "For God so loved the famous..."?

Or, "For God so loved the thin..."?

It doesn't. Nor does it state, "For God so loved the Europeans or Africans..." "the sober or successful..." "the young or the old..."

No, when we read John 3:16, we simply (and happily) read, "For God so loved the world."

How wide is God's love? Wide enough for the whole world. Are you included in the world? Then you are included in God's love. God's love is just for you.

It's nice to be included. You aren't always. Universities exclude you if you aren't smart enough. Businesses exclude you if you aren't qualified enough, and, sadly, some churches exclude you if you aren't good enough.

But though they may exclude you, Christ includes you. When asked to describe the width of His love, He stretched one hand to the right and the other to the left and had them nailed in that position so you would know He died loving you.

But isn't there a limit? Surely there has to be an end to this love. You'd think so, wouldn't you? But David the adulterer never found it. Paul the murderer never found it. Peter the liar never found it. When it came to life, they hit bottom. But when it came to God's love, they never did.

They, like you, found their names on God's list of love.

Because God loves you, He has invited you to enjoy eternal life with Him in Heaven. Jesus said, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me" (John 14:6 NIV). Jesus made a way to accept God's invitation, and He did it just for you. Accept God's invitation by believing that Jesus received the punishment for your sin by His death on the cross. Confess that you've sinned and ask His forgiveness. Invite Him into your life and ask for God's help to turn from your sin. You can pray something like this:

Dear God, I admit that I am a sinner and need Your forgiveness. Thank You for sending Jesus to suffer the punishment deserved for my sin. Please come into my life and help me live a life that pleases You. Amen.