---ENCOURAGE ONE ANOTHER ~~

----My big brother used to pick on me. For Dee no day was complete unless he had made mine miserable. He stole my allowance. He called me a sissy.

---But all his cruel antics were offset by one great act of grace on a summer day in the park. He picked me to play on his baseball team. Everyone else was a middle-schooler. I was a third-grader. I went from the back of the pack to the front of line, all because he picked me. Dee didn’t pick me because I was good. He called my name for one reason only. He was my big brother. And on that day he decided to be a good big brother.

The New Testament has a word for such activity– encouragement. “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up” (1 Thessalonians 5:11). This is how happiness happens.

--"How Happiness Happens"/ (New book / Max Lucado/ Sept 2019)

--[Encourage One Another]
---RESTING IN GOD~~

"Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise
of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory
to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do
what he had promised." ---(Romans 4:20-21) --

--IT WAS our last family holiday before our eldest son went off to college. As we filled the back pew in the little seaside church, my heart filled with love as I glanced at my five reasonably tidy children. "Please protect them spiritually and keep them close to You, Lord," I prayed silently.

The final hymn had a rousing chorus based on 2 Timothy 1:2 . "I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him (KJV). I was assured that God would keep their souls.

In the years since, there have been times of wandering for some of my children and outright rebellion for others. Sometimes I wondered about God's faithfulness. Then I remembered Abraham. He never failed to trust the promise he had received (Genesis 15:5-6). Through years of waiting and mistaken attempts to help things along, Abraham hung on to God's promise until Isaac was born.

What an encouraging reminder! We tell God our request. We know He is powerful. We thank Him for His faithfulness. ~~

--'God Hears Her' / Devotions For Women~ [Put your loved one's name in place of 'me' and 'I'. It is Jehovah G-D that makes each one of us clean. \o/-/"CLEAN" / Natalie Grant /<https://youtu.be/dqfgjSPMcnc>
------

~~ENCOURAGE ONE ANOTHER~

~~A LESSON LEARNED~~

---"I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances."
---(Philippians 4:11)--

~~~Mary was widowed and facing serious health challenges, so her daughter invited her to move into the new "granny apartment" attached to her home. Although it would involve leaving friends and the rest of her family many miles away, Mary rejoiced in God's provision.

Six months into her new life, her contentment slipped away. She missed her Christian friends and her new church was too far away to get to independently.

Then she read something nineteenth-centurey preacher Charles Spurgeon had written. "Now contentment is one of the flowers of heaven, and it must be cultivated," he pointed out. "Paul says, 'I have learned to be content,' as if he didn't know how at one time"

Mary concluded that if an ardent evangelist like Paul, confined to prison, abandoned by friends, and facing execution could learn contentment, then so could she.

Mary said, "I confessed my inward grumbling and asked for God's forgiveness. Soon after that a newly retired lady asked if I would be her prayer partner, and others offered me a ride to church. My needs were wonderfully met." ~~

--'GOD HEARS HER' / DEVOTIONS FOR WOMEN~~
~~"NONE BUT JESUS" (Hillsong/ Darlene Zschech) <https://youtu.be/WYLmD4-GRcw>
~~~~~~~~

----Encourage One Another ~

---LOVE IN ACTION ~~

"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit.
Rather, in humility value others above yourselves."--
--(Philippians 2:3)

--"Do you have a few items you'd like me to wash?" I asked a visitor to our home in London. His face lit up, and as his daughter walked by, he said, "Get your dirty clothes--Amy's doing our laundry!" I smiled, realizing that my offer had been extended from a few items to a few loads. -

Later as I hung clothes outside on the line, a phrase from my morning's Bible reading floated through my mind: "In humility value others above yourselves." (Philippians 2:3). Paul exhorts us to live worthy of Christ's calling through service and unity with others. He knows that unity enables us to stay strong in faith.

We might claim to love others without selfish ambition or vain conceit, but the true state of our hearts isn't revealed until we put our love into action. Though I felt tempted to grumble, I knew that as a follower of Christ, my call was to put my love for my friends into practice--with a clean heart.

My we find ways to serve our family, friends, and neighbors for God's glory. ~~

----"YOU SAY"/ Lauren Daigle ~ <https://youtu.be/qUeHcsvfzWI>
-------

---A CROWD OF ENCOURAGERS ~~

~~~God is “the God who gives endurance and encouragement” (Romans 15:5). God encourages us. So does Jesus. Jesus called the Holy Spirit paraklétos, the noun form of the very word for encouragement.

Scripture encourages us. “The Scriptures, according to Romans 15:4, were written to teach and encourage us by giving us hope.” The saints in heaven encourage us. Hebrews 12:1 says, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.”

A “crowd of witnesses” applauds from the heavens, calling on us to finish strong. The Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit, the holy Scriptures, and the saints. God places a premium on encouragement.
--'How Happiness Happens'/ (New book by Max Lucado~ (Sept 2019) ~)--"What A Beautiful Name" --Hillsong / <https://youtu.be/CUBBIddm_rM>
~~~~~~~

---VISIBLE VULNERABILITY~~

--"Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one
another in love." ~~(Ephesians 4:2) -

--AS I ventured out several weeks after shoulder surgery, I was fearful. I had become comfortable using my arm sling, but my physical therapist told me to stop wearing it. That's when I saw this statement: "At this stage, sling wear is discouraged except as a visible sign of vulnerability in an uncontrolled environment."

Ah, that was it! I feared the enthusiastic person who might give me a bear hug or the unaware friend who might bump me accidentally. I was hiding behind my flimsy baby-blue sling because I feared being hurt.

Allowing ourselves to be vulnerable can be scary. We want to be accepted for who we are, but we fear that if people truly knew us, they might reject us.

But as members of God's family, we have a responsibility to help each other grow in faith. We're told to "encourage one another," to "build each other up" (1 Thessalonians 5:11), to be "patient, bearing with one another in love" (Ephesians 4:2).

When we are vulnerable with other believers, we will share the wonder of God's gift of grace in our lives. ~~

--ODB/CH~--"What If I Gave Everything" / Casting Crowns~ / <https://youtu.be/tP27ySgbYLU>
~~~~~~~~~

----A WAY THROUGH~~

--"No testing has overtaken you that is not
common to everyone. God is faithful, and he
will not let you be tested beyond your strength,
but...will also provide the way out so that you
may be able to endure it."
--(1 Corinthians 10:13/ NRSV)--

---MANY PEOPLE who are trying to comfort someone experiencing tragedy say, "God never gives us more than we can handle." But this can backfire, making the sufferer feel worse. They may say: "If God is sending me these crises because I'm so strong, then I don't want to be strong."

This modern saying is a paraphrase of part of 1 Corinthians 10:13, but the full verse actually says something quite different and far deeper. The full verse points out that life--not God--sends adversity to us all. Our trials are a common experience, and knowing this is in itself reassuring. Empathy and shared struggles can work miracles. The text also points out that sometimes we are tested beyond our resources and strength. Sometimes we are overwhelmed by life's trials, and sometimes it is more than we can handle.

But understanding this, God gives us something to enable us to endure. The apostle Paul assures us that when we are tested beyond our strength, God will provide a way through until, free on the other side, we can walk forward into the light of a new day.
--UPPER ROOM/HHM
---"OCEANS (Where Feet May Fall) Hillsong United / <https://youtu.be/xoZE2RsthRg>
--------

---TODAY'S EXPECTATIONS/ WHAT IS CHRIST DOING IN YOUR LIFE TODAY? / HE IS ALWAYS AT WORK WITHIN BELIEVERS!

---"Shouts of joy and victory resound in the tents of the righteous: “The Lord’s right hand has done mighty things!” "
--[Psalm 118:15 / NIV) --

~~~Christianity is often presented as being pretty front heavy, with all the important God-choices happening near the beginning of the journey. We experience salvation, we make a profession of faith, we are baptized, and then we sit and wait for Heaven. We can’t lose our salvation, so what is left to pull us forward? This is a sad way of understanding our faith, because the most important season of our walk with Christ is right now. I will enjoy hearing about your profession of faith when you were twelve, but I really get excited when I hear about a victory God gave you this week. I will rejoice over the way He delivered you from a painful past, but I also am curious about what mighty things you are expecting Him to do today. Don’t ever allow your faith journey to become past tense: what Jesus did for you way back when. You want your walk with Jesus to be so current that you can talk about it in the present tense: what Jesus is doing in you and through you today, TODAY!

And be sure to ask others what the Lord is doing in their lives. We need each other, friends. If you haven't yet, please begin reading through the Bible. There are many outlines on Bible Ministry forums to follow. Perhaps just start in the Gospels [Matthew, Mark, Luke, John.] Did you know there are 31 [chapters]= Proverbs. Begin reading one Chapter each day throughout each month. You can begin reading from the 'day you are on' and go to the end, then repeat it each month. "The Word of God is alive and powerful sharper than any two-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints, and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart."-(HEBREWS 4:12).

**THINK ABOUT IT**
Christ-followers are “citizens of Heaven,” living on earth for God’s purposes. If you do not have a habit of asking Him to work in and through you each day, begin to ask Him today. Your God-stories will multiply! Have another believer read through the Bible with you. You can grow together for the Lord's glory. Press Onward. "Trust in the LORD with all your heart. And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight." --[Proverbs 3 verses 5,6] ~

**PRAYER**
---"Heavenly Father, I willingly accept Your assignments and want to continually experience Your transforming power at work in my life and in the lives of others. Enable me to be a faithful ambassador of Your grace and truth today. Use me Lord, for Your glory! In Jesus’ name, amen.
Blessings,
Pastor Allen Jackson--/"TRUST HIS HEART"/ Cynthia Clawson / <https://youtu.be/eLn0cRl-0GE>
~~~~~~~~

--LIVE IN PEACE ~~

"Finally, brethren, farewell. Become
complete. Be of good comfort, be of
one mind, live in peace; and the God
of love and peace will be with you."
--(2 Corinthians 13:11)--

~~~Paul adds several bits of advice to the Corinthian church at the end of his second letter to them. In saying he wanted them to "become complete," he was saying he wanted them to "aspire to the highest degree of holiness," as John Wesley put it in his commentary, as they labored in unity for the advancement of the Gospel. In so doing, the God of love and peace would be with them.

Putting aside personal and theological differences for the sake of the Gospel isn't easy. No doubt you've bumped heads with someone, or several people, from church or other Christian groups over the years--even though you both presumably had the best of intentions. Sometimes, when the friction is great, it's best to part ways, like Paul and Barnabas did (Acts 15:36-41), rather than arguing about your differences. But often, that isn't necessary. In such stances, seek peace. As you do, you can trust that God will be with you. ~~

"Father, You've made every person unique. As such, we have different perspectives. Remind me of this the next time I butt heads with a fellow believer over an issue that really is of no consequence in Your eternal kingdom. May You always receive the glory, in Jesus Name. amen~

-Daily Wisdom~/DB--"Perfect Peace" / Laura Story ~ <https://youtu.be/6kj8pzDLcc8>
~~~~~~~~~~

--IN THE VINE~~

"No branch can
bear fruit by itself;
it must remain in
the vine. Neither
can you bear fruit
unless you remain
in me." - (John 15:4) --

--By calling Himself the Vine, Jesus was speaking of an image familiar to the Israelites in the Old Testament, for there the vine symbolized God's people (Psalm 80:8-9; Hosea 10:1). Jesus extended this symbolism to Himself, saying He was the Vine and that His followers were grafted into Him as branches. And as they remained in Him, receiving His nourishment and strength, they would bear fruit (John 15:5).

When we who believe in Jesus embrace the idea of being as close to Him as a branch is to a vine, our faith is strengthened and enriched. Jesus is always as close as the mention of His Name.

--"LORD Jesus, thank You for helping me to remain in You. May I find the peace, hope, and strength I need today. Thank You, Lord Jesus for rescuing me from this world. I am now Heaven-bound with You, Yahweh! YHWH~
--"Rescue Story" / Zach Williams /<https://youtu.be/ybCOOCaHp5c>
~~~~~~~~

--Friends,
----We truly need each other. We are fighting a Spiritual battle until our Lord Jesus comes to gather us, His Bride to live with Him eternally. Please pray for each other. If you have a dear brother or sister-in-Christ that is going through hard times, or maybe needs prayer over the telephone, PLEASE call that person. Yes, an email or text messages are nice. But sometimes its just nice to hear their voice. Reach out to others in Jesus' Name. He will bless you for it. May Jehovah Jireh, the G-D that provides, direct your steps. The Lord Jesus bless you! ~~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
-----ASTOUNDING INTERVENTION~~

---"Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."
---(Romans 5:7-8 / NIV)--

~~~~I wasn’t a tremendously gifted athlete, but I enjoyed playing high school basketball. I couldn’t jump very high or run very fast, and my shot wasn’t that great. My backup button didn’t work very well, and sometimes my mouth wrote checks that my body couldn’t cash. (I’m still working on that.) On more than one occasion when I had gone too far, I’d hear a deep voice from behind me: “Leave him alone.” It was one of my friends who was the opposite of me: strong, quiet, and a gifted athlete. As a young man I thought that God probably breathed a sigh of relief when He recruited me onto His team. Now I have gained enough maturity to realize what a liability He accepted when He welcomed me into His Kingdom. Jesus interceded for us in a very sacrificial way when He died on the Cross and exchanged His righteousness for our sin. Let us never forget that, or take it for granted.

**THINK ABOUT IT**
~~Jesus humbled Himself so completely to win us back to God. Walk with Him in this same spirit of humility, and declare Him worthy of every exaltation Heaven and earth can offer. He died so we may live eternally with Him. Please share these messages. There are a lot of people hurting in this fallen world.

PRAYER
--"Heavenly Father, You are worthy of all thanksgiving and praise! Lord Jesus, thank You for exchanging Your righteousness for my sin and redeeming me completely. I humbly bow my knee before You. In Your name, I pray. Amen."
Blessings,
Pastor Allen Jackson

----THERE'S HOPE!

"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace
as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with
hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."
---Romans 15:13 / NIV)

--WHAT DOES it mean to "overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit?" You might think it means to talk a lot. Then again, the book, 'Loving Your Neighbor: Surprise! It's Not What You Think' includes this story:

~~While on business in Orlando I met a man named Leonard who poured out his heart to me. I didn't say a word. I just kept listening intently. When he was done, I kept looking into Leonard's angry, deeply hurt eyes and didn't say anything.

After a minute, with deepest sadness he said, "All I needed was hope and mercy." What a profoundly haunting lament. Yet if I had started talking, I never would have heard what he needed.

After Leonard told me, "All I needed was hope and mercy,"I remained quiet for another minute. It let my eyes do all the talking. His eyes and facial expressions began to soften and change. Only the love of Jesus can do that. Then Leonard told me, "And by listening to my story, you've given me both." After an hour, Leonard didn't know the other guy's [my] name, but he knew he wanted to come back to the Lord And he did!

Maybe you're the silent type. Maybe that's a good thing. Take a few minutes (seconds?) to pray and ask the Lord Jesus to guide your steps. The Lord our Shepherd will guide you in His everlasting Way.

--Daily Wisdom For Men and Women~ --"One Step Away/ Casting Crowns/ --<https://youtu.be/-RegM50FzFc>
~~~~~~~~~

~~~A Work in Progress ~~

"Jesus will keep you strong until the end so that there
will be no wrong in you on the day our Lord Jesus Christ
comes again." ~~(1 Corinthians 1:8)--

~~~God is not finished with you yet. Oh, you may think he is. You may think you've peaked. You may think he's got someone else to do the job.

~~~ ...If so, think again.

~~"God began doing a good work in you, and I am sure he will continue it until it is finished when Jesus Christ comes again" (Phil. 1:6).

Did you see what God is doing? A good work in you.

Did you see when He will be finished? When Jesus comes again.
May I spell out the message? God ain't finished with you yet. You're still in the race. Press On!

~~~'When God Whispers Your Name'/ML~ / "You Cannot Be Stopped" // Phil Wickham and Chris Quilala =<https://youtu.be/Ga8xfrrwnvU>
~~~~~~~

----"TRUE FRIENDS"

---"A friend loves at all times."
----(Proverbs 17:17)

--"There is a friend who sticks closer than a brother." [JESUS] ~
---(Proverbs 18:24B)--

~~~In high school, I had a “sometimes friend.” We were “buddies” at our church, and we occasionally hung out together outside of school. But at school, it was a different story. If she met me by herself, she might say hello; but only if no one else was around. Realizing this, I rarely tried to gain her attention within school walls. I knew the limits of our friendship.

We’ve probably all experienced the pain of disappointingly one-sided or narrow friendships. But there’s another kind of friendship—one that extends beyond all boundaries. It’s the kind of friendship we have with kindred spirits who are committed to sharing life’s journey with us.

~~David and Jonathan were such friends. Jonathan was “one in spirit” with David and loved him “as himself” (1 Samuel 18:1-3). Although Jonathan would have been next in line to rule after his father Saul’s death, he was loyal to David, God’s chosen replacement. Jonathan even helped David to evade two of Saul’s plots to kill him (19:1-6; 20:1-42).

Despite all odds, Jonathan and David remained friends—pointing to the truth of Proverbs 17:17: “A friend loves at all times.” Their faithful friendship also gives us a glimpse of the loving relationship God has with us (John 3:16; 15:15). Through friendships like theirs, our understanding of God’s love is deepened

~~"Heavenly Father, we long for friends. Please open up doors to true, lasting, and God-centered friendships. Thank You, Abba Father, that through the life of Your only begotten Son, Christ Jesus, we can learn to love others as You love us. We give you praise, honor, and glory. Blessed be the Name of the LORD, El-Shaddai, our Almighty God.~amen" ~~

--ODB/AK~--"El Shaddai" / Amy Grant // <https://youtu.be/Bon1XtAdzD0>
~~~~~~~

---An EXTRA-Ordinary Night ~~

"Today your Savior was
born in the town of David.
He is Christ, the Lord."
--(LUKE 2:11)--

~~~An ordinary night with ordinary sheep and ordinary shepherds. And were it not for a God who loves to hook an "EXTRA" on the front of the ordinary, the night would have gone unnoticed. The sheep would have been forgotten, and the shepherds would have slept the night away.

But God dances amidst the common. And that night he did a waltz.

The black sky exploded with brightness. Trees that had been shadows jumped into clarity. Sheep that had been silent became a chorus of curiosity. One minute the shepherd was fast asleep, the next he was rubbing his eyes and staring into the face of an alien.

The night was ordinary no more.

The angel came in the night because it is when lights are best seen and that is when they are most needed. God comes into the common for the same reason. His most powerful tools are the simplest. Yet there is nothing simple about our Savior, Jesus is King above all kings and Lord above all lords. Yes, the Savior came the first time and was nailed to a Cross. He's coming back! And when He does, all Heaven and angels will rejoice. Emmanuel, G-D With Us.
--'Grace For the Moment/ML--"Emmanuel" / Darlene Zschech //<https://youtu.be/GcT5fnkJ8iw>
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

---THE WINNER'S CIRCLE~~

--"The Lord will reward everyone for
whatever good he does, whether he
is slave or free."
---(Ephesians 6:8 / NIV)--

~~~For all we don't know about the next life, this much is certain. The day Christ comes will be a day of reward. Those who went unknown on earth will be known in heaven. Those who never heard the cheers of men will hear the cheers of angels. Those who missed the blessing of a father will hear the blessing of their heavenly Father. The small will be great. The forgotten will be remembered. The unnoticed will be crowned and the faithful will be honored.

The winner's circle isn't reserved for a handful of the elite, but for Heaven, full of God's children who "will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him" (James 1:12 / NIV).

"Power Of Your Love" / Darlene Zschech //<https://youtu.be/mz7ymFyiDEw>
~~~~~~

---SEEING SALVATION ~ / ENCOURAGE ONE ANOTHER ~~

--"All people will see
G-D's salvation."
--(Luke 3:6)--

-[Today's Reading:
Luke 3:1-6]

~~~AT FIFTY-THREE, the last thing Sonia expected to do was abandon her business and her country to join a group of asylum seekers journeying to a new land. After gangs murdered her nephew and tried to force her seventeen-year-old son into their ranks, Sonia felt escape was her only option. "I pray to God...I will do whatever is necessary," Sonia explained. "I will do anything so [my son and I] don't die of hunger...I prefer to see him suffer here than end up in a bag or canal."

Does the Bible have anything to say to Sonia and her son--or to so many who have suffered injustice and devastation? When John the Baptist proclaimed the arrival of Jesus, he announced good news to Sonia, to us, to the world. "Prepare the way for the Lord," John proclaimed (Luke 3:4). He insisted that when Jesus arrived, God would enact a powerful, comprehensive rescue. The Biblical word for this rescue is salvation.

Salvation encompasses both the healing of our sinful hearts and--one day--the healing of all the world's evils. God's transforming work is for every story, every human system, and is available to everyone. "All people will see God's salvation," John said (v.6).

Whatever evil we face, Christ's Cross and resurrection assure us we'll see God's salvation. One day we'll experience His final liberation. ~~

~~"Merciful God, You promise that all people will see Your salvation. I claim this promise. Show me Your rescue and healing. Lead me on Your everlasting path. Thank You, Lord, You will come as a thief in the night. We must be ready to meet you in the air. \o/ In Jesus Name.~ amen."
[**No words on the screen for this beautiful song. Please turn up your volume. Be blessed! \o/ ]
--ODB/WC-- "Midnight Cry" / Joseph Larson (FWC) =<https://youtu.be/T11KZFVXDsE>
--------

---TWO ARE BETTER~~

"Two are better than one,
because they have a good
return for their labor."
---(Ecclesiastes 4:9)

~~IN THE 1997 Ironman Triathlon in Hawaii, two women fought to stay on their feet as they hobbled toward the finish line. Exhausted, the runners persevered on wobbly legs, until Sian Welch bumped into Wendy Ingraham. They both dropped to the ground. Struggling to stand, they stumbled forward, only to fall again about twenty meters from the finish line. When Ingraham began to drawl, the crowd applauded. When her competitor followed suit, they cheered louder. Ingraham crossed the finish line in fourth place, and she slumped into the outstretched arms of her supporters. Then she turned and reached out to her fallen sister. Welch lunged her body forward, stretching her weary arm toward Ingraham's hand and across the finish line. As she completed the race in fifth place, the crowd roared their approval.

This pair's completion of the 140-mile swimming, biking, and running race inspired many. But the image of the weary competitors persevering together remains ingrained in my mind, affirming the life-empowering truth in Ecclesiastes 4:9 thru 11.

There's no shame in admitting we require assistance in life, especially since we can't honestly deny our needs or hide them from our all-knowing God. At one time or another, we'll all fall, whether physically or emotionally. Knowing we're not alone can comfort us as we persevere. As our loving Father helps us, He empowers us to reach out to others in need, affirming they too aren't alone. ~~

"All-powerful God, thank You for reassuring us of Your constant presence as You help us and give us opportunities to reach out and help others. We give You all praise, our Lord, Savior and Redeemer. In Jesus Name."

--ODB/XD
--"Jesus, What A Beautiful Name"/ (Hillsong= singer= Lisa Young) <https://youtu.be/EVgW8h_BhwM>

----HOW TO USE OUR TIME ~~ / ~ JESUS IS AS CLOSE AS THE MENTION OF HIS NAME~~
----(Please Read/ - Ephesians 5:6-21)--

--"Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.
--"Therefore do not be partakers with them; for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light."
---(vs / 6,7,8)

~~~The way we use our time reveals our values and priorities. Ephesians 5:16 encourages us to make the most of our time. Here are ways to do this:

**Receive Christ as Savior. The only way you can live a life of truth, meaning, and abundance is by personally knowing Jesus Christ.

**Pray. The greatest timesaver is prayer. Jesus recognized that His most valuable and productive use of time occurred when He was alone with the Father. As you seek God’s will, prayer acts as a compass in your life.

**Discover God’s plan for you, and live accordingly. A believer who knowingly sins or walks outside of God’s will can expect to be unproductive and unfulfilled. You can’t maximize your effectiveness if you’re struggling against God or have become hardened to His voice.

**Write a mission statement for your life. Ask the Lord about His desires for you, and think about how you can use the rest of your earthly life to bring Him glory. If you pray for God’s guidance and for ears to hear His voice, you’ll find He will make the most of your time. ~~
--IN TOUCH~~
[Friend, Jesus loves you with an everlasting love. No matter what sin you have committed. No matter what thoughts you think that are unkind. God can change you. Jesus died on the Cross to pay your sin-debt. But in order to receive that gift you must ask Him to come into your heart. Believe that Jesus is Lord, Confess you sins, and turn in the opposite direction. When we head toward sin, the devil is leading us, not our Lord. God can not be tempted by evil nor does He tempt anyone. Please, turn to Jesus and He will help you get right with Him. He doesn't have the answer, He is the answer to our sin problem. We all are sinners. Please continue reading. ~~]

---COME TO THE ONE WHO CAN MAKE YOU NEW~~

~~Jesus is the only one who can meet your deepest needs--He is the bread of life, the light of the world and the one who bore your sin so that you can be forgiven. If you're not sure that you belong to Him, you can be sure. God calls you to turn away from sin and to receive Jesus Christ by faith as your Lord and Savior. You can do that right now, wherever you are. You'll begin a relationship with God, and He promises that you will be forgiven and become a completely new person. ~~
~~~~~~~~~~~
**START BY SIMPLY TALKING TO GOD~~
-You can pray a prayer like this: (or in your own words)
~~"Dear God, I know that I am a sinner. I'm sorry for my sin. I want to turn from my sin. Please forgive me. I believe Jesus Christ is Your Son; I believe He died on the cross for my sin and You raised Him to life. I want Him to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want to trust Jesus as my Savior and follow Him as my Lord from this day forward. In Jesus' Name. amen."

**DO IT RIGHT NOW~~

Then contact us, and we will send information to help you.

**VISIT US ONLINE:
Tell us about your decision or ask more questions at PeaceWithGod.net. For Spanish, visit PazConDios.net.
Find a personal discipleship coach at KnowJesus.net and ConociendoaJesus.net ~

**WRITE TO US:
Christian Guidance Department
Billy Graham Evangelist Association
1 Billy Graham Parkway
Charlotte, NC 28201-0001 USA

**EMAIL US:
help@bgea.org (in Canada, info@bgea.ca)

**CALL US:
Toll-free, Monday-Friday 8:30a.m.to 11 p.m.
Saturday 9 a.m. to 11 p.m., Eastern Time at 1-877-247-2426.

~~IN CHRIST ~~
-'Touching Lives' / Dr. [Pastor] James Merritt

“ For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."
~~~[Romans 6:23 / NASB] --

~~"..…In Christ Jesus our Lord.” - [Romans 6:23]

~~At the end of Romans 6:23, Paul adds five words that may seem like an unnecessary addition. However, without these five words, there is no gift of eternal life. So the verse ends, “… in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Why are these five words so important? Because eternal life is indeed a gift…but it is not completely free. That is true of every gift that has ever been given. While a gift costs nothing to the receiver, it always costs something to the giver. In the same way, eternal life is free to you and me because Jesus paid for it on the Cross. Eternal life is only available in Christ Jesus our Lord. He paid our sin-debt by dying on the Cross. ['Without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sin" (Hebrews 9:22)].

Jesus bought our spiritual life through His own physical death. On the cross, He suffered the spiritual death of being separated from God. That death belonged to sinners, but He suffered in our place. Do you understand how Jesus died? The Roman soldiers did not kill Jesus. They crucified Him, yes, but He gave up His own Spirit. “No one can take My life from Me. I lay it down of my own accord” (John 10:18). Our sin killed Jesus. He took what He didn’t deserve so that we might receive what we don’t deserve. We deserve death, but God desires life.

In light of Christ’s sacrifice, each of us has a choice to make. We can refuse Jesus and die physically, spiritually, and eternally. Or, we can receive Jesus and live spiritually, physically, and eternally.

~~"Dear Lord, help me to remember your generous sacrifice on the Cross and help me feel your spiritual presence each day until I get to be in your physical presence when I pass from Earth to Heaven. I praise You and bless You, my Redeemer, Savior, and Lord Jesus. ~ Amen."
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--[Jesus said, "If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine;
"and you will know the truth and the truth will make you free.
"So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed" [John 8:31,32, 36 NASB~] ~]

~~~ADVANCING THROUGH ADVERSITY~~

--[Please Read/ Philippians 3:7-11]

~~One of the hardest things for Christians to understand is how to find joy in suffering. Yet we know it can be done, because James tells us, “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials” (James 1:2). And Peter says, “To the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing” (1 Peter 4:13). What’s more, with regard to persecution, Jesus said, “Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great” (Matt. 5:12). But how is this possible?

Paul offers a clue in Philippians, where he talks about “the fellowship of [Jesus’] sufferings” (Phil. 3:10). In this part of the letter, the apostle’s objective is to know Christ and know Him thoroughly. If the Lord is a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief, then can we truly know Him while ignoring these attributes?

When we view hardships as windows into the heart of our Savior, our perspective changes: Suffering begins to feel more like an opportunity than a curse. It gives us access to intimate fellowship with Jesus that comes only through shared suffering.

Are you struggling in a trial today? I pray for your strength to endure so that you might discover more of who Jesus truly is.

--"Lord Jesus, we need your Presence today and everyday. Please stay by our sides and help us remember Your words, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you.You are Mine. I hold you in the palm of My nail-pierced hand.' ~ "Even so, Come Lord Jesus, come." ~ --amen~

--IN TOUCH~~

--The Lord Is Watching Over All Of Us~~

-"Yea, the sparrow hath found an house, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young."
---(Psalm 84:3 /KJV) ~

~~~I've been sitting front row center for a miracle this month--a robin built a nest in my second-story office window. There, two Wedgwood-blue-eggs nestled safe from the rain. The mother sat on them for days, her tail feathers pushed up against my screen. She got used to the tat-a-tat of my keyboard, the brring-ring-ring of my phone.

When the babies hatched, they were the size of my thumbnail, with pinkish skin, tiny wisps of white down, and huge eyes. Almost at once the mother began to feed them, flying down into the front yard and procuring a range of delicacies: worms and bugs and silky-winged insects.

Now, after a few short weeks, the birds are dark and fully-feathered. Their chests are the pale red of diluted cranberry juice. They flutter their wings and stretch their legs. I become concerned that they might not fly. What if they fail and crash into my concrete porch below?

I came into my office yesterday and the nest was empty. (Yes, I did check the front porch.) Looking out from my desk, I saw one tiny bird still perched on the window ledge. I needed to open the window, but I was afraid I'd frighten the little thing, throwing off its first attempt to fly. Cautiously, I opened the window to its full height. With a single screech, the reluctant robin threw itself off the ledge and soared to the top of a pine tree fifty yards away. ~~

~"Lord G-D, Creator of all things, thank You that you care for all Your creatures. Sustain me with Your love and truth. And nudge me when I linger too long on the window ledges of life! I know that with You, all things truly will be alright. You hold the whole world in your hands. In Jesus Name~amen"

--Guideposts/MLC--"You're Gonna Be OK" (lyrics)// Jenn Johnson //<https://youtu.be/dgvcw2vXRm4>
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--ENCOURAGE ONE ANOTHER, IN JESUS NAME!

~~PAINFUL PRUNING~~

"He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch
that does not bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful."
---(John 15:2)--

~~Last summer we planted rosebushes in the backyard in honor of my grandmother. Wild and sweet-smelling roses had grown around her house. The roses we planted would be a beautiful reminder of her.

I was joyful as I watched the roses bloom all summer. Then came the first frost. I knew it was time to lop off the roses and prune the branches.

Just as I had to prune the rosebushes to foster annual renewal, sometimes God needs to do some pruning in us. Even though it's painful and we don't welcome it, He prunes us so we "will be even more fruitful" (John 15:2). His aim isn't to hurt us, but to conform us into the image of Jesus (Romans 8:29) for our blessings and growth (Job 5:17).

Maybe you're going through a difficult time. You're struggling and wish the hurt and discomfort would go away. That's understandable. Yet, if you're being pruned, you can look to the future with great expectation. God is making sure you bear even more fruit, for His glory. He'll never waste your pain and suffering. ~~
--ODB/MG~ --"Graves Into Gardens"// (feat.Brandon Lake)=Elevation Worship//<https://youtu.be/mPhJdvf8Zvg>
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--NOTHING IS USELESS~~

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

~~In my third year battling discouragement and depression caused by limited mobility and chronic pain, I confided to a friend, "My body's falling apart. I feel like I have nothing of value to offer God or anyone else."

"Would you say it doesn't make a difference when I greet you with a smile or listen to you?" she asked. "Would you tell me it's worthless when I pray for you?"

"Of course not."

"Then why are you telling yourself those lies? You do all those things for me and for others."

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

Because God promises we'll be resurrected through Christ (1 Corinthians 15:43), we can trust Him to use every small effort done for Him to make a difference in His kingdom (v.58).

Even when we're physically limited, a smile, a word of encouragement, a prayer, or a display of faith during our trial can be used to minister to others. When we serve the Lord, no job or act of love is too menial to matter. It is for the Lord that "we live and move and have our being' -[Acts 17:28]
--ODB/XC
"Reign Above It All"// (lyrics) The McClures //<https://youtu.be/H7tQRpKO0TY>
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~~Encourage One Another~~

"Then will...the mute tongue shout for joy."
---(Isaiah 35:6)--

~~~~When my mother moved into a nursing home, I said a pleasant, "Hello. How are you today?" to Mom's new roommate Jeanie, but I got no response. I turned my back and moved on to my visit with Mom.

Over lunch Dad told me, "Jeanie had a stroke and can't talk, but she understands clearly enough."

Feeling a bit ashamed of how I had ignored Jeanie, I decided to make a better effort at conversing with her. As I nervously entered the room, my eyes caught three or four small statues of dachshunds on the bed table. "Did you have a dachshund?" I asked.

Jeanie slowly nodded her head.
"Was it this big?" I asked, holding my hands apart.

She shook her head and pushed my hands closer together. "Oh, she was a miniature!" I said.

We went on with our yes/no guessing-game conversation, and I discovered that she had a daughter and several grandchildren.

Before my next visit, I found a small dachshund kitchen magnet to take to Jeanie. When she pulled the little gift out of the bag, a small miracle happened. She opened her mouth and exactly one enthusiastic word came out quite distinctly. "Baby!"

That was all she said, but it was gift enough for both of us. I squeezed her drooping shoulder. "Oh, Jeanie," I said,"how wonderful! I heard you say 'baby loud and clear."

One of the miracles that always sent shock waves of praise and amazement through the crowds that followed Jesus was when He caused the dumb to speak. You, too, can hear a miracle happen if you listen hard enough to the silences beyond the words. ~~

"Lord Jesus, today, help me to offer my own silences wisely to bring out a word from someone who is struggling to be heard. Each and every person is important to You, our Rock and Redeemer."~

--Guideposts/KB
--"No One Ever Cared For Me Like Jesus"//(lyrics) Steffany Gretzinger<https://youtu.be/YsQgZzQDups>
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--Encourage One Another, in Jesus ~

--WHERE WE ARE ~~

~~"Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, all all these things will be given to you as well."
---(Matthew 6:33)

~~I took the day off from work to experience some much-needed silence and solitude. I had much to be thankful for, but internally I was struggling with something I wanted to talk to God about.

While sitting on a park bench overlooking a pond, I noticed a robin searching for food. As I watched it yank at a worm, I was reminded of Matthew 6 verse 26 ="Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?"

I sensed God telling me He would provide what I need as I seek His kingdom each day (v.33). I don't need to worry or work in order to bring it about. I'm to faithfully obey Him, trust Him, and rest in His power to bring about what I cannot.

Worry won't add to my life; it will only take away from it (v.27). After all, my heavenly Father knows exactly what I need.~

ODB/ML--
--"The God Who Stays" (lyrics) Matthew West //<https://youtu.be/flJF1fMvz5Y>
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--ENCOURAGE ONE ANOTHER ~~

--"Encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing."
--(1 Thessalonians 5:11/ NIV) --

~~I'd just finished playing my guitar and singing songs to a group of young birthday guests. I took on more of these birthday gigs to make money since my writing career had hit a lull.

"Who's ready for face painting?" I asked, and the children lit up with requests for animals, superheroes, and princess crowns. I tucked my guitar in its flimsy case and placed it behind me on the grass. Children crowded around me as I transformed their faces. I didn't even see the child who stepped on my case and broke the neck of my guitar in half.

When their faces were done, I reached into my case to play more songs. I held back tears as I saw my guitar held together only by its strings. The adults gasped, but the party wasn't over. I had to sing songs acappella with lots of animation and a big smile, even though I wanted to cry. The money I would make from this part would not go toward bills as I'd hoped. It would have to go toward another guitar.

I walked home feeling defeated It seemed as if no matter how hard I tried in life. I would always have to struggle. It wasn't just my guitar that was broken that day.

A few days later, the worship leader led me to the stage of our church. There were four guitars lined up like soldiers on the stands. "Pick the one you want," he said. He went on to tell me how much he believed in me and my talent as a musician. With each encouraging word, I felt new again, just like the beautiful new guitar I chose--its sound so much richer than the one that was broken. ~~

---"Thank You, Lord Jesus, for those who lift me up when I'm discourage. Help me to learn from their example and encourage others as well. In Christ's name.~~amen"

--"My God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus" --[Philippians 4:19].
--GUIDEPOSTS/KV~
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