I like that!!! I can't wait till he comes and gets us out of this place and I am trying to be patient. A little hard sometimes but i'm anxiously waiting and praying.

He will come, and what a day it will be!

Amen! Russ, ((( Smiles )))

The entire world and universe will be a beautifull place to live in then.
It's an amazing universe now and to know it can get even better.
Under God's rule is something worth waiting for no matter how hard.
No war, no crime, no tears no pain..
Full of love and brotherhood for all..
We will be one big family then..
What a wonderfull picnic that will be and that reminds me
of fish and honeycomb.
What an amazing food and event!
I enjoyed it too..
Thanks for posting that.

Lynn

KNOW JESUS ~

John 4:4-42
---
"Whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst..the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life." (John 4:14)

Jesus' encounter with a Samaritan woman brings comfort to the thirsty soul. Resting by the well when she came with her water jar, Jesus asked a simple favor of her. He avoided her comments of moral and cultural differences and didn't argue or intimidate her for what she didn't know. He used water to illustraate living water. At her request for the convenience of "this water so that I won't get thirsty and have to keep coming here," Jesus remained patient. How He would quench her thirst!

Jesus knew full well of her sin yet did not condemn her. He spoke to her of worship that comes from the heart...worship not shaped by outward appearances and judgment. When she saw Him as Messiah, she left her water jar and hurried to tell others about Christ, her Savior.

Jesus knows what is in our hearts, what we are thinking, where we are hurting. In our brokenness before Him, He shows us the truth and lovingly leads us to the Living Water. Every thirst that we will ever have is satisfied in JESUS!
---
Get alone and open up your heart to Jesus. Ask Him to show you Himself and what you truly need.
Jesus is waiting for YOU!
---
Anchor
Haven Ministries

--Jesus Prays for Us -
JOHN 17:6-26

"I pray also for those who will believe in me...May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me." -
(JOHN 17:20-23)

--Even though Jesus prayed this prayer thousands of years ago for believers, His prayer is for you and me, also. The heading in my Bible says, "Jesus Prays for Future Believers." In verse 21 Jesus asks the Father, "that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I in you." God desires unity and harmony among all believers. Unity in us proves to the world that God is real.

Jesus reveals God the Father to believers. In His prayer, He commits Himself to continue teaching us about God. This is a life-long process. He also prays that we realize that the Father loves us as much as He loves Jesus. How breathtaking the thought!

We may forget this when we fail, when we are discouraged, when we question God's love for us. When our son, Rick, was murdererd, I said to God, "This doesn't feel like love." But God's love for us is not based on warm, fuzzy feelings. Even when our hearts break, we need to remember His infinite love for us never fails, and we can rest solidly in that.
----
This amazing truth is beyond our ability to comprehend. God loves you and me as much as He loves Jesus!

Haven Today Ministries

--CROSS THE
DIVIDE

Jesus' love knows no boundaries!
----
Mark 2:13-17
~~~
As [Jesus] was dining
in Levi's house,...
many tax collectors
and sinners also sat
together with Jesus.
--Mark 2:15
---
TWO young men with mischief on their minds approached a missionary's outreach bus parked in a downtown area of a German city. The missionaries were there to offer refreshments as a way to open up conversations about Christ. The two visitors, wearing skull-and-crossbones bandannas, were there to offer trouble.

But the missionaries didn't respond to the ruffians as they expected. The Christians welcomed them warmly and engaged them in discussion. Surprised, the guys hung around long enough to hear the gospel. One trusted Jesus that day. The other, the next.

Those two young men and the missionaries who reached them were light-years apart culturally. The guys were German; the missionaries, American. The guys were involved in a culture of darkness and death; the missionaries were shining the light. The cultural divide was crossed with nonjudgmental love.

Look at the people around you. How can you show those on the other side of the cultural fence unconditional, unquestioning love? How can you cross the divide and help them see that Jesus' love knows no boundaries?

Cross the divide. Take Christ to the culture--even if it doesn't look anything like yours.
----------
Our witness for Christ is a light
for a world in darkness.

ODB/DB

-HOLD MY
HAND
~~~

Do not fear nor
be dismayed.
---Deuteronomy 31:8
---
THE waves of Lake Michigan were high and splashing onto the pier one day as I followed a young family out to a lighthouse. I overheard the young girl say to her father: "Daddy, please walk alongside me and hold my hand at this scary part."

Sometimes life can be scary for us too: Loss of loved ones. Finanacial woes. Health problems. As we carry these heavy burdens and cares, we long for a strong hand to hold ours to keep us steady and secure.

When Joshua took over the leadership of Israel, Moses reminded him of God's help in tough times. In the difficult days to come, Joshua would need to remember to trust God and His promises. Moses said, "The LORD, He is the One who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed" (Deut. 31:8).

Isaiah 41:13 encourages us with these words from God: "I, the LORD your God, will hold your right hand, saying to you, 'Fear not, I will help you.'" When life gets scary, God is with us, we can hold His strong hand.

This song by Lowell Alexander reminds us of God's presence: "You will face mountains so steep, deserts so long, and valleys so deep. Sometimes the journey's gentle, sometimes the cold winds blow. But I want you to remember I want you to know you will never walk alone...Jesus will be right beside you all the way."
He'll walk alongside us and hold our hand at the "scary" parts. ~~
--
Fears flee in the light of God's presence.

ODB/AC

--AIM HIGH
Hebrews 5:13-6:3
---
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 --
~~~~
WHEN my daughter and her family were in town for a visit, I had a chance to take my son and two sons-in-law out for a "guy" outing. We decided that while the ladies were shopping, we would go to a firing range and practice shooting. We rented two pistols and took aim at our targets. We soon discovered that on one of the firearms the sight was set too low. If we aimed using that sight, we hit the bottom of the target. We had to aim high in order to hit anywhere near the bull's-eye.

Isn't life a lot like that? If we set our sights too low, we really don't accomplish all that we can. Sometimes we have to aim high in order to reach a desired goal.

What should be our aim in life? Well, since Scripture is our true guide, we will shoot for nothing but spiritual maturity. In fact, in Paul's farewell to the people of Corinth, he said, "Aim for perfection" (2 Cor. 13:11 NIV). And we also have the high aim of these words from the lips of Jesus, "You shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect" (Matt. 5:48).

Perfection is a lofty target, and we won't attain it in this life But if we want to honor God and get close to that high goal, we need to aim high. ~~

O to be like Thee, blessed Redeemer,
This is my constant longing and prayer;
Gladly I'll forfeit all of earth's treasures,
Jesus, Thy perfect likeness to wear.
----
Conversion is the miracle of a moment;
maturing takes a lifetime.

ODB/DB

Max Lucado Daily: He Knocks Gently


------He Knocks Gently

Behold, I stand at the door and knock. Revelation 3:20, NASB

Jesus always knocks before entering.

He doesn’t have to. He owns your heart.

If anyone has the right to barge in, Christ does.

But he doesn’t

That gentle tap you hear? It’s Christ. -

-----
Won't you invite Him in? He's waiting just for YOU!

-Knocking at the Heart
Revelation 3:14-22

"Here I am! I stand the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in..."
Revelation 3:20 -

When it comes to coffee, I like mine tongue-toasting hot. As it begins to cool, I cannot drink it. But I also like my coffee iced. It's got to be either hot or cold.

Jesus warns the Laodecian Christians that they are neither hot nor cold, because their hearts are self-satisfied, content to depend on themselves rather than on Him. What these believers don't understand is that, while they think they have it all together and are living the "good" life, Jesus views them wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked--not a pretty picture. Like lukewarm coffee, He wants to spit them out of His mouth. Instead, He lovingly stands at the doors of their hearts, knocking and calling for entrance.

How patiently He waits for us, rapping and listening to hear if we will recognize His voice. How He longs for us to let Him fully possess our hearts, to know Him as the Lover of our souls, to open our innermost beings to Him, so we can trust and enjoy that perfect intimacy with Him for which we were created.
--
Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling,
Calling for you and for me;
See on the portals He's waiting and watching,
Watching for you and for me.

--Haven Today

-JOYFUL
REUNION

2 Timothy 4:1-8
----
He who testifies to
these things says,
"Surely I am coming
quickly." Amen. Even
so, come, Lord Jesus!
--Revelation 22:20

SOME years ago when our children were still small, I flew home after a 10-day ministry trip. In those days people were allowed to visit the airport boarding area to greet incoming passengers. When my flight landed, I came out of the jet-bridge and was greeted by our little ones--so happy to see me that they were screaming and crying. I looked at my wife, whose eyes were teary. I couldn't speak. Strangers in the gate area also teared up as our children hugged my legs and cried their greetings. It was a wonderful moment.

The memory of the intensity of that greeting serves as a gentle rebuke to the priorites of my own heart. The apostle John, eagerly desiring Jesus' return, wrote, "He who testifies to these things says, 'Surely I am coming quickly.' Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!". In another passage, Paul even spoke of a crown awaiting those who have "loved His appearing" (2 Tim. 4:8). Yet sometimes I don't feel as eager for Christ's return as my children were for mine.

Jesus is worthy of the best of our love and devotion--and nothing on earth should compare to the thought of seeing Him face-to-face. May our love for our Savior deepen as we anticipate our joyful reunion with Him.
-----
Those who belong to Christ
should be longing to see Him.

ODB/BC

-If Jesus Came To Your House ~~
--- ---
If Jesus came to your house to spend
a day or two.
If He came unexpectedly, I wonder what you'd do.

Oh, I know you'd give your nicest room
to such an honored Guest,
And all the food you'd serve to Him would
be the very best,

And you would keep assuring Him
you're glad to have Him there,
That serving Him in your own
home is joy beyond compare.

But, when you saw Him coming,
would you meet Him at the door
With arms outstretched in welcome
to your heavenly Visitor?

Or would you have to change your clothes
before you let Him in?
Or hide some magazines and put the Bible
where they'd been?

Would you turn off the radio and hope He
hadn't heard?
And wish you hadn't uttered that last, loud,
hasty word?

Would you hide your worldly music and put
some hymn books out?
Could you let Jesus walk right in, or would
you rush about?

And I wonder, if the Saviour spent
a day or two with you,
Would you go right on doing the things you
always do?

Would you go right on saying the
things you always say?
Would life for you continue as it
does from day to day?

Would your family conversation
keep up its usual pace?
And would you find it hard each
meal to say a table grace?

And would you sing the songs you always sing,
and read the books you read,
And let Him know the things on which your
mind and spirit feed?

Would you take Jesus with you everywhere
you'd planned to go?
Or would you, maybe, change your plans
for just a day or so?

Would you be glad to have Him meet your
very closest friends?
Or would you hope they'd stay away until
His visit ends?

Would you be glad to have Him stay
forever on and on?
Or would you sigh with great relief when
He at last was gone?

It might be interesting to know the things
that you would do
If Jesus Christ in person came to spend
some time with you. ~~

--(Lois Blanchard Eades)
~~~
Jesus said: "Behold I stand at the door, and knock;
if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will
come in to him..." Revelation 3:20

--JESUS IS OUR ROCK!

'The eyes of the LORD
are on the righteous,
and His ears are open
to their cry.
--Psalm 34:15
-----
--There are times when a dependable presence disappears. Something or someone we've relied on is gone, and our life is shaken. Maybe it's the loss of a loved one, or a job or good health. The loss makes us feel off-balance, unstable. We might even think that God is no longer watching over us.

But, "The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their cry" (Ps. 34:15). He "is near to those who have a broken heart" (v.18). He is the Rock whose presence we can always depend on (Deut.32:4).

God's presence is real. He continually watches over us. He is our ROCK, our SAVIOR, LORD, and KING of all kings. If you belong to Him, tell Him how much you love Him and praise Him for who He is.
If you do not know Christ as your Lord and Savior, please don't let another day pass without inviting Him into your life. We are not promised tomorrow.

-Romans 10:9-10 is our 'Sinners Prayer'. "That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with you mouth that you confess and are saved." He is always knocking at the doors of hearts, waiting to be invited in. Jesus paid our sin-debt by dying on the Cross over 2,000 years ago. He will return soon to receive us unto Himself.

--Are you ready for His soon arrival? If not, please say the Sinner's Prayer, as mentioned in above Scripture verses. Admit you are a sinner in need of Him, the Savior. Confess your sins and acknowledge His payment for them, as 'PAID IN FULL', and invite Him to take control over your life. He never turns an honest sincere heart away. Jesus died for each one of us, to give us life eternal with Him.~~
Be sure to scroll to the beginning of this thread and see the Picture (portraying) 'Christ Knocks at the Door'. ~~

[We will gladly send you our free 'All Things Are New' kit to help you take the next step in your relationship with God. Contact our Customer Care department at 800-789-1473, or visit <www.intouch.org> for more information.]
---------

--A SANCTUARY

-Matthew 11:25-30
-----
'Come to Me, all you
who labor and are
heavy laden, and I
will give you rest'.
--Matthew 11:28
---
-ENTERING a church in Klang, Malaysia, I was intrigued by the sign welcoming us into the building. It declared the place to be "A Sanctuary for the Heavy Laden."

Few things better reflect the heart of Christ than for His church to be a place where burdens are lifted and the weary find rest. This was vital in Jesus' ministry, for He said, "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest" (Matt. 11:28).

Jesus promised to take our burdens and exchange them for His light load. "Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light" (vv.29-30).

This promise is backed by His great strength. Whatever burdens we may carry, in Christ we find the strong shoulders of the Son of God, who promises to take our heavy burdens and exchange them for His light load.

Christ, who loves us with an everlasting love, understands our struggles and can be trusted to provide us with a rest we can never find on our own. His strength is enough for our weakness, making Him our "sanctuary for the heavy laden."
----
--GOD CALLS THE RESTLESS ONES TO FIND THEIR REST IN HIM.

--ODB/BC

--The Believer’s Passion
---2 Timothy 1:1-11-

--A fire will not continue to burn strongly unless it’s stoked. Similarly, a believer’s fervor, if left untended, can diminish.

New Christians often share their faith passionately and sense God’s joy and peace. Yet this zeal can fade unintentionally. From today’s passage, we gather that Timothy had let his flame of faith cool slightly (vv. 6-7).

Believers can experience “cooling” for several reasons. When tragedy strikes, a person may feel that his prayers went unanswered and that God doesn’t care. If he then prays less, it’s easy to drift away from the Lord. At other times, Christians can be sidetracked by the world’s priorities—Timothy’s enthusiasm wavered because of false teaching and fear. Whatever the apparent trigger may be, Satan is the underlying cause; he lures believers away from single-minded devotion to Jesus.

Drifting can be subtle and hard to detect. Six questions can help you assess whether your enthusiasm for God remains strong:

1.) Do you have joy in the Lord and a desire to serve Him, share the gospel, and help others in need?

2.) Do you spend time in the Word daily?

3.) Do you pray, knowing that God is listening and working in your life?

4.) **Do you faithfully attend church and tithe?

5.) Do you experience joy, peace, contentment, and hope in Jesus?

6.) Do you stand firm in your godly convictions?

If some of your answers recently changed from “yes” to “no,” your fire may be diminishing. Acknowledge this to the Lord. Ask for His help to fuel your passion..
--IN TOUCH~
[**Of course there can be other reasons 'why' we may not attend the church building. We must remember that 'we' the people are the Church, the body of Christ. The main point is to keep your mind nourished by reading the Word, Holy Bible, and praying. The Lord knows your heart. Keep 'in touch' with Him. "Man looks on the outward appearance, but God looks on the heart."]

---THREE QUESTIONS~~ / [When Trials Come]

--Several years ago, three questions rocked my world. 1) Had you been a German Christian during World War II, would you have taken a stand against Hitler? 2) Had you lived in the South during the civil rights conflict, would you have taken a stand against racism? 3) When your grandchildren discover you lived during a day in which billions of people were poor and hungry, how will they judge your response?

I didn’t mind the first two questions. Those days are gone and those choices were not mine. But the third question has kept me awake at night. What if we rocked our world with hope? What if we infiltrated all corners with God’s love and light?
What if we followed the example of the Jerusalem church? This tiny sect expanded into a world-changing force.
What if we lived our lives by this prayer? 'Do it again, Jesus. Do it again!' That’s the question we need to answer.~~
--
--**God is Always With You/ML~~**[Please click on the https address after the Title of the Song to see it. Thank you.]
--When Trials Come/ Keith and Kristyn Getty/<https://youtu.be/DulUJxJ1Ldw>

---GROWING A SERVANT'S HEART~~

-"I am among you
as one who serves."
--(LUKE 22:27)---

--IT WAS A LONG DAY at work. But when I got home, it was time to start my "other" job: being a good dad. Greetings from my wife and kids soon became, "Dad, what's for dinner?" "Dad, can you get me some water?" "Dad, can we play soccer?"

I just wanted to sit down. And even though part of me really wanted to be a good dad, I didn't feel like serving my family's needs. That's when I saw it: a thank-you card my wife had received from someone at Church. It pictured a bowl of water, a towel, and dirty sandals. Across the bottom were these words from Luke 22:27: "I am among you as one who serves."

That statement of Jesus's mission, to serve those He came to seek and save (LUKE 19:10), was exactly what I needed. If Jesus was willing to do the dirtiest of jobs for His followers--like scrubbing His followers' no doubt filthy feet (JOHN 13:1-17)--I could get my son a cup of water without grumbling about it. In that moment, I was reminded that my family's requests to serve them weren't merely an obligation, but an opportunity to reflect Jesus's servant heart and His love to them. When requests are made of us, they are chances to become more like the One who served His followers by laying down His life for us.~~

--"Lord, sometimes it's hard to serve others' needs. Help us to become more like You, willing to express Your love in the many opportunities we have to serve those around us each day.~
--ODB/AH--/
"CAN I GET A WITNESS"/ Phillips, Craig and Dean~-( SPEAKERS UP!)

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