THAT YOU MAY KNOW ~

1 John 5:6-13
~~~~~~
These things I have
written to you who
believe in the name
of the Son of God
that you may KNOW
that you have eternal
life. --1 John 5:13
~~~
While Wim was in the marketplace in the Netherlands, he struck up a conversation with a woman who said that you can get to heaven by doing good works.

His attempt to explain that it is by God's grace that we are "saved through faith" (Eph. 2:8) brought a smile as the woman repeated confidently: "and....by doing good works." Then another woman volunteered, "You can hope you'll go to heaven, but you can't be sure." Wim's assertion that he did KNOW for sure was met with a muttered, "Nobody knows for sure."

Wim then showed the woman what 1 John 5:11-13 says. He explained: "See, it doesn't say HOPE there, it says KNOW." Unconvinced, she said, "Like you, my pastor says that we have to have faith, but you really never know whether you've been good enough. You may think you have, but who can be sure?"

To some, Wim's confidence may seem incredible. But he based his words on this statement: "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works,lest any man should boast" (Eph. 2:8-9).

We can't be good enough. We can never do enough good things. But we can be sure of heaven if we simply believe on the LORD (Acts 16:31).--C.H.Kasper
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We cannot earn our way to heaven
By word or work or worth;
But if we trust in Christ to save us,
Then we'll enjoy new birth.
-----------
We are saved by God's mercy, not by our merit--
by Christ's dying, not by our doing.

Our Daily Bread
Blessings, Abishag

-HOW CAN I DO LESS?
Than Give Him My Best?
By: Dave McCarrell
--
THE above phrase comes from a chorus we used to sing when I was a teenager: "How can I do less than give Him my best after all He's done for me." The motivation for a Christian living a separated life should never be rules and regulations, or common events. But when we contemplate what Christ accomplished for us, and what he continually does for us, our hearts should sing out, "How can I do less than give Him my best."

When we look at God's word in Romans 8, we see it is a chapter of deliverance. My dad, Billy McCarrell used to say, this deliverance is always through Jesus Christ, who in John 14:6 declared Himself,"The way, the truth, and the life," without whom no man can come unto God.

In Romans 8, we see that He, Christ, is the way of deliverance and victory. His deliverance is from darkness into light, from bondage of law into grace and liberty, from a defeated, sinful life into triumphant spiritual life. He provides the way from doubt into assurance, from gloom into joyful praise, from occupancy with self into occupancy with Christ, from delight in self into delight in Christ.

At the start of the 8th chapter we read, "There is therefore no condemnation..." At least 27 assuring evidences are presented in Romans 8 which assures one of "No Condemnation," in Christ. When we accept Christ as Savior, He takes all our demerits and gives us His merits. He became poor, so we could be amazingly rich (2 Cor. 8-9). He became homeless so we could have a Heavenly home, He was stripped of clothing on the cross so we could be clothed in the Righteousness of God forever. He was forsaken so we would never be forsaken, He was bound so we could be set free. He was sad so we could be eternally glad, He was a servant so we could become the Sons of God. He who knew no sin was made sin for us, that we might be made the Righteousness of God through Him. He rose from the grave so we could conquer death, He is coming again to take us with Him so He can display the riches of His grace towards us for ever and ever.

Isn't it wonderful to know that your sins are forgiven in God's sight forever? Even for us who know Christ as Savior when we've blown it, or fallen in our walk, God says in 1 John 1:9, "If we confess our sin, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteusness." We have to accept the consequences of our sin, but should never think that God will not honor His word, to "cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

Never let Satan beat you down by telling you that you have failed again. Christ says if we confess our sin, as far as He is concerned, it is removed as far as the east is from the west to be remembered no more.

No wonder our hearts should sing out in praise, "How can I do less than give Him my best, and live for Him completely after all he's done for me." ~~
<http://youtu.be/8iSonhirygA> /JESUS MESSIAH!

-When We See Jesus
Ezekiel 1:28-2:10

"When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: 'Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last.'"
(Revelation 1:17)

John's experiences on the Mount of Transfiguration and in Revelation were almost identical. On the Mount, when Jesus was set alight with glory, John fell on his face. In Revelation when he realized it was Jesus, he "fell at his feet as though dead." On the Mount Jesus touched him. In Revelation John felt the exciting touch of Jesus, again, along with the same words of comfort: "Do not be afraid."-

It seems that every meaningful meeting with Jesus has the same eternal ring about it: We see Him. We fall in worship. He touches us. He gives a word for us. Our hearts are comforted and revived.

It took a while until John recognized Jesus. You can almost hear John say, "Jesus, it is you!" It is good to see what He does, but it is infinitely better to see Jesus Himself. Doubts and questions go; hope is restored.

Nothing revives the heart like a new vision of Jesus...new, yes, but laced with familiar feelings. We realize to our utter amazement that He has been there all the time, even if hidden from view.
--
When Jesus seems hidden, recall what you saw when you did see Him. He has not changed. He is faithful.

--Haven Today

-Not Many Wise Men

"For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called." (1 Corinthians 1:26)
--
For the most part, the rich and famous of this world, the wise and powerful, have always looked down on the followers of Christ and the Scriptures. This seems increasingly true today, and many believers have been led to compromise as a result. Rather than being discouraged by the intellectual snobbery of educated and powerful unbelievers, however, we should rejoice in this further proof of the prophetic inspiration of the Holy Scriptures.

This passage is, in fact, a remarkably fulfilled prophecy, true for almost 2,000 years. Christians have founded great universities to train people in God's truth, only to see them taken over, one after another, by the ungodly leaders of this present world. Missionaries have carried the gospel to heathen lands, only to be superseded by wealth-seeking materialists who exploit and subvert their converts.

Paul did not say "not any," of course, but "not many." God always has raised up a few brilliant or powerful men (such as Paul himself) who have devoted their abilities and influence to the Lord and His Word, but these have always been the exception. There have been a few godly kings and generals, a few Christ-honoring artists and musicians of great talent, but they are far outnumbered by the others.

But we must remember that God said long ago that was the way it would be. "God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in His presence" (1 Corinthians 1:27-29). HMM

--JUDAS, THE MAN WHO NEVER KNEW
-By: Max Lucado
-

I’ve wondered at times what kind of man this Judas was. What he looked like, how he acted, who his friends were.

I guess I’ve stereotyped him. I’ve always pictured him as a wiry, beady-eyed, sly, wormy fellow, pointed beard and all. I’ve pictured him as estranged from the other apostles.

Friendless. Distant. Undoubtedly he was a traitor and a
quisling. Probably the result of a broken home. A juvenile delinquent in his youth.

Yet I wonder if that is so true. We have no evidence (save Judas’s silence)that would suggest that he was isolated. At the Last Supper, when Jesus said that his betrayer sat at the table, we don’t find the apostles immediately turning to Judas as the logical traitor.

No, I think we’ve got Judas pegged wrong. Perhaps he was just the opposite. Instead of sly and wiry, maybe he was robust and jovial. Rather than quiet and introverted, he could have been outgoing and well-meaning. I don’t know.

But for all the things we don’t know about Judas, there is one thing we know for sure: He had no relationship with the Master. He had seen Jesus, but he did not know him. He had heard Jesus, but he did not understand him. He had a religion but no relationship.

As Satan worked his way around the table in the upper room, he needed a special kind of man to betray our Lord. He needed a man who had seen Jesus but who did not know him. He needed a man who knew the actions of Jesus but had missed out on the mission of Jesus. Judas was this man. He knew the empire but had never known the Man.

Judas bore the cloak of religion, but he never knew the heart of Christ.

We learn this timeless lesson from the betrayer. Satan’s best tools of destruction are not from outside the church; they are within the church. A church will never die from the immorality in Hollywood or the corruption in Washington. But it will die from corrosion within—from those who bear the name of Jesus but have never met him and from those who have religion but no
relationship.

Judas bore the cloak of religion, but he never knew the heart of Christ. Let’s make it our goal to know … deeply.
______________________________
From: Shaped by God (original title: On the Anvil)
--Max Lucado

-IS GOD
OBLIGATED?

Jeremiah 7:1-11
---
Amend your ways
and your doings.
--Jeremiah 7:3 -
--
A friend sent me photographs of 20 beautiful churches in the world. Located as far apart as Iceland and India, each of them is architecturally unique.

The most beautiful place of worship in Jeremiah's day was the temple in Jerusalem, which King Josiah had recently repaired and restored ( 2 Chron. 34-34). The people were fixated on the magnificent building (Jer. 7:4), and they foolishly thought that having the temple there meant that God would protect them from their enemies.

Instead, Jeremiah pointed out the sin in their lives (vv.3,9-10). God is not impressed by beautiful buildings constructed in His name if there is no inward beauty in the hearts of those who go there. He is not interested in an outward legalistic worship that is not matched by inward holiness. And it is wrong to think that God protects people just because of the religious things they do.

Just because we're reading the Bible, praying, and fellowshiping with other believers doesn't mean that God is somehow then obligated to do something for us. He cannot be manipulated. The purpose of those activities is to devolop our relationship with the Lord and to help us live differently than those in the world around us.
---
Remember--God cannot and
will not be manipulated.

ODB/CPH

-SAINTS

Colossians 1:1-2

To the Saints and
faithful brethren in
Christ who are in
Colosse...
--Colossians 1:2
--
It's probably not a name we would use for ourselves, but the apostle Paul often called believers "saints" in the New Testament (Eph. 1:1; Col. 1:2). Did he call them saints because they were perfect? No. These people were human and therefore sinful. The word saint in the New Testament means that one is set apart for God. It describes people who have a spiritual union with Christ (Eph. 1:3-6). The word is synonymous with individual believers in Jesus (Rom. 8:27) and those who make up the church (Acts 9:32).

Saints have a responsibility through the power of the Spirit to live lives worthy of their calling. This includes, but is not limited to, no longer being sexually immoral and using improper speech (Eph. 5:3-4). We are to put on the new character traits of service to one another (Rom. 16:2), humility, gentleness, patience, love, unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace (Eph. 4:1-3), obedience, and perseverance during hardship and suffering (Rev. 13:10; 14:12). In the Old Testament, the psalmist called saints "the excellent ones, in whom is all my delight" (Ps. 16:3).

Our union with Christ makes us saints, but our obedience to God's Word through the power of the Holy Spirit makes us saintly.
---
Saints are people whom God's light shines through.

ODB/MW

-When the Rivers Run Dry

"The beasts of the field cry also unto thee: for the rivers of waters are dried up, and the fire hath devoured the pastures of the wilderness." (Joel 1:20)

After the Flood of Noah, God set a boundary for the waters, "that they turn not again to cover the earth" (Psalm 104:9). There is a time coming, however, when even such a mighty river as "the great river Euphrates" will run dry, and "the water thereof (will be) dried up" (Revelation 16:12). Instead of covering the earth, the life-giving waters will be withheld as one of God's coming judgments on the rebellious world of the last days. His prophetic witnesses will be given power to "shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy" (11:6). Furthermore, the atmosphere will be so restrained that "the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree" (7:1), yet the sun will burn so intensely that "men |will be| scorched with great heat" (16:9).

All of this will generate great fires and famine around the world. The prophet Joel places all this in the context of the coming "day of the LORD . . . as a destruction from the Almighty" (Joel 1:15). The pastures will burn up, and the rivers will dry up, "for the day of the LORD is great and very terrible; and who can abide it?" (2:11). "Therefore hath the curse devoured the earth, and they that dwell therein are desolate: therefore the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men left" (Isaiah 24:6).

Yet there is also a time coming when the judgments are past and "the parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water: . . . And the ransomed of the Lord shall return . . . they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away" (35:7, 10). In that day--as in this--it is all-important to be among the ones ransomed by the Lord.

--ICR/HMM
<http://youtu.be/FMrAafe7Mns> / WITH ALL I AM / HILLSONG

-All the Wrong Reasons
Psalm 139

"I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing."
(JOHN 15:5)

Hating your sin seems like a good thing. God hates sin, so you should as well. However, I have many very sinful reasons for hating my sin. Sin embarrasses me, so I work hard to get rid of the sins which make me look bad to others, whiile ignoring or cherishing those which no one else sees. If I were in charge of my own sanctification, I would wipe out all the sins that make me appear weak but continue to enjoy the quiet, deadly sins I love. Thank heaven God loves me too much to put me in charge!

My sin humbles me,reminding me that I am utterly incapable of obedience without a fresh act of the Holy Spirit each and every time. My ongoing struggle with a depraved heart makes me completely dependent on God for growth. There is, perhaps no other way to get humility than by learning I have no power to change myself. God loves it when I see my desperate need for the life and death of His Son, and when I see that apart from Christ, I can indeed do nothing at all! ~~
--
"I am more sinful than I ever imagined, and more loved than I ever dared to hope."
(C.J. Miller)
<http://youtu.be/QvURm3k36IA> / What Can Wash Away My Sins?

Nothing but the blood of Jesus

Scripture Says/God Says

"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness." (2 Timothy 3:16)

Among the many evidences for verbal inspiration, both within and without Scripture, is the frequent interchange of God recognized as the author of a particular passage with the human author who actually penned it. This can be true only if the very words recorded by the various authors are "God breathed" (the meaning of "inspiration").

For example, the early Christians exclaimed, "Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is: Who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things?" (Acts 4:24-25), thereby recognizing that God spoke through David, who wrote God's words in Psalm 2:1-2.

Likewise, Paul, in his masterful dissertation on God's sovereignty, claimed "the scripture saith unto Pharaoh" (Romans 9:17) that which God Himself had spoken unto Moses (Exodus 9:13). In other words, what Scripture says, God says.

Even Christ Jesus, who Himself had written with His finger "honour thy father and thy mother" (Exodus 20:12) on tables of stone, personally ascribed the authorship of the passage to Moses (Mark 7:10). Evidently to Christ, there was no difference. That which Moses had written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and in this case what he had copied from the stone tablet, was fully the Word of God.
---
We can be sure that what Scripture says, God says. "That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works" (2 Timothy 3:17). We can trust our lives on earth, our view of history, and our eternal destiny to what is written on the pages of Scripture. JDM

-Questioning God
By: Henry Morris, Ph.D.

"Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?" (Romans 9:20)

Whenever one begins a question with "why," he should realize that the answer must necessarily be theological, not scientific. Science can deal with the questions of "what" and "how," sometimes even with "where" and "when," but never with "why"! The "why" questions have to do with motives and purposes, even when dealing with natural phenomena. ("Why does the earth rotate on its axis?" "Why do we have mosquitoes?") Even though we can partially explain such things by secondary causes, we finally encounter a "first cause," and then the "why?" can be answered only by God.

The wise thing to do is simply to believe that He has good reasons for everything, whether we can discern them now or not. "Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?" (Genesis 18:25). God the Creator "worketh all things after the counsel of his own will" (Ephesians 1:11), and it is our high privilege simply to trust Him, not to question Him.

On the other hand, He often asks us: "Why?" "Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith?" Jesus asked His disciples when they thought they were in great peril (Matthew 8:26). "If I say the truth, why do ye not believe me?" (John 8:46) He would say to those who question His Word.

Then to those who doubt His deity, the apostle Paul, speaking in His name, asks: "Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you, that God should raise the dead?" (Acts 26:8). As the popular chorus goes: "God specializes in things thought impossible!" Our God is omniscient and knows what’s best; He is omnipotent, so He can do it. He is all-loving and will surely do what’s best for those who trust Him.

ICR/HMM

<http://youtu.be/VU_rTX23V7Q> / Who Am I? Casting Crowns ~~

-Christians, Live your life for His glory!

"Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God's grace, which was given me by the working of his power. To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things, so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places."
--Ephesians 3:7-10 -

When you go into homes of friends or family, you often see trophies displayed-bowling trophies, sports trophies, fishing trophies,cooking trophies. And each of those trophies is only a demonstration of a past victory.

You and I, the people of God, are God's display of victory to
the world. We are God's demonstration to this world of His power and grace. For if God could give us this wonderful salvation, then this salvation is for the world. We were on the bottom, dead in trespasses and sin, but now we've been lifted up and exalted with the Savior on high-and it's all by grace.

God is now putting us in His display case, both now and into eternity, so that when people see us, they will declare not what great Christians we are, but what a great God we have. The bottom line is that God has saved us now and for eternity as a testimony to His glory!

Your salvation is much more about God than it is about you. So live your life to bring Him glory and show others what a wonderful God you have!

GOD HAS SAVED YOU TO BE A TESTIMONY OF HIS GLORY. SO LIVE YOUR LIFE TO GLORIFY HIM IN EVERYTHING YOU DO!

Faith: Your Link to Promise and Victory

BIBLE MEDITATION:
"I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, Who loved me, and gave Himself for me." Galatians 2:20

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
The life of Joshua in the Old Testament is an illustration of Jesus. As a matter of fact, Joshua is the Hebrew name of Jesus. The Lord Jesus is our heavenly Joshua who leads us into the land of promise and victory. And what is this victory? It is a victory of faith.

There is nothing more, nothing less that will achieve the victory in our lives but faith. Victory is not achieved by fighting. Victory is received by faith. -

ACTION POINT:
You see, when God has a gigantic task He wants us to perform, He gives the contract to faith. Your faith links your nothingness to God's almightiness and victory is yours for the taking!

-HEARING AND KNOWING HIS VOICE
-By: David Wilkerson
[May 19, 1931 - April 27, 2011]

Peter warns last-day believers that Satan will come to them with a loud voice, trying to bring fear. “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter
5:8).

Here is my point: If Satan is making his voice known in these last days, showing his power to the masses of lost souls, how much more important is it for God’s people to know their Father’s voice? Do you think the Lord would
sit by as Satan roars at the world and yet remain silent? Never!
Isaiah said:
“The Lord will cause His glorious voice to be heard” (Isaiah 30:30).

Since the time of Adam and Eve, God has been speaking to
man. “They heard the sound of the Lord God” (Genesis 3:8). Adam said, “I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid” (Genesis 3:10).

From Genesis through to the end of the New Testament, God made his voice known to his people. In the books of the prophets we see this phrase, “And God said. . .” repeated time after time. God’s voice was known and understood.

Jesus confirmed this in the New Testament, using the example of the Good Shepherd. “The sheep hear his voice . . . the sheep follow him, for they know his voice” (John 10:3-4).

Adam hid from God’s voice, because of the guilt and shame of his sin. And that is exactly where many of God’s people are today—hiding, afraid to hear God speak!

If you want to hear God’s voice, you must be ready to have your soul purged and cleansed. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).

-A LESSON
IN CRYING

Revelation 21:1-7
--
Blessed are those
who mourn, for they
shall be comforted.
--Matthew 5:4
--
Has your heart ever been broken? What broke it? Cruelty? Failure? Unfaithfulness? Loss? Perhaps you've crept into the darkness to cry.

It's good to cry. "Tears are the only cure for weeping," said Scottish preacher George MacDonald. A little crying does one good.

Jesus wept at His friend Lazarus' grave (John 11:35), and He weeps with us (v.33). His heart was borken as well. Our tears attract our Lord's lovingkindness and tender care. He knows our troubled, sleepless nights. His heart aches for us when we mourn. He is the "God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation" (2 Cor. 1:3-4). And He uses His people to comfort one another.

But tears and our need for comfort come back all too frequently in this life. Present comfort is not the final answer. There is a future day when there will be no death, no sorrow, no crying, for all these things will "have passed away" (Rev. 21:4). There in heaven God will wipe away every tear. We are so dear to our Father that He will be the one who wipes the tears away from our eyes; He loves us so deeply and personally.

Remember, "Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted" (Matt. 5:4).
----
GOD CARES AND SHARES IN OUR SORROW.

ODB/DR
<http://youtu.be/QZ5MKJmc3mQ> / WHERE THERE IS FAITH ~~

-Sinning to Get More Grace
Hebrews 12::1-2

"Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God's kindness leads you toward repentance?"
--(Romans 2:4) -

IF God uses our sin for our good and is glorified when we cherish Christ in our weakness, shall we sin so grace will increase? That's a great question. The apostle Paul answers that one for us..NO! We must certainly try hard not to sin, and do everyting that we can to keep God's perfect law. Yet, when we sin, grace does abound.

Sometimes we are so afraid of abusing grace that we fail to celebrate grace in its rich and endless supply. The harder you try not to sin, the more you will begin to see your helplessness and the more you will adore Jesus Christ and His obedience in your place. In all of your trying and striving, you will fail often because though sin has no power to send you to hell, God has left it to indwell you, humble you, and point you constantly to your Saviour.

Sin seems to have great power to mess up our lives, doesn't it? Every day we suffer the consequences of our own bitter thoughts and evil deeds. Always remember that God is sovereign over the messes of your life.
--
If God's love shown to you in the life and death of Jesus doesn't melt your heart and incline you to obedience, then the law never will.

--Haven Today

--IT'S ALL
ABOUT HIM ~

John 3:22-36
----
He must increase,
but I must decrease.
--John 3:30

When John's disciples heard that a new rabbi named Jesus was gaining followers, they thought John might be jealous (John 3:26). They came to him and said, "He is baptizing, and all are coming to Him!" But John celebrated Jesus' ministry. He said, "I have been sent before Him...The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom's voice. Therefore this joy of mine is fulfilled" (vv.28-29).

An attitude of humility should also characterize us. Rather than desiring attention for ourselves, everything we do should bring glory to our Savior.
"He must increase, but I must decrease" (v.30)

Not I but Christ be honored, loved, exalted;
Not I but Christ be seen, be known, be heard;
Not I but Chirst in every look and action;
Not I but Christ in every thought and word. ~~
---
-If we want an increase of Christ, there must be a decrease of self.

ODB/AC

-Knowing Christ

"That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead." (Philippians 3:10-11)

When Paul speaks of knowing the Lord Jesus, he stresses the process involved in reaching the desired level of knowledge. These particular points of awareness (knowing the resurrection power, the fellowship of sufferings, and being conformed to His death) are not mere academic achievements, but part of the process of experiencing life and personal study of God's Word that produces confident knowledge.

John's letter gives several key signs on how to "know" the Savior, one of which is keeping God's commandments (1 John 2:3-5). The lifestyle of obedience (process of godliness) provides the experience that produces the knowledge.

Paul's reference to the power of the resurrection is reflected in the wonderful promise of Ephesians 1:17-21. There, Paul says, we can know the "exceeding greatness of his power" which was demonstrated in the resurrection of our Lord Jesus--that very power being beyond anything that can be observed in this or any age to come.

The fellowship that we now share in Christ's sufferings is merely the process by which we are "being made conformable unto his death" (today's verse). Paul noted that we were "crucified with Christ" but are still alive since Christ "liveth in |us|" (Galatians 2:20). Our bodies are to be "living |sacrifices|" so that we can prove the "good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God," having been transformed by our renewed minds (Romans 12:1-2).

These many life processes are what our gracious God has decreed for our ultimate eternal possession--being "conformed to the image of his Son" (Romans 8:29).

-- HMM III

/ YOUR GREAT NAME!

-TAME YOUR TONGUE
by David Wilkerson
[May 19, 1931 - April 27, 2011]

[color:#6600CC]

-Revamped Expectations
By: Max Lucado

The ways of God are without fault. Psalm 18:30

It’s not easy when God doesn’t do what we want, is it? Never has been. Never will be. But faith is the conviction that God knows more than we do about this life and He will get us through it.

Remember, disappointment is cured by revamped expectations.
------------
I like the story about the fellow who went to the pet store in search of a singing parakeet. Seems he was a bachelor and his house was too quiet. The store owner had just the bird for him, so the man bought it.

The next day the bachelor came home from work to a house full of music. He went to the cage to feed the bird and noticed for the first time that the parakeet had only one leg.
He felt cheated. So he called and complained.

“What do you want,” the store owner responded, “a bird who can sing or a bird who can dance?”

Good question for times of disappointment.
------

God Is For You

He will rejoice over you. You will rest in his love; he will sing and be joyful about you. Zephaniah 3:17

God is for you. In fact the Bible says, “God will rejoice over you!”

Turn to the sidelines; that’s God cheering your run. Look past the finish line; that’s God applauding your steps. Listen for him in the bleachers, shouting your name. Too tired to continue? He’ll carry you. Too discouraged to fight? He’s picking you up. God is for you.

In Isaiah 49:15 God asks, “Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne?” Can you mothers imagine feeding your infant and then later asking, “What was that baby’s name?” No. A mother strokes the hair, touches the face, and sings the name over and over. Can a mother forget? No way!

I Will Fall Facedown
as your glory shines
around, King of Glory!
----
He would gladly
have filled his
stomach with the
pods that the swine
ate. --Luke 15:16

AH, the life of a pig! Each new day brings nothing but slopping through the mud and snorting happily at mealtime. And what meals they have! Crunchy corn husks--or whatever leftovers get tossed into the pen.

Sound good? No! It probably didn't sound good to the prodigal son either. Before he started eating with pigs, he had a warm bed, a rich inheritance, a loving father, a secure future--and very good food. But he wanted to run his own life and do whatever he disired. It resulted in a pig's dinner.

Whenever a young person ignores the guidance of godly parents and the instruction of God's Word, similar results occur. It always shocks me when someone who professes to know Jesus chooses a life that rejects God's clear teaching. Whether the choices include sexual sin, addictive substances, a lack of ambition, or something else, any action that leaves God out risks ending badly.

If we ignore clear biblical morals and neglect our relationship with God, we can expect trouble. Luke tells us that the young man turned things around after he came to his senses (Luke 15:17). Keep your senses about you.

Live for God by the guidance of His Word-unless you want to end up eating with the swine.

Jesus is calling your name now. Won't you "Fall Face Down" and worship Him? He loves you so very much. He died that you might live through, and with Him eternally.
---
If sin were not deceitful, it wouldn't seem delightful.

--ODB/DB / I'll Fall Facedown, as your glory shines around!

-An Introduction to Christ
-Revelation 1:4-8 (recommended Bible reading)

The first chapter of Revelation gives a compact description of the Lord. In verses 4 to 8, John condenses the wonder of Jesus Christ to the bare but beautiful essentials of who He is:
----
Jesus Christ is the faithful witness. Jesus came to earth to more fully reveal the character and ways of the Father (John 14:9). The miracles He performed validated His claim to be the Son of God.

Jesus Christ is the first-born from the dead. The Savior bore our sins and died on the cross, was buried, and rose again on the third day. His resurrection proved that eternal life is possible for us, too, as Jesus taught in John 11:25: "He who believes in Me will live even if he dies."

Jesus Christ is the ruler of the kings of the earth. It is the Lord who raises men to power, just as it is He who removes them (John 19:11; Rom. 13:1). Meanwhile, believers have access to a higher authority. In God's throne room, we can beseech Him on behalf of our nations and lay claim to His promises.

Jesus Christ loves us and released us from our sins by His blood. Note the change of tense in John's writing. The Lord's love is ever-present, but He has freed believers from their past. Both the penalty and power of sin have been broken.

When people ask you about Jesus, introduce Him by guiding them through this mini-biography. In just a few sentences, John describes Christ's character, divinity, and authority. The disciple was not timid about proclaiming the Lord. We shouldn't be shy, either, when we serve so great a Savior.

--In Touch
"Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.

"But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven." (Matthew 10:32-34) / JESUS

-Jesus Christ Is Lord
-Romans 14:7-12 (please read scriptures)
---
Today's Scripture reading describes the Lordship of Jesus. Whether we live or die, we do so for Christ. But His sovereignty is not limited to those who claim Him as King. The entire world—the whole universe, in fact—is subject to His authority. At the final judgment, every knee will bow and every tongue will praise God.

In the here and now, only a few people recognize the Lord's rule and seek to dwell in His will. The rest refuse to see that all of our human constructs—like government, culture, and society—thrive or falter in the palm of God's hand. Moreover, they resist Christ's sovereignty in their own lives. A person who won't surrender his will to the Lord's great purpose assumes that he controls his own destiny. However, Jesus' supreme reign cannot by thwarted.

It is common for people in our modern culture to believe that there are no consequences for rejecting the Lordship of Jesus Christ. You may have heard people say things like, "That Christian stuff works for you, but it's not for me. I'll live on my own terms." But Jesus' parable of houses built on either solid rock or sand offers a different perspective (Matt. 7:24-27). Only those who make their abode in the Lord can withstand the upheaval of life in this world.

Kneeling before Jesus Christ as the Lord of your life is the wisest decision you can make. The sovereign Ruler of the universe loves you and desires to bless all of your days. Make your eternal home in the safety of His kingdom, and forever delight in Him.

--In Touch

--SHARPENING
ONE ANOTHER ~

1 Kings 19:19-21
---
As iron sharpens
iron, so a man
sharpens the
countenance of
his friend.
--Proverbs 27:17
---
Social networks on the Internet are on the rise. Even when separated by great distance, people are still able to gain insights and a listening ear from peers on-line. Blogs, Twitter, e-mail, and Web links add to the ways we can receive and give spiritiual guidance.

But it's also valuable to meet face to face with mature believers for mentoring. "Elisha...followed Elijah" (1 Kings 19:21), and Paul mentored Timothy as "a true son in the faith" (1 Tim. 1:2). He even admonished Timothy to set up a chain of mentoring which would multiply spiritual growth (2 Tim. 2:2). Moses exhorted parents to teach their children throughout their day: "When you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up" (Deut. 6:7). The Master Teacher, Christ Himself, illustrated how to mentor: "He appointed twelve, that they might be with Him and that He might send them out" (Mark 3:14).

From these passages we see the value of meeting face to face in a variety of settings so that we can sharpen one another spiritually (Prov. 27:17). Along life's journey, there are times when we can benefit from a wise guide or provide this same service to one who wants to follow.
----
-We need each other to get
where God wants us to go.
--ODB/DR

-Valleys and Mountains in the Life of a Christian

-BIBLE MEDITATION:
"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble." Psalm 46:1

-DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
Did you know that it is an impossibility of geography to have a valley without a mountain? They are beautiful complements in God's grand creation.

The valley is the place of 'spiritual insight'. It is the place of repose and reflection.
The mountain is the place of discovery and a place to become strong.

If you find yourself in a valley, it is because you have come down from a mountain. If you're on a mountain, you came to that place by way of the valley.

-ACTION POINT:
Are you in the valley or on the mountaintop? Read Psalm 46 about the strength of the Lord. Rest and rejoice in His strength, wherever God has you right now.
"Lo, I am with you always even unto the end of the world."

-God's Sovereignty
-1 Samuel 3
---
"...the Most High is sovereign over the kingdoms of men and gives them to anyone he wishes." (Daniel 4:25B)

When Samuel heard the Lord calling, he answered, "Speak, for your servant is listening." This began his ministry as a prophet (God's messenger), and a Judge (God's leader to carry out His reign as King among His people). God had a special assignment for Samuel. He gave him the job of transitioning His people from theocratic rule to a monarchy. Samuel's responsibility was to continually remind Israel and their new monarch that all the kings who would rule in Israel would be God's representatives--God would still remain sovereign and still expect absolute obedience.

This new form of government would not change God's role as King of the universe. In face, the new kings in this system of government would leave God's people always longing and looking ahead to the better King who God would send one day.

No matter where God has given us the responsibility of "ruling," He is ultimately still the One in charge. Everythng we do is in submission to our King, Jesus Christ.
Who is in charge of your "kingdom?"
---
"Come, thou Almighty King
O'er all victorious
Come and reign over us."
---
-Name of Jesus! / Chris Tomlin
--Haven Today

-Longing for the Lord's Return

-BIBLE MEDITATION:
"And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely." Revelation 22:17

-DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
God chose the analogy of a wedding to describe the moment when we become one with the Lord Jesus Christ. When we become one with God for all eternity, we'll know Him in a more intimate way than we know Him now, and God calls that "the marriage of the Lamb." When I think about the fact that being swept up to meet the Lord in Glory and meeting Him face to face is so fulfilling that the Bible describes it as the consummation of a marriage, I don't mind telling you that really excites me!

-ACTION POINT:
Examine your heart. Does the Second Coming of our Lord make your heart pound with excitement? Do you long for His return and reign? "To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord." 'Even so, Come Lord Jesus!'

-Completely Human

When a bookstore owner told me a woman had stomped into his shop, angry, slamming one of my books on the counter, I knew exactly what he was talking about. I wrote that Jesus may have had pimples. He may have had bony knees. But I said, “One thing’s for sure, he was, while completely divine, completely human.”

There’s something safe about a God who never had calluses. There’s something majestic about a God who never scraped his elbow. But there’s also something cold about a God who cannot relate to what you and I feel.

Rejection? He felt it. Temptation? He knew it. Loneliness? He experienced it. Death? He tasted it. And stress? He could write a best-selling book about it.

Why did he do it? One reason. So that when you hurt, you’ll go to him and let him heal you!

“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Hebrews 4:15.”

From: In the Eye of the Storm
-By: Max Lucado

-THE CRISIS AT THE RED SEA
-By: David Wilkerson
[May 19, 1931 - April 27, 2011]
--
The Old Testament lists many times of testing for God's people. Perhaps the greatest example was the crisis at the Red Sea. This crisis was completely arranged by God, set up by His very own commands to Israel. Scripture says that it was God who hardened Pharaoh's heart, caused the Egyptians to pursue Israel, and allowed the Egyptian army to overtake them by the sea.

God told the people to camp between Migdol and Pihahiroth, a location situated between two mountain passes, with the sea bordering a third side (see Exodus 14). The only possible route of escape was back into the wilderness and that was blocked by Pharaoh's approaching army. The Israelites were horrified at their situation but their God had led them there!

Let me point out something here: God could have arranged to knock the wheels off the Egyptians' chariots at any time in the wilderness, stranding them and starving them to death. But, instead, He waited until they were between the walls of the separated sea.

God also could have sent the supernatural cloud down upon the Egyptians' camp to confuse them. Those soldiers would have run around in the confusing mist for days. But, instead, He chose to send the cloud behind the Israelites as protection.

Or, God could have sent a single angel to slay the entire Egyptian army in the blink of an eye. In fact, He could have chosen to destroy them at any point. But the Lord did not do any of those things. Instead, He squeezed Israel into a
tight, alarming situation, a crisis that was impossible to escape by human means.

I believe the Lord had two purposes in allowing this impossible situation for His people:

* He was determined to annihilate Israel's enemies; never again would they have to look over their shoulders in fear. God was saying, in essence, "I'm going to strew your enemies' bodies along the shore so that you can see every one of them dead. Then you will know I have all power!"

* God wanted to provide an opportunity for His people to put their lives in His hands — to stand still and trust Him to give them direction.

How do we know God arranged this frightful situation to test His people? His own Word says so: "Thou shalt remember all the way which the Lord thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no" (Deuteronomy 8:2).
-----

-Jesus, Our Brother
-Luke 15:25-32; Hebrews 2:10-13

"Both the One who makes men holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers." (Hebrews 2:11)

-In the parable of the prodigal son, there is one unhappy person at the party; the older brother. He's disgusted with his brother, and he's furious with their father. Don't you realize, he says, that you're rewarding terrible behavior? He even claims that his own behavior has been perfect. Where's his reward?

Jesus, your older brother, is the only Son who has always obeyed His Father. Hebrews 2:10 tell us that His perfect earthly life was completed by suffering. He lived and suffered for His brothers. We are the ones who deserve accusations for our ungrateful, proud and sinful living. But Jesus let Himself be accused. We deserve to perish for our sins. But Jesus gave Himself in our place, took the judgment, and was crucified.

Jesus, "the One who makes men holy" (v.11), will never be ashamed of us. We are "of the same family" with Him. Yet unlike the brother in the parable, He has no animosity towards us. In fact, He invites us to a celebration: praising God with countless brothers and sisters in heaven.
---
The brother in the parable would have utterly refused to share his part of the inheritance. But your older Brother, Jesus, freely shares with you!
--Haven Today ~/ JESUS PAID IT ALL!

<http://youtu.be/nfWgJRh4U4w>

--DID YOU
-SAY NO?

-Genesis 3:1-7
---
Of the tree of the
knowledge of good
and evil you shall
not eat.- Genesis 2:17
--
OKAY, here are the rules," Marty said. "You can do whatever you want, wherever you want, whenever you want until someone tells you 'no'."

Those were our instructions on our first visit to our friends' lake house. Marty and his wife, Lynn, who enjoy entertaining, give their guests lots of freedom to enjoy themselves. When we noticed the sailboat next to the paddleboat, next to the pontoon boat, we knew we were in for a fun afternoon.

Marty told us 'no' only once-- when he saw that we were about to feed the swans that swam up next to us. He knew that if the birds were fed once, they would become aggressive if they didn't get fed the next time.

Adam and Eve lived in the most beautiful locale, and they too had lots of freedom. However, when God said 'no', they resisted (Gen. 3). He told them not to eat from a certain tree, but they thought they knew better.

Adam and Eve would have kept good company with a lot of us. Sometimes we can't understand why our heavenly Father says, 'no'. When that happens, He can help us to adjust our thinking. We need to realize that even as He denies us, He's saying to our hearts, "You can trust Me. I know what is best."
---
-GOD MAY DENY OUR REQUEST,
BUT HE WILL NEVER DISAPPOINT OUR TRUST.~
-ODB/CHK

-The Holy Spirit
--
If I were to ask you to describe your heavenly Father, you’d give me a response. If I were to ask you to tell me what Jesus did for you, you’d likely give a cogent answer. But if I were to ask about the role of the Holy Spirit in your life. . .? Eyes would duck. Throats would be cleared.

John 14:17 says, “The world cannot accept him, because it does not see him or know him. But you know him, because he lives with you and he will be in you.”

What does the Spirit do? Scripture says He comforts the saved. He convicts the lost. He conveys the truth. Have you ever been convicted? Ever sensed a stab of sorrow for your actions? Understood a new truth? Then you’ve been touched by the Holy Spirit.

What do you know? He’s been working in your life already.

From: A Gentle Thunder/ML

-KNOW THAT GOD IS GOOD!
-By: David Wilkerson
[May 19, 1931 - April 27, 2011]
---
-God is good in your life, watching out for you and protecting you. There is not one thing in your life, not one habit, one sin or one emotional difficulty you face that Jesus does not have power over.

When Nehemiah came to Jerusalem and saw the terrible, broken-down condition of the city, he led the Jewish people living there into a spiritual breakthrough and time of rebuilding (see the book of Nehemiah). I can say to you today, just as Nehemiah said to his people, that if you will trust Jesus, turn your whole heart, energy and life over to Him, Satan and your enemies will be crushed,conquered, and completely defeated. No enemy that is deeply lodged against you behind any gate will be able to be protected. Those enemies are going to be removed and made to flee.

Old habits, old fears, old addictions approach and afflict us and sometimes we turn back to them. But God is saying to us, “Fix your eyes on Me! If you will let Me be your victory, we will see the last of that.” Listen to what God is saying!

If we will let Him be our victory then we have seen the last of our enemy. Oh, the enemy will still buffet us just as he did Jesus when he left Him after the temptations in the wilderness. But if you will keep Jesus on the wall of your
heart, the wall of your life, He will root out all those emotional difficulties.

You may be living in fear of habitual patterns of sin, the things you might return to. You know that you are cleansed from them but because they are so close, you feel that any moment you may be drawn back to their bondage and you are afraid.

I am here today to call you to a place of security and safety in Christ Jesus when you trust Him with all your heart.

“But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:57).

--The Call of the Twelve

"And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach." (Mark 3:14)
---
Early in His public ministry, Jesus gathered around Himself those to whom He would eventually entrust the Christian message. Many others had also been attracted to Him and His works, as indicated in the previous verse: "And he goeth up into a mountain, and calleth unto him whom he would |emphasis in the Greek is on He; the choice was His alone|: and they came unto him" (v. 13). Of those He invited, He "ordained twelve."

Such a momentous selection could not be taken lightly, and we should not pass over it either. Luke gives us further information: "He went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God" (Luke 6:12) before choosing the twelve. As a sidelight, it bears mentioning that if God the Son so relied on the wisdom from God the Father before making an important decision, how can we neglect prayer as we so often do?

Four purposes are listed for these appointees, but the last three flow from the first: "That they should be with him." They would see Him in action, learn truth from Him, assist Him in His work; but most importantly they would see His character and habits, and would never be the same.

Part of their training included being sent out to put in practice what they had learned, "that he might send them forth to preach, And to have power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils" (Mark 3:14-15). He gave them a message to preach and the ability to authenticate that message.

A study of these disciples as revealed in the gospels makes one wonder if Jesus made a proper choice. However, in the book of Acts, once He was gone and the Holy Spirit empowered them, we recognize that their training was complete. We are the result of their effective ministry.

--ICR/ JDM

--How Quickly We Forget
---
Oh how quickly we forget. So much happens through the years. So many changes within. So many alterations without. And somewhere, back there, we leave Him. We don’t turn away from Him—we just don’t take Him with us. Assignments come. Promotions come. Budgets are made. Kids are born, and Christ—the Christ Jesus is forgotten.

Has it been a while since you stared at the heavens in speechless amazement? Has it been a while since you realized God’s divinity and your carnality? He is still there. He has not left. Do yourself a favor. Stand before Him again. Or better, allow Him to stand before you.

A man is never the same after he simultaneously sees his despair and Jesus’ grace. To see the despair without the grace is destructive. To see the grace without the despair is futility. But to see them both is conversion!

from: Six Hours One Friday/ML

--Teaching in Parables -

All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and without a parable spake he not unto them:
---(Matthew 13:34)

In Christ's parable teaching the same principle is seen as in His own mission to the world. That we might become acquainted with His divine character and life, Christ took our nature and dwelt among us. Divinity was revealed in humanity; the invisible glory in the visible human form. Men could learn of the unknown through the known; heavenly things were revealed through the earthly; God was made manifest in the likeness of men. So it was in Christ's teaching: the unknown was illustrated by the known; divine truths by earthly things with which the people were most familiar.

The Scripture says, "All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables; . . . that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open My mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world." Matthew 13:34, 35.

Natural things were the medium for the spiritual; the things of nature and the life-experience of His hearers were connected with the truths of the written word. Leading thus from the natural to the spiritual kingdom, Christ's parables are links in the chain of truth that unites man with God, and earth with heaven. ~~~

-JESUS, The Example

"Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on
Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the Cross, despising the shame and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
--[HEBREWS 12:1-3]-
-------
--Running the Race

You know as well as I do, it’s one thing to start something. It’s something else entirely to complete it. Relax! “Don’t start what you can’t finish” is not my point!

To be honest, I don’t believe you should finish everything you start. Every student with homework just perked up. There are certain quests better left undone, some projects wisely abandoned. Though I wouldn’t list homework as one of them! We can become so obsessed with completion that we become blind to effectiveness. No, my desire is not to convince you to finish everything. My desire is to encourage you to finish the right thing.

Certain races are optional. Other races are essential—like the race of faith. Consider this admonition from the author of Hebrews in chapter 12:1, “Let us run the race that is before us and never give up!”

-Finish strong, my friend.

-From: Just Like Jesus/ML

-OBEDIENCE IS
-WORSHIP ~~

-1 Samuel 15:13-23
---
"To obey is better than
sacrifice."
--1 Samuel 15:22
---
While I was traveling with a chorale from a Christian high school, it was great to see the students praise God as they led in worship in the churches we visited. What happened away from church was even better to see. One day the group discovered that a woman had no money for gas--and they spontaneously felt led by God to take up a collection. They were able to give her enough money for several tankfuls of gas.

It's one thing to worship and praise God at church; it's quite another to move out into the real world and worship Him through daily obedience.

The students' example causes us to think about our own lives. Do we confine our worship to Church? Or do we continue to worship Him by obeying Him in our daily life, looking for opportunities to serve?

In 1 Samuel 15 we see that Saul was asked by the Lord to do a task; but when we review what he did (vv.20-21), we discover that he used worship (sacrifice) as an excuse for his failure to obey God. God's response was, "To obey is better than sacrifice" (v.22).

It's good to be involved in worship at Church. But let's also ask God to show us ways to continue to give Him the praise He deserves through our obedience.

Lord, I want my worship of You to extend beyond
the walls of my Church. Help me to listen to
Your prompting and to serve others wherever
I can--no matter what day it is.
----
-Our worship should not be confined to times and
places; it should be the Spirit of our lives.

--ODB/DB

--That You May Know....
-Philippians 3:7-14

"I will take you as my own people, and I will be your God. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God, who brought you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians." (Exodus 6:7)~~

-IT'S all about Jesus. Our hearts resonate with the message of God's love, grace, salvation and victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. We cry out with the Apostle Paul, I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings..." (Phil 3:10)

The person of Jesus, and God's working through Him in our lives, is wonderfully prefigured in His much earlier working with His chosen people Israel. Much of that took place in the wilderness, even as much of our lives seems to be "in the wilderness," too. As God patiently led and fashioned the hearts of His people, so He desires to work with us.

His purpose, expressed often in the book of Exodus, was "That you may know that I am the Lord." We come to know His person; we develop confidence in His power; we rest in the glory of our personal relationship with Him. As I study the Old Testament, I find a hunger to know my God; I am led to worship; I see my Savior; I long to know Him better. That's an exciting journey!
---
'LORD, Help us to know You more intimately so that we can trust You more implicitly.' ~~
--Haven Ministries/ GOD OF THE AGES=CHARLES BILLINGSLEY
<http://youtu.be/L0inJgZLspQ?
----

--GOD'S WILL~~

--Psalm 37:23-40
----
The steps of a good
man are ordered by
the LORD, and He
delights in his way.
--Psalm 37:23--
---
-WE'RE often looking for God's will--especially when we're in a difficult situation. We wonder, 'What will happen to me here? Should I stay or does God want me somewhere else?' The only way to know for sure is to do what He asks you to do right now--the duty of the present moment--and wait for God to reveal the next step.

As you obey what you know, you will be strengthened to take the next step. Step by step, one step at a time. That's how we learn to walk with God. But you say, "Suppose I take the first step. What will happen next?" That's God's business. Your task and mine is to obey this day and leave the future to Him. The psalmist says our steps are "ordered by the LORD" (37:23). This day's direction is all we need. Tomorrow's instruction is of no use to us at all. George MacDonald said, "We do not understand the next page of God's lesson book: we see only the one before us. Nor shall we be allowed to turn the leaf until we have learned its lesson."

If we concern ourselves with God's will and obey each day the directions and warnings He gives, we will find that God will lead us through this day. As Jesus put it, "Tomorrow will worry about its own things" (Matt. 6:34).
----
-Blessed is the person who finds out which way God is moving and then goes in that direction.~~

--ODB/DR

---Understanding the Word of God
--
"So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading." (Nehemiah 8:8)

Most people—even most Christians—devote very little time to the Scriptures, complaining that they are either too hard to understand or too uninteresting. Yet, when Ezra read "the book of the law of Moses" to the whole congregation of Israel, he read "from the morning until midday," even "one fourth part of the day," and "all the people stood up" as he read (Nehemiah 8:1, 3, 5; 9:3). Such a scenario is almost impossible to imagine today.

Ezra's congregation evidently understood what he was reading and found it of vital interest. "For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the law" (Nehemiah 8:9). For "another fourth part [of the day] they confessed, and worshipped the LORD their God" (Nehemiah 9:3).

Yet all they had were the books of the Pentateuch! How much more concerned we should be, and how much better we should understand, when we have the entire Bible.

Note that Ezra and his colleagues simply read the Scriptures and gave a straightforward exegesis. That was enough to enable the people to understand, and this brought repentance, confession, and worship. No emotional appeals, no gimmicks, no technology, just the Scriptures—taken naturally and literally.

The Scriptures are not hard to understand—just hard to believe, and even harder to obey. Like any book, the Bible is intended to be understood, and its author—the Holy Spirit—was able to say what He meant. The secret is in the attitude of heart with which one approaches it.
"O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day. . . . Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way" (Psalm 119:97, 104).

--ICR/HMM

---Thou Hast Rejected Knowledge

"My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children." (Hosea 4:6)

This lament over the ancient apostasy of Israel embodies an age-long principle which surely applies to those nations today which once professed Christianity but are now dominated by humanism. Our own nation is experiencing an awful scourge of moral anarchy among our children and young people, and the reason why is because their parents and grandparents have largely "forgotten the law of thy God."

***America—particularly its intellectual leadership—has "rejected knowledge," so its people are being "destroyed for lack of knowledge."***
This ignorance exists despite an abundance of supposed actual knowledge (i.e., "science") in our educational institutions, for such facts are almost universally taught in a secular context. Our teachers have forgotten that "the fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge" (Proverbs 1:7).

Even in evangelical and fundamentalist churches and schools today, there is often too little emphasis on knowledge and too much on experience. Christian faith is not "feeling"; it is volitional commitment to a true intellectual understanding of the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ. "Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish," said Christ (Luke 13:5). The Greek word for "repent" means "change your mind!" One can only believe right if he first thinks right, and this requires true knowledge.

Listen again to Hosea's warning: "The LORD hath a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, because there is no truth, nor mercy [i.e., 'kindness'], nor knowledge of God in the land" (Hosea 4:1). "They have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind" (Hosea 8:7).
--ICR/HMM

---Delusion from God

"And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie." (2 Thessalonians 2:11)
-----
~~This is a startling declaration! ****Why would God want to deceive people and cause them to believe a lie? The "cause" which would activate such an extreme decision on God's part must be very serious. The preceding verse states it plainly. It is **** "because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved" (2 Thessalonians 2:10). Because they "resist the truth" (2 Timothy 3:8), they will "believe the lie"!

The specific context refers to those who elect to follow the coming "man of sin," but the principle is timeless. It tells us that God's attitude toward men is determined by their love of the truth, rather than by their knowledge of the truth. When people love God's truth, there is no limit to the amount of truth and blessing they may receive from God. ***Note the attitude of the writer of Psalm 119: "How sweet are thy words unto my taste!" "Thy testimonies . . . are the rejoicing of my heart." "I love thy commandments above gold." "Thy law is my delight" (Psalm 119:103, 111, 127, 174).***

But when people begin to exhibit a disdain for God's truth, there may soon come a time in their lives when they find it impossible even to comprehend the all-important truth of God's saving gospel (creation, salvation, and reconciliation through Christ).

Because they refused the love of His truth when it would have been easy to believe, a blindness gradually engulfs their minds until they love the deceptive philosophies of the world, and they never escape the strong delusion which God has allowed to engulf them.

***Henceforth, though they are "ever learning," they are "never able to come to the knowledge of the truth" (2 Timothy 3:7).
How important it is, as early in life as possible, to receive from God His proffered gift of the love of His truth!***

ICR/HMM

--The Danger of Adding to Scripture
by Henry Morris, Ph.D.

"For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book." (Revelation 22:18)

This sober warning almost at the end of the Bible was given by the glorified Lord Jesus Himself (note v. 20), so should be taken very seriously.

The Bible is not just a great book. ***It is The Book!*** Its content had been "for ever . . . settled in heaven" (Psalm 119:89) but had been gradually transmitted to men on Earth through God-called prophets, whose writings were "given by inspiration of God"—that is, literally "God-breathed" (2 Timothy 3:16). "God . . . at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets" (Hebrews 1:1).

In various ways—sometimes by direct dictation, more often by Spirit-guided research and meditation using each man's individual style and abilities—God conveyed His message down to mankind. Finally, the New Testament was given through Paul and others "by revelation . . . revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit" (Ephesians 3:3, 5). John was the last of the "apostles and prophets" when he wrote Revelation (all the others had been martyred), and Christ then indicated (see text above) that nothing more could be added, not just to John's obviously finished book of Revelation, but really to the now-completed body of inspired Scripture from Genesis to Revelation.

Those "false prophets" (Matthew 24:11) who have tried to add some new revelation to the Bible (e.g., Mohammed) need urgently to go back to the Bible alone. We need no new revelation. The Bible is more than enough for our salvation (2 Timothy 3:15, etc.) and all needed guidance until Christ returns (2 Peter 1:19).

--ICR/ HMM

---When the Lord Comes

“After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.” (Genesis 15:1)
-----------
This is the first of the great “I am’s” of Scripture, and it was given to Father Abraham at a time of both great victory and great despondence. The Lord had enabled Abraham’s little army to vanquish a much larger Amorite host, but then, still childless, he was suddenly overwhelmed by his loneliness and vulnerability in an alien land.

Then Jesus came! When Christ much later affirmed His eternal self-existence to the Pharisees (“I am,” He had said), He claimed that Abraham had seen His day and rejoiced (John 8:56). This experience, recorded early in Genesis, was, no doubt, that great occasion. As the living Word (John 1:1) by whom all things were made (v. 3), He assured Abram that He, Himself, would provide all needed protection (“thy shield”) and all needed blessing (“exceeding great reward”). And then it was that “he believed in the Lord; and he counted it to him for righteousness” (Genesis 15:6). The Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal existing Creator and Redeemer of all things, is no less able today than then to be our protection—and our provision, as well.

Note also that it was the Word of the Lord which came to Abram in a 'spiritual revelation'. This is the first use of the Hebrew word 'dabar' in Scripture to mean “word,” and here it is the Word of God personified. This still further identifies the 'spiritual revelation' with the pre-incarnate Christ, who would eventually become God’s incarnate Word (John 1:1, 14).

Thus, as to Abram, God says, “Fear not!” Adam, indeed, was justifiably afraid when he heard the voice of the Lord (Genesis 3:10), for he had only a fig leaf for a covering. But, like Abram, we have a strong shield, which is none other than the Lord Himself.
--ICR/ HMM =/ WHOM SHALL I FEAR? Chris Tomlin~~
<http://youtu.be/EJvHW_FLSck>
------------

--A PIECE OF
THE PUZZLE~~

-1 Corinthians 12:12-27
----
God has set the
members, each one
of them, in the body
just as He pleased.
---1 Corinthians 12:18
-----
Paul compared the church--the body of Christ--to a human body. Just as our physical bodies have hands, feet, eyes, and ears, all are part of a unified body. No follower of Christ can claim independence from the body, nor can one part tell another that it is not needed (vv.12-17). "God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased" (v.18).

It's easy to feel less important than others whose gifts are different and perhaps more visible than ours. The Lord, however, wants us to see ourselves as He does--uniquely created and highly valued by Him.

You are one piece of a picture that is not complete without you. God has gifted you to be an important part of the body of Christ to bring Him glory and honor.
--------------
---Your life is God's gift to you;
--make it your gift to God, for His glory.

--ODB/DM - JESUS, LOVER OF MY SOUL~~Hillsong
<http://youtu.be/mff8_hwgWy4>
-------------

----JESUS: OUR PHYSICIAN~~

--February 15, 1921. New York City. The operating room of the Kane Summit Hospital. A doctor is performing an appendectomy.

-In many ways the events leading to the surgery are uneventful. The patient has complained of severe abdominal pain. The diagnosis is clear: an inflamed appendix. Dr. Evan O'Neill Kane is performing the surgery. In his distinguished thirty-seven-year medical career, he has performed nearly four thousand appendectomies, so this surgery will be uneventful in all ways except two...The first novelty of this operation? The use of local anesthesia in major surgery...The second is the patient. The courageous candidate for surgery by Dr. Kane was Dr. Kane.

To prove his point, Dr. Kane operated on himself!

A wise move. The doctor became a patient in order to convince the patients to trust the doctor.

...The story of the doctor who became his own patient is mild compared to the story of the God who became human. But Jesus did. So that you and I would believe that the Healer knows our hurts. He voluntarily became one of us. He placed Himself in our position. He suffered our pains and felt our fears.

Rejection? He felt it. Temptation? He knew it. Loneliness? He experienced it. Death? He tasted it.

And stress? He could write a best-selling book about it.
Why did He do it? One reason. So that when you hurt you will go to Him--your Father and your Physician--and let Him heal your wounds.

--From: In the Eye of the Storm /By:ML/<http://youtu.be/PeUPu4y59pw>

--Yes, God Is Holding Us Accountable!

“We have sinned, and have committed iniquity, and have done wickedly, and have rebelled, even by departing from Thy precepts and from Thy judgments.” - Daniel 9:5

Daniel prayed, “We have sinned, and have committed iniquity, and have done wickedly, and have rebelled, even by departing from Thy precepts and Thy judgments.” You ask, “Did Daniel do all that?” No, Daniel simply included himself in his prayer for his nation.

Does God hold me accountable for the abortion in America? Yes! Does God hold me accountable for the pornography? Yes! For the drug addiction, alcoholism, materialism, humanism? Yes, He does. Friend, if the church had done what she ought to have done, and if we would do what we ought to do, then these problems would be healed. And while we may not commit these sins, they are still our sins. Verse 20 of this same chapter makes it so clear: “While I was speaking, and praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel….”

Now, people who don’t know God aren’t going to confess the sin of this nation. Like Daniel, we must set our face and pray with reflection and repentance, confessing our sin and the sin of America. Only sin that is confessed is forgiven.

Have you ever set your face to prayer? So much of our prayer, I hate to say, is casual prayer, prayer that comes with almost a take-it-or-leave-it attitude. When are we going to set our face before God with fasting and determination?

--Adrian Rogers/LWF --/ WITH ALL I AM--HILLSONG +
<http://youtu.be/M0AyxEMFRbI>
------------

---MARY'S ALABASTER BOX ~~

--"Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus."

--THIS scene reveals a lot about the depth of Mary's spiritual understanding. Mary was interested in spiritual things, and as she "sat at Jesus' feet and, heard his word," He said that "Mary had chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her."

Her conduct after the death of Lazarus revealed her faith, for Martha ran to meet the Lord, "but Mary sat still in the house." However, when she received the summons from Jesus, "she arose quickly and came to him." Her words expressed her heartfelt belief: "If thou hadst been here, my brother had not died."

By the time of this anointing, Mary's spiritual understanding and faith had matured. Did she sense that her burial ointment would be of no use if not used that day? Who can say? But the fact remains that the only anointing Jesus received was prior to His death. Would that our spiritual eyes were as open as Mary's and our actions guided by faith such as hers.~~
-----
-Scripture: John 11:20-45; 12:3,7; Luke 10:39-42; Matthew 20:2
--Days of Praise/ICR= / All To You/ I Surrender All To You -- Don Moen ~~
<http://youtu.be/3570nuRTKZg?list=PL938273EC8BFE684F>

-- FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT ~~Galatians 5:22-26~~
--------- [The Bible is the Road Map to the Celestial City, New Jerusalem, Mount Zion. Follow His Words.]
--Impatience is selfishness with time. We don’t like to waste it. People get in our way and slow things down, so we burn them with impatience! Patience recognizes that we share time with others—it’s not just our time. Patience knows other factors are at work—that some things can be sped up with encouragement, not flames of retribution. The best way to turn down the flame of impatience is with love.

-I Corinthians 13:4 says, “Love is patient.” Love is a fruit hanging from the tree of Galatians 5:22. It’s the first-fruit and some say the most important.

The seeds of love produce the harvest of all the other fruits: joy, peace, patience. . . So, if you have the Holy Spirit, then you have the potential of making patience a part of your life. Thankfully, God is patient while you find that patience!
--Life Matters/ML
--"I Want To Be More Like Jesus"--Keith Green
<http://youtu.be/j9YCvwthi7o>
--------------

--What is Your Main Goal In Life?

--WHAT SHOULD IT PROFIT A MAN?

“For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?”
--(Mark 8:36)

--Some years ago I went to visit the ruins of the ancient city of Pompeii. Centuries ago when Vesuvius erupted, volcanic ash fell on everything and preserved the city just as it was. In fact, in the ruins there is a very interesting skeleton of a man. Evidently, when the volcano started to erupt and the ash began to fall, this man went back to his home for his bag of gold. The gold spilled on the floor and he reached out for it, just as the fumes overcame him. Now, he is embalmed for all time, grasping that gold. How foolish! What profit was his gold? Friend, the wisest thing that anybody can do is give his heart to Jesus Christ. That’s the only way to save your soul!

What are you grasping for today? Position? Power? Possessions? Prestige? Whatever it is, if you desire it more than you desire knowing Him, it will turn to ash in your hand. Or the Lord may have to gently pry it loose from your hand. Instead, say with Paul, “…that I may know Him!”
--Adrian Rogers
['Paul's Goal Of Life' is found in Philippians Chapter 3. Consider these verses, particularly....(7-11) ---
--"But whatever things are gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ.
More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ.

That I may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith,
'That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable, even to His death; in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead."]

----GETTING RID OF DARKNESS~

“Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the Light of the world: he that followeth Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.”
--- (John 8:12)

--If you wanted to get rid of darkness in a room, how would you do it? Would you curse the darkness? Take a broomstick and try to beat the darkness out? Grab a shovel and shovel it out? Or a vacuum cleaner and suck it out? How are you going to get the darkness out of a room?

There’s no way except one: turn on the light. Just turn on the light. The darkness cannot stand the light. When Jesus comes, darkness is going to go. It has to go! And when it goes, everything that loves it will go with it. What a day it will be when Jesus comes and all the wicked, vile, filthy things in the spiritual world flee His light!

When we're faithful, when we live as a Christian ought to, everywhere we go, we’re making manifest the deeds of darkness simply as we let our light shine.

-Don't have any fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness! We're to walk in the light; there is to be godly fruit, godly fellowship, and godly faithfulness as we “walk in the light as He is in the light..”
--Adrian Rogers~~
[When a person receives Jesus as their Lord and Savior, they no longer desire the things of this world. Jesus does an inside work in you, to desire those things that are 'spiritual'. A true Christian has been 'born again', not of the flesh but of the spirit. (John 3:3-7). We live to give glory to Jesus, not self.
You say, 'But I don't want to lose my friends.' Who would you rather have, Jesus with eternal life, or worldly unbelieving friends? The choice is yours.
--------------
"If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his Cross daily and follow Me.
For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, he is the one who will save it.
For what is a man profited if he gains the whole world, and loses or forfeits his own soul?
'For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when He comes in His glory, and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels."
--- (LUKE 9:23-26)
--We must die to self and live for Christ. We are on this earth to give glory to our Lord, and lead others to Christ. Let's get busy! Time is growing short. 'Even so, Come Lord Jesus.' ~~

--LET HEAVEN and EARTH PRAISE HIM!

--"Let Heaven and earth praise Him,
The seas and everything that moves in them.
For God will save Zion and build the
Cities of Judah,
That they may dwell there and possess it.

The descendants of His servants will
inherit it,
And those who love His
Name will dwell in it."
<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gfTEuM_7n-U>

--THE GOD WHO PAINTS~~

-"My soul thirsts for
God, for the living
God."~ (Psalm 42:2)
-----
--Nezahualcoyotl (1402-1472) may have had a difficult name to pronounce, but his name is full of significance. It means "Hungry Coyote," and this man's writings show a spiritual hunger. As a poet and ruler in Mexico before the arrival of the Europeans, he wrote, "Truly the god, which I worship, are idols of stone that do not speak nor feel...Some very powerful, hidden and unknown god is the creator of the entire universe. He is the only one that can console me in my affliction and help me in such anguish as my heart feels; I want him to be my helper and protection."

We cannot know if Nezahualcoyotl found the Giver of life. But during his reign he built a pyramid to the "God who paints things with beauty," and he banned human sacrifices in his city.

The writers of Psalm 42 cried out, "My soul thirsts for God, for the living God" (v.2). Every human being desires the true God, just as "the deer pants for streams of water" (V.1).

Today there are many Hungry Coyotes who know that the idols of fame, money, and relationships can't fill the void in their souls. The Living God, Jehovah Yahweh (YHWH), has revealed Himself through Jesus, the only One who give us meaning and fulfillment. This is good news for those who are hungry for the God who paints things with beauty. The Creator of the entire Universe, (see COLOSSIANS 1:15-20)~

--BENEATH ALL OF OUR LONGINGS IS A DEEP DESIRE FOR GOD. ~
YOU CAN KNOW GOD PERSONALLY, THROUGH HIS SON, JESUS CHRIST.~

--"Lord, You are the One my soul needs. Only You, Jesus, can bring meaning and fulfillment to my life. You are the One my heart cries out for. Jesus, I put my hope in You.~"
-ODB/KO --'Magnificent'/ Hillsong~
<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gLMhPEFa9Zk>
--------

--THAT YOU MAY KNOW = JESUS, + Emmanuel Loves You!

--GANG LEADER TURNED TO CHRIST~~

--"Emmanuel means 'God With Us' //
Gang Leader Turned Soldier for Christ ~~

~~Starting from his teenage years, Rene "Level" Martinez spent most of his time in gang life, stealing, dealing drugs, getting into fights, and in and out of jail. He started his own gang, know as the Latin Syndicate, which grew to 300 members. Later, he became a Mixed Martial Arts professional fighter. Then he had a powerful conversion to Christ and was baptized in 2016. Martinez said, "God set me free for a reason. I ain't never been the same. Something incredible in my life happened that I can't explain. It was Jesus, only Jesus can do it."
Today, Rene [Level], is involved in street ministry, reaching back into the life that he was saved out of. ~~

--The Vine and the Branches // Source: foxnews.com
--"Emmanuel" Darlene Zschech //<https://youtu.be/GcT5fnkJ8iw>

---THAT YOU MAY KNOW HIM, THE CREATOR, [the] AUTHOR AND FINISHER OF OUR FAITH, JESUS !

~~~“In everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.”
---(Matthew 7:12/ NIV)--

---If you are taking a road trip, you can use a GPS to get you to your destination. A whole host of websites will give you advice on which hotels are clean, which restaurants have the best food, and which activities are worth your money. But every one of those things can be absolutely wrong. We’ve all been led astray by a GPS, and those travel sites are full of opinions that are pretty subjective; the reviewer may have been having a bad day when they wrote that their pillow was lumpy. We are on a journey through life, too, and we have a source of very helpful travel tips: Jesus. The Gospels are full of Jesus’ recommendations, such as the one above. Imagine the Creator of the universe saying, “Come here for a minute. I have a couple of suggestions on how you can negotiate life.” Should we say, “Nah, I’m busy right now, and my friend already gave me some advice on that”? Or should we lean in and hear what He has to say?”

THINK ABOUT IT
Have you read the Bible as if it were life’s guidebook? A road-map? If not, turn on that filter today and consider Jesus’ counsel. FOLLOW THE SON OF GOD, JESUS, GOD/MAN!~

PRAYER
"Heavenly Father, I want to be wise and put Your words into practice in my life’s journey. Forgive me for the times I have disobeyed, thinking Your instruction wasn’t practical. Your Word always proves to be the best counsel. Lead me, Lord Jesus. Thank You for Your Son of God, Love Divine, JESUS CHRIST. Gloria, Hallelujah! ~~ In Jesus’ name, amen."
Blessings,
Pastor Allen Jackson--"Son Of God" //Sung By: Michael W. Smith // <https://youtu.be/R9n7QDFAOXU>
~~~~~~~~

--"The Savior--yes, the Messiah, the Lord--has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David!"
----(Luke 2:11/ NLT)
--[Recommended reading / LUKE 2:1-20 ]-

~~~The record of Jesus's birth (vv.1-16) reveals to us a central truth: We're called to worship Jesus--the Messiah who came to save us May we follow the Shepherd's example this Christmas: "The shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God" (v. 20 NLT).

In this most precious time of year, we should let the Holy Spirit lead our celebrations. The Savior of all humankind is worthy of our full worship. \o/ ~~

--ODB/RH --"Hope Was Born This Night" / Sidewalk Prophets // <https://youtu.be/z-LeQonRfSw>

--THAT YOU MAY KNOW HIM~~

--NOW IS THE TIME~~

-"Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those
on whom his favor rests." --(LUKE 2:14)
[Please read/ Luke 2:8-20]--

~~While reading Luke's account of Jesus's birth, I noticed that the first Christmas lacked our modern-day-parties, gifts, and feasting--but it did include worship.

After the angel announced Jesus's birth to some wide-eyed shepherds, a chorus of angels began "praising God and saying: 'Glory to God in the highest!'" (Luke 2:13-14). The shepherds responded by running to Bethlehem where they found the newborn King. They returned to their fields "glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen" (v.20). Coming face-to-face with the Son inspired the shepherds to worship our Heavenly Father.--

Today, as you think of Jesus's birth, give Him praise and thanks for coming to Earth to redeem us from our sin, so we can live eternally with Him. Yes, Jesus is the Breath of Heaven. Jesus is LORD!

--ODB/JBS~ --"Breath of Heaven" / Amy Grant //<https://youtu.be/RyNZVMxd2nM>
~~~~~

~~~LOVE BEARS ALL THINGS~~

-[1Corinthians 13:7/ RSV]

~~~MY HUSBAND Jason and I celebrated our thirty-third wedding anniversary over a long weekend in a little mountain town in the Colorado Rockies. On Saturday afternoon, we wandered into a gift store. In a jewelry case along one wall were some silver-and-gold rings. For years, I'd been wanted such a ring to wear on my right hand.

"Try one on," Jason urged. An hour later, we walked out of the store, with a bright and shiny silver-and-gold ring on my finger. "It's perfect!" I gushed to Jason. "Thank you!"

It wasn't until we were driving down the mountain toward home the next day that I spotted a tiny flaw in the ring, a pin-prick-sized hole in the gold on the front side. "On no," I moaned, showing Jason the flaw.

"I can hardly see it," he assured me. But all the way down the mountain, I stared at that flaw, and it seemed to grow bigger and bigger before my eyes. "I wonder if it was there yesterday and I just didn't notice it in my excitement?" I said.

For the next several days, I struggled with the imperfection in my ring. When I looked at it, all I saw was that tiny hole. -

"We'll just take it back," Jason finally told me, exasperated with my monomania.

His words made me realize that I had a choice: I could fixate on the flaw or focus on the ring's overall beauty. And with its tiny flaw, the ring was the perfect gift to celebrate the longevity of our marriage and remind me of a choice I face every day.
-ODB/CK

Sometimes as Christians, we too must realize that our focus should be on the Perfect Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. Jesus never sinned, yet He died so we can have life eternally. "In all things give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you" [Ephesians 5:20]
--"Love On The Line"--Hillsong Worship//<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=foppLdmfdnY>
~~~~~~~~~

--THAT YOU MAY KNOW ~~

~~WHEN HE SHALL APPEAR ~~

"And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear,
we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at
his coming." --[1 John 2:28] --

~~There are many glorious promises associated with the great promise that Christ Himself shall once again appear in person here on planet Earth. For example, Paul says: "When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory" (Colossians 3:4).

Similarly, the apostle Peter promises: "And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away" (1 Peter 5:4). The writer of Hebrews first reminds us of His former appearance on Earth: "But now once in the the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself" (Hebrews 9:26). Then the promise is: "Unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation" (v.28).

Perhaps the most wonderful promise associated with His second appearing is given through the apostle John: "Behold, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure" (1 John 3:2-3).

Therefore, when He shall appear, we shall appear with Him in glory; we shall receive an unfading crown of glory; we shall be like Him, and without sin unto salvation. These promises even now constitute an incentive for each believer to purify himself even as He is pure. ~~

--ICR/HMM~ ~~"Purify My Heart"//Jeremy and Katie Riddle// <https://youtu.be/ayH5iV5zmrI>
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
--[Yes, this song may be under the title, "Refiners Fire"// Yet this is the title that Jeremy and Katie Riddle chose for this time in our world's desperate need for prayer. Today, 'May 7th, 2020, is National Day of Prayer.' Please pray for all Nations across the globe. 'Even so, Come Lord Jesus.' ~]
~~~~~~~~~

--JESUS REACHES OUT TO YOU~~

--"For I hold you by your right hand--I, the LORD your God. And I say to
you, "Don't be afraid. I am here to help you."
---(Isaiah 41:13)--

--I GLANCED AT THE DOOR of the bank, eager to step inside so I could make a bank transaction before the end of the day. Then I saw a gray-haired man, wobbling and straining to reach for something firm to hold on to as he made his way unsteadily toward the bank.

I rushed to the old man and extended my right hand. He beamed, pleasantly surprised by the gesture. Then he muttered, "This arthritis...it's hard for me to move because of it."

As I held his wrinkled hand to support him, I felt his thick, hard palm and gnarled fingers. He explained how difficult it was for him to move around and even apologized for being elderly. He repeatedly thanked me, grateful for the sudden but much-needed help.

I tried to imagine how that man must have felt while staggering his way into the bank. Was he afraid of tripping and hurting his fragile self? Did he pity himself for being weak and alone, without a family member to support him? I would have wanted someone to help me if I was in his shoes. We all need a helping hand. I'm grateful that Jesus helps us most of all.

Jesus reached out His hand to Peter as he began to sink after his brief walk on the water. Even though Peter doubted when he saw the strong waves, Jesus immediately rescued him. When fear, doubt, and worry cause us to quiver and tremble, the strong hands of Jesus will protect and comfort us, just as they did Peter.
Let us be aware of others around us that may need a helping hand and reach out in Jesus Name. ~~

--"Mornings With Jesus" / MLM
--"Jesus Lover Of My Soul" (video/ Chris Eaton) <https://youtu.be/nYadCyVsXFo>
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

----OPERATION SEEK & SAVE ~~

--'Jesus responded, “Salvation has come to this home today, for this man has shown himself to be a true son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.”'
---(Luke 19:9-10/ NLT)--

---Jesus was spending the afternoon in the home of the most notoriously wicked man in Jericho, and the rule-following church folks in town were a little peeved. It was quite shocking that Jesus would lack good judgment and intentionally socialize with a sinner. Then, at the end of the afternoon, Jesus made a public announcement that shook them all. “Salvation has come to this home today,” He said. Jesus understood His purpose on the earth: He was on a rescue mission “to seek and save” anyone who was outside the Kingdom of God.
-Scripture says that we are Christ’s ambassadors, and we have the power of the Holy Spirit to do His work in the world. Do you know people who would be considered wicked or ungodly? They may not welcome you into their homes as this man did, but could it be possible that God wants you to share your Jesus-story with those people? What a privilege that would be!

THINK ABOUT IT
When Saul became “Paul” in the book of Acts, the early Church was certainly surprised. Be open to God’s current day surprises as Jesus continues to seek and save the lost using your God-story, too. [**Please read the story of Saul's conversion in Acts Chapter 9. There is no one that our God can't save.]

PRAYER
Heavenly Father, nothing is too hard for You. I ask You to draw the skeptics in my sphere of influence toward Your Kingdom, and use my Jesus-story to make a difference. Open their hearts and minds, and save them through Your mercy. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Blessings,
Pastor Allen Jackson
~~~~

---LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE FOR JESUS~~

--"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven."
---[Matthew 5:16] --
-[Please Read / Matthew 5:1-6]

--One day Jason learned that a check he had written to his brother was returned for insufficient funds. So Jason made a transfer and then told his brother that he could redeposit the check. However, his brother's bank had a policy stating that the other bank needed to approve the repeated transaction, and Jason's bank had a policy of a similar nature. With each bank refusing to contact the other, Jason and his brother were stuck! The only option was to void the original check and write a new one.

Now let's go into our personal lives and take a peek at the files labeled "Policies." If my wife and I have a disagreement or a falling out, do I sulk until she apologizes first, or do I put forth the first effort to make amends? Maybe I have a policy that if so-and-so appears to hold ill feelings toward me and wants to avoid me, I don't need to make any effort to talk to him either. I may be controlled by a policy stating that my neighbor must never outdo me in material possessions. Or perhaps I feel that I must always appear good before all men, even though my heart is full of wickedness.

Please, dear friend, open the files of your heart and throw out any ungodly policies that may control your life. Replace them with the policies that Jesus taught in today's Bible reading--humility, meekness, mercy, purity, and peacemaking. Be willing even to suffer "for righteousness' sake" if necessary. Let your life be full of self-denial, sacrifice and love!
--BSW/NS~

-"Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins." --[1 Peter 4:8] ~~
--"Jesus Lover Of My Soul" // (Charles Wesley song) By: Chris Eaton // <https://youtu.be/nYadCyVsXFo>
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--WHAT CAN'T BE SEEN ~~

--"Faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about
what we do not see." --[Hebrews 11:1] --

---Historians say the Atomic Age began on July 16, 1945, when the first nuclear weapon was detonated in a remote desert of New Mexico. But Greek philosopher Democritus (C. 460--370 B.C) was exploring the existence and power of the atom long before the invention of anything that could even see these tiny building blocks of the universe. Democritus comprehended more than he could see and atomic theory was the result.

The Scriptures tell us that the essence of faith is embracing what can't be seen. Hebrews 11:1 affirms, "Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see." This assurance isn't the result of wishful or positive thinking. It's confidence in the God we can't see but whose existence is the truest reality in the universe. His reality is displayed in His creative works (Psalm 19:1) and made visible by revealing His invisible character and ways in His Son, Jesus, who came to show the Father's love to us (John 1:18).

This is God in whom "we live and move and have our being," as the apostle Paul put it (Acts 17:28). As such, "we live by faith, not be sight." (2 Corinthians 5:7). Yet we don't walk alone. The unseen God walks with us every step of the way. Jesus is as close as the mention of His Name.~~

--"Father, sometimes it's a struggle to believe what I can't see. Nevertheless, You've promised Your faithful love and that You'll never leave me or forsake me. Help me to rest in your promise. In Jesus Name." --

--ODB/BC~

---THAT YOU MAY KNOW.....Waiting on the Lord is always BEST!

--WAITING ON THE LORD ~~

"As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, "Tell us, when will these things be,
and what will be the sign of your coming. and of the end of the age?" --

---WORKING AS A writer involves a lot of waiting. I submit an idea to my agent and wait for a response. I turn in my manuscripts and wait for my editor to return it with feedback. Even when my part is finished, I have to wait for the book to be published. And I'll let you in on a secret: I don't enjoy waiting.

The other day, I settled in a lawn chair, relaxing in my backyard. Time slowed. Goldfinches darted past. A chipmunk peeked from around the corner of the shed. A rabbit ventured out from the daylily patch, rooting for clover. A quick glance out the window during the day rarely reveals so much activity. It was only when I decided to sit quietly that some of the treasures of the backyard revealed themselves. I grudgingly admitted that waiting can be valuable.

The disciples had their own issues with waiting. They asked Jesus when all His purposes would be fulfilled--even if they didn't fully understand what those were. We often wonder when, why, how, things will happen.

When I sit in His Presence, quietly and watchfully, I begin to see His hand in so much of life--just as I noticed new things in my sunny backyard. His timing is perfect. His purposes are loving. If waiting helps me lean into Jesus more, then I will learn to find joy in it. ~~

--Guideposts/SH~ .

---JESUS IS LOVER OF MY SOUL~

--"Trust in the Lord with all you heart and lean not on your own understanding."
---[Proverbs 3:5/ NIV]

--THE EMERGENCY ROOM doctor referred me to an orthopedist after I fell down a staircase. An MRI of my rotator cuff showed no tears, and I felt fine, but the doctor recommended a few weeks of rehab so I could gain range-of-motion strength. When I walked into the rehab facility--a room filled people on crutches and walkers--I was convinced: Jesus I don't belong here. But the therapist ordered stretching exercises and ultrasound treatments, and I reluctantly got started.

I hurried through my exercises and left . I felt just fine. As I hustled out I ran into Sue, my old tennis coach. She was there for shoulder rehab but mentioned her recent bout with breast cancer, so I promised to pray for her. The next day, while icing my shoulder, I sat next to Edmond, who was recovering from knee replacement. We had taught at the same high school years before and enjoyed reminiscing.

Later in the week, I exercised near Carol, a woman whose friend was in hospice. She was caring for her friend's two cats and knew nothing about cats, but I did. I gave her advice about food and cat care. During my ultrasound treatment, my technician Beth kept wiping her eyes. I asked whether her allergies were bothering her, but she said, "No, today is the one-year anniversary of my son's death. I should be over it by now." Having lost a son myself, I was able to reassure her that the Lord Jesus would carry her through. We hugged and cried. 'Thank You, Jesus. Maybe I did belong here after all.'
--"Bear one another's burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ."--[Galatians 6: verse 2]

--Guideposts/PBD~

-----"Jesus Lover of My Soul' // Charles Wesley / (Chris Eaton )" <https://youtu.be/nYadCyVsXFo>
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-----SPIRITUAL RADIOLOGY ~~

--"For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword...
it is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." --[Hebrew 4:12] --

---X-RAYS and MRI's were used in an attempt to identify the cause of internal pain that I was experiencing. Most of us are familiar with x-rays and MRI's. We know that an x-ray reveals bone structure, while an MRI not only reveals bone structure, but soft tissue as well.

God's Word helps us to also look deeply inside. It's capabilities are far superior to and MRI, going even deeper than the physical structure and soft tissue, and revealing the state of our very heart and soul. It searches the secret thoughts and purposes of the heart, something that even the most sophisticated, stare-of-the-art machine cannot possibly do.

A radiologist looks at the imaging to ascertain the issues that may need to be corrected. Sometimes the x-ray or MRI reveals nothing. Other times it may reveal the need for a change in lifestyle or even corrective surgery. The Holy Spirit is like the radiologist, convicting us of sin, or giving us peace if all is well.

If surgery is needed, the surgeon must cut out or fix the offending structure. God and His Word are like the highly skilled surgeon, pruning away the impurities in our lives, and fixing what is broken. Yes, it may hurt. God's knife is sharper than a double-edged sword! However, God's surgery is always reliable and effective, and results in more and better fruit.

God already knows us from the inside out. Will we let Him reveal HIs will to our hearts by allowing ourselves to come under the intense imagining of the Word, the searching eye of the Holy Spirit, and the scalpel of God?

----BSW/JK

---That We May Believe ~~

--"As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up:
that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life."
[---John 3:14-15] --
-[Scripture Reading // Numbers 21:1-9 , John 3:13-21]

---AS the Israelites rebelled and were then punished by poisonous serpents, we have also turned from God and as a result have experienced the poison of sin in our lives. In today's Bible reading, Moses was commanded to lift up a brass serpent in the wilderness so that those who gazed at it could be healed. So we are to look to Christ's shed blood and perfect sacrifice on the cross to be saved and healed from sin. Had the Israelites not believed and obeyed, they would not have received healing from God.

Guided by the Holy Spirit we must ever be aware of our propensity toward sin and be on guard. We repent for the mistakes which we make. "Wash me thoroughly from from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me" (Psalm 51:2-3).

Let us remember that undesirable consequences for bad choices are designed by God to draw us to Himself. We must come to the place where we use chastisement as stepping stones to eternal life rather than stumbling blocks into bitterness.

We need to focus by faith, not on ourselves, but on what Christ did for us. "For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world though him might be saved." Then remember "That all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose" (Romans 8:28). To have such faith we must come to the place where Christ is all and we are nothing. ~~

'Behold the Saviour of mankind, nailed to the shameful tree;
How great the love that His inclined, to bleed and die for thee.'
--[Samuel Wesley, Sr ]
--BSW/FB~.