--DOES BIBLICAL CREATION HELP US GLORIFY GOD?
--(YEC= Young Earth Creation)

--How well do you glorify God? Robbing God of glory is serious as illustrated in this brief account in the book of Acts: "So, on a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat on his throne and gave an oration to them. And the people kept shouting, 'The voice of god and not of man!' Then immediately an angel of the Lord struck him, because he did not give glory to God. Beliefs impact our capacity to give God the glory He deserves. A belief in the Bible's clear narrative of a recent creation helps Christians better glorify God in at least two ways. -

Recent creation glorifies God because it acknowledges His accuracy as a divine Author. By accuracy I mean telling it like it is. What kind of God would inspire His prophet Moses to record "For in six days the LORD made the heavens and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day" (Exodus 20:11), if in fact nature made the heavens and earth over billions of years: And if God failed to fact-check Genesis and Exodus, then what other mistakes might He have made elsewhere in His Word?

Most churchgoers believe that science demands billions of years, But many scientists, including those at ICR (Institute For Creation Research), find circular reasoning a cherry-picking--not science--behind the billions-of-years position. We side with Biblical creation, which hold that God created all things exactly when and how He said He did in the Bible. And good science backs that belief. For example, we calculate the mutation rate over many generations or find fast-decaying proteins still present in fossils.

Biblical creation takes God at His Word, with the benefit of solid scientific support. It's the perfect position for those ready to glorify God as the all-knowing Author. The psalmist did this when he wrote, "The entirety of Your word is truth" (Psalm 119:160). Accepting creation according to Genesis clears the path for believers to celebrate how God's truthful essence inspired His accuracy as an Author.

Recent creation also glorifies God by more fully recognizing His miraculous creative power. Part of what makes creation known as a miracle is that it happened so fast. How did the wedding guests at Cana recognize Jesus' miracle of creating wine? They saw it happen instantly, at his command (John 2:11). Similarly, Jesus did not rise from the dead after months of doctor care. He just got up. The speed with which many miracles occur helps authenticate the fact that Someone from outside this world reached down to cause these instant events. That Someone is Jehovah God.

If belief in billions of years isn't scientific, what could motivate the promotion of this idea? The father of modern uniformitarian geology, Charles Lyell, wrote in a letter dated June 14,1830, of his desire to "free the science from Moses," Charles Darwin expressed a similar desire to remove God from the picture, as do many scientists today.
That's not science. Rather, "although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts." (Romans 1:21) Biblical creation helps glorify God by admitting that He performed the true miracle of Creation in six days only thousands of years ago.

Do you seek to glorify God by honoring Him as truth-teller? As an accurate Author? A bona fide miracle maker? If you answered yes, then Biblical Creation is for you.~

--ICR/BT
[Article Highlights--[ ICR/ May 2019]
**God deserves all the glory for being our Creator.
**He's the Bible's Author and His every Word is true.
**According to the Bible, He created everything in six days
only thousands of years ago.
**We glorify God as an accurate Author and powerful
Miracle worker when we take Him at His Word. ~~]
--------------

--THE CHRIST CENTERED LIFE~

-(Please Read/ 2 Corinthians 5:14-15)--

--IF SOMEONE ASKED IF YOUR LIFE IS CENTERED on Christ, how would you respond? Oftentimes a Christ-centered life is equated with going to church, giving, praying, reading the Bible, and talking to other people about Jesus. However, did you know that even if you do every one of these things, it's still possible to live a life that is controlled by self rather than Christ?

This is because our motives may be self-centered. Religious activities can be done for a variety of reasons that have nothing to do with our love for Jesus. We could be seeking to relieve feelings of guilt or to make ourselves feel better or look more righteous. Perhaps we read the Bible to quickly find a verse that affirms us. Or prayer might be our attempt to get God to do what we want.

The answer is not to give up on these good activities but to shift our focus to Christ and what He desires. Our battle with self is one that will continue as long as we live in these earthly bodies. That's why Paul tells us to "lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted," and to "put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth" (Eph. 4:22,24).

A Christ-centered life is fueled by love for the Savior, which flows from increasing knowledge of Him. And we learn to know Jesus more intimately through reading, praying, and quietly abiding in His presence. As Christ increases in our mind and heart, we'll discover that our self-focus decreases and He becomes the delight of our lives. ~~

--IN TOUCH~~

--ENJOYING OUR CREATOR'S BEAUTY~~

--"He has made everything beautiful in its time."
--(Ecclesiastes 3:11)

--(PLEASE READ/ ECCLESIASTES 3:9–13)

--The painting caught my eye like a beacon. Displayed along a long hallway in a big city hospital, its deep pastel hues and Navajo Native American figures were so arresting I stopped to marvel and stare. “Look at that,” I said to my husband, Dan.

He was walking ahead but I hesitated, bypassing other paintings on the wall to gaze only at that one. “Beautiful,” I whispered.

Many things in life are beautiful indeed. Master paintings. Scenic vistas. Inspired crafts. But so is a child’s smile. A friend’s hello. A robin’s blue egg. A seashell’s strong ridges. To relieve the burdens life can bring, “[God] has made everything beautiful in its time” (Ecclesiastes 3:11). In such beauty, Bible scholars explain, we get a glimpse of the perfection of God’s creation—including the glory of His perfect rule to come.

We can only imagine such perfection, so God grants us a foretaste through life’s beauty. In this way, God “has also set eternity in the human heart” (v. 11). Some days life looks drab and futile. But God mercifully provides moments of beauty to ponder.

The artist of the painting I admired, Gerard Curtis Delano, understood that. “God [gave] me a talent to create beauty,” he once said, “and this is what He wanted me to do.”

Seeing such beauty, how can we respond? We can thank God for eternity to come while pausing to enjoy the glory we already see.
---ODB/PR

--"Father, help me in the moments of this day to see and enjoy the beauty You bring into my life as I also look forward to eternity, In Jesus Name."--"Oh What A Father" / Mark and Sarah Tillman ~ / <https://youtu.be/DF1--xGeqt4>
-------------------

--GOD Provides What We Need to Flourish For Him. ~~

--"The life of mortals is
like grass, they flourish
like a flower of the field."
--(Psalm 103:15)----

--IN PSALM 103, David penned a poetic song that praised God while also reflecting on how quickly the joyful moments of our lives pass by: "The life of mortals is like grass, they flourish like a flowers of the field; the wind blows over it and it is gone." (VV. 15-16)

But despite acknowledging the brevity of life, David describes the flower as flourishing, or thriving. Although each individual flower blossoms and blooms swiftly, it's fragrance and color and beauty bring great joy in the moment. And even though an individual flower can be quickly forgotten--"its place remembers it no more" (V.16)--by contrast we have the assurance that "from everlasting to everlasting the LORD's love is with those who fear Him" (V.17).

We, like flowers, can rejoice and flourish in the moment; but we can also celebrate the truth that the moments of our lives are never truly forgotten. God holds every detail of our lives, and His everlasting love is with His children forever!

--GOD PROVIDES WHAT ALL OF HIS CREATION NEEDS, AND WHEN IT IS NEEDED. WE TRUST IN OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST. ~

--ODB/AK--"God Of Wonders" / By/ Third Day~ <https://youtu.be/DlU89VB6Tm4>
--------------

--ALL-PURPOSE TRAVEL GUIDE~~

-"Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path."
---(Psalm 119:105 / NIV) ~

--Have you ever tried to take a walk in the pitch black of a moonless night? It would be hard enough to walk down your own street in complete darkness, but what about walking down a road you had never been on before? Can you imagine being on a mountainous trail with trees and rocks and dangerous drop-offs, or in a jungle with crocodiles lurking in the water and pythons watching from the trees—all without a ray of light? This is the nature of life without the guidance of Scripture.

-- All around us there are dangerous but unseen spiritual forces at work to confuse us, trip us, trap us, and harm us. We desperately need the light of God’s Word to guide our steps as we make our way on life’s journey. The Bible will not tell you which college you should attend or recommend the highest-yielding mutual fund. But the overarching principles it teaches, illuminated by the understanding the Holy Spirit gives you, make it a totally sufficient guide for traveling the pathways of life.

~~THINK ABOUT IT
Have you ever read a portion of Scripture in the morning that shed light on a circumstance later in the day? Reading our Bibles every day can bring us more hope, wisdom, guidance. Perhaps you prefer reading the Bible at noon or evening. Whatever is your 'quiet time' with the Lord, He will lead, guide and direct your steps.

~~PRAYER
-"Heavenly Father, I want Your light to shine on the path before me. Help me yield time each day to take advantage of Your written Word, depending on and trusting it to teach me Your character and how to walk by Your Spirit. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Blessings,
Pastor Allen Jackson
["I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye." --(Psalm 32:8)

"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
That the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work."
--(2 Timothy 3:16,17)

"And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." -(John 8:31,32)~
[**Friends, I highly recommend having a 'GOD'S PROMISES = FOR YOUR EVERY NEED', a small paperback book. You will learn and teach others as you refer to these wonderful 'pearls of great price'. Jesus is the Word of God. "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.
In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men.--
"The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it."
--(JOHN 1:1-5 NASB)]

--WHY PRAISE AND GLORIFY GOD?
--(ICR/NPS)


--“I will praise thee, O LORD my God, with all my heart: and I will glorify thy name for evermore” (Psalm 86:12).

---In our text we see David’s deep desire to praise and glorify God with his whole heart and lift up the LORD’s name even forevermore. Certainly, this is a worthy goal for all believers. In verses 13 and 15 we find three basic reasons why this should be done. Because of the greatness of the mercy of God. “For great is thy mercy toward me”(v.13). The mercy of God flows from the love of God. Because God loves us, His mercy is extended to us through Christ. “But God, who is rich in mercy, for His great love wherewith He loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ” (Ephesians 2:4,5). Jeremiah stated, “It is of the LORD’s mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness” (Lamentations 3:22,23).

We have many reasons to give glory to our Lord and Savior. Because of the greatness of the salvation of the LORD. “And thou hast delivered my soul from the lowest hell” (Psalm 86:13). Deliverance of the soul from the lowest hell was something for which David was extremely grateful and for which he gave great praise to God. A person’s soul is his very life. Thus, to have that soul spend eternity in an endless hell is a tragedy, especially since Christ has already procured heaven for those who trust in Him. Because of the greatness of the attributes of God. “But thou, O LORD art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth” (v.15).

He shows compassion toward His children; grace and mercy to His new-born ones; longsuffering to those who fail, and He is ever faithful to fulfill all His promises.

Praising and glorifying God is the outward expression of a grateful heart. ~~
It is only because of His love, grace and mercy that we are alive and able to give Him praise! / "This Is Amazing Grace"/ Phil Wickham /<https://youtu.be/zPQKj2Zptr0>
------------------

--REJOICE!

"Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice."
--(Philippians 4:4)

--Paul tells us in Philippians 4 that we always have a reason to rejoice; our Lord Jesus Christ. Paul isn't saying that from a place of comfort; he had firsthand experience with rejoicing while in prison at Philippi (see Acts 16:16-34).
Joy is based on knowing the Christ who redeemed us, raised us to life in our Baptism, and continues to feed us with His Word and His Supper. There may be circumstances that seem to limit our joy, but Paul uses the verb rejoice. The dictionary defines rejoice as "to be glad; to take delight." This is an action that we can do by faith, no matter what our circumstances.

As you take delight in the Lord today, perhaps you can even hum the words to this song... "THRIVE" / Joy unspeakable, Faith/ unsinkable;/ Love unstoppable / Anything is possible!.
<https://youtu.be/3jNJ59o4QgE>
---------

--MAKE THE DECISION ~~

"I am the LORD your God, who upholds your right hand,
who says to you,
'Do not fear, I will help you.'"
--(ISAIAH 41:13)

--Today, make a decision that you are going to trust God. Choose not to be fearful of whatever challenges arise or trouble confronts you. This may seem difficult because of the emotions you're experiencing. But you can do it by focusing on the reality that your Savior is with you--He is your Sustainer, your Protector, your Provider, and the Preserver of your life. He is always loving and willing to forgive you of your sin. He ensures that you are eternally secure in Him.

The Lord's desire for you is always good, so you can be certain that whatever He allows to touch your life will lead to some important and eternal benefit. So do it--make the choice to have faith in G-D, YHWH, Yahweh, the LORD. He loves you, provides for you, cares for you, and is always available to you. He is in control of your life at all times. And voice your decision to trust Him with prayer, praise, thanksgiving, and worship.

Because as you do, I have no doubt that your Savior will melt away any fears you might have and fill you with His wonderful peace that transcends understanding. Go ahead, Yahweh is waiting for your willingness to accept His free-gift of salvation and follow Him into eternity. "You are loved with an everlasting love and underneath are His everlasting arms." ~~
--IN TOUCH~ / "Behold Our God"/ Brandon Heath ~-<https://youtu.be/dK7qNimd-RM>
-------

--THE ANGELS AND YOU / ANGELS ARE REAL MINISTERING AGENTS OF JEHOVAH YAHWEH ~

--"Elisha prayed and said, “O Lord, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.”
(--- –2 Kings 6:17)--

---In her book “The Hiding Place,” Corrie ten Boom recounts how an angel of God ministered to her in one of the darkest experiences of her life. After being transferred to the German concentration camp known as 'Ravensbruck', Corrie and her sister, Betsie, like all the prisoners, had to surrender all their medicine. Corrie says she was able to smuggle in a small vial of liquid vitamin. Vitamin deficiency was one of the direst hazards that faced prisoners.

Corrie was tempted to take that vial and hide it for herself and her dying sister Betsie. But how could she do that when there were so many needs? She wrote, “It was hard to say no to the eyes that burned with fever, hands that shook with a chill.” More than 25 prisoners received a daily dose of vitamins from that small vial. She wrote, “Every time I tilted the little bottle, a drop appeared at the top of the glass stopper. It just couldn’t be! I held it up to the light, trying to see how much was left, but the dark brown glass was too thick to see through.” Betsie reminded Corrie about the widow of Zarephath, whose jar of oil miraculously never ran out (1 Kings 17:8-16). Although Corrie never understood how so many drops could come from such a tiny bottle, she believed an angel had been responsible for that overabundance of supply of liquid vitamin.

Accounts like that, as well as hundreds of references to angels in the Bible, should convince us that angels are a very real and powerful force in our world today. Angels are not only real, but they minister to us in a variety of ways today.

To me, one of the most encouraging stories about angels in the Bible is in 2 Kings 6:17,18. One day, the prophet Elisha found himself surrounded by soldiers who were intent on killing him. When Elisha’s servant awakened and saw the multitude of soldiers, he ran to the prophet and said, in essence, “Look at that big army out there–we are about to die!” But Elisha calmly prayed this prayer on behalf of his terrified servant: “O Lord, I pray, open his eyes that he may see” (6:17). God opened the eyes of Elisha’s servant–and the servant suddenly looked around and saw a multitude of angels standing there to guard them. The Bible describes the angels like this: “The mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha” (6:18). When the servant’s spiritual eyes were opened to see the angels of God all around him, everything changed.

I pray that your spiritual eyes will be opened so that you, too, can see how God’s mighty angels are helping you throughout your life by providing for you, protecting you, and revealing God’s will to you. And most of all, I pray that you will respond to this biblical understanding of angels by kneeling in gratitude and worship of our Lord Jesus Christ, who created the angels and uses them to minister to you and me both in this life and in the life to come.
--PTV/RJ ~
--"With God all things are possible" --(Matthew 19:26)
--"The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear Him, and rescues them." --(PSALM 34:7/ NASB)--
***

--DECLARE GOD'S GLORY!

-"Declare His glory among the nations, His marvelous works among all the peoples!"
--(Psalm 96:3)

--Jehovah God has called us through the Gospel to be His people. He therefore gives each of us the task of proclaiming "the excellencies of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light" (1 Peter 2:9), and living lives that glorify Him. God makes it clear throughout the Scriptures that the Good News is for all people in all Nations.

Our vocation of proclaiming God's glory begins in our own home as we teach and encourage our family. We may have the opportunity to share our faith in Jesus through our workplace, in our neighborhoods, or through congregational ministries of outreach, wherever the Lord may place us. Wherever we might be, may we never be ashamed to share His Word, and glorify Him, with others. (see Mark 8:38) ~~

Be encouraged that this is God's work and promise, not another law to fulfill. We know that God uses us to speak the Good News about all that He has done to those who are around us. We must keep 'prayed-up', so that the Holy Spirit can flow through us. As we see what God is doing in and through our lives, we can give God glory. Allow others to see 'Christ in you, the hope of glory.' He alone is our Blessed Hope!

"Lord Jesus, thank You for redeeming us from sin, death, and the devil. Help us to see how You work through Your people for Your glory. We relinquish our lives to You, our Sovereign One. In Christ Alone~ Amen!"
--Portals of Prayer~~--"JUST BE" / By: Kim Walker Smith ~ <https://youtu.be/UzrABDYuvcg>
---------

---STANDING TALL FOR JESUS
-- By/ Touching Lives-Pastor James Merritt
--
“…Then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, Whom you crucified but Whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed.”
(--Acts 4:10)

When Peter met the crippled man in Acts 3, the man was begging for money. In that time, and even now in some parts of the world, the handicapped were shunned, avoided, and neglected. They were seen as damaged goods, and not worth helping.

This crippled man had likely spent his entire life alone. He had probably given up on ever being loved and accepted. He spent his days just trying to survive on handouts. But all that was about to change. He was about to meet Jesus.

I love Peter’s response to the man when he asked for money. Peter told him, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” Peter knew he had something more important than money or food or water. He had the power of the living God. And as Peter well knew after the years He spent with Jesus, he was giving that man more than just the ability to walk…he was giving him Jesus. He met his physical need so that he could meet the deeper need.

The man used his new, working legs to immediately run to the Temple to worship the God who had healed him. When the religious leaders saw him, they questioned him and this is when Peter stepped in again. As this crippled man stood tall for the first time, Peter also stood tall and glorified the Name of the Lord. He made sure that everyone knew why this man was now walking. He made sure it was God Who received the honor.

When is the last time you stood tall for Jesus? When you see God working, or when He uses you to do His work, do you exalt His Name above all others? Do you point to Him and not yourself, or anyone else? Let's be sure to point others to our Lord Jesus Christ. He deserves all glory, honor and praise.

-"Lord God, You deserve all glory and honor for all good things. Please help me to remember that You are my Provider, Saviour, Healer, and the only hope for all people. I bless Your Name, Jehovah Ropha, our God that Heals. In Jesus’ Name, Amen."--/ "You Make Me brave" / Amanda Cook with Bethel Music ~-<https://youtu.be/2YE3l0tEh3c>
-----------

---GIVING OUR BEST!

-"For from the rising of the sun to its setting My name will be great
among the nations, and in every place incense will be offered to My
name, and a pure offering. For My name will be great among the
nations, says the LORD of hosts."
--(Malachi 1:11)--

--HERE IN THE BOOK of Malachi, the priests of the nation of Israel are not showing God honor. They offer sacrifices to God that are not the best. God is insulted, and He lets them know that His name will be honored with only pure sacrifices.

Everything works best when everyone gives their best try in any situation. God is always giving us His best in Christ, and in Christ, we do get the very best. We give God our best in worship, in caring for our families, in our efforts at school or work, and in loving our neighbors.

It needs to be said that even with our best, a situation may not turn out as we desire. Lots of unexpected variables can cause something to go bad, and our effort is not to blame.

No matter the outcome, we know by faith that God is always giving us His best in Christ, and we know that His name is great among all of Heaven and Earth.
We always give Him praise. 'PRAISE STILLS THE ENEMY!' KEEP ON PRAISING JEHOVAH YAHWEH= YHWH~

-"LORD GOD, we know You always give us Your best in Christ; I want to honor You with my best in all that I do. Help me, Lord, to be a vessel of honor for Your glory, in Jesus Name. Amen"


--"LET YOUR GLORY FALL" [Oh, Let It Rain]~~ Kari Jobe~ <https://youtu.be/ptkoy83wCTI>
------

---FULLY INFORMED / FRIEND OF JESUS~~

---“I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.”
------(John 15:15/ NIV) --

----Most of us in contemporary western society do not live in the world of masters and servants, but we understand that one of the differences between the two groups is access to information. The masters talk about important things among themselves, but servants are not privy to those things. Friends of the master are invited in to sit down for a leisurely chat about his thoughts, feelings, and plans; servants are told what to do and when.

--- Jesus says that we are His friends because He has shared with us what He has learned from His Father. We live in an era when the concept of friendship has been watered down until it is nearly meaningless. In contrast, the friendship of Jesus is intimate and sincere. It opens the door for us to gain understanding about God and His Kingdom. If nothing else can be said of me, I want to be known as a friend of Jesus.

**THINK ABOUT IT**
--Jesus’ disciples addressed each other as He had addressed them - friends. What responsibilities can you think of that come with being a friend to others and a friend to Jesus?

*PRAYER*
--"Heavenly Father, it is humbling that Jesus would call me His friend. Forgive any selfish attitudes that have prevented me from being a faithful friend. Help me honor Jesus, giving Him first place in all of my life. Thank You, Abba Father, that we can come boldly to the Throne of Grace, in Jesus Name. In His name I pray. Amen."


*Blessings,
--World Outreach Church/AJ ~*-/ "FRIEND OF GOD" / By= Israel Houghton and New Breed ~ -<https://youtu.be/ALvNy7GNeJk>
~~~~~~~~~~~

--GOD'S PURPOSE / [FOR HIS BELIEVERS / FOLLOWERS~]
--[Please Read/ Romans 8:28-30]

~~~What is the purpose of life? Throughout human history, people have been trying to answer that question. Books have been written on the subject, and philosophers have postulated many answers. But for Christians, God’s purpose is concisely outlined in today’s passage.

Believers are called according to His purpose and are foreknown by Him. God’s foreknowledge is much more than His ability to see future events in advance. It also includes bringing to pass what He has chosen to do for those He has called. He has predestined them to be conformed to the image of His Son (Rom. 8:29). This will be fully accomplished in the resurrection, but until then, God is progressively transforming His children right now. These are the ones He calls, justifies (declares righteous), and ultimately glorifies.

If you are a Christian, this is God’s purpose for you. That means everything He allows into your life is designed to shape you into a glorious reflection of Christ. Although you cannot fully understand how God brings about salvation and how believers are responsible to respond in faith, there is great comfort in knowing that He who began this good work in you will be faithful to complete it (Phil. 1:6).

--IN TOUCH~--
-["But now, O LORD, You are our Father, we are the clay, and You our potter;
And all of us are the work of Your hand." =Isaiah 64:8] ~~--"In The Hands Of The Potter"//Casting Crowns=<https://youtu.be/Zzkv84BTZnU>
~~~~

----Compassion On the Job~~

"[Jesus] had compassion on them and healed their sick." --[Matthew 14:14]

--MY friend Ellen calculates payroll for an accounting firm. This may sound like a straightforward job, but there are times when employers submit their information later than requested. Ellen often makes up for this by working long hours so employees can receive their money without delay. She does this out of consideration for the families that depend on those funds to buy groceries, purchase medicine, and pay for housing.

Ellen's compassionate approach her job points me to Jesus. On earth, He sometimes ministered to people when it was inconvenient for Him. For instance, Christ wanted some alone time after He heard that John the Baptist had been killed, so He boarded a boat in search of an isolated place (Matthew 14:13). Perhaps He needed to grieve for His relative and pray through His sorrow.

There was just one problem. Crowds of people tagged along behind Him. This group had various physical needs. It would have been much easier to send the people away, but "when Jesus landed and saw [them], he had compassion on them and healed their sick" (v.14).

Although it was part of Jesus' calling to teach people and cure their diseases, His empathy affected the way in which He carried out His responsibilities. May God help us to recognize His compassion in our lives and give us the strength to pass it on to others. The Lord is with us, with friends and families. ~
--ODB/JBS~
--"In My Arms" / (lyric video/Plumb)<https://youtu.be/_vUawsXi6C4>
~~~~~~~~~~~~~

--Praying to the Father ~~
--[Please Read/ Matthew 6:1-18]

---"I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting."
--(1 Timothy 2:8)

--IS public prayer wrong? Did Jesus teach against public prayer? Why did He say we should pray in our closet? Let's take a look at Jesus' words: "When thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men." The focus in this verse is on "seen of men," not on public prayer. Jesus was addressing a problem of hypocrisy and pride, which is common in the human heart. To combat this problem, He said we should pray secretly rather than publicly just to be seen of men.

Jesus was not teaching against praying in public, or even against others knowing what we pray or when we pray. When the prophet Daniel knelt to pray at his open window, he did not do it to be seen of men. But obviously he was seen of men; otherwise, no one would have known of his petition to another King. After the decree was signed, evil men watched to see if Daniel would pray at the window again, and we know the rest of the story.

Jesus Himself prayed in the sight of men before feeding the five thousand and before raising Lazarus from the dead. He took three of his disciples with Him to pray in Gethsemane. The early church prayed together in public. He is against hypocrisy. He is against pride. The desire to be "seen of men" is still revolting to Him. Let us walk in the Spirit of Jesus Christ with humility, meekness, and transparency. ~~
--BSW/HRT
--"Tremble"/ (lyric video/ live in Vienna / Jeremy Riddle)=<https://youtu.be/IyHLldbGxvo>
~~~~~~~

--Being Thankful In All Things~

~~"But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it.
But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that." --[1 Timothy 6:6-12 / NIV]

--AUGUST IN FLORIDA. Sigh. Unless you live on the equator, you haven't felt heat like this until you've been here in summertime. I
grew up in the suburban Baltimore and saw my share of hot summers, but this is altogether different. The humidity is like being in a
hotdog steamer.

I was born in southern California and spent many childhood summers in coastal Italy with family, so I'm a warm weather sun-loving girl.
But even I sometimes start to groan when I step out into the hot and heavy Florida heat.

Then come Fall and Winter. No Kaleidoscope of leaves, but weather so perfect you can't imagine . Brisk mornings and evenings. Beach-worthy days.
Relentless sunshine.

By January though, the cold days linger. There are a few gray days, and I'm indignant, bundled in my fluffy down coat. The same one I wore in
twenty-degree days up north. The very first year we moved here, I complained bitterly about two weeks of unreasonable cold.

How very fickle and changeable I am. How very very spoiled.
Today, my spiritual aim is to relish today, hot or cold. To be content and grateful.
Thank You, Jesus, for all these blessings. ~~

---Guideposts/ IY~

--- --Our Primary reasons for being on Earth is to glorify our Creator. In order to do that we must be 'saved'.
Saved from eternal death. When the Lord Jesus left planet Earth, he allowed Satan to have control. This is somewhat
like a test. Jehovah Yahweh, YHWH, does not force Himself on anyone. We read in the 'end-times' there will be a great
falling away. We see this more each day. Yes, Jehovah God is in control of our salvation. BUT we are in control
of staying on His path, FREE-WILL. If you haven't read the book "Pilgrim's Progress", I highly recommend it. All of us
are on a journey to the Celestial City [New Jerusalem/Heaven], to live eternally with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
God saves us, we work out our salvation with fear and trembling. [See: Philippians 2:12].
~~~~~
---GOD IS IN CONTROL OF OUR SALVATION~~
---[Please Read/ Ephesians 1:3-14]

--God’s sovereignty extends over all things. He is omniscient (all-knowing), so nothing is hidden from His sight. And since He is omnipotent (all-powerful), no plan of His can be thwarted. Everything in both the natural and spiritual realms—including our salvation—is under His complete control.

Since sin has darkened minds and hardened hearts, man is excluded from the life of God (Eph. 4:17-18). Therefore, we can take no credit for our salvation. Our rescue began in the heart and mind of God, who chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world (Eph. 1:4). God is the one who opened our minds to understand the truth of the Gospel, convicted us of our sin, and gave us the faith to believe in Jesus as Savior. From first to last, all of salvation is God’s gift to us.

Why did He reach out to save us? Several repeated phrases in today’s passage give the reason. It was “according to the kind intention of His will” and “to the praise of the glory of His grace” (Eph. 1:5-6). We are the beneficiaries of God’s kindness and salvation, by which the spotlight falls on His glorious grace—not on us.
--IN TOUCH~
-[Please Note / 'It is possible to experience the new birth and later fall away and be lost.// **See 2 Peter 2:20-22]
~~~~~

---ANYONE WHO WANTS FURTHER KNOWLEDGE OF GOD WILL RECEIVE IT~
---PTV/RJ~

--"God our Savior . . . desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth."
--(–1 Timothy 2:3-4)--

---The Bible says salvation is only through faith in Jesus. Then what good is natural revelation? Charles Ryrie said, “Natural revelation is not sufficient to save a person, but it is sufficient if rejected to condemn a person.” If somebody receives this revelation by God, he’s not automatically saved, but if he rejects that revelation of God, he is condemned. He is without excuse. You see, natural revelation is a test to see if somebody really wants to know God or not. If they reject that knowledge of the true God and create their own god, then they’re not really interested in knowing God. But if they are receptive to that natural revelation, then that leads to the fourth truth that we need to understand about this complex issue, and that is this: anyone who wants further knowledge of God will receive it.

--God’s desire is to save as many people as possible, not as few people as possible. Yes, God would be just in sending everybody to hell, but that’s not His desire. He wants everyone to come to a knowledge of the truth. For example, Ezekiel 33:11 says, “‘As I live!’ declares the Lord God, ‘I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that the wicked turn from his way and live.’” In Luke 19:10, Jesus said about Himself, “The Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.” Jesus’s whole reason for coming was not to condemn people but to seek them and save them. And 1 Timothy 2:3-4 says, “God our Savior . . . desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” God desires that all people be saved. He’s not saying all people will be saved, but His desire is that all people be saved. But the only way they can be saved is by coming to a knowledge of the truth about Jesus Christ.

So what about those who have never heard about Jesus? The woman who has never read a Bible, has never heard the name of Jesus Christ, what about her eternal fate? If she sees the evidence of God’s creation through natural revelation and rejects that knowledge, creates her own god to follow, Paul said she is without excuse. But, if she receives that knowledge, if she says, “There must be someone greater than I, and I want to know that somebody,” if she responds that way, you can be certain that God will send her further revelation of the truth of Jesus Christ.

How can I say that? How can I say these people who are beyond the reach of any missionary are going to hear the gospel? Because I read the Bible. I can tell you instance after instance where God did that. For example, in Acts 10, Cornelius, the Roman centurion, wanted to know the one true God. He worshipped the God of Israel, prayed to him regularly, gave money to the poor. Now that should be enough by most people’s standards to be saved, but not in God’s economy. Cornelius needed to hear about Jesus. So what did God do? He miraculously sent Peter to Cornelius’s household to preach the gospel, and he and his family were saved.
***
[**Friend, if you truly want to know the one true God, Jesus Christ, call on him. He never turns away a sincere seeker. But, if you want to reject Him and turn others away from Him, you will not be saved. The Lord leaves that decision up to each individual. We are not born into God's family. That is our choice. "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved." We all need a transformed heart. We are born into this world, as sinners. That is precisely why Jesus came. "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.
"For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him." --[JOHN 3:16-17]
"For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost." --(Luke 19:10) ]
~~~~~~~~~~

--SHARING JESUS ~~

--"Give praise to the LORD, proclaim his name;
make known among the nations what he has done."
---[ISAIAH 12:4]

----Shortly after Dwight Moody (1837-99) came to faith in Christ, the evangelist resolved not to let another day pass without sharing God's good news with at least one person. On busy days he'd sometimes forget his resolution until late. One night, he was in bed before he remembered. As he stepped outside, he thought, No one will be out in this pouring rain. Just then he saw a man walking down the street. Moody rushed over and asked to stand under his umbrella to avoid the rain. When granted permission, he asked, "Have you any shelter in the time of storm? Could I i tell you about Jesus?"

Moody embodied a readiness to share how God saves us from the consequences of our sins. He obeyed God's instructions to the Israelites to proclaim His name and "make known among the nations what he had done" (Isaiah 12:4/) . Not only were God's people called to "proclaim that his name is exalted" (v 4) but they were also to share how He had "become [their] salvation" (v.2) Centuries later, our call remains to tell the wonders of Jesus becoming a man dying on the cross, and, rising again.

Perhaps we heard about God's love when, as Moody did, someone left their comfort zone to talk with us about Jesus. And we too, each in our own way, can let someone know about the One who saves, for eternal lives. We know that praise stills the enemy. He can not stand in the presence of our Lord Jesus. KEEP PRAISING KING JESUS.

--"Lord Jesus, thank You for setting me free from my sins. Help me to be ready at all times to tell others of you Good News, SALVATION.! " .
ODB/ABP~
---"Praise Is A Weapon" // Mark and Sarah Tillman // <https://youtu.be/U6Li8QTHF4E>
~~~~~~~~~~~~

--PURE,UNADULTERATED JOY ~~

--"Whatever happen, my dear brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord.
I never get tired of telling you these things, and I do it to safeguard your faith."
---[Philippians 3:1 / NLT] -

--I will never forget the video a church member showed one Sunday after returning from a missions trip to Africa.
First, he described the harsh conditions these believers faced; extreme poverty, persecution for their beliefs, and threats of violence . Then he showed footage of a typical Sunday morning service. These Christians did not have a church building; they gathered under a tree and sat on the dusty ground or stood. Yet they sang, clapped, and shouted praises to God as though they didn't have a care in the world. The faces of each man, woman, and child radiated one thing: pure, unadulterated joy.

We often rely on material possessions or favorable circumstances to bring us joy. But these African believers had none of these things. Neither did Paul, who wrote his letter to the Philippians while imprisoned in Rome. He had learned the secret of true contentment and lasting joy: choosing to focus on our relationship with Jesus, not on what we lack or what is happening around us. Ironically, our material possessions and busy lives often steal our joy.

There are many things we can rejoice in--some good and noble, some trivial. But greatest reason we have to rejoice is that we know Jesus and He knows us. What could be a better way to start our day then by concentrating on what He means to us? This will set the tone for a day well-lived and filled with joy.

I'm so glad that Jesus set me free! That is the best news ever! ~~

--GP/DNM~ --<https://youtu.be/_w_Pk5Jy6-k

---EYEWITNESS TESTIMONY ~~

--"For we did not follow cleverly devised stories when we told you about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ in power, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty."
---[2 Peter 1:16/ NIV] --

Peter was an old man when he wrote this letter. For many years his life followed a predictable course: a traditional Jewish upbringing, and work as a fisherman. Then an itinerant rabbi called Jesus invited Peter to follow Him, and his life took a dramatic turn.

He had experienced things he never could have imagined, and he wanted to assure his readers that everything he had reported had actually happened. The miracles of Jesus and the acts of the Holy Spirit were real. The persecution he and the other disciples had faced was real. He had no need to exaggerate the reality of what he had seen and heard and experienced. We too are eyewitnesses of the majesty of the Lord. He has saved us, delivered us, and provided for us. His mercies are real and new every day. We too have seen Jesus’ power at work, and we should tell others how real it is whenever we have the opportunity.

THINK ABOUT IT
--Many can doubt and deny the truth of Jesus’ work and transforming power, but they cannot deny the testimony of what He has done in your life. Share your Jesus-story with confidence. (Please share your testimony of what Jesus has done for you. Tell others of your salvation in Christ alone.)

PRAYER
Heavenly Father, I am an eyewitness to what Jesus has done in my life, through the power of His cross. Help me share my story with confidence, wisdom, and boldness, knowing that You will do, in those who hear, what no one else can do. In Jesus’ name, amen.
--WOC/AJ~