Happy Monday

"Taking Aim"

(Author Unknown) [Edited]

A young lady named Sally, relates an experience she had in a seminary class, given by her teacher, who we'll call Brother Smith. She says Brother Smith was known for his elaborate object lessons.

One particular day, Sally walked into the seminary and knew they were in for another fun day. On the wall was a big target and on a nearby table were many darts. Brother Smith told the students to draw a picture of someone that they disliked or someone who had made them angry, and he would allow them to throw darts at the person's picture.

Sally's girlfriend (on her right), drew a picture of a girl who had stolen her boyfriend. Another friend (on her left), drew a picture of his little brother. Sally drew a picture of a former friend, putting a great deal of detail into her drawing, even drawing pimples on the face. Sally was pleased at the overall effect she had achieved.

The class lined up and began throwing darts, with much laughter and hilarity. Some of the students threw their darts with such force that their targets were ripping apart. Sally looked forward to her turn, and was filled with disappointment when Brother Smith, because of time limits, asked the students to return to their seats.

As Sally sat thinking about how angry she was because she didn't have a chance to throw any darts at her target, Brother Smith began removing the target from the wall.

Underneath the target was a picture of Jesus . . .

A complete hush fell over the room as each student viewed the mangled picture of Jesus; holes and jagged marks covered His face and His eyes were pierced out.

Brother Smith said only these words, "In as much as ye have done it unto the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto Me."

No other words were necessary; the tear-filled eyes of each student focused only on the picture of Christ.

"And the King will answer and say to them, 'Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.' Matthew 25:40

Daily Smile:

What did the tired chess player do?
He took the knight off

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More Happy Reading: 

     April '12 Paper to be posted by Friday, March 23...

Happy Sunday

Today's Discussion - Gratitude

Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ – Ephesians 5:20

We are here admonished to give thanks for all things. We know we should give thanks for our daily provisions and for the mercy of God in saving us; but sometimes we don't take the time or make the effort to truly thank Him, or to consider all the things for which we should be grateful.

The Apostle Paul frequently expressed his thanks to God for the faith, love and work seen in the churches where he had labored. He acknowledged that these godly fruits were because of God's blessings on them and therefore gave thanks to God. He constantly expressed thankfulness for his godly fellow laborers, but consistently expressed thankfulness to God for even their faithfulness (Romans 1:8; 1 Corinthians 1:4; Philippians 1:3; 1Thessalonians 2:13; 2 Thessalonians 1:3).

Astonishingly, Paul also expressed appreciation for tribulations (Romans 5:3), and even acknowledged that he took pleasure in "infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake" because God's strength is made perfect in weakness (2 Corinthians 12:10). If God's sufficiency is displayed in my insufficiency, Paul said, then I am thankful for each opportunity for His strength to be shown in my weakness.

And above all, the Apostle gave thanks for the Savior. He wrote, "Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift" (2 Corinthians 9:15). Words are inadequate to describe the glory of our Savior Jesus Christ, but we should continually give thanks for Him and His love for us.

Daily Smile:

 During a terrible storm, all the highway signs were covered with snow. The following spring, the state decided to raise all the signs twelve inches at a cost of six million dollars. “That’s an outrageous price!” said a local farmer, “but I guess we’re lucky the state handled it instead of the federal government.” “Why’s that?”

“Because knowing the federal government, they’d decided to lower the highways.”

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Happy Saturday

God Sees It All
Who can discern his errors? Forgive my hidden faults. Keep your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me. Then will I be blameless, innocent of great transgression. --Psalm 19:12-13

Time-lapse photography compresses a series of events into one picture. A photo such as this was published in National Geographic once. The photo was taken from a Rocky Mountain peak during a heavy thunderstorm, and the picture captured a brilliant lightning display that had taken place throughout.

The time-lapse technique created a fascinating, spider-like web out of the individual bolts. They all looked interconnected, but you could definitely see each bolt as it was in its uniqueness.

In such a way, our sin presents itself before the eyes of God. Where we see only isolated or individual acts, God sees the overall web of sin. What may seem insignificant-even sporadic-to us and passes with hardly a notice creates a much more dramatic display from God's panoramic view.

The psalmist wrote, "Who can discern his errors? Forgive my hidden faults. Keep your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me. Then will I be blameless, innocent of great transgression."

Sin is truly deceptive (Heb. 3:13), divisive (Isa. 59:1-2), and deadly (Rom. 6:23). And it is destructive to the believer if not recognized (John 8:24).

Sin is sin-no matter how big, small, or sporadic it may seem. We must constantly remain pure and holy before the Lord, asking Him to forgive our transgression every day-those that we know and those that we don't. Thank God He sent his Son, Jesus, to cover those sins by His death on the cross so that we might have freedom through salvation in Him!

PRAYER CHALLENGE: Ask God to make you aware of every sin in your life, so that you can strive to rid yourself of it by the blood of Jesus Christ and live holy before Him. Thank Him for salvation and forgiveness of sins through His death on the cross.

Daily Smile:

A little boy returned from the grocery store with his mom. While his mom put away the groceries, the little boy opened his box of animal crackers and spread them all over the kitchen table.

"What are you doing?" asked his mom.

"The box says you shouldn't eat them if the seal is broken," said the little boy. "I'm looking for the seal."

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Happy Friday

GIVING THANKS ALWAYS

by David Wilkerson

"Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ" (Ephesians 5:20).

This matter of giving thanks always was so important in Paul's theology, he repeats it three times. (1) "Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs," (2) "Singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord," and (3) "Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ" (Ephesians 19-20).

Without faith we cannot do this as we ought. We are pressed down by so many problems and distresses. Of course God does not want us to fake it. It seems to me Paul has given us the key to it all when he tells us, ".do it unto the Father." That great preacher John Calvin said that such singing and giving thanks always is all feigning and hypocrisy unless we are fully persuaded that God is our Father.

Our mouths quiver sometimes with grief so that we cannot sing; we do not feel like giving thanks. Dire circumstances shatter our spirits. There are times the heart cries, "Lord, do you really expect me to sing and make melody when I Hurt so badly?" "Lord, I am so burdened down with cares, I can barely lift my head." "Lord, I find it hard to praise and speak hymns in my heart. There is too much fear, grief and doubt."

Yes, it is not easy to respond to this important truth. God is not severe with us when we hurt. We are his children. But these words are given us to find solace and relief in such times. We become so focused on our difficulties that we lose more than our song-we drift further and further away from God's eternal promises. In spite of all we face, our Lord says, "GIVE THANKS ALWAYS."

We become ungrateful for all he has done in the past. We get swallowed up in praying only for ourselves, our needs, our families-we cannot lift up our eyes to other's suffering-suffering more than us.

I am truly convicted by this word from Paul. I want to face tomorrow determined to sing to my Lord and give thanks for an entire day-for all things-in all things. It may be an inaudible song; it may be weak at first; but there must be a power in doing it, by faith, or it would not have been repeated three times.

Oh that ten thousand reading this message would endeavor to sing along with me-what a joy it would bring to Father's heart. Then, to follow it up by resting in the truth that God has heard your cry, he is working out the solution even now and every day-so go on giving thanks always and never stop singing love songs to our precious Lord and Savior.

Daily Smile:

Mrs. Swanson declined to serve on the jury because she was not a believer in capital punishment and didn’t want her beliefs to get in the way of the trial.

“But, Madam,” said the public defender, who had taken a liking to her kind face and calm demeanor, “this is not a murder trial. It is merely a civil lawsuit being brought by a wife against her husband. He gambled away the fifteen thousand dollars he’d promised to spend on a chinchilla coat for her birthday.” 

“Hmmm,” reflected Mrs. Swanson. “Okay, I’ll serve, I could be wrong about capital punishment.”

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Happy Thursday

Today's Discussion - Sin and Its Effects

by Kunal Michaels

Exhort one another daily, while it is called Today; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin – Hebrews 3:13

We cannot help but notice from this exhortation the deceitfulness of sin, the swiftness with which it can deceive us, and the urgency with which we must battle against it.

Sin lies to us, causing us to harden our hearts and draw away from God in unbelief (12). When we give in to any sin, we are not able to think as clearly and joyfully and trustingly as before.

Whether the sin is lust or anger or pride or greed, sin deceives us into thinking that satisfaction is found somewhere else than in God. It promises fulfillment through sensual pleasure, or putting others down, or lifting ourselves up, or gaining more "stuff."

But this is a lie. True and lasting joy is only found in the path and presence of the living God. Everything else is just a dead, limp substitute that has been painted and polished and perfumed to look enticing.

But how swiftly we give in to the lie! The writer reminds us that we need daily exhorting, lest sin have its hardening effect on our hearts. We can walk faithfully for a week, a decade, or half a lifetime and then suddenly fall in a day! Constant vigilance, and the exhortation of others, is needed in order to avoid sin's pitfalls today, no matter how successful we've been so far.

Finally, the writer presses the urgency of our situation. It is only called "Today" for 24 hours! Then tomorrow will come, and soon the end of all days. Do not put off the vital work of repentance and faithfulness. Today is already almost over, and our Lord that much closer to returning.

Daily Smile:

Peter called his doctor’s office for an appointment. “I’m sorry,” said the receptionist, “we can’t fit you in for at least two weeks.”

“But I could be dead by then!”

“No problem. If your wife lets us know, we’ll cancel the appointment.”

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Happy Wednesday

If Only

by T. Suzanne Eller

“But godliness with contentment is great gain.” 1 Timothy 6:6 (NIV)

Have you ever lived in the land of the “if onlys”?

If only I had more money, then things would be easier.

If only I lost 10 pounds, then I’d be happier.

If only they’d recognize my talent, then I’d feel more appreciated.

Not too long ago my husband and I were praying about his career. Not only did the answer not come, but every door shut that we thought would open easily. As time passed I started listing my “if onlys.”

If only we had clear direction.

If only we could begin that dream God placed in our hearts. If only, if only, if only …

Soon those unspoken words steered my thought life. They crept into my prayer time. They tiptoed into my relationship with my husband.

One day these words from King’s Cross by Timothy Keller leaped from the page:

The Bible says that our real problem is that every one of us is building our identity on something besides Jesus. Whether it’s to succeed in our chosen field or to have a certain relationship—or even to get up and walk—we’re saying, “If I have that, if I get my deepest wish, then everything will be okay.

Suddenly I saw myself. My deepest wish had shifted. Where once I longed for God, now my thought life and actions revolved around what I didn’t have. What I couldn’t control.

That night I confessed to my husband that I had not only moved into the land of the “if onlys” but had anchored there. I promised that instead of focusing on what wasn’t taking place, I would began to treasure what I did have.

Today we have food. We have shelter. Our home is warm. Thank You for that gift, Father.

Today I hold a grandbaby in my arms. See her precious smile? I delight in that, Lord.

Today I sit in the living room and laugh with my husband. Thank You for joy.

Today and everyday I am Yours, Jesus. You are more than enough.

Godly contentment isn’t passive, but an active faith that says God is enough. You and I are okay because our deepest wish doesn’t revolve around losing 10 pounds, our career, another person, or whether we’re noticed for our efforts.

Are you living in the land of the “if onlys”? If so, are you willing to change your deepest wish from the “if only” to focusing on what you have and thanking God for it?

Dear Lord, I trust that You are enough and You are good. You are my sufficiency. I find my identity and joy in You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Daily Smile:
A young man just had his first customer, which turned out to be a BIG BURLY truck driver. The young man walked up to the table where the truck driver was sitting and asked; can I take your order sir? 

The truck driver replied, sure kid I want three flat tires and two headlights. 

The young man was very puzzled and said, I beg your pardon? 

The truck driver said again, look kid; I want three flat tires and two headlights. 

The young man was still puzzled, but replied; yes sir, whatever. The young man then took the request to his boss who was the head cook. He told him about the truck driver's order, and that he wanted three flat tires and two headlights, “I think he's in the wrong place.” 

The head cook said, I know what he wants, he wants three flap jacks and two eggs sunny side up; the truck driver is just trying to be smart, I know him. 

 The cook said to the waiter here, take this bowl of beans, give it to him and say this. 

The truck driver said, Listen kid, I didn't order this; I said I wanted three flat tires and two headlights. 

The waiter replied, Well sir, the head cook said while you wait for your parts, you can gas up!

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Happy Reading

Happy Tuesday

Did you know that Friday the 13th falls on a Tuesday this month???
 
GREAT IS THY FAITHFULNESS
"Through the Lord's mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness" (Lamentations 3:22-23, NKJV).

Almost all the Christian hymns have touching and striking stories that made their composers to compose them. Interestingly, the popular hymn - "GREAT IS THY FAITHFULNESS" - did not have any such story. The writer of the hymn, Thomas O. Chisholm, confessed that there were no special circumstances that prompted him to write this great hymn. He got his inspiration just from his experience and Bible truth. He said in a letter written in 1941 that in spite of the fact that his small income as a result of impaired health in his earlier years, he was aware of the unfailing faithfulness of a covenant-keeping God and that God had given him many wonderful displays of His providing care.

In the hymn, like Jeremiah in his lamentations, Chisholm declared that because the compassion of God never fails, great is the faithfulness of God. God renews this faithfulness during summer, winter, springtime and harvest, in fact, every morning. This faithfulness is manifested in the courses of sun, moon, and stars above. The whole nature joins in witnessing this faithfulness. The faithfulness includes pardon for sin and an enduring peace, God's cheering and guiding presence, strength for today, bright hope for tomorrow, and countless blessings. Indeed great is the faithfulness of God!

You are also experiencing this faithfulness of God every day. Do you realize this? If yes, do you appreciate God for it? If you do not realize it, it means you are not focusing on God and you have placed your trust either in yourself or any other thing apart from God. Focus on God and you will have many reasons to declare His faithfulness over your life.

Great is thy faithfulness, O God!

In His service,
Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor)

Every day with Jesus
Every day with Jesus
Is sweeter than the day before
Every day with Jesus
I love Him more and more.
Jesus saves and keeps me
And He's the one I'm waiting for
Every day with Jesus
Is sweeter than the day before

Daily Smile:

Little Johnny comes home from his first day of school. His mother asks, "What did you learn in school today?"

Little Johnny calmingly replied, "Not much. They want me back tomorrow. "

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Happy Monday

Today's Discussion - Repentance

I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin – Psalm 32:5

Two things we are clearly meant to take away from this account: sin must be confessed and, when it is, sin will be forgiven.

The psalmist reports that he was brought to the place of acknowledging his sin. He was not trying to hide it, or justify it, or excuse it. He held nothing back during his confession; he admitted to God his every fault and failing.

As he freely admits his sin to the Lord, we should notice, the psalmist also freely acknowledges it as sin (not just a mistake or personality flaw). He confesses his transgressions to the Lord. They are his (no one else is to blame) and they are transgressions (willful offenses against the law of God).

Have you gone to the Lord in confession and owned up to your own willful disobedience and pride? Have you utterly opened your heart to Him, acknowledging the wrongs you have done against his good and just law?

Then—but only then—will we have the same assurance in which the psalmist rejoices, that our sin is forgiven and every transgression pardoned. What a sweet, powerful thing is a clean conscience before our holy God!

Do not delay the repentance that God deserves or the forgiveness that you need.

Daily Smile:

A young man, who was in love with a girl and wanted to marry her, went to his dad and asked: "Daddy, how much does it cost to get married?

His father replied, "I don't know, son. I'm still paying for it."

Happy Sunday & Happy Daylight Savings Time

If you forget to spring forward one hour????? You Are LATE!!!

A Childlike Amazement

By Steve Troxel, God's Daily Word Ministries

Matthew 18:3 "And He (JESUS) said: 'I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.'"

When my daughter was four years old, we read about young Samuel. While discussing this story, my daughter showed me the excited faith God calls us to maintain. Perhaps her faith could teach us all...

As a young boy, Samuel was ministering with an old priest named Eli. One night God called to Samuel, but Samuel thought it was Eli's voice. Eli said he didn't call and told Samuel to go back to bed. After God called a few more times, Samuel realized who was calling and answered: "Speak, for Your servant is listening" (1 Samuel 3:10). God then gave Samuel a message - but the message was all about Eli.

My daughter asked, "Why did God speak to Samuel if the message was really to Eli?" We talked about how we must be ready and willing to hear God. I said Eli may have had some problems or distractions in his life which kept him from hearing God, so God spoke His message through a child. I said little kids (like her) can often hear God better than older people (like me).

"But, I don't hear God talk to me," she said, with a little disappointment in her voice. I explained how God doesn't usually speak so we can hear Him with our ears; rather, His Spirit speaks to our heart and we hear Him as we listen to our heart. Her little eyes widened, "Like today when I was going to sit on one of the baby toys - Jesus told my heart I was too big and shouldn't do it so I listened to what He said."

I encouraged her that this is exactly how God speaks to us, we just need to learn how to listen and then obey. My daughter thought for a moment and then slowly shook her head in amazement: "Wow! That's sooooo cool!!"

Heavenly Father, I pray that Your Word never becomes just an interesting collection of stories. You created us, loved us, and will one day call us Home to be with You for all eternity - and Father, that's sooooo cool!! Help us to come into Your presence with a thankful and loving heart. Strengthen our faith every day and allow us to continually look on You and Your wonders with a childlike amazement.  Amen

Daily Smile:

Steven was invited to an old friend's home for dinner. His buddy preceded every request to his wife by endearing terms, calling her Honey, My Love, Darling, Sweetheart, etc. Steven was impressed, since the couple had been married almost 50 years.

While the wife was off in the kitchen, he said to his buddy: "I think it's wonderful that after all the years you've been married, you still call your wife those pet names."

His buddy hung his head. "To tell you the truth," he said, "I forgot her name about ten years ago."

Happy Saturday

From Daily Living Devotionals:

Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God. … How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! --John 1:12-13; 1 John 3:1

You've probably heard about the Battle of the Alamo that took place between the Republic of Mexico and the rebel Texan forces at the Alamo Mission in San Antonio, Texas in 1836.

Today, the slogan used to honor this event is "Remember the Alamo." And the soldiers who fought and died are commemorated throughout the Alamo Mission in San Antonio.

On one wall near the main entrance, there is one portrait with the following inscription:

"James Butler Bonham-no picture of him exists. This portrait is of his nephew, Major James Bonham, deceased, who greatly resembled his uncle. It is placed here by the family that people may know the appearance of the man who died for freedom."

I tell you this story because it reminds me there is no existing picture of Jesus either. But, as children of God, people look at us to see the likeness of the One who makes us free.

I've said it before and I'll say it again-your life is the only Bible some people will ever read. And let me add to that by saying that your life is also the only picture of Jesus that some people will ever see.

So let me ask you, when others look at you, do they see that you resemble your Father in heaven?

It's my prayer that each of us, as followers of Christ, will come to resemble Christ more and more with each passing day as we seek Him!

PRAYER CHALLENGE: Jesus, thank you for dying for me so that I may be free. I pray that I would be a picture of who You are to the world and of the freedom from sin that You offer all people.

Daily Smile:

A skydiver is enjoying his free-fall, when he realizes that he has reached the altitude where he must open his parachute, he pulls the ripcord, but nothing happens. “No problem,” he says to himself, “I still have my emergency chute.” So he pulls the ripcord on his emergency parachute, and once again, nothing happens. Now the man begins to panic. “What am I going to do?” He thinks. “I’m a goner.”

Just then, he sees a man flying up from the earth toward him. He can’t figure out where this man is coming from or what he’s doing, but he says to himself, “I hope he can help me. If he can’t, then I’m in real trouble.” When the man gets close enough to him, the skydiver cups his hands and shouts, “Hey, do you know anything about parachutes?”

The man coming up cups his hands and yells back, “No! Do you know anything about gas stoves?”

Happy Friday

Faithful prayers develop faithful results

by Annettee Budzban

           “ But they hastily forgot His works; they did not (earnestly) wait for his plans to (develop) regarding them.” — Psalm 106:13 (AMP)

           
             I was running down my morning prayer list when I realized there were a few things that seemed like long-term prayers. One item I had been praying for longer than I could remember, and another has been about 12 years. I stopped and pondered: should I let them go? Should I just scratch them off my list and forget about my desire to see them come about?

            But then I thought I couldn’t do that when my motto is “Never give up!”

            Although, there have been times I have abandoned dreams when I realized they were not the right direction for me, there are many times I have seen things fulfilled with time and patience of waiting on God.

           Right now we are in the midst of planting season. Any garden center you drop by is filled with the hustle and bustle of customers eagerly selecting the items they would like to see grow and beautify their property. There are a multitude of seeds that produce a variety of flowers all shapes, sizes and colors. Bushes and trees bearing blossoms or fruit can be selected as well. We don’t seem to have any trouble  realizing that depending on what we plant, it takes time for growth and development. Our flower seeds may yield quicker results than any young trees we plant. However, we understand regardless of what we plant, we must be patient until we see the harvest.    

           Many of our prayers, dreams and plans take time too. They sprout up at different times, just like the variety of things we plant in our gardens. We must realize some of our prayers will take longer to develop results than others. We can show God that we trust Him when we don’t hastily abandon a prayer request.  We must keep in mind faithful prayers will develop into faithful results. 
 

Daily Smile:

Dieters know this: A waist is a terrible thing to mind!

Happy Thursday

Sorry I missed Thursday... Doctor appointment and Stress Test... Looks like I am going to live a little longer...
                                                           Richard

Happy Wednesday

When We Don't Understand

Devotions taken from the messages of Adrian Rogers.

BIBLE MEDITATION:
“And we know 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
...
DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
I read about a farmer who had a big brush pile of debris he was going to burn. He noticed a little bird had built a nest in that brush pile, so he destroyed the nest. When he came back days later, he found the bird rebuilding the nest. The farmer destroyed the nest again. But the bird built again, and again the farmer destroyed it.

Finally, the little bird gave up. I can just imagine that little bird going home and saying to his family, “I just don’t know why all our good plans of building a home are not working.” Well, there was an unseen hand doing something the bird may have thought was bad, but was really good.

ACTION POINT:
Read Romans 8:28. Notice the verse is not saying that all things are good. All things are not good. There are some terrible things in this world. The point is that God is good!

Daily Smile:

Q: How does an archeologist tell a male skeleton from a female skeleton?
A: He knows it’s a female skeleton if the jawbone is worn down.

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Happy Tuesday

We MUST pray for all in authority!

We pray for Joe's toe, and Jack’s back, and Jane’s pains because they asked us to pray and that is fine. BUT we MUST pray for what God asked us to pray daily not once a year.  Make sense? 

 

God asks us to pray for "all men" that is 7 billion--"that they might be saved" 1 Tim 2:4. To not do so is disobedience to God! Right? PRAY for Kings (that is our President) again "that they might be saved" make sense? Pray for "all in authority" that they might be saved if not already saved. Make sense? With all the anti-Christian decisions and laws being passed we MUST pray for the judges, law makers in Washington etc, or in your country. YOU and I must pray like God told us or we are sinning and won’t get our others prayers answered, make sense? All bible believing preachers and people right now feel this is the most critical time of our lives and must call on god till intervene. 2 Chron 7:13,14.15. please, Please, PLEASE take this seriously for yours AND your children's sake if nothing else. MAKE SENSE? 

 

Oh I love you dear people and pray for YOU daily and for what you ask. NOW pray for what God asks us. "Pray without ceasing" ABC Sumner

 

Daily Smile:

A farm boy accidentally overturned his wagonload of corn. The farmer who lived nearby heard the noise and yelled over to the boy, "Hey Willis forget your troubles. Come in and visit with us. I'll help you get the wagon up later." 

"That's mighty nice of you," Willis answered, "but I don't think Pa would like me to." 

"Aw come on boy," the farmer insisted. 

"Well okay," the boy finally agreed, and added, "but Pa won't like it." 

After a hearty dinner, Willis thanked his host. "I feel a lot better now, but I know Pa is going to be real upset." 

"Don't be foolish!" the neighbor said with a smile. "By the way, where is he?" 

"Under the wagon."

Happy Monday

The Full Gospel

The full gospel is given in 1 Corinthians 15:1-8. The Bible strongly emphasizes in Galatians 1, don’t add to or take away from what is said. “Christ died for our sins.” In sermons and by people suffered and died for our SINS. That is essential or we all will be separated from God for eternity. He paid the eternal debt for our SINS in full “for the wages of sin is death” Romans 6:23. That is the problem and that is the good news, that is the gospel. Some say, Christ died on the cross. So did those two thieves die on the cross. The difference is Christ DIED FOR OUR SINS on that cross. One thing that I have found very effective is to tell “Christ suffered and died for our sins”. God states “Christ has once suffered for sins” 1 Peter 3:18. “He was buried”, proof that He was dead. “He rose again”. And he was seen alive. Almost never do you hear it said aloud that Jesus “was seen” alive. Then I noticed He was seen over and over and once by over 500 people at one time. No one saw any of the so called gods of the world alive from the dead. There is a world of difference when you think about it that way

When I witness or preach and give the full gospel, over and over I have people tell me, “I never heard it like that before.” It is wonderful the difference it makes to give the full gospel and say it just like the Bible gives it. I see much more and greater results. These people then were not just church members but were born again Christians and changed inside out. We must see more of this to change the world and populate heaven. Make sense?

Daily Smile:

If a man is in the forest, talking to himself, with no woman around is he still wrong?

Happy Sunday

Facing Temptation

Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation - Matthew 26:41

What a wonderfully concise directive Jesus gives us for fighting temptation! This world affords a thousand enticements to a thousand different sins. And our sinful nature assaults us from the inside with a complex and varied array of lusts, fears, ambitions, and doubts.

Yet Jesus' simple, balanced admonition is an effective weapon against every one of these temptations to sin: watch and pray. 

Lest we expect God to do all our fighting for us, we are told to watch. It is our responsibility to keep our spiritual eyes open (which sometimes means keeping our physical eyes closed or averted) for any avenue by which sin might gain entrance into our soul. We are to guard our heart from disloyalty, and our testimony from indiscretion, by actively engaging ourselves in the relentless pursuit of purity and goodness. 

On the other hand, we cannot possibly expect to overcome our ever-present inclination toward sin, or the age-old cunning of Satan, in our own strength. And so we must pray. We must rely on the sustaining grace and purifying power of the Holy Spirit's work within us.

Because our flesh is so weak, no matter how willing our spirit may be it is imperative that we be in a constant posture of watchfulness and prayer. In fact, there is a direct correlation, Jesus tells us, between our prayerful watchfulness and our ability to withstand or avoid temptation.

Daily Smile:

There were three rats, well spoiled eating government grain. Once they were sitting and talking bragging about their bravery and toughness.

The first rat: "I'm so tough, once I ate a bagful of rat poison!"

The second rat: "Well I'm so tough, once I was caught in a rat trap and I bit it apart!"

The third rat: "Later guys. It's my time to harass the cat."

Happy Saturday

The Dark Cloud

2 Chronicles 6:1 (NCV) 
1 Then Solomon said, “The LORD said he would live in the dark cloud.

Psalm 18:11 (NASB95)
11 He made darkness His hiding place, His canopy around Him, Darkness of waters, thick clouds of the skies.

Many people, even Christians, go through what they feel like are dark clouds sometimes. Trouble seems to come from all sides. WE might feel lonely, depressed, in despair, in agony or one of many different feelings. We don’t know why we are going through these circumstances and may want to give up but we can take comfort that God will be there in our dark clouds. Just because we are in a cloud doesn’t necessarily mean that God has left us even though we may feel like He has at the time. Jesus himself told those of us who belong to Him that He will never forsake us. Take heart, the clouds will vanish in God’s time. Until that happens, let God refresh your soul through prayer, Bible study and meditation. We need these more in these times in the clouds than when we have blue skies.

When we are in the dark cloud we may not know why we are there but, like Spurgeon, we may find out later how this time can be used by God:

Spurgeon once tells of how he was utterly depressed in spirit and soul, discouraged, and failing in health. Just before leaving for a recuperation, he preached on “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” The experience was so sad that he wished it would never happen again. Afterwards, a man come to see him. Spurgeon described him later as “one step away from the insane asylum,” his head bulging, his hands nervous and his spirit totally depressed. The man told Spurgeon that after hearing his sermon, he felt that Spurgeon was the only one who could understand him and so he had come. Spurgeon comforted him as best he knew how from his own sad experience. For five years, Spurgeon did not see the man. But “just last night” (he was delivering the above lecture to students at the College), “I saw him: it was like night and day. He was completely changed.” Spurgeon concluded that he was willing to undergo hundreds of such experiences now that he knew God permitted it to happen so that he could know and sympathize with people under similar predicament. - -taken from Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations

by Dean W. Masters

Daily Smile:

Maggie, a dog who had worked with police investigation team, applied for vacancy in the FBI. He went and met the HR. The HR said, "You'll have to meet some strict requirements. First, you must type at least 60 words per minute." Maggie sat on the typewriter and typed 80 words per minute. Then HR asked "you must pass a physical test and complete the obstacle course." Again, Maggie did well in the round. Then HR asked, there's one last requirement," "you must be bilingual." With confidence, the dog looks up at him and says, "Meow!"

Happy Friday

Good for Evil Is God's Way
A gentleman who had held many important positions in public life went to a friend in great anger over a real injury he had received from a prominent politician. He was considering how to react resentfully in the most effective manner. After relating the particulars to his friend, he asked if it would be manly to resent it. "Yes," replied his friend, "it would doubtless be manly to resent it, but it would be godlike to forget it."

David chose to let God be his example. When Saul entered a cave to attend to his needs, he didn't know that David and his 400 men were hiding in the recesses of that cavern. David had him at a severe disadvantage and his men urged him to seize the opportunity to take revenge on his enemy. But David refused. Rather than seeking to repay Saul for the evil he had done him, he secretly cut off a piece of Saul's robe (as proof of what he could have done) and allowed the king to leave without knowing how close he had been to death. Only later did Saul realize the mercy David had shown. God's way is to show mercy rather than extract vengeance. Romans 5:8 says, "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Even while we were God's enemies, He had compassion for us and provided a way of salvation.

Cowardice asks, Is it safe? Expediency asks, Is it politic? Vanity asks, Is it popular? But conscience asks, Is it right? - William Morley Punshon. Are you thinking about getting even with someone? Don't do it. Try God's way instead. Return good for evil. Someday you'll be glad you did. Evil for evil is man's way; good for evil is God's way.

AGAPE LOVE DIVINE MINISTRIES

Daily Smile:

A preacher went to buy a parrot and asked - "Are you sure it doesn't scream, yell, or swear?"

The salesman said, "Oh no, it's a religious parrot," "Do you see those strings on his legs? When you pull the right one, he recites the Lord's Prayer, and when you pull on the left, he recites the 23rd Psalm."

"Wonderful!" says the preacher, "What happens if you pull both strings?"

"I fall!" answered the parrot

Happy Thursday

Worship Replaces Worry

by Linda Fode

"And Mary said: ‘My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour.’" Luke 1:46-47, NIV

As we usually reflect on Luke 1:46-55 as part of the Christmas story I believe that we miss the significance of Mary’s Song (Magnificat) for us in dealing with the worries, fear and anxieties of daily life.

Mary was a teenager probably thirteen or fourteen at most. She was engaged and pregnant but not by her fiancé, Joseph. She was telling a ‘wild story’ about an angel and a baby who was conceived by the Holy Spirit and would be the Son of God. At the time of the ‘song’ she had traveled through the dangerous hills of Judea to visit the one person who would really believe her.

How did she find the inner strength and peace to face the birth of this child, the potential rejection by Joseph and then the exile to Egypt to escape the murdering armies of King Herod? Her soul magnified (glorified) the Lord and her spirit rejoiced in God her Saviour.

To magnify is to hold in greater esteem or respect; to enlarge; to colour or elaborate. Glorify means to bestow honour or praise; to light up brilliantly; to cause to be seen better then before. Our soul is that part of us that thinks, has emotion, interprets events and responds with choices good or bad. Our spirit is the core of our being that gives and sustains life. It is the place where God’s Spirit dwells and where He communicates with us; the place where He reveals who He truly is; the place where He brings comfort and gives direction for the day to day of life.

Mary made an active choice to reflect on (think about) and express out loud who God is and what He had done for her people (Israel) and for her personally. Out of those acts of praise and thanksgiving she experienced a peace and a joy that overcame rejection, fear, worry and anxiety throughout her life, even on the day she saw her Son, who was also her Saviour, die on a Cross.

How do we find peace in troubling times? How do we overcome fear, worry and the anxious choices that result? ‘Do not be anxious about anything but in everything by prayer and petition with thanksgiving present your requests to God. And the peace of God which transcends understanding will guard your mind and your spirit in Christ Jesus’ (Philippians 4:6-7). We need to be daily writing our own Magnificat. We intensify our image of God; we enlarge our understanding of Him; we light Him up brilliantly. In doing so the worries seem small in comparison and there will be a deeper level of peace and joy in the midst of our circumstances.

Prayer: Father, I give You my thoughts, my emotions and my choices. Today I choose to thank and praise You for who You are and all You have done for me. May the light of Your glory overcome the darkness of fear and worry in my life. I choose to worship You. Amen.

Daily Smile:

A little boy forgot his lines in a Sunday School presentation.
His mother, sitting in the front row to prompt him, gestured and formed the words silently with her lips, but it didn't help. Her son's memory was blank.

Finally she leaned forward and whispered the cue, "I am the light of the world."

The child beamed and with great feeling and a loud, clear voice said, "My mother is the light of the world."

Happy Wednesday

No Different 

T. Suzanne Eller

“The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.” 1 Corinthians 10:13 (NLT)

“I’m just having a good time,” she said. “What’s wrong with it?”

I wish I could have put a movie in her hands, one that would reveal one week, one month, five years down the road.

Somehow my friend couldn’t see what others noticed so easily. That the intentional choices she was making were going to lead her on a path of destruction. She said it felt good. She said it made her feel things she hadn’t felt in a long time.

But it was also making her ordinary life, the life that she would miss one day when it was no longer hers, feel like a burden. Things she once treasured were overshadowed, and eventually shattered.

Have you ever been tempted and felt justified in giving way to it?

To flirt. What is the harm?

To share private thoughts. No one listens to me at home.

To take a risk. No one will find out.

I remember a time that I lay beside my husband. He was unhappy at work and the unhappiness had changed him. Joy had slipped away and left a silent partner in its place.

I was tempted.

To anger.

To dismay.

To frustration over what I could not fix.

My negative emotions simmered. But I knew, if left to themselves, they could take my heart to a place of discontentment. I’d seen the results of allowing temptation to grow, and I knew something had to change. That night I wrapped my arms around my sleeping husband and prayed for him. Then I prayed for me. “Father, change my heart. Give me compassion. Help me to love him through this difficult time. Show me what to do.”

Maybe, like me, you might look at a friend who has given in to temptation and say, “That would never happen to me.”

But we are no different. No one is immune from temptation. To think that way is to forget who tempts us, and why.

Satan desires to harm not just us, but those we love. It is often only after we sit in devastation that we recognize the enemy was leading us away from all that matters most.

The good news is – we are offered a way out.

The night I lay beside my husband, God led me to Himself. To prayer. And that prayer led to hope. Eventually my husband and I took a step. . .together. In the process the man I loved, had always loved, returned and our marriage re-ignited.

Are you in the crossroads of temptation today?

Stop. There’s a different choice and a different path you can take.

Daily Smile:

Two men went to fishing. They purchase everything required for fishing - reels, rods, wading suits, rowboat, and even a cabin in the woods, spending a good amount of money.

The first day they go fishing, but don't catch anything. The same thing happens on the second day, on the third day, and so on. Finally, on the last day of their vacation, one of the men catches a fish.

As they're driving home, depressed... one guy turns to the other and asks, "Do you realize that this one lousy fish we caught cost us $2000?"

The other guy says, "Wow! It's a good thing we didn't catch any more!"

Happy Tuesday

The Father's Plan

by Rev. Herman Tranter

Luke 24:21 "But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel : and beside all this, to day is the third day since these things were done."

When the right time came, God sent forth His Son from Heaven in His pre-existent state, into the world. He was born of a woman (virgin birth) and was made subject to the requirements of the law. Jesus was sent at a specific time. The entrance of Jesus into the physical realm was not a random thing occurring at a haphazard time. There were developments that had to take place before Christ could come to earth and redeem man. The Father sent His Son to the earth at the earliest possible time. Anytime prior to the time Jesus was born of the virgin Mary, would have been premature.
 
His purpose for coming into the world was twofold. First, He came to "redeem them that were under the law." He did this by perfectly keeping the law, fulfilling it, and paying its curse… Matthew 5:17; Galatians 3:13. Thus, Christ delivered us from the entire system of the law. The Greek word for redeem means "to buy OUT OF the slave market."
 
Secondly, Christ gave us the status of sonship with all its privileges. Not only were we redeemed from the bondage of the law, but we were redeemed unto sonship. Many people stop short, only realizing what they were delivered from, not what they inherit. Sure, we need to rejoice that we are redeemed, but we also need to move on, and realize the full benefits of our inheritance.
 
God created us for Himself but we sold ourselves into slavery to the devil. God bought us back through the precious blood of Jesus Christ. No amount of effort, human works, or man's own righteousness could bring the divine favor that we needed. It was the actual life of God… Leviticus 17:11, that purchased our redemption.

Daily Smile:

YOU KNOW YOU'VE HAD TOO MUCH COFFEE WHEN...
~ You can type sixty words a minute...with your feet.

~ Instant coffee takes too long.

~ You chew on other people's fingernails.

~ You answer the door...before people knock.

~ You sleep with your eyes open.

~ You go to sleep, just so you can wake up and smell the coffee.

~ You don't even wait for the water to boil anymore.

~ You're the employee of the month at Starbucks and you don't even work there.

~ You lick your coffeepot clean.

~ You go to AA meetings just for the free coffee.

~ You're so wired you pick up FM radio.

~ You have a picture of your coffee mug, on your coffee mug

Happy Monday

DO YOU STILL BELIEVE? 

by David Wilkerson

Recently I had an unusual experience while in meditation with the Lord. His still small voice asked of me, "Do you still believe?"

"Do you believe I still love you unconditionally-that you are right now being led by the Holy Spirit-that every tear you shed I bottle-that you are right now in this place, in this very hour, in the perfect will of God?

"Do you believe all things still work together for good to them that love me-that I hear your prayers, even when you have no audible words to express them, when all seems dark and you are overwhelmed-when fear lays hold on your mind and soul-when it seems I have shut the heavens to you?

"David, do you still believe I feed all living things: the fish of the sea, the cattle, the fowls, all creeping things? Do you still believe I count every hair on your head-that I take note of every fallen bird on the face of the earth? Do you truly believe that?

"Do you still believe-when death comes to your loved ones? Do you still believe what you have testified, that I give comfort and strength to face even the grave?

"Do you still believe I love you-I forgive you all your past sins, your present sins-and I will forgive all future sins if you rest and trust me? Do you believe I understand when Satan sends his messengers against you to implant lies, doubts, blasphemies, fears, despair?

"Do you still believe you are in the palm of my hand-that you are more precious than gold to your Savior-that eternal life is your future-that there is no power that can pluck you out of my hand-that I still am touched by every infirmity and affliction you endure? Do you still believe these things are true?"

My answer is emphatically YES! Yes, Lord, I still believe it all and more-much more!

Read all of Psalm 103 and ask yourself, "Do I still believe it? All of it?"

Daily Smile:

After years in the work force, someone finally concluded that an employer is someone who’s late when you’re early and early when you’re late.

Happy Saturday

Have You Been Using Fig Leaves? 

by Rev. Eric McGrath

The story of the fall in the Garden of Eden is pretty well known by most people. Most people know how Satan tempted Eve and she and Adam sinned by disobeying God.

There is one little portion of the story that is often overlooked and it is unfortunate because it is really very important.

Genesis 3:8-21, we read of how Adam and Eve hid from God initially, but then later appeared before God when He called for them. They had sewn fig leaves together to try make themselves acceptable before God.

In the end, God provided them with coats of skin for them to wear.

Now what is the significance of these verses? This is very important because it sets a standard that is consistent all the way through the Bible. The leaves sewn together were Adam and Eve's attempt to appear acceptable before God - in other words to appear righteous before God. They thought they could do something to be made acceptable in God's sight.

But God established the principle that is carried all the way through the Bible at this point. That principle is this "Without the shedding of blood, there is no remission of sin". Man tried to make himself acceptable with fig leaves, but they needed to be made acceptable through the provision that God gave them, which involved the shedding of blood - the animal's blood in this case.

In verse 15 of Genesis 3, we are first introduced to the fact that God was going to provide a Saviour through the seed of the woman - that was the first reference to Jesus Christ. The big word for this is protoevangelium. Jesus Christ would come to earth and shed His blood and he would once and for all be the sacrifice for man's sin. Only through personal and explicit faith in Jesus Christ as our Saviour, will we find right standing or righteousness before God.

And yet today men still try and appear acceptable to God by putting together their fig leaves. They try through the fig leaves of being religious - fig leaves of being moral - fig leaves of being a good person - fig leaves of "church-ianity" - fig leaves of denominationalism, and so on. All of these amount to fig leaves of self-righteousness.

It is interesting that in Isaiah 64:6, God says that all of these "fig leaves" that we can produce, thinking they will be found acceptable with God - are seen only as "dirty rags" by God.

And all they end of doing is seeking to cover sinful hearts - hearts, like Adam and Eve's which would not and will not submit to and be obedient to God's will.

"Garments of righteousness" (Isaiah 61:10) can only be provided by God Himself, just as He provided coats of skins for Adam and Eve.

And this He has accomplished through Jesus Christ and His death at Calvary, where He shed His blood for us.

What kinds of "fig leaves" are you sewing together to cover your sinful heart?

Why not accept the "clothing of righteousness" that God makes available to you in His Son the Lord Jesus Christ?

"The wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life, through Jesus Christ our Lord." (Romans 6:23).

Our "fig leaves" fall short of the righteousness required by God. Jesus Christ is the only sufficient "skin" we can wear. When we accept Him as our Saviour, His righteousness is transferred to us and then we are found acceptable in God's sight.

Are you accepted in the beloved, my friend? You can be with certainty.

Daily Smile:

A kindergarten teacher handed out a coloring page to her class. On it was a picture of a duck holding an umbrella. The teacher told her class to color the duck in yellow and the umbrella green, however, Bobby, the class rebel, colored the duck in a bright fire truck red. After seeing this, the teacher asked him: "Bobby, how many times have you see a red duck?" 

Young Bobby replied with "The same number of times I've seen a duck holding an umbrella."

Happy Friday

Seeing Beyond the Dent

Glynnis Whitwer

    “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” 1 Thessalonians 5:11 (NIV)

A close call with a truck on the freeway left rubbery black smears on my oldest son’s car. Unfortunately, Josh’s younger brother had borrowed it and caused the accident. Relief and annoyance mixed together in Josh’s heart.

Even though apologies and assurances to pay were offered, Josh knew his brother didn’t have the money to repair the damage. And since the cost of the repair was probably less than the insurance deductible, Josh decided to barter babysitting services for a friend’s detailing services. It was a smart and gracious solution.

His friend worked for eight hours painstakingly removing the black streaks, and we all thought the car looked great. Josh was proud of his decision to not charge his brother and find a creative way to repair the car.

At least, until he showed his car to some friends. Rather than see the good, all one person said was: “You can still see the dent!”

Later that day, Josh complained in private, “All that work, and she only saw the dent!”

I reaffirmed his generous choices and tried to bring back his joy in the repair. But the damage was done. My son left me standing in the kitchen pondering the careless comment. And wondering how many times I’ve only seen the dents.

There was a time when I could have made that comment. Too often I had neglected the efforts my children made and only seen the negative. Too often I had failed to acknowledge progress in others and only seen what remained to be done. Even in my own life I tend to focus on what isn’t instead of celebrating what is.

The critical spirit displayed in a careless comment flourished in me at one time. Yet I knew that disapproving attitude wasn’t compatible with the Jesus-follower I wanted to be. It was opposite to scriptures I’d read, like today’s verse in 1 Thessalonians which tells us to encourage and build each other up.

So years ago I asked God to remove any remnant of unhealthy pride from my heart. I begged His forgiveness for judgmental, critical thoughts and words, and asked for His spirit of love and mercy to fill all those unkind places. I wanted to stop looking at the “dents” and instead see the beauty of effort.

It took lots of honesty and confession to deal with my ingrained habit of seeing the problem. Even after I reined in my words, my heart still needed attention. Yet each time I faced the ugly truth about what was going on inside, criticism loosened its grip, allowing me to celebrate imperfect progress – in others and myself.

Do those critical thoughts still pop up? Yes they do. I’ll be honest, I saw the dent that remained on my son’s car too. But I immediately redirected my thoughts towards the generosity of a brother who forgave. I chose to focus on his creative solution and the kindness of his friend. And I thanked God my response that time had been to see the positive and to celebrate with my son.

Repairs are happening all around me. God is working in the lives of those I love; He is working in mine too. My prayer is to get to the place where I don’t even see the dents. Instead, I want eyes and a heart that rejoice with the smallest improvement, that praise potential and acknowledge effort. As I seek to live out Jesus’ request to love others, a critical spirit needs to die, and a loving one needs to take its place.

    Dear Lord, thank You for seeing the good in me. Your thoughts are not critical and condemning, instead You celebrate every little bit of progress I make. Your belief in me makes me want to do better. Help me to give that gift to others and myself. In Jesus name, Amen.

Daily Smile:

A boy was teaching a girl arithmetic, he said it was his mission. He kissed her once; he kissed her twice and said, "Now that's addition." In silent satisfaction, she sweetly gave the kisses back and said, "Now that's subtraction." Then he kissed her, she kissed him, without an explanation. And both together smiled and said, "That's multiplication." Then her Dad appeared upon the scene and made a quick decision. He kicked that boy three blocks away and said, "That's long division!"