The Tornado

As I sit here today at work, I see the world around me and I see individuals with turmoil in their lives. I am not excluded from this turmoil. Life in this world can be like being in a severe wind storm.
Have you ever seen the movie Twister starring Helen Hunt and Bill Paxton? In this movie at one point they get stuck in a major tornado and everything around them is sucked into the sky. They are holding onto a steel pipe that runs deep within the ground and is the only thing stable to hold onto. They have a belt that they can us to aid them in holding onto the pipe. Now the tricky part is that they have little time to brace themselves for this stage 5 tornado coming at them. The barn that they had gone into is now gone. This is a life and death situation and their only safety is this pipe. They Use the belt for added assistance and they soon find that their feet are flying in the air and they are close to being sucked up by this tornado. Once it is gone we can see that the pipe that went deep into the ground was the only thing that saved them.
Our lives as Christians are a lot like this picture. Take a moment to reflect on 2 Sam 22:2. “The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer.” Think about your life. Think about the things going on around you in the world. There are trials and tribulations going on all around you. Some folks are dealing with a sick loved one, some with the stress of losing a job or have lost their job and now face foreclosure. Some are facing the death of a loved one. There are some who have lost their jobs, then their homes and cars and are on the streets now losing their hope and their faith. These are their own personal stage 5 tornadoes that are facing them threatening to take their lives. If you find yourself in the midst of your own stage 5 tornado, don’t give up and let Satan win. Satan isn’t going to love and cherish you for all eternity, but there is one who will and that is God. When you ran from the tornado chasing you, you came up on a steel pipe that runs deep in the ground, it is very sturdy, and cannot be moved. You cannot run anymore. On the walls around you, you will notice a strap. Grab it, loop it around the pipe and then around your self. Grab hold of the pipe with everything you have, it’s the only way to survive. In doing this you have grabbed your Bible and a firm grip on God’s hand. God is the sturdy pipe in our lives and the strap we have used is our Bible. The reason this is our only way to survive is that Jesus is the only way to heaven.
So if you are having a rough time with life these days, don’t give up. Let go and Let God direct you. Don’t let go of God, let go of the worldly ways. People will see how close you are to God, they will see that the storm you are in has not gotten the best of you and that you are holding firm with Jesus by your side.
As we face a New Year, lets all let go of 2009. For some it was a great year, but for many it was an awful year. Stay in prayer, stay in your Word of God and listen for God’s voice. He is the calm of the storm. He cannot be moved or destroyed or sucked up by a tornado. He is the anchor of life.

Any thoughts or comments on this?

The crocheted tablecloth

The brand new pastor and his wife, newly assigned to their first ministry, to reopen a church in suburban Brooklyn , arrived in early October excited about their opportunities. When they saw their church, it was very run down and needed much work. They set a goal to have everything
done in time to have their first service
on Christmas Eve.
They worked hard, repairing pews, plastering walls, painting, etc, and on December 18 were ahead of schedule and just about finished.
On December 19 a terrible tempest - a driving rainstorm hit the area and lasted for two days.
On the 21st, the pastor went over to the church. His heart sank when he saw that the roof had leaked, causing a large area of plaster about 20 feet by 8 feet to fall off the front wall of the sanctuary just behind the pulpit, beginning about head high.
The pastor cleaned up the mess on the floor, and not knowing what else to do but postpone the Christmas Eve service, headed home. On the way he noticed that a local business was having a flea market type sale for charity so he stopped in. One of the items was a beautiful, handmade, ivory colored, crocheted tablecloth with exquisite work, fine colors and a Cross
embroidered right in the center. It was just the right size to cover up the hole in the front wall. He bought it and headed back to the church.
By this time it had started to snow. An older woman running from the opposite direction was trying to catch the bus. She missed it. The pastor invited her to wait in the warm church for the next bus 45 minutes later.

She sat in a pew and paid no attention to the pastor while he got a ladder, hangers, etc., to put up the tablecloth as a wall tapestry. The pastor could hardly believe how beautiful it looked and it covered up the entire problem area.
Then he noticed the woman walking down the center aisle. Her face was like a sheet. 'Pastor,' she asked, 'where did you get that tablecloth?' The pastor explained. The woman asked him to check the lower right corner to see if the initials, EBG were crocheted into it there. They were. These were the initials of the woman, and she had made this tablecloth 35 years before, in Austria .
The woman could hardly believe it as the pastor told how he had just gotten the Tablecloth. The woman explained that before the war she and her husband were well-to-do people in Austria . When the Nazis came, she was forced to leave. Her husband was going to follow her the next week. He was captured, sent to prison and never saw her husband or her home again.
The pastor wanted to give her the tablecloth; but she made the pastor keep it for the church. The pastor insisted on driving her home, that was the least he could do. She lived on the other side of Staten Island and was only in Brooklyn
for the day for a housecleaning job.
What a wonderful service they had on Christmas Eve. The church was almost full. The music and the spirit were great. At the end of the service, the pastor and his wife greeted everyone at the door and many said that they would return.

One older man, whom the pastor recognized from the neighborhood continued to sit in one of the pews and stare, and the pastor wondered why he
wasn't leaving.
The man asked him where he got the tablecloth on the front wall because it was identical to one that his wife had made years ago when they lived in Austria before the war and how could there be two tablecloths so much alike.
He told the pastor how the Nazis came, how he forced his wife to flee for her safety and he was supposed to follow her, but he was arrested and put in a prison. He never saw his wife or his home again all the 35 years in between.
The pastor asked him if he would allow him to take him for a little ride. They drove to Staten Island and to the same house where the pastor had taken the woman three days earlier.
He helped the man climb the three flights of stairs to the woman's apartment, knocked on the door and he saw the greatest Christmas reunion he could ever imagine.
True Story - submitted by Pastor Rob Reid
Who says God does not work in mysterious ways. I asked the Lord to bless you as I prayed for you today, to guide you and protect you as you go along your way. His love is always with you, His promises are true, and when we give Him all our cares you know He will see us through.
So when the road you're traveling on seems difficult at best. Just remember I'm here praying and God will do the rest.

Don’t Check NO

Don’t Check NO
Guest Speaker Wed Night Service Notes



How man of you remember being a kid and writing a note to someone you had a crush on that said “Do you like me check yes or no?” How about the note you got back that said the same thing, because they wanted your answer first. In our walk with God its much the same thing. God doesn’t want to be rejected by us, just as we don’t want to be rejected by him. Read these verses: Zechariah 1:3/Malachi 3:7/James 4:8. These verses all have something in common. They all speak of Turn, Return, and draw an eye unto the Lord and he will do the same. I am going to break this down for you as it was broken down for me.

1. Turn to Christ. Seek the saving grace of Christ, he will then turn to us and give us all the benefits of salvation. God wants us to have fellowship with him. He doesn’t NEED us—he WANTS us.
2. Return to God. We have broken fellowship with God. We need to repair this fellowship with him. Once we do this he will return to us as well. 1 John 1:9/Isaiah 59:2. We need to re-establish our relationship with god by Confessing our sin before we pray for about other things, and we must also repent of the sin as well.
3. Draw close to God. Get to know God by
a. Reading your Bible each Day
b. Praying every day
c. Be in church every chance you can
We are the branches that should be bearing fruit for God.

God has already given us the invitation. It’s our move. We must make the decision to RSVP to His invitation. Once we answer Him and Turn, Return, and draw close to Him, He will do the same to us.

***Have you accepted Christ into your life today? Have you responded to His invitation to join Him in Heaven and live eternally? If you haven’t you really should get back with God about that. There are only 2 places to go once our earthly bodies give up life. We will either live eternally in Heaven with God where there will be no pain and suffering, no starvation, no evil, no illness, and there will only be good things to come. Or we will spend our eternity in Hell with Satan in a lake of fire longing for a drip of water on our tongue. I pray that each of you will make the decision not to allow Satan to drag you down into the pits of despair with him. Answer God’s invitation and become a child of God. Walk in faith hand in hand with our creator.***

Message from God:

Will you follow me?
___________Yes _____________No

Brag on God

Brag on God
"Rejoice and exult in hope; be steadfast and patient in suffering and tribulation; be constant in prayer."
(Romans 12:12)


We're to live in hope. We're to rejoice. So, when Satan comes to steal your victory and tell you that God is not going to help you this time, you just think on the Word of God and start rejoicing. Rejoice that you're in Him. Rejoice that heaven is your home. Rejoice that greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world. Rejoice. Brag on God today. The devil can't stand it!

"Be steadfast and patient in suffering and tribulation...." Tribulation means "being under pressure." When pressure comes, don't cave in. Don't faint. Instead, go to the throne of grace. Go boldly in the Name of Jesus and get the help you need.

Remember this: When things get hard isn't when you let go of the Word. That's when you double up on it. That's when you are "constant in prayer" so that you are unmovable.

Rejoice. Be patient under pressure. Be constant in prayer. The devil won't be able to steal one thing from you!


TODAY'S CLEAN LAUGH

One Hard Question

There was a student who wanted to be admitted to the University.

He was smart enough to get through the written test, a GED, and was to appear for the personal interview. Later, as the interview progressed, the interviewer found this boy to be bright since he could answer all the questions correctly. The interviewer got impatient and decided to corner the boy.

"Tell me your choice," said he to the boy, "What's your choice: I shall either ask you ten easy questions or ONE real difficult. Think well before you make up your mind."

The boy thought for a while and said, "My choice is ONE real difficult question."

"Well, good luck to you, you have made your own choice!" said the man on the opposite side. Tell me: What comes first, Day or Night?"

The boy was jolted first but he waited for a while and said: "It's the DAY, sir."

"How???????" the interviewer shot back, smiling. ("At last, I got you!" he said to himself.)

"Sorry sir, you promised me that you will not ask me a SECOND difficult question!"

The student was admitted to the University.

Walking with God and not alone

Walking with God and not alone


Are you tired? Do you feel like you’re alone? Are you just plain worn out emotionally? Fear not for you are not alone. I was reading my daily devotional this morning by Dr Charles Stanley and he talks about this very subject. I have so much on my plate right now from work, kids, and kid’s other parents. It’s a very stressful time of life right now, but I am taking comfort knowing that God is there with me. I am reminded that in the Christian walk it was never promised our troubles and trials would disappear, but that we would no longer have to deal alone. Read Galatians 5:16-26.

Life is full of trials and conflicts. A Christian’s life seems to continue that way, but now we have nonbelievers watching and observing how we deal with these issues. Instead of throwing in the towel and giving into Satan, we must stand firm in our faith and walk in step with the Holy Spirit. Doing this will help us get thru the conflicts we are traveling thru and it will also show the nonbelievers God’s presence. We rely on God for our strength and just when we feel like we are just too wobbly and weak to continue, you find new strength. This is God picking you up and helping to you continue forward.

WOW! Doesn’t that just take your breath away? To know that you are not alone in this world and you won’t fall on your face. Sure times are hard and sometimes we do hit the bottom, but in that case it’s not because God is being cruel and wanted to see you fail, it’s the exact opposite. God wants your attention and if your not doing as he is telling you to do, you actually cause your self to fall, once you fall, then you can look up and start again, but this time on the right path. Remember no matter what God is there. So, say a prayer today, let God know of the things you are troubled with, let Him know you need guidance and strength thru this time. I promise if you completely release it to Him, you will feel lighter and you will have found renewed strength to move on.

Hang on tight, the roller coaster of life is sure a wild ride and can be scary at times especially thru the dark tunnels and when you feel upside down, but scream if you must, pray each minute of each day, and rely on God to get you thru. Don’t rely on yourself or your human nature. We humans have a tendency to make a bad situation much worse.

I pray that you will allow God to guide you thru life. Let Him be your light on the path. Hold His hand and stick to Him. I pray that as Christians you learn to lean on God for strength and you also learn to lean on your fellow Christians as well. I pray that God will bless you in a very special way today. In Jesus name I pray, Amen!!!

Please have a joyous day.

Questions/comments?

I am A Soldier

Veterans Day:
"I Am a Soldier"
David Langerfeld
Nov 11, 2009

Today is Veterans Day. Originally, it was a day set aside to honor the Veterans of World War I because the signing of the Armistice which ended World War I took place on the 11th day of the 11th month at the 11th hour. Since that time, it has become a day to honor the Veterans of all wars. To all of our Veterans, thank you. We salute you, we are grateful for your courage and your sacrifice. We are blessed by your commitment and your service. As we honor our Veterans on this special day, I share with you an "Encourager Classic", a poem dedicated to Christian Soldiers... "I Am A Soldier" I am a soldier in the army of my God. The Lord Jesus Christ is my Commanding Officer. The Holy Bible is my code of conduct. Faith, Prayer, and the Word are my weapons of Warfare. I have been taught by the Holy Spirit, ...trained by experience, ....tried by adversity, ....and tested by fire. I am a volunteer in this army, and I am enlisted for eternity. I will either retire in this Army or die in this Army; But, I will not get out, ...sell out ....be talked out ....or pushed out. I am faithful, reliable, capable, and dependable. If my God needs, me, I am there. I am a soldier. I am not a baby. I do not need to be pampered, ...petted, ....primed up, ....pumped up, ....picked up, ....or pepped up. I am a soldier. No one has to call me, ...remind me, ....write me, ....visit me, ....entice me, ....or lure me. I am a soldier. I am not a wimp. I am in place, ...saluting my King, ....obeying His orders, ....praising His name, ....and building His Kingdom! No one has to send me flowers, gifts, food, cards, candy, or give me handouts. I do not need to be cuddled, cradled, cared for, or catered to. I am committed. I cannot have my feelings hurt bad enough to turn me around. I cannot be discouraged enough to turn me aside. I cannot lose enough to cause me to quit. When Jesus called me into this Army, I had nothing. If I end up with nothing, I will still come out even. I will win. My God will supply all my needs. I am more than a conqueror. I will always triumph. I can do all things through Christ. Devils cannot defeat me. People cannot disillusion me. Weather cannot weary me. Sickness cannot stop me. Battles cannot beat me. Money cannot buy me. Governments cannot silence me, and Hell cannot handle me! I am a soldier. Even death cannot destroy me. For when my Commander calls me from this battlefield, He will promote me to a captain. I am a soldier, in the Army, I'm marching, claiming victory. I will not give up. I will not turn around. I am a soldier, marching, Heaven bound. Here I stand. Will you stand with me?

Mistaken Beliefs

Mistaken Beliefs

Read Mark 10:17-22

There are 3 that I will cover today, but as you think about life and your walk with God, I am sure you can think of so many more. Make sure to examine each thing to see if it is real or mistaken.

1. What I have is enough to get me to heaven.
Why would this be a mistaken belief? Many people of today and even people throughout scripture thought that because they were rich, young with bright futures, were leaders, live with morals and values that guaranteed them a spot in heaven. I am sorry to bust your bubble on this, but God is not into the material things of your life. He wants your heart, He wants you to live right and be a servant to others.

2. If what I have isn’t enough, I can do more to be acceptable
Well many people feel that their works will get them into heaven. How do you define works? Works would be anything you are doing. Yes God wants us to serve others, but we also have to have a relationship with him. So if you have lots of volunteer activities you do for charities, and you also help out in the food pantries, and you live with morals, but you lack a relationship with God, you will not be acceptable.

3. I can trust Jesus with part of my life and still be right with God.
What does that mean? We are all guilty of this factor at some point. We give our troubles to God and something comes up. Before we check with God to see if this is His answer, we jump on it and before we know it our problem has not gone away, but gotten worse. Or we pray that God will ease our pain and then we rely on other means. Not saying that taking an aspirin for a headache is bad, it’s more emotional pain. Another way we do this is by not trusting in God to do the things He promises. You give Him all the time in the world on Sunday until noon, then its lunch time. You say you love God, but you are not willing to tell your friends about Him. You’d rather keep that part a secret so you don’t offend your friends.

So these are the 3 that come to mind for now. Now that you have read them how do you fit in this category? Make sure you are giving God 100% if yourself, not just 99% you want to give. With God we have to have a balance of a good solid relationship with Him as well as being a good servant. If you have works that you are involved in and have a solid relationship with God, then the works now become of God. Do you see the difference? Give God what He wants, your heart and soul. He cares nothing about your money, how young or old you are, or anything of that nature. He strives for a relationship with His creations. I say give it to Him. After all He did send His son to pay for our sins.

**TRUTH**
Christianity is about your relationship with God
Religion is what you do
Questions/Comments/Concerns?

Spiritual Growth

Spiritual Growth

So, what is spiritual growth? When someone mentions this, what comes to your mind? We know that we are born as babies and we grow into an adult. If you get your picture albums out you can see your growth over the years. You can tell all the features that changed as you grew and all the features that didn’t change much. Spiritual growth is the growing in your walk with the Lord. As you get closer to Him, your relationship grows and you become more aware of things going on around you. You begin to see things in a different light. You become much more aware of sinful things and you try to avoid them. We are human and we are not perfect, which is why I say try to avoid.

So how do you grow spiritually? Let’s talk about that for a bit. God commands us to serve others. That’s right, serve others. What does that mean you ask? Well you have to put your selfish needs and desires aside and meet the temporal and spiritual needs of others around us. Read Romans 8:29. Basically God continues to work thru you, the believer, transforming your character into the image of Christ. Being selfish and self centered will hinder your spiritual growth. God sent Jesus to Earth to die and take the punishment for our sins. While he was here, read thru the Bible. What was Jesus doing? Was he throwing parties and living life large? He had all the power he needed and did he use it to gain the throne and remove those he didn’t like? Did he harm or kill anyone who stood in his way? No! Jesus was living the life of a carpenter, but more so as a teacher and servant. He was busy serving others and spreading the good news about God, the Father. His final service while here on Earth was at Calvary. He allowed himself to be taken, beaten, and nailed to a cross so that you could be forgiven. He could have said “oh no, I don’t think so. I think I’ll continue to live and I wish not to be tormented and killed” This was well within his power to do and walk away unharmed, but he didn’t, instead he chose to take the penalty so that we could be forgiven.

What are you called to do? What area does God wish to have you in service of others? Did you know that servicing others is not a once a year thing? Giving some money to Salvation Army at Christmas time is such an awesome donation and is a good service, but it doesn’t end there. What about your friend that parties and does things that you no longer do. Even tho you don’t party anymore you still call this friend if they are a true friend. How can you be of service to them? Try being a good witness to them. Invite them to your church functions, don’t overwhelm them, but simply show them.

We are all in a process of constant spiritual growth. Since we are not perfect and never will be, we will continue to grow in Christ and learn from our mistakes. Reach out to others. Try to help them on their journey, it is paid back 100% guaranteed on God’s time. Think about this today. Pray about it and see where God wants you. Perhaps he needs you in a local ministry, perhaps he needs you where you are to witness to those around you, only way to find out God’s will for your service is to read your Bible and pray about it.

Shedding the old to Grow in Christ

Shedding the old to Grow in Christ


As I watched the other day my Bearded Dragon, Zilla, shed, I found it very interesting, so I took a picture of her. I posted it on Facebook and a friend of mine mentioned it was like Shedding in the Christian walk as well. He may do a write up on this very topic and I am sure it will be a fascinating read. As I thought about it tho, I decided I would also come up with my take on this topic as well.

Now Zilla is about 3 months old. As she sheds she squirms about in her tank around in the sand and her basking rock. As you watch her you can see this is not the most fun part of her growing into her new skin. I usually give her a warm bath because it loosens the skin. I dry her off with a washrag or small towel. This part she loves because it feels good and helps remove some of the old skin. I then put her back into her tank and she goes straight to her basking rock under the heat lamp and sits. As I watch and check on her I can see the skin is flaking and coming off so much easier. This process usually takes a day or so. Once she has been able to shed all of her old skin, she becomes perky and runs around her tank and the living room if I get her out and you can see she is feeling like a brand new lizard.

So, you ask, what does this have to do with becoming a Christian? Well let’s walk thru this process together shall we. You are born a sinner. That’s just a fact of life. One day you are sitting in church and the pastor really has a message that just grabs a hold of you and you just get this aching feeling that he is talking to only you. He has spelled out your life in front of the whole church. You think of how you have been living, things you have done, places you have gone that you shouldn’t, things you have said that caused others pain, and you begin to wonder how you have lived this long with some of the things you have done and the life you have lived. Next, you hear the pastor say “it’s not to late for you, all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God”, “if you repent and confess your sins you too can be forgiven for God is a gracious forgiving God. So you say a prayer and ask for God to come into your life and ask him for his forgiveness of your ways of life. Today you leave church and you feel absolutely wonderful and so perky and ready to face anything.

A friend calls you and invites you to a huge party on Friday. You say sure you will be there. When you get there you see people drinking heavily and doing drugs and before you were saved, you would join in on their fun, but today you have a very uneasy feeling as they hand you the alcohol and the drugs. You take a drink of the beer and pass on the drugs saying you’re just not in the mood today. You leave the party and you just have a very different feeling about those you called your friends. You still care about them, but the eyes you now see them thru are very different from how you saw them before. You are very new to this Christian living thing and aren’t quite sure of the feeling you have. Sunday comes and you ask to speak to the pastor after church because you think something is wrong with you. The pastor explains the feeling you had were God speaking to your heart and telling you the partying was wrong and you must “Shed” the past so you can grow. 2 Corinthians 5:17 states: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new”

So the pastor has given you things to think about over the next few days. You begin by reading your Bible and praying. In this process you are beginning to grow, you just don’t know it yet. The prayer is you talking with God, and the Bible is feeding you spiritually. As you are being fed each day, you grow. You have now started going to the Wednesday night service. Again, this is part of growing. It was very hard to give up your normal Wednesday night routine of watching TV and relaxing in the recliner, but you had a strong sensation to go to church this night. The pastor talked about being involved with the church and the activities of out reach that go on. He mentioned that on Saturday the church would be having a cook out to celebrate life and all that God has done for us. You say to yourself, that sounds fun. I’ll try to come. You get home and your friend calls again. Your friend says “hey you gotta come to this party this weekend, this is one you don’t want to miss, it’s gonna be awesome, will last all weekend” You agree to go, but then remember the cook out. You remember all the scriptures and talking with God you did over the past week. You now realize you are torn with what to do. You are shedding and it is very obvious, it’s not comfortable at all. How do you let go of your friends? How do you move on? What do you do? You kneel and pray and then you read your bible and you come back to 2 Corinthians 5:17. You call your friend back and tell them that you don’t want to go to the party this weekend or any other party and that you have changed. You invite them to come with you to the cook out.

My friend what you have just experienced is Shedding of the old skin and allowing growth in Christ. When your friend called about the party, you began to pray, this was God washing you with warm water to loosen the dead old skin that had started to peel. Then when you’re reading the Bible again, this is God drying you with a cloth and you can feel pieces of dead sin stained skin come off of you. Then you make the move to call your friend and decline the party, this is you under the heat lamp helping the rest of the sin stained skin off. When you go to the party you feel renewed and fresh. This is not the end of your growth tho. This process will happen many times again, but it gets a bit easier as you get closer to God.

Life is grand and you will continue to grow. People will come in to your life and hopefully you will have planted a seed to grow in them. God will do the work thru you if you allow him. No Christians are not perfect, but we know life is a process of growing spiritually, and mentally in our walk with the Lord.

Thanks, Dan. I hope from my story it will help you with your writing on this topic. This was such an awesome idea…

More to come later.

Any questions or comments to add to this blog, please feel free to..Thanks

Giving Back

So most of us are pretty fortunate in life. We have our health, a roof over our head, perhaps a job, food on the table, and a wonderful family. So what about those who are less fortunate? What about those who lack health, who have no home, food and have lost their jobs. What about those who don't have or don't know their family or maybe they can't rely on their families.

God has created all people and he expects as His children that we help each other in times of need. What are you doing to help out and give back?

There are so many organizations that need volunteers to help out. They have all sorts of needs. Not just the financial ones. They need our patience, our love of helping others, and they need our time.

I am sure God is calling upon you as well to do something in addition to your job if you have one. Don't quit the job unless you can afford it. You can volunteer on your off time. This is a very serious matter that needs our attention. Pray about it. Read your Bible. Ask God for guidance. Find where you are needed the most. We each have certain talents that can be used and should be used to glorify God. What are your talents? How will you allow God to use those talents?

Lets all team up together and show the world that even tho being a Christian can be rough at times, we stick together and we are determined to pick each other up. On our journey thru life we will also help our fellow people.

We love each and every one of you.

Defeat the Devil!!!
James 4:7
Wed 10/28/09
Service by Thurman Williams
Notes by: Amy Aymond ( I added a bit to it from what I took from the service)


One might ask this very question. How can I defeat the devil? Well you alone can’t, but you and God can. Remember the Devil is always lurking around, seeking and seizing every opportunity to ruin your witness and bring you down to his level. Will you allow him to succeed? I can assure you he has no love for you and he is not concerned with your health and welfare. His #1 goal is to get you out of God’s hand and into the pits of fire for all eternity.

The devil wants to throw us off track, but there is good news. We as Christians do not have to listen to the devil, we do not have to do what he says, and we do not have to allow him to bring us down. So let’s defeat the devil together with God shall we?

1. We have to THINK the right thoughts. Phil 4:8
2. We have to DO the things that are right. Phil 4:9/Heb 13:20
3. We have to HEAR the right sounds, like music, songs, words, prayers.
4. We have to SAY the right words. Matt 12:33-37
5. We have to GO to the right places like church. Psalm 122:2

“I can do all things thru Christ who strengthens me.” This includes taking out the Devil. Don’t give him the upper hand in your life. Push him aside and follow God’s lead.

Father, I know I am a sinner, I know that I have let the devil control my life and lead me down roads I should not have been on. Father, I ask that you will please help me to defeat the devil and follow your lead instead. Help me to think the right thought, do the right things, hear the right sounds, say the right things and go to the right places. Lord, please guide me to be the best witness I can be and plant lots of solid seeds that will grow for you as well. Thank you, Lord for saving me. In Jesus name I pray, Amen!!

Picture from: Yahoo Images under prayer



READ: Proverbs 29:18

Sinners have no vision, they have no spiritual sight, and they aren’t as happy as they would be if they would turn to the Lord.
Those who live by the Word of God are happy down in their hearts.
We as Christians know we are going to heaven. Even in sad times we have something to be happy about.

When God is chasing you, you can’t be happy. You turn cold towards God. God wants us to be happy and we should want to be our best for the Lord.

**When Christians don’t live like they should, not as many people are saved because our witness is not a good one.

TRUE CHRISTIANS:
Work with the Lord
Walk with the Lord
Worship the Lord

Christians need guidance from the Lord and are willing to follow his guidance. We will never be perfect, but we should strive to follow God’s lead.

Stay in constant prayer!

Forgiveness

Forgiveness

Ahh.. There is that word yet again. It is something we all struggle with, but yet it is something we all need to do.

Has someone wronged you in a way with their words or actions?

I know it’s a hard pill to swallow and we as humans really want to lash out and strike back at them, but in our walk with God we find that is not what he wants from us. Let’s look at this from a different perspective today. So for the next few moments forget about the wrongs others have done against you. Let’s look into the wrongs you have done.

Have you ever lied, cheated, or cussed? Have you had premarital sex? Have you taken God’s great name in vain? Have you ever had an affair? Have you ever envied someone or longed to have what they have?

I am sure you answered yes to at least one of those above. In this case you have sinned against God. What if God decided to hold a grudge and lash out at you? Of course you would deserve it. But instead our God is a God of love and Forgiveness. He loves us so much that he wanted to save us from our sins. Remember the wages of sin is death. Well God sent his only son Jesus to die and conquer death so that we could be Forgiven.

So I ask you this question. Are you above God? Are you better then Him and able to hold grudges and seek revenge? I hope you answered NO. Let’ start by praying and asking for Forgiveness for your own sins and for your sin of not Forgiving others. Next you will want to ask God to please guide you and help you Forgive those who have wronged you. Then out loud say:
__their name______, I forgive you. And release them to God. Justice is for God to seek not us, so once you forgive them, it doesn’t mean you want to be their best friend, but you are freed from seeking justice and judgment against them and have given that role to the rightful owner, God.

Do you feel better? As time goes by and you continue to release this anger and resentment towards this person, you will feel 100lbs lighter almost like you could float away.

Read the following verses on your journey for Forgiveness
Psalm 51
Matthew 6:9-15
Matthew 18:21-35

Any questions or concerns about today’s message?

LOVE

LOVE
Contemporary English Version


Love is kind and patient; never jealous, boastful, proud, or rude.
Love isn’t selfish or quick tempered.
It doesn’t keep record of wrongs that others do.
Love rejoices in the truth, but not in evil.
Love is always supportive, loyal, helpful, and trusting.
Love never fails.

Now, that you have read the verses above. I would like for you to go back and cross out the word LOVE and replace it with your own name. Does it fit? Does this describe you? It should. We should all strive to be more Christ-like and be full of love. As Christians share the word of God and the love of God, this is a great thing to keep in mind. Even if you’re having an off day, remember these words.

I hope everyone has a splendid day and remembers that This is the Day that the Lord has Made. Rejoice and know that you are loved by God today.

**I welcome any thoughts and/or comments you would like to share.**

It is the Lord your God you must follow, and him you must revere. Keep his commands and obey him; serve him and hold fast to him.

Deuteronomy 13:4
New International Version

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY'S VERSE...
So many people want us to follow their lead and obey their voice. But God has proved himself faithful and loving through the ages. In his might he is to be revered. But rather than seeing reverence as a "church thing," we are reminded by Moses it is a "life thing." We are to obey and keep his commandments, and we are to serve him and depend upon him in our daily lives. Rather than silence in the assembly, reverence is action to his glory!

MY PRAYER...
Holy and Righteous Father, help me take my worship outside the church building into my day to day life as I try to live what I sing, practice what I say, and pursue what I pray. In Jesus name. Amen.

Thoughts or comments on this one?

"The BLOG"

Suppose you are sufing the net one day and you come across a blog. Now there are thousands and thousands of blogs out there, but suppose this one stands out because it is aimed toward you or someone you love. This is not a positive blog in any way and is actually designed to take a stab at you or your loved one and make you or them feel badly. The worst part this blog does not speak the truth and is actually based on a lie. What do you do? Well of course you contact that person and ask that it please be removed. The response you get is just what you expected and they refuse. Now what? There are 2 responses to look at:

1. Human nature, which is evil and comes from Satan says to get even go after them, if they can post lies well you can certainly do the same, drag them down low as possible, make them feel the pain they have caused you.

----OR----

2. The Godly side, which is based on what God's word says and to sit back and be patient, the TRUTH will come out. You are not the judge nor are you the jury. This is God's place and should be given to him. Give the "blog" or what ever hurt you to God and let him deal with the justice from his end. Now once you give it to him, you have to leave it with him and allow him to do His magnificant work.

I know I know, this is a very hard thing to do especially with Satan sitting on your shoulder saying your wrong and getting even would feel so much better. At this time it is important to push Satan off your shoulder in Jesus' name and listen to what God wants out of this. Ask yourself and its ok to say it out loud. "who said that?" Are the feelings of revenge and hate from God or from Satan. Remember, that no matter how badly you feel about this person, God loves them and wants to save them and perhaps it is in God's plan to use their lie to aid in turning them around to see the truth, we just don't know. What we can do is pray daily for this individual and let God do things in His own way and on His own time.

Now, this is based on a true event that happened. You see my husband had a blog posted about him that was negative and it really stings because it is all lies. So, I'll be taking my own advice and I'll be giving it over to God as of this moment. I forgive this individual for posting the lies and refusing to remove it and at this time I'll not be giving the posting address as it is not really appropriate, but God knows exactly what it is and what was said and the individual if they read this know who they are too! So to them I say this simple fact. I FORGIVE YOU S.L. I FORGIVE THE LIES YOU CONTINUE TO TELL AND I HAVE GIVEN IT OVER TO GOD. I PRAY GOD WILL BE ABLE TO REACH YOU IN A WAY THAT ONLY HE CAN AND THAT ONE DAY YOU WILL DELETE THE LIES AND CEASE TO TELLING THEM. I PRAY THAT YOU WILL BE RELEASED FROM YOUR BONDAGE AND CHAINS OF LIES AND HALF TRUTHS. I PRAY YOU WILL BE FREED!! In Jesus Amen!!!!

There doesn't that feel better?

Do you have any thoughts or comments on this posting today?

picture from the following link: http://www.flickr.com/photos/hackstonr/2327952184/

Holding On To The "B"

Holding On To The "B"
Sally I. Kennedy
Oct 22, 2009

HOLDING ONTO THE "B"

The Lord is the one who goes ahead of you; He will be with you He will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed. Deut. 31:8

On a family vacation, three year old Tommy wore a new western hat that was nearly half the size of him. He was thrilled the day his dad took him by the horses. He’d never been this close to a horse before.

I watched Tommy struggling to reach through the fence and stroke the horse’s nose. He was holding his “B” In his left hand, the blankie that went everywhere with him. Even on the airplane and out to see the horses. Only thing is he couldn’t quite negotiate getting his hand through the fence hole, without dropping the “B”. And he wasn’t about to drop the “B”.

I couldn’t help but think of how many times there is something good out there, I want to move forward, take the next step. Yet I want to hold on to the security of the past. I just can’t let go of something for fear of how I would be able to manage without it. Kind of reminds me of a story I heard once about a daddy and his young daughter who had a strand of pink plastic pearls.

God asks us to grow in our Christian walk. We don’t have to do it alone, in fact we can’t. 1 Peter 2-3 says, Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good. The “meat”, more of God, is a blessing,

Our “B’s” are wonderful for a season, then comes a time we no longer have to hold onto them. May we have the courage and grace to let go and trust our Heavenly Father to take care of us in the next step He has for us. He is already there anyway;

I had a friend that used to put it this way, “you can’t go anywhere that God is not already there.” That is good news.

Forgiveness

Wow. I still have such a hard time with this. Do you? Have you been wronged and then been called to forgive that person? I am sure you have. I just finished reading The Shack. I have read it before and it is just an awesome book. It really makes you wonder and think about God as the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit. In the book, it talks about having to forgive in order to grow in Christ. The charatcer is to forgive a man that murdered his daughter. Now if that isn't a hard pill to swallow. Mack has to say it out loud over and over until it becomes easier to do. So in reading that book again, I am going to follow that lead. They say it takes 21 days to perform a habit so over the next 21 days I am going to really pray hard, read my bible and say it out loud. For those of you who have wronged me in the past and you know who you are. I FORGIVE YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Now its your turn..Won't you participate in this as well? Lets grow in Christ together

Not Alone

NEVER ALONE

There is a legend about the "rite of passage" for Cherokee Indians. The father would blindfold his young son, take him into the forest, and leave him there - alone. He is required to sit on a stump the entire night and never take off the blindfold until the first rays of the morning sun shine through the blindfold.

He is alone. He is totally by himself. He cannot cry out for help to anyone. Once he survives the night, he has become "a Man". He cannot tell the other boys of this experience. Each young brave must come into his own manhood.

One particular young brave was entering this rite of passage. He was terrified. He could hear all kinds of noise. Wild beasts were all around him. Maybe some human would hurt him. The wind blew the grass and earth and it shook his stump. But he sat stoically, never removing the blindfold. It would be the only way he could be a man.

Finally, after a terrifying night, the sun appeared and he removed his blindfold. It was then that he saw his father - sitting on the stump next to him - at watch. He had been there the entire night.

We are never alone. Even when we do not know it, our Father is protecting us. Watching us. Watching over us. He is sitting on the stump beside us.

All we have to do is reach out to Him.



"Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." Hebrews 13:5

"I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Matthew 28:20

"Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you" Deut. 31:6

God’s Ways: Ordinary and Miraculous

By Dr Charles Stanley

READ | 1 Kings 17:2-7

God declared, “My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” (Isa. 55:8). And in fact, one of the biggest frustrations of the Christian life has to do with a lack of understanding about God’s ways. There are times when we could really use a miracle, and yet He does not come through for us. Unmet expectations lead to confusion, disappointment, and even anger. Why did God let me down?

There are two schools of thought regarding the miraculous. Some people don’t believe God works miracles at all, while others are convinced that if He’s not doing the miraculous every day, then something is wrong with their faith. We need a balanced perspective, which we find in the Bible.

God works in both supernatural and ordinary ways, and He determines the method. Elijah ate food miraculously delivered by ravens, but his water supply from a brook was completely natural. When the water dried up, the Lord could have made more spring from the ground, but He didn’t.

Sometimes God uses ordinary means to move us in a new direction. The curtailment of his water supply opened the door for Elijah’s next “assignment.” When the Lord withholds miraculous intervention and lets your brook dry up, He has something else planned for you.

Seeing the work of God in the miraculous is easy, but He’s just as involved in the commonplace aspects of life as He is in any supernatural event. Look for His “fingerprint” in the day’s mundane activities. He is there, opening and closing doors, drying up one opportunity but initiating another.


Amy's thoughts on this: God is always working around us, thru us, and with us. Sometimes we are blinded by our current situations to realize what he is trying to tell/teach/lead us to. Even in trying times there is a lesson to be learned and no matter what we think we will never ever be done learning as we are not perfect humans. So as you face the day, start it with a prayer and a devotion. Remember God is there even if it doesn't feel like it. If you are in a difficult time now, remember to keep in scriptures and in prayer. Open your heart to the love and guidance of the Heavenly Father. Don't give into the disappointment and become discouraged. If you are in a very happy time now, remember to still stay in prayer and in scriptures and be thankful for everything. Its so much easier said than done, but with God's help we can and we will succeed.

Any thoughts or anything I missed on this lesson?

External Causes of Discouragement

External Causes of Discouragement
By Charles Stanley

Discouragement can hit us from many angles, depleting our energy and productivity. Wise believers will learn to detect its sources in order to avoid this paralyzing effect. Today, let’s examine some external causes.
1. Unresolved disappointments. This applies to letdowns caused by our failed expectations or someone else’s.
2. Constant criticism. When we are criticized frequently, it is natural to think, What’s wrong with me? Yet, unless God reveals a truth in the comments, we must learn to let them go.
3. The feeling that no one’s listening. The natural response to this is rejection.
4. The sense that we aren’t appreciated after doing our best. We can get so tied to our work that someone’s failure to acknowledge our efforts feels like a personal rebuff.
5. Bad working conditions. Many believers enjoy what they do but pick up on coworkers’ cruelty, bitterness, or refusal to recognize their efforts. This can make it extremely difficult to get motivated about going to work each day.
6. Lacking opportunities to shine. A job that doesn’t make the best use of one’s gifts and abilities can wear a person down. So can tight-fisted managements that limits freedom to make innovations.

Oftentimes, it’s the people we see every day who seem to have the most power for causing discouragement in our lives. Read through the list again. Do any of the above scenarios sound disturbingly familiar? If so, pray for the strength to face these external discouragers with renewed confidence.

Amy’s thought…I am sure as you reread this list that you can probably pin point a situation for each of the scenarios. Life at home and life at work and even life in between always has people that you will come across that will disappoint you. The thought should no loner be “That person makes me so mad and I am tired of them disappointing me” but should be “Ok, that was disappointing, but now how will I deal with it.?” If you let it, it drag you down deeper and deeper. If you turn it over to God, he will help you cope with it and keep moving and this will also help you to grow with Christ. The world we live in is a very mean and unforgiving world. Businesses are practicing things that make their employee’s heads turn, friends are turning against friends, and we sometimes feel we get mixed up in the world and are left by the waste side. Don’t let this be the case. When you get disappointed by actions of your own or by others, turn it over and release it to God in heaven. Remember it’s not what the people of the world think that gets you to heaven. It’s what God thinks. If you are living right and by God, people will take notice and hopefully want to follow the example. God is the light, Christians are lamps that God shines his light thru. God uses us to witness and lead others in. Stay in prayer and in God’s word, it helps a great deal with discouragement.

Any thoughts, or comments?

How can we conquer discouragement?

How can we conquer discouragement?
Here are 9 specific steps:
By: Charles Stanley

1. Look within. Prayerfully examine yourself for the underlying cause.
2. Admit you are discouraged. It’s easy to avoid, ignore, or lie about it. But denial is deadly and it guarantees failure.
3. Identify precisely what you are discouraged about. Name it, then face it.
4. Recall the nature of discouragement. Disappointments will come and go, but discouragement is a choice that you make.
5. Begin meditating frequently on God’s word. This way, you can accurately judge what you feel by what is real. (Psalm 3:2-4; 16:7-8; 63:6-8; 77:12; 119:15).
6. Take your area of discouragement to God in prayer. Ask him to reveal what He wants to teach you in this area of your life.
7. Focus on God, not your situation. Ask Him to help you see this disappointment and its lessons from His perspective.
8. View the cause as coming from the Lord. If we understand that He allows disappointments, we can find opportunity for growth, even in trouble.
9. Confess these truths aloud: The Father is with me in the pain; He’s in control of my life and has allowed this for a reason; He is a good God, who will turn this disappointment into blessing.

Discouragement may sound harmless enough, but don’t ever underestimate its destructive power. By keeping watch you can avoid this deadly trap. So write down these 9 steps on an index card, and then review the list whenever disappointments start to consume your thinking.

Amy’s thoughts on this. Sometimes it seems like a game that you just can’t seem to win. Like there is always something that is dragging you down into the pits of despair. It could be something at work, something in your personal life, or anything in between that is disappointing to you. It could be something simple as a desire you have to buy something, go somewhere, and even a desire you have or a plan you have to serve God. If these plans or desires do not match up with what God has in store for your life, you will be disappointed. Rather than kick your feet and allow yourself to be down and out, follow these 9 steps. Call upon God to help pick you up, dust you off, and guide you straight. God in an awesome God and he hears our cries and our laughter. Depend on Him and not on yourself.

Any thoughts or comments?

The Nature of Discouragement

The Nature of Discouragement
By Dr. Charles Stanley

Discouragement is a powerful, destructive force. Before we can understand how to rid our lives of this deadly land mine, we must recognize its harmful nature.
Understand that discouragement…..

1. Is something we choose. No body else can make us discouraged; it is a choice that we alone make when facing disappointments.

2. Is universal. Everybody will face periods of disappointment and discouragement from time to time. This simply cannot be avoided, because we live in a seriously flawed world that is filled with equally flawed people.

3. Can Recur. Sometimes we think we’ve settled an issue, which later resurfaces when we least expect it. Or, we may have old emotional wounds that are torn open by something a person says or does.

4. Can be temporary—or it can destroy our life. The choice is ours. If we refuse to deal with the discouragement head-on, we are opening the door for it to completely dominate our life.

5. Is conquerable. With the Lord’s help, we can choose not to be discouraged. If we don’t believe discouragement can be conquered, then we’re actually saying God doesn’t want his children to have a rich and fulfilled life.

Are you stuck in the throes of discouragement? If so, it will simply be impossible to experience the peace and inner joy that God wants for his children. Let him help you find out of that lowly state: start by believing that the Father wants to lift you up and get your life back on track with Him.

Amy’s thoughts on this: So, sometimes I do find situations that are out of my control to fix are discouraging. Discouragement is something I choose. So going forward I am choosing not to let those obstacles get in my way of having my life right with the Lord. Weather it is work related or on a personal level this is something I can control. I know God is there and I know he is the All Powerful and I know he has a bigger picture for me and I know what he has planned is greater than something I could ever imagine. Rather than getting myself all worked up in discouragement and allowing the situations to control my feelings, I will be grabbing hold of those feelings, staying in prayer and releasing them and the situation that is frustrating to God. Life is can be a violent roller coaster if you allow it to be. Times will be rough and times will be smooth. It’s during the rough times that discouragement creeps in. Don’t let it. When you are in a rough spot know that you are NOT the driver, God is and sometimes the bumpy dirt road you are on is the one that leads to better things.

Any thoughts or comments?

Make Sure You’ve Got Some Back Up!!

Make Sure You've Got Some Back-UP
Rocky Henriques
Aug 4, 2009



One morning recently I took our little Terrier mix outside for her morning walk, and I noticed three strays at the bottom of the long drive—about fifty yards away. I kept my eyes on them, because I thought they might be interested in the tiny dog I had in my arms. I sat Gabi on the ground, all the while watching the strays.

One of them barked in our direction, and they all three started toward us. They probably just wanted to say “Good Morning,” but I wasn’t taking any chances. I yelled toward them “Git!” which is “Southern” for “Get away!” They stopped, but the lead dog continued to bark at us. I yelled “Git!” again, and two of the dogs took off running. The lead dog stood his ground, continuing to bark.

Then a strange and rather humorous thing happened. The one remaining stray turned his head to look behind him, to look at the other two strays which were with him. But they weren’t there! When he noticed that the other dogs had left him and that he was alone, he too began to run as if his tail had been set on fire. I couldn’t help but laugh.

But then I realized that this was a picture of the approach that so many people take toward life. We go up against whatever the challenge or problem is, and we bark at it with all our might. We use all our resources and ingenuity. But when we finally turn to look for help, we realize with a start that we don’t have any back up! We have built our lives on the wrong foundations and depended on the wrong things. And when we need them, we find that they could never have supported us to start with.

How important it is for us to build the proper foundation for our lives! Jesus told us how: “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.” (Matthew 7:24-25).

When troubles come, make sure you have the proper foundation for your life. Or, as the stray dog would say, “Make sure you’ve got some back up!”

...Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant...For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.
Mark 10:43, 45

It would be safe to assume that most women love going to the spa. But if the truth were told, there are many men who enjoy the experience as well. Because the moment we open the door, someone is there to meet all of our needs.

But oftentimes, we take that attitude with us as we leave the spa, feeling like everyone else should meet our needs as well. Yet we rarely take the time to consider the needs of others.

Jesus came to this earth to do away with our "serve me" mentality. He taught us that in order for us to be great, we must first serve others. And to show us how much this matters, Jesus performed the greatest act of service when he gave his life for us on the cross. Because of that act, we are given eternal life, and have a responsibility to do as he did—and think of others first.

One of the greatest places to begin serving is your local church. There are plenty of ministries that need your help. You can also begin to serve others in your community. Find time to help a neighbor clean their yard or volunteer to feed the homeless. There are literally countless ways you can join in serving others.

It is so easy for us to be self-serving. But when you feel the pull of selfishness on your life, remember the ultimate sacrifice that Jesus performed on the cross. And allow that wonderful act of service to be your inspiration as you share your time with others.

Scenes & Beans: Congratulations, S-Man!

Scenes & Beans: Congratulations, S-Man!

4 Ways to Deal with Regrets

1. START OVER
Seek forgiveness for your sin and REPENT from your past.
Guilt is from the Devil—if you asked for forgiveness and repented, learn to forgive yourself.

2. LOOK AHEAD
Look at the end of your life. What do you want and what will be said of you?

3. STOP AND THINK
Evaluate your current place. Does your life need a new course? Are you following God’s will?

4. MOVE FORWARD AND PURSUE GOD’S WAY
If we start over, look ahead, stop and think and move forward but don’t pursue God’s way: then we are following the world.


***Things to remember***

“I can do all things thru Christ who strengthens me.”

Let Jesus take the lead and you follow.

Stay close to God by reading your Bible daily, staying in constant prayer, and listening with your heart. Doing so will keep you on the right path, the path God has designed for you and will keep you off the path of the world.

Spiritual Warfare Cont....

Spiritual Warfare continued…
Sermon by: Les Puryear
Notes by: Amy

Resistance Movements: Standing up against the wrong doers. Most Resistance movements succeed Resistance.
Read verses: 1 Peter 5:9/ James 4:8/ James 4:7

How To Resist?
1. Submission to God = I can’t YOU can.
a. We must submit our Wills to GOD, then we can resist and the Devil will run from you.
b. Memorize and recite scripture
c. Pray
2. Actively resist the Devil.
a. Active = Resist: Action = read your Bible and Pray
3. Refuse to adopt evil practices just because everyone else is doing it.
4. Resistance takes strength and patience.
Read verses: Matthew 4:1-5/Phil 4:13/James 5:7-8
5. Have Faith
6. Be patient with yourself and with others as we grow in Christ. Look to the future.
**Remember when the Devil is talking to you he will be trying to make you feel bad in every way he can.**

Have Faith: I believe you will. (You say to God)
Read verses Romans 12:3/Like 17:5

Christ in me..
Read verses 1 John 4:4
Grow your faith by
ü Put your faith active
ü Read your Bible daily
ü Pray and Listen daily
ü Faith is something you do
ü Trust God and show it.
Develop a discerning spirit. Read verse Deuteronomy 6:6-9
Be Doers of the Word: Apply God’s truth to our lives Read verses: Galatians 2:21

The Law will not Save you
The law tells you what is good
We obey the Law because we are saved, not to be saved.
It is vital that we teach our children about God as they grow, so when they are grown they will know right from wrong and will know God’s voice. If you don’t, the child will be open for Satan to strike.

How to Discern?
God’s word (Our Source Book)
Holy Spirit (Guide to Truth)
Read Verses: Ecc 8:5-6/Exekiel 44:23-24/Hebrews 5:13-14

What to Do?
Prayer/read the Bible/witness/and grow. Exercise the discernment by the way you live your life. (Ex. If a show comes on that is no good, Turn it off)
You have to believe in what you read in the Bible.
Measure yourself against God’s standard
Accept the Word at face value. God means what he says.
Read Verses: Hebrews 4:12

More to come later on this topic..Any comments ?

Spiritual Warfare
Sermon by: Rev. Les Puryear
Notes by: Amy

(Back in 2005, I was having a hard time. This lesson pops up every time things get bumpy and it helps remind me not to allow Satan to take over things. Thank you Les, thank you for such an awesome delivery of this message, that it has stuck with me even after all this time. Let me know if I missed something on it)

The Devil’s #1 goal is to keep as many people out of Heaven as possible. He works very hard to make you as miserable as possible. He does realize that he can’t keep you out of heaven, so then he will attack your witness and make it (or try to) impossible to take anyone with you. The Devil will NOT give up on your destruction.
Read verses: John 10:28-29/Jude 24/Romans 8:38

As Christians we must remain close with Christ. Stay close to him by
 Reading your Bible daily
 Staying in constant prayer
 Listen and you will hear the Lord speaking to you
Read verses: 1 john 5:8/Psalm 17:4-5

Know your ENEMY: 1 Peter 5:8
-The Devil is not playing to get you into trouble. He is seeking to destroy you. He is a fierce opponent and his goal is to defeat you. We cannot do anything to earn the Devil’s favor because he hates all. He hates us because we are created in the image of God.
-The Devil will KILL all who follow him with the very thing he lured them with. (Ex drugs, alcohol)
-The Devil can be described as
• A thief
• A Liar (1st lie in Gen 3- He told Eve “you will not die”)
• A Murderer
• Author of Death/Decay
• False Accuser
• Satan = Adversary
• Tempter
-There is no GOOD in him. He is BAD to the core.
-This is a Spiritual Battle and Satan is subservient to God.
-The Devil’s primary tool is DECEPTION. Read Job

Process/Strategies of Deception:

Stage 1:
Imagination: an idea in planted that is appealing to us. This comes in the form of a wish, a fantasy, or a dream. The longer we dwell on this idea, the more it becomes an obsession.
When the idea comes to you: Ask yourself, does this glorify God? WWJD? If you don’t, you will advance to the next stage.

Stage 2:
Identify: You will begin to identify with the idea. You start putting yourself in the picture. The more we identify or dwell on this idea, the more we begin to think out the benefits of acting out the idea. Read verses: Matthew 5:21-22. Thinking about the idea is still sin if it does not glorify God. The way we feel on the inside is just as we are on the outside. Read verses: Romans 3:10/Matthew 9:4/Proverbs 23:7 Again—ask yourself: does this glorify God?

Stage 3:
Experience: You now have a strong desire that is growing to experience the idea. We think, plot and plan out the idea and then we rationalize it. To go beyond your means is SIN. (Ex. You can afford a small car and you buy a luxurious expensive car)
Read verses: Proverbs 6:16+18/Zechariah7:10/Proverbs 19:21

Stage 4:
Act Out: All the planning and plotting done and now we act out that very idea that was not to glorify God. Rarely, do we intend on getting to this point. We tend to rationalize and tell ourselves we will try it just once. At this point now you will begin to tell yourself you are strong enough to handle it. You will justify it in your head. The SIN now controls you and will rule over you. Read Verses: Romans 7:15-20, 24

We always want to do what is right, and often times we start out right, but then our practice or lifestyle slips back into our old ways. The way out of this is again to remain close with God and get a new practice or way of life. Get new habits new routines, reading your Bible, praying, and listening.
Read Verse Romans 8:3-11
 Once we walk according to the Spirit, we can then do what we want to do and what is right.
 You can’t try hard enough to overcome SIN. You MUST rely on Jesus
 Every time you are tempted PRAY for the strength to reject it.

**This was the first part of this message. I will post the rest tomorrow. Feel free to add any comments or suggestions to this.***

Walk Away by Ed Young

Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.
Colossians 3:5

Las Vegas, Nevada has some of the most beautiful buildings and artifacts in the country. But anyone who has ever been to Vegas can agree that when the night life of the strip begins, so does the "What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas" attitude.

Many of us tend to have that same attitude about lust. We think that we can do whatever we want and nobody will ever find out. We convince ourselves that "What happens in Lust Vegas stays in Lust Vegas."

But God is everywhere. And he gives us one simple command when it comes to avoiding lust: walk away.

When you feel the pull of lust in your life, don't give yourself excuses that compromise your integrity. Walk away from the lies of lust. Walk away from any opportunities to meet with that attractive person alone. Walk away from the opportunity to stay late at the office with a co-worker of the opposite sex. And walk away from the excuses.

Making excuses will only lead to destruction. Make the choice today to leave Lust Vegas. Surrender your temptations to God. Allow him to work in your life instead. And he will give you the power to walk away

Being Acceptable to God

Being Acceptable to God (CEV)

Galatians 2:16
But we know that God accepts only those who have faith in Jesus Christ.
No one can please God by simply obeying the Law. So we put our faith in Christ
Jesus and God accepted us because of our faith.
Living and obeying the Laws is just not enough in God’s eyes.
We must have faith in His son Jesus in order to be acceptable.
Romans 5:1
By faith we have been made acceptable to God. And now, because of our
Lord Jesus Christ, we will live at peace with God.
Here is the word faith again. We must have faith in Jesus. Jesus is the
way, the only way we can be acceptable in God’s eyes.
Romans 8:33-34
If God says his chosen ones are acceptable to him, can anyone bring
charges against them? Or can anyone condemn them? No indeed! Christ died and
was raised to life, and now he is at God’s right side, speaking to him for us.
Christ speaks on our behalf. Christ gave his own life for our sins. If
Christ says you are acceptable, its good enough for God and he will go
with that.
Colossians 2:13-14
You were dead, because you were sinful and were not God’s people. But
God let Christ make you alive, when he forgave all our sins. God wiped out the
charges that were against us for disobeying the Law of Moses. He took them
away and nailed them to the cross.
When Christ was nailed to the cross so were our sins. With our sins out of
the way, we can now be forgiven and be acceptable to God. We still sin
daily, but we have a loving forgiving generous God, that forgives us as
we ask. He is able to do this because of Christ’s willingness to pay the
ultimate price.
Titus 3:7
Jesus treated us much better than we deserved. He made us acceptable to
God and gave us hope of eternal life.
We are acceptable to God thru Christ. We did not deserve to be forgiven of
our sins, but Christ was sent from God to give us hope of eternal life.
Psalm 32:1-2
Our God, you bless everyone whose sins you forgive and wipe away. You
bless them by saying “you told me your sins without trying to hide them, and
now I forgive you.”
God forgives the sin and wipes the slate clean for you. Yes there may still
be consequences for your sins, but the Lord of all, God Himself forgives
you. All you have to do is be upfront, truthful and ask him for it. He
already knows, he is only asking you to ask him for forgiveness.
I have read these scriptures in both the CEV and New King James and the bullets
are my interpretation of what I feel God is telling me thru the Bible. Please
let me know if you want to add anything I may have missed in this. It is all
about learning and growing to understand and have a close relationship with our
Lord.

A Simple Bible

A SIMPLE BIBLE


"I'm not supposed to give these away," the young man said, handing me a display Bible, "but I sense you should have this." I shrugged and absently tucked it away. We had a Bible at home. I'd only stopped by the Gideon's table because nothing else at the Iowa State Fair was set up.

A few days later I was walking to town when a car pulled up beside me. "Get in," the driver snarled, pointing a gun at me. I did as he said. Soon he pulled over, grabbed me and tried to force me down on the seat. I struggled with all my strength. Finally he ordered me out of the car.

Before both my feet were on the ground, I heard a shot and felt a sharp pain in my side. I collapsed, and the man came around the car. He picked up my purse, took out my wallet then threw the purse on my head and shot it. I felt a dreadful impact. Still conscious, I lay silent, hoping he would think I was dead. I heard the car drive away, and I stumbled to a nearby farmhouse. A woman called for help, and the police were closing in on the drug-crazed driver based on the description I'd given them.

At the hospital, just before I went into surgery to remove the bullet in my side, my sister came to see me. "Do you know what saved your life, Mavis?" she asked. She handed me the Bible that had been in my purse. A bullet was lodged inside, its tip stopping exactly at Psalm 37:14-15: "The wicked draw the sword, and bend the bow...to slay those whose ways are upright. But their swords will pierce their own hearts, and their bows will be broken."

This is what it means to know the voice of God. The young man wasn't supposed to give away the Bibles, but he "sensed" that God wanted him to give the Bible away to this lady. He probably thought that she would open the Bible and read something that would turn her life around, or bring her closer to the reality of God. But the sword came first, and then certainly a peace that only comes from God; the reality of His protection made manifest by those who "sense" His will.


Author Unknown

Multiplication

...Other seed fell on good soil. It came up, grew and produced a crop, multiplying thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times."
Mark 4:8

Multiplication is a fascinating concept to most third grade students. It's a new level of math that, in a way, serves as a rite of passage to "big kid math." It gives them a boost of confidence to know they are advancing to a better, more exciting level of math.

Jesus also has a unique way for us to experience a new and exciting level in our walk with him. No matter where we are on the globe, we can participate in the greatest mathematical concept known to man. And it all has to do with multiplication. We can multiply the kingdom of God by identifying people to share Christ with.

Maybe it's a family member, co-worker, or neighbor. No matter who the person is or what role they play in your life, they deserve a chance to hear the greatest news of all and make the choice to follow Christ. And you don't need a seminary degree or a theological background to share your story with them!

Sometimes something as simple as a positive comment about someone's smile or a reference to current events can spark an opportunity to tell them how Christ has impacted your life.

Think about the people in your life today. And ask God to show you an opportunity to share the good news of Jesus with someone who needs him.


By Ed Young

Psalm 68:4-5

Sing to God, sing praise to his name, extol him who rides on the clouds -- his name is the Lord -- and rejoice before him. A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling.

--Psalm 68:4-5
New International Version

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY'S VERSE...
I can't help but think of what James, Jesus' brothers said: "Pure religion, undefiled before God the Father is this: keep oneself undefiled and care for orphans and widows in their distress." Jesus showed clearly this was the Father's heart in his ministry. Now it is up to us to continue it!

MY PRAYER...
Father, may my life, my compassion, and my ministry reflect your heart for those who need care and protection and love. Give me eyes to see this need more clearly and a heart to respond more certainly so that your love may be demonstrated through me. Through Jesus I pray. Amen.

Daily Devotional from Ed Young

Build houses and settle down... seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you... Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.
Jeremiah 29:5, 7

We live in a fast-paced, move-it-or-lose-it society. We don't like to slow down because we think we'll miss out on the next big thing or incredible opportunity. We always want to be on top and ahead of the game. But when we zip through life like that, we miss out on the most incredible opportunities of all time—to bless those around us.

God wants to bless you. And he wants you to use those blessings to bless others. And that's not something you can do if you're flying through life at breakneck speeds.

Don't go through life overlooking the people who God has placed in your path. Take some time to slow down and take note of those around you. Ask God to show you opportunities where you can share your blessings. Remember, God blesses us so that we can bless others. Because when we do, we will experience the true power and excitement of living in the zone.

What are your thoughts on this devotional?

The Thief

The Thief
Author Unknown
Jun 22, 2009

A reminder to turn on your security system!!!

A horrible thing happened to me today... a thief broke into my house.

It happened shortly after I awoke this morning. I got up and began rushing about. I had a thousand things on my list and was already running behind.

Quickly, I gulped down breakfast, took a shower and got ready for work. In my rush, I forgot to turn on the security system at my house. It was just about a half an hour later that the thief broke in. Of course, he didn't make a sound. Just kind of snuck inside, not drawing any attention to himself.

In fact, none of the neighbors ever saw him. But, I did. You see, I WAS HOME when the thief broke in. He naturally startled me, as I was unprepared for his visit. He, of course, didn't announce that he was coming and I certainly had not invited him over. And yet, I found myself face to face with danger and I felt so powerless. I also felt so very stupid, because this whole incident could have been avoided if I had just taken the time to turn the security system on. You better believe I'll be turning it on tomorrow morning!

I thought I'd warn you about this guy, because he's still on the loose. Chances are, he's in your area. Possibly even headed for your house. His name? His name is Satan. You see, this morning, when I jumped up in my haste to get started on my busy day, I skipped my prayer time, opting to "pray later today." In other words, I DIDN'T TURN ON THE SECURITY SYSTEM. My defense wasn't on, my guard was dropped... and when the thief came into my home to attack me, I was unprepared to do battle. He tempted me and I felt powerless.

As I said, I also felt so very stupid, because I could have avoided the incident if I had just taken the time to pray. My friend, the thief has come to "steal, kill and destroy." (John 10:10) And, as a Child of God, you are on his "hit list." He'll probably pop over to your house today. He may be lurking outside your door right now, just waiting to catch you off guard. Take time to pray this morning. Ask God to bind Satan from your very presence, to protect you and empower you to do battle. In short...always
dress with your Holy armor from head to toe and...don't forget to turn your security system on.

"Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil." - Ephesians 6:11

Getting Beyond Fear

Getting Beyond Fear

“There is no fear in love. Perfect love casts out fear” (1 John 4:18).

America is beset with an apocalyptic mindset. We have more fears today than I have ever imagined. Without question, we have some good reason to feel this way. The fall of the twin towers at the hands of a mindless evil still stuns us. Terrorism is with us to stay. A financial collapse. We have real reasons to be afraid.

TV programing has picked up on and amplified the hysteria. I’m a big Discovery Channel and History Channel guy. The line-up feeds on fear. "Destroyed in Seconds" and "Shockwave" show live destruction. "Storm Chasers" and "Wrath of God" show natural disasters. "Monster Quest" is about giant spiders, snakes, hogzilla and sasquatch. UFO Hunters! Now there's a real fear!

So much fear. So much anxiety. That’s the problem. We are anxious people. Without question anxiety does not mesh with faith. Anxiety requires a tremendous emotional investment. The tension it causes can take years off our lives (who can add one cubit?). It can also silence our gratitude.

Some fears are real. Most fears are not. All fears are covered by Jesus’ invitation: “Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid” (John 14:27). Interestingly, only John, of all the gospel writers, records these words from Jesus. Also John had more to say about fear than any other letter writer in the NT. Like most every problem we face, John found the solution to fear in God’s love. If we trust in God’s love, then fear dissipates. “Perfect love casts out fear.”

The fears that threaten you as you read this devotional will be silenced only by a growing trust in a loving God. You must cling to the conviction that God’s providence is more powerful than the object of your fear. Delve more deeply into God’s perfect love for you. He will still the fears that assault you. He will give you the peace you need.


Dr. Terry Ellis
Pastor, Spring Hill Baptist Church
Mobile, AL

WEDNESDAY

I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given to me -- the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace.

--Acts 20:24
New International Version

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY'S VERSE...
How important is grace? Paul said it was more important than his life! Telling about grace was more important to Paul than his life! In fact, that was his life!

MY PRAYER...
Almighty God, Holy Father, thank you for your lavish grace demonstrated and fully expressed in sending Jesus to die for me. As your child, and in thanks to your sacrificial gift, I pledge to you my life, my love, and my all. Through Jesus. Amen

Don't Hesitate

Don't Hesitate

"He that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.

For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways."
(James 1:6-8)


What happens when you hesitate to do something God has told you to do? Your adversary takes the first step. The devil gets the jump on you.

If you want to live by faith, hesitation is one of the most hazardous habits you could ever have. It comes from being indecisive. The Bible says a man like that is "unstable and unreliable and uncertain about everything he thinks, feels, decides" (The Amplified Bible).

If you are double-minded, the decisions you make are split. You try to live by faith and protect your fear at the same time. You make faith statements like "I believe God is going to heal me." Then your fear whispers, "But I wouldn't want to say I'm well just yet." You're so busy going back and forth between faith and fear, you can't make any progress at all.

Kick the habit of hesitation today. Make a solid decision to trust in and act on the Word of God. Settle it forever. Resolve never to entertain doubts again. When doubt comes to your mind, cast it out quickly.

When God speaks, don't waste a moment. Step right out in faith. That way, you can always keep the devil a step behind you!

Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.
Proverbs 12:18

Have you ever created conflict by saying something you didn't really mean to say? It is easy to let an errant word or unintended comment slip. But even though they were not planned, they can still be destructive.

When you are around people who believe something different than you, are you aware of the power of your words? Jokes, insults or snide comments can create fires that burn bridges. And they can be destructive to the work God wants to do through you.

While our words can do a lot of damage, they can also do good. Wise words are described in the Bible as having the ability to heal. When we have conversations with people of other faiths, we have the opportunity to share God's love with them. The right words can actually help lead them to a decision to heal their relationship with God. But those words don't always come easily.

God does not expect you to have all the right words all the time. But if you seek him out, he will provide you with the right things to say (Matthew 10:19-20). And as you seek to reveal his power through your words, you can begin to make an impact on the world around you as you reach out to others for him.

What a Mess we've made

All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away.
Isaiah 64:6
There are great products on the market for removing stains from just about any surface; like carpet, furniture, clothes and more. Even with all the advanced technology of today, most of the stain removers still have to display a simple but important warning: "Use a color safe sponge or cloth."

If you have ever ignored that warning and used a dyed sponge, you'll remember how your carpet turned the color of your sponge, resulting in a stain worse than what was originally there.

Our best actions are like a non-color safe sponge or cloth. When we try to clean up a mess we've made, we end up making a bigger mess than before. We think we can use good deeds to clean up the stains our sins have left behind. But no matter what we do within our own power, the stains still remain.

Isaiah compares our righteous acts to filthy rags. We think we can rely on our good works to clean up the messes we've made. But God says even our best actions are stained. Our pride, selfishness or ignorance gets in the way of our actions being pure and clean.

Remember that God is the only one who can clean up our mess. He offers unlimited forgiveness. And when we seek his righteousness, he cleans our lives with the most powerful agent known to man — the blood of his son, Jesus Christ.

KEEPER OF THE SPRING

David Langerfeld
May 21, 2009

KEEPER OF THE SPRING

The late Peter Marshall, an eloquent speaker and for several years the chaplain of the United States Senate, used to love to tell the story of "The keeper of the spring," a quiet forest dweller who lived high above an Austrian village along the eastern slopes of the Alps.

The old gentleman had been hired many years ago by a young town council to clear away the debris from the pools of water up in the mountain crevices that fed the lovely spring flowing through their town. With faithful, silent regularity, he patrolled the hills, removed the leaves and branches, and wiped away the silt that would otherwise choke and contaminate the fresh flow of water.

By and by, the village became a popular attraction for vacationers. Graceful swans floated along the crystal clear spring, the millwheels of various businesses located near the water turned day and night, farmlands were naturally irrigated, in the view from restaurants was picturesque beyond description.

Years passed. One evening the town council met for its semi-annual meeting. As they reviewed the budget, one man's eye caught the salary figure being paid to the obscure keeper of the spring. Said the keeper of the purse, "Who is the old man? Why do we keep him on year after year? No one ever sees him. For all we know the strange ranger of the hills is doing us no good. He isn't necessary any longer!" By a unanimous vote, they dispensed with the old man's services.

For several weeks nothing changed. By early autumn the trees began to shed their leaves. Small branches snapped off and fell into the pools, hindering the rushing flow of sparkling water. One afternoon someone noticed a slight yellowish-brown tint in the spring. A couple days later that water was much darker. Within another week, a slimy film covered sections of the water along the banks and a foul odor was soon detected. The mill wheels moved more slowly, some finally ground to a halt. Swans left as did the tourists. Clammy fingers of disease and sickness reached deeply into the village.

Quickly, the embarrassed council called a special meeting. Realizing their gross error in judgment, they hired back the old keeper of the spring... and within a few weeks the veritable river of life began to clear up. The wheels started to turn, and new life returned to the hamlet in the Alps once again.

It does not matter what the job is that you are fulfilling, but it is very important that you continue in that job as long as God has placed you there. Never allow the enemy to discourage you to think that your tasks are all in vain and not making a difference. God is the judge and He would not place you in a certain position, unless that position needed your help to make it better. (1 Corinthians 12:18-23) (Romans 12:3-8)

If you have been tempted to give up and quit the job that you are doing because you are not being recognized, I encourage you to endure and continue on because it is the Lord that sees your task and it is God that blesses and promotes. Never look to your boss for your promotion, but rather do your job to the best of your abilities and you will see God promote and prosper you to heights you never thought possible. (Galatians 6:9-10) (Deuteronomy 8:18) (1 Corinthians 2:9)

Jesus Calms the Storm

Look at this picture for a moment. The boat represents safety and protection. The storm represents life. We all live on life’s boat at sea. Sometimes the waters are calm and peaceful and other times there is a huge storm happening. The picture represents Jesus and his disciples. If you read the story of Jesus and the Storm in Mark 4:35-41/Matthew 8: 23-27/Luke 8:22-25, you know Jesus had been teaching ALL DAY and was tired. He went below on the boat to get to rest. While he was sleeping a huge storm came about. The disciples being small on faith woke him in a state of panic. They cried “Lord, Lord, don’t ya care, we’re gonna die in this storm.” The Lord got up, calmed the storm and then proceeded to ask them where their faith was. As you continue about your day and come into many storms, imagine yourself in this picture. Imagine Jesus is right there beside you holding your hand and often times carrying you thru. Remember that Jesus loved you enough to die for your sins on the cross. As you are going thru the storms of life there are 3 points of importance you need to think of.
1. Remember the PROMISE of Jesus. He is committed to getting us thru the rough spots.If he brought you to it he will get you thru it. And pay attention,there is a lesson to be learned.
2. Rest in the presence of Jesus. With Jesus, we have no reason to be worried and stressed. Be calm and know he is there.
3. Rely of the power of Jesus to do the things we cannot do for ourselves.

Instead of running below on this ship of life during a storm, be calm and know Jesus is there and he is determined to get you to the other side. You just need to have faith!

Also think about Jeremiah 29:11 on your journey.

Lesson taught by Kip Laxon in Adrian, GA for Revival.