...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.