Rain and leak repair

Sometimes In our lives a little rain falls.  It might seem like a gentle shower at times.  Still other times it may feel like a monsoon.  Take heart brothers and sisters, no matter how much rain falls, god is with us.  

God wants to put up an umbrella for us. He wants to take all our troubles, and all our worries.  Some burdens we were never ment to carry. Run to him and lay down all your worries.  Let his spirit flow into you like a mighty river. 

All that was in and available to Jesus is available to us...if we would only ask.  We may be but cracked broken vessels, but the Holy Spirit is the master at leak repair!  Call on him and let him repair your leaks!

http://youtu.be/3PN-BMHi5L8

The manger

The manger is so much more thuan the place where Jesus was born.  It's more than a place where farm animals eat.  It's the place!  The place where god almighty ended sin and death forever.  It's more than a Christmas gift, it's a year round gift for all who have strayed from the flock, all who crave what isn't of god.  When Jesus was born sin and death was delt 1 of 2 knockout blows.  Calvary was the second.  

When Jesus was born sin and death was put on notice, and no matter how evil tried to derail it Jesus put an end to sin with 1 cross and 3 nails.  

Jesus took our nails, can we live for him?  Can we surrender our all to him?  We should by rights all take his place on the cross, but while we were still dead in our sins he took the nails for us.

I for one surrender all I am and all I have to the conquerer of all, The Lord of lords!

Enriched

We Are Enriched

To those who say you can have Christ without giving anything up, Satan is deceiving you. Do you become part of your country’s military force by just saying you are? No, you join up, knowing that it may cost you your life. Before you ever put on a uniform, you must swear an oath, undergo extreme training, and submit yourself to superiors. The wonderful thing about Christianity is that when God’s grace saves, God’s Spirit moves in and makes the changes possible. Love for the world is replaced with love for God and the things that please Him. If this is not a burning desire, then a person has reason to question the authenticity of his or her faith.

Martin Luther said, “A religion that gives nothing, costs nothing, and suffers nothing, is worth nothing.”** We can have faith in Jesus Christ because He sacrificed everything—His life’s blood. He suffered the pain of every sin that man could imagine . . . What richness there is in Him.

That’s not to say we should expect Jesus to make us rich . . . or beautiful . . . or give us whatever our hearts desire. Becoming a Christian means God will provide for our needs according to His standard, which is higher than ours. We exchange our wills for His will.

The Bible says that we are “enriched in everything by Him” (1 Corinthians 1:5).

**The Puritan Board, “Great Reformed Quotes,” Roderick E, February 11, 2009,

When Jesus dies on the cross we were all grafted into the vine.  He knows our sins and shortcomings  and grafted us in anyway.  Question is will we accept the greatest gift ever given or will we throw it away like old garbage?!  My prayer is that this Christmas season we will all embrace the gift of the cross.

http://youtu.be/hrgl9z3grKU

My way or gods way

“I don’t care what God says. I don’t care what Mom and Dad say. I don’t care what’s right or wrong. I’m a MAN. I’ve got desires. I’ve got needs. And besides, I want it!”


Sound familiar? Of course, some of the things you and I lust after aren’t even sexual. Maybe what you crave is that promotion, that raise, or just winning at work. Dreams of money and prestige start to consume your mind and overwhelm your soul. Or maybe it’s something material: that big house, that shiny new car, that sweet boat. You wake up thinking about them, try all day to figure out how you can get them, then drift off to sleep at night dreaming about them.

Whatever you lust after, it takes every ounce of restraint you can muster to hold yourself back from plowing headlong after it. Why? Because just like Samson, lust makes even the strongest man weak.

Get in the habit of pointing your feet away from temptation—and turning your eyes away from it. What are you doing going out looking for trouble anyway? Don’t put yourself in that position. Practice common sense and good judgment—unlike Samson. Know your weaknesses. And shore up your defenses.

The above was taken from an 11 day devotional on the bible app.  Ever accomplished something and said I'm glad I got that done....or I don't really need help I can do it on my own...or I want that new car, or computer or boat...the list could go on and on.  The truth is nothing we ever do or accomplish is a result of anything we did...god did the work, give him the credit.  Don't lust after things you don't need or lust after recognition for something god really deserves the glory for...Jesus did the ultimate work on Calvary, he paid the price all to him we owe!  All to him I owe!  Nothing I have accomplished in the past present or future is a result of anything I did, but is the spirit of the living god dwelling In me.  I long for his help and presence!  

Rest

We all carry baggage.  Everyday interactions, hurt feelings, betrayal, bullying, disappointment...the list is endless.  We often tend to try to be strong, especially us men.  We seem to think because we are men that our broad shoulders, and strong backs make for good load carrying....most would rather cripple over under the weight than admit we need help. 

“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” (Matthew 11:28-30 MSG)

One of my favorite things is to be still.  Often my internal alarm gets me awake really early most mornings weekday and weekend.  I love to just be still in the early morning hours.  

We try to rush and not take time to just stop and be still.  The baggage we carry can all to often rob is of that stillness.  We either are too burdened by the baggage or too proud to just be still and let the one called wonderful, mighty god, prince of peace take the heavy load.  But when we stop fighting and give god control....the beautiful rest we will have!

It began in a manger

And I happened in a most remarkable moment...a moment like no other.  Four through that segment of time a spectacular thing occurred.

God became a man. Divinity arrived. Heaven opened herself and placed her most precious one in the human womb.

The omnipotent, in one instant, became flesh and blood.  The one who was larger than the universe became a microscopic embryo.  And he who sustains the world with a word chose to be dependent upon the nourishment of a young girl. 

God came near.

He came not as a flash of light or as an unapproachable conqueror, but as one whose first cries were heard by a peasant girl and a sleepy carpenter.  Mary and Joseph were anything but royal.  Yet heaven entrusted it's greatest treasure to these simple parents.  It began in a manger, this momentous moment in time.  He looked anything but a king.  His face, prudish and red.  His cry still the helpless and piercing cry of a dependent baby.

Majesty in the midst of the mundane.  Holiness I. The filth of sheep manure and sweat.  This baby had overseen the universe.  These rags keeping him warm were the robes of eternity.  His golden throne room had been abandoned in favor of a dirty sheep pen.  And worshiping angels had been replaced with kind but bewildered shepherds.  

Curious, this royal throne room.  No tapestries covering the windows. No velvet garments on the courtiers.  No golden scepter or glittering crown. Curious, the sounds in the court.  Cows munching, hooves crunching, a mother humming, a babe nursing.

It could have begun anywhere, the story of the king.  But, curiously, it began In a manger.  Step into the doorway, peek through the window.  

He is here!

Max lucado

Is god personal to you, or merely an acquaintance?

These notions a out god are many and varied, bit they who hold them have one thing in common: they do not know god In personal experience.  The possibility of intimate acquaintance with him has not entered their minds.  While admitting his existence they do not think of him as knowable in the sence they we know things or people.

Christians, to be sure, go further than this, at least in theory. Their creed requires them to believe in the personality of god, and they have been taught to pray, "our father who art In heaven."  Now personality and fatherhood carry with the the idea of personal acquaintance.  This is admitted, I say, in theory, but for millions of Christians nevertheless, god is no more real than he is to the non-Christian.  They go through life trying to love the ideal and be loyal to a mere principal.  

Taken from "the pursuit of god". By a.w. Tozer 

Be still and wait

There are times of indecision and confusion, where even the most willing person, who eagerly desires to serve The Lord, does not know what direction to take.  So what should you do in this situation?  Should you allow yourself to be overcome with despair?  Should you turn back in cowardice or in fear or rush ahead in ignorance?

No you should simply wait-but wait in prayer.  Call upon god and plead your case before him, telling him of his promise to help.

From streams in the desert 

Many will be purified, made white, and refined. But wicked people will do wicked things, and none of them will understand. Only wise people will understand. From the time the daily burnt offering is taken away and the disgusting thing that causes destruction is set up, there will be 1,290 days. Blessed are those who wait until they reach 1,335 days. But go on until the end. You will rest, and you will rise for your inheritance at the end of time.” (Daniel 12:10-13 GW)

God is a safe place to hide, ready to help when we need him. We stand fearless at the cliff-edge of doom, courageous in seastorm and earthquake, Before the rush and roar of oceans, the tremors that shift mountains. Jacob-wrestling God fights for us, God -of-Angel-Armies protects us. River fountains splash joy, cooling God’s city, this sacred haunt of the Most High. God lives here, the streets are safe, God at your service from crack of dawn. Godless nations rant and rave, kings and kingdoms threaten, but Earth does anything he says. Jacob-wrestling God fights for us, God -of-Angel-Armies protects us. Attention, all! See the marvels of God ! He plants flowers and trees all over the earth, Bans war from pole to pole, breaks all the weapons across his knee. “Step out of the traffic! Take a long, loving look at me, your High God, above politics, above everything.” Jacob-wrestling God fights for us, God -of-Angel-Armies protects us. (Psalm 46:1-11 MSG)

In our world it's easy to be in a hurry, to rush around worried about our next commitment.  Or worried about work, or home life, or numerous other things.  God will provide, be still and wait, in prayer, on him...he will not fail! 

Be still in his presence

“Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” (Psalm 46:10 ESV)

How often in this modern world do we actually take time to be still.  We are so busy running around from appointment to appointment to take time with our families with our loved ones to just be still in God's presence.  We often take for granted being still were too busy with the noise of modern life to be still. Being still could be as simple as preparing a meal for family for taking the time to read or looking upon a on Scenicview and just being still in that moment.  His love and his presence are all around us, but we are often too busy to see it.  I for one vow  as my New Year's resolution, I know it's only November, to be still more often.  I vow to spend more time being still in his presence take time with my family and relax.  I don't want to let the noise of modern life overwhelm me and steal my joy I hope you will too!

My heart is broken for those that will never be still in his presence. My heart is breoken for those you don't know the truth. My heart is broken for those who never be still.  

Listen to the YouTube video posted below and ponder the words of this post I believe it will bless you as much as it has me.

http://youtu.be/hrgl9z3grKU

In his spirit

There is no prospect until there comes a radical change, until the church of god begins to see that every sin in the believer comes from the flesh, from a fleshly life midst our religious activities, from a striving in self-effort to serve god.  Until we learn to make confession, and until we begin to see, and somehow or other get gods spirit in power back in his church, we must fail.  Where did the church begin in Penticost?  Their they began in the spirit. But, alas, how the church next century went off into the flesh!  They thought to perfect the church in the flesh.  

Do not let us think, because the blessed reformation restored the great doctrine of justification by faith, that the power the power of the Holy Spirit was then fully restored. it is our faith that God is going to have mercy on his church in these last ages, it will be because the doctrine and the truth about the Holy Spirit will not only be studied, but sought after with a whole heart; and not only because that truth will be sought after, but because ministers and congregations will be found bowing before god in deep abasement with one cry: "we have grieved gods spirit; we have tried to be Christian churches with as little as possible of gods spirit; we have not sought to be churches filled with the Holy Ghost."

All the feebleness in the church is owing to the refusal of the. Church to obey its god.  

The above is from "having begun In The spirit" by Andrew murry.  I would say the talk about the church in the above passage could also refer to you or me.  We try to do it on our own rather than humble ourselves before almighty god and seek his guidance.  I for one want to Persue only his guidance, I have tried doing things on my own and it never works.  Only with gods guidance do things go where he wants.

Wide as the sky

Hands up hearts open wide As the sky

We lift You high we lift You high

Hands up hearts open wide as we cry

God we lift Your name high

Hands up hearts open wide As the sky

We lift You high we lift You high

Hands up hearts open wide as we cry

God we lift Your name high

Let all the other names fade away

Let all the other names fade away

Until there's only You

Let all the other names fade away

Jesus take Your place

Jesus take Your place

Matt redman

Wide as the sky

Love

Close your eyes for a minute, and imagine the most loving relationship you have in your life. Got a picture of it? I do. It may be a relationship with a spouse, parent, a really good friend...that person would do anything for you, even lay their life down to save yours. God loves each of us this much. Being a parent makes it a little easier for me to see gods love. I would do absolutely anything for my wife, children, parents...and to think as much as I love them, god loves them more...its overwhelming. He loved us so much that while we were not in a place to love him back he loved us so much that he sent his son to earth to bleed and die for all of us.

Listen to the song below and contemplate on the words...I think it will be fairly clear. Close your eyes as you listen.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j6UHm-6NRyM&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Self, or christ?

There is no choice for us; we must either deny self or deny christ. Therenare two great powers fighting each other - the self nature in the power of sin, and christ in the power of god. Either of these must rule in us.

It was self that made the devil. He was an angel of god, but he wanted to exalt self. He became a devil in hall. Self was the causeof the fall of man. Eve wanted something for herself, and so our first parents fell into all the wretchedness of sin. We their children have inherited an awful nature of sin

(From absolute surrender by andrew murry)

Question for us all is do we deny self, or deny christ? Do we lay down all we are and have at his feet and say here I am lord use me/send me? Or do we persue things that are self centered?

Fire

I install commercial fire alarm systems. People depend on it working correctly the first time, everytime. When times get tough, when the day seems to be overwhelming, I depend on, lean on god to be my strength when I dont have any. Below is the link to a song that almost always comes to mind in these times. God is my strength when I am weak, and is the treasure I seek.

I can't imagine going one day, one hour, not even one minute without his presence. People may depend on the fire systems I install...but I depend on jesus!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LuvfMDhTyMA&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Our best

How often do we actually give our best. Do we do only what is necessary, or do we give our all. When christ was whipped, and nailed to a cross he could have easily called on warrior angels and gotten out of it...but he gave his best, he gave his all. We don't deserve the grace and love he poured out on calvalry. He gave his best to us, shouldnt we give him ours?!



Luke 6:43-49 NLT

“A good tree can’t produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can’t produce good fruit. A tree is identified by its fruit. Figs are never gathered from thornbushes, and grapes are not picked from bramble bushes. A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. What you say flows from what is in your heart. “So why do you keep calling me ‘Lord, Lord!’ when you don’t do what I say? I will show you what it’s like when someone comes to me, listens to my teaching, and then follows it. It is like a person building a house who digs deep and lays the foundation on solid rock. When the floodwaters rise and break against that house, it stands firm because it is well built. But anyone who hears and doesn’t obey is like a person who builds a house without a foundation. When the floods sweep down against that house, it will collapse into a heap of ruins.”


So I again ask, do you give him your best, or your scraps? In his presence I give him my all, all that I have, all that is in me. In his presence I am a new creation, the old me is dead...the new me is alive in christ! Are you?

Love

Are we beleivers really showing the love of god to all those around us, believers, non believers....everyone?! Or do we act one way at church and differently the rest of the week? If the fire of god is really in us, then it isnt something we can even remotely contain. It will pour from us like rain, landing everywhere we go and touching what we touch.

Father awaken your church to spread your love everywhere we go and to touch everything we touch. There are people in this world dieing to know someone loves them. Let us show them the love than you first showed us.

In jesus, holy, matchless name

Amen

Absolute surrender

what does it mean to surrender? Have we as Christians surrendered to gods will for our lives, or are we still caught in trying to do what we want, regardless of what gods will is for us.

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surrender_(religion)

His will and plan are far greater than anything I ever had in mind. I whole heartedly and absolutely surrender to his will for my life. A lot of people go through life trying to figure it out as they go...they think that if they are a good person and do right most of the time everything will be ok...that they might even make heaven. Well this is far from the truth...unless you surrender to gods will, willingly walk the narrow road and leave the wide road you'll never see heaven. I for one want to sit at the masters feat and worship.

Absolutely surrendered

Service

People who are obsessed with jesus do not consider service a burden. Obsessed people take joy in loving God by loving his people.

Francis chan crazy love.

Are we obsessed with doing for ourselves? Are we willing to give up the right to ourselves to do what others need? Do we love other brothers and sisters? Or do we pretend. Would we give, really do all we could for a brother or sister in need?

Matthew 13:44 GWT

“The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure buried in a field. When a man discovered it, he buried it again. He was so delighted with it that he went away, sold everything he had, and bought that field.

John 15:5-8 GWT

“I am the vine. You are the branches. Those who live in me while I live in them will produce a lot of fruit. But you can’t produce anything without me. Whoever doesn’t live in me is thrown away like a branch and dries up. Branches like this are gathered, thrown into a fire, and burned. If you live in me and what I say lives in you, then ask for anything you want, and it will be yours. You give glory to my Father when you produce a lot of fruit and therefore show that you are my disciples.

My soul sings for you

This beating heart
Like a drum it will beat for you
This heart like a drum it will beat
My soul, my soul sings for you

This beating heart
I was made, I was made for you
My god, evermore evermore
My soul, my soul sings for you.


I was made to worship you god, all I am and all i have worships you god.

Listen to the link below. We were made to worship him with all we are

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vm13Vve71Y&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Me in brief

I feel it's about time I shared my testimony. I grew up going to a small methodist church. Most of the time I tried not to fall asleep, paying little or no attention to the message. I was almost always the quiet child, except when my temper was getting the better of me. Not only was my temper bad, but I cursed like a salor. If the first two werent enough, Sometime my junior year of high school we got dial up internet, and I discovered pornography. This discovery would consume me for several years. I would try to fight it, but I would seldom win.

Then jesus...

I began attending a growing church and the intersection of port republic and boyers road. It was a different kinda service than I was used to. I was only familiar with traditional... but services here were vibrant truthful. At easter services I gave my life to christ. A few years later my twins were born. Seeing my children born solidified my faith that jesus not only was born, bled and died. But he loved me and my newborn children enough to give his life for us.



Galatians 2:20 NLT

My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Ephesians 6:18 NLT

Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.

Carnal 0r Spiritual?

"And Peter went out and wept bitterly." Luke xxii. 62. THESE words indicate the turning-point in the life of Peter, — a crisis. There is often a question about the life of holiness. Do you grow into it? or do you come into it by a crisis suddenly? Peter had been growing for three years under the training of Christ, but he had grown terribly downward, for the end of his growing was, he denied Jesus. And then there came a crisis. After the crisis he was a changed man, and then he began to grow aright. We must indeed grow in grace, but before we can grow in grace we must be put right. You know what the two halves of the life of Peter were. In God's Word we read very often about the difference between the carnal and the spiritual Christian. The word "carnal" comes from the Latin word for flesh. In Romans viii., and in Gal. v., we are taught that the flesh and the Spirit of God are the two opposing powers by which we are dominated or ruled, and we are taught that a true believer may allow himself to be ruled by the flesh. That is what Paul writes to the Corinthians. In the 3rd chapter, the first four verses, he says four times to them, "You are carnal, and not spiritual." And just so a believer can allow the flesh to have so much power over him that becomes "carnal." Every object is named according to its most prominent characteristic. If a man is a babe in Christ and has a little of the Holy Spirit and a great deal of the flesh, he is called carnal, for the flesh is his chief mark. If he gives way, as the Corinthians did, to strife, temper, division, and envy, he is a carnal Christian, He is a Christian, but a carnal one. But if he gives himself over entirely to the Holy Spirit so that He (the Holy Spirit) can deliver from the temper, the envy, and the strife, by breathing a heavenly disposition; and can mortify the deeds of the body; then God's Word calls him a "spiritual" man, a true spiritual Christian.


Selected text from the deeper christian life by andrew murry

Rest

At Thy bidding I take Thy yoke : T under take the duty without delay ; I abide in Thee.' Let each consciousness of failure only give new urgency to the command, and teach us to listen more earnestly than ever till the Spirit again give us to hear the voice of Jesus saying, with a love and authority that inspire both hope and obedience, ' Child, abide in me.' That word, listened to as coming from Himself, will be an end of all doubting, — a Divine promise of what shall surely be granted. And with ever-increasing simplicity its meaning will be interpreted. Abiding in Jesus is nothing but the giving up of oneself to be ruled and taught and led, and so resting in the arms of Everlasting Love.

Blessed rest ! the fruit and the foretaste and the fellowship of God's own rest ! found of them who thus come to Jesus to abide in Him. It is the peace of God, the great calm of the eternal world, that passeth all understanding, and that keeps the heart and mind. With this grace secured, we have strength for every duty, courage for every struggle, a blessing in every cross, and the joy of life eternal in death itself. O my Saviour ! if ever my heart should doubt or fear again, as if the blessing were too great to expect, or too high to attain, let me hear Thy voice to quicken my faith and obedience : ' Abide in me ; ' ' Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me ; ye shall find rest to your souls.'

Andrew murry abide in christ

Tuning fork

“Has it ever occurred to you that one hundred pianos all tuned to the same fork are automatically tuned to each other? They are of one accord by being tuned, not to each other, but to another standard to which each one must individually bow. So one hundred worshipers meeting together, each one looking to Christ, are in heart nearer to each other than they could possibly be, were they to become 'unity' conscious and turn their eyes away from God to strive for closer fellowship.  Social religion is perfected when private religion is purified.  The body becomes stronger as its members become healthier.  The whole church of God gains when the members that compose it begin to seek a better and higher life.”

 

A W Tozer

Which tuning fork are you using? Gods tuning fork or the worlds tuning fork?

Yoke

But, alas ! I hear some one say, it is just this abiding in Jesus, always bearing His yoke, to learn of Him, that is so difficult, and the very effort to attain to this often disturbs the rest even more than sin or the world. What a mistake to speak thus, and yet how often the words are heard ! Does it weary the traveller to rest in the house or on the bed where he seeks repose from his fatigue ? Or is it a labour to a little child to rest in its mother's arms ? Is it not the house that keeps the traveller within its shelter ? do not the arms of the mother sustain and keep the little one ? And so it is with Jesus. The soul has but to yield itself to Him, to be still and rest in the confidence that His love has undertaken, and that His faithfulness will perform, the work of keeping it safe in the shelter of His bosom. Oh, it is because the blessing is so great that our little hearts cannot rise to apprehend it ; it is as if we cannot believe that Christ, the Almighty One, will in very deed teach and keep us all the day. And yet this is just what He has promised, for without this He cannot really give us rest. It is as our heart takes in this truth that, when He says, ' Abide in me,' ' Learn of me,' He really means it, and that it is His own work to keep us abiding when we yield ourselves to Him, that we shall venture to cast ourselves into the arms of His love, and abandon ourselves to His blessed keeping. It is not the yoke, but resistance to the yoke, that makes the difficulty ; the whole-hearted surrender to Jesus, as at once our Master and our Keeper, finds and secures the rest. Come, my brother, and let us this very day commence to accept the word of Jesus in all simplicity. It is a distinct command this : ' Take my yoke, and learn of me,' 'Abide in me.' A command has to be obeyed.

The above is taken from abide I christ by andrew murry





His yoke is easy, will we accept it will we cast our burdens on him? Or Would we rather keep the stress of this life and try to do it all on our own? I for one surrender all I am, all I will ever be In my life to his will! Will you?

Your will, not mine

how it is that the rest you at times enjoy is so often lost. It must have been- this : you had not under stood how entire surrender to Jesus is the secret of perfect rest. Giving up one's whole life to Him, for Him alone to rule and order it ; taking up His yoke, and submitting to be led and taught, to learn of Him ; abiding in Him, to be and do only what He wills ; — these are the conditions of discipleship without which there can be no thought of maintain ing the rest that was bestowed on first coming to Christ. The rest is in Christ, and not something He gives apart from Himself, and so it is only in having Him that the rest can really be kept and enjoyed. It is because so many a young believer fails to lay hold of this truth that the rest so speedily passes away. With some it is that they really did not know ; they were never taught how Jesus claims the undivided allegiance of the whole heart and life ; how there is not a spot in the whole of life over which He does not wish to reign ; how in the very least things His disciples must only seek to please Him. They did not know how entire the conse cration was that Jesus claimed. With others, who had some idea of what a very holy life a Christian ought to lead, the mistake was a different one : they could not believe such a life to be a possible attain ment. Taking, and bearing, and never for a moment laying aside the yoke of Jesus, appeared to them to require such a strain of effort, and such an amount of goodness, as to be altogether beyond their reach.


Above paragraphs taken from abide in Christ, by Andrew murry.


Let us abide in him, he wants all our life not part of it. I gladly and whole heartedly surrender all I am and all I have to him!

Brakes the good, the bad and the ugly

You might wonder, why is he writing about brakes and an old clint Eastwood movie and car parts!? Well a couple reasons. Brakes represent beleivers who put the brakes on when jesus wants us to live beyond ourselves, and go where he leads us. He wants us to be light in dark places, to not hide our light under a basket but to lift it high for all to see.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJK0gu3X5kM&feature=youtube_gdata_player



The good, the bad, and the ugly

I would feel safe to say we all could be described by this statement at one time or another. This video could be the ugly. We drift further and further from his will...till we fall off the edge. Plummeting further and further from gods will for us. Sinking to lowes we never thought we could.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QASREBVDsLk&feature=youtube_gdata_player

The next video is the ugly. We as christians sometimes miss the people who just need someone to be there for them. We are jesus hands and feet but we feel too embarrassed, or afraid to go introduce ourselves...we trade his peace and love for Satan's lies and worry.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OEhRucEVzH8&feature=youtube_gdata_player

There is a way out! Prayer! If you are in any of the above jesus died so ee wouldnt have to. He wants to forgive us, tonhelp us...but we must ask. Pray to him, jesus i have been wrong, running away, I want to run to you. I admit I have been wrong, forgive me father. Inhabit me, consume me with your spirit from the inside out. In jesus name, amen.

The good is when we lean in to what gods will is for us. We seek him, not because others think we should, but because we cant imagine any other way.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MpbToEa6iP0&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Crutches

These are not my words, but I feel it is important to share.


S. D. Gordon
"Not My Crutches"


This delightful story is found in Gordon's Quiet Talks with Workers and tells how a child surrendered her crutches, the most precious things she owned, for the sake of missions. This would be a good story to share with children.

There is a simple tale that I love, and have told many times. A minister in our Eastern country, in Pennsylvania, received a letter from his church board speaking of the great need of our Western country; where it is almost all mission field, asking for a special sermon and a special offering. Literature accompanied the request, which he read. He prepared a sermon with good heart. Sabbath morning came, and he rose to preach it. But somehow it did not seem to catch fire. That banker over there, who could easily give £10, looked at his watch two or three times politely under cover of his hand. And this merchant over here, who could easily give £10, yawned behind his hand, once or twice politely. The thing did not seem to catch fire. And at the end of the sermon the minister sat down with a heavy heart. The thing had not caught fire. It had not hooked in, and he sat praying that things might turn out better than he feared they would while the offering plates were passed.

And meanwhile a little scene was taking place in the very last pew, where a little cripple girl sat, a child of maybe nine or ten years. An accident had taken away a part of one of her limbs, and all her life was darkened. Then some friends in the church made up a small purse, and bought her a pair of crutches. And that changed everything, and she went hobbling about on her crutches just like a ray of sunshine, cheery and bright. Everybody liked her just because of her sunny ways. She was in the last pew alone. She listened, and she said: "I wish I could give something, but I can't. I haven't got even a copper."
And a very soft voice inside said: "There are your crutches! "Oh! her crutches! She could not give her crutches. "Yea," the strangely quiet voice said: "You can, and if you did they would learn about the Lord Jesus yonder. He has done so much for you. Somebody will learn about Him. It will mean so much when they hear it. Give your crutches! " "No, no! "she said passionately. "Yes, yes! "the quiet, soft voice said insistently. And she had her fight. How every true life has its fight and its battlefields, scarred and ploughed. By and by the victory came, and she said, "Yes." And she sat quietly, her eyes very glistening with something wet, and a smile just coming to the corners of her lips, that were yet twitching with the battle she had been through.

Just then the church officer came down the aisle with the plate. He looked in; only cripple Maggie; not worthwhile putting the plate in there! But with fine courtesy he passed in the plate, and in her childlike simplicity she took up her crutches and tried rather awkwardly to lay them on the plate. And he swallowed hard on something in his throat, and put out his hand and steadied the crutches on the plate, and commenced walking back the middle aisle of the church with the plate and the crutches. And everybody looked! They all knew Maggie and her crutches. Maggie giving her crutches. Then the banker blew his nose; it is surprising the emotions that you can hide behind the blowing of a nose! And the merchant reached for his pencil!

And the minister said: "Our little friend has given us a wonderful example of sacrifice." Somebody said: "I want those crutches. I will give £10 for them." And they were sent back to the last pew.

And then they passed the plate back by general request, and by and by, when it came back, there was £160 or thereabouts. And little Maggie hobbled out of church crippled in body, but in no other way. The £160 was simply the interest on the investment, and the capital went out with her, just where it had been before! She obeyed the voice. That was all. She had a passion for her Master, and the voice said, "Give," and she obeyed. That is the touchstone of service. And mark you this—that may not sound very much to you, a little child with a pair of crutches— but, mark you, please, if you listen softly this morning you will find an inner voice saying: "Your crutches, please!" That means the thing you think you can't do without. The Master says: "I want your crutches." And your heart passionately cries out, "Not this thing! Not my crutches." Only as we give our crutches, because of our passion for Him, can He carry out His plan through us in His world. Oh! Jesus, Master, help us to give our crutches, because Thou dost ask them!

By S. D Gordon, from Quiet Talks for Workers pp. 27-32.

When asked to give, she gave all she had. Will you?


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJK0gu3X5kM&feature=youtube_gdata_playe

Actions

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QASREBVDsLk&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Our actions not only affect us, they affect all those around us. If we thought about how those decisions affected othersthere would be a lot fewer problems in the world. Men especially, that second look at a beautiful woman, or a comment can affect those we love. Once down that road it can be hard to turn around, without the help that is foumd in christ.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OEhRucEVzH8&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Most are too hard-headed to admit we need help, or to admin we are wrong. If we would only seek the help found in christ, for his yoke is easy and his burden is light. He never wants us to bear our burdens alone, question is will we run to him, or away?

Trust and obey

I've heard people say look at what that person has, or man I would love to trade places with that person. When in fact god has a plan for your life and mine. It may not always seem like he is in control, but even when the waves are tall and coming over the bow of the boat, dont be afraid.

Psalms 91:1-16 NLT

Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty. This I declare about the L ord : He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I trust him. For he will rescue you from every trap and protect you from deadly disease. He will cover you with his feathers. He will shelter you with his wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection. Do not be afraid of the terrors of the night, nor the arrow that flies in the day. Do not dread the disease that stalks in darkness, nor the disaster that strikes at midday. Though a thousand fall at your side, though ten thousand are dying around you, these evils will not touch you. Just open your eyes, and see how the wicked are punished. If you make the L ord your refuge, if you make the Most High your shelter, no evil will conquer you; no plague will come near your home. For he will order his angels to protect you wherever you go. They will hold you up with their hands so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone. You will trample upon lions and cobras; you will crush fierce lions and serpents under your feet! The L ord says, “I will rescue those who love me. I will protect those who trust in my name. When they call on me, I will answer; I will be with them in trouble. I will rescue and honor them. I will reward them with a long life and give them my salvation.”


Psalm 46:1-11 MSG

God is a safe place to hide, ready to help when we need him. We stand fearless at the cliff-edge of doom, courageous in seastorm and earthquake, Before the rush and roar of oceans, the tremors that shift mountains. Jacob-wrestling God fights for us, God -of-Angel-Armies protects us. River fountains splash joy, cooling God’s city, this sacred haunt of the Most High. God lives here, the streets are safe, God at your service from crack of dawn. Godless nations rant and rave, kings and kingdoms threaten, but Earth does anything he says. Jacob-wrestling God fights for us, God -of-Angel-Armies protects us. Attention, all! See the marvels of God ! He plants flowers and trees all over the earth, Bans war from pole to pole, breaks all the weapons across his knee. “Step out of the traffic! Take a long, loving look at me, your High God, above politics, above everything.” Jacob-wrestling God fights for us, God -of-Angel-Armies protects us.

Even when the storm is strong, wind blowing, waves washing over the bow of your life...god has a plan trust him!

Worship his holy name

When was the last time you really worshiped our lord and savior? Most men love football. I beleive I am correct in my assumption. Close your eyes and imagine combining all the football stadiums, pro and college, into one stadium. Now imagine god with his son seated in the middle. The seats, any standing room, and any space in the air is filled with angels singing holy holy holy is the lord god almighty.

Imagine that scene in your head for a minute. God surrounded by trillions of angels, and he loves you and me enough that he intimately enough to know how many hairs are on our head, or what are next thought is going to be before we think it. Pray to him with all this in mind, pray humbly, dont babble. Pray out of gratitude for what you have been blessed with, and I dont mean posessions. We all have something, or someone to praise and thank god for.


The presence of god is on this woman as she sings. I beleive it is an audience of one she sings for.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U5RQSQdq2n4&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Worry, or worship?

I'm reading Francis Chan's Crazy Love book and the chapter that I'm reading now there are two statements caught my attention.


" Worry implies that we don't quite trust in God is big enough for phone off for loving me enough to take care of what's happening in our lives stress is the things we are involved in our port enough to merit are impatiens or lack of grace towards others or tight grip of control basically these two behaviors communicate that it's okay to send to not trust God because the stuff in my life is somehow exponential both worry and stress Reek of arrogance."

While watching wall-e there is a statement on that movie that caught my attention also says "by n large superstore all you need to be happy." There's no commercial goods that can be bought that can satisfy what God wants to give us. God wants us to nor worry or stress about life. Surenwe are going to have troubles. There's no reason to worry or stress about stuff when God wants us to hand it to him. When the enemy is trying to take your peace, trust and pray that god has it under control. I admit it is humanly hard not to worry...or stress about stuff that happens to us. We get wrapped up in thing its all about us...we were sent here to worship, not worry.

God in a box?!

How often do we try to put god in the places in our lives where it is convienent? Do we declare him lord of all or lord of some? He wants to rein in our lives, all of it not some of it. He wants us to store our treasures in heaven, not here where they can be destroyed.

Matthew 6:19-24 NLT

“Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be. “Your eye is a lamp that provides light for your body. When your eye is good, your whole body is filled with light. But when your eye is bad, your whole body is filled with darkness. And if the light you think you have is actually darkness, how deep that darkness is! “No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.

It seems to me that all too often we try to put god in a box. We try to put him in the places of our lives where it is convenient. We want to be called christians, as long as it suits our plans, as long as it keeps him in the box.

Oh the freedom we would have if we would only let him out of the box. He wants to be lord of our lives all the time, not some of the time.

Too late?

Are we really being the hands and feet of jesus or are we living for ourselves? Do we treat others as, not only we would treat ourselves, but as we would treat jesus ? I see so many people going around treating others badly, or living for themselves. There are so many people who need good news, so many in our circles of influence that need jesus. Time is running out, summer is almost gone and the harvest is still in the field. Will you help spread the good news, or put jesus back on a shelf for the next time you need him?

Hevenly father use me to spread your good news to those who need it. In jesus name amen



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QXw3i7g2n2U&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Share the good news, before its too late. The words we share might save someones life.

Storms and waves

Mark 4:35-41 NLT

As evening came, Jesus said to his disciples, “Let’s cross to the other side of the lake.” So they took Jesus in the boat and started out, leaving the crowds behind (although other boats followed). But soon a fierce storm came up. High waves were breaking into the boat, and it began to fill with water. Jesus was sleeping at the back of the boat with his head on a cushion. The disciples woke him up, shouting, “Teacher, don’t you care that we’re going to drown?” When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Silence! Be still!” Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was a great calm. Then he asked them, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?” The disciples were absolutely terrified. “Who is this man?” they asked each other. “Even the wind and waves obey him!”

The storms might toss us...the waves might break over the bow...but jesus is always with us. It doesn't matter how large the waves of our lives are.., he is always with us.

Harvest

Matthew 13:3-8 GWT

Then he used stories as illustrations to tell them many things. He said, “Listen! A farmer went to plant seed. Some seeds were planted along the road, and birds came and devoured them. Other seeds were planted on rocky ground, where there was little soil. The plants sprouted quickly because the soil wasn’t deep. But when the sun came up, they were scorched. They withered because their roots weren’t deep enough. Other seeds were planted among thornbushes, and the thornbushes grew up and choked them. But other seeds were planted on good ground and produced grain. They produced one hundred, sixty, or thirty times as much as was planted.

Is the soil of your heart stony? Is it filled with thorns? Is the soil shallow, to the point to when things get a little tough and dry do we wither. Are we so dependent on things of this world that we don't run to jesus, or pray for him to rain down his presence? I for one want his presence to fill me to overflowing, I want my seed to sprout on good ground where is will produce a good harvest.

Hope in the one

1 Peter 1:2-7, 9 GWT

God the Father knew you long ago and chose you to live holy lives with the Spirit’s help so that you are obedient to Jesus Christ and are sprinkled with his blood.May good will and peace fill your lives! Praise the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! God has given us a new birth because of his great mercy. We have been born into a new life that has a confidence which is alive because Jesus Christ has come back to life. We have been born into a new life which has an inheritance that can’t be destroyed or corrupted and can’t fade away. That inheritance is kept in heaven for you, since you are guarded by God’s power through faith for a salvation that is ready to be revealed at the end of time. You are extremely happy about these things, even though you have to suffer different kinds of trouble for a little while now. The purpose of these troubles is to test your faith as fire tests how genuine gold is. Your faith is more precious than gold, and by passing the test, it gives praise, glory, and honor to God. This will happen when Jesus Christ appears again. as you obtain the salvation that is the goal of your faith.


Are you living today all for Jesus or are you sliding back, or holding back afraid of what others will say? Dont be afraid of what others might think, you were bought by Christ's blood bled on calvalry. We could at least live for him. We are called to shine his light to all....dont hide it, shine it! Dont hoard the hope.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jvTEymxNcK4&feature=youtube_gdata_player

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_2exW2cUdC4&feature=youtube_gdata_player

He won't forsake us

Taken from todays reading in "streams in the desert" by L.B. Cowman

Isaiah 48:10 NLT

I have refined you, but not as silver is refined. Rather, I have refined you in the furnace of suffering.

Does not the Word come like a soft shower, assuaging the fury of the flame? Yes, is it not an asbestos armor, against which the heat has no power? Let the affliction comeGod has chosen me. Poverty, thou mayest stride in at my door; but God is in the house already, and He has chosen me. Sickness, thou mayest intrude; but I have a balsam ready--God has chosen me. Whatever befall me in this vale of tears, I know that He has chosen me.Fear not, Christian; Jesus is with thee. In all thy fiery trials, His presence is both thy comfort and safety. He will never leave one whom He has chosen for His own. "Fear not, for I am with thee," is His sure word of promise to His chosen ones in "the furnace of affliction."C. H. Spurgeon

Sand or rock?

Ephesians 6:10-20 GWT

Finally, receive your power from the Lord and from his mighty strength. Put on all the armor that God supplies. In this way you can take a stand against the devil’s strategies. This is not a wrestling match against a human opponent. We are wrestling with rulers, authorities, the powers who govern this world of darkness, and spiritual forces that control evil in the heavenly world. For this reason, take up all the armor that God supplies. Then you will be able to take a stand during these evil days. Once you have overcome all obstacles, you will be able to stand your ground. So then, take your stand! Fasten truth around your waist like a belt. Put on God’s approval as your breastplate. Put on your shoes so that you are ready to spread the Good News that gives peace. In addition to all these, take the Christian faith as your shield. With it you can put out all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Also take salvation as your helmet and the word of God as the sword that the Spirit supplies. Pray in the Spirit in every situation. Use every kind of prayer and request there is. For the same reason be alert. Use every kind of effort and make every kind of request for all of God’s people. Also pray that God will give me the right words to say. Then I will speak boldly when I reveal the mystery of the Good News. Because I have already been doing this as Christ’s representative, I am in prison. So pray that I speak about this Good News as boldly as I have to.

Read these versus carefully. Jesus has already won the battly against evil and death. Jesus has already paid the price, so why do we still live defeated? Don't let Satan have his way, claim the victory christ won on calvalry. Question is is your house built on sand, or rock? Think and pray about it. As for me, my house is built on the solid rock of jesus.

Path of prayer

I have read more on this vacation than I ever have. Read 2 books on prayer. I have felt a stillness and calmness that I haven't felt since men's retreat. Here is a passage from one of the books.


Unanswered yet! The prayers your lips have pleaded
In agony of heart these many years?
Does faith begin to fail? Is hope departing?
And think you all in vain those falling tears?
Say not the father hath heard your prayer,
You shall have your desire-sometime-somewhere.

Unanswered yet? Though when you first presented
This one petition at the fathers throne
It seemed you could not wait the time of asking
So urgent was the heart to make it known;
Though years have passed since then, do not despair
The lord will answer you-sometime-somewhere.

Unanswered yet? Nay do you say ungranted,
Perhaps your work is not wholly done.
The work began when first your prayer was uttered,
And god will finish what he has begun.
If you keep the incense burning there,
His glory you shall see-sometime-somehwere.

Unanswered yet! Faith cannot be unanswered;
Her feet are firmly planted on the rock;
Amid the wildest storms she stands undaunted,
Nor quails before the loudest thunder shock.
She knows omnipotence has heard her prayer,
And cries, "it shall be done-sometime-somewhere."


E.b. browning

Waves and footprints

I was playing in the ocean with my little girls. We were playing don't let the wave touch me. I would lift them up just in time for the wave not to hit them. So it is with god. We often wonder where god is...thinking he has abandoned us to face the waves of life alone. When in fact he is always beside us, only allowing the waves we can handle to hit us. If we look back in the sand of time, sometimes we will see 2 sets of foot prints, sometimes 1 set. When there is one set, Jesus was carrying us over the waves we couldn't handle.

Which road are you on?

Does the road we travel on lead to jesus or does it lead to eternal destruction?! Any self-centeredness we have draws us away from the presence of god in our lives. We often think or are way too concerned with the way things will affect us, or will affect our reputation. Instead of neing concerned with our reputation, be concerned with gods will for our lives. His plan is far better than anything we can come up with on our own. He knows us down to the number of hairs on our head. We can trust him to lead us where we need to go.

Hevenly father, almighty god, I pray you would remove any self-centeredness from my life. May I be totally surrendered to your will. May I daily live where you are, dwelling daily in your presence. In jesus name amen

Rise up oh men of god

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bI7mnWDUZzQ&feature=youtube_gdata_player


Matthew 11:25-30 MSG

Abruptly Jesus broke into prayer: “Thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth. You’ve concealed your ways from sophisticates and know-it-alls, but spelled them out clearly to ordinary people. Yes, Father, that’s the way you like to work.” Jesus resumed talking to the people, but now tenderly. “The Father has given me all these things to do and say. This is a unique Father-Son operation, coming out of Father and Son intimacies and knowledge. No one knows the Son the way the Father does, nor the Father the way the Son does. But I’m not keeping it to myself; I’m ready to go over it line by line with anyone willing to listen. “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”

Question is are we willing to listen? Are we ready to be still in his presence, or are we too busy doing stuff that really doesn't matter?


1 Timothy 2:1-10 MSG

The first thing I want you to do is pray. Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know. Pray especially for rulers and their governments to rule well so we can be quietly about our business of living simply, in humble contemplation. This is the way our Savior God wants us to live. He wants not only us but everyone saved, you know, everyone to get to know the truth we’ve learned: that there’s one God and only one, and one Priest-Mediator between God and us—Jesus, who offered himself in exchange for everyone held captive by sin, to set them all free. Eventually the news is going to get out. This and this only has been my appointed work: getting this news to those who have never heard of God, and explaining how it works by simple faith and plain truth. Since prayer is at the bottom of all this, what I want mostly is for men to pray—not shaking angry fists at enemies but raising holy hands to God. And I want women to get in there with the men in humility before God, not primping before a mirror or chasing the latest fashions but doing something beautiful for God and becoming beautiful doing it.


God has called us men to pray, do we really humble ourselves, open ourselves in humility and earnestly pray? God has called us men to pray...so pray! Dont sit on the couch and watch tv...pray! I'm not saying dont have fun, im saying put god and your family first. For the paths we walk not only affect us...but all those around us.

Help? Hope!

Saw a picture on facebook this morning. It was a boy, head in his hands, dirty, sitting on the curb, in the gutter if you will. If we live long enough we will all be where he is. If might not be a litteral gutter...but us trying to handle every situation ourselves will almost always end badly. We try to fix bad situations by coverimg them up. Or we know we have done wrong to somebody, or done wrong ourselves...instead of confessing it we would rather wallow in our own misery than ask god for help. I know, I've been there.

Psalm 46:1-11 MSG

God is a safe place to hide, ready to help when we need him. We stand fearless at the cliff-edge of doom, courageous in seastorm and earthquake, Before the rush and roar of oceans, the tremors that shift mountains. Jacob-wrestling God fights for us, God -of-Angel-Armies protects us. River fountains splash joy, cooling God's city, this sacred haunt of the Most High. God lives here, the streets are safe, God at your service from crack of dawn. Godless nations rant and rave, kings and kingdoms threaten, but Earth does anything he says. Jacob-wrestling God fights for us, God -of-Angel-Armies protects us. Attention, all! See the marvels of God ! He plants flowers and trees all over the earth, Bans war from pole to pole, breaks all the weapons across his knee. "Step out of the traffic! Take a long, loving look at me, your High God, above politics, above everything." Jacob-wrestling God fights for us, God -of-Angel-Armies protects us.

God is fighting for us, he wants to help us. Dont lean on your own understanding, dont try to go it on your own. God wants to help you, that's why he told the disciples some 2000 years ago that he was sending the holy spirit.

I am just traveling through this world, the devil may throw sticks, rocks, huge waves at me. I know where my protection lies, god will be there...all I need is to ask

Live for him!

http://bible.us/70/1PE2.1.GWT So get rid of every kind of evil, every kind of deception, hypocrisy, jealousy, and every kind of slander. Desire God’s pure word as newborn babies desire milk. Then you will grow in your salvation. Certainly you have tasted that the Lord is good! You are coming to Christ, the living stone who was rejected by humans but was chosen as precious by God. You come to him as living stones, a spiritual house that is being built into a holy priesthood. So offer spiritual sacrifices that God accepts through Jesus Christ. That is why Scripture says,“I am laying a chosen and precious cornerstone in Zion,and the person who believes in himwill never be ashamed.” This honor belongs to those who believe. But to those who don’t believe:“The stone that the builders rejectedhas become the cornerstone, a stone that people trip over,a large rock that people find offensive.”The people tripped over the word because they refused to believe it. Therefore, this is how they ended up. However, you are chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, people who belong to God. You were chosen to tell about the excellent qualities of God, who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not God’s people, but now you are. Once you were not shown mercy, but now you have been shown mercy. Dear friends, since you are foreigners and temporary residents in the world, I’m encouraging you to keep away from the desires of your corrupt nature. These desires constantly attack you. Live decent lives among unbelievers. Then, although they ridicule you as if you were doing wrong while they are watching you do good things, they will praise God on the day he comes to help you.
Bible.com/app

Father you are my desire. Fill me with your holy fire. Let your light shine through me.

Where does your path lead?

A path is an expression of a habit, evidence of a journey often made. A habit made visible were others can follow. Most of us think of a path made by footprints, but there are paths in the mind, both good and bad. They're made by repeated words and actions. Some sharp is daggers, others kind and gentle. We all leave paths in the minds and hearts of those who journey with us. It's up to us to see that the path leads somewhere work going.

James spruill

Lord I pray my path leads somewhere worth going. I pray it not only leads to you, but that it is so deep and wide that others cant help but follow. I pray that through prayer, godly walk and conversation that you are glorified in my life.

In jesus name, Amen

Praise in the storm

Psalm 46:1-11 MSG   God is a safe place to hide, ready to help when we need him. We stand fearless at the cliff-edge of doom, courageous in seastorm and earthquake, Before the rush and roar of oceans, the tremors that shift mountains. Jacob-wrestling God fights for us, God -of-Angel-Armies protects us. River fountains splash joy, cooling God's city, this sacred haunt of the Most High. God lives here, the streets are safe, God at your service from crack of dawn. Godless nations rant and rave, kings and kingdoms threaten, but Earth does anything he says. Jacob-wrestling God fights for us, God -of-Angel-Armies protects us. Attention, all! See the marvels of God ! He plants flowers and trees all over the earth, Bans war from pole to pole, breaks all the weapons across his knee. "Step out of the traffic! Take a long, loving look at me, your High God, above politics, above everything." Jacob-wrestling God fights for us, God -of-Angel-Armies protects us    


    Let us pray, Father we all live in the storm.  we all are tossed about but, I  for one am thankful that no matter how stormy my seas get, no matter how bleak and hopeless things seem, you are always here with me.  I am thankful that no matter how stormy the sea of my life gets, that I am mearly a traveler passing through.  heaven is my home.  no matter how stormy, no matter how bleak things seem, you are with me.  may your grace, mercy and peace fill all those in this room.   In jesus name, amen  

Going where?

http://bible.us/70/1TH5.1.GWT Brothers and sisters, you don’t need anyone to write to you about times and dates. You know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. When people say, “Everything is safe and sound!” destruction will suddenly strike them. It will be as sudden as labor pains come to a pregnant woman. They won’t be able to escape. But, brothers and sisters, you don’t live in the dark. That day won’t take you by surprise as a thief would. You belong to the day and the light not to the night and the dark. Therefore, we must not fall asleep like other people, but we must stay awake and be sober. People who sleep, sleep at night; people who get drunk, get drunk at night. Since we belong to the day, we must be sober. We must put on faith and love as a breastplate and the hope of salvation as a helmet. It was not God’s intention that we experience his anger but that we obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. He died for us so that, whether we are awake in this life or asleep in death, we will live together with him. Therefore, encourage each other and strengthen one another as you are doing.
Bible.com/app

Marinate in these versus. If jesusbwould come back tommorrow, where would you go? Would you suffer for eternity, or would you live with jesus for eternity. If you dont know, I pray you will ernestly pray. I for one will shout it from the rooftops for as long as I live. I am his and he is mine.

What are you all about?

There are givers and takers in this life. The takers go around with a I/me attitude. Its all about them and what they can get...never about anything else. They dont much care about others or who they have to stomp on to reach their goals. People like this break my heart. I should know, at one point in my life this was me. It was more about me and what I could get than about what someone else might need. It wasnt till I gave it all to jesus that I realized what I was doing. I was so stuck in doing for me that I never really concerned myself with whati might have been doing to others.

Now that i know jesus as my lord and savior its not all about me. Its about me being the man god wants me to be. Its about helping a neighbor and asking nothing in return. Its about coloring, or playing games with my kids. Sure there are other things I could be doing....but spending time with my family and helping others is all I would rather do.

The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Who will go?

Here I am lord send me!

What little eyes see

Little eyes see more than we might think. Our decisions and actions our children will follow. Watch the video below...while the story line is made up in the video...there are many people who are right now living that lie. The evil one will take, and take till there is nothing left of ourselves. I can see god weeping as we are choosing sin and death over his glory. Choosing the world over his holiness. The little girl at the end of the video just wants her daddy around. I want my daddy around, my heavenly and earthly daddy. I will be there no matter what for my children, and will be the father that they need. Please watch the video link below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QASREBVDsLk&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Are you living in grey?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QASREBVDsLk&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Little feet will follow behind us as parents. Question is are your steps worth following. as parents we should lead in an example that leads to jesus. We should have a path that is so deep and wide that there is litterally no other way. Take some time and think where your path leads. Does it lead to god, or somewhere else? I pray that it leads to god.

Choose a side!

What side are you on? Are you absorbed into the world? Or are you sold out for Jesus?


Joshua 5:13-15 GWT

When Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with a sword in his hand. Joshua went up to him and asked, “Are you one of us or one of our enemies?” He answered, “Neither one! I am here as the commander of the Lord’s army.” Immediately, Joshua bowed with his face touching the ground and worshiped. He asked, “Sir, what do you want to tell me?” The commander of the Lord’s army said to Joshua, “Take off your sandals because this place where you are standing is holy.” So Joshua did as he was told.

When the angel appeared to Joshua he immediatly recognized who it was and fell to his knees. All too often it seems we Christians wouldn't recognize Jesus if he was standing right in front of us....I personally want to ignore things of the world...all I want is Jesus. I pray that people in my circle will think long and hard as to what side they really are on. As for me and my house, we will serve the lord!

Shaky ground

Hebrews 5:12-14 GWT

By now you should be teachers. Instead, you still need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word. You need milk, not solid food. All those who live on milk lack the experience to talk about what is right. They are still babies. However, solid food is for mature people, whose minds are trained by practice to know the difference between good and evil.


We should be eating solid food. We tend to build our foundations on sandy ground, instead of diging down to bed rock. A life built on sandy soil will crumble and fall, but a life build on the bed rock of Jesus will never fail. I often fonder how many around me have built on sandy soil. The same could be said for believers who know the good news that christ gave to us, but won't live it much less share it.

Father I you are my foundation, my strength, my life. I pray that my presence shines your light.

Damaged goods?

Many times in our walk we get to thinking why would god use me. Ive been down so many roads that have damaged and scarred me that he wouldnt want to use me. I'm here to tell you it doesn't matter how damaged, how scarred you are god can use you.

In my own life I somes get to thinking this, but then I remember when he bled the ground red on calvalry. His grace is more than enough to heal the scars in our lives. God can't use me....on the contrary god can and does use the things in our lives we would never consider to bring him glory. The video below is a good example of that. Watch it...afterwards I beleive you'll see he can and does use anyone...no matter what the world thinks. May god bless this little boy and his family. This video has truly blessed me.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wPTMA7HIIyk&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Light

Over the past few days I have hsd the privilege of being on retreat with over 100 men. There are two versus I have had on my heart the whole time the first is psalm 46:10 be still and know I am god. The second is Matthew 5:13-16 GWT

“You are salt for the earth. But if salt loses its taste, how will it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled on by people. “You are light for the world. A city cannot be hidden when it is located on a hill. No one lights a lamp and puts it under a basket. Instead, everyone who lights a lamp puts it on a lamp stand. Then its light shines on everyone in the house. In the same way let your light shine in front of people. Then they will see the good that you do and praise your Father in heaven.


We are all called to spread the good news to those around us. To be light in dark places, but do we really share? There are people dieing on our watch and we stand on our lamp stand covering our light. Remove the cover and let it shine. The video below describes my desire. Father I need your presence, every hour of every day. Give ms the words to say when I need to say them. Father do in me your will, let my words be your words. In jesus name Amen



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-KM_zpwfr4&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Will you lead?

If we men dont lead our famlies, who will?

Many leaders tend to think highly of themselves. They think everything will fall apart without them. When in truth, really great leaders know that trusting in god to do the leading will really make the difference. I have had, if we men dont lead ourbfamiloes who will, on my mind all week. Am I truly leading my family, or just thinking things will fall apart without me? This is a question we all need to really sit and ask ourselves.

To shine upon and give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to direct and guide our feet in a straight line into the way of peace. Luke 1: 79


Psalm 32:8

GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)8 The Lord says,    “I will instruct you.    I will teach you the way that you should go.    I will advise you as my eyes watch over you.


He wants to direct us, he wants to help us...but will we let him? Wake up men!! Wake up jesus wants to help you lead your family. Even if you arent married, someone in your life needs you to lead. Lean on jesus...he will guide you...if you would only let him.

Boston

I have no words to describe the events of today in boston. My heart is hurting for all those affected. My the grace and peace of our heavenly father be with those affected by todays events. I pray blessing over not only those affected, but those who rushed in to help.


Like a shepherd he takes care of his flock. He gathers the lambs in his arms. He carries them in his arms. He gently helps the sheep and their lambs.

Isaiah 40:11


I am in prayer for all affected.

Harvest

He made all things new. When he died on calvalry he washed us white as snow. It reminds me of spring, flowers blooming, snow either melting or melted. Gardens and fields being prepared for planting. Our surrender to the king of kings prepares us for the harvest. Question is are we willing to be planted in the word?

Over the past few days I have prepared my raised beds in the back yard to be planted. I put compost and fertilizer on them. Tilled them. They are ready to have plants planted. It is important to prepare the soil. If the soil isnt prepared properly the plants wont grow. Just as if we dont remain in the word, we wont grow. If we dont pray we wont grow. I pray as spring gives way to summer and summer to fall that we would be in the word, that we would be in prayer. Because its not just the growrh, or the harvest....its all the above.

I pray we prepare our soil, grow our lives, and harvest in the fall!

Baggage

How much baggage are you carrying? As we travel our paths things happen to us. We tend to internalize the hurt it causes us. Everytime picking up baggage. As we travel unless we surrender the hurt and baggage to jesus, it will eventually get unbearable.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wlTzgTW3WaE

Tired of carrying around baggage? Tired of carrying a heavy load? Give it to the one who died on calvalry so we wouldnt have to!



https://www.youtube.com/embed/KHPckyV83EA

Father I pray not only for myself, but for all that would read this post. I pray that we would lay down our baggage, I pray we would live as an offering to you. I bow down before you. I pray my life would be an offering and an example for others. I want nothing more than to live in your will. I may not have much to offer...but I offer you all that I am. Here I am father, use me!

In jesus name, amen

Peace

He made all things new. When he died on calvalry he washed us white as snow. It reminds me of spring, flowers blooming, snow either melting or melted. Gardens and fields being planted, being prepared for a harvest. As I sit here on my porch tonight admiring the change of seasons and relaxing in gods presence, I feel a great sence of peace. Peace that could only come from jesus. I pray that all who read this would feel the same peace.

Your will, not mine.

Mark 14:27 NLT

On the way, Jesus told them, “All of you will desert me. For the Scriptures say, ‘God will strike the Shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.’

How easily scattered are you? We seem to be quick to run when them going gets a little tougher than we would like. When god calls us we often run in the other direction rather than say yes lord...I will do as you will.

Father I pray that I never run when you call. I pray that i run to you, not from you. I want to do your will, not mine!

Are you satisfied where you are?

Are you satisfied where you are or do you want More of his presence?

¹⁵  “How much will you pay me to betray Jesus to you?” And they gave him thirty pieces of silver.

matthew 26:15

Thirty pieces of silver, according to the commentary i use, was the price of a slave.  A slave is defined as one bound in servitude as the property of a person or household.  Jesus came to this world as a baby, grew into a man who was betrayed, beaten, crucified died, buried, and rose again.  

some might find this strange.  why would god send his only son into the world for him to be treated worse than a slave in the end?  There is onlt one word to explain this...love!  as a parent i would do anything for my children.  i love them to no end.  I know as much as i love them god loves them more.  This is the reason Jesus was sent.  We all fall short...but Jesus stood in the gap on calvalry.  now we have a bridge to god!

that being said, i often wonder why people would choose the silver, rather than the savior?!  

Matthew 26:69-75

New Living Translation (NLT)

Peter Denies Jesus

⁶⁹ Meanwhile, Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. A servant girl came over and said to him, “You were one of those with Jesus the Galilean.”

⁷⁰ But Peter denied it in front of everyone. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said.

⁷¹ Later, out by the gate, another servant girl noticed him and said to those standing around, “This man was with Jesus of Nazareth.^[a]”

⁷² Again Peter denied it, this time with an oath. “I don’t even know the man,” he said.

⁷³ A little later some of the other bystanders came over to Peter and said, “You must be one of them; we can tell by your Galilean accent.”

⁷⁴ Peter swore, “A curse on me if I’m lying—I don’t know the man!” And immediately the rooster crowed.

⁷⁵ Suddenly, Jesus’ words flashed through Peter’s mind: “Before the rooster crows, you will deny three times that you even know me.” And he went away, weeping bitterly.

I wonder why people would deny him.  Peter did it...we are still doing it today.  That person in the grocery line in front of you may need someone to be Jesus to them.  That person walking down the street may need someone to be Jesus to them.  How we treat others is a direct reflection of Jesus in us.  How we love others says a lot about if he is alive in us.  Seems like most would rather choose this world over serving him.  some would rather drink the sand, than living water!  Question is what are you drinking, water or sand?

John 4:9-14

New Living Translation (NLT)

⁹ The woman was surprised, for Jews refuse to have anything to do with Samaritans.^[a] She said to Jesus, “You are a Jew, and I am a Samaritan woman. Why are you asking me for a drink?”

¹⁰ Jesus replied, “If you only knew the gift God has for you and who you are speaking to, you would ask me, and I would give you living water.”

¹¹ “But sir, you don’t have a rope or a bucket,” she said, “and this well is very deep. Where would you get this living water?¹² And besides, do you think you’re greater than our ancestor Jacob, who gave us this well? How can you offer better water than he and his sons and his animals enjoyed?”

¹³ Jesus replied, “Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again. ¹⁴ But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.”

I implore  you to not drink the sand...you'll only stay dry and thirsty.  The devil comes with all his tricks...Rob the devil of his prize and drink from the living water and never thirst again!!  




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