5 puzzle links
https://www.jigsawplanet.com/?rc=play&pid=3621dfdcc2e5&pieces=80&shape=1
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2Ch 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
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ALL THAT THRILLS MY SOUL!
ALL THAT THRILLS MY SOUL! 2 Corinthians 5:17 ¡°Therefore if anyone is in Christ, this person is a new creation; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.¡± Thoro Harris, a prolific hymn writer and organist, penned this great hymn of testimony. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ALL THAT THRILLS MY SOUL! Who can cheer the heart like Jesus, By His presence all divine? True and tender, pure and precious, O how blest to call Him mine! All that thrills my soul is Jesus, He is more than life to me; And the fairest of ten thousand in my blessed Lord I see. Love of Christ so freely given, Grace of God beyond degree, Mercy higher than the heaven, Deeper than the deepest sea! All that thrills my soul is Jesus, He is more than life to me; And the fairest of ten thousand in my blessed Lord I see. What a wonderful redemption! Never can a mortal know How my sin, tho red like crimson, Can be whiter than the snow. All that thrills my soul is Jesus, He is more than life to me; And the fairest of ten thousand in my blessed Lord I see. Every need His hand supplying, Every good in Him I see; On His strength divine relying, He is all in all to me. All that thrills my soul is Jesus, He is more than life to me; And the fairest of ten thousand in my blessed Lord I see. By the crystal flowing river, With the ransomed I will sing, And forever and forever, Praise and glorify the King. All that thrills my soul is Jesus, He is more than life to me; And the fairest of ten thousand in my blessed Lord I see. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . You can enjoy the inspiration video, ¡°All That Thrills My Soul¡± from by going to: Blessings dear hearts! May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
?? 2Ch 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
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How the Captain Can Sink a Family
How the Captain Can Sink a Family
It was one of those scenes in the news that's hard to forget. It was the image of a Korean ferry just rolling into the sea with all the passengers disappearing with it beneath the waves. It was heartbreaking to look at all those loved ones on the dock grieving inconsolably over children who would never come home again. What was outrageous was that the captain was one of the first to abandon ship. They charged him with negligence of duty and abandoning people in need. Sadly, there are a lot of captains that can be charged with crimes like that.
I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about "How the Captain Can Sink a Family."
See, I'm talking about being the captain of your family. The ship starts to drift...the crew gets confused...the vessel is in danger of a fatal turn when Dad keeps "abandoning the ship."
When the cruise ship Costa Concordia shipwrecked off the coast of Italy, again it was the captain who was charged. A maritime lawyer said at that time: "The captain is the master of the vessel. Every crew member looks to the captain for guidance and leadership. It's the captain's responsibility to know the waters and avoid coming close to any shoals and reefs."
Sad to say, I've sometimes gotten too busy to know the waters that our family ship was navigating; when this captain was "below decks" at a critical point. We know there's a devastating epidemic of fatherlessness in families these days. But it isn't just dads who are physically absent. You can be emotionally absent, and that may be even more damaging; around your family but not with your family. There, but not really there. "Abandoning people in need."
A daughter, missing her father's love, ends up looking for that love in all the wrong places. A son who can't get his father's approval or attention, growing angrier by the day. A wife who's left to run things alone. In many ways, that ferry disaster mirrors the family disaster caused by a "captain's" three tragic mistakes.
Number one - leaving the wheel. It appears that the ferry captain left the ship in the hands of a third mate at a decisive turning point. How many of us husbands have forfeited leadership when the going got rough, when finances were turbulent, when discipline was needed, when hard choices had to be made? Criminal negligence.
Our word for today from the Word of God, Proverbs 27:23-24. Here's what they say: "Be sure you know the condition of your flocks." (May I say your family.) "Give careful attention to your herds. For riches do not endure forever and a crown is not secure for all generations." Translation: Take care of it or risk losing it all.
There's a second way a captain can sink his family ship - looking out for me. Apparently, that ferry captain was so concerned about himself that he left his passengers to fend for themselves. "Me first" while those he was responsible for were going down. Consumed with our personal pursuits, our work, our recreation, our sports, our hobby, our toys; effectively oblivious to the leadership that we're abandoning.
And then there's a third way that any captain can sink his ship. There are rocks to avoid. There are crises requiring direction. And a husband - a father - cannot be AWOL when a steady hand at the wheel is needed. Along with a wise, reassuring guide when the water is rising.
I have to confess this to you. I don't know how in the world to be a dad today without the power of Jesus Christ. If I didn't have Jesus as my Savior, being a dad would have driven me to my knees to find Him. Being a dad is when you find out you are not enough by yourself. You're not in control. You're not in charge. You need a Savior.
Today if you're a dad, and maybe the ship is not going the right direction, let this be the day your family gets a new dad, as you turn that dad over to Jesus Christ. Want to know how? Would you go to our website, and boy, we can help you know that - how you can be sure you belong to Him. It's ANewStory.com.
For the beginning of your new story could be the beginning of a new story for the people you love too.
Copyright ? 2023 Ronald P. Hutchcraft
2Ch 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
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ALEPH (MASTER)
Psalm 119:1-8 AMP 1 ¡°How blessed and favored by God are those whose way is blameless [those with personal integrity, the upright, the guileless], who walk in the law [and who are guided by the precepts and revealed will] of the Lord.¡±
2 ¡°Blessed and favored by God are those who keep His testimonies, and who [consistently] seek Him and long for Him with all their heart.¡±
3 ¡°They do no unrighteousness; they walk in His ways.¡±
4 ¡°You have ordained Your precepts, that we should follow them with [careful] diligence.¡±
5 ¡°Oh, that my ways may be established to observe and keep Your statutes [obediently accepting and honoring them]!¡±
6 ¡°Then I will not be ashamed when I look [with respect] to all Your commandments [as my guide].¡±
7 ¡°I will give thanks to You with an upright heart, when I learn [through discipline] Your righteous judgments [for my transgressions].¡±
8 ¡°I shall keep Your statutes; do not utterly abandon me [when I fail].¡±
This passage speaks of the power of a life transformed by the Lord Jesus Christ! No faking, no mistaking, this is real, we are a new creation walking with the Lord in the power of the Holy Spirit. ¡°Lord, Your Gospel moves our hearts to tears of joy. We long for Your appearing with great anticipation.¡± We are not of this world. We have become citizens of the Lord¡¯s Kingdom. In Him we live and move and have our being. We are sanctified by His Truth. John 17:17 ¡°Sanctify them in the truth [set them apart for Your purposes, make them holy]; Your word is truth.¡± Our lives should reflect both the will and the Word of God. We represent Him. Your steps will never falter if your eyes are fixed on Jesus. You won¡¯t fall away. Even Jesus learned obedience through the things He suffered. (Heb. 5:8) So will we learn faithful obedience as we fight the good fight of faith, It is not a burden to live by the Word of God. Jesus is with us leading the way. He said I will never leave you nor forsake you.
IN HIM WE LIVE 08-18-2023
?? 2Ch 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
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IF YOU NEED~ AN ANSWER, Try God!
AN ANSWER, Try God! He will answer when you call-Jer. 33:3 "He'll show you great and mighty things!" "Before they call, I will answer!" -Isa. 65:24 An ADVOCATE, TRY God! There is only one-JESUS CHRIST the RIGHTEOUS! -1 Jn. 2:1 A COMFORTER, Try God! 2 Cor. 1-3 "That He may abide with you forever!"-Jn. 14-16 A HEALER, Try God! "He sent His Word and healed them." - Ps. 107-20 By His stripes, there is healing and hope! - Isa. 53: 5 A HELPER, Try God! -Jn. 14:26 A SAVIOR, That's God! - John 3:16, 1 Jn. 4-14. A PROVIDER, Try God! - Phil. 4-19 A PROTECTOR, Try God!- Ps. 91 A RECONCILER, Try God! - Col. 1-19, 20. WISDOM! Try God! -James 1-5 There is NONE like GOD! Jer. 10-6. 1 Chronicles 17-20 There is no other answer to all of life's many problems. BE Blessed, make Jesus your Lord God and Best Friend!! You'll find He's ALWAYS there.- Isa. 41: 10 He's an on time God! He'll supply every need, according to his riches in glory-- -when you seek Him first! Our Lord owns it all. All the cattle on a thousand Hills is His, The gold, silver, the health, wealth, joy and peace, Is found only in He, who supplies every need! Try God- Rely on God- Draw nigh to God- He will draw nigh to you- Yes, He WILL see you though! +(?`v??)+ .`?.?.?? ¡ï Blessings, Jo Ann Kelly-2023/ 2016 ¡î.??.?*¡§*??.??.¡î.??.?*¡§*??.??.¡î +J. P's Inspirations-+ ¡î.??.?*¡§*??.??.¡î.??.?*¡§*??.??.¡î
?? 2Ch 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
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5 puzzle links
https://www.jigsawplanet.com/?rc=play&pid=04d5b65ae42f&pieces=80&shape=1
https://www.jigsawplanet.com/?rc=play&pid=356d7a290b1b&pieces=81&shape=1
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2Ch 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
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Dying of Stubbornness
Gary was a summer lifeguard on a beach in Southern California, which is kind of a nice job. During his training, he heard some information that seemed so bizarre to him he just didn't believe it. The trainers told him that most people they tried to rescue would resent and even resist their assistance. Clearly, that just didn't make sense. Anyone who was in trouble - like life-or-death trouble - would surely welcome help, right? No. Then we got to Gary's first rescue. The man who was in trouble cursed at the man who was trying to save him. He kicked, he clawed, and he did everything in his power to fight off his rescuer.
I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about "Dying of Stubbornness."
We humans are pretty proud folks, right? Sometimes even when our pride could cost us our life! Jesus understands that all too well. He's been trying to rescue people from the clutches of their sin for a long time, only to find many people trying to resist Him at the expense of their own eternity.
The Bible paints Jesus' coming to earth as an urgent rescue mission. He saw that our sinful choices, our commandeering of our life from God, had left us hopelessly cut off from the God we were made for. That separation makes this life pointless and our life after death unbearable: a little hell now - all of hell later. So like a lifeguard jumping in the water to save a drowning person at the risk of his own life, Jesus jumped into our world to give us a chance to live instead of die. It wasn't just at the risk of his life, it was at the cost of His life on a cross - separated from God, paying our bill, taking our place.
He doesn't want to lose you. So now He comes to people like you and me, reaching out to rescue us. But sadly, heaven's Rescuer is often greeted with our proud resistance. "Look, I'm a good person - a religious person. I can give you a list of people who can tell you how I've helped them. I think I can get to heaven on my own, thank you." No, you can't. Or Jesus would never have gone through what He did on the cross. The Bible could not be clearer on this: "He saved us," the Bible says, "not because of the righteous things we have done, but because of His mercy" (Titus 3:5). Jesus has done all He can to rescue you, but it could be you've done all you can to resist Him.
It's important to see the danger that puts you in. In our word for today from the Word of God, we watch what happened to one man who consistently refused to respond to God's messages. Pharaoh, who was the King of Egypt, continually hears God's messages from Moses. But Exodus 8:15 says, "He hardened his heart." That could be what you're doing without realizing it-letting your heart get harder to Jesus every time you ignore Him, you bypass his offer. Again, the Bible says "Pharaoh hardened his heart" (Exodus 8:32). Then comes these sobering words, "The Lord hardened Pharaoh's heart" (Exodus 9:12).
If you turn your back on the Lord enough times, eventually the Lord will "permanentize" the hardening of your heart. Now you'll never respond; you'll never be rescued. Ultimately, Moses, speaking for God Himself, says to Pharaoh, "I will never appear before you again" (Exodus 10:29). For Pharaoh, from that day on, it is over - forever. For you, thank God that day has not come. Or Jesus wouldn't be coming to you again today, saying, "I died for you.
Here's My hand to save you." What none of us knows is when He will "never appear before us" again.
So this really is a holy moment - a precious opportunity for you to put your trust in this Rescuer who is your only hope - Jesus. This time, grab His hand. You can do that by telling Him, "Jesus, I'm sorry for my sin, for resisting Your love. I resign from running my own life. I am Yours." At that moment, the Bible says you are what's called "saved" - rescued forever.
Our website's all about how to get started in this eternity-changing relationship. Let me urge you to go visit there today. It's ANewStory.com.
Whatever's held you back just isn't worth it. There is nothing worth missing Jesus for - worth missing heaven for.
Copyright ? Ron Hutchcraft Ministries, Inc.
2Ch 7:14
If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
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?Exodus 25
For modern readers, the detailed instructions that Yahweh gives for the construction of the tabernacle can become a bit tedious¡ªsomething like reading a complex instruction manual without any pictures. This is our problem, though, and not the text¡¯s. If we pay careful attention to what is written here, there is a huge theological payoff.1
To understand the theology of the tabernacle, we must recognize that Yahweh is explicitly rebuilding the Garden of Eden here. Consider each element of the tabernacle that we read in Exodus 25:
Yahweh¡¯s stated intention for building the tabernacle is ¡°that I may dwell in their midst¡± (Ex. 25:8), just as he had dwelt in the midst of Adam and Eve in the Garden.
Just as the Garden contained a source of wisdom (the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil), now Yahweh instructs Israel to place a better source of wisdom (his law) within the ark of the covenant (Ex. 25:16).
Protecting the ark are two cherubim (Ex. 25:17¨C22), just like the cherubim that were placed as guards at the entrance of the Garden of Eden after Adam and Eve were expelled because of their sin (Gen. 3:24).
The table for the bread of the Presence is to be adorned with pure gold, just as there was gold in the land of Havilah, which was watered by the rivers that came out of Eden (Gen. 2:11¨C12).
The golden lampstand is described with tree language, such as ¡°stem,¡± ¡°calyx¡± (a part of the flower), ¡°flower,¡± ¡°branches,¡± and ¡°almond blossoms¡± (Ex. 25:31¨C40). Therefore, in the golden lampstand we are clearly meant to see a new Tree of Life.
The tabernacle would be the place where God¡¯s presence could dwell in his full holiness, a place untouched by sin and death. Where Yahweh had enjoyed perfect fellowship and communion with Adam and Eve in the Garden, so now he is commanding the construction of a place where he can enjoy partial fellowship and communion with his people.
The tabernacle is the entire reason that Yahweh had redeemed his people, bringing them up out of the land of Egypt. He promised to take his people to himself as a husband takes a bride, and now he is doing exactly that. He will dwell in the midst of his people, physically taking up residence in the very center of their camp. In this way, he would be their God and they would be his people.
All of this, of course, paved the way toward the ultimate Tabernacle, when the Word would become flesh, tabernacling among us (John 1:14). In Jesus, God dwelt physically among his people, and when Jesus returns, he will again dwell with his people for all eternity as their God (Rev. 21:3).
We will continue to consider the theology of the tabernacle in tomorrow¡¯s meditation.
1 For this meditation, I am heavily indebted to the work of G. K. Beale in his masterpiece book The Temple and the Church¡¯s Mission: A Biblical Theology of the Dwelling Place of God (Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic, 2004), 66¨C80.
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Daily in Your Presence?
Day 230
ATONING SACRIFICE
This is love: not that we loved God,
but that he loved us and sent his Son
as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.
1 John 4:10
FROM THE FATHER'S HEART My child, when the high priest entered the holy of holies, he would make atonement for the sins of the nation. Once a year, the blood-sprinkled altar would testify to the atoning of sin. But I became the atoning sacrifice for all time¡ªthe once and for all lamb offered on your behalf for your sins so you could have life. I loved you first¡ªso that you could love Me back. But even if you didn't, I'd still love you. I'd still die for you.
A GRATEFUL RESPONSE Where once was offered a lamb or a goat, a sacrifice needed for sin, You became the atoning sacrifice. Your blood, shed on the cross, covered my sin forever. You were the sweet sacrifice, poured out with love, so that I could find a home in the heart of God.
SIMPLE TRUTH
To find God, let your heart do the walking.
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DILLON PROPHECY PERSUADES
Dillon¡¯s early spiritual life was haphazard. ¡°I remember my family going to different churches from time to time but never to any one of them regularly. Sometimes, many years passed before we went to a church again, but we never attended for long.¡±
In high school, Dillon learned to relish being the center of attention, and he became a popular disc jockey at parties. Unfortunately, that led to an involvement with drugs and bad relationships. He says, ¡°Without God, my happiness was found in vanity.¡±
But his intense search for recognition, coupled with a breakup that left him heartbroken, eventually led Dillon into depression. He sought a spiritual solution by going to a meditation class led by a priest. ¡°At first, I found it to be helpful, but then I realized that it was just a superficial relaxation technique.¡±
Meanwhile, his mother and grandmother had joined a Sabbath-keeping church, and his mother came in contact with Amazing Facts. Still suffering the disappointment of an empty spiritual life, Dillon remembered a set of Amazing Facts DVDs his mother had given him. ¡°It was a series of sermons about prophecy,¡± he says. ¡°I had never watched or thought about them until then. But I enthusiastically studied those messages and made notes of all the prophecy events. I was baptized that summer after a likeminded pastor gave me Bible studies.¡±
Dillon says that Amazing Facts¡¯ presentations were critical in proving that this newfound faith was worth his attention: ¡°I had a lot of skepticism about Christianity because of my religious education,¡± he admits. ¡°I needed to see just how supernatural the Bible is, and prophecy was one way for me to see that.¡±
What Dillon found changed his life. He¡¯s abandoned drugs, alcohol, and being a music DJ at parties. Reading about the benefits of a plant-based diet convinced him to abandon unclean foods. And he¡¯s dating a young woman who shares his faith, and they¡¯re even contemplating a life of ministry together.
Dillon explains, ¡°I would like to do something significant for the Lord. I feel like everything I know I learned since becoming a Christian. ... I have even become a better student and I¡¯m giving Bible studies to a classmate about the same prophecy that convinced me.¡±
After years of aimlessness and despair, Dillon has found purpose and direction.
Reflect: Does fulfilled Bible prophecy persuade you that Scripture is true? Think about one Bible prediction that has convicted you of the reliability of the Word of God and share it with a friend.
KEY BIBLE TEXTS "And now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye might believe." John 14:29
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HEART TRANSPLANT
Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Psalm 51:10
As you walk the streets, as you engage in the ordinary pursuits of life, there is nothing to hinder you from lifting up your soul to God in prayer. Prayer is appropriate at all times and in all places. To those who feel their need, the promise is given, "Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean; from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you; and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them."
The work presented in these words of the prophet is full of comfort to those who are laden with sin, and describe the very work that must be done for every soul who will enter the kingdom of heaven. This will be done for all who sincerely seek after God. Without this special work, we cannot keep the commandments of God, and since the promises of God are so abundant, there is no excuse for any of us if we continue in sin. The promises are, "A new heart will I give you;" "I will put my Spirit within you." This provision is made for us through the merit of Christ's righteousness: "And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness, quietness and assurance forever."
Those who experience the change spoken of in these words will find that their restlessness and disquietude are all taken away, and they will find rest unto their souls in Christ. His merit, his righteousness, are imputed to the believing soul, and the believer has inward peace and joy in the Holy Ghost. Trusting in Christ, he dwells upon pleasant things of a spiritual character, and his great desire is to keep the heart right with God. Through this new motive, he will by faith in Christ "keep the heart with all diligence," realizing that "out of it are the issues of life." The divine excellences of the promises of God will furnish a continual feast to his soul, and by faith he looks up, exclaiming with joy, "The Lord, my righteousness."
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Joy of My Heart with Anne Graham Lotz
God Loves Even Me!
¡°I will never leave you nor forsake you.¡±
Hebrews 13:5, nkjv
In the midst of our suffering, it can often be difficult to glimpse the glory to come. Suffering is so immediate and can seem so permanent that we can easily lose sight of the big picture. The pain can be so crushing and our hearts can be so broken that we just don¡¯t understand why! Why me? Whenever that question tends to fill my mind, I hear Him whisper to my heart, ¡°Anne, why not you? Just trust Me! Trust Me to be with you. Trust Me to bring you through. Trust Me to be enough for you. Trust Me¡ªbecause I love you!¡±
When I don¡¯t understand why, I trust Him because . . . God loves even me!
Are you hurt because you¡¯ve thought that if God truly loved you, you would be exempt from pain and problems and pressure? Lay your hurts at His nail-pierced feet¡ªand just trust Him because He loves even you!
Why? (Nashville: W Publishing Group, 2004).
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Working Out Salvation ?Philippians 2:12¨C30
Can you have both fear and love? 1 John 4:18 observes, ¡°There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.¡± Yet in Philippians 2, Paul urges his readers to work out their salvation ¡°in fear and trembling.¡± What is the difference between these two kinds of fear?
The difference is the fear of punishment. Paul does not urge the Philippians to work out their salvation for fear of losing it if they fail to perform well. Neither was Paul urging them to work for their salvation. He assures them, in verse 13, that God was already working in them ¡°to will and to act.¡± Instead, he is talking about a salvation they have already begun to experience. New Testament scholar H. C. G. Moule describes this sort of fear as ¡°a reverent and wakeful conscience in his holy presence.¡±
To help them with this, Paul hoped to send his prot¨¦g¨¦ Timothy soon to take stock of the situation and bring back a report (vv. 19 23). For now, he was sending them Epaphroditus who had been their connection to Paul. Epaphroditus was probably sent by the church with funds to help Paul¡¯s ministry and to assist in other ways. In verse 25, the apostle calls him a messenger or minister sent to care for Paul¡¯s needs. Paul also calls him a brother, co- worker, and fellow soldier.
Working out our salvation is the process God uses to help us fully grasp the reality of a salvation that Jesus Christ has already accomplished for us. God works from within and sends His servants to help us as they work from the outside.
>> The wrong kind of fear can be as crippling to spiritual growth as complacency. Don¡¯t freeze up in fear. Instead, draw near to God with a reverent awareness of His presence.
Pray with Us We reverently reflect on Your work through us, convicting and refining us, and on Your presence in and around us. We rest in Your promise to bring Your work in us to completion. Our salvation is won, our sanctification ongoing.
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20 Disastrous Idols To Avoid
20 Disastrous Idols To Avoid The human heart by it's very design is prone to worship, God designed it that way for His glory. But sometimes we fill that vacuum with the wrong things. Here are 20 idols to that may sneak up on you in life... 20 Disastrous Idols to Smash The human heart by it's very design is prone to worship, God designed it that way for His glory. But sometimes we fill that vacuum with the wrong things and remove God from first place in our life...resulting in unhealthy attachments. Here are 20 idols to guard against... 1. Personal Success Personal success and gain can keep us from fully entering the Kingdom of God. This was true in the case of the young rich man, when he sadly refused Jesus' offer to follow Him. 2. People Pleasing The story of Mary and Martha teaches us that, serving others is a great thing, but not if it get's in the way of us sitting quietly at the feet of Jesus. 3. Religious Figures Give honor where honor is due, but be mindful not to give your pastor or other religious figures more honor than you give the Lord. 4. Comfort Convenience can keep us from being generous at a time when the Lord asks us to give or open up our home. Let us always be quick to follow His lead, even if He asks us to sacrafice our comfort. 5. Past Mistakes The past can be a hinderance to the present and road block to the future. Receive forgiveness and grace and allow God the freedom to transform your life. 6. Family Family is one of the most important things in our life and one of our highest responsibilities on earth. Even so this can be harmful for the spiritual benefit of everyone, if we idolize this unit and don't keep Christ as the center and lead authority. 7. Materialism Wealth and material gain is empty and full of spiritual destruction-- if this is our main life priority. The Bible carefully reminds us instead, to seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and He will add all these things to our lives. 8. Power The lust for power makes a terrible ruler and always destroys relationships and the blessing of God on our life. Power, when it becomes an idol is fueled by pride and is always followed by a thrash to humble us. 9. Political Ideology Around election time, our loyalty to our political party can potentially usurp our loyalty to the authoritative Word of God. We must always align our heart's allegiance to a King and Kingdom. 10. Church Church is necessary to the life of a believer, but when it's your idol, it causes you to live a cosmetic Christian life. Cultivating the right heart before the Lord and being the church should be more important than showing up and going through the weekly motions. 11. Money This idol, known as greed, opens the door for all kinds of evil because you'll do anything to gain more and it's impossible to satisfy. It is much safer to trust in the Lord's provision. 12. Celebrities The glamour, the beauty and lush lifestyle of celebrities can cause us to revere them to the point where we try to model our lives after them. Worldly gain, without Christ leads to spiritual decay. 13. Pleasure Chasing pleasure can lead us down the wrong path and cause us to hurt the ones we love most. Catch these parasites and little foxes while they're small or else they will devour your life. 14. Experience Don't give your life experience more power and authority in your life than the will and Word of God. Our understanding when submitted to God becomes wisdom to help us navigate life. 15. Knowledge Education and information is a tool, not a master. Let the Holy Spirit sanctify this area of your life with God's truth. 16. Spiritual Gifts The Bible tells us to earnestly desire spiritual gifts, but if we do this without the love of God in our hearts, spiritual gifts become dead works. Idolizing spiritual gifts can create terrible damage in the church. Prioritize God's love and leading to guide you in the gifts. 17. Reputation A good reputation is better to have than riches, this is true. As maturing Christians, sometimes God may challenge us in this area for a higher purpose. Here is where we see if we are idolizing the approval of man above God's approval. This was true in the lives of Bible figures: Mary the Mother of Jesus, Queen Esther and Job. 18. Angels Angels are God's messengers and act on His behalf. Throughout the Bible angels are reverent of God. They would not have us to worship them, but will always turn the glory back to the Most High. 19. Alcohol Execessive drinking leads to making poor choices. Over time this idol will destroy the life and impact thos closest to the person who succumbs. It is more beneficial to be sober and spiritually vigilant. 20. Significant Other God values relationships and put us on earth to foster relationships. However, idolizing a significant other, cultivates codependency and makes you deeply vulnerable emotionally. A relationship that glorifies God is one that puts Him first and allows Him to reign. That relationship, God will sustain with His love, safety and security. 2Ch 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
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"Why Christians Should Be Different"
"Why Christians Should Be Different" ¡°So be careful how you live. Don¡¯t live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days.¡±?¡ªEphesians 5:15¨C16
Why is it that the Christians of the first century were able to do so much damage, in a positive sense, in such a relatively short period of time? And how is it that these first-century believers, without the tools, technology, and media that we utilize today, were still able to radically impact their culture?
The short answer is they followed and practiced a Christianity that isn¡¯t known by many in the twenty-first century. When we read about Christianity in New Testament books like Acts, we might classify it as something that was radical, over the top, and perhaps a bit on the extreme side.
But for these first-century believers, it would have been nothing less than ordinary Christian living. It is not that their faith was so radical. Rather, it¡¯s that our faith is wimpy. Our faith, many times, is anemic. It doesn¡¯t measure up to the standards of the New Testament. Christians should differ from non-Christians in every realm, not just the religious realm. We should differ from non-Christians not simply because we show up at church on the weekend or attend a midweek Bible study. Rather, we should differ from non-Christians because we conduct our businesses differently, we treat our spouses differently, and we raise our children differently. Our values should be different from those of non-Christians. People need to see this in our lives, but all too often, it simply isn¡¯t happening. Paul wrote to the Christians in Ephesus, ¡°So be careful how you live. Don¡¯t live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days¡± (Ephesians 5:15¨C16 NLT). If we want to impact our world like the first-century believers did, then we have to get back to the principles they applied. It starts with the Christianity they practiced. Harvest Ministries with Greg Laurie 2Ch 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
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The Single Question on Your Final Exam
The Single Question on Your Final Exam
"The Light has gone out where the Light began."
Manolos. Among the first Native Americans to ever hear about Jesus. But as the Manolo believer said, it's pretty dark there now.
With only about 800 people on their rez, they've had ten drug overdose deaths in just the past four months. One tribal lady said she had lost eleven people she loved to drug overdoses in just the past year.
Dr. Henry was one of the most challenging professors I had in college. And I anticipated the final exam in his class was going to be a monumental challenge. Who knows what questions Dr. Henry could throw at us from his incredible intellect! Well, word began to leak out about his final from the first students that took it. They didn't give any details-they just shared one surprising, tantalizing fact. They said, "There's only one question on the exam!" Well, most of us took that news as encouragement as we stood on the edge of academic survival. But when Dr. Henry set the exam in front of us, we weren't quite as encouraged. This entire semester of theology class had been devoted to what the Bible says about the person and work of the Holy Spirit. The professor's question? "Describe the Person and work of the Holy Spirit." Oh come on! One question, but what a question!
I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about "The Single Question on Your Final Exam."
You may have been out of school a while. I'm sure you don't miss final exams, but you still have one more. We all do. The day your heart beats its last and you stand before the God who made you; the day when, as the old timers used to say, you "meet your Maker." And it appears from God's Word, the Bible, that there will only be one question on your final exam. But what a question!
Our word for today from the Word of God comes from 1 John 5:11-12, "God has given us eternal life and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life." God says the human race is divided into two groups, and only two. Those who have Jesus and therefore have eternal life-they will go to heaven when they die. And those who do not have Jesus and therefore do not have eternal life-they'll go to eternal separation from God at a place Jesus called hell when they die. In the words of John 3:36, "Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on him."
Now there's no question where God wants you to be forever-with Him in heaven. That's why He paid such a high price to remove what would keep you out of heaven-the sin of your life; all those countless times you've done it your way instead of God's way. You can't get into heaven with sin. And it won't work just trying to repay the wrong we've done with religion or being good. Sin has to be removed. And that seems impossible when the penalty for running our own lives is an eternal death penalty.
But God loves you so much that, according to John 3:16, "He gave His one and only Son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." God sent His Son to carry all the guilt and all the dying of your sin-to literally die your death penalty. So you shouldn't be surprised when you stand before God and He asks you that one question on His final exam-the one that determines where you'll be forever. "What did you do with My Son?" Not, "What good things did you do?" Not, "Did you believe the right things?" Not, "What religion were you?" God is interested in only one thing,
"What did you do with His Son who gave His life for you?"
Now it won't be enough to say, "Well, I liked Your Son" or "I spent a lot of time around Your Son" or "I agreed with everything about Your Son." The only answer that will open the gates of heaven to you is, "Lord, I invited Your Son, Jesus, into my heart and I put my total trust in Him to be my Rescuer from my sin."
Has there ever been a time when you've done that? If you're not sure, please let today be your Jesus-day. Tell Him you want to be His-you want to belong to Him. "Jesus, I believe when You died on that cross it was my sin You were paying for. And, Jesus, I'm putting all my trust in You to be my Rescuer from my sin. I am Yours."
Our website is there to help you to cross over from death to life this very day. I hope you'll go there -
You do have a final exam coming-God has already set the time. He's let us know what the question will be so you can be ready. "What did you do with My Son?" I pray you'll be able to point to this very day as the day you reached out and you took for yourself what His Son died to give you.
Copyright ? 2016 Ron Hutchcraft Ministries, Inc.
2Ch 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
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IN THE PROCESS
II Peter 3:3-11 AMPC ¡°To begin with, you must know and understand this, that scoffers (mockers) will come in the last days with scoffing, [people who] walk after their own fleshly desires 4 And say, Where is the promise of His coming? For since the forefathers fell asleep, all things have continued exactly as they did from the beginning of creation.¡±
People mock and ridicule the prophets who speak for God, they mock God Himself. They say, ¡°If any of this is real why aren't we seeing it happen? ¡±Yet these same mockers are fine with the idea that everything evolved over billions of years. 5 ¡°For they willfully overlook and forget this [fact], that the heavens [came into] existence long ago by the word of God, and the earth also which was formed out of water and by means of water, 6 Through which the world that then [existed] was deluged with water and perished. 7 But by the same word the present heavens and earth have been stored up (reserved) for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly people.¡± God created and He will destroy. This world is growing old and wearing out like a garment. But there will be new heavens and a new Earth wherein righteousness dwells. (Ps. 102:26; Is. 51:6) 8 ¡°Nevertheless, do not let this one fact escape you, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years and a thousand years as one day. 9 The Lord does not delay and is not tardy or slow about what He promises, according to some people¡¯s conception of slowness, but He is long-suffering (extraordinarily patient) toward you, not desiring that any should perish, but that all should turn to repentance.¡± We see things in relation to time. But God is eternal and everything He does is in the ¡°now season.¡± In His mercy He allows time for sinners to turn to Him and repent. Give thanks to Him daily that time didn¡¯t run out while you were still lost. Change is coming. Every Word of God will be fulfilled. And it doesn't matter how long that takes. We are time-limited, we each have only years of our lives to get it right. 10 ¡°But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will vanish (pass away) with a thunderous crash, and the [material] elements [of the universe] will be dissolved with fire, and the earth and the works that are upon it will be burned up. 11 Since all these things are thus in the process of being dissolved, what kind of person ought [each of] you to be [in the meanwhile] in consecrated and holy behavior and devout and godly qualities,¡±
IN HIM WE LIVE 08-16-2023
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2Ch 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
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~A BAKER'S DOZEN OF THINGS JESUS NEVER SAID~
~A BAKER'S DOZEN OF THINGS JESUS NEVER SAID~ He never said¡¡ I. Child, do you really love me? Child answers, "Yes, Lord, You know I do." Jesus: "Then click "like" and share that FB post!" 2. I have given up on you. You are unloveable, just too bad to be saved. 3. Everybody should act and believe just as you do! 5, You really don't have to forgive those that hurt you. 6. You have to bear your cross alone. 7. You don't have to make things right if you say bad things about another, or leave others with a wrong impression. Your judgment is always right! 8. It is alright not to love certain people. 9. Get those out of your life who don't think or believe just like you do. Broad is the gate and easy is the way, so go ahead, do what you want. 10. I give you the right to punish others, vengeance is not just mine, it's yours also. Go ahead, I won't judge you. You may gain a following. 11. Your chances will never run out. My Spirit will always strive with you. 12. You have a right to judge the thoughts of others. People need to hear what you think about others. 13. It doesn't matter what you do, just as long as you have confessed me. *** Search the Scriptures and see what things be so. Daily Scripture-- "For by your words you shall be justified, and by your words you shall be condemned." ++++++++++++++ +(?`v??)+ .`?.?.?? Blessings, Jo Ann Kelly-2023/ 2016 ¡î.??.?*¡§*??.??.¡î.??.?*¡§*??.??.¡î +J. P's Inspirations ¡î.??.?*¡§*??.??.¡î.??.?*¡§*??.??.¡î By the time Bobby arrived, the football game had already started. "Why are you so late?" asked his friend. "I couldn't decide between going to church and going to the football game. So I tossed a coin," said Bobby. "But that shouldn't have taken too long." said the friend. "Well, I had to toss it 35 times,¡± he said! *+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+* ~The $20 and the $1.00 Dollar Bill~ Two well worn bills arrived at the Federal Reserve Bank to be retired - a twenty and a one. As they traveled down the conveyor belt, they struck up a conversation. The twenty reminisced about the interesting life he had, traveling all over the country. "I've been to the finest restaurants, Broadway shows, Las Vegas , Atlantic City ," he said. "I even want on a Caribbean cruise. Where have you been?" "Oh," said the one dollar bill, "I've been to the Methodist church, the Episcopal church, the Lutheran church." "What's a church?" asked the twenty dollar bill? God loves a cheerful giver. * Learning to wait upon God Is sometimes a challenge in our life, But he is always there behind every storm cloud, He gave us new life when he took away sin and strife. When you feel the answer is delayed, Don't you ever give up or despair, God has heard your prayers and will answer, He knows every problem as He is always there. Wait and receive in the timing of our God For everything in life there is a season, He Word tells us He is with us at all times, For every delay to prayers.....there is always a reason. Look to the Lord and trust him completely, Know that his promises are faithful and true, As by faith you go forward and rest in his word, He will always be there with his love for you. Jo Ann Kelly ? 2018/2004 J. P.'s Inspirations QUOTES AND ONE-LINERS The Lord's Prayer may be committed to memory quickly, but it is slowly learned by heart. Daily prayers lessen daily cares. Wisdom belongs to the person who changes their mind in the presence of facts. No God......No peace...Know God and know peace. If you can suppress a moment of anger, you can prevent a day of sorrow. One good thing you can give away and still keep: Your word. Daily prayers lessen daily cares. We're all invited to a heavenly feast, but we mus RSVP! Morality, like art, consists in drawing a line somewhere. ****
?? 2Ch 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
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KIDS TALK ABOUT GOD FAMILY DEVOTIONAL ?
SHOULD YOU OBEY A LAW THAT FORBIDS WORSHIPING GOD? ? ¡°I would rather die than to obey a law that prohibits worshiping God,¡± says Sarah, age 8. ¡°I love God with all my heart. You should do what¡¯s right. Obey what¡¯s right, and you will be fine.¡±
Thank you for your incredible statement, Sarah. I¡¯m amazed and challenged by your love and devotion.
¡°I would pray three times a day in the morning, at lunch and at suppertime,¡± says Lindsay, 11. ¡°I would have a quiet time in the morning and at night.¡±
You¡¯re in good company, Lindsay. The prophet Daniel prayed three times a day. His custom became the focus of a plot hatched by people who were jealous of his position in the court of King Darius.
The king signed a decree that guaranteed a luncheon with the royal lions if you prayed to any god or man other than the king. In other words, whoever violated the decree would become lion lunch meat.
Daniel¡¯s custom was to pray with his window open toward Jerusalem. It would have been very easy to justify closing the window during the 30 days of the decree. Daniel could have said: ¡°Can you please shut the window? It¡¯s kind of breezy in here today.¡± Not Daniel. His pattern never changed.
Daniel was thrown into the lions¡¯ den, but the lions suddenly lost their appetites. This miracle apparently impressed the king, who issued another order: ¡°I make a decree that in every dominion of my kingdom, men must tremble and fear before the God of Daniel.¡±
Sara, 10, is on target when she says, ¡°You should set a good example for other people to know God, and not worship something else.¡± Amy, 11, adds, ¡°It is better to die for a true God than living and worshiping a false god.¡±
Yes, Daniel is an example. Do you suppose he knew God would shut the lions¡¯ mouths? Nothing in the Bible indicates he knew anything of God¡¯s plan to turn the lions into house cats during his overnight stay in their den.
¡°If you believe in the real God, no matter what happens to you, you will not get hurt at all because God and his angels are always with you. That is having faith in God,¡± says Salar, 10.
Uh, excuse me, Salar. How do you explain the death of first-century Christians who were devoured by lions in the Roman Colosseum?
Obviously, it was God¡¯s purpose to show unbelievers the courage and peace of Christians as they looked past death into the glories of heaven. As Stephen the evangelist was being stoned to death, he said: ¡°Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!¡± (Acts 7:56).
Who would have guessed that one of the young men consenting to Stephen¡¯s death would become God¡¯s chief agent for spreading the gospel? Later, that young man¡¯s name, Saul, was changed to Paul ¡ª the Apostle Paul.
¡°I think that if Jesus was able to give his life and die for us, we should be able to stand up and say that we will not obey a law that forbids us from worshiping him,¡± says Alyssa, 12.
Think about this: Laws that coerce people to worship false gods or the true God should not be obeyed.
Memorize this truth: ¡°But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: ¡®We ought to obey God rather than men'¡± (Acts 5:29).
Ask this question: If a law were passed forbidding the worship of God, would you obey it?
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Re: Sorry about yesterday.
Lol ... I hope you got caught up on your rest :)
I woke up and sent one post. Then I took a nap. When I woke up I thought it was this morning. When I found out it was last night it was too late to round up posts and post them.
?? 2Ch 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
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Momsooky
