THE SEVENTH DAY

Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall do no work

                                          Exodus 20:9-10  

When writer Bruce Feiler was diagnose with bone cancer in his thight. he couldn't walk without some help for over a year. Learning to get around on crutches caused him to appreciate a shower pace of life. Feiler said. "The idea of slowing down became the number one lesson he learned from his experience.
     After God's people were liberated from Egypt. He gave them a commandment that would cause them to slow down and view Hil and the world. "in pause." The fourth commandment introduced a dramatic contrast to the Israelites' slavery under Pharaoh when they had no break in their daily work routine.
     The commandment insisted that God's people set aside one day a week to remember several important things: God's work in creation (Gen. 2:2). their liberation from Egyptian bondage (Deut.5:12:15). Their relationship with God (6;4-6). and their need for personal refreshment (Exod.31:12.18). This was not to be a day of laziness. but one where God's people acknoxledged, worship and rested in Him.
     We too are called to slow down to be refreshed physically: mentally and emotionally and to behold God in His good creation.
Lord, I need spiritually and phydically rest. Help me to deliberately take the time to spend with You. Please remove any obstacle that keeps me from having a more balanced rhythm to my life.

"LOVING JUSTICE"

"He is the Rock, His work is perfect, for all His ways are justice."
                                      Deuteronomy 32:4

Do you ever find yourself emphasing the loving and forgiving nature of God, especially when seeking to reach a friend who is "turned off" to Christianity? Scriptures like 2 Peter 3:9, "The Lord...is not willing that any should perish," and I John 4:8, "God is Love" shed light on the gracious and accepting nature of God.
    However, if, in talking to your friend you only emphasize God's lovingside, you run the risk of mispresenting the power of His redemption of mankind. You see, God's love if cvmpcounter/balanced with His wrath. God's wrath is not a popular concept these fays, but it is real, and every person must reckon with it.
    The Scripture teach that God will judge the lost. A Holy God can do nothing else than to turn away unholy things Thankfully, He had created a solution, through the shed blood of His Son. When God draws all history to a close, His judgment will stand alongside His mercy and love. Remember to keep both in balance as you share the Gospel with those around you.

"The Rainbow"

"The rainbow shall be in the cloud, and I will look on it to remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth."
                                                Genesis 9:16

Its appearance stops you in your tracks. As you look up to see the rain clouds roll back and the sun break through. A rainbow paints the sky with color. Do you marvel every time you see a rainbow? For Christians, it is far more than a visual phenomenon.
     From Scripture, we know that the rainbow is a sign from God. After the flood that covered the earth, He sent the rainbow as His promised never again to destroy the earth with a flood.
     This covenant--a binding pact that God promises He will never break--still hold today. God's promises are unchanging they are everlasting. He is faithful to keep every covenant.
     The next time you see a rainbow, stop for a momemt and look up. Remind yourself of the beauty of God's mercy in your life, and the over/arching ways He has forgiven and cleaned you of sin.  Thank Him for the sign of  the rainbow, and for its message of mercy and faithfulness.  

Listen to obey

Listen to counsel and receive instruction, that you may be wise in your latter days.                    Proverb 19:20

To stake or not to stake? That's the question Marilyn faced when she planted a tree sapling last summer. The saleman said, "Stake it for one year so it will be supported in strong winds. Then remove them do it can grow deep roots on its own." But a neighbor told her, "Staking may cause more harm than good. The trees needs to start building strong roots right away: or it may never. Not staking is best for long term health in long term health."
      We Wonder about that question in relationship too. For instance, if someone has gotten himself into  trouble, do we "stake him down" by rescuing him, or do we let the person "grow strong roots" on his own by allowing him to face the consequences of his choices? Obviously it depends on what seems best for the person's long/term spiritual health. What does love do, and when does it do it? have "pity" and lend our assistance (v.17), yer there are dangers in rescuing anothee because you might need to do it again (v.19).Providing the right help requures wisdom beyond our own.
     God hasn't let us on our own He will give us the wisdom when we ask Him. As we lean on Him our own roots will grow deep in Him as well

"His divine will for us"

And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know hat he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of 

                                             1 John 5:14-15

People have remembered John's phrase "according to his will," and they had to pray,? "Lord do this or that, if it be thy will,"  But inserting this expression into a prayer when God's Word already states that what we're praying for is his will is confessing that we don't believe God's Word. And that  kind if praying will not work.

    How can we find out what God's will is?

     God's Word is His will! We can find out God's 

will for us in the Bible because the Bible is God's Will, His covenant, and His testament. And it is God's will for us to have whatever God  has provided for  us!

      First we must find the Scriptures that reveal God's will for us. Then we can go before God with great boldness... this is the confidence that we have in him..."When we pray for things that God's Word tell us are His will, we know that He hears us! And when we know God hear us, we know we have the petition we ask of Him. We know we have them, praise God!

"Road Construction"

We have been delivered from the law,. . . so that we should serve in the newness of spirit.
                                                                                    Romans 7:6

Here in Michigan we joke that we have two seasons: Winter and road construction. Harsh Winter damage road surfaces, so repair crews begin their work as soon as the ice melts and the ground thaws. Although we call this work "construction," much of what they do looks like "destruction" In some cases simply patching holes is not an option. workers have replaced the old road with new one.
     That's what it can feel like when God,  is at work in our lives. Throughout the old Testament, God told His people to expect some major renovation on the road between Him and them ISAIAH 62:10-11; Jericho 31:31). When God sent Jesus. it seem med to the Jews as if their way to God Was being destroyed. But  Jesus wasn't destroying anything He was completing it (Matthew 5:27). The old way paved with laws became a new way paved with the sacrificial love of Jesus.
      God is still at work replacing old ways of sin and legalism with the way of love that Jesus completed. When He removed our old ways of thinking and behaving. it may feel as if everything familiar is being destroyed. But God is not destroying anything; He is building a better way. And we can be confident that the end result will be smoother relationships with others and closer relationship with Him 

"Divine Analogy"

And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the first born from the dead: that in all things he might have the preeminence.
                                                                     COLOSSIANS 1:18

This is where we believers have missed it! We've recognized that Jesus is the head of the Church, and we've exalted Him to His position of Power, all right. But we've failed to see that the Head is wholly dependent upon its body for carrying out its plans. We've failed to see that we are seated with Christ in heavenly places. We've failed to see that Jesus has authority over Satan's  power. If this authority is over exercised, it will have to be exercised through the Body. We've been so sure that we couldn't do  anything , that we've left everything up to Christ the Head of the Church and the Head is powerless without the Body.
     Take your own physical head as an example. It is powerless no carry any of its plans without the cooperation of the body. Your head might see a songbook on a rack in front of you, but unless your body cooperates, your head will never be able to sing from that book.
      The ministry God wants to accomplish through His Son in this world will be carried out through the Body of Christ. And we the Body of Christ have the same authority the Head has!

"God's Blessing"

He [God] brought them forth also with silver and gold: and there was not one  feeble person among their tribes.

PSALM 105 :37
You can see from the Scripture that it was God's plan for everything connected with Israel to bear the stamp of prosperity and success. Futhermore, disease and sickness were nit to be tolerated among them.
      And so it should be with the Church. Everything connected with the Body of Christ, the New Testament Church, should bear the stamp of prosperity, success, healing surplus, and health.
      What God said concerning the Church. Romans 1:16 says, " For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ for it is the power of God unto Salvation. . . . " Scofield's footnotes on the word "salvation" states that the Greek and Hebrew words translated "salvation" imply the  ideas of deliverance, safety,  preservation, healing, and health (soundness). The Gospel of Jesus Christ, then in the power of God unto deliverance. It is the power of God unti healing and health.

"HIS INDESCRIBABLE GIFT"

 Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!
  2 Corinthians 9:15

It has been dzid that one of the Roman emperor gave an expensive present to a friend. But when the ruler offered the gift, the friend said, "This is too much for me to recrive." The emperor replied,? "But it is not too much for me to give." When we think about all our sinfulness gift" (2 Corinthian 9:15). of  forgiveness through Jesus Christ seems too much for us poor sinners to recieve. God is so rich in mercy, though, that it is not too much for Him to give.
    Someone has said, "The Kindness thing that God ever did was to become a man." What magnificent glory Christ left and what utter humiliation He suffered so that He could offers us the riches if salvation! We will never be able to understand it completely. I'ts hard to fathom the truth that when we recieve His gift we claim an eternal inheritance as adopted children of God.
   Who can estimate the preciousness of God's gift of salvation through His Son the Lord Jesus? All we can do now and throughout eternity is to fall down in adoration before the Lord, praising Him for a salvation so wondrous and so free!

"Worship at the Throne"

Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom."
                                                  Hebrew 1:8

When you think of the center of command and control for the United States of America, the White House quickly comes to mind. When you think of the focus of all authority and power in Heaven, you think of the Throne of God.
     Just as the White House is a busy hub of constant activity, there is much that takes place at the Throne of God. From His throne, God lovingly rules over the affairs of the earth. He exercise His authority over all people and He asserts His control pver history past, present and future. God's throne is also the sear if His judgment. He discerns between good and evil, and administers reward and punishment alike.
     The best thing that happen at the Throne of God, however, is worship! All the saints, the elder, the angels and all creatures surround Him to sing praises and exalt Him in all His glory. Will you be there, worshiping with all the others at the Throne of God? Will your heart join with those who know Jesus Christ as Savior and lift up eternal praise to His Name? Our occupation for all of eternity will be to exalt and adore Jedus Christ. Knowing that, doesn't it seem worthwhile to worship the Lotd now? "

HOW DO YOU GET to HEAVEN from HeRe?

"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-not by works, so that no one can boast.
                                                                        EPHESIAN 2: 8-9

DO YOU KNOW HOW TO GET TO HEAVEN? Imagine that you died and stood at the door of God's heaven, and Peter opened the door and said, "Why Should I let you in? What would you say?
      Suppose you replied, "Because I've been good person. I'm not perfect, but I'm a whole lot better than most people. Beside, I've given quite a lot of money to charity." What you've said may be true, but would that open the door?
     The Bible says that entrance to heaven isn't based on what you do either good or evil it is based upon what Jesus Christ did.
      Here are three simple steps to recieve this gift that opens heaven's door.
1. Acknowledge your personal need of Salvation. The Bible categorically say that all have sinned everybody, no exception (see Roman 3:23, Isaiah 53:6). Do you admit that?
2. Believe that God will save you. The Bible puts it like this: "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved you your household" (Acts 16:31).
3. Go public with your commitment of faith. You run up your flag and commit yourself. Here's the text: "That if you confess with your mouth, Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved" (Roman 10:9).
Your intelligence, money, goodness, or gifts will never open the door of heaven when you die: but what Jesus did unlocks the door.   

"All who dwelt in Asia heard the word of the
Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks."
                                                   ACTS 19:10b 


Paul is quick to resume his work in the
synagogue of Ephesian, a work he began
briefly some months before (18:19-20). As he
has in so many cities across the Roman Empire,
he used his Jewish roots gain a hearing in the
synagogue, reasoning from the scriptures and
persuading the Jews that Jesus is their long-
expected Messiah. The positive relationship
that had developed between him and the
Ephesians Jews enables him to minister in his
way for three months. Then division occurs.
Though some Jews are receiving his message,
others are refusing to do so, and they begin to
oppose Paul, speaking "evil of the way before
the multitude."
     As he has done on earlier occasions
(13:46; 18:6). Paul turns away from Jews who
refuse to hear him. He ceases his ministry in
the synagogue and begins teaching in the lecture
Hall of a school run by a man named Tyrannus,
which means "Tyrant," may be a nickname given
by the man's students,?Futhermore, building on
a note in the so-called "Western  Acts,

"Doing God's will means Leaving The Familiar for the Unknown"

"By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed by going out to a place which he was to receive for a inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he wad going. By faith he lived as an alien in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, fellow heirs of the same promise; for he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect abd builder is God.
                                                                            Hebrew 11:8-10

some question are being answer in this account 3 week before our cell meeting this was our topic.
Abram had lived all of his life in Ur of the Chaldeans, as had his father before him. He had deep, long roots in that place. Then, when he was seventy-five-years old (think of it), God told Abraham to leave his homeland for a "land which I will show you" (Genesis 12:1).
    There he is, getting on in years, he and his wife, Sarah, who is only ten years younger than he is, have settled into their comfortable life together. Suddenly God comed along and invades their nest. His will is clearly stated "Move out"
     Now  picture the scene: Abraham and Sarah have no  children, but they do have a lot of family and friends. And one day Abraham announced to all of them, "We're moving."
     "At  your age?" they say "Why would you do that?"
     "Well, God told us."
     "Right. So where are you going"
     "Well, He hasn't told us that." (Just imagine the reaction).
 So they load up the camels and pile everything they own on the carts and start making their way out of Ur. The biblical account makes it clear: Abraham went out "not knowing where he was going" (Heb.11:8).
Abraham was relatively wealthy man, and now he found himself dwelling in a tent, living like an alien, because "he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God" (Heb. 11:10). (I love that description).
Out of the blue, with no details provided, God said, "Go, and I'll show you where later." And Abraham obeyed by going out, "not knowing where he was going." Talk about releasing and risking. I'm reminded of John Henry  Jowett's comment, "Ministry that cost nothing, accomplished nothing." Remember that, in this era of cheap grace. In fact, I suggest you memorize that line: " Ministry that costs nothing, accomplishes nothing."
Abraham paid the price of comfort and familiarity in order to do the will of God. This is a classic example of the crisis of belief and the need for major adjustment, of faith and action, release and risk. Discovering and then obeying God's will may require you to leave  the familiar and the comfortable. The book of Warren Wiesbe's book Walking with the Giants, one of the giants he write about is Hudson Taylor, another of our heroes of faith.
A Presbyterian moderator in a Melbourne, Australia, church used all his eloquence to introduce the visting missionary speaker, finally presenting him to the cogregation as our illustrious guest." He was
not  prepared for James Hudson Taylor's first sentence: Dear friends, I am the little servant of an illustrious Master."
Nearly twenty years before, Hudson Taylor had written in an editorial, "All God's giants have been  weak men, who did great things for God because they reckoned on His being with them." As he looked at himself, Hudson Taylor saw nothing but weakness; but as generation  of Christian  have studied Taylor's life, they have become acquainted with a man who dared to believe the Word of God and, by faith carried the gospel to in land China and saw God work wonders!"
     we are only finite human beings. We can only see present and the past. Thr future ia a little frightening to us. So we need ti hold onto His hand and trust Him to calm our fears. And at those times when we're stuborn and resisting and God shakes us by the shoulders to get our attention, we're reminded that we don't call our own shots, that God has a plan for us, mysterious though it may seem, and we wants to be in the center of it.
    All the risks notwithstanding, that is still the safest place on earth to be.

"ATMOSPHERE"

"In the lips if him that hath understanding wisdom is found. . . . Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established; And by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches.
                                                    Proverbs 10 :13, 24-3,4
Spiritual things are created by words Even natural,physical things are created by words God, who is a spirit, said, "Let there be an earth," and there was an earth. Jesus said,". . . whosoever shall SAY. . . shall have whatsoever be SAITH" (Mark 11:23). Atmosphere are created with words.
    For example, if you go into a room where fish has been fried, the fish smell is still in the atmosphere. And if you go into a room where harsh words have been spoken, they,  too, linger in the atmosphere. The air is heavy with them.
    Children brought up in an atmosphere of wrong words become warped. They fail in life, because right words were not spoken to them.
    Why is it that some chuldren grow up strong and go out in life's fight and win? It's because the right kind of words were spoken in their home! Words make children love an education. Words bring children to church.





  

"An Open Door"

An angel of the Lord opened tge prison doors and brought them out, and said, "Go stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this life."
                                                                              Acts 5 : 19, 20

At most first-class hotels, men in uniforms with white gloves are ready to assist opening doors and carrying luggage. When guests arrive, they greet them. Gheir simple, yet gracious, act ushers people into the hotel.
    Today's text talks about a heavenly door opener. God presents us with opportunities to serve, and to tell the  world about His love. This is exactly what happened to the Apostle Paul on hid trio to Troas. "When I came....a door was opened to me by the Lord" (II Corinthians 2:12).
     God opened to us doors of service and ministry. Yet we often hesitate to walk through. In fact, we sometimes question the opportunities God presents.
     Is God providing a chance for you to witness to someone today? Has He  given you otheropportunities--to serve, to encourage or to bless someone? If  He has , walkbin obedience and trust Him to lead you. Seize the ministry opportuities He puts in your path by saying, "Yes," and stepping out in service to Him.

"In His Likeness"

"I Praise you because i am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
                                                                               Psalm 139 :14

There are at least two familiar biblical principle which should guide us here.
First as Pascal reminds us our reach is limited. "fearfully and wonderfully made. " yet, there is knowledge which is "too wonderful" for us too lofty for us to attain. "At the genetic level, as at any other physiological, psychological, or social level, Goethe's maxim holds: Individuum est ineffabike"(individuality is mysteriously irrepressible). As far as the research progresses mapping the genetic DNA sequences, we will not be able to map the soul. It is  simply too lofty to diagram, dissect, dilute, or dilinish.
Second, as Psalm 8 remind us, man is made of God's image, ans such,  we are bestowed with dignitty and value. As image bearers, we are more than a mere reductionistic sum of our physical parts. When research discounts the existence of a soul, the mapping becomes a prelude to disaster in its application.
      The Scriptures give us a workdwide adequate fir modern life. Paul could not have envisioned stemcell research or pre-natal diagnosis of disabilities. But he would have us ask how we exalt God and honor man in His image with this new research or with the application of the new knowledge.
      Ethics dedcribes what we ought to do. At the end of the day, what we can do and  what we ought to do are more and more often two dangerously different things. May God grant His peoole wisdom as the world sings it siren song wooing us to knowledge and practices that glorify God. The Lord of heaven and earth.

"NEED, One GOOD WATCHMAN"

   Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong.
                                    1 Corinthians 16 : 13  

When  a bear has cubs, she rarely strays fat from them. The mother bear knows that hungry predators prowl the forest in search of any living thing that is vulnerable and unprotected. So, she remain alert and aware, constantly watching for her enemy, or a threat of any kind. She's powerful guardian protecting what is precious to her.
     Just as the mother bear watches to protect her cubs, Christians need to watch and guard themselves against out spiritual enemy Satan. For the Bible says he roams about as a lion, ready to devour us. 
      Maybe you believe that you could never fall prey to Satan's schemes, but nothing could be futher from the truth! A persistent attitude of precautionary watchfulness can protect you against spiritual danger or entrapment.
      In today's recommemded reading from Ezekiel, the watchman sounds the warning that enemy soldier are coming. The peoples can choose to heed or disregard his alarm. Be wise and heed the warning to be on guard against Satan. Commit yourself ti see and resist any spiritual threat. Like that mother bear, become a powerful guardian of what is precious to you, and perserve the faith for which Jesus paid so dear a price.           

"SAYING THE SAME THING"

Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession [confession].
                                       HEBREWS 4:14
                               
   The Greek word translated "profession" here is  translated "confession" elsewhere in King James Version. The literal Greek meaning of this wird is "speak the same thing. So instead of saying, "Let us hold fast our confession " we could say, "Let us  hold fast to speaking the sale thing." Notice that words are involved here.
    The thing  that defeats many people is that they have a double confession. One time they confess one thing,?and the next time they confess something else.
    For example, they may say to you, "Yes, the Lord is my Shepherd, and I shall not want. Accirding to Philippians 4:19, my God shall supply all of my need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus-- and I'm believing God to supply my needs.
    But when they leave you and meet somebody else, their mind may revert back to their problems, so they'll say, "We're not doing so good. We can't oay our phone bill. We're going to have to take the phone out. And it even looks like we're going to lose our car. . "
    What about that first confession they made? It was nullified by the second.

Transformed Talk

Blessed is the man that walked not in the counsel of the ungodly. . . 
                                               PSALM 1:1
. . .Be not conformed to this world; but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind. . . 

     When God's Word tells us not to be conformed to this world, notice that it relates conformity to the area of the mind. In other words, we are told not to think like the world thinks; we are to get our mind renewed with the Word of God and think  in line with the Word of God. Then we will talk and believe in line with the Word of God.
     The world is programmed negatively. The World think sickness, fear, doubt, and defeat, and failure. That's because the world without God is in spiritual death. It is therefore programmed to death instead of life. Listen to what people say: "That scares me to death,"
     If Christian do not renew their minds with the Word of God, they will make the same mistake the world make. They'll talk themselved into sickness. But if we'll renew our mind with tve Word of God, we'll know that God says,". . .the tongue of the wise is health" (Prov. 12:18).

David Serve God's Purpose

"For when David had served God's purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep.
                                              ACTS 13 : 36

One OF  The GREATEST TRAGEDIES in life is to get very close to reaching your goal, accomplishng what you really felt God wanted you to do, only to fall short of completion. it's always sad to have to quit a few hundred meter short of the mountain top or get close to the finish line, only to give up.
    Unrealize goals, unfulfilled ambitions, unreached potentials are not only sad but, at times tragic as well. "He was almost there," we say. Or with a sigh we speak of "the person he or she could have been!" Then we focus on what?" or "if only" scenario something that didn't happen.
    A dream is often the faint impression of what God really intends you to accomplish, something that you must trust Him to bring about and work towards with all your might.
    A thousand year after King David lived, Luke, one of the writers of the New Testament, includes a few thoughts about how David was remembered. He wrote, "For when David had served God's purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep..." (Acts13:36). Another translation adds a phrase that injects even more meaning. It reads "For when David had served God's, he fell asleep" 
    Measure your life against the benchmark of what Luke wrote about David. He served God's purpose and accomplished what God intended him to do.
     Whatever God has called you to do is within yours grasp, and living out your calling will someday enable you to say, "I have fulfilled God's purpose and finished the task He gave me in life."

You're the Clay; He's the potter

"I have aroused him in righteousness, And I will make all his ways smooth; He will build My city, and will let My exiles go free, without any payment or reward," says the Lord of hosts.

                                         Isaiah 45:9,12-13

At one time in my life statements like that made me cringe and become resentful. Not until I released my grip on my horizontal perspective did I find any comfort in God's sovereignty. Little by Little, it began to settle in my mind, bringing relief instead of fear. God is in charge, not us!
     This determined decrees dimension of God's will has four qualities:
(1)It is absolute. ( 2) It is immutable, which means "unchangeable." 
(3) It is unconditional. (4) It is always in complete harmony with His plan and His nature. In other words, the decreed will of God will be holy, it will be just, it will be good, it will be righteous; therefore, it will be best. And it will all work toward those ends.
      The subject of God's will is woven throughout the tapestry of God's truth as revealed in Scripture. we have seen it in Isaiah. Now let's observe it in Romans:
we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. read upto verse 29  (Romans 8:28-29).
Mark in the margin of your Bible beside these verses: Decreed will of God," His decreed will is at work in your life. He's chipping away in your life, causing you to take on the character of His Son, Jesus Christ.
      A sculptor was asked how he could carve a lion's head out of a large block of marble. "I just chip away everything that doesn't look like a lion's head," was his reply. God works away in our being and chips away everything that doesn't look like Christ the impatience, the short temper, the pride, the emotional drives that lead us away from our Father. He's shaping us into His image. That's His predestined plan. And He's committed to it Nothing we can do will dissuade Him from that plan. He stays at it. He is relentless. And He never runs out of  creative ideas. 
       What about the future? Can I know any part of God's determined will for my life in the Future? Your spiritual position and your eternal destiny are the only two you can know with certainty. if you are in Christ now, you can know for certain you will remain in Christ at every moment in the future. Our God is in the heavens; He does whatever He please" Psalm 115:3

"What's Fairness"

"Who has understood the mind of the Lord, or instructed him as his counselor? Whom did the
consult to enlighten him, and who taught him the right way?  Who was it that taught him knowledge or showed him the path of understanding?"
                           Isaiah 40:13-14

      Have you ever walked into a room halfway through somrone else's argument and been asked for your opinion? It's impossible to respond. You don't have all the facts. You don't fully appreciated both sides of the argument and,  therefore, you can't give a just verdict.   
     Trying to discern or not  God is fair in any given situation is much like walking into a room
halfway through someone else's argument. For one  thing, you don't have all the facts, and you won't have them until you get to the other side of 
eternity. Besides, "fairness"is imppossible to grasp because you are unequipped to appreciate the hidden purposes God has in mind.
     Those who don't believe in God may be presumptuous enough to play the "fairness" game,
but Christian know better. The World's definition of fairness is based on the sliding scale of society's 
values and the Changing will of the majority. But God doesn't buy that drfinition. That's why He will, however, always maintain His justice. Justice, unlike fairness. is based on the unchanging principles if His Word.
The "fairness doctrine" is based on a person's limited valued system and timebath is different. 
So bow to His justice, trust in His love, and forget
about fairness.

"What's Fairness"

"Who has understood the mind of the Lord, or instructed him as his counselor? Whom did the
consult to enlighten him, and who taught him the right way?  Who was it that taught him knowledge or showed him the path of understanding?"
                           Isaiah 40:13-14

      Have you ever walked into a room halfway through somrone else's argument and been asked for your opinion? It's impossible to respond. You don't have all the facts. You don't fully appreciated both sides of the argument and,  therefore, you can't give a just verdict.   
     Trying to discern or not  God is fair in any given situation is much like walking into a room
halfway through someone else's argument. For one  thing, you don't have all the facts, and you won't have them until you get to the other side of 
eternity. Besides, "fairness"is imppossible to grasp because you are unequipped to appreciate the hidden purposes God has in mind.
     Those who don't believe in God may be presumptuous enough to play the "fairness" game,
but Christian know better. The World's definition of fairness is based on the sliding scale of society's 
values and the Changing will of the majority. But God doesn't buy that drfinition. That's why He will, however, always maintain His justice. Justice, unlike fairness. is based on the unchanging principles if His Word.
The "fairness doctrine" is based on a person's limited valued system and timebath is different. 
So bow to His justice, trust in His love, and forget
about fairness.

"What's Fairness"

"Who has understood the mind of the Lord, or instructed him as his counselor? Whom did the
consult to enlighten him, and who taught him the right way?  Who was it that taught him knowledge or showed him the path of understanding?"
                           Isaiah 40:13-14

      Have you ever walked into a room halfway through somrone else's argument and been asked for your opinion? It's impossible to respond. You don't have all the facts. You don't fully appreciated both sides of the argument and,  therefore, you can't give a just verdict.   
     Trying to discern or not  God is fair in any given situation is much like walking into a room
halfway through someone else's argument. For one  thing, you don't have all the facts, and you won't have them until you get to the other side of 
eternity. Besides, "fairness"is imppossible to grasp because you are unequipped to appreciate the hidden purposes God has in mind.
     Those who don't believe in God may be presumptuous enough to play the "fairness" game,
but Christian know better. The World's definition of fairness is based on the sliding scale of society's 
values and the Changing will of the majority. But God doesn't buy that drfinition. That's why He will, however, always maintain His justice. Justice, unlike fairness. is based on the unchanging principles if His Word.
The "fairness doctrine" is based on a person's limited valued system and timebath is different. 
So bow to His justice, trust in His love, and forget
about fairness.

"STAND OFF BAD AND GOOD"

"When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said,
"I am the light of the world. Whoever follows
me will never walk in darkness, but will have
the light of life."
                                                            John 8: 12

HOW DO YOU RECOGNIZE the line disting-
truth from falsehood? Aristotle gave the world
three tests for knowing whether or not an event
or a document is authentic.
     Aristotle's first test was whether or not the
individual asserting something was an eye-
wittness to the event  itself. Scores of people
today cite discredited documents and weave the
 fabric of truth and fiction so closely that the
uninitiated is convinced that what he hears or
see's is "the truth."
     Aristotle's second test was based on the
 number of copies of the record we have, and
how  closely they conform to the event that is
described. For a moment consider the manuscript
evidence for your New Testament portions of the
Gospel of John in existence today are dated as
 early as 125 AD no more than a generation after
the event itself. Available to Scholars today are
more than 5,750 manuscripts of the New
Testament alone, and if we include Latin and
 other language translations, the number climbs
to over 24,000 documents.
     Aristotle's third test was if other document
corroborate what the document says.
     Do all of these things matter? Yes. That's
why it is important for us to have confidence in
the Bible. Jesus was convinced He said, . . your
word is truth" (John 17::17). only when you are
confident that the Bible is the Word of God will
you embrace it and allow it to. guide your life.

"A Person Of Influence"

"She to her mistress, "If only my master were
with the proohet who is in Samaria! For he
would heal him of his leprosy."
                                                      2 Kings 5:3

If you google "person of influence." the search
will take you to  various lists of the most influ-
ential people in the world." These list usually
include political leaders: business entrepreneurs
and athletes, along with people in science, the
arts, entertainment. you will not find the name
of cooks and cleaners who work for them. Yet
those in so-called lowly positions often
influence  the people they serve.
     The story of Naaman,0 a hightranking military
commander. includes two kings and prophet of
God (2 Kings 5: 1-15). Yet it was the servants in
the  background whose words led to Naaman
 being cured of leprosy, a career ending. life-
changing disease. A young servant girl taken
captive from Israel told Naaman's wife that
prophet in Samaria could heal him (vv2-3).
when Elisha's instructions to bathe in the Jordan
River angered Naaman, his servant urged him to
follow the prophet's orders. The result was
Naaman restoration to health and his declaration.
"Now I know that there is no God in all the earth,
except in Israel(v.15).
     what a beautiful picture of our role as a
followers of Jesus Christ! We are called to be
people of influence the Lord's servants who point
other to the one whose touchcan change their
lives.

"He Satisfies"

"You open your hand satisfy the desire of every
living thing."
                                                      Psalm 145:16

       Well of water ever springing
            Bread of life, so rich and free,
        Untold wealth that never faileth,
              My Redeemer is to me.
        Hallehluyah! He found me
               whom my soul so long has craved!
        Jesus satisfies my longings
              thru His Blood I now be l saved."
There's nothing quite like satisfaction of glass of
cold spring water on a hot August afternoon. A
cold shower after mowing the lawn. A dive into
a stream after a long, tiring hike. Sometimes a
glass of kemonade fresh out of the refrigerator.
Being satisfied means you've been filled, you
want nothing more, and that the thirsty longing
has been quenched.
    That's exactly how Jesus satisfies. To have
Him means that your needs are met. To know
Him is to realize that He is your dearesr, most
faithful companion.
   "But blessed is the man who trust in the Lord,
whose confidence is in Him. He will be liked tree
planted by the water that sends out its roots by the
stream. It foes not fear when heat comes, its leaves
are always green. It has no worries in a year of
drought and never fails to bear fruits"
(Jerimiah 17:7-8).
Today you pour a cold drink on a hot August after-
noon, pause and praise the Lord for the way He
quenchs your thirst. He, the Wellspring of water,
overcomes, subdues, fulfills, and satisfies like
nothing else, like no one else. here is the beautiful
song.

Let Him Come
if anyone is thirst let him come
and let him drink befill and satisfied
he who believe in Him let come
and he who believe in Him give Him praised
we shall befilled with and peace

give me Lord (2x)
you will quenched my thirst
Fill me Lord (2x)
I'll be Restored
Refresh me Lord (2x)
your presence is here.

bridge:
He is the road that i that i found
the only road man can come
i want to tell you all in all
seek first the Lord while
he can be found

Now on the cross He!s stretch his hand
this love hope of all mankind
He took my sin that i have done
He's my savior and peace
(back to chorus)





              

"Changing the Subject"

"When one of those at the table with him heard
this, he said to Jesus, Blessed is the man who
will eat at the feast in the kingdom of God."
                                                       Luke 14 : 15

Imagine the scene in Luke 14:1-24 Jesus was
invited to dinner at a Pharisee's home in the rich
suburbs of Jerusalem. He noticed that the wealthy
people were grabbing the best seats. At that
point,
    Jesus launched into story about the sorts of
dinner parties people ought to give feast for the
forgotten, the homeless, and the poor. The Lord
added that although these people would not be
able to repay them, the hosts would,
nevertheless, be repaid at the resurrection
(Luke 14:14).
    You can imagine what happened next. Jesus
probably sat down, put His napkin on His lap,
and picked up an hors d' oeuvrem. Silence hung
over the table as the wealthy people shot nervous
glances at each other.
   The party spirit was dampened, so one dinner
guest cleared his throat and spoke up: "Blessed
is the man who will eat at the feast in the
kingdom of God" (Luke 14:15). What an odd
thing to say! It's as if he said: "Jesus, I can't say
that I follow your strange ideas about dining with
cripple, but I do agree with what You say about
heaven it's so comforting to know that everything
will turn out perfectly in the end."
    In others words, the man was trying his best to
change the spiritual subject. But just as the Lord
did not allow those dinner guest to switch the
subject (read Luke 14:15-24), we will find it just
as difficult to divert God's attention from those
issue that need to be addressed in our lives.

"YOU Can't Pick the Giant You Must Fight"

"The Emims dwelt therein in times past, a people

great, and many, and tall, as the Anakims, which 

also were accounted giants, as the Anakims; but

the Moabites call them Emims,

                                  DEUTERONOMY 2 :10-11

SOMETIMES THE PROBLEMS OF LIFE--the

fifficulties abd challange you face are no less 

foreboding than giants who make you feel like a 

midget, and they are certainly no less intimidating.

     When David faced the giants and defeat him 

with God!s help. So is it with the gigantic
 problems that confront us today.

     Moses had his own experience with giants. On

their way to the Promised Land, he decided to do 

some reconnaissance in Canaan and so he sent 

out 12 men to spy out the land.

     The men went into the land to assess the
situation. "There are giants in the land
 descendant  of ! "Anakim" they said. Ten of those
men wanted to quit. But two of them. Joshua and
Caleb, said, "It's true, there giants in the land; but
God will surely gives it to us."

    Joshua made a fascinating statement. He said,

"Only do not rebel against the Lord, nor fear the 

people of the land, for they are our bread; their

protection has departed from them, and the Lord
is with us. Do not fear them"
 (Number 14:9 NKJV).

    That's the way it is with the giants in your life.

without taking on the giants in your life, you will

never know that God is bigger than any problem

you will ever face.

"The Other Eighty Percent"

"Let heaven snd earth praise Him, the seas and
  everything that moved in them
                                                 Psalm 69:29-36


Recently I saw a billboard stating that 80
percent of all life on Earth is found in the seas.
That staggering number is difficult to process,
largely because most of that life is out of sight.
     As I considered this, it reminded me of how
much greater God's creation is than we typically
appreciated. while we can easily have our breath
taken away by a majestic mountain range or a
panoramic sunset, we sometimes fail to see His
extraordinary work in the details that require
more careful study and examination. Not only
is much of God's creation hidden by the oceans.
but other parts are also too small for our eye to
observe. From the microscopically small to the
unsearched reaches of the universe, it is all
work of our Creator. In those magnificent
 structures seen and unseen God creatives glory
is revealed seen and unseen God's  (Rom 1:20).
      As we grow to understand the wonder of
creation, it must always point us to Creator
Himself and call us to worship Him. As the
psalmist said. "Let heaven and earth praise Him.
the seas and everything that moved in them"
(Psalm 69:34). If creation itself gives praise to
the Creator. we can and should certainly join the
chorus. What a mighty God we serve!
          

"what's Love"

"In this is love, not that we loved God, but that
  He loved us and sent His Son.
                                                         1 John 4:10

When asked "What's love?" children have some
great answers Noelle, age 7, said, "Love is when
you tell a guy you like his shirt, then he wears it
every day." Rebecca, who is 8, answered, "Since
my grandmother got arthritis, she can't bend over
and polish her toenails anymore. So my
grandfather does it for her all the time, even after
his hands got arithritis too. That's  love." Jessica,
also 8, conclude. "You really shoudn't say I love
You unless you mean it. But if you mean it, you
should say it a lot people forget."
    Sometimes we need reminding that God loved
us. we focus on the difficulties of life and wonder.
Where's the love? But if we pause and consider
 all that God has done for us. we remember how
much we are loved by God. who is love
 (1 John 4:8-10).
      Psalm 103 list the "benefits" God showers on
 us in love: He forgives our sin (v.3), satisfies us
with good things (v.5). and executes
 righteousness and Justice (v.6). He is slow to
anger and abounds in mercy (v.8), He doesn't
 deal with us as our sins deserve (v.10) and had
removed  our sin as far as the east its from the
west (v.12). He had not forgotten us?
    What's love? God is love, and He's pouring
that love on you and me. here is a beautiful song
for the Lord "Reverence of Praise"

REVERENCE OF PRAISE

Here I am
Longing for your presence
I'm here to stand
This promises of hope
I can overcome
And you give me
your lovingkindness
Everyday I live

Chorus:

Lord Filled this Temple
In your Holy presence
And washes me by your Grace
This song I sang in reverence of praised
my Lord heal me and save me
with no expense

Here I am
Praising in this temple
My Lord My King
You are more than enough for me

   

"Giants as Your Bread"

"Oh, do not rebel against the Lord, and do not
 fear the people of the land. For they are but
bread for us to eat! The Lord is with us and he
has removed his protection from them! Don't
be afraid of them!
                                            Numbers 14:9 TLB

A FRIDAY SCHOOL TEACHER told the story
 of David and Goliath. She bore down on how
big Goliath was. Then turning to one of the boys,
she  asked, "How would you like to fight someone
that big?" Squirming, the lad replied, "No way,
but if you bring on someone about my size,
I'll take him on any day."
    The problem though is that the giants you have
to face don't come by special order." Some
problem seem to be your size; some are not.
Joshua made a fascinating statement about the
land of Canaan and its giants.
    The giants, he said, are "bread" for us. The
word he used referred to wheat or grain that had
been ground and made into a loaf. The same
word was used for the showbread in the
 tabernacle. What he is really saying is that these
giants whom you fear will be ground like wheat,
becoming bread for you. And, if I may extend the
metaphor, like the nourishment you get from
bread, they will feed your faith and make you
strong. That's the way it is with the giants in your
life.
    So what do you do when you see giants
looming in your pathway? Smile and say, "Here
comes my bread! knowing that God put the
giants in your path so that you might subdue it
and thus grow from the experience make the
whole ordeal less frightening
    Joshua's advice is good for us today: Don't
rebel against God and don't fear the giants; but
like David, confront him on the name of the
Lord, and your giant will be bread for your soul.

"Starting Over"

"If anyone is in Christ; he is a new creation; old
things have passed away; behold all things have
become new
                                               2 Corinthians 5:17

The little boy looked up at his mother and asked,
"Mama, do you know why God made us?"
knowing that her son had his own explaination,
she asked, "Well, Justin, do you know why?"
"Oh, that's easy. Because the people in the Bible
were do bad, He wanted to starr over."
    When you think about it, it's east to see how
this first-grader could come up with such a
conclusion. When he listens to the Bibles stories
in Sunday school, he hears about Adam and Eve,
who messed things up for all of us. He hear about
Jonah, who wouldn't obey God and was
 swallowed by a big fish. He hears about Judas,
who betrayed Jesus for 30 silver coins.
    The Bible is painfully realistic in its portrayal
of people. It is no whitewashed version of the
history of God's people. It its honest presentation
of its characters, the Bible proves that we all need
to be forgiven of our sins. The "bad" people of the
Bible remind us that "all have sinned and fall short
if the glory of God" (Romans 3:23).
   But there's great news. God did provide a way
to "start over." He sent Jesus, who died that we
could become new cteations (2 Corinthians 5:17).
Trust Jesus and be saved from your sin. Then
you will be able to "start over."