The biblical concept of ministry is service rendered to God
or to people . . . The term ministry . . . refers to the work of
both those commissioned to leadership and of the whole body
of believers . . . Ministry in the church has always had as its
goal the edification of individuals with a view toward corporate
maturity in Christ (Eph 4:7-16) . . . The purpose of ministry
extends, of course, even beyond the edification of the church.
It is, as in all Christian life and worship, for the glory of God.

Walter Liefeld, ÔÇ£Ministry,ÔÇØ in Evangelical Dictionary of Theology, 2nd ed. (Grand Rapids: Baker, 2001), 777-778). The cited definition has been edited.

Devotion: Commandments of Love
 

Commandments of Love

Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself

If a church is not preaching love, they are in error. God considered the above two commandments so important that He made them His first two. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. There is none other commandment greater than these, these two commandments is the core of the Christian religion.

To all my brothers and sisters, family and friends, if you are going to a church that the leader does not preach love, he is not teaching what God says, they are in the flesh and is not the leader you need to be under, you need to find another church. Any church that is preaching hatred and racial tension is sinning, they are preaching discord instead of love and unity, and God will not shine upon it or the member that goes along with this poison,. How can a man that calls himself a Rev or Preacher teach anything except love, because that is what the Bible, the Word of God says? God will not accept anything less than the Truth of His Word.


You can tell the wolves in sheep clothing by what they speak and their actions. If it does not line up with the Word of God, it is wrong.

Devotion: No Confidence in the Flesh
 

IDK the whole story, but the guy who writes these told me he lost a million dollar business, IDK details, but he had a lot...and lost a lot, and still loves God.

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No Confidence in the Flesh

"If anyone else thinks he has reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more." - Philippians 3:4b

The apostle Paul surely could relate to the business executive. Paul reached the height of his profession only to have it completely stripped and torn from him. What he thought mattered in life became rubbish compared to what God did in his heart as He destroyed what seemed valuable at the time. It took a dramatic event to bring Paul into this revelation. It took a bright light, blindness, and the most fearful experience a human could have - being addressed personally by God, who was questioning why Paul was persecuting His people.

It would not be too long after his conversion that Paul would learn one of the greatest lessons every child of God must learn. That lesson is to avoid putting confidence in the flesh. In our work we are rewarded for achievement. It is a "measurable" life. We work. We see results. We get certain feelings of accomplishment from these activities.

It was not until I was placed in a situation to experience utter failure that I could identify with the words of Paul. I have met other workplace believers as well who achieved great success in their business life only to experience dramatic failure. That personal handshake with failure leads to a realization that:

"Whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish that I may gain Christ and be found in Him..." Philippians 3:7-9).

Sometimes God lets us experience great pain to learn the lessons of greatest importance. Knowing Christ intimately is the most important lesson we will learn. Take stock in what you find your greatest pleasure in today. Avoid placing your confidence in things that are but rubbish so that you might know Him more intimately.

Devotion: Good News, He is Risen
 

Good News, He is Risen
By Billy Graham

55 ÔÇ£Where, O death, is your victory?
Where, O death, is your sting?ÔÇØ
56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
58 Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

Easter is a season of great gladness for those who know Christ. But for those who are without ÔÇ£the light of the knowledge of GodÔÇÖs gloryÔÇØ (2 Corinthians 4:6), there is nothing to rejoice over.

Jesus left us with the great hope and certainty that He is going to return to bring a new Heaven and a new earth where, we are told, there will be no more sorrow, trouble, or death for those who have believed and followed Him. There will be trouble, sorrow, and suffering for those who have neglected or rejected Him.


As Christians, our great task is to obey the command to tell the whole world about Christ crucified, buried, yet risen again. My prayer for you during this season of the year, when we meditate on our SaviorÔÇÖs great sacrifice for us on the Cross, is that you will be filled with great peace and hope, because ÔÇ£He is Risen!ÔÇØ That is the Good News.

"HAPPY EASTER AND PASSOVER"
 

eh, i got bloated & unattractive yesterday, didn't even turn the computer on, so here is yesterdays message....

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Lord is Risen! He is raised indeed!

Lord, I'm so thankful that I serve a risen Savior, and He live within my heart. I'm thankful that someday I will see You, the One who died and lives again. Amen

Lord, how ironically it was that those who were outraged by a supposed violation of the Sabbath, had no qualms about plotting how they might destroy You. Amen

"HAPPY EASTER AND PASSOVER"


The Lord Jesus Christ said, "I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am." John 14:3

When he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. 1 John 3:2

When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Colossians 3:4

Come, Lord Jesus! Revelation 22:20
Praise God that death could not stop Him and the Grave could not hold Him, He lives Today. Praying that you and your family have a safe and enjoyable dayGlenn

Devotion: Give it to God
 

Give it to God

1 Corinthians 10:13 ÔÇô No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.

Hebrew 4:16 ÔÇô Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

We need to give everything to God, and then we can move from doubt to faith, from confusion to understanding, and from fear to hope. We need to seek God will and then wait for GodÔÇÖs answers, and accepted them.

We need to put our hope in God and experience His presence. In faith, we need to look beyond our present circumstances to God, placing our hope in GodÔÇÖs saving grace and absolute faithfulness. We need to set our heart and our eyes on God. Understand that it is acceptable to acknowledge the difficulty of our situations.

However, we need to focus our attention on God rather then on our circumstances. Remember that the circumstances will change, but God remains the same, Praise God. Put your hope in GodÔÇÖs ability to save you; He is present with you in even the most difficult of times. Choose to rejoice in the Lord, regardless of the way you feel. Trust that He will enable you to overcome.

Devotion: Confidence in Numbers
 

Confidence in Numbers


"David was conscience-stricken after he had counted the fighting men, and he said to the Lord, 'I have sinned greatly in what I have done. Now, O Lord, I beg You, take away the guilt of Your servant. I have done a very foolish thing.'" - 2 Samuel 24:10

It just seems to be human nature. As we grow in wealth and ability, our confidence moves from complete trust in the Lord to trust in our resources. King David decided one day that he needed to know how many fighting men he had in his army. This was a grievous sin in the nation of Israel. God always made it clear to the nation that He, not their army, was their source. It was against the law of God to number the troops. David's general, Joab, knew the serious nature of such an action.

But Joab replied to the king, "May the Lord your God multiply the troops a hundred times over, and may the eyes of my lord the king see it. But why does my lord the king want to do such a thing?" (2 Samuel 24:3)
Joab knew that David was treading in dangerous waters when he brought up the idea to him. But David had it in his mind that this is what he was going to do. And he did. The result: God judged David for this sin by smiting the nation with a plague that resulted in the loss of 70,000 lives.

Recently, I was having lunch with a former stockbroker who lost everything in the 1987 stock crash in the United States. He made an interesting comment. "You cannot know how to fully trust the Lord in the financial area until you really have to. When I lost everything, I was forced to trust Him when I knew I could not pay my next bill unless God provided. This was the time I learned to trust God.

I never had to trust God before I lost my money because I had plenty. We don't willingly enter this level of trust with God."

Ask God today to keep you from trusting in your own resources. Ask Him how to balance trust and blessing from Him this day.

Devotion: Withholding Your Natural Gifting
 

Withholding Your Natural Gifting


"My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, so that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power" (1 Corinthians 2:3-5).

In the work world, we are trained to press through obstacles, no matter the cost. However, perseverance that is not directed by the Holy Spirit is only sweat and toil. We must learn to walk the fine line between these two concepts. On this subject of relying on our human strength, Watchman Nee wrote:

I believe many people are so rich and strong that they give no ground for God to work. I frequently recall the words, "helpless and hopeless." I must tell God, "all that I have is yours, I myself have nothing. Apart from you I am truly helpless and hopeless." We need to have such a dependent attitude toward God that it is as if we cannot inhale or exhale without Him. In this way we shall see that our power as well as our holiness all comes from Him. Oh how God delights in seeing us coming hopeless and helpless to Him. A brother once asked me, "What is the condition for the working of the Spirit?" To which I replied that . . . the Holy Spirit must first bring us to a place where we can do nothing by ourselves.

Of course, God gives us our natural skills and He will use them, although it can be hard at times to tell whether it is God working through us or if it is our natural skill alone making things happen. We need to try to distinguish the difference even as we resist over-analyzing (which can result in paralysis by analysis).

The apostle Paul understood that it was not his ability to deliver eloquent sermons that changed people. It was the power of God working through him. If God's power comes through our work, that brings glory to the Father.

Devotion: Your Testimony
 

Your Testimony


"I tell you the truth, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony." - John 3:11

Over the last several years I have seen two distinct types of Christian workplace believers. One type enthusiastically teaches their Bible knowledge to others. These people, though they may be genuine in their motive, lack one essential ingredient to being effectively used by God - a testimony. The second type of people I have encountered has a genuine testimony of what God is doing and continues to do in their lives. This was the case in the early Church. Men and women were able to give powerful testimony of events and experiences that could only be explained as a work of God.

God desires to build a testimony in each of us. Each of us is one of God's chosen vessels to reflect His power in and through us. When others see this power reflected, they are impacted because they cannot explain that power. God desires to frame your life with experiences designed to reflect the character and nature of Christ. Sometimes these events can be very devastating, but they are designed to reveal His power in and through us.

Every one of us has a testimony. What would others say your testimony is today? Can others see God's work in your life? Is your testimony one of Bible knowledge only? Are things happening in your life that can only be explained as God? These can be problematic questions for each of us. Ask God to build a testimony of His life in and through you today.

Devotion: Trust In The Rock
 

Trust In the Rock


2 Samuel 22: 1 - 3 (KJV) "And David spake unto the LORD the words of this song in the day that the LORD had delivered him out of the hand of all his enemies, and out of the hand of Saul: 2 And he said, The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; 3 The God of my rock; in him will I trust: he is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my saviour; thou savest me from violence."

King David, no Christian can imagine exactly how great satan attacked him. One reason is this, because David was not only King of the Jews, but because David was the blood line from which Jesus, the Messiah would be born. We must understand that satan tempted King David with everything that one could imagine. Even King David with all his power and might, he had only one power by which satan could be stopped and that was PRAYER and FAITH in GOD!

King David's rock, his fortress, his shield was not in his power, but it was in GOD! King David did not trust in his own power as a King, but he trusted in the Power of the King of Kings and the Lord of all Lords. King DavidÔÇÖs foundation was the Rock on which his royal palace was built, but it was built on the Lord JESUS CHRIST!

Are you fighting a battle today with satan? If so, look to Jesus, because He is our deliverer! King David, with all his trials and temptations, trusted in the Rock, we too must trust in the Rock!

Devotion: Understanding the Roadblock
 

Understanding the Roadblock


"And Joshua said, 'Ah, Sovereign Lord, why did You ever bring this people across the Jordan to deliver us into the hands of the Amorites to destroy us? If only we had been content to stay on the other side of the Jordan!'" - Joshua 7:7

Have you ever felt like you were doing what God wanted you to do, but your plans were totally frustrated? This was how Joshua felt.

The Lord had been with the people of Israel as they entered the Promised Land. They defeated every enemy because of God's blessing and protection. They had just taken the city of Jericho. The next battle was the city of Ai. They scouted the enemy and determined it would require only 3,000 men to defeat them. They attacked, and soon the reports came back that they were being routed. Joshua could not understand this. He cried out to God asking why this was happening.

The Lord said to Joshua, "Stand up! What are you doing down on your face? Israel has sinned; they have violated My covenant, which I commanded them to keep. They have taken some of the devoted things; they have stolen, they have lied, they have put them with their own possessions. That is why the Israelites cannot stand against their enemies; they turn their backs and run because they have been made liable to destruction. I will not be with you anymore unless you destroy whatever among you is devoted to destruction" (Joshua 7:10-12).

Whenever we open ourselves up to sin, we become liable. God removes His protective shield from our lives in order for the sin in our lives to be purged out. He often uses the enemy of our souls to accomplish the task. If you feel you are being thwarted in some way, examine your life to see if there is any sin that is the cause of the problem.

Adversity is not always due to sin, but it can be. Ask Him. He will show you. As with Joshua, God immediately answered this prayer when Joshua asked. He desires for His children to live in a right relationship with Him.

Devotion: Let Us Consider
 

Let Us Consider


Hebrews 10:23-24 (KJV) "Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised); 24 And let us CONSIDER one another to provoke unto love and to good works."

Paul was writing this to the people of God. We know this by what he said in verse 19 of this same chapter. Paul started verse 19 by saying, "Having therefore, Brethren..." The Brethren are the Born Again Saints of God. In verses 23 and 24 Paul is pointing out what the AIM of a child of God should be, or should I say, it is what a child of God should purpose in there heart and life, in their walk, in their talk, in their behavior.

To some readers of this passage of scripture, I believe that Paul was and is instructing the Babes in Christ when he wrote, "Let us CONSIDER." Paul was and is instructing the young Christians that this should be a part of their Christian character. Now to those readers that are off the milk and on the meat I believe Paul is instructing those Christians as to say to them, if this is not a part of your character, if this is not the way you walk, talk, or behave, YOU SHOULD, "Let US CONSIDER." There is something about this word that I think is very important for every Christians to understand FULLY.

The word, CONSIDER, is the root word to a very good word and to a very bad word. Both words that come from the word "Consider" are a part of every heart, Saved or Lost. Those two words are "Considerate and Inconsiderate." The word "Considerate" is a word of love, the word "Inconsiderate" is just the opposite from "Considerate" and it is a word of HATE. Inside every Christian you will find these two words,

or maybe I should say these two characters abide and it is the choice of every individual which one of these two words will be shown in every aspect of their lives. But many times Christians choose to allow the spirit of Inconsideration to POP UP in their lives which reflect a breakdown of their Christian walk. It shows that they are still on milk; it shows that they have a heart of inconsideration.

Devotion: Stand for Christ
 

Stand for Christ

2 Timothy 1:12 "For the cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day."
Paul as a Child of God suffered many things for the cause of Christ. Christians today will suffer for supporting Christ as well. Paul was not ashamed of Christ or his stand from the Cause of Christ.

very day in America, our faith is put to the test. It seems that everything Christians stand for is questioned and found by this world to be incorrect. Many view the Christian stand as a stand for hate, that it is a stand that will cause hurt to America. Friends, the Christian stand is the stand for RIGHT, a Stand for Christ. Our salvation is not in our control, but rather in the control of Jesus Christ.

I am not holding on but I am trusting Christ to keep me. My salvation is not what I do, but it is what Jesus DID! "He is able to keep that" is good news for the Child of God. Once we are saved, it does not matter if our minds leave us to where we can't function or remember anything, but the Lord is the keeper of our salvation and we don't have to worry about losing our salvation. God's gift of Salvation is an eternal gift, not something that runs out, or something that we can misplace or lose, it is what God gives to all that believe in him and profess him Lord of their life.

Devotion: Perseverance for Success
 

Perseverance for Success

"And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope" (Romans. 5:2-4).

Perseverance is the key to every great accomplishment because nothing of lasting value has ever been achieved without it. Industrialist Henry Ford is one of the great success stories of American history, but he failed in business five times before he succeeded. A Ford Motor Company employee once asked his boss the secret of success, and Henry Ford replied, "When you start a thing, don't quit until you finish it."

The path ahead of you is strewn with obstacles. People will oppose you. There will be financial setbacks, time pressures, illnesses and misfortunes. Some of the biggest obstacles will be inside of you: self-doubt, insecurity, procrastination, and worry. You must give yourself permission to succeed.

When we persevere through adversity, we win the approval of our Lord Jesus Christ, who told the suffering church at Ephesus, "I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. . . . You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary" (Revelation. 2:2-3). That, I'm sure, is the same commendation Joseph received from God when he passed the perseverance test.

Perseverance is a refusal to quit. It's falling down 100 times and getting back up 101 times. We need to remember that perseverance is not a matter of forcing doors to open; it's standing in front of the doors as long as it takes before God chooses to open them.

Life is a marathon, not a sprint. The race doesn't go to the swiftest, but to those who don't give up. We need endurance in order to deal with the stress of adversity. We must maintain a balanced diet, exercise regularly, and get plenty of rest. People give up or give out when they feel depleted - when they physically, emotionally and spiritually run out of gas.

When going through adversity, watch out for pessimists, blamers and toxic personalities. Beware of people who try to talk you out of your dreams and goals. Spend time with optimists and encouragers. Seek out people of faith.

Persevere to the end.

Devotion: Praying the Promises
 

Praying the Promises


ÔÇ£By these, He has given us very great and precious promises ...ÔÇØ (2 Peter 1:4)

Sometimes you are in a difficult situation where you really cannot see a clear path through the swamp. Or perhaps the situation is so difficult that you cannot think clearly about it; your emotions get in the way.

These times are very grievous and stressful and that is how we know we are in a testing of our faith (1 Peter 4:12.)

God is testing something that we either do not believe about Him or believed incorrectly. At such a time, we have to reach out for His precious promises (2 Peter 1:4) and bring them back to the present and stand on them to bolster our faith.

As we claim these promises, our faith builds, and we can pass the test.

Some of my favorite promises include:
ÔÇó "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Philippians 4:13
ÔÇó "And my God will provide all of your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:19
ÔÇó Jesus speaking: "Whatever you ask in my name (according to my will, my purposes, my ways and my character) I will do it, that the Son may bring glory to the Father." John 14:13
ÔÇó "If God is for us who is against us?" Romans 8:31b
 "for nothing is impossible with God." Luke 1:37
ÔÇó God speaking: "I declare the end from the beginning and from long ago what is not yet done saying: My plan will take place and I will do all My will.ÔÇØ Isaiah 46:10
 Jesus speaking: " but seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be provided to you." Matthew 6:33
ÔÇó Jesus speaking: "Everything is possible for the one who believes." Mark 9:23
ÔÇó "Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives to all generously and without criticizing, and it will be given to him.ÔÇØ James 1:5
ÔÇó Jesus speaking: "I will not leave you as orphans; I am coming to you.ÔÇØ John 14:18
ÔÇó Jesus speaking: "When the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all truth." John 16:13a
ÔÇó Jesus speaking: "If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you want and it will be done for you.ÔÇØ John 15:7

These promises should be memorized, so that they are readily available whenever you or I are in a difficult trial; a severe test of our faith. Then we should to pray these promises back to the Father, claiming them personally for ourselves.

These promises should be the basis for prayer. By praying these promises back to the Father, we are proclaiming that we believe them to be true and that we are staking our life on them. It is the most powerful form of prayer and is the most powerful path through the trial.

Devotion: The Power of One
 

The Power of One


"Then the men of Judah said to the Simeonites their brothers, 'Come up with us into the territory allotted to us, to fight against the Canaanites. We in turn will go with you into yours'" (Judges 1:3).

After the death of Joshua there arose a wicked king named Adoni-bezek that was creating havoc in the land. He prided himself in defeating his enemies and cutting off the big toes and thumbs of his enemies. He had done this to seventy kings. Now, without Joshua to lead them, the people wondered how they were to defeat this wicked king. Until this time, every King had attempted to defeat Adoni-bezek themselves and had lost.

The Lord told them they were to join forces with the other tribes in order to defeat this wicked king. "When Judah attacked, the LORD gave the Canaanites and Perizzites into their hands and they struck down ten thousand men at Bezek. It was there that they found Adoni-Bezek and fought against him, putting to rout the Canaanites and Perizzites. Adoni-Bezek fled, but they chased him and caught him, and cut off his thumbs and big toes" (Judges 1:4-6).

God is calling the Body of Christ together in cities to operate in unity together in order to defeat the wickedness in our cities. However, the key to victory is a willingness for churches, workplace leaders, and intercessors to work together as a unified army.

Jesus said, "May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me" (John 17:23). God calls each of us individually and corporately to represent Christ to the world, but our independence, pride and individualism often prevent us from becoming unified in the purposes of Christ. The marketplace and the Church must come together to bless the city with practical initiatives that benefit the city.

When unity takes place among leadership in the Body of Christ, Jesus responds by allowing the city to respond to Jesus. You will see more fruitful evangelism, favor among city leaders and an impact on the city you never thought possible.

Devotion: Warning
 

Warning


Revelation 22: 7 (KJV) ÔÇ£Behold, I come quickly: blessed [is] he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book."

In Revelation Chapter 22, the Lord issues three warnings that he is coming soon. Yet today people are not getting ready, but even worst, Christians are reacting as if the Warning never were spoken. In this day in which we live, I believe Jesus is coming back and there will be a lot of people that will enter into the Great Tribulation.

It has been said that more people will go to hell out of this Age than at any other time in history. You may be wondering why? It is simple, adults have turned away from God and the younger generation does not know God.

Warning, Jesus is coming very soon!

Devotion: Living a Godly Life
 

Living a Godly Life


1 Timothy 4: 12 "Let no man despise thy youth; BUT be thou an example of the believer, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith (faithfulness), in purity (holiness)."

What kind of GODLY example are you to those that are lost?

Did you know that a large number of Christians are ashamed to let others know whom they serve? Oh now everybody will RAISE their hands when it time to go to Heaven! Oh if you ask, "HOW MANY OF YOU ARE SAVED, RAISE YOUR HANDS!" I will tell you all the hands will fly up toward the ceiling! BUT! How many really live a godly example of a child of God?

In the Book of Proverbs, chapter 6, verse 16, the bible says, "These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:" If you look at verse 17, the very first (1) thing that the Lord HATES is a PROUD LOOK, next (2) is a lying tongue. Followed by (3) "Hands that shed innocent blood, (4) a heart that devises wicked imaginations, (5) feet that be swift in running to mischief, (6) a false witness that speaketh lies, and (7) he THAT SOWETH DISCORD AMONG THE BRETHREN.

Every child of God should search through this shelf of things that the LORD HATES and make sure that these things are not found in our life.

Now that you have searched your life, if you have found ONE OF THEM, what kind of example do you think you are to ANYBODY?

ANSWER; an ungodly example!

REMEMBER, if you are a Christian and you are living a godly life, your life should be a BIBLE that lost people will read.

Devotions: Christians
 

from a different email string:

The key of sharing your relationship with Jesus is to be available. Ask the Holy Spirit to direct you, you will find opportunities to "witness" everywhere! When you witness about Jesus, you are telling about who He is and what He has done for you. To remain sedentary is to neglect God's very purpose for our salvation. Please make an impact for Jesus Christ and share The Story.

Join us every Monday at 6:00 PM and be a part of " Making Our Story His Story"

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Christians

Acts 11: 26 "And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch."

I am interested in the last part of this verse, "The disciples were called Christians first in Antioch." What interests me is why the people that observed these Disciples of Christ would call them "Christians?" I know for a fact that it was not because the disciples acted 'RELIGIOUS."

It is a fact that the sole reason the people called these disciples "Christians" was because they remembered how Christ behaved, how Christ talked, and how Christ cared for other and their well being more than his own. That my friend is why the people called these disciples "Christians."

Now the question that I have to ask myself and the question you have to ask yourself is how do others view us? Do people around us say, "There is a Christian?" Or, are we seen in the same view as the world, just another "RELIGIOUS" person?

While many Christians are standing up for their faith in other parts of the world and having their heads cut off for it, I wonder if we are that kind of Christian that we are willing to die for our faith. It is very clear that if we are not willing to live a life that resembles Christ, we surely will not die for the cause of Christ.

Devotion: Enlarging Your Territory
 

Enlarging Your Territory


..."Oh, that You would bless me and enlarge my territory!" - 1 Chronicles 4:10

He is mentioned only once in a brief description in the Old Testament, yet what he says and what his life bespeaks could fill volumes. He was a man whom God saw as worthy of a request that had significant consequences for him and his family. His name was Jabez. Here is how the Scripture describes him:

Jabez was more honorable than his brothers. His mother had named him Jabez, saying, "I gave birth to him in pain." Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, "Oh, that You would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let Your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain." And God granted his request (1 Chronicles 4:9-10).

When you think of territory, you probably think of land or some area in which you have dominion. Jesus often spoke about giving responsibility based on what we do with the little things first. Jabez must have been a very responsible person. God describes him as honorable. Jabez must have understood what it really means to be blessed by God. He was a man who knew what it meant to press into God and ask for God's favor with passion. God saw the heart of this man and gave him his request. His borders were enlarged! He lived a life free from pain. Imagine that!

The only reason God will enlarge a person's territory is that He knows that person will use it responsibly. He will steward what is given in light of God's Kingdom. God truly wants to increase our territory to have greater influence in the world around us. That territory can mean personal influence and/or physical territories.

It is rare to have a life without pain. Pain is often necessary to mold us and shape us. This is the only exception I have seen in Scripture. Jabez must have been quite a man with incredible integrity and purity of heart.

Are you this kind of person? Can God enlarge your territory and entrust you to use it for His purposes? Ask God today to enlarge your territory. Ask Him to make you the kind of man or woman who is worthy of such trust.

Ancient Words - Hebrew Word Pictures
 

change it up:
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Hebrew Word Pictures - Eden

As in many cases, we have experienced that in Hebrew word pictures, one word can have many meanings, just as an English word may have multiple meanings. The word Eden has two meanings, made of three Hebrew pictures; dalet (door or pathway), ayin (to see, know, or experience, and noon (activity or life). Our first experience with Eden is found in Genesis.

Genesis 2:8
And the LORD God planted a garden in Eden, in the east, and there he put the man whom he had formed.

When we think of Eden, we think of paradise and perfection. This is exactly what the Garden of Eden was. It was paradise and it was perfect. In Hebrew word pictures the word Eden is synonymous with pleasant. But our shallow understand of the word pleasant is far, far away from the Hebrew word picture understanding for the word pleasant or Eden.

The second meaning of the Hebrew word picture for Eden is ÔÇ£a place of continual life where you can see or experience the door of lifeÔÇØ or ÔÇ£to personally know the judgeÔÇØ. DoesnÔÇÖt this word picture for Eden give us an understanding of what heaven is ÔÇô a place of continual life ÔÇô a place where we can see the door of life, the way (Jesus) to personally know the judge? And who is the judge? Jesus!

Once we open that door, we enter into Eden ÔÇô our eternal life.
We know that the Garden of Eden was a place of continual life. Hebrew word pictures just confirms that. For Adam and Eve, the Garden of Eden was a place of continual life ÔÇô a place where they could live forever had they not sinned. Eden was a place where they could see and experience and commune and fellowship with God. It was a place where they personally knew God. Of course, all this was theirs until they sinned.

For all of us as believers in Jesus, once we take Jesus as personal Lord and Savior, we are assured of that continual life with Him in heaven. Here on earth we have a personal relationship with Jesus. We know the sweet fellowship we have here on earth but can we even begin to imagine what that will be in heaven! How much more personal can that be?


--
Shalom Alechem B'Shem Yeshua HaMashiach.
(Peace be unto you in the Name of Jesus the Messiah)

Phil and Patti
www.philandpatti.com.
www.philandpatti.blogspot.com.

"We live by faith, not by sight."
2 Cor 5:7

Bible Study- Monday nights at 7:00 pm

FAITH FELLOWSHIP WORSHIP- Wednesday nights at 7:00 pm
email for location

Devotion: Deep Things
 

Deep Things


"He reveals the deep things of darkness and brings deep shadows into the light" (Job 12:22).

One of the great mysteries of the Kingdom is how God uses the darkest times in our lives to reveal greater depths of understanding of His ways. The only way we can receive these deeper things is to be driven to the depths of darkness. It is here that we discover important truths that He plans to use in our lives and the lives of others.

There is a process God uses to draw us into greater levels of intimacy. The first phase involves a depth of soul experience that causes great pain in our lives. We seek God for deliverance from the incredible emotional pain this causes. Our primary motivation for seeking God is to get out of our pain.

During this time, God meets us in the depths of darkness. We discover that He never left us but is in the midst of the darkness. We develop a new relationship with God. Gradually our motivation turns from removal of pain to love and intimacy with God. This is the place our Heavenly Father desires us to be.

During this season God will make spiritual deposits into your life. Others will be making withdrawals in the future from your life as well. You see, God reveals deep things in darkness that will be revealed in the light.

If you find yourself in great distress, know that God will bring your deep shadows into the light. The key to your deliverance is becoming satisfied in God. He becomes your all. He is your life. You will know your deliverance is near when your circumstances simply don't matter to you anymore.

Love the Lord your God with all your soul and see what things He will show you in the deep things of darkness.

Devotion: Understanding Your Gift
 

Understanding Your Gift


Now about spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be ignorant. - 1 Corinthians 12:1

In First Corinthians 12 and Romans 12, the apostle Paul is teaching us about the role of spiritual gifts in the Church. He correlates these gifts to a human body, telling us that each person's gift helps the whole Body of the Church. This is such an important principle for us to learn. I must say I learned this principle regarding my own spiritual gift the hard way.
"God will never speak as strongly to you as to someone else," said my mentor to me one day. The statement shocked me. "What in the world do you mean by that?" I argued with him.

"Your spiritual gift of administration/leading is one of the most dangerous gifts in the whole Body of Christ. The reason is that you can see the big picture better than anyone else, and you're so task-oriented that you will run people into the ground getting your project completed because you think you see it so clearly. That is why the best friend you could ever have is someone with a prophetic gift to discern whether the big picture you see is actually the picture God is directing. It is the one gift that can almost stand alone better than any other - at least that is the opinion of the one with that gift."
Oh, how I have learned this lesson the hard way! He was so right. There has been many a church staff destroyed by a person with the gift of administration. During my years as a business owner, I saw how I stressed out my staff because of the tremendous load I put on them with multiple projects. It was so easy for me because the more balls I had juggling, the better I felt. I was oblivious to how my multi-task personality impacted those around me.

Today, I have some special relationships with intercessors and prophetic people whom I depend on for confirmation of direction. I have learned their spiritual gifts of discernment are of great value in determining strategic direction. I have learned that God has placed within each person a spiritual gift that is designed to make the Body of Christ function better for His purposes.

When we discover the spiritual gifts God has placed in those around us, we are better able to see the Body function as a real body-totally dependent on one another. Some of us are more sensitive to God's voice because God has gifted us in that way. Others of us are less sensitive because God wants us to depend on others in the Body for their gifts. Find out whom God has placed around you today and discover a new dimension of spiritual productivity.

Devotion: A Heavenly Strategic Planning Session
 

A Heavenly Strategic Planning Session


And the Lord said, "Who will entice Ahab into attacking Ramoth Gilead and going to his death there?" One suggested this, and another that. - 1 Kings 22:20

There are few times we get a glimpse of what goes on in Heaven. Here is one instance when the angels were conferring with the Lord about the judgment of King Ahab for his sin and who was going to set up Ahab for this judgment.

If God wanted to use you to impact your world for Jesus Christ, what circumstances would have to be created in order for you to respond to His call? Would prospering you materially encourage you to this end? Would a major change in what you are presently doing be necessary? What would your response be should God and the angels conclude that the only way to move you into a position of fulfilling God's purposes was to remove some things that might be very dear to you? Would you agree with their plan if you knew this would be the only way you would achieve the purposes for which God made you? Hard questions, aren't they?

This is the very thing God does in many who have been called for a special mission. Moses had to be stripped of his royal position in the family of Egypt and sit in the desert for 40 years. The apostle Paul had to be knocked to the ground, blinded, and receive a personal visitation from Jesus. The 12 disciples had to leave their jobs for three years to follow Christ. Imagine what kind of disruption this had on their lives. There are many examples of God bringing major upheaval in the lives of those He called for His purposes. Why?

The reason is that we do not seek God with a whole heart in times of prosperity and comfort. Prosperity and comfort tend to breed complacency and satisfaction. It is rare to find the man or woman who seeks God with a whole heart who does so simply from a grateful heart. We often must have pain or crisis to motivate us. Eventually, that crisis bridges us to a new calling, and we embrace that calling if we are open to the Holy Spirit's work in us. We can actually thank God for the change that was required to get us to this place, but it is not without anguish of heart.

Would you be willing to sit in the strategic planning session for your life and agree with the plans God has for your life? Could you give God complete freedom to implement that plan, no matter the cost? Ask God to give you the grace and trust in His love for you to say "yes."

Devotion: Defining Your Self-Worth
 

Defining Your Self-Worth


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

What measurements do you use to define your self-worth? Do you define it based on your financial assets? Is it based on what you have achieved professionally? Perhaps you define your value based on the number of children you have.

There are many things we can use to define our self-worth. However, the scriptures tell us there is only one measure for our self-worth. Each of us has self-worth because we are made in the image of God. And because we are made in the image of God, we are valuable. Whenever you and I place a value in ourselves that is based on some other performance criteria, we have moved beyond God's view of our worth as human beings. You are never more valuable to God than you were the day you were born.

Many of us have sought to determine our self-worth based on the amount of money we have. This is a dangerous trap. Paul warns us against seeking to build wealth in order to gain greater value. Paul came to understand that the greatest riches could not compare with knowing Christ. In fact, he considered all other material things to be mere rubbish in comparison: "I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord" (Philippians 3:7-8).

Basing our self-worth on how much money we have or our achievements is an easy trap. We are bombarded with messages that say we are defined by what we drive, where we live, how many toys we own, and the size of our investment account. The media message is designed to create dissatisfaction and lust for what we don't have.

Paul said the purpose for his existence was......"to know Christ, and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death" (Philippians 3:10).

In what terms do you define yourself? Is it based on knowing Christ alone?

Devotion: Time to Hear
 

Time to Hear

"He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him" (John 14:21).

We live in a day of 12 step programs for this, 4 points to success for that, and all forms of programmatic means of becoming successful. Have you ever wondered how you can guarantee a greater revelation of Jesus in your life? Jesus tells us how this can be done.

It is all tied to obedience. He tells us in John the following: "Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him" (John 14:21). The key here is in the last three words.

He will show Himself to us because of our loving Him through our obedience. The more obedient we become, the more revelation of His presence we will feel in our life. Jeremiah tells us, "Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know" (Jeremiah 33:3).

Many Christians wonder why they cannot hear or sense the presence of God in their life. It is because they do not seek Him with a whole heart, and they are not obedient to the things He has asked.

God does not show us the next move until we are obedient to the first thing He has spoken to us. It is a progressive process. He entrusts the small things to us first, then moves us to the larger. I was like many today who are so focused on seeking the activity of God versus seeking God Himself. Hebrews tells us that God rewards those who diligently seek Him. In the Old Testament we are told, "But if from there you seek the LORD your God, you will find him if you look for him with all your heart and with all your soul" (Deuteronomy 4:29).


I realized if I was going to hear the voice of God, I had to make time to seek Him and hear Him. I had to spend focused time alone reading, studying, and seeking His face alone.


Jesus set the model for this when He often left the crowds to be alone and to seek His heavenly Father. I also had to tune my "radio" to His frequency. Static comes into that frequency when I am disobedient. My level of seeking determines the power of my radio, Him. The more I seek Him, the more I hear Him. Seek the Lord today so that you may be empowered by His presence.

Devotion: Hearing His Voice
 

Hearing His Voice


"He who belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God." - John 8:47

Jesus said that the key to being able to hear God's voice is first to be one of His children. One of the great mysteries of the universe to my logical mind is how God can communicate with six billion people on the earth at the same time. It is one of those mysteries I must let go of because my "hard drive" would crash if I had to explain and understand this before I believed and trusted in Him. It is as though God places a computer chip in each human being, and when we place our faith and trust in Him, it becomes activated. We begin to communicate with Him. Jesus says that if we are children of God, then we can hear God's voice. He further explains this relationship in the following parable:

"I tell you the truth, the man who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. The man who enters by the gate is the shepherd of his sheep. The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger's voice (John 10:1-5)."

The Shepherd is always representative of Christ. Sheep are representative of God's children. This passage tells us that the Shepherd communicates with His children. We are called by name and we can listen to our Shepherd's voice. There is another comforting aspect to this relationship. The Shepherd goes before the sheep to prepare the way. Jesus has already gone before us today to prepare our way.

Knowing the Shepherd and His voice allows us to have the assurance that we will not be fooled by another shepherd's voice. The sheep know His voice. It is only when we are dull of hearing that we mistakenly hear another's voice and follow it. Sin can create a poor frequency in our communication with the Shepherd. Make sure your frequency is free of static (sin) today so that the Shepherd can lead you and go before you.

Finally, distractions can also keep us from hearing our Shepherd's voice. When the sheep get entangled in the fence or wander off, they get too far away to hear the Shepherd's voice. We must stay in close proximity to the Shepherd to hear His voice. Stay close to the Shepherd today. Listen and follow. He wants to lead you

Devotion: Spiritual Warfare
 

Spiritual Warfare

"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood...." - Ephesians 6:12

Have you ever heard someone say, "I will never do business with another Christian"? I hear this comment quite often in my dealings with Christian workplace believers. This comment represents the battle that rages against us by the enemy of our soul to destroy the witness and effectiveness of Christian workplace believers. We must realize that we are in a war - a war for the souls of men, a war to discredit all that a Christian stands for, a war that is designed to divide Christian against Christian.

Satan's ploy in the life of Christian workplace believers is to do several things to make them ineffective as soldiers in the workplace. First, he wants to discredit them by allowing them to fail other people in their professional services. This often shows up in failing to perform what they committed to do or performing in an unsatisfactory way. Sometimes, this is a result of a downright failure of the workplace believer to perform with excellence. In other cases, it may be a misunderstanding in the midst of the service that causes strife and division instigated by the enemy.

The result in both cases is the same: a division among Christians and even non-Christians, further resulting in a damaged witness for Christ. The apostle Peter admonishes us to "live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day He visits us" (1 Peter. 2:12).

There are times when each of us is thrust into situations out of our control. Sometimes this results in our inability to pay a bill on time, or to deliver a service. Defeating satan in these battles requires extra communication with those with whom we are dealing. If the motive of your heart is to do right, then God will give you favor in order to work through these difficult spots. Ask God today to show you where the enemy is seeking to make you ineffective.

We wage a spiritual war that is not flesh and blood. We must fight this war with spiritual weapons applied to practical daily living.

Devotion: The Greatest Test
 

The Greatest Test


"I know, my God, that You test the heart and are pleased with integrity." - 1 Chronicles 29:17a

God tests His children to know what is in their hearts. God's desire for each of His children is to walk in relationship with Him, to uphold His righteousness and integrity. It is a high calling that we will fail to achieve without complete dependence on Him.

The greatest tests come not in great adversities, but in great prosperity. For it is in prosperity that we begin to lose the sensitivity to sin in our lives. Adversity motivates us to righteousness out of a desire to see our adversity changed. Prosperity fails to provide this motivation for obedience. We fall into a satisfaction and confidence in life that is based on our prosperity rather than on God.

Hezekiah was a great godly king. He was a faithful, God-honoring king most of his life, but toward the end he became proud. God wanted to find out if he would still honor Him and recognize His blessings in his life. He failed the test when God sent an envoy to his palace to inquire about a miracle that God performed on behalf of Hezekiah. The test was designed to find out if Hezekiah would publicly acknowledge the miracle performed on his behalf.

But when envoys were sent by the rulers of Babylon to ask him about the miraculous sign that had occurred in the land, God left him to test him and to know everything that was in his heart (2 Chronicle 32:31).

Hezekiah's failure resulted in his children failing to carry on as rulers of Israel, and the nation would eventually be taken over by Babylon.

The lesson of Hezekiah is clear. If we are to remain faithful to our Lord, we must remain steadfast in our obedience to Him. Prosperity can be our greatest test. Ask the Lord to give you the grace to be a faithful follower during times of prosperity.

Devotion: You Were Made to Fly
 

You Were Made to Fly


"Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will depart. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised" (Job 1:21).

Can a caterpillar fly? If you said, "No," you would be partially correct. Actually, a caterpillar can fly, but it must have a transformation first.

The butterfly begins life as a caterpillar, a wormlike larva that spins a cocoon for itself. For weeks, the larva remains hidden within the cocoon as it undergoes metamorphosis. When it's time for the butterfly to emerge, it must struggle and fight its way out of the cocoon. We might be tempted to help this process by tearing open the cocoon - but that's the worst thing we could do. The struggle makes it strong and enables it to fly. Butterflies need adversity to become what God intended them to be. So do us.

The Book of Job is the story of a wealthy and successful community leader named Job. He was a successful and righteous businessman with huge holdings of livestock and real estate. One day satan came before God and asked him, "Where have you come from?" satan replied, "From roaming through the earth and going back and forth in it."

God said to satan, "Have you considered my servant Job? He is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil." Notice that God pointed Job out to satan! God gave satan permission to put Job through a trial of adversity. Job's herds were stolen, his servants were murdered, and all of Job's children were killed by a sudden tornado.

Through his trial of adversity, he grows in strength, wisdom and faith. His entire perspective on God is transformed by his suffering. He was even accused of sin by his closest friends.

We must get beyond the immature notion that God is interested only in making us healthy, wealthy and happy. More than anything, He wants us to be like Christ. And the road to becoming like Christ often leads through the wilderness of adversity.

In order for the butterfly to fly, there must be a transformation process that is often developed through adversity

Devotion: A Mother's Work
 

how many of you guys have your wife set up as a stay at home Mom?
seems that's the best way to do it, raise your family with your values, instead of daycare.


------------------------------------
A MotherÔÇÖs Work

"Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Honor your father and mother - which is the first commandment with a promise - that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth" (Ephesians 6:1-3).

One of the great tragedies of society today is the minimizing of the work performed daily by stay-at-home moms. Women who decide to stay home to raise their kids are a rare breed indeed. They must overcome the stigma of comparison to others who pursue careers outside the home. They fail to get the feelings of accomplishment that can come from a career. They are the unseen missionaries of our day. There will be a special reward for these selfless servants.

Without the commitment of our stay-at-home moms we would not have some of our greatest leaders. "All that I am, or hope to be, I owe to my angel mother," said Abraham Lincoln.

Though poor, Ida Stover was determined to go to college. She scraped together enough money to attend Lane College in Lecompton, Kan., where she met fellow student David Eisenhower. She was known as a firm but gentle disciplinarian and was deeply religious. It is said she once won a prize for memorizing 1,365 Bible verses. As a pacifist, she was not in favor of her son attending West Point but decided to let him go. She was the mother of Dwight David Eisenhower, one of the greatest U.S. presidents.

Mary Litogot grew up on a farm, and met her future husband, William Ford, when he came to work on their farm. She was 12 and he was 26. They married nine years later. Mary was self-sufficient and a diligent worker. Henry later attributed his clean factories to her belief in cleanliness. She encouraged his interest in machines early on. He later said, "I have tried to live my life as my mother would have wished. I believe I have done, as far as I could, just what she hoped for me." She was the mother of Henry Ford.

Has God called you to be a stay-at-home mom? Know that your obedience and sacrifice will be recognized by the Lord.

THANK GOD FOR ALL OUR MOTHERS AND TO EVERY MOTHER READING THIS, ÔÇ£HAPPY MOTHERÔÇÖS DAYÔÇØ

Devotion: No Longer Thirsty
 

No Longer Thirsty

ÔÇ£Whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal lifeÔÇØ (John 4:13-14).

I was called to the law enforcement academy to meet with a recruit who was burned out and ready to quit. We sat quietly until he finally spoke, asking for water. Finally, refreshed by a cold drink, we began to deal with his issues and eventually got to a place of prayer. I asked for GodÔÇÖs refreshing touch upon the manÔÇÖs life.

In the Bible story of the woman at the well, the Samaritan was a woman of mixed heritage with a bad reputation. No Jewish man would talk to her, but Jesus didnÔÇÖt let that stop Him from engaging her in conversation.

The story reminds us that the Gospel is for every person, no matter what race, social status, or sinful past. Like Jesus, we are called to cross barriers as we follow Him, prepared to offer the Gospel to anyone, anytime, in any place.

My academy friend offered himself to Jesus, drinking deeply of His love, strength, wisdom, and care. He found the strength to keep going and enter the world of law enforcement.

Jesus, the fountain of life, brings living water that can forever quench a personÔÇÖs thirst for God.

Devotion: Hearing His Voice
 

distractions = hot rods, wife's, girls, toys, guns......

---------------------------------

Hearing His Voice


"He who belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God." - John 8:47

Jesus said that the key to being able to hear God's voice is first to be one of His children. One of the great mysteries of the universe to my logical mind is how God can communicate with six billion people on the earth at the same time. It is one of those mysteries I must let go of because my "hard drive" would crash if I had to explain and understand this before I believed and trusted in Him. It is as though God places a computer chip in each human being, and when we place our faith and trust in Him, it becomes activated. We begin to communicate with Him. Jesus says that if we are children of God, then we can hear God's voice. He further explains this relationship in the following parable:

"I tell you the truth, the man who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. The man who enters by the gate is the shepherd of his sheep. The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger's voice (John 10:1-5)."

The Shepherd is always representative of Christ. Sheep are representative of God's children. This passage tells us that the Shepherd communicates with His children. We are called by name and we can listen to our Shepherd's voice. There is another comforting aspect to this relationship. The Shepherd goes before the sheep to prepare the way. Jesus has already gone before us today to prepare our way.

Knowing the Shepherd and His voice allows us to have the assurance that we will not be fooled by another shepherd's voice. The sheep know His voice. It is only when we are dull of hearing that we mistakenly hear another's voice and follows it. Sin can create a poor frequency in our communication with the Shepherd. Make sure your frequency is free of static (sin) today so that the Shepherd can lead you and go before you.

Finally, distractions can also keep us from hearing our Shepherd's voice. When the sheep get entangled in the fence or wander off, they get too far away to hear the Shepherd's voice. We must stay in close proximity to the Shepherd to hear His voice. Stay close to the Shepherd today. Listen and follow. He wants to lead you

Devotion: I Am With Thee
 

I Am With Thee

Isaiah 41:10 (KJV) "Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness."

Here in the Word of God we have a promise from God, "...I am with thee!" And because He is with the Born Again Believer, those that are saved do not have to fear or be dismayed, losing our courage in the face of danger or trouble.

One thing that every human being can be assured of is this, you will face opposition, danger and trouble in this life, but to the child of God, God tells us to not fear nor be dismayed because HE IS WITH US! GLORY TO GOD! Some folks may say BIG DEAL, SO WHAT if He is with you? Let me say this, God is not just anybody, GOD IS GOD!

The Bible clearly tells us that no weapon can be formed against a child of God that will harm us. The Lord promises us that He will help us and protect us by HIS RIGHT HAND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS! No matter what may come in our way, this I know, IF YOU ARE ON THE LORD'S SIDE, YOU ARE A WINNER EITHER WAY!

Devotion: Free to Stand
 

Free to Stand

"That is why the Israelites cannot stand against their enemies..." Joshua 7:12
It matters not how strong you are. It matters not whether you have the greatest resources and talent. It matters not if you have the best plans and procedures. It will all fail if you have a break in your armor.

This is the message God told Joshua when he attempted to go against a small army at Ai, which was the Israelites' second battle in the Promised Land. Sometimes we try to figure out why we are not successful in an endeavor. We look at all aspects of our performance to see what went wrong. For the people of Israel, it was not easily seen on the surface.

Everything seemed just as it should be from Joshua's vantage point, so when his army was soundly defeated, he cried out to God, "Ah, Sovereign Lord, why did You ever bring this people across the Jordan to deliver us into the hands of the Amorites to destroy us?" (Josh. 7:7a)

The people had been defeated because God could not bless them. One person had violated the covenant with God. They were not to take any possessions from the first battle, but one person failed to live up to this, and the whole army suffered.

Sin makes our armor vulnerable to attack from satan, who then gains permission from God to attack us in the area where we have failed to uphold righteousness. If we break down in moral purity, satan comes in and establishes a stronghold. If we give place to bitterness and unforgiveness, we will break fellowship with God and others. If we become money-focused, we will fall into greed and deception. It is a vicious cycle.

Examine your armor today. Make sure you are not susceptible to attack. Begin from a solid spiritual foundation and your chances of success will be great

Devotion: Faith Journey
 

Faith Journey

That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God.

Our faith journey isn't just about showing up on Sunday for a good sermon and good music and a good meal. It's about what we do Monday through Saturday as well, especially in those quiet moments, when the spotlight's not on us, and we're making those daily choices about how to live our lives.

We see that in the life of Jesus Christ. Jesus didn't limit his ministry to the four walls of the church". He was out there fighting injustice and speaking truth to power every single day. He was out there spreading a message of grace and redemption to the least, the last, and the lost. And our charge is to find Him everywhere, every day, by how we live our lives."

Devotion: Seeing Backward
 

any you guys got an example of this, seeing how/why something happened years later? post'em up, tired of talking to myself in here...


It is often years later when we discover the wisdom of God

-------------------------------------------------------------------



Seeing Backward


"O LORD, when you favored me, you made my mountain stand firm; but when you hid your face, I was dismayed" (Psalm 30:7).

It is often difficult to recognize the hand of God when we are in the midst of adversity. We often feel God has hidden His face from us. When the Lord takes us through deep valleys, there will be fruit from the deep valley that we cannot see. You must press into Him with all you have during this time.

God uses the deep valley to frame our lives to create a change in our nature, not just a change in habits. The depth and width of our valley is often an indicator of the level of calling and influence we will have on others in the future. Our adversity is not just for us, but others who will be in our future path of influence. This is not very comforting when you are in the middle of the valley, but know this is a truth in the Kingdom.

It is often years later when we discover the wisdom of God and why He intentionally led us through the dark valley. Life is often lived forward, but understood backward. It is not until we are down the road and we stand on the mountain looking back at through valley that we can appreciate the terrain God has allowed us to scale and the spiritual deposits He has made in our life while we were there. "He reveals the deep things of darkness and brings deep shadows into the light" (Job 12:22). When you begin to realize this, you sit back and breathe a sigh of relief because you know that God was in control all along. It didn't seem like it at the time, but He was.

Do you find yourself in the valley? Now is the time to fully trust Him to guide you to higher ground

if you guys got any questions about the Bible, LMK and i can look them up, doing a course now, and it is killing me (time-intensive), but it explains alot.
however, they do tend to use BIG WORDs:

"(2) Given the relationship of Urzeit and Endzeit within the com-positional
seams of the Pentateuch, it is reasonable to expect to find
the important eschatological themes of the poetic texts also in Genesis
1-11. Where this seems to me to be of particular importance is in
the prominence given in the poetic texts to the idea of an eschatological
kingdom. This suggests that the theme of the Kingdom of God
may also be at work in Genesis 1-11. It is from such a perspective that,
I believe, we can begin to feel some exegetical ground under our feet
in the attempt to link the OT and NT into a single Biblical Theology.
It is an exegesis that, as Eichrodt once lamented, is not "exhausted by
a bare historical connection, such as might afford material for the historian's
examination but no more."58 What I think our exegesis suggests
is that the canonical Pentateuch already appears to be in "the
unique spiritual realm of the NT" in which, to quote Eichrodt again,
there is a "fundamental identity" (eine grundlegende Wesenseigent??mlichkeit)
between the NT and OT. For, to quote Eichrodt one more
time, "that which binds together indivisibly the two realms of the
Old and New Testaments . . . is the irruption of the Kingship of God
into this world and its establishment here."

Devotion: Reflecting His Glory
 

Reflecting His Glory


"They will tell of the glory of Your kingdom and speak of Your might, so that all men may know of Your mighty acts and the glorious splendor of Your kingdom." Psalm 145:11-12

How do you measure your effectiveness in God, or should you even be thinking like this? The early Church turned the world upside down in that first century. What made them so effective? Was it their theology? Was it great preaching? Was it due to one man's influence apart from Jesus?

The Scriptures are clear as to what made the early Church effective. It is at the core of God's heart, and it is quite simple. God desires to reflect His nature and power through every individual. When this happens, the world is automatically changed because those who reflect His glory affect the world.

We serve a jealous God. He is a God who will not share His glory with anyone. God sets up situations in order to demonstrate His power through them. He has done this since the day He created man. His desire is to reflect His glory through you and me, so that all men may know of His mighty acts and the glorious splendor of His Kingdom.

The apostle Paul understood this principle: "My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, so that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power" (1 Corinthians 2:4-5). If you do not see His glory being reflected through your life, then you need to ask why. He has promised to do so if we will walk in obedience to His commands.

Devotion: The Hill
 

The Hill
Mary Lee Moeny

'Therefore, since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every weight and the sin that so easily ensnares us. Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us...' Hebrews 12:1

In the early 1980s our daughter ran for a season with the Duke City Dashers, girls' and women's track team. Our daughter was young, maybe first or second grade. One of the races we attended was held in the foothills to the east of town.

We came out for the race on a sunny Saturday ÔÇô you could already tell that it was going to be a hot day. The coach gathered the girls; they lined up at the starting line; the gun was fired and they were off ÔÇô running through the arroyos of New MexicoÔÇÖs Sandia Mountain.

We parents wandered from the Starting Line over to the Finish Line to cheer the girls on. The Finish Line was tricky. As the girls rounded the bend of the arroyo (they would be running through sand), in front of them was a rise.

From the perspective of the girls, the rise seemed to go straight up, at least a mile or so. From the perspective of the parents on the top, the rise was neither that steep, nor that high. And, just as you topped the hill, there was the Finish Line! But, you couldnÔÇÖt see it until you topped the crest of the rise.

The girls came running ÔÇô this was a cross country race and the girls had run hard! One little girl, built more like a cocker-spaniel than a greyhound, ran by. Her face was flushed, hot and sweaty; her curly blonde hair was sticking to her face and her neck. You could tell she had hit the wall, that sheÔÇÖd run out everything she had! When she saw this ÔÇÿmile-high mountainÔÇÖ in front of her, she broke into gasping tears. Her coach, on the sidelines, encouraged her not to quit: ÔÇ£DonÔÇÖt step off the track, honey! You can do it!ÔÇØ He kept encouraging her, telling her she didnÔÇÖt have to run up the hill; she could just walk it. She was so close - she was almost to the Finish Line.

that was a profound lesson to me. When the course has been hard and IÔÇÖve given it all that I have to give; when thereÔÇÖs a pain in my gut and I feel like my legs are made of Jell-O, when I donÔÇÖt know where the Finish Line is, the Lord does know. From the perspective of the little girl, the Finish Line was an impossible goal. From the perspective of her coach, she was almost there.

It has been that way in so many hard, hard issues in my life ÔÇô when I thought I could go no further, my Coach, Jesus Christ always encourages me: ÔÇ£Take heart. Do not be afraid. You donÔÇÖt have to run; just stay on the track! Stay in the race ÔÇô you are almost there!ÔÇØ

He knows where the Finish Line is; He knows how close I am and He gives me strength to finish the course.

ÔÇ£I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.ÔÇØ John 16