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Comment by russ allen on Wednesday

Great morning! How are we faithing? I have considered the loss people experience when their house burns down with all their belongings. I also consider the loss of a loved one prematurely that many have experienced. While painful and tough to overcome, putting it in it's place speeds up recovery and also keeps us focused on what truly matters. As Solomon said, "nothing is new under the sun", it behooves us to consider that quote and really burn it in our psyche because when the maladies of this physical life on earth befall us we will be better prepared to deal with the emotional responses that eventually come, also that we are not the only one to endure these things.  Remembering that the grief or whatever one deals with is indeed temporary when one looks to what Jesus is all about. Then that person can do what is necessary and thus faith, courage and strength is built  rather than becoming  a victim. 


Php 3:7-9
  But whatever things were assets to me, these I now consider a loss for the sake of the Messiah.   What is more, I continue to consider all these things to be a loss for the sake of what is far more valuable, knowing the Messiah Jesus, my Lord. It is because of him that I have experienced the loss of all those things. Indeed, I consider them rubbish in order to gain the Messiah  and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the Law, but one that comes through the faithfulness of the Messiah, the righteousness that comes from God and that depends on faith.

Heavenly Father,

   Thank you for your strength in our storms. Thank you for teaching us what is important. Lord forgive our unbelief and our lack of faith. Lord, we love and honor you and do seek your face in what we do. Lord thank you for your Word that without we would all fail. Bless those who are hurting, In Jesus name, amen

Comment by russ allen on Tuesday

Good morning! How are we faithing? I see more and more stories about Christians condemning people for this or that sin. While recognizing sin and informing others about it may be pertinant, our job as we've talked about before is not to condemn the person but the action in question.  I saw some photos of protesters for and against an issue and both have every right to protest pro and con for any issue, after all, this is America.  I also saw both sides of the issue pointing fingers and hurling gross names at each other. Neither is right and yours or my side doesn't matter. When you or I develop disdain for another human over an issue we have stepped out of the grace of God and into an area where one couldn't tell good from bad. It would all seem ridiculous from a disinterested party. We as a society do have to be concerned over an action that is considered evil and laws must be enforced in order to live in a safe environment, we do indeed reap what we sow but we have got to stop dismissing people and not sharing Jesus because of a sin committed. Jesus told us to pray for our enemies. Enemies may not mean a war like footing but anytime two are opposing over any issue, that is an enemy. Has a Christlike love ceased because of an infraction? It better not! All have fallen short. We must don that Christlike demeanor of forgiveness and love. Please understand that Jesus knows when you have been hurt badly and understands the struggle to forgive heinous acts against you but the forgiveness rule still applies so seek out God however you need to in order to forgive. Remember;


 Rom 8:1-4
  Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in union with the Messiah Jesus.   For the Spirit's law of life in the Messiah Jesus has set me free from the Law of sin and death.   For what the Law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the flesh, God did. By sending his own Son in the form of humanity, he condemned sin by being incarnate,   so that the righteous requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not live according to human nature but according to the Spirit. 




remember the lost....




Heavenly Father,
  Thank you for your forgiveness for what I have done. Thank you for loving me regardless of my nature. Lord, please help me forgive likewise. We want to live upright with your love and kindness with you always on our minds. We want to be holy as you originally designed us to be. Lord, help our faith. Help us see things as you see them, in Jesus name, amen

Comment by russ allen on May 14, 2012 at 7:00am

 Great morning! How are we faithing? It is time to stop fretting over ourselves.  All this is not about you...or me.  Our Savior Jesus is what matters. We had better start paying attention to what the Word tells us and less on CNN,FOX and the AP. There are prophecies in the old testament that have and are coming true. Ezekiel spoke of future events and one that comes to mind is the land of Israel being desolate with the ground not yielding anything of value. Mark Twain even stated back in the 1800's after a visit to the land of it's utter waste and how nothing was growing other than weeds.  Then after 1948 when it became Israel, it started producing and now it supplies Europe with food. You think we are not in the last days?  Only a blind heart hardened person could deny this truth. Yes we work and plan for the future but we had better be ready to show the lost, Jesus.  Nor church, not denomination but the savior. I am convinced daily of how I fall short and need a savior. Solomon said there is nothing new under the sun so why are we scratching and digging to do what evaporates eventually? We get butthurt over things that effect our comfort or our view on "how" rather than who? Silly when we think of the people dying without Jesus. They go to hell because we are inconvenienced?  I can't let that happen in my field of view...how about you?


Joh 3:17-21
  Because God sent the Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him.   Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been condemned, because he has not believed in the name of God's unique Son.   And this is the basis for judgment: The light has come into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light because their actions were evil.   Everyone who practices wickedness hates the light and does not come to the light, so that his actions may not be exposed.   But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may become evident that his actions have God's approval."

Mat 9:12-13
  When Jesus heard that, he said, "Healthy people don't need a physician, but sick people do.   Go and learn what this means: 'I want mercy and not sacrifice,' because I did not come to call righteous people, but sinners."


Heavenly Father,
  Give us a heart and desire to show your grace to a lost world. Let us not get distracted by sin but address the sinner. Lord we ask forgiveness when we get haughty and ask for courage to speak boldly to the people dying in this world.  Grant us resources to reach out for the needs around. Lord thank you for your love and peace that is bigger than our temporary woes as humans. Lord, open our eyes with wisdom to speak and act holy. In Jesus name, amen

Comment by russ allen on May 11, 2012 at 7:25am

Good morning! How are we faithing?  Check this out.  This chapter just struck me this morning. What do you think? Any parallels to today? See history repeating? We better pay attention...





Hab 1:1-17
  The pronouncement that the prophet Habakkuk perceived.   "How long, LORD, must I cry out for help, but you won't listen? I'm crying out to you, 'Oppression!' but you aren't providing deliverance.   Why are you forcing me to look at iniquity and to stare at wickedness? Social havoc and oppression are all around me; there are legal conflicts, and disputes abound.   Therefore, the Law has become paralyzed, and justice never comes about. Because criminals outnumber the righteous, whenever judgments are issued, they come out crooked."   "Look out at the nations and pay attention! Be astounded! Be really astounded! Because something is happening in your lifetime that you won't believe, even if it were described down to the smallest detail.   Watch out! For I am bringing in the Chaldeans, that cruel and impetuous people, who sweep across the earth dispossessing people from homes not their own.   They are terrible and fearsome; their brand of justice and sense of honor derive only from themselves!   Their horses are swifter than leopards, and more cunning than wolves that attack at night. Their horsemen are galloping as they approach from far away. They swoop in like ravenous vultures.   "They all come to oppress—hordes of them, their faces pressing onward—they take prisoners as numerous as the desert sand!   They make fun of kings, deriding those who rule. They laugh at all of the fortified places, constructing ramps to seize them.   Then like the wind sweeping by they will pass through—they're guilty because they say their power is their god."   "Haven't you existed forever, LORD my God, my Holy One? We won't die! LORD, you've prepared them for judgment; Rock, you've sentenced them to correction.  Your eyes are too pure to gaze upon evil; and you cannot tolerate wickedness. So why do you tolerate the treacherous? And why do you stay silent while the wicked devour those who are more righteous than they are?   You have fashioned mankind like fish in the ocean, like creeping things that have no ruler.   "The adversary captures them with a hook, gathering them up in a fishing net. He collects them with a dragnet, rejoicing and gloating over his catch.   Therefore he sacrifices to his fishing net, and burns incense in the presence of his dragnet, because by them his assets increase and he gets plenty of food.  Is he to continue to empty his fishing net? Will he ever stop killing entire nations without mercy?"


Read on in Habakkuk.

Heavenly Father,
  Open our eyes. Sharpen our minds. Renew our faith. In Jesus name, amen

Comment by russ allen on May 10, 2012 at 7:33am

   Great Morning! How are we faithing? You know, when a person picks verses out of the Bible to justify their thoughts or beliefs and they are contrary to the whole council of God they are rapidly approaching their own demise. I heard an old tune from the 90's and was listening to what was said. The singer said Jesus was the only son and then said he believed he could not be saved. What? How did he come to that conclusion? He would admit Jesus is Gods son and not believe him when he said we could be saved by the belief and confession of that son Jesus.  Is that selfishness? Self absorption?  Did he miss the grace of the Word or did the lyric just fit?  Bothers me that any perish and even though it is by choice I still have to scream from the mountain tops, wake up! It's for you just like it's for the apostles and any other saint that ever lived. All have fallen short of the glory of God but even though we are sinners, Jesus came so we might be saved.  Do we agree with all dogmatic ideas? Of course not. Do we have to tow the line and if we don't we loose that grace and salvation? Of course not because if that's the case, we're all doomed and this faith is futile. What's that sum total of good verses bad that is the plateau? Where do we finally earn enough? The fact is we can't. You can't do enough good to outweigh the bad. By grace we are saved, not by works lest anyone should boast. And those of you boasting, cut it out.



2Ti 3:14
But as for you, continue in what you have learned and found to be true, because you know from whom you learned it.



Heb 11:1 
Now faith is the assurance that what we hope for will come about and the certainty that what we cannot see exists.

Remember Abby's Mom...

Heavenly Father,

  Thank you for your Word. Thank you for offering salvation . Thank you for assurance we have it. Lord, open the eyes of our hearts, let us see truth. Let us see to the hearts of the lost. Put the words in our mouths that heal and not hinder and harm. Teach us to be your disciples. We lift those in physical peril today. Comfort  and heal, in Jesus name, amen

Comment by russ allen on May 9, 2012 at 7:08am

 Good morning! How are we faithing this hump day?  I am struggling with things. I talked to a friend last night, rather listened to him, and I saw where I was years ago. I saw the enthusiasm when he realized how God is working in his life. I saw the eyes of delight when he recognized the Holy Spirit working in himself.  His smile was so big because his doubt was diminished. He made one step closer to refuting past mistakes and hurts that still haunt him.  The peace that passes all understanding is truly a wonderful thing and it settles issues inside that many times isn't even verbally available. Sometimes we just know that we know. We need to keep encouraging one another to press on with this salvation and to not let this world captivate and sway us and our thinking.  It is all to easy to become entrapped by social and physical things of this world and many times to our own detriment. Keep the Word of God close to your heart and it will come forward in times of need. Keep reading and seeking because as you eat the Word daily and ingest it becomes nourishment for our marrow. Yeah the stuff that comes back to our memory can paralyze us from time to time but as soon as you recognize it, pray. Remember what the Word says...



Eph 2:13-17
  But now in Christ Jesus ye that once were far off are made nigh in the blood of Christ.   For he is our peace, who made both one, and brake down the middle wall of partition,   having abolished in the flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; that he might create in himself of the two one new man, so making peace;   and might reconcile them both in one body unto God through the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:  and he came and preached peace to you that were far off, and peace to them that were nigh:  for through him we both have our access in one Spirit unto the Father.

Remember Vera Redden...remember Sandy Hall...

Heavenly Father,

   Please forgive our weakness and our frailties. We want to operate upright and honorable but sometimes we just get tripped up by the physical. Lord, grant us the wisdom to see things as they are and not as they appear. Teach us to stand firmly and without doubt of our place in you. Touch these mentioned and thos on our hearts, in Jesus name, amen

Comment by russ allen on May 8, 2012 at 7:19am

  Good morning!!! How are we faithing? We as believers were given a promise and it has come to fruition. We were promised the Holy Spirit and when we accept Jesus as messiah, the Holy Spirit comes and dwells in us. The people prior to messiah didn't enjoy this gift. They relied on prophets only for wisdom and the Word from God. They had a temple and an altar that only a priest could approach. Now our bodies are the temple and our altar is where ever we humble ourselves to the Father.  Before we were not real sure where we stood as far as good deeds vs evil ones. We were not sure if we even could earn a trip to heaven. Now we know that through Jesus Christ we earn that trip and not out of anything done by us, except to believe. After that we do indeed get a little better but not "holier than thou" but because the Holy Spirit that now dwells in us, reminds us of God's laws not as judgement but as a holy way to live. Yes we can drown out that small still voice by ignoring it and being selfish but it's still there, we need but listen. We obey the laws of God out of love and not out of compulsion. There times when we do obey for obeying's sake and because we know God's way is always a better way but that is out of this love for our savior and a trust that is just beyond comprehension. Not following blindly at the request of any man but at what the Word says. Just think on this and remember;


Joh 14:16-17
  I will ask the Father to give you another Helper, to be with you always.  He is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor recognizes him. But you recognize him, because he lives with you and will be in you.

Eph 1:13-14

  You, too, have heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed in the Messiah, you were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,  who is the guarantee of our inheritance until God redeems his own possession for his praise and glory. 

Remember Fred Gee...

Heavenly Father,

   Thank you for your truth in your Word. Thank you that your Holy Spirit prompts us when we stray. Lord, open our ears to your Word and ways. Help us recognize that voice so we can improve. Lord we ask for wisdom and courage to face this world honorably. Bless those seeking and tie our tongues when they need to be. Open our mouth with your words in Jesus name, amen

Comment by russ allen on May 7, 2012 at 8:03am

 Good morning! How are we faithing? I have heard some comments from conservative commentators lately that make me cringe. While technically they may be accurate, the usage does more harm than good. The whole counsel of God in the Word of God must be taken or believers come across as judgmental and narrow minded. Don't get me wrong, sin is sin and there is no way around what the Word tells us but pointing out the specific sin and not seeing the person is not what we are to do. Yes we can voice opinion on a specific sin as far as legislation and the law of the land goes but forgiveness is suppose to be what we do under grace.  Jesus forgave sins throughout the Word. Diseases were healed with forgiveness.  Sins were wiped out and people got a fresh start with forgiveness so why do we believers sometimes condemn others?  Where is it written the Jesus ever said any sin, except blaspheming the Holy Spirit, condemns one to hell? The only thing that condemns one to hell is denying Jesus and that is blaspheming the Holy Spirit. It's time we get off our high horse and  get down eye level with all people. We believers ain't any better than anyone else, we are just people who looked for true spiritual food and found it. We must share that grace filled food and let the provider sort out the sin.


Rom 5:17 
For if, through one man, death ruled because of that man's offense, how much more will those who receive such overflowing grace and the gift of righteousness rule in life because of one man, Jesus the Messiah!

1Co 15:21-22

  For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead also came through a man.   For as in Adam all die, so also in the Messiah will all be made alive. 

Remember our leaders...remember the lost...


Heavenly Father,
  Please forgive our unbelief and our finger pointing. Lord bless those we meet, let them see and accept your grace and love. Lord we lift our leaders up and ask for wisdom they see truth. Lord protect the innocent. Teach us to love unconditionally. In Jesus name, amen.

Comment by russ allen on May 3, 2012 at 7:27am

   Good morning!  How are we faithing this fine day?  Man, have you ever just knew something or figured it out in your head without having done it before?  I know as a car enthusiast I have and I have heard of people in other professions do the same. With this in mind it only stands to reason that in the  spiritual realm  the same things can transpire. There are things that our spirit being knows that it knows and we as spiritually alive in Christ recognize this. Those who are dead spiritually cannot conceive  the principles of God. Forgiving enemies is foolish to the world. Loving enemies also. Believing and trusting in a savior that we can't see makes no sense to the world.  Ever notice that in idol worship there is always something tangible? We as believers see tangible results instead and that is a huge difference.

1Co 2:9-16

  But as it is written, "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined the things that God has prepared for those who love him."  But God has revealed those things to us by his Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the deep things of God.   Is there anyone who can understand his own thoughts except his own inner spirit? In the same way, no one can know the thoughts of God except God's Spirit.   Now, we have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who comes from God, so that we can understand the things that were freely given to us by God.   We don't speak about these things with words taught us by human wisdom, but with words taught by the Spirit, as we explain spiritual things to spiritual people.   A person who isn't spiritual doesn't accept the things of God's Spirit, for they are nonsense to him. He can't understand them because they are spiritually evaluated. The spiritual person evaluates everything but is subject to no one else's evaluation. For "Who has known the mind of the Lord so that he can advise him?" However, we have the mind of the Messiah. 

remember Art Clay...Kat Icenhower...Sawyer Rodgers...Epp Walls family...

Heavenly Father,

  Thank you for revealing your ways to us. Help us be courageous in following those ways. Help us understand principles that heal rather than hurt. Lord we lift those mentioned today, show yourself in a way they cannot deny you are with them. Open eyes so they step forward and accept your gift of salvation. Lord we lift up our leaders, make known any deceit and turn their eyes to you instead of their own self interest. In Jesus name, amen

Comment by russ allen on May 2, 2012 at 7:30am

  Good morning! How are we faithing? There are many stories of old told about the pleasures of sin and the fall afterwards. Sin is fun. Sin is pleasurable...for awhile.  The ramifications of disobedience can be immense. It doesn't take a mental giant to observe certain actions and the side effects.  You keep drinking heavier and heavier and alcoholism can result. You keep taking pills and addiction can ensue. You keep smoking and soon you smoke all the time. You keep messing around on your spouse and soon you will be alone. You ignore God's calling to mercy and you will end up in hell. The only thing that makes us hell bound is rejecting Jesus but why would we dive into things that can make life here miserable? Paul said all things are legal but not all things are profitable. Because of the mercy of God and the grace we live under as disciples of Jesus we enjoy complete freedom but wisdom dictates that we abstain from certain things.  Of course we will sin from time to time because of our human state but we must be aware and wary so as to not be caught up in something that destroys our physical state. This is a huge study and I do admonish you to explore in the Word for your self so you can be ready for the battle with enticing things that destroy rather than heal.

Heb 11:24-25

  By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called a son of Pharaoh's daughter,  because he preferred being mistreated with God's people to enjoying the pleasures of sin for a short time. 

Isa 51:7  

Listen to me, you who know righteousness, you people who have my instruction in their hearts. Don't fear the insults of mortals, and don't be dismayed at their hateful words. 

Tit 2:11-13

  For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all people.  It trains us to renounce ungodly living and worldly passions so that we might live sensible, honest, and godly lives in the present age   as we wait for the blessed hope and glorious appearance of our great God and Savior, Jesus the Messiah. 

remember Baily Ford...remember our churches and their leaders as well as their families...

Heavenly Father,

   Thank you for you wonderful Word that feeds us truth in a lying world. Lord we desire to live upright. We want to please you by being people of truth. Help us be courageous to stand for the principles in your Word. Bless those who are seeking your ways. Guide and prop them up. Grant

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