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Comment by russ allen on June 3, 2009 at 7:03am

Good morning! How are we faithing? Such a day when we have lots on our minds. It is easy to concentrate on the item you're thinking about and not so much on God. I have a friend that is going in for surgery today and of course I am concerned yet at peace on the outcome. It seems to be nail biting time because I understand the pain of healing. I am concerned for Josh because he will feel helpless to take Tiffs pain away. It's the waiting at this point. We want to be there for our friends but we know that there really isn't anything we can do physically for them. I lift them to the Master and I know they will be fine in God's will, whatever he has for them. Loving others is hard sometimes and it takes commitment and prayer. We are susceptible to wild thoughts and satan's lies when we get to focused on things and leave God secondary. We all do this and we must train ourselves to come quickly back to the presence of God. How you ask? Be wise in the Word, quick to pray, quick to listen more than speak.

1 Peter 5:8-9
Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.
NIV

Eph 2:3-10
But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions-it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God- not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
NIV

Eph 6:15-18
In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.
NIV

Remember Tiff that all goes perfectly and she heals quick...remember Josh, strength to do what he needs to do...remember the parents that are praying and working with their kids...

Heavenly Father,
Thank you for the insight and wisdom of your Word. Lord help us focus on you in all things. Lord we lift Tiff to you. Guide the surgeons and set your healing hand on her. Lord we lift Josh to you. Grant him peace and wisdom so he can be the spiritual leader of his household. Lord thank you for your blessings. Lord surround us with your protection from the enemy. Lord we give you the honor, in Jesus name, amen
Posted by russ allen at 6:37 AM

Comment by russ allen on June 2, 2009 at 7:16am

Good morning! How are we faithing? Boy did I get a wake up call in the last 12 hours. Something happened and I was ticked. Partially due to someone elses actions which as it turns out was not intentional. I reacted poorly. I recognised that after awhile and asked forgiveness and prayer but was still ticked. Well after a night of sleep I awoke more upset and worried than ticked. Some of the things I've learned were foggy due to my worry and ticked offness. I am truly sorry for my reactions. I talked to a dear friend about this issue and in 5 minutes time after I asked her to pray the problem was solved. Some may say coincidence but I say exactly what she prayed, happened. Her attitude was pure and loving and mine was focused off God and onto me. Bad move and I repent. These are the things we need to really learn and to quickly recognise so we can learn and move on. Look at these again;

Ps 37:8
Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret--it leads only to evil.
NIV

Eph 4:31-32
Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. And be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.
NAS

Ps 141:33
Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; Keep watch over the door of my lips.
NAS

Phil 2:14-17
Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life-in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing.
NIV

It is such a pain in the rear that we keep relearning the same things again and again. It sure is good to realize that our Father forgives us and is patient, kind and loving cause sometimes, we ain't. You all have a wonderful day and be quick to pray and slow to speak!

Remember Chris Bell and Diane Reed as they work through some issues...

Heavenly Father,
Forgive our transgressions and help us not wallow in self pity and anger. Help us seek you immediately upon turmoil. Lord lift our hearts so we rise above circumstances. Lord we lift Chris and Diane to you, grab hold of Chris and give strength ti Di, in Jesus name amen
Posted by russ allen at 6:56 AM

Comment by wampa on June 1, 2009 at 2:14pm

Welcome Mikael, God bless You too.

Comment by Padre Pete on June 1, 2009 at 1:07pm

Welcome Mikael, I have had the great good fortune to have spent a few months in France and am passionate about it. I was under the impression that firefighting in France was done by military personnel who had been assigned to it. Where do you volunteer? Nothing can reaffirm faith like the arrival of beautiful new child. God bless you all.

Comment by Mikaël on June 1, 2009 at 11:13am

Hello everybody, I am a french voluntary fireman and a born again christian too. I am happy to see that I have brothers and sisters in Jesus-Christ with the same involvment for others. I hope to share something with each of You for the glory of our master. God bless You all. Mikaël.

Comment by russ allen on June 1, 2009 at 7:53am

Great monday morning! How are we faithing? Wonderful weekend, not nearly long enough for the honey do's but a good one anyways! Some conversations and events this weekend took place that showed the love and the grace of our savior. I saw people confess sin in a way that had to have been so difficult to the point of passing out. Of course they didn't but it was bold and brave. It also was obedient to scripture. Our love we have from and to Jesus can be telling in how we react to confessions of sin. We've talked about sin many times and being reminded that sin is sin is important. Nothing you have done is any worse than what I have done or what that guy next to you has done. Yes in this world some sin is more heinous than others and consequences follow while we are here but God sees sin as sin. What is the sin that keeps us out of heaven? Refusing Jesus the Christ as savior. Denying he is who he said he is. So with that in mind, check these out;

James 5:16-20
Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit.
Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins.
NKJV

1 John 1:9-10
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.
NKJV


1 Cor 10:12-13
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.
NKJV

See that last one? What you are experiencing is not uncommon. You ain't alone so stand up and know you are loved and forgiven when you ask our Lord. Man, that is reassuring!
Remember Alan Beres for guidance in business ventures...remember each other and the ones you meet that they are struggling too!

Heavenly Father,
Thank you for your love and blessings that are available always. Lord we ask for healing of our minds and peace in our souls so when we encounter trials we see you and only you. Lord help us make wise choices so we don't fall for the schemes of the devil and let us not blame everything on him. Lord thank you for a beautiful in Jesus name, amen
Posted by russ allen at 7:10 AM

Comment by russ allen on May 29, 2009 at 7:15am

Good morning! How are we faithing? End of a long tough week but praises to God that we survived. Amazing sometimes when we think about what we have endured and how Jesus' grace got us through. Are you miserable? Are your eyes downcast with heavy burdens of this world? Stand up and be of good cheer even in sadness because God so loved us all that he provided a way of salvation and peace for us. Now not every day will be filled with honey and rainbows and to expect that is foolishness but we do have a God who will stand by us and even carry us in our grief and turmoil. Searching scripture for general wisdom and searching for an answer to whatever is troubling you is always fruitful. You may not get a yes or no answer but you for sure will find God's wisdom contained within. Look at these and see what you get from them. I'll tell you what I get and you may get another truth that I missed ;

Luke 24:1-12
On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, "Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: " The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.'" Then they remembered his words.
When they came back from the tomb, they told all these things to the Eleven and to all the others. It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them who told this to the apostles. But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense. Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. Bending over, he saw the strips of linen lying by themselves, and he went away, wondering to himself what had happened.
NIV

Besides the story of finding Jesus gone after he was entombed, I had always thought it was just Mary Magdalen and Jame's Mom at the tomb. Nope, Joanna and others told the apostles. Maybe not important per se but interesting.

Matt 7:21-23
"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'
NIV

Scripture about people "working" for salvation. They may do miracles and stuff but if they haven't taken Jesus as savior, admittance to heaven will be refused. Makes you think and be a little introspective about "playing church".

Acts 1:18-20
(With the reward he got for his wickedness, Judas bought a field; there he fell headlong, his body burst open and all his intestines spilled out. Everyone in Jerusalem heard about this, so they called that field in their language Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.)
"For," said Peter, "it is written in the book of Psalms,
"'May his place be deserted; let there be no one to dwell in it,'
and,
"'May another take his place of leadership.'
NIV

Ewww! But quite interesting. So who cut him down from the tree he hung himself on? I must explore this some more.

Point to this is even if you have read the Word and think it isn't necessary to read every day, you are missing important things and tidbits that bring it to life and make it more interesting. The Holy Spirit can't reveal things and answers in the Word if it isn't read. Points to ponder.

Remember Kellynn Bates...

Heavenly Father,
Thank you for your Word that educates and assures us every time we read it. Thank you for making it living word that we can glean life abundantly. Lord be with John and Christy with the new addition to their family! Baby John is a blessing! Lord, Kellynn is struggling, prop her up and let her know the control is yours and whatever goes down she can rest in you. Lord, protect the kids and g4rant safe passage from this week to next, in Jesus name, Amen
Posted by russ allen at 6:40 AM

Comment by russ allen on May 28, 2009 at 7:27am

Good morning! Another faithing day to learn, share and walk with the Lord! As we meet each days first beam of light, thank God in the morning as soon as your eyes open. Thank God in the evening before they close on another day. Thank God throughout your day because without his grace, you wouldn't even be in this day. Lift your eyes beyond your circumstance and see the majesty, the beauty and the good each day can bring. When bad things happen, remember to look to our savior because he is right there with you. Nothing that is happening to you is uncommon to man. Everything you are going through is not new. Check out the wisdom of Solomon and read proverbs, you will be amazed at how application of that wisdom is still relevant today.

1 Peter 3:8-12
Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. For,
"Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech. He must turn from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil."
NIV

These verses in Proverbs stuck out to me today. Think on these.

Prov 4:18-19
The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining ever brighter till the full light of day. But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble.
NIV

Prov 6:16-19
There are six things the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers.
NIV

Interesting...

Heavenly Father,
Thank you for your wisdom that is above anyone on earth. Lord, open our eyes to folly that destroys. Lord open our eyes to choices that honor you. Lord, open our eyes, we want to see Jesus, in Jesus name we pray, Amen
Posted by russ allen at 6:53 AM

Comment by russ allen on May 27, 2009 at 7:24am

Good morning! How are we faithing? You know, sometimes when I counsel I find it difficult to understand why some people don't see what I see. Sometimes I wonder if I can even say anything that will sway them. Then I realize that swaying to my position isn't even the issue or the goal. Counseling, sharing or what ever moniker you attach to this function of listening and seeking God in conversations is all about revelation. Vast differences between people can cause gleaning different perspectives in conversation. As listeners we really need to hear people's position, think about where they are spiritually and emotionally and only then can we give good council. Sometimes shutting up is the best council. If your opinion or "what is your take" is asked, be sure that it is based on Godly wisdom from the Word. Anything other than that is merely opinion which we all get from the world from millions of sources. Who has trustworthy advice? What advice do you keep and what advice to you discard? That wisdom of knowing which is trustworthy and what is fodder is only learned from the Word. Nobody is automatically smart or wise or on top of everything and that's ok because we are all learning every day. Granted, old timers usually have immense insight into things we are just now discovering but even they are learning and growing. If they aren't, that advise is suspect.

Prov 9:9-12
Instruct a wise man and he will be wiser still; teach a righteous man and he will add to his learning. "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. For through me your days will be many, and years will be added to your life. If you are wise, your wisdom will reward you; if you are a mocker, you alone will suffer."
NIV


Prov 11:12-14
A man who lacks judgment derides his neighbor, but a man of understanding holds his tongue.
A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy man keeps a secret.
For lack of guidance a nation falls, but many advisers make victory sure.
NIV

Prov 12:14-16
From the fruit of his lips a man is filled with good things as surely as the work of his hands rewards him.
The way of a fool seems right to him, but a wise man listens to advice.
A fool shows his annoyance at once, but a prudent man overlooks an insult.
NIV


Prov 19:20
Listen to advice and accept instruction,and in the end you will be wise.
NIV


Prov 27:9
Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart,and the pleasantness of one's friend springs from his earnest counsel.
NIV

Of course recognising the source of wise counsel is important. The guy who has had 17 car wrecks in a year is not the one to get driving lessons from. The man who cheats others in commerce is not the one to listen to about honesty. Also remember that unsolicited advice is called interfering.
Remember Damina Green, tumor...

Heavenly Father,
Thank you for wisdom from your Word. Lord, forgive us when we open our mouths when we should shut up. Lord help those who are in turmoil from emotions and worldly things of torment. Lord we lift those up who need healing. Lord grant the revelations in our lives so we are able to accept you will even when it seems unpalatable. Lord we lift Steve M. to you. Grab him and shake his being with your presence. In Jesus name, Amen
Posted by russ allen at 6:39 AM

Comment by russ allen on May 26, 2009 at 7:14am

Good morning! How are we faithing? Back to work after a long weekend. Have you heard the commercial about "what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas"? What a pile of crap that is. Just because no one around here saw or will ever know what we did in Vegas, or anywhere for that matter, doesn't make it ok. How ridiculous is that line of thinking. That is telling people it's ok to do what ever you desire without consequences as long as no one finds out. And some buy into that line of thinking. Oh boy...

Matt 23:25-26
"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean.
NIV

Titus 2:11-14
For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope-the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.
NIV

James 3:17-18
But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.
NIV

Do you see this? Character and true belief will not allow you to do whatever is in front of you when nobody sees. True belief and character will cause you to do what is right whether viewed by anyone or not because it is just that, right. Our love for our savior and his teachings will cause us to feel the guilt for inappropriate actions and the Holy Spirit will convict you before an action is taken. Look, lets be real here, we've all done stuff and knew we were wrong when we did them but for some selfish reason, did them anyways. Lets stop that crap and repent.

James 1:19-21
My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.
NIV

Remember John and Christy...remember Josh and Nikki...remember each other and be encouraging and not a complainer...

Heavenly Father,
Lord, thank you for your Holy Spirit that prompts us every day. Lord we lift up those we meet and their need s to you. Lord take away our sinful desires so we can live holy. Lord forgive us when we give in to the flesh. Help us discern desires that are ok from those that are harmful. Lord we desire your ways and your guidance so we can be more like the people you originally designed. Guide our walk this week in Jesus name, Amen
Posted by russ allen at 6:42 AM

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