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Comment by russ allen on May 25, 2009 at 7:35am

cool, Padre

Comment by russ allen on May 25, 2009 at 7:34am

Good morning! How are we faithing? It is interesting to watch while some are struggling with their own flesh. Sometimes we see the problem but can't tell them because they have to learn on their own and sometimes it just ain't any of our business. Thew answers to our own struggles can come from a variety of sources and sometimes from where we never expected. Our minds as sponges are constantly absorbing everything around us. What have you surrounded your self with? Do you ever feel like you are losing it? Do you feel so overwhelmed you retreat inward? We all feel these things and throwing up that wall of protection, even from the ones we trust and love, happens if we ain't aware and careful. That wall from the trusted and loved is dangerous to ones self. Isolation during dismay begats more dismay. Look here;

2 Tim 1:7
For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
KJV

See that? Feel like you're going nuts? Seek council. Remember it may be medical. Don't be afraid to talk to a Doctor because when you feel alone or like you're the only one dealing with these things you may find that is not true and your malady happens with regularity. We've talked before about the flesh and it's inherent weaknesses and also about nurturing our spirit being. When we come to a saving knowledge of Jesus, it doesn't mean that the physical is done away with. Only in heaven does that happen so while we are here we need to feed the spirit and take care of the flesh. Look at this and think;

1 Cor 10:12-13
No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it. NIV

Common to man...hummm...think that may apply to your situation?

Heavenly Father,
Thank you Lord for the wisdom contained in your Word. Lord we ask for guidance and wisdom to act accordingly to things we face. Lord help us trust when we are in that fog of dismay. Lord help our troops show mercy. Lord protect our kids, in Jesus name, amen
Posted by russ allen at 7:07 AM

Comment by Padre Pete on May 25, 2009 at 7:10am

On Burn Out


Dear Lord,

You knew I’d be there and that I shall, for Jesus told me so.
To listen in their darkest hour and bid their sorrow go.
To pull them from their sad abyss, some seeds of hope to sow.
While on the strings of my sore heart they play their songs of woe.

To some I seem a promise kept, a steadfast guiding light.
Tho I cower and shield my flickering flame that I may not lose sight.
How came I to be so propelled, into strangers’ pain and fright?
Pray tell me again of your promise to me if I but win this fight.

Against the hull of our mighty ship the waves of fate do play.
As your grace is the mast that holds our sails, am I to be a stay?
By the burden of lives in need of me that line does stretch and fray.
Pray, could I not serve you best tomorrow if I could but rest today?

Comment by Ron King (Fire Chief) on May 24, 2009 at 11:37pm

Hi everyone, I had a picture sent to me of a AG church sign that had a comment on it that was real neat "STOP, DROP, AND ROLL DOES NOT WORK IN HELL ! " A very true comment.

Comment by russ allen on May 22, 2009 at 7:44am

yaay Butch and praise God!

Comment by russ allen on May 22, 2009 at 7:44am

Good morning! How are we faithing? Another week over and we approach Memorial day weekend. Remember to lift up all the families who are remembering lost love ones. Remember our military members, past and present for their sacrifice for us being able to read this.
I am concerned for people I meet. I am in anguish when I see others in anguish. My heart leaps for joy when others are joyful and cries when others cry. Do you feel this way? Do you have pity to the point you act and not just think when you see these things? Granted, sometimes there are no actions other than sympathy and a hug but it still is compassion and that is what we are called to. Jesus taught us to be compassionate to fellow humans. Their hurt is not any more or less than yours. To them hurt hurts regardless of what it is. Compassion for others is cultivated because in the natural we are about ourselves. The differences in male and female are significant emotionally and physically. Men are visual. We see everything. We watch everything. We see and analyze how to fix things. Images stay in our heads. That last one is why pornography is so dangerous . Women are heart feelers. Woman have natural compassion and nurturing instincts. Women are able to notice tone of voice and see things deeper immediately that guys miss. Women seem to sense things we don't. The danger for women with this is if the "feeling" is wrong. So how do we people of both sexes avoid the pitfalls of their gender? First is prayer of course and second is realizing these differences. Thirdly we need to seek truth in the Word. Trust and belief is another for us because without those, the trappings of the world can suck us in to all kinds of things. I knew a man who was very matter of fact and "manly", he missed out on the pleasures of giving his heart totally to his family. He died lonely yet his entire family was around him. I knew a woman who moved with every whim of her heart and yet was never satisfied with herself or her situation. She drove everyone she loved away and passed away, alone. These situations were sad and hopefully we can see their mistakes and live a Godly, loving, trusting, fulfilling life and go on to paradise whole. That compassion we speak of is all over the Bible and God showed it larger than we could ever hope to by giving his son for us. We then are in a position to share that compassion. We also have an obligation to show the same compassion God showed us because, that would be compassionate wouldn't it. Think about these things and how we all are effected and how we respond. Look at these and see the compassion;

1 Peter 3:10-12
"Let him who means to love life and see good days Refrain his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking guile.
"And let him turn away from evil and do good; Let him seek peace and pursue it.
"For the eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous,
And His ears attend to their prayer,
But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil."
NAS

Rom 5:1-11
Therefore having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God. And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. For if while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. And not only this, but we also exult in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.
NAS

James 1:13-15
When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.
NIV

Remember Stephanie and Ken...remember Michelle Barns...remember Chuck...

Heavenly Father,
We have struggles Lord that we can't control and we ask you to renew our minds. We rebuke satan and his minion from our minds in your name. Lord we ask for a healing of our minds. Clear away all the garbage and start us fresh. Lord we struggle with physical and medical things and ask you keep us free from disease that clouds our thinking and your presence. Lord snatch us up out of the dismay and fears we have. Lord thank you for caring enough to provide a way to you through your son, in Jesus name we pray, amen
Posted by russ allen at 6:54 AM

Comment by Mark A. Duell on May 21, 2009 at 4:14pm

AMEN!!

Comment by Doug on May 21, 2009 at 7:39am

Good Morning, To all of you, thanks so much for the prayer for a brother firefighter (Butch), Just wanted you all to know that he has been saved, Our God is a awesome God, he reigns forever.

Comment by russ allen on May 21, 2009 at 7:22am

Great morning! Man it is cool to be faithing! Even amidst turmoil and worries it is good to be in the presence of the Lord! How you say? Praise him in anguish and in joy. Praise him in hunger and plenty. Read your Bible daily and recognise the truth inside. Pray when you read that it be revealed. Know that God is inside and cares for YOU. Ups and downs, rest and weariness, take refuge in the Word and the love God has for us. Encouraging statements for the day!
In times of trouble it is easy to fall into the trap of self pity. It is easy to lash out. It is easy to say, "why me?". How do we avoid this position? Recognition first is the start. You can't correct direction if you can't see the road. Self pity destroys our witness. Self pity has a spiraling effect when we stay in it. Down you go. By being aware of things that toss you into these situations you are better able to equip yourself to respond appropriately when it happens, and it will. Medical issues withstanding, if you are down wallowing in self pity, the problem is not being corrected. "Well you don't know what so and so has done". Matters not. It's over, go yell in the field, get it out of your system and start praying for them. Pray for yourself immediately when you are stepped on that you don't get butt hurt and fall into this trap. It's ok to get mad. It's ok to feel that hurt but don't dwell on either of these emotions because they lead to misery and ultimately, sin. I know man, I struggle the same with getting my feelings hurt ans suffering at the hands of others but know what? My Lord is the same always. He understands and is standing tapping his foot just waiting for you to ask him to step in and heal. These following verses spell out for me what we need to focus on.

Rom 13:8-14
Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law. The commandments, "Do not commit adultery," "Do not murder," "Do not steal," "Do not covet," and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule: "Love your neighbor as yourself." Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
And do this, understanding the present time. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature.
NIV

So if we concentrate on those, who has time or space for self pity? Let it be short lived and move on.

Heavenly Father,
Lord, thank you for your grace that saved a wretch like me. Reveal to us our mistakes so we won't repeat them. Make us aware when we are self pitying and just want to wallow and share these feelings with someone who is doing the same. Open our eyes so we see the folly of this kind of thinking. Teach us to rely on you when we are hurt from others actions. Lord, we lift those who are hurting to you. Remove whatever is hindering their health and touch them to such clarity them cannot deny it. In Jesus name, amen
Posted by russ allen at 6:48 AM

Comment by russ allen on May 20, 2009 at 7:25am

Good morning! How are we faithing? You know, we all face certain things in this life that are dependant on the right choice to deal with them. Using your turn signal to warn others of your intent to turn is a choice. Choose not to use it and an accident can ensue. It's the same way with our faith. Speaking platitudes of belief and then spewing vile sure doesn't convey a belief in Jesus. Think about this line of thought today. We as believers are still walking through this life as a human animal and all the pitfalls that come with it. It's hard when your spouse leaves. It's hard when your child turns to drugs. It's hard when you get robbed. It even sucks when you're late for work because that slow driving, sight seeing loafer on "your" road chooses 7:30 in the morning to joy ride. These sound familiar? Yep, me too. 35 in a 55 ticks me off. What we do with that reveals how we are with this whole "grace" thing. Irritating as it is, cursing and throwing a fit doesn't serve anyone. That guy is still enjoying his ride while you fume. All you've succeeded in achieving is high blood pressure. You, I, also shift focus from grace to ire. I in no way am saying you never get mad or are justified in that anger but what do you do with it? Pray. Seek Jesus' grace. Whistle and enjoy the ride because chances are YOU can't change it anyways. Jesus told us we are a reflection of God and that we serve him in everything. Yes that stubbed toe hurts and as we jump and cuss, remember Jesus and calm down. As we learn to focus on him even in these irritants, the big things are more easily handled. When we train ourselves with the little things, the big things can remain what they are and not lead us down a path we don't want. As you grow you become quickened to the Word and to the Holy Spirits promptings so these big things don't destroy you. Make sense? Look at these;

John 14:12-14
I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. 14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.
NIV

John 15:5-8
"I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.
NIV

John 8:31-32
To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."
NIV

2 Peter 1:5-9
For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.
NIV

Remember Evan Ray Vanover and his family...remember Jill as she seeks God's will ...

Heavenly Father,
Lord we lift you up and ask forgiveness when we show things we ought not. Lord we are a weak animal and fall down alot. Lord we want to see you always and ask for a calmness so we can hear you in times of stress. Lord keep our minds clear and focused on the real issues and not irritants. Lord we ask you help those in need and open our eyes so we can be used by you. Thank you for your grace and love, in Jesus name we pray, amen
Posted by russ allen at 6:24 AM

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