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Comment by russ allen on May 19, 2009 at 7:24am

amen Padre

Comment by russ allen on May 19, 2009 at 7:24am

Good morning!How are we faithing? We all have felt this way,"I want to whoop the tar out of so and so! They did thus and so to me!" (insert your situation) Man, is that the truth or what. We need to confess exactly how we feel to our savior. Yes he already knows but remember we talked about this being a relationship and not a religion? That being the case, speak to God and tell him how you feel. Tell him you are angry for being wronged and then pray for that person. "What?!" you scream. I know, it is not easy most times because you feel wronged but I'm telling you, do it anyways. I've been through a divorce. You may be going through one and it sucks but still you need to lift that ex partner up to the Lord because regardless of who did what, sin is still sin and we all have sinned and that person who you feel wronged you still deserves salvation and a touch from God just as much as you do. The Apostle Paul killed and had killed early Christians until on the road to Damascus, he met Jesus. Forgiven he became. One of my mentors went through a divorce. The details don't matter because he is forgiven. She is forgiven. It doesn't matter who's at fault. Yes during it is very hard to to pray for the other but do it anyways. The neighbor who ticks you off, prayer and kindness. That co-worker who ridicules you, prayer and kindness. "But you don't know what he or she has done", it doesn't matter, they deserve prayer as much as you. Man, tell God you don't want to pray and you hope they get hit by a bus but lift them up because he commanded us to and you will be better for it. Harboring resentment can lead to so many sins and we don't want that. Bitterness and rage never acts justly. Be honest with yourself and think about this. You know, how many times have you found out someone had a grudge against you and you didn't even know it! How many times have you been ticked and latter found out that flippant comment's intention was not malicious at all but meant to be informative but was delivered wrong? So look at the situations that hurt as opportunities to heal and to bond closer to God by being obedient to his word and pray for our enemies. Think about that.

Eph 4:29-32
And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
NIV

Neh 9:31
But in your great mercy you did not put an end to them or abandon them, for you are a gracious and merciful God.
NIV

Rom 13:9-10
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.
NIV

Luke 6:31
Do to others as you would have them do to you.
NIV

Lev 19:18
"'Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD.
NIV

James 5:16
Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.
NIV

Heavenly Father,
Lord, we lift to you our enemies and ask forgiveness for them. Lord we ask forgiveness for our thought of retribution to those who wrong us. We know it is yours to repay but we fail so often thinking wrongly. Lord, bless those who curse us. Bless those who harm us. Lord we ask for strength to show your love even when we want to kill someone. Grant rest and peace in our hearts. Lord we lift Jennifer and her endeavors to you. We lift Butch up, heal him. Lord help us see truth in our days and not fear what can be done to us, in Jesus name amen
Posted by russ allen at 6:31 AM

Comment by Padre Pete on May 18, 2009 at 10:55pm

Thought for the day: "Faith does not depend on how good we are but on how good He is."

Comment by Mark A. Duell on May 18, 2009 at 5:58pm

Doug, consider it done. I pray that his family is prepared and that they tie up loose ends, and (if any) broken relationships. I pray that if he doesn't know the Lord that comes to know Him. Sorry for the bad news. I feel bad for the family. But you know who controls the future.

Comment by russ allen on May 18, 2009 at 5:42pm

10-4

Comment by Doug on May 18, 2009 at 8:13am

Good Morning, Just a update on the fellow brother I asked all of you to pray for he is not doing very good and now was told that he has appro. three weeks to live. I ask that you continue to pray for him (Butch) and his family / I'm not sure at this time if he knows the lord as his personel savior or not. Thanks

Comment by russ allen on May 18, 2009 at 7:22am

Good morning! How are we faithing? A couple of thoughts and points to think about this beautiful morning. Reading the Left Behind series of books again has brought out thoughts and scripture I either didn't remember or missed the first time. It got me to thinking about how we view our own worth and what things prevent our following God's teachings or even refusing to hear. You know, foresight is more beneficial than hindsight but insight trumps them both. Foresight can be cultivated by listening to sound doctrine, hindsight can teach lessons but insight from God's own Word teaches us that hindsight and living in regret is worthless. It also teaches us foresight that we don't blindly follow every whimsical teaching. Insight is reading, listening and applying the Word and it's precepts. Insight makes us see the root behind behavior. Insight helps us have compassion even when we are ticked at what has been done. Now don't forget that actions on earth do indeed have consequences and resultant suffering may come about. The beauty in the insight we gather from the Word of God is paramount to our being able to live with true love for others as our savior did. Are we able to love completely? I believe so but we are constantly battling our flesh that wants to reach out and touch someone when they sin against us." Yeah, touch that jerk is what I want to do" is normal when we are attacked but is that wise and profitable? Think about these insights as you go through this week.

Rom 10:3-4
Christ is the end of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes.
NIV

Acts 13:38-39
"Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through Him forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, and through Him everyone who believes is freed from all things, from which you could not be freed through the Law of Moses.
NAS

Matt 5:43-48
"You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.'
But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.
If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
NIV

2 Cor 5:16-21
So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
NIV

Remember Kathy's friend Sarah...John's bro in law Steve...and praise God, Mike's events went well Saturday...

Heavenly Father,
Lord we ask for the insight that opens our eyes to truth and what is really going on around us. Lord, help us see things and act accordingly. Lord we lift those mentioned to you and give you the honor and the praise for all your healings and comfort when we are in need. Lord, help us be examples of you love and wisdom this week, i9n Jesus name, Amen
Posted by russ allen at 6:43 AM

Comment by russ allen on May 16, 2009 at 9:17am

Good Saturday morning! How are we faithing? Today's is geared towards those people who are lost. Geared to someone who feels he or she is beyond saving and that God could not possibly love or forgive them. Those of you who do know and love the Lord, I ask you pray today's daily reaches out and leads to a saving relationship with our savior.
I hear all the time that some people will go to hell because they are worthless dregs of society. I hear false teaching about the grace and love of Jesus and to whom it is for. I listen to errant platitudes and misconceptions about finding ground in this life where anyone can come to Jesus and be forgiven. There is no place in the Word where it tells anyone that they can be saved unless or except thus and so.

John 3:16-18
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son.
NIV

Do you see exceptions? Do you see any reference to a particular sin omits you from Jesus? Nope, none. So someone told you that you are beyond saving...well if you are reading this, that says you are searching and that is step one. You cannot clean yourself up. You cannot get good enough to come to Jesus. You cannot put it off any longer. By coming to Jesus, only then will you get cleaned up. Will it be easy? Probably not. Will you still struggle with addiction, debauchery, sins of all kinds? Yep, you may but having Jesus on your side and a healed heart will point you and lift you up towards getting better. I do not want to paint a Rosy picture but I am telling you that your sins are not any less or more than anyone elses. Look at these next verses and pay attention to the 10th verse. Healing has taken place.

1 Cor 6:9-11
9 Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders 10 nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. NIV

Did you see that? Some of those followers were into every imaginable sin and were redeemed. Jesus released them from them all. Read these and take notice of the particular way they are said. These followers of God were just as big of sinners as anything you have done but they found forgiveness and life in the savior Jesus the Christ;

1 Peter 4:3-6
3 For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do-living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry. 4 They think it strange that you do not plunge with them into the same flood of dissipation, and they heap abuse on you. 5 But they will have to give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.
NIV

Titus 3:3-7
3 At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. 4 But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.
NIV

See anything you can do to earn this grace and salvation? Nope..just belief and repentance.

Eph 2:1-6
2:1 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. 4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions-it is by grace you have been saved.
NIV

Well I'll be. Not one person is omitted from this gift of grace and salvation. It doesn't mention anything like, "you can have this but if you have done thus and so, you can't". I defy anyone to show me, in context, where that is stated. So anyone who is reading this and is down and depressed and considers themselves unworthy of any of this, well you are not worthy as none of us are but guess what? It's still yours for the asking. All you gotta do is ask...

Heavenly Father,
Thank you for your son who gave all so I don't have to. Thank you for loving me even though I have been so bad. Lord I ask you come into my heart and cleans me from all of my sins. Lord I want to get better and I want to be your child. Lord Jesus, help me get away from this sin that is holding me from you. Lord clear my mind from these drugs or thoughts that have me captive. Lord this idol I am bound by is kicking my butt and I want your love to come and save me..in your holy and gracious name, amen
Posted by russ allen at 8:44 AM

Comment by russ allen on May 15, 2009 at 7:30am

Good morning! Are we faithing or despairing? It is so interesting to converse with Godly people and to get their take on things. Trust in a known Jesus freaks take on things, seeking their council and then comparing that council to the Word is wise, edifying and beneficial. Have you been in such a place living that you don't know where to turn? Welcome to humanity. Welcome to life. We all go there from time to time. Sometimes it seems that nothing is working like we thought it would. Big issues to little issues, the council of Godly people is needed. It is important to have a support structure that is faithful and in touch with the Word and in touch with God. Someone who is walking the walk and dealing with the same stuff we deal with. The Word tells us not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together and these problems in life is why. We all need spiritual feeding and nurturing and church, bible study in groups, counseling from fellow believers helps us face these problems. We all also have met people who have had such things happen to them that we are at a loss for what to do or say. These people are being equipped when they seek God to be the ones turned to when others encounter like calamities. While in the midst of such things we need to really focus on the Lord and remind ourselves that we will indeed come out the other side and be stronger for it. Lots of times that thinking is all that sustains us.

John 3:21
But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God."
NIV

Isa 33:15-16
He who walks righteously and speaks what is right, who rejects gain from extortion and keeps his hand from accepting bribes, who stops his ears against plots of murder and shuts his eyes against contemplating evil-- this is the man who will dwell on the heights, whose refuge will be the mountain fortress. His bread will be supplied, and water will not fail him.
NIV

Ps 26:12
My feet stand on level ground; in the great assembly I will praise the LORD.
NIV

Rev 22:14-15
"Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city. Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.
NIV

Jer 17:77
"But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD,
whose confidence is in him.
NIV

Whatever you are in the midst of, seek out God in the scriptures. Take that quiet time with the Word in hand, ask God to speak to you. This relationship with the savior by definition is two way. Ask and listen. Seek trustworthy council. Get alone and listen and compare what you hear to the Word.

Heavenly Father,
Lord, we come before you today with hearts that seek your presence. Lord we know you said where 2 or mare are gather you are amidst us. We ask for your touch and guidance for our days. Give us rest and healings so we may praise and share you with vigor! Lord protect our spirits from the evil one. Thank you and praise be to you, in your holy name Jesus, amen
Posted by russ allen at 6:37 AM

Comment by russ allen on May 14, 2009 at 7:31am

Good morning! And how are we faithing? Following what we are taught in the Word is for sure our goal. Do we condemn ourselves or get discouraged when we don't? Are we quick to point out those who also don't? Criticizing a sinner is a whole lot different than grabbing that sinner and showing them the folly of their actions. We all know the "perfect" one who is quick to point out everyones screw ups. What benefit is that performance? Does pointing things out without grace and love lead that person to a saving grace of Jesus? Not hardly. It isn't any different than the gossip who disguises the gossip with"this is the truth". Will that gossip fix anything? Will that pointing out of the obvious bring people to Jesus? Doubtful and can actually be counterproductive. Of course be ready with the scripture to answer questions about a subject brought up. If all you have is an opinion, keep it to yourself unless you are directly asked for it. The grace and truth we find in the Word is healing to the bones and health for the tissue. If we are quick to pounce on the sinner, what love and grace is shown? This includes yourself.

2 Cor 8:7
But just as you excel in everything-in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us-see that you also excel in this grace of giving. NIV

Phil 3:13-16
Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
All of us who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. Only let us live up to what we have already attained.
NIV

Look at these and think...

1 Peter 1:22-25
Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart. For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. For,
"All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord stands forever."
And this is the word that was preached to you.
NIV

1 Thess 3:12-13
May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you. May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones.
NIV

Now that is interesting and revealing..

Heavenly Father,
Thank you for you love and grace that is all around us. Lord help us look ahead and not back and to remember those past mistakes are as far as east is from west away from us. Lord we lift each other up to you and ask your words be in our mouths and your peaceful love emits through all circumstances and that others see you in us. Lord protect our kids , in Jesus name, Amen
Posted by russ allen at 6:41 AM

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