Add a Comment

Comment by Capt.Luka Jazvic on April 1, 2009 at 9:38am

Good Morning Russ, Thank you, Everyone have a great and safe day takecare Luka

Comment by russ allen on April 1, 2009 at 7:15am

Good morning! How are we faithing? The dynamics of personalities is interesting. It also can be taxing. I see the same people in different packages at every fire house I go to. The inner workings of personalities and their search for a foothold in time and space is thrilling and exasperating all at once. You all understand this line of thought because you all deal with the same people day to day. Being older and already been through life this far we want to share with the younger ones our sufferings and mistakes and yet they sometimes look at us like we have 2 heads or something huge stuck to our face. Know what? We did that too. Patience comes into play when learning. Children make mistakes and we need that same kind of patience with adults too. Look at the questions posed to Jesus. "How often do I forgive"? Why would a question like that be asked? Because of trespasses performed against the person who asked the question were still fresh in that mind would be my bet. That person was still harboring resentment towards someone for something that happened and he wanted to know what to do. Jesus tells us to forgive quickly and always. God forgave us right? Does he ever say no to forgiving? If he does then we are in deep doo doo. It isn't easy at times but the liberation that comes with quick and real forgiveness is beyond description. I don't mean lip service but really forgiving. Those different personalities we encounter in our days deserve the same forgiveness we got from God, right?

Matt 18:21-22
Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?"
Jesus answered, "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.
NIV

Prov 19:11
The discretion of a man deferreth his anger; and it is his glory to pass over a transgression.
KJV

Prov 20:33
It is to a man's honor to avoid strife,but every fool is quick to quarrel.
NIV

Prov 25:21-22
If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat;if he is thirsty, give him water to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head,
NIV

Look here, Jesus quoting the scripture above;

Rom 12:19-20
Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord. On the contrary:
"If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head."
NIV

Cool huh?

Remember Paulo Amargo...Annie Sheperd...

Heavenly Father,
Thank you for your blessings on us. Lord help us be quick to let go of transgressions like you do. Lord we lift Paulo and Annie and ask a touch from you. Lord forgive us our sins and help us do the same. Lord guide our paths today and help us see you in all we do, in Jesus name, Amen
Posted by russ allen at 6:35 AM

Comment by Capt.Luka Jazvic on March 31, 2009 at 9:00am

Good Morning Russ, Thank you, Everyone have a great and safe day ( off to my S-390 class ) take care Luka

Comment by russ allen on March 31, 2009 at 7:20am

Good morning! How are we faithing? A pile of things going on in the world and if we ain't careful we can get depressed. I think of the things my parents endured. I think of the things my in-laws endured. The things my friend endure. The victims of all sorts of things and the endurance they had to muster or die. Wouldn't you like to think you would come out the other side of things you see happening? Wouldn't you like for those things to pass you by? Of course you would but the reality is things do come our way and the strength needed to overcome is sometimes not there. Where do we get that strength? First it's from God. Your personal strength is a result of learning, past mountains you climbed and the grace of God. He knows you and knew you before you encountered whatever you have encountered and what lies ahead. He already has and is equipping you for whatever comes your way. He formed you the way you are. He knew you before you were in the womb and as he knitted you in that womb already knew what was ahead. Instead of gripping about our lot in life or wishing for a different life it is more prudent that we seek God with what we have and go forward knowing he walks with us and that lot has a purpose. I know, some of you are really in the thick of it but we need to remember some things;

Rom 8:9-17
You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness. And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you.
Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation-but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it. For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father." The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs-heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.
NIV

With this in mind we see that salvation means Jesus is in us and we can take joy even in miserable circumstances that it is all temporal. With that being said, we also are in this flesh and do suffer and we can seek help from the Father because of the son. I chastise friends that don't tell me when they hurt both physical and mental because of love I want the opportunity to pray for them. No pity, no judgement, but the privilege to offer up my friend to my master and know he will help that friend like he helps me so stop trying to be an island and trying to be pius and not bothering each other with burdens...it ain't a bother...it's a privilege to pray for others!

Heavenly Father,
Thank you for allowing us to lift each other to you. Lord we ask for wisdom. Lord let us know you care. Lord we lift those in pain in body and in spirit to you. Hold them and shop them you care. Lord open the eyes of our hearts to needs that we encounter. Lord guide our paths and make it known the direction you have for us, in Jesus name Amen!
Posted by russ allen at 6:40 A

Comment by russ allen on March 30, 2009 at 7:48am

Good morning! How are we faithing this beautiful day? It is strange the attitudes we encounter about being a believer in Jesus. I've heard,"what makes you so special?" and "you ain't any better than me!" or "I don't need help, I'll do it my way. I'm fine." Well, I am special because Jesus loves me. I am better because Jesus has made me better and your way just like mine leads to nothing but heartache. I am special because Jesus gave me salvation and you can have it too! No, I am not any more special than you, I am special to God. I am better than I was because the Word and the Holy Spirit teaches me how to live. I am better as a person because I know I am loved and when you know you are loved it enables you to love back. Never is any of this Christianity a comparison of me to you or visa versa. Yes, some point fingers and belittle but that is not the way to share truth. We are told to speak in love. Love does not teach us to point fingers and criticize. Love does not speak harshly at a difference with someone. Love treats as it would be treated. Ask me and I'll tell you what's wrong, do something to an innocent and I'm all over you. Do something that is between you and God, well that's between you and God. If I see you do something that is harmful I will try to open your eyes to it but I should never blast you and beat you down. That solves nothing and creates animosities. Do you see this? Of course siblings and best friends do have more freedoms with chastisement and that is another subject. So how do we live like the descriptions above? How do we not only appear righteous but seek it? Look here for starters;

1 John 1:5-10
This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.
If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.
NIV

3 John 4
I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.
NIV

James 1:16-21
Don't be deceived, my dear brothers. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.
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

Heavenly Father,
Thank you for your Word that reveals the way we should be. Lord we ask for wisdom and strength to stand on that truth and love and to show it no matter how we feel. Lord protect our hearts from the fiery dart that are hurled at us. Protect those who are apart from their loved ones in Jesus name, Amen
Posted by russ allen at 7:12 AM

Comment by Glen Biddiscombe on March 29, 2009 at 4:47pm

Brother Jon,
Take comfort in the fact that your brothers are thinking of you and your family. Prayers to you and yours
Glen

Comment by Gary W Howell on March 29, 2009 at 3:53pm

Jon,
May the Lord bless you and your family with peace. This is a hard time but you have brothers standing up for you.
God Bless,
GW

Comment by russ allen on March 29, 2009 at 3:27pm

amen on the comments

Comment by Nanny on March 29, 2009 at 2:09pm

Jon, Know that God is with you. My prayer go out to you and your family.

Comment by Capt.Luka Jazvic on March 29, 2009 at 12:36am

I am sorry, My prayers and deepest regards to you and your family,
Take care Luka

• ‹ Previous
• 1
• …
• 124
• 125
• 126
• 127
• 128
• …
• 157
• Next ›
• Page