Add a Comment

Comment by Capt.Luka Jazvic on February 24, 2009 at 8:21am

Thanks Russ, Good Morning Everyone, Have a great and safe day!!

Comment by russ allen on February 24, 2009 at 7:20am

Good morning! How are we faithing? Lets look at a subject that is important and gets tossed around a bunch. The word is repent. Look at this;

Matthew 4:17
From that time on Jesus began to preach, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near."
NIV

What is the meaning of repent? We hear it all the time and it congers up visions of wailing on your face with burnt offerings etc. Repent comes from the Greek verb "metanoeo" which means to think differently, to change your mind. So with that knowledge we can view the action of repentance with a new vision. It can mean falling on your face before God asking forgiveness and can also mean to raise your eyebrows in glee for new insight with the thought,"Eureka! I didn't know that! I've changed my mind!" Here's another way of looking at repentance. If we fall in a ditch, we don't stay there do we? So if we sin, once we realize, we don't continue doing it. Are we talking perfection here? Not at all. The Bible is full of examples of repentance and examples of Godly men screwing up. We must stop when we realize. Is it something you can't stop? Get help. A Doctor, a Pastor, a friend whatever it takes but when you come to the realization, repent and seek Gods love. Don't beat yourself up, just ask for forgiveness and move on. Look at these;

Luke 5:31-32
Jesus answered them, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." NIV

Acts 3:19-21
Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, and that he may send the Christ, who has been appointed for you-even Jesus.
NIV

Luke 15:9-10
In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents."
NIV

Heavenly Father,
Thank you for your love and forgiveness. Thank you we have life from your son. Lord help us understand and repent when we realize we've done wrong. Lord help us be better and wiser so we can make better and wiser choices. Lord we do repent of the things we do that are contrary to your Word. Lord, help us be shining stars of your love and not just window dressing. We lift up those who need you in their lives and are struggling. Lord we love you and worship you in Jesus name, Amen
Posted by russ allen at 6:34 AM

Comment by Capt.Luka Jazvic on February 23, 2009 at 8:25am

Good Morning Everyone, Have a great and safe day!!

Comment by russ allen on February 23, 2009 at 7:49am

Good morning! How was your weekend? I had kids and grand kids! Being immersed in the kids this weekend was wonderful and reassuring that God's love and grace abounds. Watching the grand kids interact with the kids, besides making me feel old, made me see the admonition and the training that happens. It also made me recognize things my parents taught me that now shows up in them. It also brought to the forefront with conversations, the heartache and the triumphs that they face just like we did and do. Also noticed, which made me reflect, how other peoples actions and circumstances effect us all. Do we let other peoples actions affect our faith? Our walk with Jesus? Our self worth and control? The answers should be no but those things do effect us. So how do we deal with the depression or the humiliation or the downright loneliness that can erupt from others actions? Sometimes we get mad at God. Sometimes we toss in the towel and run away but we must look to the Word and our savior for the answers and relief from the pain because if we don't, we can become numb to the promptimgs of the Holy Spirit which leads down that path of destruction. Not eternal destruction because God told us once we are his, no one can snatch us away but we sure can become ineffective and miserable. Look at these;

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

Ephesians 1:17-23
I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.
NIV

There are no trials or calamities that Jesus has not overcome. When you feel hurt, lonely, betrayed, man has done it, not God. When you think he has turned away, it is man who stepped on you, not God. Remember God is still there even when the worst of mankind actions happen.
Remember Christy, Troy, Camile, Tony, Layla...remember Tony, Monique, Rainy...

Heavenly Father,
Thank you for family. Thank you for the love and relationships from them. Lord thank you for always being present even if we can't seem to find you. Help us not despair or anguish over what is done to us. Help us see that calamity happens and when we are in the midst, you are still there. Lord help us love others as you do. Help us see truth and protect us from lies. In Jesus name, Amen
Posted by russ allen at 6:52 AM

Comment by Jeff Taormina on February 20, 2009 at 10:13am

Thank you.
I take it day by day but some days are better than others.

Comment by Capt.Luka Jazvic on February 20, 2009 at 9:29am

Good Morning Everyone, Have a great and safe day!! Jeff you will be in my prayer's today along with all our brothers and sisters.

Comment by Jeff Taormina on February 20, 2009 at 8:24am

I held on to hate for a while and it made things worse.
I am trying to be at peace with it and it comes a little better now.
This past week was his birthday and it put me back in to a depression.
I know the right path and I am on it it's just sometimes the bumps can bump you a little harder than you expected.

Comment by russ allen on February 20, 2009 at 8:05am

Jeff,
We may never know why anything goes down the way it does. I wouldn't dream of giving platitudes or empty words because there just aren't any that help with that question. God is in charge. God knows you are hurting and provided a way for you to approach him with confidence, Jesus. If you are bewildered, mad, heart broken, tell him. I look at my kids and there's no way I would sacrifice them for you, but God sacrificed his son for you and me and your brother. The world has evil in it and good people suffer because of it. Pray, seek real wisdom from the Word and don't let hatred permeate your psychy, it'll kill you.

Comment by russ allen on February 20, 2009 at 7:59am

Good morning! How are we faithing? I'm a little late today but my excuse is grand kids from Illinois visiting! So cool to see them growing and becoming there own personality.
We've talked alot about prayer and our reliance on God in all we do. We've talked about the grace of Jesus that saves us and how we can trust God's choices in our lives even when we disagree. We've talked about the Word as our guide and knowledge about things that are contrary to the worlds view. In our struggle with life and faith we must remember that as hard as it gets, it's nothing to God. Yes some things suck really bad but with faith and grace, which we learn by suffering unfortunately, we become stronger. Look as these next verses as encouragement for our days;

Colossians 2:13-19
When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.
Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ. Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you for the prize. Such a person goes into great detail about what he has seen, and his unspiritual mind puffs him up with idle notions. He has lost connection with the Head, from whom the whole body, supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow.
NIV

Do you see that? The focus on God is why we even bother to search. We focus on him and the promises and leave all the consequences to him. We don't boast about ourselves because without God we would amount to nothing but dust, a vapor here today and gone tomorrow.
Remember Jenny Taylor...remember Bill Harrod...Pray for the kids...

Heavenly Father,
Thank you for family. Thank you for wisdom that teaches us to seek you in all we do. Lord help us see truth and not be boastful or sing our own accolades. Lord help us realize we are a small spec in all of this but you love and care about that spec. Lord clear the paths and minds of those who are struggling, in Jesus name, Amen
Posted by russ allen at 7:23

Comment by Jeff Taormina on February 19, 2009 at 11:50am

After losing my brother on 9/11 in the WTC I still, to this day ask WHY!?!

• ‹ Previous
• 1
• …
• 131
• 132
• 133
• 134
• 135
• …
• 157
• Next ›
• Page