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Comment by michael wilson on July 3, 2008 at 11:56pm

as we celebrate the birth of our countries freedom on tomorrow, lets all remember those who died for our freedom. also lets be safe/ most of us are going to be on alert ready to save lives. my prayers go out to each and every one of you. God bless.

Comment by russ allen on July 3, 2008 at 7:36am

Good morning! How are we faithing? Do you realize every day that you are saved by faith? Do you realize that you will fail and that because of Jesus we are no longer under bondage to the law? Does that mean we don't obey the law? Not at all. The law is still a valid way to live but by grace we are saved not by judgement of the law. The law is wise but we are human and will never be able to keep it. We tell white lies, we covet, we lust, we cuss, we eat shell fish, we don't keep all the sacrifice offerings, etc. Do you see all that? Praise God we live under the Grace of Jesus cause I would be hell bound otherwise. Check out these;

Galatians 3:4-5
Does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you because you observe the law, or because you believe what you heard?
NIV

Galatians 3:10-14
All who rely on observing the law are under a curse, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law." Clearly no one is justified before God by the law, because, "The righteous will live by faith." The law is not based on faith; on the contrary, "The man who does these things will live by them." Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree."
NIV

Is it ok to live by the law and obey? Well sure it is but the law won't save. Following it doesn't make you better it just becomes a way of life you've chosen. Following the law won't make you any more holy or any closer to God. Do you want to be under bondage to that lifestyle? Do you want guilt to rack your brain when you can't follow all the law? Of course you don't! So by grace and the Holy Spirit we go day to day. Remember;

Matthew 22:36-40
"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?"
Jesus replied: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."
NIV

Think about that! Recognising God for who he is and treating others as you want to be treated pretty much covers all those laws. If you wouldn't want it done to you, you shouldn't do it to others. So shell fish and not cooking on the sabbath pretty much are meaningless so why beat yourself up needlessly when Jesus has saved us from the curse of the law? Think about that. Remember Billy Hall as he recovers...remember Kathy as the doctors continue to search...remember Carl and Berta...remember those traveling, pray they are safe and act safely this weekend!

Heavenly Father,
Bless your holy name! Lord we lift you high above us and thank you for the wisdom you give. Lord help us not beat ourselves up over legalistic things. Help us see your grace and help us love as you do. Lord we ask for safety for travelers on this long weekend. Keep us safe. Lord we lift the mention people to you, comfort and heal them. Reveal anything they need to see or hear from you! Thank you Lord for your Word, in Jesus name, amen
Posted by russ allen at 6:31 AM

Comment by russ allen on July 2, 2008 at 7:25am

Good morning! A great day ahead! Last night I rode my 2 year old nephew on the mower with me and just like his older brother, he loves anything mechanical, ride and drive, you know, cool stuff! Watching him look around and ask questions(although I couldn't hear him over the mower)what enlightening. I failed to do a lot with my son due to location, selfishness, ignorance and for that I truly am sorry but I digress...the trust the little nephew had in me was so incredible. He had no fear whatsoever and just knew that with his uncle, all is cool. We should feel the same way with our Lord. Why would we doubt him? Why would we think he wouldn't hold us and teach us like the nephew trusts me? But unfortunately we do. We need to rely on God in the same fashion. Total trust, knowing he does what he does for us and because he loves us he won't harm us. Here's a classic but it rings true!

Psalms 23:44
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil,for you are with me;your rod and your staff,they comfort me.
NIV

Cool huh? How about;

Romans 8:28
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
NIV

Isaiah 54:10
Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed,yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,"says the LORD, who has compassion on you.
NIV

Isaiah 41:10
So do not fear, for I am with you;do not be dismayed, for I am your God.I will strengthen you and help you;I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
NIV

Man! How cool to know we have a savior and God who loves and protects us! When calamity hits, know that God is with you and will provide the strength to get through. It's also so cool to discover the stuff that used to kick my butt, now is like dandelions, blooming huge one day and gone tomorrow and if I seek God in the turmoil, I'll plant seeds during just like that flower does...cool...

Heavenly Father,
Thank you for you loving mercy and all you do for us even though we may not recognise when you do. Lord we lift all the people on this list and those who read this that you show them the ways they should live, the ways they need help and the wisdom to ask you for salvation. Lord thank you for optimism that helps me face every day. Lord we praise your holy name! in Jesus name we pray, Amen!
Posted by russ allen at 6:47 AM 0 comments

Comment by russ allen on July 1, 2008 at 7:05am

Good morning! How are we faithing? Along with yesterdays talk about stuff, lets explore how Jesus sifts us and purifies us. Sometimes we loose stuff we talked about because we haven't placed it in the proper place in our lives. That something becomes an idol. It takes precedence over everything else. Not good . You know, God purifies us like silver. Silver is purified by a silversmith sitting at the fire and boiling off the impurities until he sees himself in the silver. God does the same with us. He takes the junk out until the reflection of himself is seen. This is cool to think about. The trials we go through purifies us when when we seek his wisdom. They suck when we are in the midst but if we but remember that we will indeed be better off, even when we don't immediately see why.

Psalms 66:10
For you, O God, tested us;you refined us like silver.
NIV

Zechariah 13:9
This third I will bring into the fire; I will refine them like silver and test them like gold. They will call on my name and I will answer them; I will say, 'They are my people,' and they will say, 'The LORD is our God.'"
NIV

1 Peter 1:3-9
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade-kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith-of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire-may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
NIV

Wow! Did you see that? Remember these when you are piled with all the stuff that seems so big you think you will be crushed under the weight of it! Jesus loves you and is your strength! He is right there with you! Look for what he is refining out of your life! Our attitude to refining can make us miserable or wide awake to seek the lesson! Silver isn't refined for refining's sake but to become pure, so are we.

Heavenly Father,
Thank you for sifting us and refining the junk out of our lives. Lord help us see what you are working on and help us have an attitude of thanksgiving for making us see where we need the help. Lord we thank you for your blessings and want to be more like you. Lord we lift each other up and all the fractured relationships that need a touch from you. Lord we lift Billy and Chris to you. Lord we lift Carl and all the deacons up; give them strength and wisdom. Lord protect our pastors from satan and keep a shield around them. In Jesus name, Amen
Posted by russ allen at 6:34 AM

Comment by russ allen on June 30, 2008 at 7:33am

Good morning! How are we faithing? How was your weekend? Did you relax and recharge your batteries for another week? Boy I did! The garage, church, a nap or two all help me rest and get ready for another work week. Doing God's work, the great commission, seems to never need rest! I may be physically tired but that spirit is always up! Sure sometimes I'd rather veg out or just drive somewhere or play music but if the opportunity presents itself...Here is a thought that does lead to contentment in our souls. Not complacency but contentment.

Luke 12:15
And He said to them, "Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed; for not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions."
NAS

This is interesting and the parable that follows that verse is quite telling. When we have all we need and in this country, leisure stuff, we shouldn't put our worth and our life into the stuff for none of it amounts to a hill of beans. It's cool and it's fun but it really doesn't matter. None of us want to loose what we've worked so hard for all our lives but if we should, oh well, we have Jesus and we can't take stuff with us anyways! Imagine the folks who worked their whole life in Poland and France then came 1939-1940. Everything gone. Even some of them their life. Do you think their possessions really mattered to them for very long? I rather doubt it when staying alive was the hardest thing the faced every day. It gets real sobering when we take a look at those times and places and then think we can complain about not having a new car.

1 Timothy 6:6-10
But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
NIV

Proverbs 15:16
Better a little with the fear of the LORD than great wealth with turmoil. NIV

Ecclesiastes 4:6
better one handful with tranquillity than two handfuls with toil and chasing after the wind.
NIV

All this said for us to see that stuff should be put in it's place. God and our relationship is more important than stuff. Stuff is fine if its for us to control, not the other way around. We should thank God every day for what we have. The things that help us grow closer to him are appreciated, like this computer, solitude in a garage, a radio, a CD player, friends...

Heavenly Father,
Thank you for allowing us in this country to have abundance. Lord thank you for all you have done for us. Lord help us learn how to appreciate and set in it's place our stuff. Lord we want to see you and know you more than anything. Lord we lift up our pastors and families. Protect them from the enemy and help them see you. Lord help us live so we are seen as your servants. Let people know that you are our master. Lord protect the kids, in Jesus name, amen
Posted by russ allen at 6:51

Comment by russ allen on June 27, 2008 at 7:47am

Good morning! How are we faithing? Do you sacrifice your freedom in Christ for some dogma tossed out by denominations? Do you find yourself bound by ceremony and tradition over the freedom the cross gives? There are lots of things that can grab you up and tie your thinking to the point that you miss God's grace and bind yourself to regulation. Notice that the regulation you are bound to has a purpose other than the binding. Being bound by a law because it keeps you safe in the physical is necessary for us as a whole. Being bound by an idea that keeps us from our freedom Jesus gave by his sacrifice well, not good.

Galatians 5:1
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.
NIV

Now does this freedom give us license to do whatever? Of course not! The intention is for a relationship with God and not performance based ritual.

Ephesians 2:8-10
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

So I do good deeds and earn browny points right? On the contrary! The good deeds come when we forget self and concentrate on God. The spirit of God causes us to do the good works out of the love, wisdom and compassion that comes with the saving grace knowledge taught by the Word!

James 2:18-19
Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do. You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that-and shudder.
NIV

So thinking,"I must do thus and so, so God will love me" is wrong thinking. Doing thus and so out of love and prompting without thought of gain but only because it's what is right to do and we love and are loved by God why.

John 14:23-24
Jesus replied, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. He who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.
NIV

Do you see that? We love Jesus for his sacrifice, for his commitment to us, for his grace over us. We rest in the love of God and can't help but do good works because his love is manifested by doing good. Doing good to earn his love or acceptance is futile, he already loves us! Man o man! How cool! So as we grow in wisdom and we learn his ways we do good things and righteousness starts to permeate our thoughts and deeds. We can't help it. So stop thinking about the deeds and think about and learn about God and his greatness, the rest will happen.
Remember Billy Hall, in the hospital...


Heavenly Father,
Thank you for your loving grace that shows us delivers us from ritual acts so we can be witness to your greatness. Lord we ask you protect us and our children from the attacks from the enemy. Lord we lift Billy to you, heal and open up his heart. Lord we lift Chris too. Lord thank you for your grace. Lord show us how to let you in all the way so those good deeds become so natural we don't even notice we did them but just see the help they give. We lift our Pastors and their families to you, keep satan off their tails and envelop them with so much protection the glow with your love, thank you in Jesus name, Amen
Posted by russ allen at 6:49 AM

Comment by russ allen on June 26, 2008 at 8:31am

Good morning! How are we faithing? Ever have those times where you have so much on your mind you miss the goodness God grants? You get so involved in what's happening you get blinders and only see straight ahead? Ya, me too. This week seems to be one of those. Certain things are just permeating my thoughts and I can't seem to shake them. Pressing on with faith that God will work it out is what we should do in these cases. Give it to God, seek his face and pray! The Word says don't worry but we do. The Word says all things work for good for those who believe but we still fret. Caring and loving and wanting the best for each other is good and honorable but when we see ourselves and others stumble we feel anxiety build.

Romans 7:21-25
So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God's law; but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God-through Jesus Christ our Lord!
NIV

Galatians 5:1
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.
NIV

This we must remember and believe completely;

2 Timothy 4:18
The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
NIV

Heavenly Father,
Thank you for your grace and love for us. Lord help us see the truth and the correct way to act when we are having these times. We worry and fret and do apologize for it but pray for your peace so we can put to rest these things in our minds. Lord we know where we are weak you are strong and right now we feel weak. Help us Lord for we know you are bigger'n all of this. Lord we lift Mark and Kelly to you, heal them and bless them and repair their minds from all the damage of the past. Lord we lift Christy to you today, bless the surgeons hands. In Jesus name , Amen
Posted by russ allen at 6:44 AM

Comment by Malinda on June 24, 2008 at 9:31pm

Hello, I pray that everyone is having a blessed day. Thank you for having a great site. God bless and have a great week.

Comment by russ allen on June 24, 2008 at 7:26am

Good morning! How are we faithing? Man what beautiful days were having! Windows down all day yesterday!
A race car driver, Scott Kallita died in a racing accident saturday, George Carlin died sunday of heart failure. I was surprised at my feelings when both events happened. Scott was a family man who worked hard at his profession. So was George. Scott was outspoken about what he believed and worked for. So was George. Scott was loved by his peers and so was George. Then why was I saddened by Scotts death and just shook my head at George? It is revealing when we notice our own judgement upon others. It's not always intentional or full of malice but when we catch ourselves doing it we should be sure we are not pointing fingers but rather recognising facts. Judging is reserved for God and we ain't him. That can be perilous if we are not careful. We should temper the view with God's love and wisdom. I saw Scott as a man who rose to the top of his profession without sacrificing his convictions. I saw George as a bitter old man who lost sight of God because of religion. George dismissed God because of dogma. I profess and am sorry if I did judge either man incorrectly as that ain't my job. Do you follow this line of thinking? I may be right and I may be wrong but God is the judge so whatever we think we need to be careful when we speak of others because our opinion doesn't really matter. God's does.

Matthew 7:1-5
"Do not judge, or you too will be judged.For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye?You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.
NIV

Luke 6:37
Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:
KJV

John 7:24
Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.
KJV

All this to say that I am guilty of judging when I have no right to. I am free to recognise folly and not follow it but judging the bearer of it is not mine to do. How about you?

Heavenly Father,
Thank you for all your wisdom in your Word. Thank you for teaching us how to behave. Thank you for principles that honor you. Lord forgive us when we judge and point fingers. Lord we lift each other up to you and ask you protect us from evil and thoughts that are not of you. Lord, you are so great and loving and we praise your name and humbly worship you. Guide our paths so we are instruments of yours, in Jesus name, amen
Posted by russ allen at 6:36

Comment by russ allen on June 23, 2008 at 7:51am

Good morning! How are we faithing? Do you have a cheerful heart? Do you look at things positively or do you always find fault? Be honest with yourself. Look at this;

Proverbs 17:22
A cheerful heart is good medicine,but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. NIV

Proverbs 15:13
A joyful heart makes a cheerful face, But when the heart is sad, the spirit is broken.
NAS

Not fake smiles and fake joy, genuine happiness because you know your savior loves you! You know he walks and talks to you! You have his Word! Your destiny is set! You need not worry for you don't gain a thing with fretting and fuming, you only loose sleep and cause wrinkles.

Proverbs 12:25
An anxious heart weighs a man down, but a kind word cheers him up. NIV

Philippians 4:5-7
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
NIV

Look, we can't be happy all the time and there are times of mourning, crying and anguish but we still are joyful because whatever has befallen you, is temporary. Running scared back to old things wont help either. What makes you think it would? You ran to Jesus before and cast those old things aside so why would you go back and pick them up? Creatures of habit I suppose and under stress humans seek their own wisdom and ways. We now are no longer captive because Jesus saved us so we must be willing to trust the Word and the principles taught and steer towards Jesus and not back to the world. Train yourself to not complain and find fault with calamity and things that happen but seek Godly wisdom and approach whatever you are facing head on with the faith and courage of Jesus the Christ! Believe me, God's way is better, from experience I have found this out! Boy, I have dove in head first many times and found the pool empty but with Jesus and his Word, the pool is always full.


Heavenly Father,
Thank you for your teachings and thank you for showing us your ways. Lord we ask a touch from you this week so we have the courage to stand on your Word and not sway with the times. Lord help us see where we need to improve and recognise your movement! Lord we lift each other up and ask for your guidance in all we do, in Jesus name, Amen
Posted by russ allen at 7:18 AM

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