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Comment by russ allen on November 19, 2012 at 7:54am

 Good morning!  How are we faithing? Our flesh hinders us sometimes.  Chemicals in our brains, events, food,  what we watch and read can all influence our moods and outlooks.  There's a whole lot of media attention given to the zombie apocalypse.  Really?  Plan for brain eating cannibals who are undead?  Please.  Obsessions and mind diversions like this are simply tools used by the enemy to move focus from God and things of God to things of this life and this world.  I by no means am saying that an occasional escape from reality on some mindless drivel isn't sometimes necessary and good for a laugh but wow have these things gotten out of hand. Just be careful with what you touch and remember who you are. If something starts to take control, leave it alone. If you find your self preoccupied with something that takes away from your attention to God and Godly things, it's dangerous.  Just pay attention and compare everything to the Word because there are no lies therein but the world is full of deception...



 Gal 4:3-7
  Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world:  But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.  And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.




2Co 6:16-18
  And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.   Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.




Heavenly Father,
   Thank you for your Word that teaches and sustains us.  Help us recognize things and keep them in perspective and in their correct place.  Protect our leaders and show yourself to them.  Protect our kids from evil.  Guide us this week of thanksgiving and help us remember to be thankful...in Jesus name, amen

Comment by russ allen on November 16, 2012 at 7:50am

 Good morning! How are we faithing this fine day? I love these critters around this place. Watching them function is insight into God's mind. To be able to create creatures with the different personalities of these under this roof is simply amazing. The ones I see running around outside expand those observations to include watching them survive without our human  help. I can see different personalities out in the wild too. Different deer come by and act similar but not exactly the same.  That Doe that checks for traffic before she crosses the street just makes me smile.  Watching the leaves change this fall all the while seeing the squirrels scurry around gathering nuts was so cool.  If anyone heard me talking to all these critters they would probably try to have me committed but a gentle voice is recognizable to the critters and for that I am convinced.  God is so good I can't even begin to describe.  This day and this weekend, pay attention to nature and things outside your little world and see the splendor of creation.  



Col 1:15
 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:


Mar 16:15
 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.



Rev 5:13 
And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.


remember Trisha Smith and family...Doug Sullivan family...remember Bayle Wheatley...

Heavenly Father,
  Thank you for creation that reveals you to us. Lord we ask for eyes wide open to see the intricacies of your creation so we realize just how great you are. We ask for wisdom and vision for all we face today and this weekend. Protect the innocent and comfort those in pain. Show yourself in every little thing.  We want to see you and your majesty in all things.  Heal those hearts that are breaking. Heal bodies that betray us. Heal minds that struggle with life. In Jesus name, amen

 

Comment by russ allen on November 15, 2012 at 7:42am

Good morning!  How are we faithing?  I watch the faces of the congregation when I teach. I see acknowledgement, interest and sometimes boredom. The boredom is me and not the Word.  God has given us such a masterpiece of literature that applies to our every second we are on this earth.  It contains all the answers to life's greatest questions and the simple ones too. It amazes me when I walk headlong into sin of any sort that the Holy Spirit convicts me with scriptural wisdom.  He indeed brings it to mind just like the Word says.  My daughters friend is going through something horrific and the things that bug me became nothing when I was informed of it.  We really need to step back from ourselves and take a good look around.  We as believers were given a charge to go out seek the lost. Help them physically and lead them to salvation.  Do you have that heart for the downtrodden and the lost or are you snug as a bug wrapped in your rug? Do you really care or is it just what you are suppose to say so the other believers think you are a "good Christian" ? Rhetoric question for you today. Who are you and what ought you be doing for the one who saved you?




Mat 25:34-40
  Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:  For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:  Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.



Jas 2:14-18
  What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?  If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,  And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?  Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.  Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.



Heavenly Father,
   Thank you for your Word that strengthens us all. Lord we ask for wisdom this day to see needs and help where we can.  Open our eyes to your light so we can reflect it on a fallen world.  Let us be honest and forgiving, caring and helpful, giving and compassionate. Lord we do thank you for all you are in our lives, in Jesus name, amen

Comment by russ allen on November 14, 2012 at 6:29am

 Good morning!  How are we faithing? When we read about King David we see so many wonderful things he did and how he was a man after God's heart...even when he messed up.  David showed his heart for God in his writings and in his life. We can learn from his errors and his praises. Once he recognized he sinned against God, he repented in a big way. We have all said "I'm sorry" and at times it was simply to appease the one standing in front of us. Learning from David we see true repentance and a true desire to right wrongs and to change behavior. Besides the beauty and poetry in the Psalms we can see genuine humble presentations of ones heart.  Check this out;




Psa 51:7  Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
Psa 51:8  Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.
Psa 51:9  Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.
Psa 51:10  Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
Psa 51:11  Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.
Psa 51:12  Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.
Psa 51:13  Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.
Psa 51:14  Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.
Psa 51:15  O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise.



remember Sarah Campbell...remember Rhonda and family...remember Holli...remember Susan...and Trisha Guidace/Smith and her family


Heavenly Father,
  Thank you for your blessings and your steadfastness even when we goof up.  Lord we ask for you to envelop those mentioned.  Make your presence known.  Lord, our hearts hurt for the people mentioned and those in all of our lives.  Grant wisdom and peace and clothe us in your righteousness. Stand us up with courage in the face of tragedy.  Thank you Lord for all you do. In Jesus name, amen

 

Comment by russ allen on November 13, 2012 at 3:41pm

sent the wrong one this am....gee whiz

       Good morning!  How are we faithing?  It is a cool morning with dogs huddled sleeping....snoring too!
       Headache and concern seems to be the norm for me these days.  I read scripture and prophecy and see it unfolding on earth.  I am concerned for the lost.  I am concerned for the old and feeble.  I am concerned for the children. We all must be on our knees praying to our Father for wisdom and strength to act as Godly men and women because like it or not, prophecy will be fulfilled therefore we are better forewarned and armed with scripture for what is ahead. The Word tells us trying times will come and preparing for them is wise.  As believers we ought to be reading the Word and see what the people went through when they turned their back on God so we can avoid the same mistakes. It is so easy to stay in our own little safety area and not look at what is happening beyond. For me, I do not want to be taken by surprise when all these things foretold happen. I want to be right out there gathering the lost for my savior because just the thought of one perishing and I could have prevented it is not acceptable. Out in the byways and highways to gather the harvest is where we need to be.


Zec 7:9-10
  Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, Execute true judgment, and shew mercy and compassions every man to his brother: And oppress not the widow, nor the fatherless, the stranger, nor the poor; and let none of you imagine evil against his brother in your heart.

Remember Howard Shouse family...Randi Sharp...Chucks grandparents...Josh D...

Heavenly Father,

  Thank you for salvation and the love you rain on us. Show us what we are to do to serve. Help us with strength and courage to do your will. Lord we ask for healing of mind, body and spirit this day. Hold us up with your righteous hand. Open our eyes to truth.  Bless our days in Jesus name, amen

Comment by russ allen on November 9, 2012 at 7:49am

  Good Friday morning!  How are we faithing? I had a wonderful conversation with an old friend yesterday who happens to be a brand new Daddy.  Listening to him describe the birth and all the new things he is experiencing made my memory open up to that time when I went through all those wonderful things with my kids. There's really nothing that compares the that love.  With that in mind it makes us realize how much God loves us that he would allow his son to die for us. I couldn't let my kids die for you.  Wow. That being said it makes me realize that I have misspoke before when I said that we are not worthy of this grace. Let me explain that statement. While it is true we cannot do anything to earn the grace of God we are worthy in his eyes or he would not have made the sacrifice for us. Do you see the difference? He loves us enough and he sees us as worthy of his sacrifice to save us and it is not anything we did or have done. Now that is a love bigger than anything in this world.


 Joh 3:14-17
  And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:  That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.  For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.


remember Danielle...remember Elaine...remember Alan...


Heavenly Father,
  Thank you for your sacrifice for us. Lord forgive us our sins and let your spirit dwell in us.  Lord we lift those mentioned up to you this day. Heal hearts, minds and spirits. Let them be keenly aware of your presence in their lives.  Guide our paths and protect our minds from attacks from the enemy. In Jesus name, amen

 

Comment by russ allen on November 8, 2012 at 7:14am

Good morning!   How are we faithing? Reality bites sometimes and we don't really know what to do with it.  The things that people do because of self satisfaction truly is amazing.  Why would we do some of the things we do?  We give in to desires, we do things that please our senses and we flat screw up.  Why?  Why would we walk headlong into something knowing the consequences will be awful?  Sure sometimes ignorance does play a part, I know I've done some stupid things out of ignorance but we're talking about knowing and doing anyways.  Giving into temptation as it were.  Did God tempt you? Did the enemy or did you simply give into a lust of whatever it may be?  Ah, now the truth is right before our eyes. We wanted it so we went and got it, sometimes regardless of the consequences and if that be the case, shut up, you did it to yourself.  Now it's time, as soon as you recognize it, to repent. No temptation you are or have faced is unusual.  It may be new to you but take the Bible's word on this, it ain't new. What is really cool is unlike the Apostles, we have their example and their writings to learn from. We are forewarned about certain things in this life so we can make wiser choices and thank God for those scriptures! As you go through your day, take note of your actions and reactions and tonight when you get home, take off the ego hat, get in the scriptures, and look honestly at your day. 


 1Co 10:13 
There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.



Eph 6:10-12
  Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.  Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.  For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

Gal 6:1-2
  Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.  Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.



remember Annie...


Heavenly Father,
  Thank you for this day that you have made.  Lord, we are a little unsure of the future and thus a little apprehensive. We ask for your peace just envelop us.  We ask for wisdom in our minds and heart and on our tongues.  We ask for wisdom to reach the lost ones.  Lord, equip us so we may do your work. We lift up the sick ones.  We lift our leaders up to you. Lord, we honor you and praise you in Jesus name, amen

Comment by russ allen on November 7, 2012 at 6:42am

 Good morning!  How are we faithing?  Wow man...what a week thus far! How about you? I know there are many wrestling with thoughts and even questioning many things. I do expect to hear comments from one extreme to the other but the thing we must maintain is our dignity and our stand with God.  God is in control and even if we do not see the purpose right now we must trust in the sovereign God of the universe that his time line is just. There are lost jobs, deaths, divorces, abuses, lost finances, daily troubles and inconveniences that happen but we ought not lose faith. What has really changed?  Only temporal things in the flesh.  Our faith in Messiah stays true. Grace is grace.  Love of and from God has not moved. All the while we suffer things we must remember that by grace we are saved and not of works even though we ought to be doing good works.  Hold your tongue even when we are displeased with the outcomes of events because guess what? The control of all isn't yours or mine but the Lords.  Now while I may pray for something and it doesn't happen, that does not mean it went unanswered. For what ever God's reasons for things and events we need to continue to pray and seek HIS will in all we do.




2Ti 2:25-26
  In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;  And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.



2Pe 2:18-19
  For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error. While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.



Heavenly Father,
  Help us keep our focus on you and your ways.  Remind us of what we are to do on this ol orb.  We do thank you for things even when we don't understand them and ask for peace in that understanding. Lord, forgive us all our sins and open our eyes to truth in light of all that surrounds us.  In Jesus name, amen

 

Comment by russ allen on November 5, 2012 at 8:09am

 Good morning!  How are we faithing?  Our nations policies are on my mind a lot lately for obvious reasons.  Too long Pastors have avoided political issues due to the notion of  "separation of church and state". If this is indeed a nation of the people and by the people it stands to reason that the "state" ought not pick a religion as "the one" but the people who practice a religion should have a voice in the state. The way it works is if the majority vote a certain way, policy is formed. The free speech of the people expressing their opinions and beliefs is the only way this republic can stand. As long as my ideas and your ideas are free to be expressed we will stand together even if we disagree on a subject.  As soon as one opinion is suppressed, a free republic will fall. If I fail to promote Biblical principles from the pulpit and from my musings I am guilty of not standing for my beliefs and inaction is the same as promoting the opposite view. If the state is allowed to suppress speech, like in the "Johnson Act" that prohibits political speech from the pulpit, we are doomed. I do not believe it is right for a candidate to be pushed for or against from the pulpit but the principles of God are to be taught and the congregations obligation is to do their own research on what the candidates stand for. Our responsibility as a citizen of this nation is to govern from our principles therefore I will vote for candidates that best follow those principles I hold dear.


    Psa 103:17-18
  But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children's children;  To such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them.

Psa 33:11 

 The counsel of the LORD standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations. 

Col 1:17  

And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. 

remember Calvin Crupper...remember Kim S...Eli S and Patricia G...remember Irene S

Heavenly Father,

  We ask a blessing on this nation. We lift holy hands to you and praise your holy name. Grant us all wisdom to see truth and to understand how we are to live  righteously for you.  Take our burdens we lay at your feet and do with them as only you can.  Teach us to be wise and gentle yet fearless in the face of all.  Jesus come quick...In Jesus name we pray, amen

Comment by russ allen on November 1, 2012 at 7:32am

 Good morning!  How are we faithing? We as a people tend to try to put a spin on tragedy.  We dump platitudes on hurting people and it usually is out of a heart that is trying to comfort them but it actually is useless and somewhat condescending. Me telling someone whose wife was just killed that it will get better and she is now looking down on him, besides being half untrue, doesn't help at that time.  They need a hug and a meat loaf.  They need someone to cry with.  They need us to pay attention to their needs for a while and shut up unless asked something. As a body of believers we are suppose to help each other not tell the hurting how we would handle things. Jesus went out in the crowds and healed.  He met people where they were at. Part of our maturity in the Lord is to remember where we came from so we can be a blessing to others and not that guy who talks to much. It is tiring to listen to vague bumper sticker sayings when you feel like curling up and dying. We as maturing believers in Messiah need to watch and listen instead of trying to come up with a saying  that makes US feel good. Yesterdays Ecclesiastics verses are very true and apply to this. We also need to remember that Jesus taught us to love and that brings up a question before we act or speak and that question is,"What does love require". 



1Co 13:1-8
  Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.  And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.  And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.  Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,  Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;  Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;  Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.  Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.

remember Robbie...

Heavenly Father,
  Thank you for your kindness and blessings. Lord help us to love like you do.  Help us to speak or not to speak.  Open our eyes to what is really happening and teach us to listen and not just wait for our turn to talk.  Lord we ask healing on the people who are suffering. Give them a vision of you that calms and assures.  Lord we praise your holy name and lift you high every day.  Speak to us Holy Spirit. Convict us so we may be a blessing to you...in Jesus name we pray, amen

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