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Comment by russ allen on September 27, 2012 at 7:36am

Good morning! How are we faithing?  Had an interesting conversation with a man who struggles with anger.  He knows the Word tells us not to sin in our anger but he still flies of the handle in a fit of rage.  He even said he didn't want to hear from God while in one of those fits.  When he came to his senses he repented and begged for forgiveness for his sin in anger.  As we discussed this event he came to the realization that the trigger for the fits most likely is rooted in a past relationship as a youth.  He described the look, how something was said by someone recently and as an outsider, I didn't see it at all how he did.  He reacted rather than acted.  His defensive/angry posture wasn't the current event but a past wrought with anger and belittling of him.  This event has caused this man to mature in the Lord because he finally saw how the flesh can betray us.  How the enemy uses  our own past to screw up our future. How emotional scaring can cloud truth to the point of repeating behavior.  Can you relate?  Do you find yourself in a pickle and old woes are all of a sudden in your face again? The next time you react to something, pause afterward and examine it all.  Yes we may have scaring from our younger days but we are grown men and women of God and either we believe Jesus bore everything for us or he didn't.  What do you choose to believe?



Psa 46:10
 Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.



2Co_7:1 
Since we have these promises, dear friends, let's cleanse ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit by becoming mature in our holy fear of God.

Eph 4:13-16

 till we all attain unto the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a fullgrown man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: 

that we may be no longer children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, in craftiness, after the wiles of error;  but speaking truth in love, we may grow up in all things into him, who is the head, even Christ;  from whom all the body fitly framed and knit together through that which every joint supplieth, according to the working in due measure of each several part, maketh the increase of the body unto the building up of itself in love. 

remember Brother Bill....

Heavenly Father,

    Thank you for wisdom in your Word. Lord, help us become mature and to see the truth in all we face.  Help us recognize reactions that have nothing to do with what is actually taking place.  Help us to act on faith with love and humblness so we can deal correctly with the things we face daily.  Lord, please help us live the way you designed and not under submission to our flesh.  Thank you for loving us, in Jesus name, amen

Comment by russ allen on September 26, 2012 at 7:37am

 Good morning!  How are we faithing?  Rainy days make me so sleepy.  The sound, the smell, the darkness that exists with the rainy days all make me relax and want to lay down and sleep.  It's kinda like when we are in trouble or despair.  The gloom feeling we can get on drab rainy days can overtake us if we are not aware or choose to look at the trouble rather than what we are to learn.   Like we talked about yesterday, murmur and complaining serves no one but only exasperates that gloomy feeling. We live in a fallen world and stuff will happen. It really upsets me when I hear people tell us a God of love should never allow us to endure any pain.  Really?  We live where evil exists and we should never see or experience evil? Things should never befall us? Come on, that isn't even logical. Like taking prayer and the mention of God and Godly principles out of school and then wonder why moral behavior declines. Jesus and the apostles warned us that there is evil in this world and stuff can happen. We do have an advocate with the Father and we do have a right to talk to God constantly in good and bad times. We as believers have to remember and make ourselves praise and worship in good and bad times.  God doesn't change, we do.  God doesn't get influenced by evil, we do. God already laid out principles for living but it is we who choose to or not to follow them. So with that being said we ought to seek God in absolutely everything. Ask some questions rather than just complain.  Ask for wisdom and grace to see what you are to do in everything. So when things happen, and they will, remember these;




1Pe 1:13-16
  Wherefore girding up the loins of your mind, be sober and set your hope perfectly on the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
  as children of obedience, not fashioning yourselves according to your former lusts in the time of your ignorance:  but like as he who called you is holy, be ye yourselves also holy in all manner of living;   because it is written, Ye shall be holy; for I am holy.


1Pe 3:14-16
  But even if ye should suffer for righteousness' sake, blessed are ye: and fear not their fear, neither be troubled;   but sanctify in your hearts Christ as Lord: being ready always to give answer to every man that asketh you a reason concerning the hope that is in you, yet with meekness and fear: having a good conscience; that, wherein ye are spoken against, they may be put to shame who revile your good manner of life in Christ.

remember Joe, Shiela, Hannah and Chauntell...


Heavenly Father,
   We ask in our despair for your grace and love just overwhelm us. Touch our hearts and souls with your presence.  Help us recognize things for what they are and not get burdened and overcome with calamity etc.  Keep us focused on you and help us learn quickly what we need to learn.  We lift those mentioned and those silent requests to you.  Help us be people of God.  Help us live holy and above reproach. We praise you Lord and ask forgiveness when we fall into despair and complain.  Help our faith, in Jesus name, amen

Comment by russ allen on September 25, 2012 at 6:38am

Good morning!  How are we faithing?  We get bitter when things don't happen when or how we thing they should.  We get angry at things that go contrary to how we think they ought. Before long nothing is right or satisfies.  Before long we become those people that nobody wants to spend much time with. How do we get to that point? How do we prevent ourselves from becoming those people? Crabbing and complaining is the start. Who or what is served by complaining about everybody and or everything? Why do we only see the down side to things?  Selfishness.  How this thing affects me. The picture is bigger than just the trees and when we fail to see the forest that the trees have made we tend to focus more on our world and not the rest of the world.  Yes things may suck but does complaining help the situation?  Do you really feel better or have you just started digging a hole that leads to that bitter person everyone avoids? Yes there is a time to cry and to grieve but there also is a time to rejoice and sing!



Jas 5:9 
Murmur not, brethren, one against another, that ye be not judged: behold, the judge standeth before the doors.

1Co 10:10  

Neither murmur ye, as some of them murmured, and perished by the destroyer. 

Php 2:14-16

  Do all things without murmurings and questionings:  that ye may become blameless and harmless, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom ye are seen as lights in the world,  holding forth the word of life; that I may have whereof to glory in the day of Christ, that I did not run in vain neither labor in vain. 

remember Nathan Bales and family...remember Ann Rivera...remember Anna Benton...

Heavenly Father,

  Thank you for your blessings and help us remember them in the midst of trials and turmoil. Lord we ask for wisdom to see ALL the truth.  Help us maintain a clean heart and not get so self absorbed we complain over selfish things.  Forgive us our shortcomings and help us see where we need improvement.  Lord, we lift those mentioned to you.  Show your face and heal bodies, minds and spirits. In Jesus name, amen

Comment by russ allen on September 24, 2012 at 6:56am

 Great cool morning!  How are we faithing? How is your love? Is it dependent on others deeds?  Is it an earned thing to the point of one infraction and it's gone?  Do you harbor hate or animosities that prevent you from loving unconditionally like God loves us?  How about having to earn love?  Man, we all are guilty of everything but unconditional love.  I don't care what you may do, I still love you. I may not dine or hang out with you for various reasons but the love is still there. That is how we ought to be with each other. Love requires us to be concerned for each other. Are we too busy doing love that we forget to actually love? We all get that way sometimes and as soon as we realize we are doing that, we ought to repent because doing love rather than loving is hypocritical and dishonest. Remembering that sometimes we don't like while still loving is a distinction we all must learn. I may not like a sin my kids may commit but I still love them.  My Father in Heaven may discipline me for sinning but he still loves me. Look at this below and meditate on it today as you encounter different situations and ask yourself what love requires in different situations.




1Co 13:1-7
  If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am become sounding brass, or a clanging cymbal.   And if I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.  And if I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and if I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profiteth me nothing.  Love suffereth long, and is kind; love envieth not; love vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,   doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not its own, is not provoked, taketh not account of evil;   rejoiceth not in unrighteousness, but rejoiceth with the truth;   beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.


remember Brian Jett...remember Raymond Wheeler...remember Eric Lindstam...remember Robbie and Tiff...Bob Kliess


Heavenly Father,
   Thank you for your unconditional love for us.  Help us act lovingly even when we don't feel as such. Lord, we ask for wisdom this day to see through your eyes.  We lift those mentioned today.  Heal bodies, minds and spirits.  Show yourself salvation can be realized.  lord, thank you for your love that you would send your son to redeem us, it is in that sons name Jesus that we pray, amen

Comment by russ allen on September 21, 2012 at 7:17am

 Good morning!  How are we faithing? It's the end of summer tomorrow and a new season full of harvest celebrations, crisp fall days, rustling leaves and cool evenings.  My favorite time of year because the colors that the forest is awash with reminds me of God's sovereignty and creativity. The critters scurrying around preparing for a winter nap is so peaceful and fascinating. Hunting seasons  are upon us and it really gives an important meaning to grace before a meal when we think of one life to sustain ours. This week we set a very old friend back to the earth and as sad for us as it is, we know he is absent from the body now present with the Lord and with that in mind we can look forward to meeting up with him when we depart this flesh.  It was difficult to remember that at times because of missing people who have moved on to eternity but I don't see how anyone can claim no faith in Jesus and say once gone, that's it.  How futile.  How depressing.  How worthless. Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father but by me."  Guys and gals,  on your knees, cry out to God, accept the free gift of salvation. Repent of sins,  ask for forgiveness because your life away from this body depends on it.


Joh 3:16 
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have eternal life.



Mat 9:12-13
  But when he heard it, he said, They that are whole have no need of a physician, but they that are sick.  But go ye and learn what this meaneth, I desire mercy, and not sacrifice, for I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.



1Ti 1:15-16
  Faithful is the saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief:  howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me as chief might Jesus Christ show forth all his longsuffering, for an ensample of them that should thereafter believe on him unto eternal life.

remember Kitty...Brian J...remember Sue...remember the Burnsmier family

Heavenly Father,

   Forgive my sins.  I repent of evil ways and ask you come into my life and save me from hell.  I ask you teach and guide me from all evil and place your spirit in my heart.  Give me a desire to live for you and to know you have saved me from an eternity away from good.  Lord thank you for salvation.  Thank you for all you do out of love.  In Jesus name amen 

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

  Good Morning!  How are we faithing? What an interesting week!  Something I want you all to meditate on.  We need each other for many reasons.  We need each other for love of course, interaction, companionship, laughs and cries, work etc.  The Word has good directions on how we are to treat each other and today lets look at prayer of the sick.  It is our duty and privilege to pray for each other. I've found out after the fact from some of my friends they had been sick and I got after them for not dropping me a line because I wasn't given the opportunity to lift them up to the Lord.  Sound odd?  It isn't really.  Obviously others did pray for them because they are standing before me telling me of the past sickness but as brothers and sisters it isn't fair to not be granted that privilege. Do you understand this?  As we hold each other up to the Lord we humble ourselves before an all knowing God and we present the love God has for us in that lifting up of others.  We obey God's Word when we confess to each other and pray for each other.  As saved believers we should be aware of God's desire for us to come to him with our petitions our doing such is an outpouring of love that God has.  There are people we may not like but when we lift them up in prayer we open up blessings for them as well as for ourselves because our eyes get off us and onto others.  Read this and rather than speaking curses on people, pray for them that they see truth and come to the blessings of God.



Jas 5:14-16
  Is any among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: and the prayer of faith shall save him that is sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, it shall be forgiven him.  Confess therefore your sins one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The supplication of a righteous man availeth much in its working.


Remember Morry Wakefield...remember Travis' father-in-law...


Heavenly Father,
   We lift those hurting today that need you Lord.  We lay our burdens and infirmaries at your feet that your will be done.  Lord we lift our leaders up to you that they seek wisdom and mercy from you. Thank you for your blessings on us and help us see truth, seek wisdom and overcome the enemy and all his devices that try to fool us.  Bless the children and our troops, in Jesus name, amen

Comment by russ allen on September 12, 2012 at 7:22am

 Good morning!  How are we faithing? As we watched the 102 minutes of September 11, 2001 on the history channel, the same emotions that stirred 11 years ago resurfaced. I suppose this is this generation's Pearl Harbor and it is cemented in our heads like Pearl was in my Grandparents. Yesterday being a reflective day for most it also caused some introspection of the last 11 years and how things have changed.  Events all over the world have ramped up and taken on a seemingly torrential rain of events that just keep escalating and the crescendo is getting closer and closer. Now that our embassies in Libya and Egypt have been attacked, earthquakes so numerous, storms more severe, economies fluctuating wildly one can get caught in a doom and gloom state of being quite easily.  Let me assure you that God does have control and if the sign are indeed pointing to the end of things as we know it we had better be sure of our standing with God. If the show last night showed one thing it showed how the people that jumped from the World Trade Center buildings to escape the fire and the ones that went down when the buildings collapsed were well aware of how finite life is. It is time to stop looking at ones selfish motives and get right with God because you may not have tomorrow. Just simple observations and truth.  If you do not know Jesus the Christ as savior, hit the floor on your knees and repent, ask him to dwell in your heart and save you. The gift is free and you can't earn it.  If you do this, be sure to tell someone and to seek Godly wisdom and guidance and the first is the Word. I'm here, many other Pastors are around so don't hold back.  God loves you and so do I and let me tell you, it'll be the best decision you will ever make.



Mat 10:32-33
  Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.  But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.

Rom 10:9-10

  That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 

remember Jimmy and Linda...remember Grace and the kids...remember Celeste

Heavenly Father,

  Thank you for salvation. Thank you for grace that saves us. Lord we ask you to come and dwell in our hearts and minds. We admit we are sinners and repent of these things. Show us your love and fill us with your Holy Spirit.  Thank you for saving us in Jesus name, amen

Comment by russ allen on September 11, 2012 at 7:18am

 Good morning!  How are we faithing? People ask why we are so intense when it comes to our "religion".  It's not a matter of dogma as it were but a belief system based on the creator and redemption from sin.  If we believe Jesus the Christ paid a ransom for each of us, how could we not be intense?  I know there have been many things done to people and peoples in the name of religion but believe the Word when it tells us that love is what Jesus is about.  Yes there are rules believers are to follow but there are also principles to live by that the men and women of every Jesus believing church fall down and miss the mark.  That is why by grace we are forgiven because if we had to earn it, we'd never get there.  This is for believers when I say that be careful who and how you criticize men and women called by God.  They fall often just like you and I and have shortcomings just like you and I but they are men of God and God will deal with them. It is very dangerous to speak ill of these .  David wouldn't even touch or speak ill of Saul because he was chosen of God and Saul had lost it and was doing crazy stupid things. Just think about what is important and don't get to wrapped up in peripheral junk that clouds truth. Remember this;


Mat 20:28 
Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

Heb 9:27-28

  And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation. 

remember the families and victims of injuries, especially on this day

Heavenly Father,

  Help us not get distracted by junk that isn't our concern but keep prayer for those people in mind.  Teach us to be humble servants and wise to help and not hinder.  Help us be humble servants.  Teach us you truths in the stories we read in your Word. In Jesus name, amen

Comment by russ allen on September 10, 2012 at 7:29am

Good morning!  How are we faithing?  We know the promises of God are set.  We know that we journey from promise to provision.  If we stop and look at the promises of God we can figure out that some of the things we take as normal or "the way it is" can be wrong. Throughout the Bible there are promises for us if we but do certain things. These are not earning per say but principles that are best explained as "we reap what we sow".  Being disobedience to Gods Word nets certain consequences. As we read of different events throughout the Bible we need to remember to look for the lesson.  These same lessons written about a couple millennium ago still apply because mankind does not change. The same desires then as now. and subsequent actions still begat the same results. World leaders keep trying to achieve the same things they did way back and are so taken aback when the same results happen. People keep doing the same things and then whine and complain when they reap what they sow. People, we need to get back to the basic principles of God first, and love your neighbor as your self. Picking and backbiting serves no one except the enemies cause. Is that what we really want to do? Just thing today and this week before you act....


Eph 2:1-7
  And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;   Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
  Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.  But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,  Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)  And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:  That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

remember Sheree...remember Jeff R...

Heavenly Father,
   Thank you for the way, truth and life in your son. Thank you for your Word that reveals truth ti live by.  Lord, help us reflect you and not the worlds ways. Help us meet needs of others  and show mercy as often as we can and the wisdom to recognize those times.  In Jesus name, amen

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

 Good morning!  How are we faithing?  Learning new things is essential to keeping ourselves from becoming dormant.  Learning a new song on the guitar, discovering a verse in the Bible we never noticed or even a new technique at work. We never stop learning and if we get to the point we think we don't need to...oh boy...God reveals himself in many ways and not always is it traditional or where one would think he would.  I have come to the realization that by always being alert to God's ways and remembering scripture I can be in tune to the Spirits promptings even when I am in situations that are not typical used for those things. Comments that provide clarity, ones that make you say "aha!" are flat exciting when the eyes are opened to that new to you thing. Our savior loves us so much and wants to be so abundantly present every moment of our lives that we ought to train ourselves to constantly be aware of his presence. Man, God is so good and we have the privilege of being adopted sons and daughters that all he has is ours. All he is becomes real in our lives!  Keep the focus where it ought to be, rebuke the enemy in Jesus' name and go out and learn some new things this weekend!




Eze 34:12 
As a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep that are scattered; so will I seek out my sheep, and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day.



Mat 11:29
 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.


remember Connie and Bobby...remember Deb Major...Matt Dixon...Brian and family

Heavenly Father,
  Thank you for revelation! Thank you for teaching the way you do!  We are so blessed and ask that you make those blessings so obvious we don't let them pass by. Grant us wisdom so we don't hinder your Spirit.  Bless those mentioned today. Heal mind, bodies and souls, in Jesus name, amen

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