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Comment by russ allen on July 20, 2012 at 6:58am

This is a call to prayer this sad day.  The shooting at the movie theater in Colorado has raised issues but we need to lift up the families and victims of the shooting.  Also remember Phillip Keith...remember Dorothy Stockbridge...remember Marvin McKinney...remember Jerry Wheeler...

Heavenly Father,
   Lord, we come before you with heavy hearts this day. We lift the families and victims of the heinous event.  Lord, comfort these people and those mentioned. Help us deal with situations with wisdom and love. Help us act and react with courage and wisdom in Jesus name, amen

Comment by russ allen on July 19, 2012 at 8:09am

  Good morning! How are we faithing? Pain is real. Ever notice if you tell your Mom or your spouse something hurts they want to rub it? What's that? Also if someone tells you they are hurting emotionally we want to rub it to make it better by speaking platitudes? Pain, other than a mechanism to let you know you stepped on a rusty nail, is for a purpose. We can choose to let it cause immense fear and trepidation or we can learn from it. Scars come from pain and those scars can be reminders of what we've learned or can be bitter reminders of how we have been wronged. Your choice. I choose to let them be used to warn me so next time I don't make the same mistake.  I choose to use them to show someone else I understand and want to stand with them as they develop a similar scar. The love of Jesus for us is so huge that he bears scars on his body to prove it. I suppose when he looks on those scars he doesn't see the indignation or the heinous acts committed on him but the love he feels for us all.  He may be reminded that we are worth it. The Apostle Paul even had a "thorn in his side"  that reminded him of just how big the love of Jesus is that even through that thorns pain he didn't puff up but remember what our savior did for us because of his love for us.  We need to look at pain through different glasses.  We need to see the lessons learned and apply them to our lives. Is your pain a wake up call to something bigger than your self? Is it to remind you to  forgive like you want to be forgiven or are you going to inflict pain in a like manner? I want you to think today when pain comes. Don't step on the nail again and don't lay that board down for someone else to step on it too.


Rom 8:28
 And we know that to them that love God all things work together for good, even to them that are called according to his purpose.



Joh 16:21
  A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come: but when she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for the joy that a man is born into the world.

 Psa 37:7-8
  Rest in Jehovah, and wait patiently for him: Fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, Because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.
 Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: Fret not thyself, it tendeth only to evil-doing.





Heavenly Father,
  The pain in this world is hard to deal with sometimes. Grant us the courage and wisdom to deal with our pain and see the lesson in it. Lord we want to see you and want to follow you and your ways. We do ask for forgiveness when we miss what we need to see. Help us always look for a lesson so we can help others as well as our selves. Let us reject and run from selfishness, in Jesus name, amen

Comment by russ allen on July 18, 2012 at 7:55am

 Good morning! How are we faithing? Sometimes it's difficult to decipher events. Watching things happen can typically be read simply because we've been there or it is plainly obvious what is going on. Then there are those times when we flat cant figure out why anyone or any event  would take the course it does.  Like we've talked about before, selfishness always plays into people events.  When people retreat into themselves while swinging the sword of self preservation, others will be hurt. Reacting out of protecting oneself from physical danger is a result of training and or the "fight or flight" mechanism we all have. Putting up walls and then acting in vengeance such as "get them before they get me" is blatantly ungodly and is acting in a manner that is in no way scriptural or Christ like. Why would we do it? Afraid of what people might say, afraid one might look bad to others, afraid of more hurt.  Gee, that sure sounds like our trust in God has waned. It's not up to us but up to God. Follow God and leave all the fallout to him.  Don't worry about protecting your rep or worrying about what others think of you. Know that you are a child of God when you accepted his grace, he loves you and your future is already set.  This, whatever is happening, isn't yours to carry.



Col 3:23-24
  whatsoever ye do, work heartily, as unto the Lord, and not unto men; knowing that from the Lord ye shall receive the recompense of the inheritance: ye serve the Lord Christ.

Php 2:12-13

  So then, my beloved, even as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling;  for it is God who worketh in you both to will and to work, for his good pleasure. 

1Co 15:58 

 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not vain in the Lord. 

Rom 8:28 

 And we know that to them that love God all things work together for good, even to them that are called according to his purpose. 

Heavenly Father,

  Thank you for the cross. Thank you for salvation.  Help us be men and women of God not back biting or tearing down your children. Lord grant us peace and understanding of events so we may minister justly and wisely for your honor, in Jesus name, amen

Comment by russ allen on July 17, 2012 at 7:36am

 Good morning! How are we faithing?  Believers are held to a higher standing. The world criticizes believers as hypocrites because they goof up all the time. What the world misses is redemption.  Believers are not any better than the world they are just aware of sin and are redeemed from sin. By being aware of sin believers try to not sin and as a result they can be perceived as hypocrites when they fail to maintain that standard. Believers who let ego and pride in fall down in the area of seeing sin in others lives and condemning them. We must be diligent in watching our own behavior in this area or we can fall into actually thinking we are "holier than thou".  As a redeemed lot we do not fall under judgement of the law of God but that does not mean we can break them.  They still are laws to live by. The scriptures are still relevant to how to live today just like in the past. Jesus defined many of the laws and explained the intent of God when he set them up.  No one can argue against the laws of God with any compelling reason because any argument against ends up for selfish reasons. Rationalization of breaking laws of God will reap results that befit the infraction. You do not loose your salvation but there will be ramifications of any and all actions eventually. Remember we reap what we sow.



2Co 9:6
 But this I say, He that soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he that soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.



Gal 6:7-8
  Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.  For he that soweth unto his own flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth unto the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap eternal life.


 Hos 10:12
 Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap according to kindness; break up your fallow ground; for it is time to seek Jehovah, till he come and rain righteousness upon you.


remember Teresa Wheeler...

Heavenly Father,
  Thank you for your Word that teaches. Help us sow without pride. Help us see with you eyes the needs around us. Help us understand your scriptures. We ask you heal the sick on our minds.  Show up and show off. Lord we love and adore you even when we sin. Lord our flesh is weak. Heal our flesh. Open our eyes, we want to see Jesus, In Jesus name, amen

Comment by russ allen on July 16, 2012 at 7:21am

      Good morning!  How are we faithing? It has been a week wrought with emotional and spiritual things and wow man, exhausting. This world tosses so much at us and I'm telling you now, if you deal inappropriately, you will suffer.  Heck man when we deal correctly there is suffering so dealing wrongly just compounds the agony. I've watched some turn on each other over stuff and it is ugly. I've watched people get in the middle of stuff they ought not. I've watched people stir stuff for who knows why. I've had family bring stuff up and Godly scriptural wisdom was necessary regardless if it hurt or not. Man, the root of all of it was selfishness. People were just protecting themselves and rather than in love, prayer and wisdom they lashed out or played the protectionism card. The news flat makes me laugh at the stupid actions from intelligent  leaders and at the same time reflects how a world without Godly resources implodes. People it's time to step back and devour the Word because the prophecy is here and time is short. The worldly things that get in the way of our saviors love will wreak havoc unless we are quick to our knees and adhere to the sound teachings the Word has.


 1Pe 4:7-11
  But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore of sound mind, and be sober unto prayer:  above all things being fervent in your love among yourselves; for love covereth a multitude of sins:  using hospitality one to another without murmuring:
 according as each hath received a gift, ministering it among yourselves, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God;  if any man speaketh, speaking as it were oracles of God; if any man ministereth, ministering as of the strength which God supplieth: that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, whose is the glory and the dominion for ever and ever. Amen.



remember Baily Ford and family ...remember Sebastion Major and family...remember Erin Lawson and family...

Heavenly Father,
  Open our eyes to truth and let not our own selfish desires cloud anything. Forgive us Lord when we get our nose out of joint and miss a chance to love and present you accordingly/  Lord, calm fears and worried and let us see them for what they are. Help seeking your truth be foremost in our minds, in Jesus name, amen

Comment by russ allen on July 13, 2012 at 7:20am

 Good morning!  How are we faithing?  It is so cool to discover things when we least expect it. I discovered something about my bride and the female species from a husband/man perspective last night. I've said to my wife many times, "pay attention to your surroundings" and also " how did you miss that?"  Well guys, listen up. Last night I showed my bride something I wanted her to pick up at the store.  I didn't even know what brand it was but I knew what the label looked like and have many times saw the label and bought it my self but never knew exactly what was on the label per say but I'd recognize it immediately.  As I held it out for her to look at because I thought if she saw it it would be better than me explaining.   I watched in amazement as she read the label, mouthed what she read and I realized she was committing to memory what the words were and not a photo in her head of what the label looked like. As I watched her I was in awe and quite surprised that I actually got a glimpse of how her mind works. She doesn't see things like I do. Is it a female thing? Is it just her way? Is it the way God made us different? I definitively want to explore why she has to remember things that way and my mind takes a snapshot. God sure is something to make our brains function the same and yet different. The more I learn about the magnitude and complexities of God's creation the more wonderful and amazing he becomes. My bride picks up things I miss and in kind I do her. It made me take a look at my self and how I can judge others for simply not seeing what I see. I also realized I was wrong for doing that. The Word speaks about many things like this but for me anyways, it takes an event like last night for sense to come.



Gen 2:23-24
  And the man said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.  Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.


 1Pe 3:7
  Ye husbands, in like manner, dwell with your wives according to knowledge, giving honor unto the woman, as unto the weaker vessel, as being also joint-heirs of the grace of life; to the end that your prayers be not hindered.

Heavenly Father,

     Thank you for revelation. Thank you for making such a creature as woman. Lord we don't mean to be ignorant or dismissive so we ask for vision and wisdom to see truth outside of ourselves. Lord, reveal your Word to us. Teach us all these wonderful things we've been missing either by self absorbing or plain ignorant. Lord we ask blessings on marriages and families. Let not the enemy enter into sanctified unions that are cemented together by you. Lord, thank you for all your blessings and we honor and praise you, in Jesus name, amen

Comment by russ allen on July 12, 2012 at 7:21am

  Good morning!  How are we faithing? Who's right and who's wrong? "So and so said it so it must be true"...even though other sources say it isn't. Man that can be a dangerous place to dwell. Trust is an important manner of living but wisdom requires open eyes. I've heard my own family members defend their kids when it was obvious those kids were screwing up. Are they doing them justice? Are we doing "what love requires"?  Gee whiz man, look at the schools! Teachers can't even correct bad behavior! There is a big different between protecting and defending.  I have to use my kids for illustration because, well, who else? If my daughter comes to me over issues in her marriage, the first thing I ask is "what does the hubby say?" She, as much as I love her, is not my responsibility any more,  I can offer support, prayer and fatherly advice but her husband took that responsibility on when I walked her down the isle. Now if her husband was abusing her physically or I heard him call her degrading names, we'd be boxing. I would defend anyone in those cases. That line between protecting and defending can get blurred when it comes to loved ones but we must refer to the Word in those cases, not to justify actions but to define them. This is a tough life we lead some times and when the flesh rebels and gets selfish we can can make catastrophic mistakes. Are you struggling? Refer to the Word. Get in the habit of daily readings and applications, be wise to ask disinterested trustworthy parties for Godly advise.  I have referred my kids to Pastors where they live because I know I am way to close to them to be objective. The Epistles address just about anything you are facing. Take the time to read them because you know the Word is the only thing that is always spot on. Check this out and think;



1Pe 1:13-21
  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.  And if ye call on him as Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to each man's work, pass the time of your sojourning in fear:   knowing that ye were redeemed, not with corruptible things, with silver or gold, from your vain manner of life handed down from your fathers;   but with precious blood, as of a lamb without spot, even the blood of Christ:  who was foreknown indeed before the foundation of the world, but was manifested at the end of times for your sake,  who through him are believers in God, that raised him from the dead, and gave him glory; so that your faith and hope might be in God.


remember Linda Stivers...remember Jerry Wheeler...remember our spouses and kids


Heavenly Father,
  Thank you for the wisdom in your Word. Lord, help us remember our roles and not overstep. Help us make right choices and not choices that feed the flesh. Take our lives and do what you will. We ask we live and recognize honor, love and wisdom. Remove the fear from past scars. We lift those up in bad health to you. Heal them . Comfort them. Reveal yourself to them. In Jesus name, amen

Comment by russ allen on July 11, 2012 at 7:28am

  Good morning! How are we faithing?  Reading a good book right now and it is fascinating that I can totally relate and see the things written about happening all around me.  People can be strange and wonderful at the same time. It always mystifies me how people can't see the forest for the trees until I realize I'm doing the same thing. Humbling for sure. The selfishness we are prone to is prevalent everywhere.  The self protectionism we take on when we get confronted with our mistakes is foolish sometimes. We as believers need to self evaluate daily and not for chastisement or whoopin up on ourselves but for rectifying given situations and learning what to do and not to do.  Anyone who thinks they are never wrong is speeding into a huge sink hole. Anyone who thinks they don't need help from anyone is headed to an abyss of loneliness and most likely a nasty disposition that makes people avoid them thus increasing that loneliness, a spiral out of control if you will. Our savior, Jesus of Nazareth saved us for love and not for what we can do for him.  All your good things will not save you nor will it off set the bad things you've done. Only the grace of Jesus saves therefore the striving for good is not to show off how good one is but should be a result of  the realization that by grace one is saved thus the works seem to just happen because you get filled with so much love you can't help it. Understand?  Focus on Jesus.  Get in the Word daily.  Ask questions.  Stop the "saving face" junk that always leads to selfish behavior.



2Ti 3:1-7
  But know this, that in the last days grievous times will be upon us.  For men will be lovers of themselves, money-lovers, braggarts, arrogant, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,  without natural feeling, unyielding, slanderers, without self-control, savage, haters of good,  betrayers, reckless, puffed up, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,  having a form of godliness, but denying the power of it; even turn away from these.  For of these are those creeping into houses and leading silly women captive, the ones having been heaped with sins, being led away by various lusts,  always learning, but never being able to come to a full knowledge of the truth.



Php 2:1-4
  If there is therefore any exhortation in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any tender mercies and compassions,  make full my joy, that ye be of the same mind, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind;  doing nothing through faction or through vainglory, but in lowliness of mind each counting other better than himself;  not looking each of you to his own things, but each of you also to the things of others.


Heavenly Father,
  Help us be wise to our own faults so we can overcome them and be servants of yours.  Help us recognize where we do not do what love requires, your love requires. Lord we struggle within ourselves and ask for wisdom and the courage to use that wisdom. Pour your grace on our lives. We ask the Holy Spirit dwell in us so much we don't need headlights from the reflection of your light. Lord, forgive us when we fail and guide our paths with unmistakable vision. In Jesus name, amen

Comment by russ allen on July 10, 2012 at 7:23am

Good morning! How are we faithing? It amazes me sometimes how the gospel gets distorted. It gets all twisted up over our culture, our past, our conceptions and misconceptions. We all have friends that are pessimistic and some who are optimistic. We know people who have been hurt badly by family, exes, friends, bosses etc. We know some who use the Gospel for gain or for some weird way to justify being judgmental over the hurt they feel. I thank God for the grace we are under and it causes me to grant the benefit of doubt because I am so messed up.  The Gospel has made me realize that just because someone in my past did thus and so that not every one else will do the same. It also grants wisdom to recognize many times if someone is stepping on me but forgiveness is required anyways because grace is why I am forgiven.  Trust is a big issue. Many a fight has been over something said or done that was innocent or or at least naively done. We tend to hold onto that hurt and animosity while the offender walks away unaware of any infraction.  This is where forgiveness and grace comes in.  Not only is it available for known infractions committed but also for the unknown. Heck man, I've done and said things innocently and caught grief over them.  I've also done some things that seemed like nothing but smacked some one else up side the head. This is where grace and forgiveness comes in. If we know we can do those things that way then it stands to reason someone else can do them to us in the same manner.  Grace requires forgiveness. Love requires the benefit of a doubt. Wisdom requires we pause for emotion identification before we act.  Just think abut this...



Rom 5:15-21
  But the free gift is not also like the deviation. For if by the deviation of the one the many died, much more the grace of God, and the gift in grace, which is of the one Man, Jesus Christ, did abound to the many.   And the gift is not as by one having sinned; for indeed the judgment was of one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many deviations to justification.  For if by the deviation of the one death reigned through the one, much more those who are receiving the abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness shall rule in life by the One, Jesus Christ.   So then, as through one deviation it was toward all men to condemnation, so also through one righteous act toward all men to justification of life.  For as through the one man's disobedience the many were constituted sinners, so also through the obedience of the One the many shall be constituted righteous.   But Law came in besides, that the deviation might abound. But where sin abounded, grace much more abounded,   that as sin ruled in death, so also grace might rule through righteousness to everlasting life, through Jesus Christ our Lord.


remember the Jeff Pratt family...remember our leaders/Pastors and families...


Heavenly Father,
   Thank you for wisdom found in your Word. Lord, forgive us when we judge unjustly. Forgive our emotional boundaries that cause us to make bad choices. We ask for wisdom and courage to stand on this grace you give and to trust in your ways. Help us see truth through your eyes and not our fleshly ones. Guide us in all our endeavors so we shine for you! In Jesus name, amen

Comment by russ allen on July 9, 2012 at 8:00am

 Good morning! How are we faithing? Looks like around here a break in the heat is underway. The heat causes so many problems besides just the electrical grid. Peoples thinking gets weird. Patience runs thin. Besides just dehydration and fatigue we deal with these former things. It very important that we keep tabs on ourselves when in stressful times like the last couple weeks of heat have produced.  I've watched situations that under other weather conditions were dealt with wisely but when the heat got turned up they turned into disasters. Not blaming the weather for bad judgement but it is interesting how the bad ones ramp up in hot weather. Other stresses can contribute to unwise reactions and actions by us also.  I know when I am real tired, things that normally are no big deal irritate the snot out of me. When I am hungry or lonely or feel neglected, simple things take on a more sinister meaning. We as believers must be careful of the enemies attacks on our weaknesses. Our own insecurities can innocent things become something they are not.  That stress get overwhelming really quick. Take care of yourself. Don't let yourself become too tired, too lonely or unforgiving  because you open a door for the enemy to attack and before you know it you're in deep where it was shallow.



Jas 3:13-17
  Who is wise and knowing among you? Let him show his works by his good behavior, in meekness of wisdom.   But if you have bitter jealousy and contention in your heart, do not boast and lie against the truth.  This is not the wisdom coming down from above, but is earthly, beastly, devilish.  For where jealousy and contention are, there is confusion and every foul deed.  But the wisdom from above is firstly truly pure, then peaceable, forbearing, yielding, full of mercy and of good fruits, not partial and not pretended.





Gal 5:13  For, brothers, you were called to freedom. Only do not use the freedom for an opening to the flesh. But through love serve one another. For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in this: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." Lev. 19:18  But if you bite and devour one another, be careful that you are not consumed by one another.


Remember Bob Burnsmier...Deanna Keuhl...Carla Phillips...Keith Phillips...Anna B...Janet Weary...Diane Reed


Heavenly Father,
   Thank you for your wisdom in your Word. Lord , reveal truth to us and help us not read into situations with fleshly eyes but with your eyes. Lord, you are our protector and our strength. Thank you for forgiving us when we fail. Please touch those mentioned today and in the name of Jesus we command that the enemy be tied and cast away from our lives. Help us keep our eyes on you Lord. Our eyes are on you Lord...in Jesus name we pray, amen

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