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Comment by russ allen on April 6, 2011 at 6:53am

Good morning! How are we faithing this fine day? Sometimes we veer off track. Sometimes stuff around us pulls our attention away from God and the things of God. People seem to think unless we are singing the Hallelujah chorus with our hands clasped we are not being Godly. Nothing is further from the truth. The Word tells us to pray without ceasing and that does not mean a continual formal liturgy of words. Praying without ceasing is a tuning in to the things of God and constantly aware of him and his works. "Huh?" you say? Lets say you walk in a store and you notice a grimaced face on someone. Are they in pain? Did their Mother just die? Do they need a kind word? Should I smile and say hello even though I feel like stink? These are questions that come from our attention coming from the Word of God and us communing with him constantly. This relationship with the Savior Jesus teaches us to be in prayer in all things. What is this life about? People is what it is all about. God made us to worship and enjoy him. Our relationship garners prayerful attention all the time. We grow in the Word when we read it daily. Input of the Word is so crucial for our being in tune to the people who need Jesus. We need to be aware when we are being selfish with this salvation and be ready in season and out to share love. That person in the store you saw earlier may be waiting for another human being to acknowledge them. That person may be at the end of their rope and your reaching out in prayerful love may be what reassures them that God is indeed real. The Holy Spirits prompting is silently deafening when we tune in. Pray without ceasing...wow...on our knees and off is what that means...
1 Thessalonians 5:16-22
Rejoice always; pray without ceasing ; in everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. Do not quench the Spirit; do not despise prophetic utterances. But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good; abstain from every form of evil.
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1 Samuel 12:23-24
Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD by ceasing to pray for you; but I will instruct you in the good and right way. Only fear the LORD and serve Him in truth with all your heart; for consider what great things He has done for you.
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Colossians 4:2-4
Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving; praying at the same time for us as well, that God may open up to us a door for the word, so that we may speak forth the mystery of Christ, for which I have also been imprisoned; in order that I may make it clear in the way I ought to speak.
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Ephesians 6:18
With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints,
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Luke 21:36
"But keep on the alert at all times, praying in order that you may have strength to escape all these things that are about to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man."
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remember David Smethurst...remember Jay and Willa Newsome...

Heavenly Father,
Help us be aware of you and your movement. Help us stay in tune and recognise when we are not in tune to your Holy Spirit. Help us be ambassadors for you. Open our eyes to the needs we see and equip us to meet those needs. Lord we ask for wisdom so we don't chase things that will pull us from you. Teach us to be your servants with a loving heart and a sound mind. Bless those mentioned, wherever they go or whatever they do, In Jesus name, amen
Posted by russ allen at 6:50 AM

Comment by russ allen on April 5, 2011 at 7:44am

welcome Phillip

Comment by russ allen on April 5, 2011 at 7:43am

Good morning! How are we faithing? Had a conversation recently and it was said that church numbers ebb and flow. I started wondering why. Is it the human condition? Do people just search the next cool thing? Is this an emotional high and when it subsides the desire leaves? We in the churches are dropping the ball. We surround them when they make a confession of faith, hug them when they get baptised and then leave em alone. Wrong wrong wrong! There they are, saved, washed clean and not a clue where to go from there. They don't even know what to ask. We fellow believers must be in the Word and help these new believers on the path the principles of God make. It's just to darn easy to revert. Gee whiz man, I'm old and I catch myself doing that. We need to prop each other up. We need to stop the bumper sticker platitudes and speak truth in love and help each other. Remove your opinions and speak truth from the Word. We need not care how so much as what. Each of us see things from a different angle so show Jesus by living truth. Our reflection is much more of an indication of truth than our finger pointing. Rather than barking,"you need to be at church when the doors are open" we need to show God's love and encourage those lives so they want to come to church to see God. To learn who this savior is. I have a Mom and Dad and so do you therefore orders rarely work unless asked for. We have this wonderful gift that has been bought and paid for so why would we think we have to keep earning and paying for it? Burdening new believers with do's and don'ts does not work hence the ebb and flow of the churches. We need to surround people with truth in love not just the truth. Without love it's just another set of rules and that doesn't work by itself or we wouldn't even need this savior. Think about this...


2 Peter 2:20-22
For if after they have escaped the defilements of the world by the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and are overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first. For it would be better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn away from the holy commandment delivered to them. It has happened to them according to the true proverb, "A dog returns to its own vomit ," and, "A sow, after washing, returns to wallowing in the mire."
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Matthew 5:13-16
"You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how will it be made salty again? It is good for nothing anymore, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men. "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. "Nor do men light a lamp, and put it under the peck-measure, but on the lampstand; and it gives light to all who are in the house. "Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
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Galatians 4:9
But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how is it that you turn back again to the weak and worthless elemental things, to which you desire to be enslaved all over again?
NAS

remember Betty Graham's brother...remember Summer Harrod...remember Jerry and Carol,,,remember Morgan Wood

Heavenly Father,
Lord we worry about things here. We lose sight of your grace and we ask forgiveness. Help us be wise and seek wisdom that we act and love in a manner worthy of your grace. Lord, keep us mindful of the enemy so we don't stray off the path you set for us. Lord, open Megan's eyes, show her your path. Prepare her for your work. In Jesus name we pray, amen
Posted by russ allen at 7:40 AM

Comment by phillip hice on April 4, 2011 at 11:31am

Timely mesg again. Our home was hit by a tornado and in literally 4 min our home as we knew it has been forever changed. It's still standing but damage close to totaled it. A strong wind in less than 5 min changed our lives. We are thankful nobody in our family was hurt or killed. However the tornado did take a life from our community and hurt another in that family. So yep, this is a timely mesg. Thanks brother

Comment by russ allen on April 4, 2011 at 8:10am

Good morning! How are we faithing? Batten down the hatches! Prepare for the storm! The waves will be huge! The wind will be fierce! The noise will be deafening! Doom and gloom! Ever hear these reports? It's like the reporters want all these things so they can scoop the story. There was a song years ago called "Dirty Laundry" and it described how all the ills around are what everybody wants. It's like what has happened to Japan and New Guinea the last month or so. The human tragedy is awful and we do pray for them but I must admit, the tsunami and resultant devastation is fascinating to watch. Amazing the power a wave has. We build and sweat over things, make them strong and something as simple as a wave wipes it out. Do you think those people over there are lamenting about their stuff? I'll bet eating is a little more important. Survival becomes paramount and stuff becomes irrelevant. How do you deal with day to day things? Are you fretting because your car had a flat? They don't have roads. Are you complaining because your sandwich isn't fixed right at the diner? They don't have a place to sit inside and eat. Do you get depressed because you can't afford that new TV? I need not go on. We need to wake up people and see what is important. There's nothing wrong with stuff but is it your idol? Anything that you love more than God is an idol. Do your thing but keep it in perspective. If you lost everything tangible today, what would you do? How would you react? What would your outlook be? Would you lie down and whine about it or would you pick yourself and press on? Would you expect someone else to fix it or do what you need to do? Take the time to picture yourself in that situation today and take notice of your gut reaction. Check your reaction to the Word and our Savior and ask those pertinent questions to prepare yourself for eventual tragedy because those times come to a sin filled fallen world but we are saved by the grace of God and the love of his son who gave all so we don't have to. Kinda makes the house and car insignificant don't it....

Hebrews 1:1-4

God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world. And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high; having become as much better than the angels, as He has inherited a more excellent name than they.
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Colossian1:18
He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the first-born from the dead; so that He Himself might come to have first place in everything.
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Philippians 2:9-11
Therefore also God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those who are in heaven, and on earth, and under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
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remember Kellynns friend Chris who has cancer...

Heavenly Father,
Thank you for your blessings and thank you for your Word. Lord we pray for our leaders that they make sound choices and hear your voice. Lord we lift our military to you. Help them apply mercy and courage to all they do. Shield them from evil. Lord we ask for revelation of your Word today. Reveal your truths and grant us wisdom that we may not cause pain in others or cause them to stumble, we ask these things in Jesus name, amen
Posted by russ allen at 8:08 AM

Comment by russ allen on April 1, 2011 at 7:26am

Good morning! How are we faithing? I have a thankful heart that God has given me. This joy and contentment only comes from God. Sure there have been times when temporary contentment in worldly things comes but that is fleeting. I win a drag race, feels good for a few days but subsides. Play a gig with applause, feels good for a few days. One drinks and it feels good till it wears off. Only this contentment in salvation lasts forever. Yes you have bad days. Yes you have times of woe and times of elation but that inner peace when we have God in our heart lasts and lasts. The real beauty is no matter what may come our salvation remains what it is, salvation. I can't earn it. I can't improve upon it, I can't even lose what God has saved. With contentment like this, with newness of heart and with taking God's Word in daily we end up doing things that are righteous because we just emulate our savior, we just can't help doing "good works", not to be seen but because we love. We can love because we have been loved.
Ephesians 2:8-10
For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, that no one should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
NAS
Isaiah 43:21
"The people whom I formed for Myself,
Will declare My praise.
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Psalms 51:10
Create in me a clean heart, O God,
And renew a steadfast spirit within me.
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2 Corinthians 5:17
Therefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.
NAS

Remember Shannon's Mom...remember David Weatherbee...remember Chris Hall...

Heavenly Father,
Thank you for your grace and love that we will never completely understand. We are so thankful we cannot earn salvation cause we are messed up. We ask for healing of mind and body for all mentioned and all reading this today. Create in us that clean spirit that is tuned to your ways, in Jesus name, amen
Posted by russ allen at 7:22 AM
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Comment by russ allen on March 31, 2011 at 7:23am

Good morning! How are we faithing? People get under my skin. Some words just set me off. Some attitudes make my anger flare. Sometimes I just don't understand why someone I'm talking to doesn't see truth. There's the rub! Am I being arrogant? Am I judging? Do I think only I have the only right view? These are pertinent questions we need to ask when those first mentioned emotions are evoked. Yes some people are just ignorant or blind to the truth but rather than dismissing them as such, maybe we ought to say a quick prayer and shut up. A little leaven can go far. Maybe we ought to listen and learn where they are mentally and spiritually. I see people spit out exactly what our media tells them to think and believe. Man, that can be dangerous. Our truth, our principles, our mind must be protected. Infusion of media only and not the Word will bend us away from God. Don't think so? Look around to what is acceptable rationalized behavior that flies directly in opposition to the Word. We must judge the behavior but not condemn the soul. We must be ready to seek truth and act accordingly regardless of what is considered "acceptable" by the world.
1 Corinthians 2:12-16
Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things freely given to us by God, which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words. But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised. But he who is spiritual appraises all things, yet he himself is appraised by no man. For who has known the mind of the Lord, that he should instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ.
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Isaiah 40:28
Do you not know? Have you not heard?
The Everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth
Does not become weary or tired.
His understanding is inscrutable.
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Proverbs 28:5
Evil men do not understand justice,
But those who seek the LORD understand all things.
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1 John 4:1-3
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God; and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God; and this is the spirit of the antichrist, of which you have heard that it is coming, and now it is already in the world.
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Remember Tim Taylor...remember our Pastors and Deacons...remember our elders...remember our Leaders and our children...

Heavenly Father,
Protect us from words and people who hurt us. Protect our minds and spirits and let not the enemy use our own weakness against us. Lord we lift those mentioned up, keep them safe and sane. Impress your wisdom on them. Protect our leaders and open their eyes to your ways. Lord we ask forgiveness when we judge when we ought not. Father, we praise you and are really trying. Keep us on the path to you, in Jesus name, amen
Posted by russ allen at 7:19 AM

Comment by russ allen on March 29, 2011 at 7:33am

Great morning! How are we faithing? Why are you stressing over things you cannot change? Why are you complaining when things don't go exactly as you think they ought to? Why do you wear that gloomy face when you have the spirit of God to rely on and your destiny is set? Do we get selfish when we don't have things go our way? Yep to all of that. Some of us deal constantly and some of us, praise God, have overcome alot of that stuff but it still rears its ugly head. We are flesh and blood and we all have buttons the enemy can push. We also have buttons that life and circumstances push. Realizing before that selfish mode takes hold is where Godly wisdom comes in. Whenever we start to whine and complain about things we need to train ourselves to recognise and put a halt to that behavior and that thinking. It isn't always easy and there may be pain involved but seriously, when's the last time you were killed when you had a flat? Any of you died because you couldn't do or go somewhere? If you're reading this I assume you are upright and reading and not supine with a rock as a headrest. Face your days with anticipation of learning, growing and another chance to be who God has made. Yesterday is over, tomorrow has enough of its own worries and today, well today is the day to renew your focus on the thinks that matter and wise people start with a conversation with our savior...


Proverbs 24:19-20
Do not fret because of evildoers,
Or be envious of the wicked;
For there will be no future for the evil man;
The lamp of the wicked will be put out.
NAS

Psalms 37:1-2
Do not fret because of evildoers,
Be not envious toward wrongdoers.
For they will wither quickly like the grass,
And fade like the green herb.
NAS

Proverbs 23:17
Do not let your heart envy sinners,
But live in the fear of the LORD always.
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Romans 16:17
Now I urge you, brethren, keep your eye on those who cause dissensions and hindrances contrary to the teaching which you learned, and turn away from them.
NAS

Galatians 6:8
For the one who sows to his own flesh shall from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit shall from the Spirit reap eternal life.
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Long list of prayer requests today, remember...Hazel Bradley...Sheila,Billy,and Larry Popp...Eva Million...Tonya Fulfer...

Heavenly Father,
Thank you for your strength in your Word. Lord we ask for peace and courage to do the right thing and not fret anything else. Grant us wisdom to see things as they really are. Help us to be ready to face our days with dignity and forbearance in your love. We do ask these people lifted have a touch from you today. Let us walk in your spirit and derive what you have for us at all times. We honor and praise your Holy name this day and it is in that name of Jesus we pray, amen
Posted by russ allen at 7:29 AM

Comment by russ allen on March 28, 2011 at 7:39am

Good morning! How are we faithing this fine day? I want to encourage you today to stand tall. Not with arrogance and pride but with thanksgiving that you came to the knowledge of good and evil and chose good. We have been where the non believers have been and indulged in all sorts of different things but now our minds and spirits are made aware of where we stray off that path of righteousness. Not that we are perfect but that we are redeemed and are able to seek forgiveness humbly and desire to improve. We are not better than the lost but enlightened. We have come to the saving grace of the son of God who already paid for you and me. When all seems to be coming down around you, remind yourself that this life is so temporary and standing for what the Word teaches will outlast any pitfall we encounter. We are not subject to evil but good. When calamity befalls us we can go to the Master for that peace and comforting knowing all is temporary and knowing evil does not control our destiny. Read these and take to heart the words within, it makes for perspective on anything that happens.

1 Peter 4:1-6

Therefore, since Christ has suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same purpose, because he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for the lusts of men, but for the will of God. For the time already past is sufficient for you to have carried out the desire of the Gentiles, having pursued a course of sensuality, lusts, drunkenness, carousals, drinking parties and abominable idolatries. And in all this, they are surprised that you do not run with them into the same excess of dissipation, and they malign you; but they shall give account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. For the gospel has for this purpose been preached even to those who are dead, that though they are judged in the flesh as men, they may live in the spirit according to the will of God.
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Romans 8:2
For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.
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Ephesians 2:3-7
Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest. But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places, in Christ Jesus, in order that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
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remember our Pastors and their families, they are under attack and need us to surround them with prayer!

Heavenly Father,
Thank you for your grace and love for us. Thank you for saving us even when we ignored you. Thank you for not giving up on us. Thank you for all you give us in spirit and truth. Lord we lift our pastors to you. Heal them, strengthen them, heal and strengthen their families. In the name of Jesus we rebuke satan and his minions! He has no power over them! In Jesus name, amen!
Posted by russ allen at 7:34 AM

Comment by russ allen on March 25, 2011 at 8:32am

Good morning! How are we faithing today? My mind is all over the place this morning. I watch the events happening around the world, I read the scriptures, I talk to other people for their views then process all the input. Answers are sometimes very obvious and other times they are still elusive. Mankind wrestles with decisions daily that could have ever lasting effects. Simple things can change whole lives down the road. It is interesting to be reflective and try to learn where mistakes were made as not to repeat them. Do we still repeat and stumble? Oh yeah we do. We are indeed creatures of habit and unless we really seek the Lord, we will keep doing the same thing over and over. Don't whoop your own tail but try to reflect and see where you dropped the ball, pray, seek wisdom in the scriptures and then we may be able to rise above and not repeat. Man, it's rough out there...

1 John 3:1-12

See how great a love the Father has bestowed upon us, that we should be called children of God; and such we are. For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we shall be. We know that, when He appears, we shall be like Him, because we shall see Him just as He is. And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure. Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness. And you know that He appeared in order to take away sins; and in Him there is no sin. No one who abides in Him sins; no one who sins has seen Him or knows Him. Little children, let no one deceive you; the one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous; the one who practices sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning. The Son of God appeared for this purpose, that He might destroy the works of the devil. No one who is born of God practices sin, because His seed abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. By this the children of God and the children of the devil are obvious: anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor the one who does not love his brother. For this is the message which you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another; not as Cain, who was of the evil one, and slew his brother. And for what reason did he slay him? Because his deeds were evil, and his brother's were righteous.
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Remember Ty Bates...remember Karen Bergman and her family...remember Micah Rayborn and family...

Heavenly Father, Lord we ask forgiveness and wisdom in all our decisions. Help us see your principles at play in all we do. Help us help others to meet you and to learn to live justly. Lord we lift those mentioned and those who are silent before men. Heal them. Show your face to them and keep them ever vigilant in your statues. In Jesus name we fray, amen
Posted by russ allen at 8:28 AM

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