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Comment by russ allen on September 17, 2010 at 7:28am

Good morning! How are we faithing? A good friend of mine has been on my mind all week. He is struggling with events and situations in the world. He has some really deep, thought provoking yet not unheard of questions. Some events in life are happenstance because the Word tells us that the "rain falls on the just and the unjust". That isn't a whole lot of comfort when you are deep in the midst of turmoil. God understands this. God knows where you are. How you recognise that fact makes a huge difference on how you deal with the circumstances you are in. Our God cares just like a father does, just like a Daddy does. There is scripture that attests to this. Check this out;

Romans 8:14-17
For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, "Abba! Father!" The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him in order that we may also be glorified with Him.
NAS

Galatians 4:5-7
And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!" Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God.
NAS

"ABBA Father", what does this mean? "Abba is the word framed by the lips of infants, and betokens unreasoning trust; "father" expresses an intelligent apprehension of the relationship. The two together express the love and intelligent confidence of the child." With that definition we can see that knowing who God is and how God is can make a marked difference in how we approach him in prayer. Do you ask in prayer because of duty? Do you pray only for yourself and your needs? Do you only petition God for tangible things? These are questions we need to ask ourselves with our focus in mind. Our focus is God and not what we can get from him. Can we ask for stuff? Well sure but this is our Father, our Daddy. Those of you who have kids understand that a kid that continually asks for stuff without any regard for the work needed to get that stuff becomes quite selfish and gets real mad when they don't get what they want, they become spoiled. We can go to our father with praise and requests. We can speak in a relationship manner. Realize the woes others have and pray for them. Realize you are not alone or enduring anything unusual. Take your eyes off yourself and put them on God and his truth and wisdom and your choices will become clear. You may not like them, they may hurt but God's wisdom will guide your path and you will overcome.

Remember Aaron Williams family...remember Bill...remember Norma Jean McQueen family...

Heavenly Father,
We beseech you this morning to grant wisdom and vision in us so we may make the choices best for all. Lord we are struggling and need your grace and touch to see clearly the choices we must make. Lord we ask you for forgiveness because we desire to do things righteously but stumble. Lord the pain is getting worse but we await you. Lord please comfort those facing tragedies today. Hold and let them know you understand and love them. Thank you for your grace . Thank you Father for your love and tolerance for a motley crew like us, bless you Lord for we love and honor you in your most holy and gracious name, amen
Posted by russ allen at 7:25 AM

Comment by russ allen on September 15, 2010 at 7:30am

Great morning! How are we faithing? Some really big questions have been posed and not being a scholar I need to speak from the perspective of the Word of God and my own life. I do don't know why things happen the way they do. Some are social economic, some are physiological, some are spiritual and some are due to all the above slathered with ours and others mistakes. How do we deal when our world comes crashing down? I know in my own life that when all went haywire I had to swallow my pride. I had to ask for help, admit I was incapable at this point to advance any further without assistance and I had to face my God head on and ask some questions with the attitude of really listening and applying what I found. Lots of time can pass doing things a certain way and it may succeed for that time but a point comes when the truth gets revealed and we have to look into the darkness and pick a path. Unfortunately some pick escape paths that do lead to ruin of the entire being. The easy way out, i.e. drugs, compromises to our beliefs just to ease the pain. When we really get a hold of the fact that God loves us enough to sacrifice his son for us we begin a journey to a peace inside that even when we are hungry we still are content. I do not want to diminish your pain at all but I want you to know that what you are going through is not unusual or new. What you are experiencing is age old and some of it is the evil one holding you down because the things that hold you down works. We have to step unto the platform of Jesus and start believing he loves us and will sustain us when we are at our lowest. I know, you're living on the street and you've lost everything material in your life but you are still here therefore God says he has a plan for everyone and it just might be you have run so long that now because of events in your life, he has your attention. I do not believe he caused your current situation but he also allows us to make choices that got us where we are. Don't blame anything or anybody, take the steps you need to climb out of the hole you're in. Don't be afraid and if you are, pray your soul is saved. Pray Jesus forgive everything and open your eyes to the wisdom that is already right in front of you but you are missing because of fleshly wants and needs. Change your perspective; you have no ties anymore, you have no more fleshly trappings, you are free for the first time in a long time and you only have one way to go...up...and Jesus is that up...miss that and all this will repeat...

Job 5:6-7

"For affliction does not come from the dust,
Neither does trouble sprout from the ground,
For man is born for trouble,
As sparks fly upward.
NAS

Job 4:8
"According to what I have seen, those who plow iniquity
And those who sow trouble harvest it.
NAS

John 16:33
"These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world."
NAS

James 1:12-16
Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am being tempted by God"; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. 15 Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death.
NAS

remember baby Ryleigh Sparks...remember Donnie Wyman...remember John Braun family...

Heavenly Father,
Lord, we are hurting. We have problems that look so overwhelming. Lord we ask for peace and understanding. We ask for the wisdom to make the right choices even if it means more pain. Lord we don't understand why things happen the way they do or to what end they serve but open the eyes of our heart so we can see your truth. Lord we rebuke the enemy and his henchmen. Protect us. Send a protecting angel to guard us. Lord we want to do what is proper and honorable but our flesh gets in the way. Help us be comforted in the middle of woes. Help us realize your love that sustains us unto death. Lord we love and honor you and seek your wisdom, bless those mentioned in a way that shows your grace and love and mighty power. Reveal yourself so you cannot be denied, in Jesus name, amen
Posted by russ allen at 7:25 AM

Comment by russ allen on September 14, 2010 at 7:07am

Good morning! How are we faithing? I'm wrestling with a few concepts and ideas that fly in the face of convention. What they are isn't important as much as the thought they provoke. I believe anything is possible with God. I believe the unbelievable when it comes to God. I also believe anything that is contrary to the scriptures is not of God. Just because we've never heard of it or our parents don't agree or the denominations argue about these ideas doesn't make them any more or any less true. Here's what is important; God said it therefore it's true. When we come to an understanding or not doesn't change that fact. Whether we agree or disagree doesn't change the idea or thought if it is in the Bible. Our understanding of these ideas that we struggle with has to do with our maturity in our relationship with God and lots of times, preconceived ideas. It is important that we seek truth and be willing to hear what God's Word says. Concepts that we can't get doesn't mean they are not real. Just because we don't understand doesn't make it any less true. Peter walking on water is hard to believe because in the natural, that can't be done. We accept Jesus did it because he is God but Peter, well, we can't fathom that event because we don't do it or know anyone who ever did. That is looking through our eyes and not God's. With God all things are possible. When we get a hold of that, squabbles over concepts will decrease because we will begin to see the spiritual realm operating with the natural. Deep stuff but sit back and ponder the greatness of God and you'll start to see things in the light that were dark before.

Matthew 10:5-8

These twelve Jesus sent out after instructing them, saying, "Do not go in the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter any city of the Samaritans; but rather go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. "And as you go, preach, saying, 'The kingdom of heaven is at hand.' "Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons; freely you received, freely give.
NAS



1 Thessalonians 4:1-7
Finally then, brethren, we request and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, that, as you received from us instruction as to how you ought to walk and please God (just as you actually do walk), that you may excel still more. For you know what commandments we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus. For this is the will of God, your sanctification; that is, that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each of you know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, not in lustful passion, like the Gentiles who do not know God; and that no man transgress and defraud his brother in the matter because the Lord is the avenger in all these things, just as we also told you before and solemnly warned you. For God has not called us for the purpose of impurity, but in sanctification. 8 Consequently, he who rejects this is not rejecting man but the God who gives His Holy Spirit to you.
NAS

Isaiah 41:10-11
'Do not fear, for I am with you;
Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you, surely I will help you,
Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.'
"Behold, all those who are angered at you will be shamed and dishonored;
Those who contend with you will be as nothing, and will perish.
NAS

2 Corinthians 10:3-5
For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, 4 for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses.
NAS

remember Chuck and Gail Balentine...

Heavenly Father,
Thank you for your Word that reveals truth and grace. Lord we ask for our mind be sincerely seeking your face and wisdom all the time. Heal those who are hurting from sin. Heal the minds that are captive by tradition and culture. Lord we ask for blessings on those who seek you and desire to follow you but stumble and are feeling week and worthless. Take them by the hand and show them your ways. We ask these thing in your name, amen
Posted by russ allen at 7:00 AM

Comment by russ allen on September 13, 2010 at 7:50am

Good morning! How are we faithing? Sufferings come and go. What we suffer and how we suffer varies but it still is suffering. It is not always easy to step outside ones self to look at what is happening. It is however important that when we step outside to look we have an attitude of grace, learning and a desire to act correctly. My gut tells me to slap the snot out of someone in my face but what will the effect be? Being able to discern life safety and a pleading when someone gets after you is really important. Is this a jerk episode or is it a cry for help? Lots of times the defensive mechanism that is flying at you isn't even realized by the sender. My cousin has a way with critters and in it's basic form, that is how we should be. A dog nips at you, is he scared, being protective or acting out of abuse? Sometimes people are jerks. Deciphering on the fly is something we all need to try to achieve and even if they are being jerks we still are not justified in returning in the same manner. Christ like behavior loves the unlovable. Christ like behavior sees needs and does what is proper for the circumstances. Jesus gave his life on the cross so we don't have to. Jesus even then did not lash out at those people who physically did that to him. He forgave. That is what we strive to do. Heck man, I fail just like everyone else but we still keep pressing on and adhere to those actions because they are just.

2 Corinthians 12:10

Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
KJV

2 Corinthians 1:3-6
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort; who comforts us in all our affliction so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ.
NAS

Psalms 73:26
My flesh and my heart may fail,
But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
NAS

Isaiah 43:1-2
"Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by name; you are Mine!
"When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
And through the rivers, they will not overflow you.
When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched,
Nor will the flame burn you.
NAS

Remember Brenda Adams and Doris...remember Dave Smethurst ministries...remember our Pastors and their families

Heavenly Father,
Thank you for your love and kindness that teaches us how to be. Show your wisdom in every situation and help us see quickly needs under the facades. Lord we ask for wisdom and peace throughout this week. Show your mighty hand in everything we do. We lift those mentioned and those who have silent requests to you. Heal where needed and show your self and you ways. Protect and guide us in Jesus name, amen
Posted by russ allen at 7:45 AM

Comment by russ allen on September 10, 2010 at 7:37am

thanks Chief

Comment by russ allen on September 10, 2010 at 7:37am

Good morning! How are we faithing? Our behavior is very important to how our Lord is seen. If I cuss and spit and kick people with my words, what light is seen? Exactly, none is seen. Our salvation isn't given if we do well because grace has come but do our actions cause someone else to miss that grace? I can't live with that. My savior gave all for me therefore I have to tell everyone I can that they can be redeemed too. If I act like I have not been redeemed, I have no witness to and for the redeemer. No finger pointing here just a heads up to pay attention to how we act, how we speak and how will the lost see it. If they see no light in us we have dropped the ball and they may not find Jesus and I can't take the chance of missing an opportunity. Even as bad as it can get on this orb it is wise to look beyond to the prize and understand this is temporary. Reminding oneself everyday of the grace we have received will modify your outlook. Think about these;

Galatians 6:10
As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.
KJV

Ephesians 5:15-17
Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men, but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil. So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
NAS

Colossians 4:5-6
Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity. Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned, as it were, with salt, so that you may know how you should respond to each person.
NAS

Remember Mike Haney...remember Irene and Karen Sharp...Remember Liz Byrd...remember Nikita that her burns heal quick...

Heavenly Father,
Thank you for your wisdom and grace that saves even someone as sinful as me. Lord we ask for healing for those listed today. Let the tests be negative. Let the Doctors see healing in a miraculous way. Let your light shine so bright it cannot be denied. Lord we lift you up and praise you for your greatness. Come Lord Jesus...in your Holy name we pray..amen
Posted by russ allen at 7:29 AM

Comment by Fireyladd - Retired Chief Sharp on September 7, 2010 at 7:42pm

Russ, thanks for your words from God heart. Havnt dropped by an commented in a while. Awesome word!

Comment by russ allen on September 7, 2010 at 7:25am

Good morning! How are we faithing? We were talking about wisdom yesterday and how we gain it. Here is a difficult thing to do alot of times in our walk with God. Things that seem logical or upright can come at us to deceive. The enemy is smart simply due to experience. He also is the father of lies thus deceit is his nature. This knowledge prompts us to analyze any rationalization to thought that is contrary to sound scripture. I'm as guilty as anyone so don't ever get offended when a wrong committed is brought to your attention. Learn why you did it. Learn to see truth without condemnation. We've said it before, Jesus convicts, the enemy accuses. Temptation ain't a sin. Being tempted is happening every day. What you do about that temptation determines sin or not. When a thought enters your mind, take it captive to see if it is good or not. Getting angry and then the thought of retaliation because you can get them before they get you is not scriptural or even wise. Rebuking that thought and not acting on it in the right thing to do. If you play with that thought long enough, you will act on it and sin is born. Guess what? That will grow and before you know it, you will react and retaliate without thinking. As a man thinks so he does. We are right smack in the midst of the enemies territory therefore we must stay alert with our minds or we will fall into stuff we don't even mean to. Just think today when errant thoughts seem to show up...cause they do...

2 Corinthians 10:4-7

for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ, and we are ready to punish all disobedience, whenever your obedience is complete. You are looking at things as they are outwardly. If anyone is confident in himself that he is Christ's, let him consider this again within himself, that just as he is Christ's, so also are we.
NAS

Psalms 110:2
The LORD will stretch forth Thy strong scepter from Zion, saying,
"Rule in the midst of Thine enemies."
NAS

remember Cassie and Benjamin...

Heavenly Father, In the name of Jesus we rebuke satan and his minion. We stand on your Word and use it to defend our minds. Lord we ask for strength of mind so we may recognise when lies are flying at us. Lord we ask for deliverance for Cassie. Grab her and protect her and her family. Lord we praise your name and seek you in all we do and say. Lord we lift Butch to you, heal his body and mind. Thank you for revelation from your Word in Jesus name, amen
Posted by russ allen at 7:21 AM

Comment by russ allen on September 6, 2010 at 7:31am

Good morning! How are we faithing? Do you have understanding of the Word? Wisdom comes from understanding. Reading the Word isn't enough. Applying it to you life is where it becomes food for us. One can read the words, understand sentence structure and even decipher language interpretation but if the meaning isn't understood, wisdom isn't there. The Word being a living document will impart wisdom every time you read it but you must ask for clarification from the Holy Spirit. Applying what you read to your life in understanding and then applying it in practice will indeed strengthen you in this faith and grace. I have discovered that sometimes when I read and say "huh?" that I trust at the right time it will become an aha moment. There's power in the Word and when we seek Jesus and his ways we then begin to take on his Word like a jacket of armor which protects us from worldly bombardment. Do we not get tempted or endure junk? Nope, we still have all those worldly-fleshly things come at us but knowing the source and knowing truth we are able to stand honorably before these things. We struggle against things not seen but are just as real as our car. We battle things on the battleground of our minds and the struggle is as real as any armed conflict. Here's the cool thing, Jesus has already won. We can stand with the knowledge this world is a defeated foe and we must live as such. A defeated foe will succumb to superior forces or just perceived superior forces. We are not defeated therefore we can stand even while everything around us is falling down. We can fight the good fight because we already know the outcome. Will we get through unscathed? Nope. We are gonna hurt, we are gonna get hurt but like passing through a gauntlet we will emerge out the other side and with a determined sigh we look at the general Jesus because he's whooped the enemy, he just ain't died yet. Read these..read em again...meditate on them...

Ephesians 6:14-20

Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming missiles of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 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, and pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in proclaiming it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.
NAS

James 1:13-16
Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am being tempted by God"; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death.
NAS

1 Corinthians 10:1-13
For I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea; and all ate the same spiritual food; and all drank the same spiritual drink, for they were drinking from a spiritual rock which followed them; and the rock was Christ. Nevertheless, with most of them God was not well-pleased; for they were laid low in the wilderness. Now these things happened as examples for us, that we should not crave evil things, as they also craved. And do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written, " The people sat down to eat and drink, and stood up to play." Nor let us act immorally, as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in one day. Nor let us try the Lord, as some of them did, and were destroyed by the serpents. Nor grumble, as some of them did, and were destroyed by the destroyer. Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, that you may be able to endure it.
NAS

Remember Jonathan Morrissey family...remember Mike Haney...remember Stephanie Pflug...remember Linda and Ben...remember Anna and Justin Benton...

Heavenly Father,
Thank you for your wisdom in youe Word. Lord we ask for our eyes be wide open to your leading so we can stand to the enemies schemes and to our own desires. We want to be able to choose paths that are righteous and not out of our own lusts. Lord help us understand your word to us. Help us hear your voice, Bless those mentioned and those unspoken requests, in Jesus name, amen
Posted by russ allen at 7:25 AM

Comment by Walter on September 2, 2010 at 4:00pm

Hello my friends, Im fire fighter from central america, Nicaragua, We are a group of voluntarie fire fighter that are taking matters on our hands, we are trying to make a different on our country, since our goverment is not able to caver all the needs for our fellow fire fighter, a group of us are putting together a non profit agency to build a non govermental fire fighter association, is call bomberos unidos de Nicaragua, right now the local goverment has donated a piece of land so we can built our company, but we need all the help that we can get, this is why my lord is using me to make this a dream come true, since our country is in need of more people like us, we had hsd in the past, hurracanes, earth quakes, wars, and we have a 60% non working people, our country is poor, this is why we raise our hands and pry to my lord to help us on achive this goal, my contact information is the fallow, home phone 505-2249-5046 cell N. 505-8653-1739, please quet in contact with us or if you know anyone that can help let me know, thank you all for your time. god bless all of you

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