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Comment by russ allen on January 28, 2010 at 7:40am

Good morning! How are we faithing? Look at these lyrics from the band Salvador I awoke hearing in my head this morning;

That the very same God
That dreamt of the oceans
and set the stars into place
Well he knows me by name
The very same God
That put the world into motion
Is listening today
He hears what I say
When I pray

How awesome is that?! A God who has the smarts and the love to create everything you see from DNA and smaller to the great redwood trees to those weird fish deep in the ocean knows my name and in fact, the hairs on my head are numbered like the Word says. Your problems are not insignificant to God. Your daily events do not go unnoticed by God. I don't profess to understand how that works but I take rest knowing it. Do you feel like you are alone floating on an old log in a huge sea of a tempest? Do you feel like you are the only one goofing up and you are berating yourself when you repeat actions? Well take a step of faith to a place where love really is, in the Fathers hands. You are not alone, seek his face. You are not the only one goofing up, pray to him. You will overcome, look to the one source that never fails. I want to encourage you to listen to him and recognise when the enemy tries to snatch that peace away. Your past, your current and your future is in his hands and the woe , regret and trepidation you feel is not what God is all about. Release from those things, peace that passes understanding, inner joy that makes us gleeful in the midst of everything only come from one source and it ain't an acid trip. Do you know Jesus or do you only know about him? Think about these things. The Word says ,"all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God" therefore you are not alone. Talk to him today. Seek his face, don't delay because we don't know what is around the next curve and it would truly suck if we missed him because we blew him off...

Isa 55:6-7
Seek the LORD while he may be found;call on him while he is near. Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts.Let him turn to the LORD, and he will have mercy on him,and to our God, for he will freely pardon.
NIV

Remember Josh...remember Carl and Berta

Heavenly Father,
Thank you for your love and wisdom. Lord we seek your face today and ask for healing in our souls. We acknowledge your sacrifice for us and ask you reveal yourself to the lost. Lord let us be vessels of blessings to the ones we meet. Help us convey what this faith is all about and not pick at specs while harboring a forest. Break us down so we can see your grace and love that raises us higher than we ever were or could be without you. Remove the things that cloud true vision from our eyes. Help us overcome the past hurts that hinder a true walk with you. Our trust is in you but our flesh gets in the way sometimes. Let us be so aware of your presence in our lives we cannot deny it. Be with those who are bitter and discouraged. Bless them so they find peace, in Jesus name, amen
Posted by russ allen at 7:11 AM

Comment by Michael Brittain on January 27, 2010 at 8:32am

What a Great Word Today Russ. It is always interesting to me how certain "lessons" compile themselves for me - which raises my awareness even more to that lesson. Your Word today was the same as our Men's Bible Study earlier this morning.

Comment by russ allen on January 27, 2010 at 7:16am

Good morning! How are we faithing? I've seen people who get bogged down with the whole seeking God thing. They seem burdened with this task. They act like they are doing God a favor by being pious. Bunk. God doesn't need favors from us nor do we get points for acting in perceived notions about us being necessary for God's existence. It's time we think about something. Rather than edit in out heads the scriptures with today's culture we need to take the scriptures as holy and to mean exactly what it says. Trying to explain how things work and twisting the Word to a mold of current idealism is dumb and dangerous. I've done it, you've done it. It is easy to do. Just because I perceive things through a lens of the past 5o something years I've lived doesn't mean that my view is the only correct one, nor is yours. The scripture is specific and it must be taken as a whole. I can't stand rap music. Does that mean it's bad? Nope. I drive with knowledge of how my vehicle works, does that make me a better driver? Not necessarily. With this line of thought, is my interpretation of scripture set in stone and everyone elses wrong? Of course not, but when we search the scriptures and ask God to speak to us, the Word will indeed do just that. How do we know if it is correct or rather is being used by God to speak to us this instant? The whole council of God. If you read "eye for an eye" without seeing Jesus' explanation in, for example, Matthew chapter 7, you will end up a vindictive cruel person. Was that the intent? Justice is necessary but forgiveness and love is also. Sometimes justice and compassion seem far far apart but when we study the whole council of God and not study, looking for justification for ourselves and our actions, we find the true peace and understanding and amazingly, an ability to understand our fellow man. Without this wisdom we can become rude, self indulgent and just plain mean. As we've discussed before, our getting better is a result of us growing in the love and admonition of the Lord and not us doing good in order to get closer to God. Do you see the difference? Sure we do good things because it is correct to do so but we do them for that reason and not to gain status with man or God. Think about this as you read;

Prov 25:21-22
If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat;if he is thirsty, give him water to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head,and the LORD will reward you.
NIV

Rom 12:14-21
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion. Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," says the Lord. Therefore
"If your enemy is hungry, feed him;If he is thirsty, give him a drink;For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head."
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
NKJV

Matt 7:1-5
"Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
"Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.
NIV


2 Chron 31:20-21
This is what Hezekiah did throughout Judah, doing what was good and right and faithful before the LORD his God. In everything that he undertook in the service of God's temple and in obedience to the law and the commands, he sought his God and worked wholeheartedly. And so he prospered.
NIV


Phil 3:7-11
But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ-the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.
NIV

Remember Chico Jones...remember Soheyl's fiancee, Zen...remember Carl Wayne...remember Sheree's Grandma...

Heavenly Father,
Thank you for your holy scriptures that reveal you to us. Lord we want to live holy lives but we want to find your peace and not grow an ego from good deeds. We ask intently for your guidance and for your wisdom in all we face. We ask forgiveness for our sins, ones we know about and the one done inadvertently. Lord, help us be strong in our faith and able to discern others needs. Help our tongues be blessings and not tear down. Thank you for touching all of us this week and we ask you be with those mentioned and those who are seeking . In Jesus name, amen
Posted by russ allen at 6:37 AM

Comment by russ allen on January 25, 2010 at 7:16am

Good morning! How are we faithing? Whatever you are up against, whatever you are going through, whatever is happening to or with you, none of it is new. Your situation and what is up against you may be new to you but the emotions and the principles at play are not garnering any new reactions. Some are good and some not. Some are correct and some not. We need to take a fresh approach to what ever is happening. Whining and complaining or allowing despair to encroach our psyche is not fruitful. I know, sometimes we seem to just fall into that mode and the situation gets worse...or does it? I can remember worrying about things that kept me up at night and all of it was for not. We can make things worse in our minds if we do not remember to focus on God and be quick to speak out to him. We've discussed before the scriptures that tell us that not a second was ever added to our lives by worrying and yet we still do it. Concern and pondering is normal behavior and leads to solutions most times but fretting and fuming does nothing but make YOU feel worse and useless. No one is immune so that is why these issues are addressed in the scriptures. Any emotional things that are common to man are spoken of in the Word so if you think you have a monopoly on the circumstances you are facing, get over your self because "nothing is new under the sun" as Solomon stated millenia ago.

Ps 55:1-8
Listen to my prayer, O God,do not ignore my plea; hear me and answer me.My thoughts trouble me and I am distraught at the voice of the enemy,at the stares of the wicked;for they bring down suffering upon me and revile me in their anger.
My heart is in anguish within me;the terrors of death assail me. Fear and trembling have beset me;horror has overwhelmed me. I said, "Oh, that I had the wings of a dove!I would fly away and be at rest-- I would flee far away and stay in the desert; Selah I would hurry to my place of shelter,far from the tempest and storm."
NIV

Those look familiar? Do you relate to those feelings of fear and trepidation? That's David speaking a couple thousand or so years ago.
Check these out below and see the mind set. They knew what they were facing was scary and hard but they knew Jesus has already overcome everything. Asking for prayer because they knew intercession works and they knew our savior is right here all the time.

2 Cor 1:8-11
We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about the hardships we suffered in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life. Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many.
NIV

remember our troops and our leaders.

Heavenly Father,
Thank you for your Word that is a light on our lives. Help us seek your wisdom when all seems futile. Help us seek your wisdom when all is going great. Help us acknowledge your place in our lives in all things. Lord we ask for wisdom and a blessing this week to do the work before us with vigor and honor. Protect our troops minds and guide our leaders. In Jesus name we pray, amen
Posted by russ allen at 6:45 AM

Comment by russ allen on January 22, 2010 at 7:28am

Good morning! How are we faithing? Today and actually this week has caused alot of reflection on many things. Events this week have made me walk kinda in a daze of thought. Observing events and circumstances plus how others act and react to the same events makes one pause. It is so wonderful to have a savior that has been tempted, endured hardship pain and grief. By realizing he completely understands what we go through sure helps the acceptance of the premise of reliance in him for everything. Some pain I witness comes without understanding because I have not experienced them but I sure hurt because they hurt. As a Dad I want to gather those in pain and protect them but I also realize I am not capable of protecting and comforting everyone, it's just a heart for people. Jesus has the heart and the capability to comfort and hold everyone but he wont force himself on them. He stands waiting, offering his love and comfort. It just hurts to think anyone would miss out on that. Anything we have or are going through, he has been there. He has felt and endured all the same emotions and hurts we ever will.

Heb 2:14-18
Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death-that is, the devil- and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham's descendants. For this reason he had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.
NIV


Eph 3:20-21
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
NIV

Sometimes we can get in a funk over all the stuff going on around us and feel overwhelmed and ineffective or even useless but that is not how we should be. When we realize we have entered this state we need to repent, pray, seek the wisdom of the Lord because being drug under is not meant to be for those who believe. Remember;

Eph 4:25-32
Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body. "In your anger do not sin": Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold. He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need.
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
NIV

Heavenly Father,
We come before you today asking for clarity and compassion for others. Help is be wise to know what to do and say and what not to. Grant us eyes that see truth and see beyond the circumstance and put the words in our mouth that edify and not tear down. Teach us compassion like you have. Guide our every movement so it honors you in Jesus name, amen
Posted by russ allen at 7:02 AM

Comment by russ allen on January 21, 2010 at 7:35am

Great morning! How are we all faithing? What drives you? Not what car but what motivates you? Are you driven to a fault? We all can get caught up in this drive we are speaking of. Drive to succeed at work, drive to be healthier, drive to achieve more, drive to be liked, drive to be honored etc. Drive can be good and it can be not so good. Drive can become a God in of itself. Drive if not kept in its place can drive you instead of the other way around. I know lots of people that work is everything. They think they are just motivated. It probably started that way but now it has become an obsession. This can happen with anything. It even happens in church. People get so into doing church they have gone beyond service into slavery to doing church. At what expense? I've been so into cars I lost sight of the original passion for them and got driven to feeling lost when I wasn't around them. Bad place to be. Our eyes move from the one who gave the gift, whatever gift it is, to the gift by itself. It's like my friend who plays guitar fantastically, he knows he's good but he also knows from whom that goodness came. God has gifted him, gave him the ability to play and to discipline himself to learn and play better all the time. That is drive used for its design not the design doing the driving. Look at these;

Phil 4:8-9
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me-put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
NIV

Prov 19:22
It is not good to have zeal without knowledge,nor to be hasty and miss the way.
NIV


2 Cor 13:7-8
Now we pray to God that you will not do anything wrong. Not that people will see that we have stood the test but that you will do what is right even though we may seem to have failed. For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth.
NIV

2 Thess 3:13
And as for you, brothers, never tire of doing what is right.
NIV


Phil 1:9-11
And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ-to the glory and praise of God.
NIV

Remember the Atha family...remember Ty Bates

Heavenly Father,
Thank you for your gifts you give to us. Thank you for the talents you bestow. Lord we ask for wisdom to keep sight of you and not be taken captive of the gift. Lord we ask that you be with those mentioned and those not that they may know your peace and grace. Help us be the people you meant us to be, in Jesus name, amen
Posted by russ allen at 6:57 AM

Comment by jolene cone on January 20, 2010 at 8:14pm

will be reading your comments allot! Hey, where can I get one of those stickers for my car or patch? Im not a collector, just an awsom patch! God is good

Comment by russ allen on January 20, 2010 at 7:24am

Good morning! How are we faithing? For those in the northeast, be careful in the snow! I was looking at some old pictures of where I lived for 20 years. Man! The memories that arose were interesting. Some were really good and some kinda bit. As we grow and mature, hopefully mature, we have to keep our past in prospective. Some choices made were not so good and some were good. Some memories conjure up emotions that we thought we were done with and some make us sigh because they were good times. At those points in my life I made choices based on who and where I was as we all do. Regret? Yes, some, but rehashing and beating myself up over them isn't helping at all. Looking at the mistakes to learn so I won't repeat them, that's what is necessary. I've made some huge blunders but I also realize most were made with the information and maturity place I was at then. When we rationalize those actions so we can feel better about ourselves, that is a disservice to our own minds. Be honest with yourself. Only then can you move ahead and not repeat the same thing again. Seek truth and wisdom from reliable sources and take the WHOLE council of God. Whipping out a verse to justify an erroneous action is dangerous and just plain unwise. If you hear a "new" truth, compare it to scripture which is the only truth. Example,"eye for an eye, tooth for tooth" therefore I will kill that abortion doctor. If you look at the whole council of God you will see that there is more to that verse than that conclusion. Seek that council of God and what he is saying and not a verse to serve your intentions.

Phil 1:9-11
And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ-to the glory and praise of God.
NIV

Prov 4:18-19
The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining ever brighter till the full light of day. But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble.
NIV

2 Peter 1:5-9
For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.
NIV

Remember Julie Alvarez's grandson Elijah...remember Michael Riddle...

Heavenly Father,
We ask for wisdom and a leading so we do not turn to ourselves and repeat past mistakes. Lord, show us you way and don't let the darkness invade our Psyche. Lord we lift those children who are ill and ask for a miraculous healing! Lord be with all those involved in Haiti. Protect our minds from the evil one and show us your light in everything we do. I lift Earl J. to you, in Jesus name, amen
Posted by russ allen at 6:50 AM

Comment by russ allen on January 19, 2010 at 7:22am

Good morning! How are we faithing? Tough times? Having a hard time trying to figure out why things are the way they are? From relationships to our jobs, from family squabbles to confrontations on the street we must remember that if we seek God in all things that we will learn and grow from everything that goes on. We may learn we are to blame for a situation and thus try not to repeat the same mistake again or we find ourselves in the mix of something totally innocent of any wrong doing. So what will you glean from the situation? Will you curse and spit in anger or will you try to learn and focus on God expecting a lesson? It is interesting and actually as we grow in the Lord we see things unfold before our eyes. Sometimes we can avert disaster and sometimes our walking through with perseverance is for someone else's edification and not ours. What? I go though stuff so others can grow? Yep. For our growth and for others things transpire so lessons are learned but if we do not focus on God and let ourselves learn and grow, those times just become bad memories. Follow that? The Word tells us we will have good and bad times simply because we are here but God will not let us bear more than we are capable. Think about Moses; this guy is 40 when he hits the road away from Egypt. 40 years later God calls him back as a mouthpiece for him. Those 40 years as a shepherd across the desert from Egypt prepared him for the task. We can do the same with one hand up from even Moses. We have his story to look at as well as Joseph and Gideon and Noah and Paul and many many more. I don't know if they realized during their trials what lay ahead but because of their exploits, we can read about and be reassured that when we focus on God, we will come out better than before, even when it seems like the end.

Isa 25:1O
LORD, you are my God;I will exalt you and praise your name,for in perfect faithfulness you have done marvelous things,things planned long ago.
NIV


1 Cor 10:11-13
These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come. So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall! No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.
NIV

Remember the Braziers...remember Katy Beres...remember Terry Cannon's family...remember Bills job search...remember Judy Reuandeaux...

Heavenly Father,
We come before your throne asking for healings of relationships. We ask for healings of bodies and minds. We also praise you for miracles you perform every day. We lift your name on high and ask for a heart for the lost. Lord, be with the emergency workers and the residents of Haiti. Lord, comfort hearts that are hurting. Open our eyes to your lessons and help us receive and use your wisdom. We ask for your presence be so huge we can't miss it! in Jesus name, amen
Posted by russ allen at 6:43 AM

Comment by russ allen on January 15, 2010 at 7:13am

Good morning! How are we faithing this fine day? I get alot of prayer requests and questions asked. Some are doctrinal type questions and some are life issues. Some issues are interesting and thought provoking. Some are heart wrenching. I believe that so many issues can be handled with basic thought process and ideals based on sound study with in scripture. Many advice columns in the world are so full of "me me me" that it sickens me when I hear these off hand advices repeated. They seem to flourish due to selfishness and they "sound right". We can read the scriptures and find that until we come to a saving knowledge of Christ we are prone to accepting doctrine that satisfies our basic carnal nature. That being said, not all worldly advise is bad. Some wisdom, simply due to life experiences, are passed on by men and women who have been through the same stuff you and I are going through and they already goofed up and are trying to teach us. Here are some verses with perfect guidance for our lives woes and pleasures. Read and meditate on them and if you have some questions, do your own research, ask questions, pray for wisdom, seek the one who made all of this.


Rom 13:8-14
Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law. The commandments, "Do not commit adultery," "Do not murder," "Do not steal," "Do not covet," and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule: "Love your neighbor as yourself." Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. And do this, understanding the present time. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature.
NIV

That is some pretty awesome council right there...

Remember Jennifer Redmon...remember John Greer...remember Bill Swope...remember Richard Peddicord...remember Mike Haney...remember Christy Allen and her knees...

Heavenly Father,
Thank you for your love and grace that saved a wretch like me. Lord we ask for your wisdom and spirit to come over us in a manner that we glow with the comfort and love that you are. Lord, we ask for healings physically and spiritually for the people mentioned and those unspoken. Bless us and our endeavors in Jesus' holy name, amen
Posted by russ allen at 6:31 AM

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