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Comment by russ allen on June 10, 2008 at 7:03am

Good morning! How are we faithing? I had a long wonderful conversation with my Uncle Tim last night and although we didn't agree on everything he did bring some insight to things as well as confirmations. We agree fundamentally about most things but with his life experiences he sees some things through a different pair of glasses. He being a Viet Nam vet with all those horrors of war in his past, has struggled with the thought that God loves him and Jesus died for him regardless of the past sins. Our vets of all wars struggle with the same issues I'm sure. He spoke of how after those experiences he turn to drugs and all sorts of stuff because he didn't care. Relief from guilt, memories, pain was so paramount that he tried anything. He judged himself from the law and saw no hope. Then Jesus' grace and love was revealed.

Galatians 3:23-29
But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the law, being shut up to the faith which was later to be revealed. Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, that we may be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor. For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise. NAS

It is hard sometimes with our past sins to think that the sovereign God of the universe forgives sin. To think that we escape eternal damnation for our past deeds is hard to fathom. We can't make up for them. We can't hide them. We can't continue to squash them or drink them away but we can lay them at Jesus feet and be forgiven. Then God sees Jesus and not the dirt. We all need to pray for each other and understand sin is sin and the sinner should be shown love just like we saved people, were shown.

Ephesians 4:25-32
Therefore, laying aside falsehood, speak truth, each one of you, with his neighbor, for we are members of one another. Be angry, and yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not give the devil an opportunity. Let him who steals steal no longer; but rather let him labor, performing with his own hands what is good, in order that he may have something to share with him who has need. Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, that it may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. And be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.
NAS

Remember Lauren Mcdaniel...remember Joey and Nick Jesse...remember our vets and troops in theater...remember each other...

Heavenly Father,
Thank you for showing your ways to us. Thank you for your Word that teaches us how to live. Lord help us all have open minds that we see your principles quickly and not judge others with it. Lord help us live right. Lord we lift up those mentioned today. Sow them your face and heal their wounds. Lord we especially lift the troops and vets to you. Calm them and heal their broken hearts. Help them not lose sight of grace and love. Help them do their jobs with mercy.in Jesus name, Amen
Posted by russ allen at 6:16 AM

Comment by russ allen on June 9, 2008 at 9:57am

Good morning! The stories in the old testament in the Bible are very important and relative to today and our lives. They teach principles of God. They also show that even men and women of God were not these perfect non sinning people. They screwed up and sometimes big! David had a man killed so he could conceal an affair, Solomon had piles of wives and allowed pagan practices by the wives of different cultures practice in his kingdom which led to him praying to other Gods. Samson slept with a hooker and told her where his strength came from thus he was subdued and well, the stories go on and on. Cain killed his brother, Abel over jealousy. Paul the apostle persecuted Christians, even participated in Timothy's death. Peter denied Jesus 3 times. Elijah ran from someone he feared would kill him. All this as a reminder that we are not perfect nor will we ever be here on earth. By grace we are saved. These people of God, patriarchs, sinned and failed and were just like us. You cannot get good enough. You cannot do enough to earn heaven. You will goof up but we must do what these mentioned men did and that is to repent when we recognise our sin. We must seek God's will.

Psalms 51:3-6
For I know my transgressions,and my sin is always before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you are proved right when you speak and justified when you judge. Surely I was sinful at birth,sinful from the time my mother conceived me. Surely you desire truth in the inner parts;you teach me wisdom in the inmost place.
NIV

Acts 3:19-20
Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, and that he may send the Christ, who has been appointed for you-even Jesus.
NIV

Romans 3:20-26
Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin.
But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished- he did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.
NIV

Ezekiel 33:11
Say to them, 'As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live. Turn! Turn from your evil ways! Why will you die, O house of Israel?'
NIV

He gave the option of changing their minds and to readjust their ways and they were wise enough to recognise it and to act accordingly. We have the same choice.
Remember Dan Whitten...remember Joey...remember Missy...remember each other when we goof up...

Heavenly Father,
Thank you for humbling us with stories in your Word. Thank you for teaching us that no one is perfect and we need you to attain heaven and eternity with you. Lord Jesus help us seek you and your ways in all we do. We thank you for the wisdom you give and ask for strength and courage to stand for what is right regardless of what may befall us. Lord teach us to be wise in all our choices. Help us be joyful inside so much that even in bad times we rejoice in the knowledge of you. Bless our kids and protect us from harm. in Jesus name, Amen
Posted by russ allen at 6:30 AM

Comment by russ allen on June 6, 2008 at 6:25am

Good morning! How are we faithing? Repeating things sometimes is just good for reminding us. As humans we tend to forget temporarily things we know as truth. Heck, I do it all the time and repeat the same goof up. So here are some encouraging verses;

Isaiah 60:1
Arise, shine;For your light has come!And the glory of the LORD is risen upon you.
NKJV

John 6:40
For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.
NIV

John 12:46
I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.
NIV

Acts 10:43
All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.
NIV

Acts 13:39
Through him everyone who believes is justified from everything you could not be justified from by the law of Moses.
NIV

Romans 10:9
That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
NIV

1 John 5:10
Anyone who believes in the Son of God has this testimony in his heart. Anyone who does not believe God has made him out to be a liar, because he has not believed the testimony God has given about his Son.
NIV

Yep! Pretty cool reminders! Remember Joey Jesse...remember the Conquest family...

Heavenly Father,
We ask you grant us rest and calmness of our minds. Help us see and remember all you have taught us. Help us see your will and act in a way pleasing to you. We lift up Joey to you. Grab him and hold on! Guide our tongues and help us be mindful of your ways, in Jesus name, amen
Posted by russ allen at 6:00 AM

Comment by russ allen on June 5, 2008 at 6:57am

Good morning! How are we all faithing? Last night at prayer meeting there were heavy hearts for the family of a dear friend who passed. We rejoice for Donnie, he's home and not suffering, we feel sadness for his family because they are missing him. Remember Tom and Phylis and the kids this week especially.
This week has been interesting. I see things unfolding and am not apprehensive or worried at all. I say "oh boy" alot but am reassured by my savior through his Word and other people that these things are not unusual nor very profound but I know I will learn something and that God is in control. That my friends is faith and I thank God for it. It's taken alot of years of me being unfaithful and seeking my own way with all its failures to see the view that really is verses what my flesh was seeing. Our faith is built upon trials and things that require faith to grow. Are you going through this right now? It sure is trying when we don't recognise trials and feel burdened. Looking to God instead of to ourselves is by far the better way. Billions of people have tried before us with the same results. The Galations strapped themselves with do's and don'ts to the point they were judging and looking more to performance than to faith. Check this admonition from Paul to them;

Galatians 3:1-14
You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified. I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by observing the law, or by believing what you heard? Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort? Have you suffered so much for nothing-if it really was for nothing? Does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you because you observe the law, or because you believe what you heard?
Consider Abraham: "He believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness." Understand, then, that those who believe are children of Abraham. The Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: "All nations will be blessed through you." So those who have faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.
All who rely on observing the law are under a curse, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law." Clearly no one is justified before God by the law, because, "The righteous will live by faith." The law is not based on faith; on the contrary, "The man who does these things will live by them." Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree." He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.
NIV

By faith not be works we are saved. Cool. Do we stop works? No but we shouldn't be so focused on works we miss faith and the blessings that come from it. Works become a manifestation of our faith. Think about all this, reread and dissect what Paul was saying, quite liberating. Remember Kathy...remember Shirley...remember Tom and Phylis

Heavenly Father,
Thank you for your Word and the lessons contained. Lord we ask for a comforting hand on the Conquest family. We ask you show yourself to them. Lord we lift Kat to you and we lift Shirley to you. Help them heal and help them make choices that are in your will. Lord guide and keep us close to you so we don't wander far from your light. Thank you for this day, in Jesus name amen
Posted by russ allen at 6:28 AM 0 comments

Comment by russ allen on June 4, 2008 at 7:11am

Great morning!How are we faithing? I played with my friends twins yesterday and it still amazes me how fast kids grow and the difference in personalities. I am still in awe of God's handy work and all the things he has put before us. It is consuming to watch kids grow and see how they become little people then young adults then out they go. Thinking our parents went through the same things we have and our kids will and theirs will, etc, sure makes us take this raising thing more seriously or at least it should. The bible refers to us many times as children and when you think about it we started our Christian life that way. Not just the bible stories but growth spiritually.

Matthew 18:2-5
Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, and said, "Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children , you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me.
NKJV


Mark 10:13-16
Then they brought little children to Him, that He might touch them; but the disciples rebuked those who brought them. But when Jesus saw it, He was greatly displeased and said to them, "Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God. Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it." And He took them up in His arms, laid His hands on them, and blessed them.
NKJV

Do you see that? All those preconceived notions of what Christianity is or how you are to be, toss out the window if you are accepting Jesus as savior now. Come to him as a child, clean slate, loving and believing without expectations conceived from the world as to how this works. The world doesn't know. It reacts to what is seen and the spirit of God is unseen therefore carnal physical worldly thinking wont work. Check this out;

Galatians 4:7
Now I say that the heir, as long as he is a child, does not differ at all from a slave, though he is master of all, but is under guardians and stewards until the time appointed by the father. Even so we, when we were children , were in bondage under the elements of the world. But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.
And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, "Abba, Father!" Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.
NKJV

Pretty cool huh? Sit back and reflect on this word today and ask yourself if your view of what is correct is based on the worlds view or the Bible? Have you bound yourself to tradition and not come like a child expecting fresh teaching? Think about it. Remember Donnie...Remember Kim D...remember all our kids...

Heavenly Father,
Thank you for all your grace and wisdom. Thank you for your ways that are way above anything we can come up with. Lord bless the children of all ages and keep the kids safe. Lord we ask a blessing on us that we show your love and we teach correctly our children. Lord help us learn and become your people. Help us shine so the world sees you in us. in Jesus name, amen

Posted by russ allen at 6:36 AM

Comment by russ allen on June 3, 2008 at 7:05am

fourth horseman, you should! may be tough as a group but just do it, when someone asks, tell them what you are doing...you may be surprise at the reaction

Comment by russ allen on June 3, 2008 at 7:04am

Good morning! How are we faithing? Raining and thunder and lightning, way cool! Interesting thoughts this morning, I was doing the body work on the pickup, metal and putty, and the metal work is hard. The metal wants to retain its shape and not conform to my hammer and dolly. It keeps raising up and causing high and low spots. The putty on the other hand is resistant to change but when a little pressure on the sanding block is applied, it goes into the proper shape. What does all this have to do with a daily prayer? A correlation to us conforming to God's way and what the Word teaches. We are putty in Gods hands and if our foundation, faith and the Word, are strong, we shape like he wants us when we are under pressure. We look like what he wants us to. We become as he sees us. When we resist the promptings of God, we are like the stubborn metal that wants to retain it's shape. We fight back and argue and try to keep our own shape. The putty is willing, the metal is not. Look at these and think. When you are going through things, ask yourself if you are being molded in God's image, a lesson may be in the works.

Isaiah 64:8
But now, O LORD, Thou art our Father,We are the clay , and Thou our potter;And all of us are the work of Thy hand.
NAS

Genesis 1:27
So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
KJV

1 Corinthians 1:25
For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength.
NIV

Philippians 3:20-21
For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself.
NAS

Remember Donna and Vacation Bible School, pray for strength for all involved and pray the kids find God! Remember the kids with learning disabilities, I seem to be running into more parents who are dealing with these things...

Heavenly Father,
Thank you that you are the potter. Thank you that you are in control of us and forgive us when we whine and complain about how tough it is. Lord help us see when you are teaching us a principle. Lord help us understand you are the potter and we need to not resist. Lord forgive us our sins. We lift up all the VBS, bless and help the fruit to be plentiful. Lord we love you and praise your holy name. Thank you for your Word. in Jesus name, amen

Posted by russ allen at 6:24 AM

Comment by russ allen on June 2, 2008 at 7:27am

Good morning! How are we faithing? I hope you had a restful weekend full of fun, serenity and rest!
Do you sometimes get confused or at least question things when you hear stuff going on around you? Me too. Sometimes philosophies spoken, whether they are of Godly things or how to think or what to accept as normal can be presented in such a way as to make sense...carnally. I don't have all the answers and neither do you or anybody else for that matter but God does. The Word teaches us foundational things that are not to be dismissed. Things like, saved by grace and we can't do anything good enough to enter heaven. Jesus died for us so we may see God. There are physical principles or laws in effect since the beginning of time like the law of gravity. I think what I am trying to get across is best said thusly;

Colossians 2:8-23
See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ. For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority; and in Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, in the removal of the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ; having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised up with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. And when you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions, having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us and which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him.
Therefore let no one act as your judge in regard to food or drink or in respect to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day-- things which are a mere shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ. Let no one keep defrauding you of your prize by delighting in self-abasement and the worship of the angels, taking his stand on visions he has seen, inflated without cause by his fleshly mind, and not holding fast to the head, from whom the entire body, being supplied and held together by the joints and ligaments, grows with a growth which is from God.
If you have died with Christ to the elementary principles of the world, why, as if you were living in the world, do you submit yourself to decrees, such as, "Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch!" (which all refer to things destined to perish with the using)-- in accordance with the commandments and teachings of men? These are matters which have, to be sure, the appearance of wisdom in self-made religion and self-abasement and severe treatment of the body, but are of no value against fleshly indulgence.
NAS

Wow is that enlightening! Read that over again and think about everything said. Take a look at yourself and what you believe as truth. Is it scriptural or traditional? Is it taste or a foundational truth? Are we pointing fingers or self reflecting? Food for though eh?
Remember Barbara Fitch...remember Missy Ferrel...remember Carl and Berta...remember Donnie...remember Connie...

Heavenly Father,
Thank you for the wisdom contained in your Word. Lord you ask we see what you are trying to teach us as we are able to understand. Help us mature in a manner that is pleasing to you. Help us see the folly of our ways and help us see and act to yours. Lord we lift those mentioned to you, grant them peace and understanding of what they are facing and that you are in control. Lord help us be who we need to be. Be with us this day and help your Word ever be on our minds, in Jesus name, Amen

Posted by russ allen at 6:32 AM

Comment by russ allen on May 30, 2008 at 7:13am

Good morning! How are we faithing? The miracles of God's creation is so awe inspiring that we sometimes fail to see it. That baby smiling while looking up at her Daddy pushing the stroller, Daddy wasn't even aware so I tapped his shoulder and told him. His smile when he saw was a love smile that radiated. The love on my friends face when he showed me the fawn he saved, like a parent also. The birds that sing every morning outside my office window, music in it's purist form. The hugs I get from my nephews and my grandchildren. The ability to play music. The ability to play with hot rods. Need I go on? God blesses and has blessed us in so many things and we are guilty of not noticing and sometimes complaining when we don't get our way or things don't transpire exactly how we wanted. Man, wake up! The awesomeness of our savior is so big and yet we don't take the time, pause and reflect, be quiet and listen, watch and learn, share with someone and we neglect all that why? Rhetorical question so that we will all think.

Romans 1:20
For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities-his eternal power and divine nature-have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.
NIV

Acts 17:24-31
"The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands. And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else. From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. 'For in him we live and move and have our being.' As some of your own poets have said, 'We are his offspring.'
"Therefore since we are God's offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone-an image made by man's design and skill. In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead."
NIV

If you have a bible with cross references, look up these verses and look at all the other places the bible reveals himself. It is a fantastic journey to do that in the bible. I personally use a computer bible that has all the cross references and word translations etc. Amazing how it helps. See this day all of God's creation. Like the cliche', "stop and smell the roses" and if you sneeze, laugh and thank God for that too!

Heavenly Father,
Thank you for your creation! Thank you for eyes, ears, fingers, noses and tongues that we enjoy all you have made. Lord help us see what is underneath and not just the surface. We desire to know you and to serve you. We want to understand this thing called faith and want to have the faith to be faithful. Lord we don't understand alot of things but we praise you anyways because we know you are God and you have it all under control. Help us remember that when we are attacked and when we are down. Lord we ask you protect us and all we meet from calamity and despair. Lord, help us understand what is at work and grant us wisdom to react and act in a manner that is in line with your word and spirit. Thank you Lord for your creation that we enjoy, in Jesus name, Amen!

Posted by russ allen at 6:29 AM

Comment by russ allen on May 29, 2008 at 7:01am

Great morning! How are we fairing this week? How are we faithing? Got some junk harassing you? Yeah , we all do. Focus people, focus. God is great! God is above whatever you are up against! It may suck but it will improve! It may really be getting to you so run to the comforter! Will the problem go away? It could but better than that, God's wisdom will change your take on the situation. God's Word will show you his love and wisdom and that problem will get smaller as God gets bigger.

Psalms 69:14-15
Deliver me from the mire, and do not let me sink;May I be delivered from my foes, and from the deep waters. May the flood of water not overflow me,And may the deep not swallow me up,And may the pit not shut its mouth on me.
NAS

Ever feel like that is exactly what's happening? Me too.

Psalms 71:22 In Thy righteousness deliver me , and rescue me;Incline Thine ear to me, and save me.
NAS

Yes Lord!

1 Corinthians 10:13
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 that! Instead of freaking out and searching for instant relief, seek out God's wisdom in whatever you are up against. We want to come out the other side of this thing we are facing wiser and we definitely don't want to repeat it! This next one is for encouragement, not to wag the finger and scare you. It is wise instruction and is meant to help you keep diligent about your walk with God!

Matt 7:13-14
"Enter by the narrow gate; for the gate is wide, and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and many are those who enter by it. "For the gate is small, and the way is narrow that leads to life, and few are those who find it."
NAS

You ain't alone and the enticements of this life can seem really attractive. Don't let your eye draw you off the right path.

Heavenly Father,
Thank you for all your blessings. We ask you grant us wisdom and faith to follow your precepts. Lord help us see the truth and not be persuaded buy the view. Lord we come asking for your eye and your outlook on what we see. We want to see the right course and the strength to take that route. Lord protect our children of all ages and help us do your will. Help us see needs and act accordingly, in Jesus name Amen!

Posted by russ allen at 6:32 AM

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