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Comment by russ allen on April 26, 2010 at 7:20am

Good morning! How are we faithing? I hope your weekend was restful and I hope your Pastor's sermon spoke to you. It has been really cool lately to talk to old friends and new. I got in a discussion with a young man of God this past weekend and even though we disagreed we were still brothers in Christ and the love of Jesus was still amidst us. We disagree but are saved. We disagreed but are not swayed in our love for each other. We disagreed but we considered both views. We disagreed but worshiped Jesus for who he is and what he has done. Getting mad or attacking each other would have served no one but the enemy. Divide and conquer is his M O. The only time it is appropriate to attack a belief system is when it is contrary to the Word of God. Our talk was over something that isn't worth splitting a friendship or even a church body over. It's significance is akin to wearing a tie to church or not. Important personally but nor scripturaly. We do need to be careful when we discuss these things and not let it become a point of contention or a point of division. I like Chevy trucks, others like Dodge. I like Epiphone guitars, others like Fenders. I like red and black, others like green and yellow. Do those things matter really? Only to that person. Start your day with prayer and asking for wisdom for the day. Be concerned with Jesus and don't let things that really don't matter cloud your view of our savior!

Ps 143:8
Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul.
NIV

Ps 25:4-5
Show me your ways, O LORD, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.
NIV

Hos 6:3
Let us acknowledge the LORD; let us press on to acknowledge him. As surely as the sun rises, he will appear; he will come to us like the winter rains, like the spring rains that water the earth."
NIV

Lots of requests for today, remember to lift these and the unspoken ones to the Lord...remember Ben Bowley...remember Barb Fitch...remember Ken Downey...remember Chris Jones' job search...remember Brady Bird...remember Julie Harts and Derrick Scroggins Dads...Stacy is going back to work after giving birth to Tova...remember Rick Kellogg in his walk...

Heavenly Father,
Thank you Lord for always loving us. We seek your ways and your wisdom all the time. Forgive us when we drop the proverbial ball and help us recognise and humbly pick it back up. Lord we lift those mentioned up to you today, heal the needs and comfort each of them. Lord our leaders from our bosses to the president need guidance and peace. We ask for an out pouring of your Holy Spirit on all of these today. Let them know who is in charge and calm their minds so they hear your voice. Thank you for your grace in Jesus name amen
Posted by russ allen at 6:45 AM

Comment by russ allen on April 23, 2010 at 7:35am

Good morning! How are we faithing? Interesting day yesterday. God is indeed moving all over this small part of the world that I reside in. As insignificant as I am in the grand scheme of things I am still awed at what God does. I am awed every time someone shares and confides. The themes that are prevalent as of late are the lost and assurance of our salvation. I'll give some scriptures to address these subjects. Take them to heart as you continue to explore this life.

John 10:22-30
Then came the Feast of Dedication at Jerusalem. It was winter, and Jesus was in the temple area walking in Solomon's Colonnade. The Jews gathered around him, saying, "How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly."
Jesus answered, "I did tell you, but you do not believe. The miracles I do in my Father's name speak for me, but you do not believe because you are not my sheep. My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand. I and the Father are one."
NIV

2 Cor 5:20-21
God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
NIV

Luke 19:10
For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost."
NIV


Matt 18:14
In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should be lost.
NIV

Mark 16:15-16
And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.
NKJV

These are pretty good assurance. They also tell us what we are to do. You don't need to be in a pulpit but your actions, your life tell of the savior. Compassion that those lost souls would come to the saving knowledge and grace you know should be paramount. Don't chastise yourself but pray and ask for the wisdom to see needs and to shine with God's grace and love. The rest will take care of itself if we are honest to these principles.

Remember the Scroggins family...

Heavenly Father,
Thank you for your love and grace that saves us from eternal ruin. Lord, we lift those lost souls to you. Grant them wisdom and clarity that they see truth. Lord we ask for guidance in our lives to be as you see us. We know perfection isn't possible but we do desire to be like your son who loved more and gave more than we could ever imagine. Take our lives and use them as you see fit and help us so the truth you lay out for us, in Jesus name, amen
Posted by russ allen at 6:54 AM

Comment by russ allen on April 22, 2010 at 8:23am

Good morning! How are we faithing? I had a very interesting dream early this morning. My bride and I were looking at a farm to buy. They raised pumpkins and melons of all sorts and they had cattle, sheep, chickens and a ton of Boxers. We entered what was a dream barn. It was huge! The lay out had room for car and tractor work, room for critters galore, hay loft, in the basement was an area where the critter poop fell down and a bobcat and a shovel was used to move the refuse onto a conveyor belt for fertilizer. Well above in one room was like a birthing room for the lambs and cows. While we were wandering with the owners we went down to the poop cleaning spot to observe the operation and I saw the conveyor working,(it also chopped up the stuff for fertilizer), and I saw a lamb in the pile starting to be covered and headed for the chopper. At first I thought,"how gross to send dead critters for fertilizer " then I saw the lambs eyes open! I ran and snatched the lamb up, we both were covered in the poop as I pulled the baby away! Nobody had noticed the lamb falling. Nobody noticed the lamb going under. Nobody noticed the gasps for life. When I finally had the lamb in my arms I couldn't stop crying because the lamb was so close to being lost. This my friends is exactly what Jesus does for us.

Matt 18:12-14
"What do you think? If any man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go and search for the one that is straying? "And if it turns out that he finds it, truly I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine which have not gone astray. "Thus it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones perish.
NAS

Heavenly Father,
Thank you that you loved each one of us enough to send your son for us. Thank you for revealing you love and wisdom to us. We pray that the children be guarded from evil ways and thoughts. We pray for strength to stand up even when we are beaten down. We lift the lost to you. Make opportunities for them to hear your Word. Please open our eyes so we find wisdom. Let others see your love in us. In Jesus name, amen
Posted by russ allen at 7:50 A

Comment by russ allen on April 21, 2010 at 7:27am

Good morning! How are we faithing? You know, we all suffer loss in one form or another. Some are simple like losing your car keys and others are life altering like losing a child or a spouse. A yoke of slavery to these things comes when we dwell in them. When we fondle and not let these things go,when we do not forgive and release to God the things that hurt, we become captive to them and that yoke, like plow mules, is adorned. Man, it ain't easy to take these yokes off or to completely hand it to Jesus because gosh dern it, it frikin hurts! Well Jesus understands. He bore the biggest yoke ever. We're talkin about bearing all sin for you! We're talking about his life sacrificed for you! Religion isn't even the issue here but God coming down to our level to take these burdens away. Man, I see so many people hurting and so deep in anguish over things that have been and it breaks my heart that the have become yoked to these events. God can take these on so you don't have to pull all your days. Pray for these yokes we carry to be shed so we can walk in the peace of the Lord.

Isa 9:4
For as in the day of Midian's defeat,you have shattered the yoke that burdens them,the bar across their shoulders,the rod of their oppressor.
NIV

Isa 14:24-25
The LORD Almighty has sworn,
"Surely, as I have planned, so it will be,and as I have purposed, so it will stand. I will crush the Assyrian in my land; on my mountains I will trample him down. His yoke will be taken from my people, and his burden removed from their shoulders."
NIV

Nah 1:13
Now I will break their yoke from your neck and tear your shackles away."
NIV


Ezek 34:27-28
They will know that I am the LORD, when I break the bars of their yoke and rescue them from the hands of those who enslaved them.
NIV

Jer 30:8
"' In that day,' declares the LORD Almighty,'I will break the yoke off their necks and will tear off their bonds;
no longer will foreigners enslave them.
NIV

There are many more on this theme in the Word and I pray you think about this today and fall on your face repenting so these yokes we all don fall off as if they have turned to powder. Here's the thing, our heavenly father already has forgiven us, we need but only confess it and come before him to receive that peace that passes all understanding. We live in such a world where things happen over and over but this world is already defeated and we stand amongst the counted when we see messiah as our savior. Bless those who are hurting and remember that our God is so much bigger than the pain you feel right now.

Got a list today, remember Tony Beers, Connie McAfee,Christy Fulfer, Stephanie Kroes, Trisha Guidas, Terry Churchill and family, Tim Gillan...

Heavenly Father,
We come before you with burdens and yokes that we have donned that we ask to be removed. We repent of our sins and ask we be shown when we goof up so we don't repeat those sins. Lord we ask for healing today for all the physical and the emotional things that are effecting us. Lord, we lift those mentioned and those who are not in print here. Heal them and let them be of no doubt that it is you who is doing the healing. Lord we ask for all those who are searching find you and recognise the power and majesty that only you have, We rebuke the evil that tries to invade our Psyche every day. Create in us a clean heart so we can hear your voice. In Jesus name we pray, amen
Posted by russ allen at 6:56 AM

Comment by russ allen on April 20, 2010 at 8:05am

Good morning! How are we faithing? We need to pray for many today. We need to lift up those who are hurting physically and mentally. We need to remember to pray without ceasing for loved ones and friends.

Heavenly Father,
In Jesus name we lift up Kathy. Heal her fibro pain. Heal depression in everybody who suffers. Be with Marvin and Amanda today as they go under the knife. Lord, heal broken relationships. Lori needs you today. Lord, Hallie is suffering and needs a touch. Lord, we lift Flo and Earl to you. Lord Andrew and his family need help with loneliness. Lord, all those who are away from home need your comfort. Dear Jesus we need to be protected from the enemy who is attacking your children Grant us wisdom and strength for this day. Lord, many are in financial straights and need a blessing that is beyond explanation so you will be heard of by the praises! Thank you for help in this tough time that we are enduring. Lord, protect our children and give us a keen sense of the protection needed. It's in your holy name we pray, amen
Posted by russ allen at 7:43 AM

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

Good morning! How are we faithing? Interesting read this morning. 2 Sam 11 and Galatians 6. It kinda goes along with a teaching I am getting and I'm not sure I like it. Oh I know it's right but doggone it, I don't like it! What you say? The people we love, when they say or do things to us, upset us more and deeper than when it's a stranger or someone that is not close to us. I have had things said and things done that just hurt my wittle feewings. I have had words and comments tossed at me that flat tick me off. Why? Because of who said them. If it were a stranger I would be able to let it roll without a moment of hesitation and gee whiz, I'd even pray truth is seen and that God show them or me the right way but since I got butt hurt, wahhh! Take notice the next time you feel stepped on and ask this; "Why am I hurt and is it lasting because of the relationship to the deliverer or because it's true and I don't want to admit it." It could be both too. The story of David in 2 Sam tells alot about us as humans. It shows how even a man after God's own heart can stumble and fall. With that knowledge it helps us realize we do the same and our loved ones do too. So how do we handle these things? We pray. We ask forgiveness for them and ourselves. We remember that they struggle and have the same obstacles we have, maybe not exactly but the human experience is still the same since time began and thusly we all need to show that forgiveness and grace shown by Jesus towards us. So take a breath next time you get hurt and remember that loved one most likely is not purposely hurting you, they are just struggling like you.

Gal 6:1-10
Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.For every man shall bear his own burden.Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things.Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.
KJV

Heavenly Father,
Lord, we need your touch today. We need to know you love us and those close to us love us too. We need to see truth even when we are hurting. We need to know that no matter what happens, you got our back. Thank you dear Jesus for loving us. Keep our minds safe from all the evil and all the dark forces that come against us. Be our shield of light that is impenetrable. Lord forgive us when we pity party and forgive us when we fail in this life. Grant wisdom and insight to our days, in Jesus name amen
Posted by russ allen at 6:47 AM

Comment by russ allen on April 15, 2010 at 7:48am

Good morning! How are we faithing? This faith in Christ has freed us from sin. We still sin because we are here but when God looks at us he sees Jesus when we accept Jesus as messiah. If we do not accept Jesus as messiah our sins are visible and we will be judged by them. I don't know about y'all but I don't want to be judged by my works. I don't want to hope the good offsets the bad. What assurance is there in that? Are you keeping count? How do you know it will lean to your favor? Praying every day? Giving to the poor? Helping little old ladies across the street? Will those things offset lusting after that girl you saw or cussing out someone or any number of things we do in passing? That is performance based salvation we talked about yesterday. That will be a miserable failure because, well, we can't keep track let alone expect to. When you take in the Word and the whole council of God you will find that we cannot earn it, that is why we have messiah.

Gal 3:23-25
Before this faith came, we were held prisoners by the law, locked up until faith should be revealed. So the law was put in charge to lead us to Christ that we might be justified by faith. Now that faith has come, we are no longer under the supervision of the law.
NIV

Now remember that the law is a good thing, we just are not judged by it if we accept Jesus.

Rom 6:14
For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace.
NIV


Gal 4:3-7
So also, when we were children, we were in slavery under the basic principles of the world. But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons. Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, "Abba, Father." So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir.
NIV

Think about those.

Remember Jose Perez...remember Lil Robbie Frechette...remember Cristian Cossey's little sister...remember Sheppy Cler

Heavenly Father,
Thank you for your love and grace for us. Lord we lift these people mentioned and those not to you. Heal wounds and let them know you are present and aware of the suffering they are enduring. Lord we ask for wisdom and peace that we hear you and see your marvelous work in our lives. Teach us to be kind and loving. Sow us your love and peace so we may show it to the lost. Thank you in Jesus name, amen
Posted by russ allen at 7:15 AM

Comment by russ allen on April 14, 2010 at 7:22am

Great morning! How are we faithing? Performance based salvation, what is this about? How can a faith based on grace and freedom command deeds to enter heaven? It can't. If salvation were earned, the old covenant would have been sufficient and we would have followed all the rules without fail and thus earned our way to God but that wasn't the case. If earned salvation was possible, the sacrifice Jesus made would have been unnecessary. If you read the ten commandments, all the rules handed down in the wilderness, traditional ways of doing things, yet we did not do all those things, we all would be lost. Paul went to the gentiles, who be us, and preached the gospel of salvation as a free gift. We tend to have trouble thinking anything is totally free thus we try to achieve so we can deserve the free gift. Well if we deserve the gift, it isn't free but earned. This is not always easy to accept but that is what humbling one's self before God with blessings and thanksgiving is because this is the only totally free thing we'll ever get. The behavior and the desire to do good works is an effect of that gift of God. Read this and see what Paul is telling the Galatians who got wrapped up in doing things, mainly circumcision,think about just how great a gift we are offered and have accepted;

Gal 5:1-26
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. Mark my words! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all. Again I declare to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law. You who are trying to be justified by law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace. But by faith we eagerly await through the Spirit the righteousness for which we hope. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love. You were running a good race. Who cut in on you and kept you from obeying the truth? That kind of persuasion does not come from the one who calls you. "A little yeast works through the whole batch of dough." I am confident in the Lord that you will take no other view. The one who is throwing you into confusion will pay the penalty, whoever he may be. Brothers, if I am still preaching circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been abolished. As for those agitators, I wish they would go the whole way and emasculate themselves! You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. The entire law is summed up in a single command: "Love your neighbor as yourself." If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other. So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law. The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.
NIV

Do you see that? Jesus laid everything on the cross, whooped it, defeated death thus our sins are already paid for so why would we ever have to pay again? I don't know about you but when I buy a pop, I don't keep paying for it again and again...

Remember Jennae...

Heavenly Father,
Thank you for the free gift of salvation. Thank you for releasing me from a performance base path to you because I can't ever do it. We thank you for your love that covers all our sins through your son, Help use live in a manner befitting that grace. We rebuke the dark forces who try to burden us with lies and deception about this truth. Lord we lift those who struggle with this entire idea of freedom in your grace and ask they see that you loved us all so much that we can be at your throne clean. Lord, thank you for your splendor and awesomeness that holds our lives in your hands. In Jesus name, amen
Posted by russ allen at 6:40 AM

Comment by russ allen on April 13, 2010 at 7:40am

Good morning! How are we faithing? We have a tough time accepting criticism especially when that criticism strikes an area we are not real confident in. I have a friend who's feelings were hurt by someone who's opinion didn't even matter let alone have any bearing on her life. That area is an area that her confidence is not the greatest therefore the comment went right to the heart. Where is our confidence? Where do we rest our weakness and strength? That is a question YOU must ask yourself...no fair being dishonest either. Think about the things that you struggle with and seek God in that thing. A flip comment is just that...flip...not a comment that deserves any consideration and here's why. Do they understand your situation? Do they know of your struggles? Do they have constructive motives by those comments? These are things to assure yourself of before those comments come. How you ask? Pray for wisdom. Pray for clarity of mind. Pray for discernment. Read the Word somehow every day so you have true wisdom stored within the confines of that mind. Consider the source and the motive of the comment bearer. I've had things thrown at me that were out of context of what was happening and it was obvious they were thrown like a hail Mary football toss, just hoping it would land and take the heat off their end. We also must remember that God prunes us. If it is harmful, off it comes and our resistance to that pruning creates deeper scars. No one likes to be shown their error but the wise person learns from it rather than resist and retaliate therefore we must be concerned with our deal and not theirs. God is dealing with them too.

John 15:1-4
"I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.
NIV

2 Cor 4:17-18
For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
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 Ray and Joanne Millsap...remember Hallie Tracey...

Heavenly Father,
Thank you for your wise words that sustain us. Thank you for your spirit that holds us and thank you for your son that saves us. Lord we ask for wisdom and discernment to weed out the thorns that wound us. Heal our hearts and minds so we can be a loving child of yours. Heal those who are hurting today, keep our leaders aware of your sovereignty, in Jesus' name, amen
Posted by russ allen at 7:13 AM

Comment by russ allen on April 12, 2010 at 7:34am

Great Monday morning! How are we faithing after the weekend? I have gotten alot of prayer requests this weekend. We need to remember to lift up those we hear about as soon as we hear because guess what, we forget. It's not that we don't care or are unwilling to remember we just get going with life and well, forget. The love and concern is still there but because things happen constantly it is easy to forget. I have to make notes or ask people to E-mail me so I can be reminded. I do remember at weird times. In the middle of a fire investigation I remember my daughters knees hurt or while mowing the yard I remember so and so's grandma has to have a stint put in Tuesday. Do you do that? This relationship with the savior goes both ways. We need to bring our concerns to the feet of Jesus and we need to listen also. Reading the Word every day is important just like praying is. So the next time you tell someone you will pray for them, do it right then if possible. Write a note so before you set the sun on another day you speak with the Lord.

Col 3:15-17
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
NIV

Col 4:2-6
Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.
NIV

Eph 3:16-19
I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge-that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
NIV

Remember Mr and Mrs. Millsap...remember Alicia Caple...remember the Smethhurst Ministries...remember Ty Bates

Heavenly Father,
We thank you for all your love and grace for us. We ask forgiveness for our shortcoming's and ask we recognise them without berating our selves. Help us fix what we can and to seek your wisdom constantly . Lord we lift those up that ask for prayer and those we meet that need it. Help us remember when we need to pray . Lord, thank you for the blessings you give, in Jesus name we pray, amen
Posted by russ allen at 7:05 AM

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