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Comment by russ allen on March 9, 2010 at 7:28am

Good morning! How are we faithing? It is a struggle sometimes to see what God has planned for our lives. Things make no sense, things seem topsy turvy and things baffle our thought process. The Word is the only place you will find the your answers. I have had alot of conversations as of late and I can see what is happening and what needs to be done but I am not very good at relaying that info and as a typical male, I want to fix it right now! I want to impart everything God has shown me and impart it immediately! Battles of the mind truly are where war is raged. Ideas that fly in the face of tradition and conventional wisdom are really tough to get and to present. An old Petra song ,"computer brain" is really a good one because it conveys the whole idea of what we put in ourselves is indeed what comes out. My brain process' things in a mechanical nature and as a result, I read lots of technical type stuff. I see things in the Word that when my Pastor presents the same info, I didn't even suspect to think the way he does. Therefore realizing my nature, I have to be careful what I put in my computer brain. If I fill it with things that are contrary to Biblical precepts, I will miss wisdom and do things I ought not to do and be ignorant at that time that I am even hurting myself...until later...Seek truth in the Word. If you "think" something is holy or good, search the scriptures for truth and not a verse to justify your way. Think about that...

Phil 2:1-4
If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. NIV


Jer 29:11-13
For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.
NIV

remember Alan,Anne and baby Brandon Burton...remember Edith Mitchel...remember Virginia Weese...remember Chris Bell and Chris Hall...

Heavenly Father,
Thank you for your Word and thank you for you love of us. Lord we seek wisdom and truth but are pulled away by many things. Please guide and show us yourself and your path for us. Help us recognise your presence and protect our minds from attacks from the evil around. We seek grace and peace in all we do and we praise you and worship you! in Jesus name, amen
Posted by russ allen at 7:01 A

Comment by russ allen on March 8, 2010 at 7:04am

Good morning! How are we faithing? What a nice weekend here! 50's and time to walk the woods and soak up the sunshine! God's handy work is just so awesome and it never ceases to amaze me. With all the things in nature that work together I sometimes have to stop to remember to trust God and his design on my life even when all seems a little weird. I know I can trust him and not totally rely on my own understanding because how could I possibly know what the guy who created the atom out of nothing that eventually became that deer or that tree or even me? The Word tells us to seek God in all decisions we make. It tells us not to "lean" on our understanding, it doesn't say don't use it. He gives us our understanding and our capability to understand so don't be depressed or butt hurt when you cant figure things out or nothing makes sense. Lean on him because without him, we would have no understanding at all. We would be floundering with earthly wisdom and I don't know about you but when I look around, earthly wisdom isn't all that impressive....

Prov 3:5-6
Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.
NIV

1 John 5:14-15
This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us-whatever we ask-we know that we have what we asked of him.
NIV

Col 1:13-14
For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
NIV

Remember Missy's grandson Evan...Sheppy Cler...John and Lori Jay...Ann Shepard...and I wrote down someones C-section today, but I can't read who...

Heavenly Father,
Thank you for the confidence we get from your Word. Lord, help us seek your wisdom in all we do. Help us be mindful of your presence today. Help us realize you have a plan for each of us even though we may not see it. Teach us to be reflections of you with peace and confidence of our salvation. We lift those mentioned and those who need you today. Heal pain, rest bodies, clear minds and above all, grow our trust and confidence in your ways in Jesus' name, amen
Posted by russ allen at 6:39 AM

Comment by russ allen on March 5, 2010 at 7:59am

Great Friday morning! How are we faithing? In this day and age as of late it is easy to get wrapped up in events and stuff that can depress and beat us down. Be careful! We need to work at not losing heart. What I mean by that is we need to recognise the things that can trigger our emotions and learned behavior towards self pity and or self debasement. We've talked before about kicking our own butts and enjoying pity parties. Even amidst toil and trouble we need to seek out God's face for our comfort and peace. This seems to be a theme this week and if it is repetitious I do apologize but I feel encouragement is needed. We all go through stuff that does these things to us and we must prop each other up in brotherly love. I need it, you need it. This weekend when things take place, stop for a second and look larger than the immediate thing before you, it may ease the hurt and help you see truth.

Heb 12:1-3
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
NIV

Isa 40:1
Comfort, comfort my people,says your God.
NIV

Rom 8:35
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?
NIV

Heavenly Father,
Thank you for your wisdom in your Word. Help us endure not with just temperance but wisdom and joy because we know you will be there right with us even when we don't see you. Lord, help us be the witness for you that attracts others to you. Let your light shine so bright in us that it cannot be denied or ignored. Lord, thank you for your blessings and help us remember to pass them on and not see the trouble instead of the cure. in Jesus name, amen
Posted by russ allen at 7:38 AM

Comment by russ allen on March 4, 2010 at 7:23am

Good morning! How are we faithing this fine day? I want to express how joyful I personally am. Sure there are troubles and things that bite but the joy of my Lord is always present even when I am sad. Jesus is ever present when things are great and when things are bad. People ask why things happen on this earth and to be simplistic, we ain't in heaven so everything ain't perfect. The sun shines on the good and the bad. If a murderer and a saint are standing in the rain, they both get wet. Encouragement during rough spots can be taken from that thought. You will come out the other side and if you don't and you believe in Jesus, you'll be in paradise anyways. Looking inwardly at the strife you have will not make anything any better. Why these odd musings? You are loved. You have solace. You can be joyful while passing through all kinds of turmoil. Jesus is the answer. Don't buy that? How has not believing worked out so far?

Ps 15
O LORD, who may abide in Thy tent? Who may dwell on Thy holy hill? He who walks with integrity, and works righteousness,And speaks truth in his heart. He does not slander with his tongue, Nor does evil to his neighbor, Nor takes up a reproach against his friend; In whose eyes a reprobate is despised,But who honors those who fear the LORD; He swears to his own hurt, and does not change; He does not put out his money at interest, Nor does he take a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things will never be shaken.
NAS

Ps 144:3-4
O LORD, what is man that you care for him, the son of man that you think of him? Man is like a breath; his days are like a fleeting shadow.
NIV

Heavenly Father,
Thank you for offering yourself for us. Lord, we need you in everything we do and ask for clear sight of your plan for salvation. Grant us wisdom and clarity in everything we do. Help us recognise needs and appropriate actions to those needs. Teach us to be mindful of your ways in all we do. Thank you for sacrificing yourself for a lot like us, only true love would motivate that! In Jesus' name we pray, Amen
Posted by russ allen at 7:03 AM

Comment by russ allen on March 3, 2010 at 7:25am

Good morning! How are we faithing this fine Wednesday morning? Our choices about everything does indeed come down to scriptural advise. There is not anything that happens that wisdom cannot be gleaned from the Word. Check this out;

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

That my friends is a good prayer. That is a noble and wise thing to ask. We need to seek God's wisdom whenever we can. I had a conversation recently with a person who was holding a grudge and when the Word was presented that tells us to hate the sin and not the sinner, consideration was taken. Realizing that sin is sin in God's eyes therefore what they did isn't any worse than what I've done , causes pause for reconsidering ones stance on judgemental thinking and the beginning of forgiveness. Man, we all get mad at things done to us but holding that person to a higher standard than what we are held to is not correct at all. If sin is sin then whatever I've done is no different than what they've done therefore the same treatment should be applied to both people, so it stands to reason that grudges are held against me also. Hummm...sobering and makes one reconsider. Man, you don't have to like it but you do have to forgive. Jesus said when asked that we forgive 7x70 times. Both ways that goes so the next time you find yourself tossing out judgement, stop and think about this.

Remember the Cler family...remember marriages and all the stuff associated with them...it's rough out there...

Heavenly Father,
Thank you for forgiving what i have done. Help me forgive likewise and not hold grudges. Lord we get hurt and we want to retaliate but we understand it is not right but still want to. Help us forgive quickly while making wise choices about things in our lives. Open up your Word so we can apply sound things to our lives. We praise and want to live uprightly but are weak. Help us see truth and be representatives of your peace and love. We lift the Clers to you, comfort and hold them, in Jesus name, amen
Posted by russ allen at 7:01 AM

Comment by russ allen on March 2, 2010 at 7:25am

Good morning! How are we faithing? The bickering between Christians needs to stop. We are all one - that accept Jesus as messiah. We are going to have differences of opinion but we need to look to the Word and see if the body deserves division over interpretation. There are indeed things that do need clarification and some things deserve a firm stance but before we judge, lets step back and look at the entire picture and remember to present Jesus and let HIM fix those other people, it ain't yours or my job. Mine and yours is to inform people about Jesus and the steps required to meet him on his terms and come to know him as a savior that we all need. We also have the right and the privilege to study God's Word and let him speak to us individually as well as a whole. Jesus is not a respecter of person. Jesus does not count your good deeds towards your entrance into heaven. Jesus quoted in the Word is quite specific when he says,"no one enters but by me", so stop pointing fingers with ire because someone else doesn't live up to your standards. When asked, respond in love and truth and not with disdain and condemnation...

Luke 6:41-42
"And why do you look at the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? "Or how can you say to your brother, 'Brother, let me take out the speck that is in your eye,' when you yourself do not see the log that is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the speck that is in your brother's eye.
NAS


Col 2:6-15
So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.
See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.
For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority. In him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of the sinful nature, not with a circumcision done by the hands of men but with the circumcision done by Christ, having been buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead.
When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.
NIV

remember Mike Moore...

Heavenly Father,
Thank you for your love and sacrifice. Forgive us when we get uppity and think more of our selves. Lord, help us be wise with the council we receive. Help us stand for truth. Lord we lift Mike to you. Lord, we ask for wisdom and knowledge that as only you have. Grant us discernment. Thank you for your mercy and love, in Jesus name, amen
Posted by russ allen at 6:57 AM

Comment by russ allen on March 1, 2010 at 7:14am

Good morning! How are we faithing? What a good weekend! I'll be glad though when we can go outside all day and bask in the sun! Do you pray for something or someone and then question and worry about it? Yeah, me too. We really shouldn't do that. Do we believe God will act? Do we realize not if but when he does, it'll be on his time schedule and the best course of action? Here's an exercise for us; start praising with confidence that God will act instead of fretting and worrying about the request. Make prayer the FIRST thing you do for every situation, not the last resort. Praise with confidence that God has it under control and look for the lesson also, look for the appropriate response for us to whatever the answer is. Like my pastor said Sunday, "keep your eyes on Jesus and not the problem".

Phil 4:4-7
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! Let your forbearing spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
NAS

1 Cor 15:56-58
The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
NIV

Remember Rita Cler...remember Chris' job...

Heavenly Father,
Thank you for your provision for us. Help us see your path and give us the strength to walk it. Lord we lift those hurting this day. Refresh their spirit this week and renew their trust in you. Help us see your will and know you have us in your arms even when all seems gloom and doom. We lift those up in prison. Heal hearts and minds. Thank you for your love of us that you would even consider sending your son for us and it is in his name we pray, amen
Posted by russ allen at 6:45 AM

Comment by russ allen on February 26, 2010 at 7:38am

Good morning! How are we faithing? It is a grand thing to be so confident in the faith in Jesus that even when we are in deep waters we still hold that peace and love knowing that all about us is fleeting and will end. Whether trouble or joy, peace or war, turmoil and strife we know that Jesus has already paid the price and we are his. This set in our hearts does indeed make those bad days endurable. But need we merely endure? Not at all! We overcome and we hold on to that wisdom the Word gives us and reach beyond our momentary woes unto a better realm that injects a joy that cannot even be explained. That resting peace in our salvation and that seeking eye for truth is what keeps us from the danger of hell fire and that peace and truth rest right on our life. Take a step back today or tomorrow when the junk flies in your face, recognize it as temporary and push ahead with confidence because Jesus already defeated it.

Rom 5:1-5
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.
NIV

remember Mike Burke...remember John...

Heavenly Father,
Thank you for your salvation and victory over all. Lord, we want to see you in everything and we want the wisdom to act, hear, see truth. Lord we lift those up with disease and physical maladies and ask for a healing today. We do stand on your Word, united as one in the body of Christ. Guide our tongues , in Jesus name, amen
Posted by russ allen at 7:07 AM

Comment by russ allen on February 25, 2010 at 9:42am

Good morning! How are we faithing? I hate it when I get a daily written and it disappears...We all have things happen that just toss us off the normal train in to the crazy river...off a trestle to boot...These things can erupt into major things or just a time of searching. I sometimes walk headlong into situations either from naivete or plain bad choice. The thing that can cause greater heartache than the actual event is worry that things will get worse or even spiral into something our imagination contrives. Fret and worry about something non existent has hurled many a person into despair. When I do that, I try to remember the promises of God and speak the scripture into being. What does that mean? Speaking scripture is very powerful for our minds and the Word says we are to "hear" the word as well as read it. If an event was heard it makes sense to me to hear the counter or the wisdom from the Word of God to counteract.

2 Tim 1:7
For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
NKJV

Luke 11:28
He replied, "Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it." NIV

Remember Mara Gaines...remember Ron's house search...remember the troops

Heavenly Father,
Thank you for your grace and wisdom that helps us climb out of the pit. Bring your great words to our recollection when we tire. Lord we lift the troop and leaders to you. Help them be brave and merciful. Lord we lift the unspoken requests today, guide our paths, in Jesus' name, amen
Posted by russ allen at 6:47 AM

Comment by russ allen on February 22, 2010 at 7:34am

Good morning! How are we faithing? Monday morning after a long weekend. Sometimes we sin, sometimes not. Sometimes we get depressed when others do wrong but seem to succeed. Sometimes we see selfish motivations let someone get what seems to be all the good stuff. I here to tell you that even thought they got what they wanted, it's an empty victory. Don't believe me? Ever notice they always want more? Ever notice they keep going from one thing to another by any means available? That doesn't look like joy or contentment to me. I'm not saying to stop striving but what is your motivation? We must learn a basic principle. Whatever we do, do it because we are doing it for God. As his children we must set the example for everyone by doing, acting, saying everything because it is indeed all for God. Looky here;

1 Peter 1:13-16
Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy."
NIV

See that? Rather eye opening isn't it when you apply that to everything...

remember Charlie Riddle...remember Tova Travis...remember Kellynn and Ty...

Heavenly Father,
Thank you for your Word that teaches us how to be. Thank you for wisdom that is so above this world. Lord we lift those listed and those not, we lift them to you. Touch them and heal hearts, minds and bodies today. In Jesus name amen
Posted by russ allen at 6:55 AM

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