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Comment by russ allen on February 4, 2010 at 7:25am

Good morning! How are we faithing this fine day? I'm reminded that we are fortunate to have friends who chastise us and inform us when we do stupid stuff. At first we may baulk at the at the rebuking but it is important to listen and consider our friends rebuke. They ain't always right but they surely ain't always wrong either. I have some friends that do things that just tick me off but they are a friend so I must be loyal even if I disagree. I don't have to like what they did and I can even rebuke them but they still are my friend. Yes there are friend ending actions that happen but those are hardly normal. Friendship is important in this life and in the body of the church. You cannot survive as a loner. That whole concept is anathema to the scriptures. Yes you can enjoy time alone but it is not how we are made to be totally alone. Why do you think solitary confinement works as a deterrent? Point is to remember and cultivate friendships that are trustworthy and loyal. Someone who will tell you the truth even if it hurts. Someone who'll shake things up so you recognise bad behavior. Someone who keeps us focused and grounded.

Prov 27:17
Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.
KJV


Heb 10:24-25
And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.
NIV


Isa 35:3-4
Strengthen the feeble hands, steady the knees that give way; say to those with fearful hearts,"Be strong, do not fear; your God will come, he will come with vengeance; with divine retribution he will come to save you."
NIV

Prov 27:9
Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart,and the pleasantness of one's friend springs from his earnest counsel.
NIV

remember Madison Haney...remember Juanita Thurmon...remember Emily's husband...remember Jim McCall

Heavenly Father,
Thank you for your teachings. Thank you for friends that stand by us even when we goof up. Lord I ask for forgiveness for dropping the ball when I should be brave and pick it up. Lord we lift those hurting and those who are anxious. Heal those who are weak and those who are suffering and we thank you for your presence in out lives in Jesus' name, amen
Posted by russ allen at 7:05 AM

Comment by russ allen on February 3, 2010 at 7:16am

Great morning! How are we faithing? I woke this morning to a song in my head and joy on my heart. It is so cool when that happens and I can thank God for that thankful heart. To wake up praising God in our own way is a fantastic way to start the day. How do you awake? Do you wake with dread? Do you wake complaining that you have to do all this again? That is an awful place to be! Let me encourage you to change that mode! Wake and pray immediately for wisdom and courage. Thank the Lord for being with you even if you are not feeling on top of it all. God does not change. God is consistent with his love and devotion to you. Take the opportunity to thank him as soon as you are conscious. I'm telling you right now that your whole day will be different if you start it in this manner.

2 Cor 4:6
For God, who said, "Light shall shine out of darkness," is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.
NASU


1 Peter 2:9-10
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
NIV

Ps 100:3-5
Know that the LORD is God.It is he who made us, and we are his;we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise;give thanks to him and praise his name. For the LORD is good and his love endures forever;his faithfulness continues through all generations.
NIV

Remember Mark Millsap's Dad...remember Kathy Allen...remember Anne Burton...

Heavenly Father,
Thank you for always being. Lord we praise your holy name and lift you up this morning. Thank you for allowing us to live another day in your service. Teach us to start each day with a song in our hearts because we know without you in our lives, it would be a dismal existence. Lord we lift up Mark's Dad to you, heal him. We lift up Anne and her unborn baby, use a miracle hear and let Al and Anne see your wonderful glory and love. Let us see truth and reap wisdom from all we experience. Lord I ask for healing for my bride Kathy, remove her ailments to your glory. Thank you for my thankful heart, in Jesus name, amen
Posted by russ allen at 6:39 AM

Comment by russ allen on February 2, 2010 at 7:11am

Good morning! How are we faithing this fine morning? I want to talk to you about our own walk with Jesus. To many times we compare ourselves to others or rather look down on others that don't believe our way or worse, think less of others with apathy for their state. Man o man that is just so opposite of what the scriptures teach. This body of Christ has some characters to say the least. Does that mean God loves them any more or any less than me or you? Does that mean because our convictions differ from the convictions that other Christian has that they are less than us, or we are less than them? Nope. We are the body. Our hands need to be reaching, our legs moving and our mouth encouraging others to Jesus. I don't really care if the preacher wears a robe or a t-shirt. I don't care if it is a fancy church or a barn and neither should you. None of that type of stuff has anything to do with salvation and our walk with the master. Sure if you have a choice to go to a fancy church or a barn make that choice but remember that you bring your worship, it isn't at or built into that place. We really need to pray and seek Jesus face in all we do and we need to look beyond the superficial to the heart of others we meet. We can have church in a parking lot, in a car, at the water cooler. People are hurting and it is our place to meet that need with compassion and with the Word of God. We all have baggage and we all have sins known only to God and ourselves. Church needs to be a place where we feel free enough to tell all and be a basket place if need be therefore church is where the needs are met. Wow! Where is your church? Where is the body of Christ in your life? Are you free to be and to do what Jesus taught? Is your heart hardened to different things than yours? Time to seek Jesus and soften that heart because the needs are many out there and it's time we wake up and step out on faith to the work God has meant for us to do.

Rom 12:3-8
For through the grace given to me I say to every man among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith. For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. And since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let each exercise them accordingly: if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith; if service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching; or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.
NAS

Remember Diane and Ben...remember Tiffany and Piglett...remember each other...

Heavenly Father,
Thank you for your grace that saved a wreck of a man like me. Thank you for teaching with others . Lord open our ears and hearts to whomever you choose to reach me. Lord I want to be your servant and to do your work but I need strength that only you can provide. I need the wisdom you gave Solomon because I so miss things. Lord be with those mentioned and comfort them, guide them, heal them, in Jesus name, amen
Posted by russ allen at 6:44 AM

Comment by russ allen on February 1, 2010 at 7:30am

Good morning! How are we faithing? How we train out minds and the eyes we see through has a direct impact on our life and how we live it. I know guys who speak sexual innuendo constantly. I know women who complain about everything and are never happy. I know people in general who sacrifice everything for work. These are but a few examples of thinking and outlooks that are not healthy. Without Jesus and the mindset of things bigger than just what is in front of us we are destined to live a very narrow selfish life. You know what's scary? Most don't even recognise the folly of this type of thinking. They are convinced they are right and everyone else is nuts. This thinking is like walking down the street with blinders on never to turn left or right to see what God is and has for them. How sad that the consideration of others never crosses their minds. We see it on the highways and in line at the supermarket. We see it at work and even at church. The whole council of God is taught in the scriptures and picking out one to justify ones behavior is foolish and so sad because the big picture is missed. God is love and God is mercy, he also is just. Just like a father that loves his child even when they mess up God never stops loving us but he also will let us pass through things to learn and to grow. Woes passed through while complaining only and not seeking a lesson will cause one to become bitter and most likely they will repeat it. Our minds being clear and focused is not an automatic thing. We must train ourselves to handle daily our daily bread so we can become what the Word describes as holy. Think about that.

1 Cor 2:14-16
But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised. But he who is spiritual appraises all things, yet he himself is appraised by no man. For who has known the mind of the Lord, that he should instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ.
NAS


Phil 4:8-9
Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things. The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things; and the God of peace shall be with you.
NAS


Rom 8:6-11
For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so; and those who are in the flesh cannot please God. However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him. And if Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who indwells you.
NAS

Remember JR...remember our troops and our leaders...

Heavenly Father,
Lord we seek your face and desire to be more holy. Thank you for teaching us how to live and how to be your children. Lord we ask for wisdom and discernment for each event in our days. Help us see with your eyes the things you would have us see. Lord we lift our troops and our leaders to you. Grant them mercy and wisdom and courage to act as you would have them act, in Jesus' name, amen
Posted by russ allen at 7:02 A

Comment by russ allen on January 29, 2010 at 7:16am

Good cold morning! Brrr! How are we faithing? Certain sins seem to conjure up irrational rational. The bible is very specific as to what is sin. It also is very specific about what is necessary on our part to approach the throne of God. Forgiveness comes from repentance. What is repentance? Sorrow for an offense and not just sorry you got caught. A change of mind about that sin to God's view on it. The only sin the Bible speaks of as the unforgivable sin is blaspheming the Holy Spirit. What is that? Refusing to recognise and accept the premise that salvation comes from believing and accepting Jesus as savior. With that acceptance comes a change of mind and heart. Do we immediately overcome sin? Heck no man, we're humans and sin is attractive otherwise we could resist completely. So many times we point fingers and fingers are pointed at us for infractions committed. I want my friends in Christ to let me know when I goof up but we cannot expect non believers to come to know the love and the gift of salvation by pointing out with ire their infractions. "With ire", that's the point here. Sin is still sin and it's wrong but who does it profit for us to condemn or berate and belittle someone for committing them. Sure, pushing for laws to correct certain actions is absolutely acceptable and punishment for those crimes is expected in a society or it will fall. We must approach people with the love Jesus had for all of us. Here's the problem, when we see sin in a life and we don't offer Jesus' love and pray for them, we've just sinned and like the Word tells us, sin is sin therefore we are no different than the sin we just pointed out. Do we need to point out sin? Well of course! How do you point it out? Not judgemental but in love for that person to find the forgiveness we have found. Repentance happens upon realization of the infraction and the desire to not commit it anymore. One reality of life is we men and women do indeed repeat sins we have repented for. There are many reasons why we repeat them but know we have a place to go without condemnation repentance and love can continue. Now that I've run totally around this barn, remember you only have to ask for forgiveness, with a contrite heart, and it is granted. Face the next time you sin when it comes and fret not but bask in the grace and forgiveness of Jesus the Christ that he promised. Pray for healing and wisdom so we can present Jesus as a respite and not a rod weilding ogre who beats us down for anything we do. Ponder this.

2 Chron 7:14
if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
NIV

2 Tim 3:13-17
while evil men and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
NIV

Rom 2:1-4
You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge the other, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things. Now we know that God's judgment against those who do such things is based on truth. So when you, a mere man, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God's judgment? Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God's kindness leads you toward repentance?
NIV

Remember Nate Haney...remember Bud Perry...remember Tonya Fulfer...remember Anna Lynn...

Heavenly Father,
We ask for forgiveness for our sins and ask you for a restful heart and one that longs for the lost. Lord we ask for wisdom and the ability to love the sinner and hate the sin. Lord help us show your grace and not get caught up in judgemental thinking. Help us recognise others need you just like we did when we first came to you. We need you every day to guide and hold us. Lord, keep us safe this weekend and flip the switch to our worship so we can offer our praises to the only one who deserves it, you. In Jesus' name, Amen
Posted by russ allen at 6:24 AM

Comment by russ allen on January 28, 2010 at 7:39am

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 russ allen on January 27, 2010 at 7:17am

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 7:15am

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

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