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Comment by russ allen on June 8, 2011 at 7:54am

Good morning! How are we faithing? Lots of things rattling around in this old head today. As I meet different people amonst my travels I wonder how these people got to be how they are. Every type imaginable are encountered and it is fascinating to watch and listen to them. It absolutely astounds me that the principles I've learned so far from the Bible apply to every situation and type of personnality I meet. Sure they may not know it but it is evident to me what principles I've discovered in the Word would be helpful to them if they could just get ahold of them. I don't have the key, the Word does. So what to do? Live as an example for these people, be ready with the Word, love them as Jesus loves me. Let me tell you, this is not always easy. Some people I want to slap, some hug, some take under my wing but all of them I want to show them my savior and friend, Jesus. Now if I respond in kind to the negative things that come my way I defeat the purpose instilled in me by Jesus. You may think this guy writing is a little nuts but I'm telling you; what you are facing, what you are enduring and what you are feeling is not unique or new. What all those things prove is the Word and it's principles apply to you and me and it will until the end. Take this to heart; Jesus paid for all sin. You are not beyond redemption. You can have the same peace I have discovered and not a fake utopian peace where we sit around singing kumbiya but real peace that transcends everything this world throws at you. Will it be a bed of roses? Get real. Anyone who promises that is worthy of seeing our backsides as we sprint away from them.
Matthew 11:28-30
"Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. "Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart; and you shall find rest for your souls. "For My yoke is easy, and My load is light."
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John 16:33
"These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world."
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2 Corinthians 1:3-4
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort; who comforts us in all our affliction so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
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2 Corinthians 4:17-18
For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.
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Philippians 4:13
I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.
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Remember the Christians throughout the world who are working FOR those in need...remember the unspoken needs...

Heavenly Father,
We come before you today with thanks and praise for your Word. We thank you that you know are needs and meet them. Lord, forgive us when we miss opportunities to share you. Lord, help us stand strong no matter what we face. Remind us of your presence when we feel isolated and lost. Thank you for saving us when we didn't deserve it. Lord we bless you and honor you in Jesus name, amen
Posted by russ allen at 7:51 AM

Comment by russ allen on June 6, 2011 at 7:21am

Great morning! How are we faithing? Just when I think I am wandering, the path home lights up. Just when I'm not sure of what I am to do, it stops right in front of me. We all seek wisdom and a path that is righteous and of value. We all wonder what all this is for and why bother... then God steps out, puts out his hand and says,"over here". I suppose you all walk the path and start seeing the same things over and over and wonder if you got turned around but God will reveal himself in ways that can't be denied when we look. The Word isn't just a bunch of cute sayings or "feel good" stuff for when we want placation but it is wisdom to our bones. Just reading the Word isn't enough. We must believe, trust it is infallible and true. Only then can we even begin to live that truth.

Luke 11:27-28

And it came about while He said these things, one of the women in the crowd raised her voice, and said to Him, "Blessed is the womb that bore You, and the breasts at which You nursed." But He said, "On the contrary, blessed are those who hear the word of God, and observe it."
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John 14:23-24
Jesus answered and said to him, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him, and make Our abode with him. "He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine, but the Father's who sent Me.
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Remember Shirley Royer...remember Richard Peddicord...remember Jordan Lewis...remember Larry Denny

Heavenly Father,
Help us see your truth and apply it to our lives. Lord we desire to live upright but we seem to stumble...alot...forgive us and help us maintain focus on the things you would have us do. Teach us your principles and the courage to follow your precepts. Lord we lift those mentioned in Jesus name, amen
Posted by russ allen at 7:18 AM

Comment by russ allen on June 3, 2011 at 7:10am

Good morning! How are we faithing? Lets talk. I pray you have read or go back and read the last post because that brings up some questions and these verses answer them. You and me. We individually with help from others work to live according to scripture not to earn favor or to earn passage to eternal glory but because it is righteous and sound living. The passage ticket has already been given with acceptance of Jesus of Nazareth's sacrifice for you and me. That cannot be snatched away as the Word says. With that assurance we move forward with our eyes on him working out our salvation because before salvation we were working out our own selfishness. We move forward not earning God's favor but striving to live as originally designed and that is sinless and in the presence of God. Of course being humans we cannot achieve sinlessness but we don't really want to sin against God so we try not to. If and when we do, as soon as we recognise it, we ought to repent and try not to do it again. What we ought to do according to scripture is how we work out our salvation. There are lots of principles in the Word so you and I reading it is the way we learn how God is and how we should behave. Like we've learned, hate the sin and not the sinner is the way we learn to love as God did. I will not point fingers at someone for his or her faults but I sure will tell them what the Word says if they ask. Sure, I see someone in the midst of a sin I will speak but it is not my place to judge but to show Jesus and he will convict that person of that sin. There are many sins acceptable in culture today that fly in the face of scripture. Lies called diplomacy, taking a pen isn't stealing, cheating ones wife or husband is expected, anything that is accepted because "everyone else is doing it". Just think today before you act and reflect after you do. Make adjustments accordingly.



2 Peter 3:14-18
Therefore, beloved, since you look for these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless, and regard the patience of our Lord to be salvation; just as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given him, wrote to you, as also in all his letters, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which the untaught and unstable distort, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction. You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, be on your guard lest, being carried away by the error of unprincipled men, you fall from your own steadfastness, but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.
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Remember Haley Tracey...

Heavenly Father,
Lord we apologise for doing cultural things when we know or find out they are contrary to scripture. Help us see the folly of selfishness. Lord grant us understanding of your Word and a desire to dive into it daily! In Jesus name, amen
Posted by russ allen at 7:08 AM

Comment by russ allen on June 1, 2011 at 7:20am

Good morning! How are we faithing? Cut it out! Stop self berating! You ain't gonna earn anything! You ain't good enough and can't even come close to be! You are a sinner and by grace of the Messiah are you saved. I am so tired of finger pointing and flip comments like "you'll go to hell for that". Yes or no on the whole Jesus issue is what decides your forever. Why do people have trouble accepting the free gift offered and then using the Word for what it was put in print for? You know, I don't know that answer. Is it because they think they will loose something? Do they think they will live in want or self deprivations as many would like you to think? Of course not. Those ideas are for the ones who want to control you. Our freedom is that we choose to follow the Bible and it's principles because we believe it will teach and guide a better existence. We should not lord these principles over others but live them and let the Word work itself. By us following and learning to follow the principles set forth in the Word we become examples of God's workmanship that others see. We live these principles and others see them at work and that is what convicts them and shows them Christ is real. We cant convince by mere words anymore than we can expect the unsaved to act accordingly. Facing an angry, cussing, stinky man with grace and love from Jesus is how that man gets convicted to ask and to seek what he sees in us. If we retort in kind or correct out of place we will repel rather than attract them to Jesus. Just think about this.

2 Timothy 3:11-17

And indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. But evil men and impostors will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them; and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.
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Heavenly Father,
Thank you for your Word and your teachings. Help us to see the heart and not be put off by the outside. Help us see truth in all situations. Help us walk the walk with the talk. Lord we fight this flesh all the time and ask for strength. Lord, protect our troops and grant wise mercy for them, in Jesus name, amen


Posted by russ allen at 7:13 AM

Comment by russ allen on May 31, 2011 at 7:17am

Good morning! How are we faithing? Had an extended weekend with the kids and grand kids. Awesome! These trips are always enlightening as well as fun. Spending time with far away family and friends is refreshing. I saw kids that are now all grown to be responsible adults with all the things I remember experiencing taking place in their lives. I could see paths of good and some not so good. Some really didn't matter and some will lead to despair if not caught before they grow. Of course I am not pointing fingers but still trying to remind these people when the opportunity presents itself that they are not the first or the last to endure and that if asked, I have their back. Jesus did the same thing for us when you think about it. We were acting how we thought we ought to with ritual and following the strict adherence to the law to the point of legalism and missing love. Mankind has a tendency to compare and gauge everyone else to themselves. Jesus taught to hold him as the gauge so we don't point fingers and judge unjustly. We all learn at different rates and realizing that and then applying love, charity and imparting wisdom without taking on their response as an indication of their respect for our opinions is sometimes hard. If they don't "see" what we are telling them at that moment, let me reassure you it will plant and grow when the time is right. I still meet things that make me say,"that's what Mom meant". You see that too? Of course we all have and do if we really seek wisdom. The best life lessons for us and them are the ones we see in the Word and take place around and in our lives. Application of Biblical principles in everything we do and say will always turn out best. Seen it over and over again in my life and others. Take the time to listen and observe things without "how it effects me", you'll be surprised at the insight gleaned.

Luke 21:34-36

"Be on guard, that your hearts may not be weighted down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of life, and that day come on you suddenly like a trap; for it will come upon all those who dwell on the face of all the earth. "But keep on the alert at all times, praying in order that you may have strength to escape all these things that are about to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man."
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Titus 3:1-8
Remind them to be subject to rulers, to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good deed, to malign no one, to be uncontentious, gentle, showing every consideration for all men. For we also once were foolish ourselves, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various lusts and pleasures, spending our life in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another. But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that being justified by His grace we might be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
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Remember the Jacobi family...remember Jane and Sue...remember Ryan Stoner...remember Dan Koester...remember Troy and Christy...

Heavenly Father,
Thank you for your love and wisdom that keeps us grounded. Lord, we ask for help for those ailing today. Heal in a way that it is recognisable as you only. Lord clear our heads so we see clearly your hand. We praise your name and seek your face so we may draw the lost to you. Thank you for family and friends, in Jesus name, amen
Posted by russ allen at 7:11 AM

Comment by russ allen on May 26, 2011 at 5:55am

Good morning! How are we faithing? I want to do something I've never done before. I am going to share a friends story. It's much longer than the usual Daily but stay with it, you won't be disappointed. I'll let her tell it;
The Accident
The weather was unusually warm on Friday, May 25th, 2007. I opened all the windows in the house, and thought about how warm the church building would be for the Patriotic Program that night. Our ten year old son, Benjamin had been practicing with the Christian School, and would be standing in the front row with them, singing songs of salute to our country. My husband, Michael, had ridden his motorcycle to work, and planned to meet us at the church building that evening. Usually I would remember to bring a leather jacket and helmet for Ben to ride home with his Dad, but I got busy with other preparations, and forgot to put those things in the car. The program went well that night, and then (of course) there was a fellowship time downstairs. Eventually Michael told me he was leaving, so we gathered our things together and followed him outside. It was so warm that we didn’t need our sweaters, which is unusual for May in Maine. We stood outside laughing with teens, enjoying the unusual spring weather. Then Michael climbed on his motorcycle and started home.
We left shortly after, but stopped at the store to buy graduation cards. We kept finding funny ones, and were showing them to each other, giggling over the messages that were written inside. Sarah and Stephanie, ages 22 and 20, were light-hearted as they helped me make my selections. Their 18 year-old brother, Mike Jr. was graduating the next day from a Christian college in NH. We were planning to leave early in the morning to watch him graduate from that school’s one-year program. It was dark by the time we headed home. When we were less than three miles from home we came up behind a long line of traffic stopped in the road. Way up ahead we could barely see the red flashing lights of an emergency vehicle. After awhile, when I realized we weren’t moving at all, I dialed home to tell Michael we were held up. He didn’t answer. That was strange. Time went by, and I tried to reach him again. Still no answer. A detour would be twenty or thirty miles out of our way to get home, so we waited. I dialed several more times, but Michael still didn’t pick up. I didn’t say anything to Sarah, Stephanie or to Benjamin about my growing sense of uneasiness.
Finally, a volunteer emergency worker started telling people they’d have to turn around, and go another way. When the man came to tell us to turn around, we asked him if the accident was a car or a motorcycle. He said it was a car and a motorcycle.
We parked the car by the side of the road. I told the others to wait there, and I started walking toward the front of the line of traffic. My heart was pounding in my chest, dreading what I might find ahead. As I neared the fire engine, I could see a big motorcycle lying in the road. But I couldn’t tell in the dark if it was Michael’s. Besides, it was banged up pretty bad, and hard to recognize. Then a man stopped me, and gently guided me to the other side of the fire truck, where I couldn’t see the accident. “My name is Linda Handzel. My husband, Michael is driving a motorcycle, and I just want to know if that’s his bike.” The man answered: “My name is Chris, and I’m a volunteer for the fire department. Someone will come talk to you in a minute.” I didn’t understand. A few minutes went by, and a friend of our family, Craig Bowden, came toward me from the accident. He was the Fire Chief for the next town over. (Sometimes the towns answer each other’s calls.) “Hi Craig, I just wanted to know if that’s Michael’s bike.” Craig spoke quietly: “Someone will come to talk to you in a minute.” I still didn’t understand. “Craig, if it’s not Michael’s bike, just tell me, and I’ll go back to the car.” Again he replied: “Someone will come talk to you in a minute.” Then the two men just stood there in kindly silence. My mind raced through a hundred different thoughts. Why didn’t someone just tell me the answer to my question? Finally a sheriff came. He stood behind the other two men, looking at me over their shoulders. “My name is Sheriff Cote, and your husband was involved in that accident tonight.” I don’t remember if he said anything else. I looked at Craig as panic started to rise up into my throat. He opened his big, burly arms and I collapsed into them, sobbing. My mind couldn’t accept that my husband had crashed his motorcycle. He was so careful, he’d never had an accident in the 25 years I’d known him. I pulled away from Craig’s embrace and tearfully begged: “Craig, tell me you made a mistake! Tell me it’s not Michael!” He simply pulled me back into his arms, and for a moment he didn’t answer. Then he told me Michael’s accident was serious.
I don’t know how much time passed. Craig went back to the scene, but Chris put me into the seat of a paramedic truck. I asked for a phone right away, and called the church, asking someone to start the prayer chain. Then I called my friend Rozina and asked her to bring her two daughters, Laura and Brittney to help me tell my children. Those girls were older than my daughters, but they’d always been special friends to them. They lived only a couple of miles up the road from the intersection where the accident took place.
I knew the children would be waiting for me, but I couldn’t bring myself to go back to the car alone. So I waited. Chris stood there silently beside me. “It doesn’t matter how this turns out. I know God is in control, and that He’ll take care of us.” Chris nodded quietly. I don’t think he knew how to answer my ramblings about God. By now Craig had told me that the accident was ‘very serious’. My mind was numb. Still later Craig came back to the truck again, and told me they were doing CPR on Michael. I knew Michael would be all right. They’d ‘bring him back’, I was sure. At some point an ambulance pulled out, and headed past the line of traffic toward the medical center, located 30 miles away. After a time Rozina came with her two daughters. Then Craig, Chris, Rozina, Laura and Brittney all walked back to my car with me. When we came into view of the headlights, Sarah jumped out of the car, and started running toward me. She grabbed me and held on for dear life, sobbing into my arms: “Mom, you were gone too long!!” “Yes, I was gone too long.” was all that I could muster. I looked up to see that Craig had somehow wedged his husky form into the back of our car, and was hugging both Ben and Stephanie at the same time. Everyone was sobbing. We couldn’t move the car out of the line of traffic. I lost all track of time. Craig kept wiping tears from his face. I don’t know when I called Mike Jr. to tell him about the accident. I said that I didn’t know any details, except that it was very serious. After awhile Craig said he was going to let us drive through. (They planned to move the fire truck to block our view of the accident, but somehow communications broke down, and it didn’t happen.) Brittney drove our car, and Rozina followed with Laura. As we passed by the accident, it was clear that the motorcycle was under the front of a car.
As we pulled into our driveway, Mike Jr. called: “Mom, if Dad’s in the hospital, I don’t want to stay for my graduation, I want to come home.” I calmly told him he didn’t need to come home until we knew how Dad was. I’d call him as soon as I talked to the doctors at the hospital.
I told the girls to pack a bag, we’d probably be spending the night at the hospital. We hastily packed a few necessities. I put all the windows down, and walked the dog. I was thinking carefully about being away all night. I called our neighbor, who came over right away. I knew the Doctors would take care of Michael, and thought we’d just sit in the waiting room all night anyway, so wasn’t worried about time. Instead I was trying to make sure everything was properly taken care of before I left. I didn’t realize it was already 10:30 PM. Finally Rozina spoke urgently: “Linda, we have to GO!”
As we headed for the door, the phone rang. I ran upstairs to the study to answer the one dependable phone we had at the time. I didn’t know the voice on the other end: “Hello, is this Linda Handzel?” I affirmed that it was. “This is Dr. _____, and I work in the emergency room at the medical center.” I collapsed into the chair there at the desk. Rozina was standing beside me. The Dr. continued: “When the paramedics arrived at your husband’s accident tonight, he had no pulse, no blood pressure and no respiration.” Then he said something else, but for the life of me, I don’t remember what it was. My heart stopped. Something was terribly wrong! I couldn’t breathe. The line was silent. I caught my breath enough to say: “Could you repeat that, please?” Around me the whole house was quiet. Everyone was standing on the stairs, or at the bottom of the stairs, listening to my conversation. Ben was in the hallway, behind Rozina. The Dr. repeated all the information about Michael’s vital signs. Then he stopped. I waited, then asked again: “And could you repeat the other sentence?” His voice was filled with regret: “We were unable to revive him.”
I dropped the phone, and started sobbing. Ben clutched onto me, his voice filled with desperation: “Mom, what, Mom? What did he say?” I choked out the words: “Daddy’s gone to Heaven.” Rozina picked up the phone and started talking to the doctor. She had to keep asking him to repeat himself, because Ben was howling so loudly. Somehow we all ended up outside. The sounds of crying could be heard across our lawn. Both Sarah and Stephanie were on their cell phones, sobbing as they choked out the news. Mike Jr. called back again before I could call him. When I told him the news his voice went into a soft scream mixed with a wail: “My Dad died?!?” I don’t remember any more of that conversation.
From then on, even until this day, I was, and still am, so amazed by God’s tender, loving care of our family. He has always known ahead what we will need, and has faithfully provided it! At the time of the accident I didn’t know anyone on my town’s rescue squad, but I did know Craig Bowden. And through a strange set of rare circumstances he was there that night for us. After he left the accident, Craig went home to get his wife, Corinne, who was Michael’s secretary at work. They came to the house, and stayed with us for hours. Craig took Ben on a walk alone that night, letting him ask questions about the accident.
Even though Rozina had a son getting married the next day, she and her daughters stayed with us until I sent them home. People came all night. Pastor Donato and his lovely wife, Penny, came and then stayed until dawn. Pastor Donato asked if he could stay to be there when Mike Jr. got home. Mike Jr. was living with the Mejia family in NH, and was planning to move home after his graduation the next day. Phil Mejia (the father of the house) put Mike Jr. in his own car, and drove him home. It was a four-hour trip, and they got home around 2:30 AM. In the meantime, Kathy Mejia (the mother of the house), and their two children, Meg and Chris, packed all of Mike’s belongings into his car, and then drove it up to our house, arriving around 4:30 AM. Phil had slept for a couple of hours outside in his car. I had brought in a couple of mattresses from the camper to put on our living room floor, thinking the Mejia’s would want to catch a few hours sleep before they went back. But they declined, and drove back home. They had stayed up all night for us.
That was just the beginning of a very long list of things people did for us. I could write a thick book detailing all of the kindnesses that have been bestowed on us since that fateful night. The one couple I will tell you about is Jim and Sandal Keeffe, dear friends from NH who always camped with us. A short time after Craig and Corinne went home, Sandal called, and at the sound of her voice I started crying uncontrollably. (Craig was also friends with them, and had called, waking them up to tell them about the accident.) I couldn’t talk, and I don’t remember much of the conversation. But this one thing I will never forget, they said: “We’re coming.” They didn’t go back to bed. Instead, they took their motor home out of storage, packed it up, contacted their employers, and set out for our house, arriving by 11:00 AM that morning. They took complete care of us for eight days. Their motor home stood sentinel in our yard. They nursed, chauffeured, delivered messages, cleaned, fixed and did many other endless tasks that needed to be done over the next week. They worked very hard every day, never once asking for recognition or recompense! We found out later that summer that Jim lost his vacation time because he gave it to us. They were forced to miss a vacation that they’d taken every year for 25 years. They gave it up for us.
The purpose of this story isn’t to extract pity from its readers. Instead, it’s to give praise to our wondrous God, Who never fails. Within hours of the news of Michael’s death I felt the presence of the Lord fill our home! As I walked from room to room, it was as if I was walking through a cloud filled with the Glory of God. I had never experienced anything like it before, nor have I since. His presence was palpable to me. The intense awareness of His Presence stayed with me for over a week. It kept reminding me that we weren’t alone.
I’ve never been angry at the man who killed my husband. The police report shows that the driver of the car didn’t see my husband, even though the conditions were perfect. Michael was going straight down the road, and the man turned left into him. His car broadsided Michael, who died instantly. I know the police report calls it an ‘accident’. But Michael loved the Lord, and God has never had an accident. It was Michael’s time to go Home, and that was how God chose to take him. It really is that simple.
When Michael died I didn’t know how to do a lot of things. I didn’t know how to run the snow blower, how to order garage doors or how to use the Sawzall. Since then I’ve learned all of that, and a whole lot more! At first if something came up that I didn’t know how to handle, I felt like I was taking a sharp corner in life’s road. I held my breath, wondering how I’d figure out that next situation. Then, as I rounded the bend, I discovered that God had already been there, and taken care of the situation ahead of me! I’ve learned not to worry about the next turn in the road. I know that He’s already there, getting things ready for my arrival!
Honestly, this new journey has been sweet! Although there have been barrels of tears, endless sleepless nights, and incredible heartaches, I still give God thanks! I could never have come this far without His tender hands guiding, holding, and reassuring me! He is indeed a loving Father to the fatherless, and a caring husband to the widow!
The night of the accident, as I walked toward the red flashing lights, I was filled with dread at what I might find at the front of the line. Then, these words started going around and around in my head: “An open door, I set before you an open door….” That weekend I found those words in Revelation 3:8. “I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name.” I realized that God’s will for me was to walk through a different door, down a different path, and into a different life. I chose to accept that door, and go through it. I’ve never regretted that decision!

Remember the Jacobi family...remember our emergency workers...

Heavenly Father,
Bless these people of yours who are hurting and who seek your face. Grant us endurance and faith that is supernatural. Lord we lift you up even when we feel down in despair. grant us wisdom and assured peace, in Jesus name, amen

Comment by russ allen on May 25, 2011 at 7:00am

Good morning! How are we faithing? With all we've talked about recently we must remember in times of woe that our God is ever present and ever vigil. He does not waiver. He does not get distracted away from us. He has said he is present in times of trouble and we must remind ourselves of that when we "feel" like all is caving in on us. I don't want to write empty platitudes and try to calm you with my wisdom but would rather just show you what God says in his Word because that is where truth lies.

2 Corinthians 1:3-4

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort; who comforts us in all our affliction so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
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2 Corinthians 1:5
For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ.
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Psalms 32:5
I acknowledged my sin to Thee,
And my iniquity I did not hide;
I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the LORD";
And Thou didst forgive the guilt of my sin.
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Psalms 32:7
Thou art my hiding place;
Thou dost preserve me from trouble;
Thou dost surround me with songs of deliverance.
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You may loose it all or you may have great gain. You may be happy or sad. You may endure affliction or you may sail smoothly. Regardless of you situation or your place today God is indeed present. God loves you so run to him and don't try to get your affairs in order before you go, go and then HE will help you get your affairs in order.

Heavenly Father,
Thank you for your grace and love that saves us. Lord we ask for forgiveness. Lord, help us be who you made us to be. Help us trust even when it seems baffling. Help us be a blessing to others with your love and wisdom. Help us see needs and meet them. We praise your name and stand to be counted as a believer in your son and what he did for us all. Grant us courage under fire so your greatness is seen. In Jesus name, amen
Posted by russ allen at 6:53 AM

Comment by russ allen on May 24, 2011 at 7:08am

Good morning! How are we faithing? Some questions and comments I have been exposed to lately include the ones about God being mad at us or testing us or plain playing with us. There are very odd or convoluted views of our Father in heaven. Temptation that comes to us is not from a God who points and laughs. Not from a God who keeps throwing stuff at you just to see how you deal. Lets look at what thew Word tells us;

1 Corinthians 10:13
No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, that you may be able to endure it.
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Look at that! The temptations we face are common! Everyone faces those things. You are not alone or the first to endure them. In fact, God stops those things before you are consumed. You gave in? YOU did, not God. The cool thing is he still loves you, is still right there for us to come to. He will present an out if we only seek him.

Lamentations 3:22-23
The Lord's lovingkindnesses indeed never cease,
For His compassions never fail.
They are new every morning;
Great is Thy faithfulness.
NAS

Isn't that cool? After enduring, after defeating or even after asking for forgiveness if we didn't fare well, it's a new day every day and God is still the same, still loves you.
Here is something to encourage oneself and to hang our hats on;

John 10:26-28
"My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they shall never perish; and no one shall snatch them out of My hand.
NAS

I find that rather reassuring! No one can snatch us away. You didn't commit anything to big to be forgiven for. God is not going to turn you loose because you failed as a human. Our savior endure the same temptations, the same ordeals, the same ol song and dance the devil puts up. Everything is already whooped so why self condemn? With that said we must remind ourselves in the midst of things on this earth that all is temporary and all has already been defeated and we will learn and grow from whatever is happening.


1 Peter 4:12-13
Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you; but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing; so that also at the revelation of His glory, you may rejoice with exultation.
NAS

Heavenly Father,
Thank you for reassurance when we are being tried. Lord it is hard to endure sometimes but we still love and honor you even when we think "woe is me". Teach us to look beyond the physical and emotional to you will and ways. Help us prepare and act wisely and with your love on our minds, always. In Jesus name, amen
Posted by russ allen at 7:05 AM

Comment by russ allen on May 23, 2011 at 8:04am

Good morning! How are we faithing? So many things happening in this world it becomes a little difficult to sort some to the point of waving off anything that seems foolish. I totally get that but we do have to be careful not to wave off the person who has been fooled. The event may be ridiculous or the people obviously misled but we do not have the right to write off the people. We need to pray for them that they find truth. We need to lift them up, including ourselves, so truth always becomes self evident. Being aware of our own wants and desires needs to be looked at closely so we don't fall for things that cater to those wishes and desires because if the self blinders are donned, trouble will ensue. Mans logic is not always accurate or can it even expect to always explain things. I can't touch wind but I can see the effect. If I chose to not believe everything I can't use all my five senses on I'd not believe in anything. "I have never seen India therefore it doesn't exist" is a simple illogical statement but people operate on that premise daily. Think about and pray about these things and seek wisdom from the source. The source is God. Ponder this thought process today.

Romans 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

Romans 13:11-14
And this do, knowing the time, that it is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep; for now salvation is nearer to us than when we believed. The night is almost gone, and the day is at hand. Let us therefore lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us behave properly as in the day, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and sensuality, not in strife and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts.
NAS

Remember
Margurita...remember John Wyatt...remember Anna...remember the church bodies all around...

Heavenly Father,
Forgive us our sins and forgive when we fall for stuff that is against your Word. Lord, help us seek wisdom that you provide. Help us see the soul and not the outward shield. Lord, guide us, assure us, make your presence known all the time, in Jesus name we pray, amen
Posted by russ allen at 8:01 AM

Comment by russ allen on May 20, 2011 at 7:25am

Good morning! How are we faithing this fine day? I'm watching the news and trying to see the connection with prophecy and I see a bunch. I can't get into most of it because there is so much and a scholar I am not. Suffice to say some of us are watching closely. Are we predicting the end like that one guy who predicted the rapture is Saturday? Heavens no! We will not know the day or the time and the Word tells us so. All I'm saying is the prophecies in scripture do coincide with a whole bunch of stuff happening in the world today. Look, we need to be ready. We need to know where we stand with God. We need to realize we can't earn salvation. We need to humble ourselves and ask God to forgive us, to save us and to teach us. We need to ask the Holy Spirit to open our eyes in the scriptures. I was mowing yesterday and had this overwhelming feeling about something personal and I had to pray and remember scripture because if I hadn't, that feeling could have scared me and even paralyzed my thoughts. Ever done that? Ever just felt something was awry? It can be foreboding. I am urging you all to think about this thing called salvation and not let anyone add to the whole principle of forgiveness by adding stipulations and procedure. You...God...relationship...speak to him. Do not delay because we just don't know what is ahead today or tomorrow and I'd sure hate to miss that ride because of procrastination or an unfortunate rhino accident...

2 John 7

For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the antichrist.
NAS

1 John 5:20
And we know that the Son of God has come, and has given us understanding, in order that we might know Him who is true, and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life.
NAS

1 John 4:2-3
By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God; and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God; and this is the spirit of the antichrist, of which you have heard that it is coming, and now it is already in the world.
NAS

Hebrews 8:1-3
Now the main point in what has been said is this: we have such a high priest, who has taken His seat at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, a minister in the sanctuary, and in the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, not man.
NAS

Hebrews 4:14-16
Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and may find grace to help in time of need.
NAS

Remember Maggy, Sandra and Polly...remember Kelly Millsap...remember Dawn Demmons

Heavenly Father,
We ask for revelation in our lives. We ask that you come in and sanctify us through the blood of your son, Jesus. Show us your will and save us from all of the wicked things we have done. Lord we humbly reach out to you in our feeble understanding of your greatness. Forgive our transgressions. Lead us to your grace and forgiveness and we ask in your holy and gracious name, amen
Posted by russ allen at 7:22 AM

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