"Rejoice always;
pray without ceasing;
in everything give thanks;
for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus."
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
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"Pray for us!"
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Saturday, August 7, 2021
Friday, August 6, 2021
The Imitation of Strength
Legalism vs The One True God
In general Legalism finds strength in one leader and their own, ever changing rules.
This Legalistic Leader may use the God of the Bible's Words, but only to pervert it for their own uses.
????Questions????
Sometimes followers of a Legalistic Leader may wonder about how "this or that" actually follows God's Word.
* In general Legalistic Leaders must be followed without question*
Most times the followers are afraid to ask questions and so the Legalistic Leader continues in their totalitarian rule with little trouble from their ineffective followers.
These followers find their strength in a flawed human, following blindly - with reality being that they are following an imitation of real strength.
Real vs Fake
With God's Word other people follow real Truth.
These people read and listen to what the God of the Bible says and they trust Him.
They trust Him, having faith in Him even when their own world crumbles in front of them.
Their faith in the one true God - not a faulty leader - is steady even through traumas and tears.
He always stays the same; He keeps His Word; He comforts the wounded and lifts their head.
These people draw ever closer to God - trusting Him more deeply as time goes by.
That is Real Strength.
Which do you desire?
Imitation or the Real Deal?
Saturday, July 31, 2021
The years go by so quickly now
Praising the LORD for His Provision
"For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother
and shall be joined to his wife,
and the two shall become one flesh."
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Thursday, July 29, 2021
Thankfulness
Psalm 118:22-24
..."The stone which the builders rejected
Has become the chief corner stone.
This is the Lord’s doing;
It is marvelous in our eyes.
This is the day which the Lord has made;
Let us rejoice and be glad in it."...
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Tuesday, July 27, 2021
Being a Crown
Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain,
But a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised.
An excellent wife is the crown of her husband
I want you to understand that Christ is the head of every man,
and the man is the head of a woman,
and God is the head of Christ.
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Sunday, July 25, 2021
Saturday, July 24, 2021
Friday, July 23, 2021
Lovingkindness and Truth
To You, O Lord, I lift up my soul.
O my God, in You I trust,
Do not let me be ashamed;
Do not let my enemies exult over me.
Indeed, none of those who wait for You
will be ashamed;
Those who deal treacherously
without cause will be ashamed.
Make me know Your ways, O Lord;
Teach me Your paths.
Lead me in Your truth and teach me,
For You are the God of my salvation;
For You I wait all the day.
Remember, O Lord, Your compassion
and Your lovingkindnesses,
For they have been from of old.
Do not remember the sins of my youth
or my transgressions;
According to Your lovingkindness remember me,
For Your goodness’ sake, O Lord.
Good and upright is the Lord;
Therefore He instructs sinners in the way.
He leads the humble in justice,
And He teaches the humble His way.
All the paths of the Lord are
lovingkindness and truth
To those who keep His covenant
and His testimonies.
For Your name’s sake, O Lord,
Pardon my iniquity, for it is great.
Who is the man who fears the Lord?
He will instruct him in the way he should choose.
His soul will abide in prosperity,
And his descendants will inherit the land.
The secret of the Lord is for those who fear Him,
And He will make them know His covenant.
My eyes are continually toward the Lord,
For He will pluck my feet out of the net.
Turn to me and be gracious to me,
For I am lonely and afflicted.
The troubles of my heart are enlarged;
Bring me out of my distresses.
Look upon my affliction and my trouble,
And forgive all my sins.
Look upon my enemies,
for they are many,
And they hate me with violent hatred.
Guard my soul and deliver me;
Do not let me be ashamed,
for I take refuge in You.
Let integrity and uprightness preserve me,
For I wait for You.
Redeem Israel, O God,
Out of all his troubles.
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Wednesday, July 21, 2021
The LORD comforts us so we can comfort others.
Gashed out where once the cruel storm had trod,
A barren, desolate chasm, reaching wide
Across the soft green sod.
But years crept by beneath the purple pines,
And veiled the scar with grass and moss once more,
And left it fairer now with flowers and vines
Then it had been before.
There was a wound once in a gentle heart,
From which life's sweetness seemed to ebb and die;
And love's confiding changed to bitter smart,
While slow, sad years went by.
Yet as they passed, unseen an angel stole
and laid a balm of healing on the pain,
Till love grew purer in the heart made whole,
And peace came back again.
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Tuesday, July 13, 2021
Monday, July 12, 2021
We Will Not Be Silenced
Men fight for liberty
and win it with hard knocks.
Their children,
brought up easy,
let it slip away again,
poor fools.
And their grandchildren
are once more slaves.
D.H. Lawrence,
cited by Erwin W. Lutzer,
We Will Not Be Silenced,pg.62
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Thursday, July 8, 2021
Wednesday, July 7, 2021
Friday, July 2, 2021
Obey God
Acts 5:29
...“We must obey God rather than men."...Galatians 2:20
..."I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me."...
Galatians 3:13-14
..."Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”— in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we would receive the promise of the Spirit through faith."...
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Thursday, July 1, 2021
What is True Freedom
..."Freedom from morality does not provide true freedom.
It only brings about another type of bondage.
It demands to be served and destroys all it touches.
The other choice is freedom in Christ, which delivers us from the bondage of sin."
..."Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions.
Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness.
For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace"...
Romans 6:12-14
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From Midwest Christian Outreach
Sunday, June 27, 2021
Oh, Death, where is your victory?
"Death leaves a Heartache
No one can heal.
Love leaves a memory
no one can steal."
--From an Irish Headstone
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1 Corinthians 15:55-58
...“Death is swallowed up in victory.
O death, where is your victory?
O death, where is your sting?”
The sting of death is sin,
and the power of sin is the law;
but thanks be to God,
who gives us the victory
through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Therefore, my beloved brethren,
be steadfast, immovable,
always abounding in the work of the Lord,
knowing that your toil
is not in vain in the Lord."
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Friday, June 25, 2021
Love Lifts!
..."Behold, children are a gift of the Lord,
The fruit of the womb is a reward.
Like arrows in the hand of a warrior,
So are the children of one’s youth"...
Proverbs 1:8-9
..."Hear, my son, your father’s instruction
And do not forsake your mother’s teaching;
Indeed, they are a graceful wreath to your head
And ornaments about your neck"...
Proverb 5:18b
..."rejoice in the wife of your youth"...
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Thursday, June 24, 2021
Wednesday, June 23, 2021
The True Comforter
John 14:26-27
..."the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you. Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful"...
Romans 8:26-27
..."In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; 27 and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God"...
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Monday, June 21, 2021
What a Friend We have in Jesus!
What a friend we have in Jesus,
All our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
Everything to God in prayer!
Oh, what peace we often forfeit,
Oh, what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry
Everything to God in prayer!
Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged—
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful,
Who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness;
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Are we weak and heavy-laden,
Cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge—
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Do thy friends despise, forsake thee?
Take it to the Lord in prayer!
In His arms He’ll take and shield thee,
Thou wilt find a solace there.
Blessed Savior, Thou hast promised
Thou wilt all our burdens bear;
May we ever, Lord, be bringing
All to Thee in earnest prayer.
Soon in glory bright, unclouded,
There will be no need for prayer—
Rapture, praise, and endless worship
Will be our sweet portion there.
-Scriven
Mark 8:35-36
..."For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it. For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul?"...
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Sunday, June 20, 2021
In her own hand
One of my favorite recipes from my mother:
Can you tell this recipe has been used for 45 years?
About ten years ago I covered it with contact paper to preserve it.
Another recipe from my Grandmother in my mother's hand:
This one I photo copied from a piece of paper I just found in my mother's hand writing, and so I replaced my greasy hand written one from 45 years ago. A treasure from two precious women in my life!
2 Timothy 3:14
"...But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it..."
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Saturday, June 19, 2021
Come let us reason together...
“Come now, and let us reason together,”
Says the Lord,
“Though your sins are as scarlet,
They will be as white as snow;
Though they are red like crimson,
They will be like wool.
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Precious Lamb of God, Messiah
Holy One
Jesus my redeemer
Name above all names
Precious Lamb of God, Messiah
Oh, for sinners slain
Thank you, oh my father
For giving us Your Son
And leaving Your Spirit
'Til the work on Earth is done
When I stand in Glory
I will see His face
And there I'll serve my King forever
In that Holy Place
Thank you, oh my father
For giving us Your Son
And leaving Your Spirit
'Til the work on Earth is done
There is a redeemer
Jesus, God's own Son
Precious Lamb of God, Messiah
Holy One
Thank you, oh my father
For giving us Your Son
And leaving Your Spirit
'Til the work on Earth is done
And leaving Your Spirit
'Til the work on Earth is done
--Greene
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Thursday, June 17, 2021
Tell your mother you love her
I recently spoke with two different ladies in their nineties who shared with me that they had been thinking a lot about their dear mothers. They longed to be able to talk with them again. Both said they so wished that had told her how much they appreciated her and loved her before she had died.
"But I can't do it now," they lamented.
I often think of my own precious mother. I loved her, I told her, I shared with her how I felt, just as these women probably did, but now I lament with them. I wish I could talk with her and love on her more.
Instead, we praised the LORD for our mothers, and look forward to seeing them again!
Both of these precious ladies love Jesus as their Savior so we spoke of seeing all of our mothers in glory!
Proverbs 1:7-9
"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge;
Fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Hear, my son, your father’s instruction
And do not forsake your mother’s teaching;
Indeed, they are a graceful wreath to your head
And ornaments about your neck."
Ephesians 6:2-3
"Honor your father and mother
(which is the first commandment with a promise),
so that it may be well with you,
and that you may live long on the earth."
Proverbs 31:25-29"
"Strength and dignity are her clothing,
And she smiles at the future.
She opens her mouth in wisdom,
And the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.
She looks well to the ways of her household,
And does not eat the bread of idleness.
Her children rise up and bless her;
Her husband also, and he praises her, saying:
“Many daughters have done nobly,
But you excel them all.”
by Rudyard Kipling
Light of Home
My son, thou wilt dream the world is fair,
and thou spirit will sigh to roam,
'And thou must go; but never, when there,
Forget the light of home!
by Sarah Josepha Hale
by Mary Engelbreit
Tuesday, June 8, 2021
There is a whole lot of love out there...
Someday...
"Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea.
And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband.
And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying,
“Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.”
And He who sits on the throne said,
“Behold, I am making all things new.”
And He *said,
“Write, for these words are faithful and true.”
Then He said to me,
“It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give to the one who thirsts from the spring of the water of life without cost. He who overcomes will inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be My son."...
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Wednesday, June 2, 2021
Divisions/Cults/Manipulations/Control
What a spectacular photo. When you notice the delineated line it really gives you reasons to ponder divisions.
Divisions: We live in a fallen world. A world which is full of divisions.
Of all the various divisions there is a main division which cuts families apart all through time.
The Divider is sin and exclusive groups like cults and cult-like people are the great dividers.
These people desire more followers to justify their own made-up rules of how life should be lived or just to control and manipulate others. Thus, they will do any thing devious to get their way with people.
To achieve their goals they do not care who they destroy, and in fact, relish their power to destroy and control others.
"For I want you to know how great a struggle I have on your behalf and for those who are at Laodicea, and for all those who have not personally seen my face, that their hearts may be encouraged, having been knit together in love, and attaining to all the wealth that comes from the full assurance of understanding, resulting in a true knowledge of God’s mystery, that is, Christ Himself, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
I say this so that no one will delude you with persuasive argument.
For even though I am absent in body, nevertheless I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good discipline and the stability of your faith in Christ.
Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude.
See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ.
For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority; and in Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, in the removal of the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ; having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised up with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.
When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions, having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.
When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him.
Therefore no one is to act as your judge in regard to food or drink or in respect to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day— things which are a mere shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ.
Let no one keep defrauding you of your prize by delighting in self-abasement and the worship of the angels, taking his stand on visions he has seen, inflated without cause by his fleshly mind, and not holding fast to the head, from whom the entire body, being supplied and held together by the joints and ligaments, grows with a growth which is from God.
If you have died with Christ to the elementary principles of the world, why, as if you were living in the world, do you submit yourself to decrees, such as,
“Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch!”
(which all refer to things destined to perish with use)—in accordance with the commandments and teachings of men?
These are matters which have, to be sure, the appearance of wisdom in self-made religion and self-abasement and severe treatment of the body, but are of no value against fleshly indulgence.
Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.
Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.
For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory..."
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