Wait!

Good Morning!! We live in a technologically advanced age of immediate satisfaction. From microwave meals to online bill payments, and from quick cash ATM machines to speedy checkout lanes in the local grocery store, we have become accustomed to instant results. Have you ever stopped to think that this may be the reason why it is so difficult for us to wait on the Lord to help solve our problems?

My soul, wait silently for God alone, For my expectation is from Him.—Psalm 62:5 (NKJV)

When facing life’s choices, whether they be difficult or not, it is too dangerous to choose the road that leads to the quickest solution. Waiting upon the Lord expresses dependence on Him and brings quietness to the soul. If you’re facing overwhelming problems or feel you are on the verge of a breakdown, remember that your heavenly Father “acts for the one who waits for Him” (Isaiah 64:4).

A quick fix, almost never leads to God's ultimate plan.

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Holy Spirit of God, teach us to wait, for the "better" that God has,...just for us. Amen.

" Faith does not mean the death of your old fun, old freedom, and old live,...Faith is the injection of REAL life into what you only Thought was life before."

Are You Living, Ready?

Good Morning!! Like a thief in the night, Christ will return someday, catching many unprepared. That's a big-picture view that we need to sit and think about,...but not for very long. Sooner, rather than later, it should affect how we live. Days, months, years, decades… your entire life could be swallowed up by the demanding moment-by-moment details of life, or sitting around thinking but doing nothing. Don't let that happen! These are unprecedented days, and they will not go on forever. Christ has shown us through the cross, and through His Word, how we are to live during these days: By grace! By trusting in Him to live through us. But I know some of you are still asking, "Yeah, yeah, yeah, but what are we supposed to do?"

May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.—1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 (NIV)

In short, because Jesus is coming back someday, we are to be helpful everyday. Paul gave us the specifics in 1 Thessalonians 5: 
And we urge you, brothers,
·         warn those who are idle,
·         encourage the timid,
·         help the weak,
·         be patient with everyone.
·         Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong,
·         but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else.
·         Be joyful always;
·         pray continually;
·         give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
·         Do not put out the Spirit's fire;
·         do not treat prophecies with contempt.
·         Test everything.
·         Hold on to the good.
·         Avoid every kind of evil…

Go ahead, cut-and-paste that into your day-timer. If you were wondering what to do today,...this should keep you occupied!
Review the list, and consider specific ways to live out a few of the items.

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Father God, we know that You are the One at work in us. By Your Spirit , through Your Word, we ask that You would speak to us clearly now. What specific things do You want to do through, and in us, to be helpful today? Lead us. Guide us. We pray and trust You do it all through us. Amen.

" Faith does not mean the death of your old fun, old freedom, and old live,...Faith is the injection of REAL life into what you only Thought was life before."

Don't Lose Hope

Good Morning!! Sometimes, I think we would be better off if we just shut the news off completely. Bad news sells, and we buy it by the truckloads. And the price we pay? If we don't keep things in a biblical perspective, it will cost us our hope, and faith. When Jesus left the earth the first time, He knew the generations of disciples to follow would have plenty of bad news to deal with. His advice?
"Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me… And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am."—John 14:1, 3 (NIV)
The promise of the second coming of Christ means that we have the opportunity to live lives of hope in the grace of God,...no matter how bad things look, or get. That's a powerful passage. It would be wise to be quiet right now, and just let those words of God speak for themselves. Savor those words, phrase by phrase, and let this living message massage your heart! Jesus is coming back, and therefore, we can live with unbridled hope,...that's the ultimate hope. And because the world is going south, His physical return is really the only hope left for the physical world.

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May that be where we place our hope today, and every day.

We are ready,...as long as we remain hopeful.

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 O' Lord, we place our hope in You today. Let the bad news come and go,...by faith, we stand in Your grace, excited about Your glory, embracing Your love which has filled our hearts through Your Spirit. We look forward to Your physical return and we thank You for the presence of Your Spirit in our spirits right now. Amen.

" Faith does not mean the death of your old fun, old freedom, and old live,...Faith is the injection of REAL life into what you only Thought was life before."

Age of Grace

Good Morning!! Even before the Bible was finished being written, people were skeptical about Christ’s return. Let's be honest, aren’t we all just a little bit skeptical? It's been almost 2000 years and none of us regularly check the skies to see if His return flight is coming in. Sometimes, we might be embarrassed to even admit that we believe it could happen. I mean, it just sounds a little crazy, doesn't it? Peter’s words to the believers of his day are just as relevant today as they were then. They are sober words, words that put it all in perspective:

Above all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. They will say, " Where is this 'coming' He promised? Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation."—2 Peter 3:3-4 (NIV)
Back in the day, Noah had been given plenty of warning, but everybody just kept on doing their own thing. Then came a wall of water, whoosh! Today, it's the same thing: Jesus has given plenty of warning, but the masses who don’t know Him go about their way indifferent or unaware that God will again intervene, this time a with judgment of fire. Plenty of believers are doing the same thing.

" We are living in the age of the church. It is an age of grace and an age of the spirit in which we have, by God's mercy and love, opportunity to proclaim to the world the good news about Jesus Christ." —Ron James

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 Father God, we thank You for Your patience. Now, give us patience. We don't want to be a skeptic,...we want to use these remaining days, be they very few or be they many,...to make an eternal difference. Give us Your heart for those who are perishing. Give us Your desire that they all come to repentance. Then live through us in a way that communicates to them Your tangible and very real love. Amen.
" He is rich indeed, who is satisfied with what he has."

Don't Just Look For Him, Prepare For Him

Good Morning!! The Bible alludes to the return of Christ at least 200 times. Trying to pin an exact date on His return is very difficult. Still, this seems to be an ongoing hobby among some Christians. Throughout the centuries, dozens of predictions have been made, and they all have one thing in common so far,...all were wrong. Jesus told the disciples about many of the "signs" that would be seen before He came again. Honestly, it looks like a lot of them are taking place around us here and now. We may have entered the season of the last days of the last days. But putting a date on His return? Jesus made one thing very clear:
"But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.—Matthew 24:36-39 (NIV)
My only real concern is that false and foolish predictions will have the same effect as the boy who cried "wolf ",...that people will became numb to the false warnings, and will be unprepared when the event actually does take place. Instead of fruitless predicting, Jesus calls us to "be on the alert" and make the most of the time we have left,...for things that matter most!

Why try to Predict the Day,...when you can Seize the Day!

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 Lord Jesus, please calm our minds. Stir up Your Spirit inside of our spirits, and let us truly ponder the implications of Your second coming. Check our priorities, Lord. Check our motives. Expose what we are trusting in, and living for today. Shift our trust back to You, and empower us to live by Your Spirit today, and every day. Amen.
" He is rich indeed, who is satisfied with what he has."

MOVE,...But Wait For Your Power

Good Morning!! I suppose that if I had been there, I would've just stood with my mouth open looking up, too. What would you have done if you had just seen Jesus ascended to heaven? One minute He is standing there with you, giving some sage instruction. The next minute, He is lifted into the skies. A couple of angels were there, but apparently they didn't capture the awe of the moment, because they asked one of the most outlandish questions I've ever heard: "Men of Galilee,' they said, "why do you stand here looking into the sky?"
" Men of Galilee," they said, " why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven."—Acts 1:11 (NIV)
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.—Acts 1:8-9 (NIV)
I guess angels are used to seeing people zip around in the air. The disciples?...Not so much. Thankfully, the angels didn't dwell on the disciples daze and got right to the point. In other words, the angels were saying; "Quit standing there like a bunch of baby birds waiting for a worm. Jesus came, He saw, He gave it all,...and He'll be back. What are you going to do now? " (Learn to wait on the Lord) As usual, the context of this event is critically important. Jesus had given them the next step just before He ascended. He promised to send the Holy Spirit, and He told them not to do anything until that had happened. The disciples returned to the upper room where they had been staying in Jerusalem, reflected on everything that had happened and all that Jesus had told them, and then, like a rushing noise from heaven, the Spirit of God came upon them, giving them everything they needed for the mission ahead.

The pattern is powerful. Jesus’ design is for us to live in dependence on His Spirit within us, as we live out the mission He has already prepared for each of us.

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 Lord Jesus,  we want to be a part of the great witness that is reaching the remotest parts of the earth. But right now, right here, we're trusting in the power of Your Spirit in us to lead us and empower us to do whatever it is that You have called us to do. We place our whole life in Your hands today, asking that You would live through us in any way that You choose. Amen.
" He is rich indeed, who is satisfied with what he has."

What Are You Feeding On?

Good Morning!! Imagine Eve back in the garden. She’s sitting there talking to the snake and she’s a little confused. The Father of Lies is creating doubt, he’s contradicted what the Father said to her, and yet, she reaches for the apple. Now, imagine what would have happened if she had pulled back her hand and said, “OK, you stay right there. I’ll be right back.” What if she had called out, “Daddy! Abba! Heavenly Father!” and sat down with Him to have a chat about what the snake had said. “You see that little snake over there? Here’s what he told me. What is truth and what is a lie?” If she had done that, do you think the story would have looked differently?
For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.—2 Corinthians 10:3-5 (NIV)
What does that mean? It means that we grab a suspicious thought and we say, “You’re coming with me.” We take it captive and we present it in front of Jesus and we say, “Jesus, I just had this thought. Is this a lie or is this Your truth?” And we pray, “Lord Jesus, open my eyes to Your Truth.” By His Spirit, He will start to reveal His truth to us as we also compare the thought to what we know from the written Truth of God in the Bible. Today, when a thought enters your mind, and as soon as you recognize that it might be a lie, take it captive to Jesus and say “Jesus, what do You think about this?” and then test it with what the Bible says is Truth. Consider any and all thought, that you are wrestling with right now,...now take it to Jesus.

" Nourish the mind as you would your body. The mind can’t survive on junk food, any better than the body can."

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 Lord Jesus, You are the Way, the Truth, the Light, and the Life. You know all things and Your Word is the test of all things. Search these thoughts we're bringing to You. Test them and show us if there is evil and lies within them. And then lead us in Your eternal, truthful way. We trust only in Your presence within us,...and Your Word to live out the truth and reject the lies today. Amen.
" He is rich indeed, who is satisfied with what he has."

What's Wrong With Us?

Good Morning!! Media experts tell us that our brains are bombarded with approximately 1,000,000,006 advertisements each day. Beyond that, our lives are filled with instant messages, text messages, email messages, and phone messages. With all this information headed our way, why would any believer in Christ ever listen to a message from the evil one?  Because the Father of Lies knows how to catch people like us. He even has a specific strategy to do it,..."a little at a time". Although not actually physical, the "power of sin", is like a tiny little parasite, that crawls into us and burrows its' self deep inside,...so deep we don’t even realize that it’s even there, doing damage. Eventually, its ravages begin to send pain messages to our hearts and brains, becoming increasingly difficult to bear. Eventually we begin thinking, "There’s something seriously wrong with my life,...with me."What shall we conclude then? Do we have any advantage? Not at all! For we have already made the charge that Jews and Gentiles alike are all under the power of sin. As it is written: "There is no one righteous, not even one".—Romans 5:8 (NIV)
When we become believers in Jesus Christ, we become a new creation in our spirit, and the Holy Spirit comes to live inside us. And yet, this parasite of sin still lies within us,...but it’s not us. When our mind receives a lie from the evil one, " the power of sin" will take that lie and twist it into our own language, and we will think it’s our thought,...it even feels like it is coming from us. But it’s not. Sin is an intruder, a poser, an imposter. Please get this: Satan’s strategy is to introduce his thoughts into your mind and deceive you into thinking they’re yours. We are righteous in Christ, not in ourselves.

The power of sin is still in us, but we don’t have to say "yes" to the power of sin anymore. When we know who we are in Christ and who He is in us, we can choose to say "no" for the first time.

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 Lord Jesus, teach us to know the truth about who You are in us. Today, by the power of Your Spirit and the truth of Your Word, enable us to identify the lies of the evil one that we've accepted as if they are coming from us. We don't want to be slaves to this power of sin. Free us to follow You through grace and truth. Amen.

" He is rich indeed, who is satisfied with what he has."

The Cross Of Christ

Good Morning, It's More Than Another Great Friday,....It's Good Friday, And Our Thoughts Center Around The Cross Of Christ!! At the cross Jesus commended His Mother to the disciple John, and John to His mother. He gave an invitation to life to a thief, while on the cross. This kind of concern shows the love that Jesus had,...to the bitter end. Jesus even prayed for those who placed Him on the cross. God's Love is supremely demonstrated around the Cross.
While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.—Romans 5:8 (NIV)
" Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing " (Luke 23:34). This prayer included the Jewish leaders, the Roman politicians, and the soldiers. What love, what wondrous love! A more unselfish prayer would be difficult to express. Seldom has such love been in evidence! He loved a sinner into heaven while hanging on the tree.

"How great is the love the Father has lavished on us,

....that we should be called children of God!"           

(1st John 3:1, NIV)

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  Because of Jesus, we don't need to be deceived any longer,...we are not under Satan's power or subject to his authority. We are in Christ,...above all demonic rule, authority or power. We are free. Praise God!!

" The problem with Christianity in America is that we want to control God,...instead of letting God control us."

Running On Empty

Good Morning!! How long can you continue to taking care of others, if you don't take some time to take care of yourself? "R and R" rest and relaxation, we all need it. Plan and organize a day of complete rest,...put some emotional distance between the need to unwind and avoid the crunch of pressures and the more familiar call to productivity. I sometimes make a mental image of nothing to do except lounge on the deck to read, write, meditate.

For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.—Hebrews 4: 11 (KJV)

Peaceful moments open the thought ways of blessings, allowing closeness to Christ. Yet Jesus' "rest " invitation doesn't seem to be the flat-on-your-back kind. The Master knows mankind is made for glorifying Him and the divine "R and R" is only for a while. Stepping back or standing to the side, provides a viewing place to see who is out there and what needs to be done. There are calls for food, medicine, relief from war. There is the need for the gospel message.

A temporary retreat, condition us for healthy spiritual energy to discover divine direction to fulfill God's call.

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" My friends, you can run this race well,

...but you cannot run it alone, or without rest."

" The problem with Christianity in America is that we want to control God,...instead of letting God control us."

What God Wants

Good Morning, My Friend!! We discover true happiness, when we put all our thoughts and work into pleasing God,...and fulfilling His desires for our lives. We must learn to surrender ALL our desires to God,...give them up, sacrifice them,  All our dreams must be place in His hands.

Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you, the desires of your heart.—Psalm 37:4 (NKJV)

His desires become our desires, and ours, His,...and what once appeared to be lost or given up, is not. God truly is what makes our dreams come true,...and it's in His will that our soul can and will find peace.

Surrender all your hopes, your dreams, and your desires for your life to God.

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All that we are,....all that we will be, is only because of the love, grace and mercy that God has shown to us. We Love You Lord! Amen.

" The problem with Christianity in America is that we want to control God,...instead of letting God control us."

The Heart

Good Morning, My Friend!! Could You Or Someone You Know, Be Suffering From Heart Disease?

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It spreads like a cancer attacking the heart until it chokes the very life out of it.  First small symptoms rear their head and are ignored,...but with each symptom the disease worsened and the more outward and obvious the symptoms become.  Until one day, there is no longer room for love, or compassion for others, your heart becomes self-seeking, self gratifying, and seemingly self sufficient.

A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.—Matthew 12:35 (KJV)

A persons response to life,...their morals,...their reactions, and actions reflect the condition of their heart. Where they have rejected God's offer of grace, the heart is dark and cold.  Where a heart has accepted the precious gift of grace, that heart is full of love, compassion, and has an appreciation for all life. I want you to know on this Good Friday ; that there is hope for those afflicted with this "disease of the heart."  There is a Divine Surgeon ( Jesus Christ ) who specializes, in such conditions of the heart.

Lord, I thank you,...both for the surgeries you have performed on my heart, and those yet to be done.

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Father in Heaven, I pray that you will touch those whose hearts are consumed with this disease, that is robbing them of Your Joy, Your Love, Your Compassion and Your Goodness.  In Jesus precious and Holy name I pray. Amen!

" Gods' divine love has only one target group,...the entire human race!"

Resurrection

Good Morning! Sunday morning the disciples were still locked away in hiding. The body of Jesus was still sealed securely in the tomb… or so they thought. At some point in the night or early morning, Almighty God the Father and God the Holy Spirit performed a miracle. Molecule by molecule they defied the natural laws. They were restructuring cell walls, purging toxins, replacing decayed biochemicals, expelling the microscopic scavengers… until the body was ready once again. And with a breath, the soul and Spirit of Christ came to earth again. Emmanuel again.

We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection. For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin— because anyone who has died has been freed from sin. Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him.—Romans 6:5-8 (NIV)


God in the flesh, alive, again! Supernatural? Yes, most definitely it was. God's business is supernatural,...re-creating, reversing decay and destruction, and giving new life. God's business is resurrection, and those who are in Christ are part of it,...right here, right now. This is all part of the incredible mystery of life "in Christ." It’s hard to explain… perhaps even impossible to describe, but when we see this resurrection in action, it's undeniable.

"Our Lord has written the promise of resurrection, not in books alone, but in every leaf in springtime." (Martin Luther)

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Lord, often this is just too amazing for our minds to absorb, but You are God, able to do far more than we could ever comprehend. By faith, Lord, we accept what You say to be true,...that our old selves were crucified, and that we have been raised with You,...for new life in You. Make this mystery a reality in all our lives today! Amen.

" Gods' divine love has only one target group,...the entire human race!"

Keep Cooking

Good Morning, You've Made It, It's Wednesday,....And It's All Downhill Now!! Our test will become our testimony. Had I not gone through the things that I've gone through,....would I still be the person I am now? Probably not. Had I not been hurt or not have hurt so many others, I might not recognize someone in pain, and be able to relate. Had I not been such a liar, I might not know the damage lies can cause. Had I not tried so many wrong ways to find happiness, would I now be able to show you a more excellent way?

Grain for bread is crushed, Indeed, he does not continue to thresh it forever.—Isaiah 28:28a (NASV)

The Bible is full of characters beaten and ground into bread that would feed the spiritual needs of God's people,...why should we be any exception. In your life there is something that has caused great pain,....a burden that seemed too heavy to bear. Isaiah is saying that our burdens can be, and often are, instruments that equip us to be a blessing.

" Because God is good, you can rest in the knowledge that He is working for good in every situation,...no matter what the circumstances are."

 (From Dream to Destiny, Robert Morris, p. 189)

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The vulnerability caused by our issues and injuries, help us to relate better to others going through similar situations.

" God is not only able to heal our hurts,...but the hurts we've caused."

Getting Real

Good Morning!! Just before the Last Supper, the night before His death, Jesus needed to make a point to His disciples: You need to be sacrificial servants. So He took out the cloth and the wash basin and washed the grimy feet of His followers. It was power and symbolic. A real attention getter: the "hay-maker" that made His lecture a knock out. Washing feet? Yes, it was the perfect conclusion  to the message that He was communicating to His often slow disciples.

Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one anothers' feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.—John 13:14-17 (NIV)
Sometimes that Christian "faith" seems too theoretical, and not nearly enough actual. Practical Christianity, has been put in a symbolic box,...particularly the things that require sacrifice and suffering. But again, Christ's suffering and our suffering are a shared experience. His sacrificial service to us, cost Him His life. Our sacrificial service to each other and the world, is also costly. But it's the real deal! And suffering as servants brings about a freedom because it's actually an extension of who we really are,...in Jesus.

Christ's actions weren’t just symbolic,...the foot washing was authentic, an extension of who Jesus really is

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O' Lord, we don't want to live in the theoretical. Jesus, we believe that we are in You, and that You are in us. Live through us today as sacrificial servants, in a practical way. May this be another experience that we can share together that will add unity to our relationship as we love the world together. Amen.

" God is not only able to heal our hurts,...but the hurts we've caused."

He Suffered, For Us

Good Morning!! The images in the movie "The Passion of Christ" stunned us all,...it show us in graphic detail, that the crucifixion was all too real,...that day in Jerusalem: real whips, real nails, scarlet blood, steaming sweat, bitter tears,...real suffering happened. After decades of dissecting the meaning of the Cross, some of us have become desensitized to the fact that the Son of God was tortured and murdered by men.

Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.—Isaiah 53:4-5 (NIV)
The writers of the Gospels don't go into the gory details of the Cross. They described His mode of torture and execution as quite a matter of fact. (Historians and Hollywood have willingly filled in the graphic descriptions.) Prior to the Cross, there is little to no indication, that Jesus knew the normal demands and limitations of the human body. We don’t have any indication that He got sick, but He may have. We do see Him being physically tired, but little hunger or thirst. After the Cross, we know that Jesus definitely understands physical suffering. Because of the suffering that He endured through His death on the Cross, we can know a peace that surpasses all comprehension, a joy in spite of our circumstances, and an intimacy with Him through that shared experience.

The important thing is that Jesus is here and Jesus cares,...but more importantly, He did something about it. 

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Lord Jesus, Isaiah predicted that You would carry our sorrows and take up our infirmities. So we leave them with You now. Thank You for the peace that was bought through Your punishment,...and the healing that we can know through Your wounds. We claim that now through faith in You. Amen.

" God is not only able to heal our hurts,...but the hurts we've caused."

Living In Light Of The Eternal

Good Morning!! God’s Word makes it pretty clear, that our bodies are only temporary. If you believe the prognosis given to you by the Great Physician, it will not only change your perspective on physical death and the fact that it is unavoidable,...it will change your life now. There is a very tangible sense of peace that comes with aligning your beliefs with what is true about the death and resurrection of your body. Stress and worry evaporate, in the presence of this type of true belief. There is a freedom, in this truth. There's no sense in denying it, or attempting to avoiding it: Our bodies will die. So why not live fearlessly? Why not live with focus? Why not live with fervor?

Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.—Psalm 23:4 (NIV)
If we only have one earthly life to live, why not push the envelope of our comfort zones, and allow Christ to live through us and lead us into worthwhile and demanding new endeavors? We can be sure that God will be with us and support us.

Here's a prime example of living in the shadow of death; " What's the worst that can happen to you?...You die,...What's the best that can happen to you?...You do something meaningful, before you die!”

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Father God, we want to use the short time we have to do what You plan for us! As we start to look outward for ways for You to live through us, give us Your eyes so we may see where we're meant to be. When we start crawling to fulfill Your plan, pick us up into a walk, and eventually a run,...that turns into a marathon towards Your glory. Overcome our fear and author our stories in radical ways. Amen.

" The Lord loves a cheerful giver,...until he brags about it."