ETERNITY

[Ranb2khz]

Fear in The Valley

“This is My command — be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” ~ Joshua 1:9

Fear is one of the long-term landlords in the valley of life. Actually, fear owns a little property in all three terrains. But it is the largest landowner in life’s valleys. The trials and tribulations of life are where we are most likely to experience fear.

Fear is arguably the strongest human emotion. Fear sometimes motivates us to avoid and sometimes to do. Fear is the emotion that demands action.

Like every circumstance, we should view an environment that elicits fear as an opportunity. Some of the greatest traits of humanity – courage, perseverance, and sacrifice - are impossible without fear. We overcome fear not by eliminating it but by persevering in spite of it.

In this verse, there is actually an embedded choice of whom or what to fear. Do we want our actions to be prioritized by fear of our circumstances? If we “tremble” or are “dismayed” we will likely also despair. We might surrender. But if our greater fear is disappointing God, missing out on the blessing He promises for our obedience, then the fear of the Lord can power us over fearful circumstances.

Scripture states plainly that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom (see Proverbs 9:10). Placing our fear of God above all other fears leads to the obedience of courage. God calls us to be faith superheroes that run toward, rather than away from the pitched battles of life. Living faithfully will bring conflict with the world. God calls us to courage in Him. Because He is with us, wherever we go.
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~ published by: Yellow Balloons

https://yellowballoons.net






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What's Really Important...

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowlege Him, and He will direct your paths.” ~ Proverbs 3:5-6

I recently heard from a man in his fifties. He said, "I've learned that the challenge of life is to find out what's important and to disregard everything else."

Not bad advice! It's really a shame to think about wasting your life on cotton candy, soda pop, television, and accumulating stuff while doing without what's really important. But so many folks actually live this way, totally missing out on the important things of life.

Missing the point can happen to dedicated and religious people, too. Jesus came down awfully hard on the people who spent a lot of time worrying about how to tithe tiny bits of spices but never bothered about the greater matters of the law: justice, mercy, love, and faith (Matthew 23:23).

I guess the question is, have you learned what really counts? Do you know how to disregard the other stuff?

God's Word is a pretty good guide in that search. So is seeking after the heart and wisdom of God! Only God can help us find the path to what's truly important!
________________

~ by Dr. Paul Faulkner

https://www.heartlight.org






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Refined Passions

“Flee from youthful passions, and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.” ~ 2 Timothy 2:22

The world has a clever scheme. It feeds the lusts of the flesh. A flaming arrow of the enemy. The goal is to lure us like moths to a flame. The Bible’s recommended response is "flee".

The trap is a scheme of half-truths and superficial substitutes for our true longings. It is a scheme of short cuts. Like Satan offered Jesus. "Bow down and worship me and I will give you the kingdoms of the earth. Why wait and suffer when you can have it now?"

The flesh sells the idea that we can gain great profits without making investments. We can eat our seed corn and still have a harvest. Jesus knew better. He separated from Satan and followed the road of obedience - a road that led to the true fulfillment of His destiny as the King.

The path of Jesus is the way of life. Paul urges us to flee lusts and pursue righteousness. The Lord calls us to put away superficial attempts to feed our deepest passions. Instead, we are to do the hard work of chasing righteousness.

When we exercise the difficult decision to walk in the obedience of faith, our reward is peace, love and the fruits of righteousness. And the seed of this great blessing begins with fleeing.
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~ published by: Yellow Balloons

https://yellowballoons.net






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The ostracization of Christians is picking up steam...

15 State Officials Warn Bank Of America About 'De-Banking' Of Christians:

A group of 15 financial officials from 13 states sent a notice to Bank of America, raising concerns about the institution’s “de-banking” of Christians.

“We write to express our concerns over Bank of America’s troubling track record of politicized de-banking. Bank of America’s de-banking policies and practices threaten the company’s financial health, its reputation with customers, our nation’s economy, and the civil liberties of everyday Americans,” the officials wrote in an April 18 letter to Bank of America CEO Brian Moynihan.

“We are especially troubled by Bank of America’s track record of discriminating against religious ministries. Notable examples include Memphis-based charity Indigenous Advance Ministries, the Timothy Two Project, and Christian author and speaker Lance Wallnau.”

In April 2023, Bank of America shut down the account of Indigenous Advance Ministries, which partners with groups in the African nation of Uganda to provide care and education for orphaned and at-risk children. The bank closed accounts of a Memphis church which donated to the organization.

Bank of America provided “vague reasons” for the closure of these accounts, claiming the organization’s activities exceeded the institution’s “risk tolerance” and that it no longer wanted to serve its “business type.”

“Months later — after being confronted by an international media organization — the bank then claimed that it closed the accounts because the for-profit business engaged in ‘debt collection.’ Neither Indigenous Advance Ministries nor the church collect debts, nor was the bank able to point to any policy prohibiting account holders from engaging in such activities,” the letter said.

“In other words that rationale was a ruse, and even if legitimate, would only apply to one of the closed accounts.”

In 2020, the bank closed the account of Timothy Two Project International, which trains pastors in more than 65 nations. In a letter to the group, the bank claimed the closure was due to Timothy Two operating “a business type we have chosen not to service.”

The financial institution also froze the accounts of author Mr. Wallnau, alleging he was suspected of money laundering. However, the bank failed to provide any evidence supporting such accusations.

While the bank eventually unfroze the account, they required Mr. Wallnau to answer a series of invasive questions.

“This pattern of religious de-banking strongly suggests that systemic drivers of religious and political bias may be at work within Bank of America,” the letter said.

“One objective indicator of such a problem is the bank’s egregiously low score on the Viewpoint Diversity Score Business Index, the premier benchmark for measuring corporate respect for free speech and religious freedom. Bank of America scored a meager 8 percent out of a possible 100 percent.”

The letter pointed out that Bank of America’s vague terms of service allow them to deny services for political or religious views. For instance, the company’s policy says it can refuse services to clients deemed to “promote intolerance … or hate.”

This policy can be weaponized by the bank against clients who express certain views, which are protected by the First Amendment, the officials wrote.

“Bank of America funds and partners with anti-free speech organizations like the Human Rights Campaign and the Center for American Progress while preventing employees from giving to faith-based groups in their employee gift match program.”

Bank of America, being the second largest bank in the nation and a recipient of a host of government subsidies, is obligated to ensure equal access to marketplace for all Americans and “not play politics,” officials wrote.

The letter was written by officials from Alabama, Arizona, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nebraska, Nevada, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, and Utah.

They demanded that the institution implement certain recommendations, including eliminating “existing viewpoint discriminatory terms” governing customers, updating its terms of service to include a commitment to not discriminate on the basis of religion or politics, and taking part in a survey to assess how the bank’s policies impact the civil liberties of its customers.

The Epoch Times reached out to the bank for comment.

De-banking of Conservatives:

The issue of de-banking conservatives has been a hot topic in recent years. A November 2022 statement signed by 60 financial professionals alleged that banks like JP Morgan Chase, Wells Fargo, Capital One, and Morgan Stanley were engaged in political or religious discrimination.

“JP Morgan Chase refused to process payments for a GOP-aligned organization,” it said.

In addition, the bank “shuttered the National Committee for Religious Freedom’s account without explanation, demanding that the nonprofit disclose its donors and provide a list of the political candidates it intends to support as a condition of resuming service.”

Meanwhile, Morgan Stanley refused to do business with organizations that raised “significant human rights, environmental, health, and safety or social responsibility issues.”

Similarly, credit behemoth Visa mandated that merchants do not use its services in any manner deemed “hateful.”

“What these vague, unspecified terms mean in practice is subject to the arbitrary interpretation of each of your companies, or any one of thousands of employees charged with enforcing them,” the statement said.

“Policies like these place customers and clients at risk of being ‘debanked’ simply because a company employee disagrees with their point of view on any number of contentious social issues.”

Meanwhile, states are taking action to end financial discrimination against conservatives by the banking industry.

Iowa earlier this year introduced Senate Study Bill 3094, which bans financial institutions from discriminating against customers using a “social credit score.”

The bill defines “social credit score” as any evaluation of a person’s “speech, religious exercise, association, expression, or conduct protected by the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States.”

If a financial institution is found violating the law, the attorney general can bring a civil action against the institution. A court can order the institution to pay damages, restitution, or other compensation.

In February, State Rep. Jason Zachary (R-Tenn.) introduced a similar bill in Tennessee. “This legislation prohibits the 20 largest banks in our country from denying financial services to any Tennessean based on political speech, religious belief, or a social credit score,” he said at a state House Banking and Consumer Affairs Committee hearing.

https://www.zerohedge.com/political/15-state-officials-warn-bank-america-about-de-banking-christians






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[tenac]

This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.
Psalm 118:24

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God of all my days

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Let us not forget...GOD...created the heavens and the earth and every living thing on it...God...our living and loving God...the One and only God...the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob...the great "I AM"...He is sovereign...He is in complete control. He is holding the balance of the universe in His hands. He gives us our every breath and heartbeat. Everything that happens...outside our own free will...is sent by God...or...he allows it. Nothing takes Him by surprise. Nothing is beyond His reach and control and nothing takes priority over Him! He has promised to never leave or forsake us. He loves His children with a love that we truly cant understand the breadth, length, depth, and height of it. And God really does want the best for us according to His awesome perfect will while we are living here on planet earth. And...He has also prepared a place for us that everything is going to be perfect with our home in heaven one day. So on this beautiful Wednesday morning i ask you...where is your faith and trust...is it in God "all the time"...or...just "now and then"? Do you really believe that God always has a perfect plan and purpose and do you believe this awesome promise from Romans 8:28..."And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose".....Do have a awesome and blessed day and remember...if you are a born-again believer...the war has already been won and the victory is ours!...thank you Jesus!

I Have No Regrets About My Past...My Past Is Who I Am Today...Born Again!
Rick j Sane

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Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
Joshua 1:9

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And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you.
Psalm 9:10

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For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.
Jeremiah 29:11

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You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.
Isaiah 26:3

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And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
Romans 8:28

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Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.
Proverbs 3:5

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Speaking Agape

“I give you a new command: Love one another. Just as I have loved you, you must also love one another. By this all people will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” ~ John 13: 34-35

In the early 60s, Brother Andrew, a man from Holland, smuggled a load of Bibles in his VW across the Romanian border and past communist guards. He checked into a hotel and began praying that God would lead him to the right Christian groups - the ones who could best use his copies of the Scriptures.

That weekend Andrew walked up to the hotel clerk and asked where he might find a church. The clerk looked at him a little strangely and answered, "We don't have many of those you know. Besides you couldn't understand the language." "Didn't you know?" Andrew replied, "Christians speak a kind of universal language." "Oh, what's that?", asked the clerk. "It's called Agape." The clerk had never heard of it, but Andrew assured him. "It's the most beautiful language in the world."

Andrew was able to locate several church groups in the area and managed to arrange a meeting with the president and secretary of a certain denomination. Unfortunately, although both Andrew and these men knew several European languages, they found they had none in common. So there they sat staring at each other across the room.

Andrew had traveled thousands of dangerous miles with his precious cargo but there seemed no way of telling whether these men were genuine Christian brothers or government informants.

Finally, he spotted a Romanian Bible on a desk in the office. Andrew reached into his pocket and pulled out a Dutch Bible. He turned to 1 Corinthians 16:20 and held the Bible out, pointing to the name of the book, which they could recognize. Instantly their faces lit up.

They quickly found the same chapter and verse in their Romanian Bibles and read: "All the brothers here send you greetings. Greet one another with a holy kiss."

The men beamed back at Andrew. Then one of them looked throughout his Bible and found Proverbs 25:25. Andrew found the verse and read: "Like cold water to a weary soul is good news from a distant land." These men spent half an hour conversing and sharing - just through the words of Scripture. They were so happy in this fellowship that crossed all cultural boundaries that they laughed until tears came to their eyes. Andrew knew he had found his brothers. When he showed them his load of Bibles, the Romanians were overwhelmed and embraced him again and again.

That evening at the hotel, the clerk approached Andrew and remarked, "Say, I looked up 'agape' in the dictionary. There's no language by that name. That's just a Greek word for love." Andrew replied, "That's it. I was speaking in it all afternoon."
_______________

~ published by: The Daily Encourager







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[tenac]

Good morning folks....i posted this on another board this morning to a good reply to a post concerning all the negativity in the world and a good MANY folks. For me....i dont watch the news or read newspapers for a good many years now....i just dont need all that junk flooding my head and heart day in and day out. NOW...im not ignorant to whats going on in the world....i read the top headlines when i log on to my Yahoo account to start my Jesus time in the morning....i just dont click on them to read the details....but...thats just me. Anyway....im reposting that post here with maybe some insight for some to think about...then...maybe its just another mans opinion and you might think hogwash!

Good morning __________....and...Amen! As we know...Belief and FAITH in Jesus is what our walk with Jesus is all about. Putting our faith and trust in Sovereign God....and.... as we know..."Sovereign" God....He has supreme authority and complete control and power over EVERYTHING! Nothing happens unless God sends it...allows it...Gives satan permission to have at it. Nothing slips by God and His love.... and yes...wrath to humans. I totally believe that EVERYTHING that is going on in the world today is exactly what is suppose to be going on...according to my Bible....Bible prophesy....leading us to the Rapture....Tribulation....Millennium...End Times.
And....we need to remember...that static's tells us....that maybe only 20% of the 340 million people living in the USA are saved....and let us remember...there is a big difference in calling ones self a christian and actually being born-again...and only 5% of the 7.6 billion people living on planet earth are saved.....That in my mind explains a lot....SIN!

“Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.....Matthew 7:13-14

And...lets look at this from another angle...so to speak....And hear me...i totally get that there are a lot of messed up stuff going on in the USA and world...just like there has always been... and we dont turn a blind eye to it but we pray for God to intervene....

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

Is there anything in our tool belt...so to speak....more powerful than prayer? I say no.
Now again...let me say...we do not turn a blind eye to it all....we stay on guard of the wolves in sheep clothing...and we take a stand for good against evil in JESUS NAME....but.....we have those 7 pesky versed in Romans 13....

Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God's wrath on the wrongdoer. Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God's wrath but also for the sake of conscience. For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing. Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.
Romans 13: 1-7

God has seen to it that leaders are appointed by HIM...yes...even God allowed All the wicked Kings of Bible times to lead...in recent times God allowed Adolf Hitler....Saddam Hussein....Osama Bin Laden....ect....to rule...and...all the USA presidents to serve in office when they did...i mean...God did create all of them knowing full well what they were going to do...and not do....because all of it....unknown to us....

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways... Isaiah 55:8-9.

It all Served Gods perfect plan and purpose leading us thru Bible prophesy to the Rapture....Tribulation....Millennium...End Times.

And God sometimes turns people and nations over to themselves for all their wrong doings and Hard-heartedness....i mean...the United State could have already been turned over to itself by God from the 70 million babies murdered by abortion from 1973 to present.....i dont know!

So....My complete Faith and Trust is in Jesus and i have zero doubt that He is in complete control of everything all the time....as we often say....nothing surprised God...He saw it coming 50 trillion years ago and beyond and created us anyway...Omnipresent, Omnipotent, Omniscient....in my heart and mind....our calling is not to change and save the world...our calling is to see lost souls saved....to tell folks about JESUS!

God has got this just like He always has....
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever... Hebrews 13:8

Let us remember....The Great Commission....

Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Matthew 28:16-20

Have a awesome and blessed day in Jesus!

I Have No Regrets About My Past...My Past Is Who I Am Today...Born Again!
Rick j Sane

[Ranb2khz]

Thank You Father

Dear God:

I want to thank You for what You have already done.

I am not going to wait until I see results or receive rewards; I am thanking You right now.

I am not going to wait until I feel better or things look better; I am thanking You right now.

I am not going to wait until people say they are sorry or until they stop talking about me; I am thanking You right now.

I am not going to wait until the pain in my body disappears; I am thanking You right now.

I am not going to wait until my financial situation improves; I am going to thank You right now.

I am not going to wait until the children are asleep and the house is quiet; I am going to thank You right now.

I am not going to wait until I get promoted at work or until I get the job; I am going to thank You right now.

I am not going to wait until I understand every experience in my life that has caused me pain or grief; I am going to thank You right now.

I am not going to wait until the journey gets easier or the challenges are removed; I am thanking You right now.

I am thanking You because I am alive.

I am thanking You because I made it through the day's difficulties.

I am thanking You because I have walked around the obstacles.

I am thanking You because I have the ability and the opportunity to do more and do better.

I'm thanking You Father, because You haven't given up on me.

"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” ~ Philippians 4:13
__________________

~ published by: The Daily Encourager

To receive The Daily Encourager FREE each weekday, click on the following link: http://go.netatlantic.com/read/all_forums/subscribe?name=thedailyencourager






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[Ranb2khz]

Track Layer

“For we are His creation, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time so that we should walk in them.” ~ Ephesians 2:10

We have a race marked out for us. A journey prepared beforehand to which we've been called. An adventure that's been laid upon us, a path for good works. We have a job to do, a special assignment.

In the adventure of life, Jesus is the tracklayer. He lays out the path. He guides us through the twists and the turns. He fires the starter's pistol to get us out of the blocks and run the race. He is also the judge that pulls the tape to let us know we’ve finished.

Along the way we have jobs to do. People to touch. Stewardship to embrace. Responsibilities to discharge. Service to render.

The only way we even begin to fulfill this divine calling is because we are given the strength to perform great deeds by God’s grace. This is what we were made to do. He's already prepared the way. What remains is for us to choose to follow the path he has forged.

How do we know we are walking in the path God prepared?

Certainly not by our circumstances - that's just terrain. We walk in Jesus’ way when we engage with whatever circumstances we have with faithfulness. When we walk in obedience to the chances we've been given.

Let's not look for opportunity to serve. Let's serve with the opportunities we have. That's our divine occupation.
________________

~ published by: Yellow Balloons

https://yellowballoons.net






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[Ranb2khz]

The Truth About Salvation

"Then he brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, along with everyone in your household.” And they shared the Word of the Lord with him and with all who lived in his household." ~ Acts 16:30-32

Do you ever wonder if faith in Jesus is really the only way to be saved?

Satan is a crafty liar who will twist God’s Word to cause confusion. In order to steer people away from following Christ, he tries to create the impression that eventually everyone will make it to heaven. But that is not what Scripture teaches.

The truth is, we can choose to reject the salvation that Jesus Christ freely offers. John’s gospel tells us:

“For God did not send His Son into the world that He might condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. Anyone who believes in Him is not condemned, but anyone who does not believe is already condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the One and Only Son of God.” ~ John 3:17-18

The Word of God clearly states that whoever believes in Jesus will be saved:

"For God loved the world in this way: He gave His One and Only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life." ~ John 3:16

The Bible also stresses that we make this choice during our earthly life — there will be no further opportunities once we die.

So, if you would like to be sure of your salvation, you can do so by inviting Jesus to be your personal Savior. God, who wants you to spend eternity with Him, offers compelling reasons to make this all-important decision:

“The one who believes in the Son has eternal life, but those that refuse to believe in the Son will not see life; instead, the wrath of God remains on them.” ~ John 3:36

There are no more chances to place faith in the Savior after death. The free gift of salvation is available only in this life — and only through Jesus:

"Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me." ~ John 14:6

Receive Him now, and you will never have to wonder what awaits you in eternity.
_______________

~ published by: In Touch Ministries






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[tenac]

If you dont have a personal relationship with Jesus. Im going to give you the opportunity to do that right here right now. If you will pray this prayer...not only from your mouth but also your heart...and mean it like nothing you have ever spoken before. Jesus will come into your life and heart and save you. You will be born-again!

Lord Jesus, Im like everyone else...i cant make it through life on my own. Im imperfect. Im prone to sin. I have come to realize that theres nothing in the world I can do to make myself acceptable to You. But I know that You have loved me so much that You were willing to die on my behalf. That's a grace so amazing I cannot understand it...i can only accept it. And i do. Please forgive my sins and i accept Your free gift of Salvation... and I know that from this moment on... i am saved...i am a child of God. And i give the rest of my life to serving You and experiencing the joy that only You can offer. Fill me now with your Holy Spirit dear Lord...and raise me to walk in the newness of life. I thank You and praise You!
Amen.

If you just prayed this prayer and meant it...you are now born-again and have a home in heaven! Go tell the world and if you dont already have a church family...please find one...And if you would like to talk...send me a private message....i will give you a call....

I Have No Regrets About My Past...My Past Is Who I Am Today...Born Again!
Rick j Sane

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Come To Jesus... Chris Rice

[tenac]

Up until the age of 40...ole Rick Sane...lived life his way. During the last 25 years of that span...he put enough drugs and alcohol in his body to kill a great deal of Coxes army. He never went to church...never read the Bible...never prayed. He cussed often and often took the Lords name in vain and mocked God and laughed about seeing folks in hell one day. His main focus in life was getting high and all the insanity that goes with that lifestyle. In jail a few times....overdosed on drugs twice...alcohol poisoning to some degree several times...in his twisted mind he somehow thought he was indestructible. He kept a job traveling the country working construction...deep down in there somewhere he was kinda sorta a pretty good person raised a farm boy whos family were born-again believers...but for whatever reason he had become one of satans right hand men...in the crazy life he lived. Now...Rick had this friend...we will call him Jim...and Jim was kinda sorta a model citizen. Jim did not drink or use drugs. He held a job and was also a volunteer fireman. Coached his sons little league baseball team. He didnt cuss and was always helping in charity events thru the Ruritan club that he was a member of. Jim went to church...read his Bible once in awhile and sometimes prayed and tithed his money. In most ways...Rick and Jim were complete opposites. The thing is...in the most important way...they were just alike. And that being...both Rick and Jim had never repented of their sins...never ask God for forgiveness of their sins...neither were saved...born-again. If Rick and Jim had both been in the same car and had a bad wreck and both had died...they both would have gone to hell. You see folks...it dont matter what kind of life we live...wicked like Rick or pretty dad burn good like Jim...unless we surrender our life to God...we have a personal relationship with Jesus...we are filled with the Holy Spirit upon the day of salvation...we are going to split hell wide open. We cant buy our way...we cant do enough good stuff or be good enough...there is nothing we can do to earn our way to heaven outside of a personal relationship with Jesus. Salvation is all about what Jesus did on the cross...He paid our sin debt in full. So...do you have that? Remember...there are no do-overs...when we step foot into eternity the stage is set...heaven or hell...where are you headed?

I Have No Regrets About My Past...My Past Is Who I Am Today...Born Again!
Rick j Sane

[tenac]

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,
Ephesians 2:8

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If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
1 John 1:9

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For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
Romans 10:13

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Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
Romans 10:9

[tenac]

Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
John 14:6

[Ranb2khz]

The Daily Article — April 19, 2024

Israel conducted a strike in Iran early this morning in what appears to be its first military response to Iran’s unprecedented attack on Israel last weekend.

Fars news agency, which is affiliated with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, reported that explosions were heard in the city of Isfahan in central Iran near an air force base. Iranian state TV also reported that several drones were shot down by air defenses in the city.

The limited scale of the attack and Iran’s muted response both seem to signal a successful effort by diplomats working to avert all-out war after Iran’s drone and missile attack on Israel last Saturday. Tehran is playing down the incident and indicates it has no plans to respond. In fact, they referred to the incident as an attack by “infiltrators” rather than by Israel, obviating the need for retaliation.

According to Israeli officials, their leaders came close to ordering widespread strikes in Iran on the night Iran attacked. However, after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke to American President Joe Biden, and because the damage was limited, the war cabinet postponed a decision.

Rather than launching a response that would intensify the conflict with Iran, Israel chose a limited action aimed at military targets. Its response was reportedly intended to show Iran that Israel can strike within its borders, but without provoking a larger escalation. In turn, Iranian state-run media sought to minimize the incident, airing footage of an otherwise peaceful Isfahan morning.

“As long as Iran continues to deny the attack and deflect attention from it and no further hits are seen, there is space for both sides to climb down the escalation ladder for now,” according to Sanam Vakil, the director of the Middle East and North Africa program at Chatham House.

We can be grateful that leaders in Israel and Iran have apparently chosen the path of de-escalation, since an all-out war between their nations would affect the world in a number of dire ways:

• Oil supplies would be threatened, sending oil prices skyward and damaging the global economy.
• A conflict could trigger a sell-off in the global stock market, with oil-based sectors such as automobiles, transportation, and aviation taking the greatest hit.
• Such a war would likely bring Hezbollah more fully into the conflict, threatening all of Israel with its rocket and missile systems and formidable ground forces.
• And Iran could develop nuclear weapons, a step it has avoided thus far through fear of military escalation with Israel and the US.

However, we should not interpret the motives of Iranian and Israeli leaders so altruistically.

In his perceptive book "Why Politics Fails", Oxford professor Ben Ansell writes:

"The basic model underlying political economy is that everyone is selfish, or at the very least self-interested. You have a set of things that you want, and you’ll do your utmost to get them. Self-interest is everywhere. It explains why we do what we do. And why we should expect others to do that as well."

This is why, as British Prime Minister Henry John Temple stated in the mid-1800s:

“Nations do not have permanent friends or enemies, only interests.”

His sentiment was echoed most famously by former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, but it applies to all nations across all of history:

"Leaders in democracies are elected to advance the interests of the people they serve. However, it is in their self-interest to do so effectively enough to be reelected. Leaders in autocracies typically act to their personal benefit. In both cases, if we can determine what is in their self-interest, we can typically predict their behavior."

It is in Israel’s self-interest not to escalate conflict directly with Iran while it confronts the existential threat of Hamas in Gaza along with Hezbollah on its northern border, militias in Syria and Iraq, jihadists in the West Bank, and the Houthis in Yemen. It is in Iran’s self-interest to wage its war with Israel through proxies rather than in ways that directly endanger its military and economy.

Thus, the long-running “shadow war” between the two nations has apparently returned to its previous status quo — at least for now.

How to discover if you are a servant:

There is only one way to escape the “will to power” by which we strive to be our own god (Genesis 3:5), and that is to experience the transformation by which God’s Spirit remakes us in the image of God’s Son so that we manifest the character of the God who “is” love (1 John 4:8). The “fruit” of this Spirit in our lives is “love,” translating the Greek agape, which refers to the unconditional, self-sacrificial commitment to put the other person first (Galatians 5:22).

When we submit our lives every day to the Spirit (Ephesians 5:18), He enables us to “love your neighbor as yourself” (Mark 12:31). He empowers us to “love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (Matthew 5:44). With His help, we can break the cycle of retribution by forgiving as we have been forgiven and loving as we are loved.

Today’s news highlights the binary choice I discussed yesterday: to treat people as instrumentally valuable to the degree that they are means to our ends, or to treat them as intrinsically valuable as sacred bearers of the imago Dei (Genesis 1:27).

The former perpetuates the wars between nations and conflicts between people that have blighted humanity across our history. The latter is the path to God’s best for ourselves and our world as we emulate the One who “came not to be served but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:28).

To discover if you are truly a servant, see how you respond the next time someone treats you like one.
_______________

~ published by: Denison Ministries

https://www.denisonforum.org/daily-article/israel-retaliates-against-iran/






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[Ranb2khz]

Soil Matters

~ Are you ready to hear from God?

Scripture Reading: Matthew 13:1-9

When teaching the crowds, the Lord often used parables, which were hard to understand in the moment. Yet now that we have the full revelation of God, these short stories serve as wonderful examples of what it means to live a life of faith.

One parable Jesus told was about a farmer planting seeds that fell in different places: on a path, in shallow soil, among thorns, and on fertile ground. He ended the story with, “The ones who have ears, let them hear” (Matthew 13:9). Afterward, the disciples asked Jesus why He chose to teach this way, and He explained that not everyone was willing to hear spiritual truth. But He told the Twelve, “Blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear” (Matthew 13:16). As believers, we are blessed in the same way.

However, learning how to listen to (and act upon) what we hear from the Lord takes time and practice; it’s not a process one can rush through. The fertile soil that Jesus mentions in verse 8 is a heart prepared to hear and respond to His Word (Matthew 13:23). By spending time in prayer and scriptural meditation, we can “rid ourselves of every obstacle and the sin which so easily entangles us” (Hebrews 12:1). In that way, we can become even better, more attuned listeners.

What is one thing you can do today to prepare your heart to receive God’s Word?
________________

~ published by: In Touch Ministries

https://www.intouch.org/read/daily-devotions/soil-matters






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[Ranb2khz]

The Daily Article — April 18, 2024

The comedian and abortion advocate Bill Maher made headlines this week when he admitted that abortion “kind of is” murder. Then he stated, “I’m just okay with that. I am. I mean there’s eight billion people in the world. I’m sorry, we won’t miss you. That’s my position on it.”

Maher’s honesty exposes the deepest fault line in American culture. It is not between Democrats and Republicans, or between believers and secularists, or between any other two commonly identified demographics. It is between those who consider life to be inherently sacred and those who consider it to be an instrumental means to other ends.

The latter would likely not describe their position as I have. But as I’ll explain today, this is in fact how they view their fellow humans, with implications that touch every dimension of our existence from conception to death.

There is no more urgent battle for the minds of Americans than this.
________________

On April 1, an Israeli military strike on a building adjacent to the Iranian embassy in Damascus, Syria, killed senior Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps leaders responsible for Iran’s terrorist activities against Israel in Lebanon and Syria. This is how wars are typically fought — by one nation’s military against its opponent’s military.

In response, Iran targeted not a few military leaders but the nation they serve.

Hamas terrorizes civilians as well, both Palestinian and Israeli. They stole a billion dollars intended for aid to Palestinian civilians and used it to build military tunnels that shelter no Palestinian civilians. Then they attacked Israel in a way they knew would provoke a response by the IDF but took no steps to protect the civilians they supposedly serve or even to warn them.

According to the independent Lancet Commission, Hamas’s actions on October 7 “constitute crimes against humanity including genocide.” By contrast, according to America’s defense secretary, the US has seen no evidence that Israel has committed genocide in its response.

Israel does not seek to kill Arabs; in fact, 20 percent of its nation is comprised of Arab civilians. But Hamas seeks the “annihilation” of the Jews, whom they consider to be “apes and pigs” (Qur’an 5:60). The difference between the two is simple:

If Hamas were to lay down its weapons, not another Palestinian civilian would be endangered. If the IDF were to lay down its weapons, every Israeli civilian would be endangered.
________________

This choice between human life as intrinsically or instrumentally valuable touches every aspect of our society.

The view of human life as only instrumentally valuable is what enables Hamas and Iran to murder Jews as a means of advancing their version of Islam. It is what empowers racists, enslavers, pornographers, adulterers, sex traffickers, and abortion and euthanasia providers.

In fact, this issue goes to the very heart of our democratic experiment.

There is a reason America’s Founders embraced the declaration that “all men are created equal” at the risk of their lives. They knew the alternative: a class-driven society in which monarchs and despots rule their subjects. This is precisely what they sought independence from as they birthed what Abraham Lincoln would later call “government of the people, by the people, for the people.”

This is a binary choice: our leaders serve us as their co-equals, or we serve them as our superiors.

If we no longer believe that our governmental institutions can be trusted to serve us, that our votes count and our elected officials will do what we elect them to do, and that our courts will administer justice fairly to all citizens, our democracy is imperiled.

Sharing our faith through our works and words is vital to the future of our nation. The “will to power,” the drive to be our own god (Genesis 3:5), lives within each fallen soul. It takes the transforming work of the Spirit in a life given to Christ to birth in us that unconditional love for others which is so vital to our consensual democracy (Galatians 5:22).

Stated succinctly: “We love because God first loved us” (1 John 4:19).

When we experience life as God’s Beloved, we are empowered to love as we are loved. We see every person we meet as someone for whom our Savior died. We know that they will spend eternity either with our Father in His paradise or separated from Him in hell.

David Jeremiah was right: “If we understand what lies ahead for those who do not know Christ, there will be a sense of urgency in our witness.”

The key is simple but transforming: when we yield our lives to God’s Spirit today (Ephesians 5:18-21), He will manifest the character of Christ through us (Romans 8:29). Our words will be anointed and empowered by Him (Luke 12:12). And we will be “filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God” (Philippians 1:11).

The great Scottish revivalist Duncan Campbell observed:

“It is the signature of the Holy Ghost upon our work and witness that makes all the difference.”

How obvious is His “signature” in your life today?
________________

~ published by: Denison Ministries

https://www.denisonforum.org/daily-article/bill-maher-says-abortion-kind-of-is-murder/






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[Ranb2khz]

A Season of Hope

“Through Him [Christ Jesus] we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.” ~ Romans 5:2-5

The roller coaster is a ride of anticipation. Hope boils as we wait in long, winding lines for the adventure of a two-minute ride. Once we’re on the coaster, it starts with the slow ascent, the track clicking along the way. From the moment it reaches the apex and plummets down until the end of the ride, it is all about hope. The surprise joy of the next turn.

The same is true for our “two-minute ride” on this earth. Our lives are brief. James calls it a “wisp of vapor”. Along the way, the twists and turns can be terrifying. The waits can be excruciating. The joys overwhelming.

No matter what is happening to us, it is shaping us for the next season. The next turn. The next rise or dip. It is preparing us for the next chapter. For our existence is eternal. And that eternity is shaped by what we do during this “wisp of vapor”, our two-minute ride on Earth.

Somewhat ironically, this perspective of hope is the best way to enjoy our present. Life is infused with anticipation. Things are not just randomly happening to us. There is a story at play. The track is connected. Someway. Somehow. Living in the moment requires the paradox of hoping for what is to come. Such is the nature of imperfection.

Perspective is our opportunity to harness anticipation, to see beyond ourselves, and to be filled with that most important of human qualities – hope. Life is hard and sometimes the dips can be painful. Sometimes the speed freezes us. And sometimes the joy comes bursting out. All of it is life. All of it is a call to true perspective.

All of it is hope.
______________

~ published by: Yellow Balloons

https://yellowballoons.net






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[Ranb2khz]

Taking Courage

“When they saw Him [Jesus] walking on the sea, they thought it was a ghost and cried out; for they all saw Him and were terrified. Immediately He spoke with them and said, “Have courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” ~ Mark 6:49-50

One of the interesting things about this story is that Jesus gives the disciples the recipe for courage. We gain courage by knowing God and choosing to trust Him.

A lot of times we think of courage as the absence of discomfort. But it is really about choosing whom to trust in the midst of discomfort.

The disciples originally think Jesus is a ghost. It is night time and there is a figure wading across the water. They’ve constructed myths and narratives to explain what they are seeing.

We do the same thing. We are sure when trouble arrives that we are done for. The end has come. We are sure there is no coming back from this circumstance. We are so ready to be afraid. So ready to give up. So ready to adopt the false perspectives that are clanging around this world.

Jesus offers another way. He invites the disciples to “take” courage. How? By knowing the truth. By trusting. We get our courage from the presence of Jesus. He is extending it to us; it is something only possible through a trust in who He is, an extension of knowing "The Truth".

The preceding verses say that Jesus intended to walk by them to the other side of the lake. But He stops and gets in the boat to comfort His disciples. In the most startling of circumstances, His presence is the source of our courage.
________________

~ published by: Yellow Balloons

https://yellowballoons.net






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[tenac]

Casting Crowns - Here's My Heart

[tenac]

If you dont have a personal relationship with Jesus. Im going to give you the opportunity to do that right here right now. If you will pray this prayer...not only from your mouth but also your heart...and mean it like nothing you have ever spoken before. Jesus will come into your life and heart and save you. You will be born-again!

Lord Jesus, Im like everyone else...i cant make it through life on my own. Im imperfect. Im prone to sin. I have come to realize that theres nothing in the world I can do to make myself acceptable to You. But I know that You have loved me so much that You were willing to die on my behalf. That's a grace so amazing I cannot understand it...i can only accept it. And i do. Please forgive my sins and i accept Your free gift of Salvation... and I know that from this moment on... i am saved...i am a child of God. And i give the rest of my life to serving You and experiencing the joy that only You can offer. Fill me now with your Holy Spirit dear Lord...and raise me to walk in the newness of life. I thank You and praise You!
Amen.

If you just prayed this prayer and meant it...you are now born-again and have a home in heaven! Go tell the world and if you dont already have a church family...please find one...And if you would like to talk...send me a private message....i will give you a call....

I Have No Regrets About My Past...My Past Is Who I Am Today...Born Again!
Rick j Sane

[tenac]

As humans each walking a different path to a different earthly destination. We can come to think that we are pretty self-sufficient...self-reliant...we hold our lives within our own grasp and we can take care of ourselves...and...there can be some truth in that. However, in reality, no matter how well we can care for ourselves...theres not a man or woman alive that dont need help in a very specific and eternal way...we all need Jesus! We can be born with a silver spoon in our mouth...we can grow up in the best neighborhood and never have a want or need in the world and live a childhood that is picture perfect...we can go to the best schools for 16 years and make the best of grades and graduate with high honors and land the job that pays the best that most folks can only dream of. We can be a pillar in society and well respected. We can buy the biggest house...have the fanciest cars...the best of clothes and have all the toys we desire. We can live our life with good health and seemly an abundance of earthly happiness and be the poster child of prosperity...we can live a life that in our minds...and in the reality of the world...we believe we need no one or nothing outside our own self-sufficiency...BUT....no matter how awesome we may think we have it here on planet earth...i can assure you of this...outside a personal relationship with Jesus...there can never be true happiness because the true joy and peace and contentment in life only comes from Jesus....and ...the glitter and gold of this world is temporary and actually secondary. What matters first and foremost is what is waiting beyond this earthly life. One day we are all going to die...thats not a secret. And when we step into eternity...if we have lived this life our way depending on ourselves and our prosperity to be our focus...our idols..we are headed to hell. If we have lived this life storing our treasures in heaven then that is where we are going to go to reap our reward of trusting Jesus. Now folks...im not saying its wrong to have money and stuff as long as we honor God with it all. Im saying we can have a picture perfect life while we walk these years on earth but without Jesus there will never be any true satisfaction and happiness and when step into eternity we are going to discover we have actually failed miserably!....Think about it!

I Have No Regrets About My Past...My Past Is Who I Am Today...Born Again!
Rick j Sane

[tenac]

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Matthew 6:19-21

[tenac]

As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.
1 Timothy 6:17-19

[tenac]

Jesus said to him, “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.
Matthew 19:21-22

[tenac]

Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God,
2 Corinthians 3:5

[tenac]

For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.
Romans 12:3

[tenac]

It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.
John 6:63

[tenac]

His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.
2 Peter 1:3-4

[Ranb2khz]

Name Above All Names

~ We are most like our Savior when we die to self and serve others.

Scripture Reading: Philippians 2:9-11

As we read about the other day, Jesus — God made flesh — didn’t insist on the position and privileges that were rightly His. Instead, He emptied Himself and became a servant. But He didn’t stop at token humility: He took this step all the way to death — in fact, the excruciating and demeaning death by crucifixion. This is a powerful statement of God’s character. What the Lord delights in is not arrogance but a servant’s heart.

Jesus set aside power to serve in humility. As believers, we want to gain in Christlikeness, so shouldn’t humble service be our goal as well? To avoid losing sight of this calling, let’s keep in mind the lengths our Father went to: He reached into death and raised Jesus to new life — resurrection life. God highly-exalted the Savior, giving Him the name above every name.

Even if we somehow miss the breathtaking scope of the Savior’s love and service during His life on earth, it will be clear when He returns. Philippians 2:10 says that every knee will bow before Jesus. The phrase “in heaven and on earth and under the earth” indicates that everything will worship Him as Lord.

In God’s view, the way up is down. We don’t please or honor Him by exalting ourselves. Rather, we pour out what we have in service and humility, to the glory of God the Father.
________________

~ published by: In Touch Ministries

https://www.intouch.org/read/daily-devotions/name-above-all-names






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[Ranb2khz]

When the Fig Doesn’t Bud

"O Lord, how long shall I cry for help, and You will not hear?” ~ Habakkuk 1:2

The book of the prophet Habakkuk contains three chapters. In the first two, Habakkuk complained about his nation. He was discouraged. But the Lord told him to trust — for "the just must live by faith" (Habakkuk 2:4).

In the final chapter, Habakkuk responded by composing a hymn. He rejoiced in God’s splendor and glory, and he said that even if the fig didn’t blossom or the fields don't yield food, he would still rejoice in the Lord. He ended by saying, “The Sovereign Lord is my strength! He makes me as surefooted as a deer, able to tread upon the heights.” (Habakkuk 3:19)

Like Habakkuk, we sometimes question what God does or what He doesn’t do. Yet we must walk by faith, remembering who He is and how He works. Meditating about God’s character and all the good things He has done can help us remember He has a plan. In all hard situations, ask God to help you take things one step at a time, standing on the firm foundation of His love.
_______________

~ by David Jeremiah (https://www.davidjeremiah.org)

~ To receive The Daily Encourager FREE each weekday, click on the following link: http://go.netatlantic.com/read/all_forums/subscribe?name=thedailyencourager






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[Ranb2khz]

Made Himself Nothing

~ May we trust God enough to relinquish our will into His loving and capable hands.

Scripture Reading: Philippians 2:5-8

What kind of attitude should characterize a follower of Christ?

If we take our cues from social media, television, or even small talk in the foyers of our churches, we might be tempted to become brash or even argumentative. After all, we have the sword of the Spirit and should be ready to use it, right?

But this is far from the attitude the apostle Paul encourages Christians to adopt. Rather than throw our weight around or loudly demand that our rights be respected, we are called instead to have the same attitude as Jesus Himself.

The remarkable, world-changing news is that God — our God — tempers the power inherent to His being, and He does this through perfect wisdom and love.

Our Savior chose to empty Himself and take on the form of a servant. Jesus could have retained His position, equal to the Father. But instead, He chose to divest Himself of powers, rights, and privileges in order to serve the world. God did this for us. For all humanity and for all creation, “He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death: death on the cross” (Philippians 2:8).

Mindful of Christ’s sacrifice, may we seek to emulate Him by serving others selflessly.
_______________

~ published by: In Touch Ministries

https://www.intouch.org/read/daily-devotions/made-himself-nothing






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[tenac]

Kutless - What Faith Can Do

[tenac]

...i walk up to the mirror on the wall and i stand there and look at the person looking back at me...who do i see? Do i see more or mostly ole Rick Sane...or...do i see more or mostly Jesus? Now of course the visual is me..Rick Sane..but we have to go far beyond..or deeper than that. Ive got to look into my heart...my mind...even into my very existence...my soul...and in doing that...who do i see? When i am home alone...does my life consist of things behind close doors that are pleasing to Jesus...or do i partake in things that Jesus says...really Rick! When im out in public...how do i carry myself...do i act one way around my believer friends and another way around unsaved folks? Maybe the better question is...when other people see me...who do they see? Do they see Rick Sane living life like much of the world...or...do they see me in such a way that they also see Jesus in the way i talk...act..live life on a daily basis...or...do they see me acting just as the unsaved world acts...i guess my point this morning is this...i want to be a person...a believer...that as the saying goes...i dont just talk the talk...i walk the walk...and...when people see me each day i can in some way put a smile on their face and Jesus thru me...put a warmth in their heart. And for those that are not saved...i want them to see me in such a way that i stand out different...that next month...next year they stop and look in the mirror and they say...you know...im tired of looking in here and seeing me...i want what ole Rick Sane has...and he says that is Jesus! Remember folks...people are watching us...who do they see...Jesus now and then...or...Jesus thru us every breath of every day? And above and beyond everything and everyone...What is Jesus seeing as He walks with me each and every day...remember...there is No such thing as a part time christian and Jesus is watching our every step...and...hearing our every word and thought! So...the bottom line....i still have some rough edges...i still find time to sin now and again..but i am a work in progress...i try and let God mold me into the likeness Jesus im sure not as often as He would like...however....im a fer piece from where i use to be and i know im heading in the right direction!

I Have No Regrets About My Past...My Past Is Who I Am Today...Born Again!
Rick j Sane

[tenac]

Whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.
1 John 2:6

[tenac]

For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.
1 Peter 2:21

[tenac]

Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
Ephesians 5:1-2

[tenac]

To put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.
Ephesians 4:22-24