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Peace of heart..peace of mind....what exactly is that? I look at inner peace as being a quietness within us that reaches right down to our core! I believe that inner peace is accomplished when we come to the reality that Everything is going to be alright no matter how tragic...hopeless...confused our life may appear to be. Inner peace is finding that quietness within us that assures us that we can walk thru any storm that the world or satan throws at us... we know by faith in our creator that everything is going to be alright! And...believe it or not...finding that inner peace and keeping it is really quite easy...Yes...i said quite easy. Finding inner peace of our heart and mind is accomplished thru our personal relationship with Jesus...it is found in our quite communion with God! Yes, talking to our heavenly Father and reading His Holy word from our Bible...that is where real and true peace comes from! Folks, Jesus is Always with us. The Holy Spirit of God lives in us every breath of everyday. Life is going to be hard at times and sometimes life is going to be down right tragic. However...when we get away by ourselves and spend quality time with our loving sovereign God. There is going to be a supernatural peace fill our hearts and minds that ourselves or the world cannot produce. And i believe it is thru that God centered peace that the supernatural joy of Jesus embraces us through all areas and circumstances of our life! When we have the peace and joy of Jesus in our life... satan nor the world or anything around us can steal or take that away! Have you found the peace that only God can give you?
I Have No Regrets About My Past...My Past Is Who I Am Today...Born Again!
Rick j Sane
"I am leaving you with a gift-peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don't be troubled or afraid.
John 14:27
Therefore, since we have been made right in God's sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us.
Romans 5:1
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil; For You are with me;Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
Psalm 23:4
You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you,
all whose thoughts are fixed on you!
Trust in the Lord always, for the Lord God is the eternal Rock.
Isaiah 26:3-4
Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all.
2 Thessalonians 3:16
Hear, Do, and Be
“So, get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the Word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls. But don’t just listen to God’s Word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. For if you listen to the Word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like.” ~ James 1:21-24
The only way for us to excommunicate wickedness from our soul and life is to receive the implanted Word of God. The only way this happens is by listening to God.
When a child hears a correction from a parent and then turns around to repeat the bad behavior, what is the parent’s response? “Did you hear what I said?!”
We show that we have truly listened by doing. The Word implanted leads to behavior change. Behavior change saves our lives from the destruction that accompanies sin. If we are not acting rightly, we have not listened rightly.
This James passage makes it clear that our wickedness problem doesn’t come from outside, it’s already within us. If we want truth and righteousness instead, then we must listen.
Listening isn’t easy. We can nod at all the familiar words. Or glaze over our Scripture reading as in a monotonous routine. It can readily flow in one ear and out the other. True perspective only comes from listening to what is true. The benefits of truth come with a change in our perspective. That requires real intentionality.
God wants the best for us. He wants us to be fulfilled. But He leaves us to choose.
True relationship only blossoms when there is freedom. When we choose to truly listen to what God has to say, allowing the Word to implant within us, we are on a path to having our lives fulfilled.
________________
~ published by: Yellow Balloons
https://yellowballoons.net
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Reprieve
“Then He withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, knelt down, and began to pray, “Father, if You are willing, take this cup away from Me — nevertheless, not My will, but Yours, be done.” Then an angel from heaven appeared to Him, strengthening Him.” ~ Luke 22:41-43
In the scene at the garden of Gethsemane, hours before His arrest, Jesus models for us the process of gaining a true perspective.
First, He makes His request known. He shares the honest emotion of His experience. He makes His own perspective known.
It is essential for us to be honest. Truth begets truth. If we are honest about the place we are in, we make room for even more truth to permeate our perspective.
Because the second step to Jesus’ model of obedience is listening for God with an openness that is seeking the highest truth. Jesus seeks comfort through reprieve. He is granted comfort through presence.
Jesus' cup was not lifted from Him. It often is not lifted for us either. Jesus does not make a demand. He makes a request. And then He opens Himself to the will of the Father.
Truth dwells in the will of the Almighty God. He is the home for truth. The arbiter of accuracy. The authority. We cannot discover truth until we come to Him and request it.
The reprieve comes in His presence and the inevitable companion: truth.
Truth can be hard; it can lead to challenging circumstances and difficult decisions. But there is nothing in the world so beautiful and necessary as a true perspective. And there is no way to it other than in the presence of God.
________________
~ published by: Yellow Balloons
https://yellowballoons.net
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Seven Miraculous Signs of the Messiah
~ What did Jesus do to prove that he was the Messiah?
There's an interesting comment near the end of the Gospel of John, often overlooked.
"The disciples saw Jesus do many other miraculous signs in addition to the ones recorded in this book." ~ John 20:30
We tend to think that what we read in the Gospels is all that Jesus said and did. Far from it. John himself declares at the end of his Gospel that there is so much more that he could have written, that the world would not be large enough to hold all of the words! That would have been counter-productive. It was important that he could get the point across in the most succinct and compact way. He must have been anticipating the low attention spans of us folk, 2000 years down the line! The Gospel gives us a snapshot, a verbal picture album of the highlights of Jesus's life. And how did John manage to shoehorn all of that potential material into his slim volume? In the next verse John explains.
"But these are written so that you may continue to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing in Him you will have life by the power of His name." ~ John 20:31
So the miraculous signs that John wrote about were there for a reason. Every one of them had a purpose, they weren't your common-or-garden miracles. They were "messianic miracles", signs pointing to Jesus as Messiah, as Christ. And special miracles they were, as we will see.
There were, in fact, seven of them. First up is the water into wine at Cana. It was performed for His mother and all of His disciples. As John said, this first miraculous sign was to reveal His glory to them and provide an anchor for their faith in Him.
Interestingly His second miraculous sign was also at Cana. This was the healing of the official's son, performed over a distance of around ten miles without even meeting the patient. As this was unheard of, this too was considered a miraculous sign of His Messiahship and resulted in the official and his whole household believing in Jesus and His claims.
Next was the healing at the Pool of Bethesda, performed on a Sabbath and, because of this blatant disregard of the traditions, led to the first murmurings of murder by the religious Jewish establishment in Jerusalem.
Then there was the feeding of the five thousand men [plus the women and children - approximately 10-12 thousand people], repeated in the other Gospels. If you think about it, this was remarkable in the extreme. We have heard this story so many times, seen it in so many movies, that its very familiarity lessens its impact. Yet a handful of loaves and fishes feeding the equivalent of a small football crowd? Food conjured up out of nowhere? This could be no conjuring trick, this was an act of "creation par excellence". Surely only God Himself could create living beings, even if the fish hardly had much of a meaningful experience, popping into the world only to pop down the throats of hungry people! And the idea that the whole baking process could be reproduced in a moment surely boggles the mind. The effect of this miraculous sign was significant. The people really took notice and were ready to proclaim Jesus as the Messiah they had been waiting so long for, the conquering king. No wonder Jesus fled to the mountains before this could happen.
The fifth miraculous sign came later that day. It has provided fodder for comedians and has been scoffed at by liberals and skeptics, but the fact remains that Jesus actually walked three and a half miles across the choppy waters of the Sea of Galilee. He wasn't drifting on ice, as a Professor from Florida has suggested, neither did He wear invisible skis pulled along by an invisible motorboat. The fact that the phrase "walking on water" has entered our vocabulary to signify an impossible task just shows it for what it was - an impossible task. But not for the Messiah and, in Matthew's account, the disciple Simon Peter, once he had cleared his lungs of the water he had almost drowned in after his attempt at water walking, blurted out, "Truly you are the Son of God".
The sixth miraculous sign, the healing of the man born blind, has already been covered. The final one was probably the most dramatic of all. Although there have been accounts, even at the time of Jesus, of the dead being restored to life, there was none like the raising of Lazarus. Jesus could have restored his life at any time, but He chose to wait and wait until the last possible moment, the fourth day, the point at which, according to Jewish tradition, the soul finally leaves the vicinity of the body and drifts away. Jesus didn't just want to do the improbable but, like walking on water, the impossible. Even the religious authorities acknowledged that this was a miraculous sign and this particular miracle was the beginning of the end of Jesus' life and ministry on earth.
But they still didn't get it!
______________
~ by Steve Maltz (this is an abridged extract from Steve's book “Jesus, Man of Many Names”)
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No More Hiding
"But to all who believed Him [Jesus Christ] and accepted Him, He gave the right to become children of God.” ~ John 1:12
Have you ever felt like you wanted to hide from God? That your sin was so great you weren't worthy of His grace? Or maybe feeling like your deeds didn't merit Jesus' sacrifice on the cross and you didn't deserve forgiveness?
You may have found yourself at church feeling "safe" in the crowd knowing that you probably wouldn't be singled out. But, what would you do if, just then, Jesus walked into the room? When I consider my sin and the things I've done that would likely separate me from our Holy God, I think I might hide in my shame. And in the same moment I am reminded that God already knows my sin and He sees my heart and He loves me anyway! I don't have to hide from Him because Jesus, in all His Glory, already suffered my shame and I am truly forgiven!
God knows everything you've ever done and everything you're going to do and He still loves you! And if He were to walk into the room, He would take you into His embrace and call YOU His child. John 1:12 says that when we receive Jesus and believe in His name, we are given the right to be called children of God and there is no need to stay hidden in our shame. In the Bible we see that God took in the harlots, the outcasts, the undesirable, the thieves and liars and made them — as He makes us — His sons and daughters. Then He takes it a step further and makes us new, holy and perfect in His sight! (Hebrews 10:14).
Do you remember the harlot Rahab in the Old Testament? She was an unlikely woman whom God personally chose to use in His service. She was found humble and faithful, and by His grace, God used her. Rahab became the great, great grandmother to King David! And from David's lineage came God's holy Son, Jesus. A harlot (Rahab), an adulterer (David), and countless other unlikely people made up the lineage that God chose for Jesus — the Savior!
If a harlot can have faith and be used by God, then without a doubt God can use you too! No matter what sin you're trying to hide, the qualifications are that you simply believe that Jesus is Lord of all; that He can, and will, make you new and holy; that He will work all things together for His good and perfect will; and that He loves YOU! No more hiding!!!
Suggested Prayer:
"Lord, I admit that I am a sinner. I have done things that I am ashamed of and make me unworthy of Your mercy. But I believe that You are God and You sacrificed everything so that my sins could be forgiven. So I ask You to forgive me and make me whole. Be the Lord of my life today. Thank You for loving me so much! In Jesus' name, Amen."
____________________
~ by Veronica B.
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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The Blessings of Godly Friendship
~ We should build up fellow believers and encourage them to be more like Christ.
Scripture Reading: John 15:12-15
In all of God’s creation, just one thing did not meet with His approval. He beheld Adam and said, “It is not good for the man to be alone” (Genesis 2:18). The Creator designed us for emotional, mental, physical, and spiritual closeness.
Jesus explained this to His disciples, saying they should love each other as He had loved them. In a God-honoring friendship, two people build each other up and spur one another on toward Christlikeness. Many people, however, fall far short of making and maintaining connections that sharpen their faith (Proverbs 27:17).
In fact, the walls we build to keep people at a distance are often defenses against God as well: Many don’t want Him too close to their most personal business. But in learning to share freely with a brother or sister in Christ, believers will likely develop the capacity to be more honest with God as well. Then their own maturing faith can be a stimulus for the faith of others to grow.
Strong relationships begin with men and women who decide to risk their pride and comfort in order to love like Jesus. They recognize one reason we have friends is so we can motivate one another toward holiness. In a friendship of mutual trust and submission, two people will confess sin, offer gentle reproof, and share burdens. That kind of vulnerability brings rich rewards.
______________
~ published by: In Touch Ministries
https://www.intouch.org/read/daily-devotions/the-blessings-of-godly-friendship
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The Need for Friendship
~ Believers should live in community — giving to and receiving from others.
Scripture Reading: 2 Timothy 4:9-22
Independence is a prized attribute in Western culture, but biblically speaking, it isn’t a worthy aspiration. The very fact that the Lord formed the church — a community of believers — should tell us that He did not create us for self-sufficiency or isolation.
When we place our faith in Jesus, the Holy Spirit indwells us so we can have a relationship with Him and satisfying friendships with one another. In God’s design, a committed biblical friendship builds both parties toward Christlikeness. Over and over in Scripture, we find evidence of believers relying upon a close friend or confidante for support. In today’s passage, for example, Paul spoke about his dependence on dear companions. And he encouraged others to form godly relationships too.
The further we drift from the Lord, the more pervasive our self-sufficient attitude becomes. We’re hesitant to give to others, which in turn makes us reluctant to receive. Instead, Scripture tells us we are to love one another, bear our brothers’ burdens, and confess our sins to fellow believers (John 13:34; Galatians 6:2; James 5:16). In other words, we’re to give ourselves away to others and receive from them in return. That’s how church members can encourage one another to Christlikeness.
_________________
~ published by: In Touch Ministries
https://www.intouch.org/read/daily-devotions/the-need-for-friendship-2
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In todays world...we have no telling how many thousands of self-help books. The TV has countless talk shows that tell people how to help and provide for themselves. We even have...unfortunately... preachers that preach the health..wealth and prosperity message to kinda sorta make Jesus into a genie in a bottle and how to look within and get what we want. There is water cooler talk..social media talk...the news media...all expressing peoples thoughts...opinions and beliefs as to what is right and what is wrong...how to get ahead and how to be self-sufficient. And in amongst all this...there is no shortage of argument and debate about these topics and everyone has their own opinion and most can give a list of reasons as to why they are right and to why you are wrong...and...stand behind those reasons without blinking a eye. We also have psychiatrist...counselors and social workers to talk and explore and tell us what and why we need to do and not do things and how to better equip ourselves for living life with emotional and mental problems. Now hear this and dont get me wrong here...i know there can be much value in these medical type people just like with medical doctors for our bodies. Yet...in the mean time the world and the United States continues to "go to hell in a hand basket"! So lets make this easy. God created the heavens and the earth and every living thing on it...and of course...every single person that has ever been conceived in a womans womb. God gives every person the air they breath...the food they eat...the water they drink. By Gods love...mercy and grace He provides and sustains us every heartbeat of everyday...and...God is very much still in the prayer answering and miracle giving business and heals people of all sorts of physical...mental and emotional sicknesses each and everyday! I mean...ultimately all healing comes from God as medical people are an extension of Gods hand...right? Jesus offers hope and peace and joy and contentment for our heart...mind and soul. And...God...when you get to the bottom line of life...has given us everything we have even though we often like to think our hard work has done much of it. So...whats my long winded point? A personal relationship with Jesus...faith even if as little as a mustard seed...praying without ceasing and meditating on Gods word day and night...remember...the Bible actually is our human owners manual..if you will. That my friends is the recipe for contentment and a happy and productive joy filled life...thru Jesus! Yes...we still have problems and sickness but if you are born-again you know what im talking about. Do you believe that God is the answer for every circumstance in life?
I Have No Regrets About My Past...My Past Is Who I Am Today...Born Again!
Rick j Sane
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,
Psalm 103:2-4
The Lord sustains him on his sickbed; in his illness you restore him to full health.
Psalm 41:3
Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Isaiah 41:10
He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”
Matthew 17:20
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.
Psalm 119:105
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.
2 Timothy 3:16-17
“Christ is not a reservoir but a spring. His life is continual, active and ever passing on with an outflow as necessary as its inflow. If we do not perpetually draw the fresh supply from the living Fountain, we shall either grow stagnant or empty, It is, therefore, not so much a perpetual fullness as a perpetual filling.”
-A.B. Simpson-
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.
Romans 8:26
Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.
Jeremiah 33:3
A Line of Choices
"Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and He will give you everything you need.” ~ Matthew 6:33
" But if you refuse to serve the LORD, then choose today whom you will serve...But as for me and my family, we will serve the LORD.” ~ Joshua 24:15
You have a lot of choices to make today. Research shows that we make thousands and thousands of decisions every single day.
Our choices have consequences. They lead to effects we feel in our own lives and in the lives of others. They also set up the next choice we have to make. And the ones after that. It is easy to see how patterns develop and habits form within the thousands of choices we make each day.
Yet each decision is powerful enough to chart a new course. Or to reinforce a good one. To lead to positive effects – the riches of the kingdom. And to put us on the doorstep of more good choices.
Joshua proclaimed that he and his house will serve the Lord. Moses put before the people of Israel the choice of life and death. Each day, we begin with a choice. Whom will we serve? To which Kingdom shall we align?
The choice we make sets up the choices to follow. It sets the course of our day.
Let’s be intentional about beginning this day with the Lord. Choose Him. Commit to His righteousness and His Kingdom. And see where the day leads.
_______________
~ published by: Yellow Balloons
https://yellowballoons.net/devotional/a-line-of-choices/
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Two Types of Listeners
In order for the Holy Spirit to be unimpeded in His work, we must make an effort to hear God when He speaks. It is possible, for example, to “listen” to every word of a sermon while not actually hearing a word of it. In fact, there are two types of listeners in practically every church around the world: passive and active.
A passive listener is one who’s present at services but just sits in the pew and lets his mind wander. He watches people, notices how they dress and act, socializes with friends, and makes lunch plans. He doesn’t go to church to hear from the Lord.
An active listener, on the other hand, walks into the sanctuary excited about the sermon and what he’ll learn from it. This Christian is ready to capture the meat of the message. He takes as many notes as he can, trying not to miss anything. Throughout the message, he asks himself, What is the Lord saying to me?
The Lord communicates in many different ways, and when He speaks, we should always listen actively. If you find your mind wandering during worship, perhaps you’re passively listening. Ask God to focus your thoughts, and decide to be an active listener from now on.
_______________
~ published by: In Touch Ministries
https://www.intouch.org/read/daily-devotions/two-types-of-listeners-2
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That is interesting. Thanks for the share!
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Wow!! Nice! God bless!! I was just making another count clock yesterday!! This one I made for me in 2017 ! 💖
http://mobilelegacies.com/bud/bud-countdown/
Counting Life
“Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” ~ Psalm 90:12
We count what matters. And what we count expresses what we value. We count time in our schedules and dollars in our bank account. Counting is a way of keeping track, a way of paying attention. A way of valuing.
What we don’t count tends to drift to the back of our mind. What we are not tracking won’t get our attention.
In the arena of life, we often spend time counting painful situations. We keep track of what hurts. Worse, we keep track of who hurt us. We also count the moments of euphoria, the highlight reel of life.
What we may not count often enough is everyday occurrences. During the mundane part of living, the routines of life, we can be lulled into a sense of complacency. During life on the plains, days and weeks and months slip by. Perhaps a high or a low arrives and awakens us to the seriousness and the joy of life like an alarm clock going off. But without that stimulus we tend to lose track of the amazing opportunities hidden in the plain sight of the every-day.
The Psalmist is asking for the wisdom to see every day as valuable. To count it. To name it. To see it for the opportunity it is worth. Life is as much what we do in the mundane times as what we do in the highs and lows. Maybe more so. We need to learn to count every day, every opportunity. Because they all matter.
_______________
~ published by: Yellow Balloons
https://yellowballoons.net
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The Daily Article — July 16, 2024
~ Remembering Corey Comperatore: A “real-life superhero” and the pathway to sacrificial courage.
Today’s news cycle is being dominated by former President Donald Trump’s announcement of J. D. Vance as his running mate, the first night of the Republican National Convention, the dismissal of Mr. Trump’s classified documents case, and President Biden’s interview with NBC’s Lester Holt last night. However, I want to focus this morning on a story I don’t want us to miss before it fades from the headlines.
Corey Comperatore was an engineer, a former chief of the Buffalo Township Volunteer Fire Company in Pennsylvania, and a lifelong volunteer firefighter. He was also a husband and the father of two daughters.
When shots rang out last Saturday at a rally for former President Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania, one of Corey’s daughters later described how her father reacted. “He shielded my body from the bullet that came at us,” she wrote in a social media post. “He loved his family. He truly loved us enough to take a real bullet for us.”
Corey Comperatore died defending those he loved. His daughter called him a “real-life superhero.”
Donald Trump’s near assassination illustrates John F. Kennedy’s prophetic statement: “If anyone is crazy enough to want to kill a president of the United States, he can do it. All he must be prepared to do is give his life for the president’s.” If the person presumably better protected than anyone in our country can be in mortal danger, so are we all.
Recent celebrity deaths include sex therapist Dr. Ruth Westheimer, actress Shannon Doherty, and fitness guru Richard Simmons. Russian Czar Nicholas II and his family were executed on this day in 1918; John F. Kennedy Jr., his wife, and her sister perished in a plane crash on this day in 1999. Shark attacks and the rising threat of bird flu are in the news as well.
An American Airlines flight parked at its gate at San Francisco International Airport was evacuated recently because of smoke in the cabin. Metaphorically, we’re all on that flight. Robert Louis Stevenson made a similar point: “Old and young, we are all on our last cruise.”
According to Jesus, none of us knows when our time will come: “Always be ready, because you don’t know the day or the hour the Son of Man will come” (Matthew 25:13). However, while we cannot know the hour of our death, we can prepare for it. We can decide today that we will respond as Corey Comperatore did: with sacrificial courage and selfless love.
How can we do this?
Aristotle taught: “Moral excellence comes about as a result of habit. We become just by doing just acts, temperate by doing temperate acts, brave by doing brave acts.”
One person said of Corey Comperatore’s sacrifice: “He was a firefighter. Why am I not surprised his instinct was to put his own body in harm’s way?” I have been privileged to pastor several firefighters over the years and can testify personally to the truth of this statement.
Kurt Vonnegut agreed: “I can think of no more stirring symbol of man’s humanity to man than a fire engine.” Think about it — when everyone else runs from the conflagration, firefighters run to it as quickly as they can get there, knowing they may not return.
The Greek historian Thucydides was right: “The bravest are surely those who have the clearest vision of what is before them, glory and danger alike, and yet notwithstanding go out to meet it.”
Stated succinctly: If we live for others today, we’re more likely to be willing to die for them tomorrow.
How can we do this?
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro testified that Corey Comperatore went to church every Sunday. This is unsurprising: A longtime friend called him “a great man who loved his family fiercely and did the same with God.”
As a result, Corey found in his Lord the strength to follow His example: “The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45). Followers of Jesus know these facts to be true:
“Godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world” ~ 1 Timothy 6:6–7
“You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body” ~ 1 Corinthians 6:19–20
“If we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s” ~ Romans 14:8
As a result, we are free to “set your mind and heart to seek the L??? your God” (1 Chronicles 22:19). We are free to live — and to die — for His glory and the common good. We are free to serve others whether or not we are served, to love them whether or not we are loved, and to live each day for our eternal reward and theirs.
St. Augustine observed:
"We do not seek, nor should we seek, our own glory even among those whose approval we desire. What we should seek is their salvation, so that if we walk as we should they will not go astray in following us. . . .
If then you are good, praise is due to Him who made you so; it is no credit to you, for if you were left to yourself, you could only be wicked. . . . And so, my brothers, our concern should be not only to live as we ought, but also to do so in the sight of men; not only to have a good conscience but also, so far as we can in our weakness, so far as we can govern our frailty, to do nothing which might lead our weak brother into thinking evil of us.
Otherwise, as we feed on the good pasture and drink the pure water, we may trample on God’s meadow, and weaker sheep will have to feed on trampled grass and drink from troubled waters."
The philosopher Andrew Bernstein was therefore right:
“The hero is the man who lets no obstacle prevent him from pursuing the values he has chosen.”
Will you be a hero today?
_______________
~ published by: Denison Ministries
https://www.denisonforum.org/daily-article/remembering-corey-comperatore/
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So this morning...maybe you dont know where you are headed when you die. Maybe you have doubts...maybe you know for a fact that you dont have a personal relationship with Jesus. So...what you gonna do about that? im gonna type something below...i can promise you this...if you will read the words that i type out loud...or something similar...just ask God to forgive you..and not just say these words from your mouth but also from deep inside your heart and say these words with a meaning like nothing you have ever said before...You will be saved by the grace of God...filled with the Holy Spirit...and will then have a home in heaven when you die!
***God, I recognize that I have not lived my life for You up until now. I have been living for myself and that is wrong. I need You in my life...I want You in my life. I acknowledge the completed work of Your Son Jesus Christ in giving His life for me on the cross at Calvary and I long to receive the forgiveness you have made freely available to me through this sacrifice. Please forgive me my sin and come into my life now. I want and need your free gift of salvation...fill me with the Holy Spirit...in Jesus name...Amen***
If you just read and spoke these words and believed in the Lord Jesus Christ...you have been born-again! Now i encourage you to find a church if you dont already have one. Either way...go see the preacher and tell him what you have done! You have made the most important decision of your life! If you would like to talk...send me a Private message and ill be glad to call you!
I Have No Regrets About My Past...My Past Is Who I Am Today...Born Again!
Rick j Sane
HELL...a place of torment...a place of indescribable pain...a place where a person will literately burn in a lake of fire. Separated from the love of God in total sadness, depression, loneliness and despair...the complete loss or absence of hope. Once God cast a person into hell...it never ends...Can you imagine how long FOREVER is?
HEAVEN...a place of total and complete love far beyond any love we have ever know...a place of happiness, joy, contentment, and peace. A place where there will never be sadness, pain, tears...sin will be no more. Our life in heaven will never end...we will live for forever totally engulfed in Gods perfect love! Can you imagine how long FOREVER is?
So if you die today...where are you headed? Hear me my friend and hear me good. Be you believe in heaven and hell or not...im here to tell you. Both are very real places. Want to go to heaven....here is what Jesus has said...Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me..(John 14:6). Whats that mean. The only way to heaven is this. You believe that Jesus is the Son of God...and...He is also God. You believe that Jesus died on a cross for you and also rose from the grave and lives today. You listen for that little prompting..calling..in your head and heart that is reaching out to you. You get on your knees and pray a prayer asking God for forgiveness of your sin filled life. You surrender your life to Jesus and start living for Him. Its out with the old you and in with the new because the Holy Spirit fills your heart, mind and soul. Now...you are born-again and you have a home in heaven when you die. Without a personal relationship with Jesus...you are headed to hell be you like it or not....its your choice! No matter what age you are...and you probably think you have plenty of time...but...im here to tell you...and you already know this. Death sneaks up on people of all ages each and everyday and they slip into eternity without a moments notice. Once you die...there are no "do-overs". Your eternal destination is set! Where are you headed?
I Have No Regrets About My Past...My Past Is Who I Am Today...Born Again!
-Rick j Sane-
Without hope, we have nothing. Hopelessness, darkness, and despair are tools of the devil to keep people away from God, away from Jesus Christ and His marvelous light. Jesus is the light of the world, and without Him, we walk in darkness. Jesus has come and He has brought light and life to our dark world.
You are not going to be lost when you get to hell. If you are without Christ, you are lost right now. Your trial is already over. You've already been sentenced. You're just waiting for execution morning to roll around.
-Lester Roloff-
I believe that a great number of people are going to die and go to hell because they're counting on their religiosity in the church instead of their relationship with Jesus to get them to heaven. They give lip service to repentance and faith, but they've never been born again.
-Adrian Rogers-
Multitudes of people who expect to go to Heaven will go to a Hell of torment. Thousands of "good" people, "moral" people, church members, even church workers - yes, and, alas, even prophets, priests and preachers - will find themselves lost when they expected to be saved, condemned when they expected approval, cast out of Heaven when they expected to be received into eternal bliss. That is the explicit meaning of the words of our Lord...“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’...Matthew 7:21-23
-John R. Rice-
Don't say that a loving God is going to send you to hell - He's not. The thing that's going to send you to hell is that you're a sinner and you don't want to admit it.
-J. Vernon McGee-
God keeps no half-way house. It's either heaven or hell for you and me.
-Billy Sunday-
Patience and Paradox
“I have told you these things so that in Me you may have peace. You will have trouble in this world. Be courageous! I have conquered the world.” ~ John 16:33
As we search for a true perspective, patience is a necessity. Jesus tells us to expect a paradox: He has overcome the world, yet we will have trouble. That means there is a time lag between where we are today and where we desire to be. We are standing in line, just not quite at the front counter yet.
In this world, we cannot eliminate the need for waiting. But we do not have to get to the front counter to discover truth. Pain and confusion, challenging circumstance and fleeting seasons are an inevitable part of the wait. Truth is not the elimination of these difficulties. Truth is found through a right perspective surrounding these things. It is the paradox of the Kingdom of God.
Part of gaining a true perspective is seeing waiting as a privilege. We believe the front counter is coming. But we also need to see that waiting in line is our once-in-an-existence opportunity to exercise the resurrection power of Jesus by a walk of faith.
Jesus has overcome the world by shining within it. He shines in many ways, but He desires to shine through us. Patience and faithfulness in difficulty allows His truth to peer through the inevitable troubles of life. The paradox of His kingdom is not only true, but an incredible gift.
_________________
~ published by: Yellow Balloons
https://yellowballoons.net
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Safe and Secure
"I assure you: I am the door of the sheep.” ~ John 10:7
Warren Wiersbe explained John 10:1-6 like this:
“The middle Eastern sheepfold was very simple: a stone wall, perhaps ten feet high, surrounded it, and an opening served as the door. The shepherds in the village would drive their sheep into the fold at nightfall and leave the porter to stand guard.
In the morning each shepherd would call his own sheep, which would recognize their shepherd’s voice and come out of the fold. The porter (or one of the shepherds) would sleep at the opening of the fold and actually become ‘the door.’”
Jesus said He was "the Door". When we are in Him, we have the stone walls of His protective care all around us, and He Himself stands guard to make sure we’re “safe and secure from all alarm,” as we sing in an old Gospel song. Take a deep breath today and remember that you don’t need to be afraid.
Jesus, the Door, is your protective Shepherd.
______________
~ by David Jeremiah (https://www.davidjeremiah.org)
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The Daily Article — July 13, 2024
~ Shooting at Donald Trump campaign rally in Pennsylvania.
Donald Trump was speaking at a campaign rally this afternoon in Butler, Pennsylvania, when a series of pops that sounded like gunshots rang out. Mr. Trump’s face and ear were bloodied as he was rushed off the stage by Secret Service agents and escorted into his motorcade.
The shooting is being investigated as an attempted assassination of the former president.
At this writing, a person believed to be the shooter is dead as well as an audience member in attendance. Another person is believed to be in critical condition. The shooter was reportedly in a sniper position located hundreds of yards from Mr. Trump’s podium. He was shot and killed by Secret Service personnel.
Some Gratifying Responses:
The official Team Trump account on X wrote, “President Trump thanks law enforcement and first responders for their quick action during this heinous act. He is fine and is being checked out at a local medical facility.”
We would expect his political allies to respond with support for the former president, as they have. But it is gratifying to watch the reactions from those who are on the opposite side of the political spectrum:
• President Biden responded: “I’m grateful to hear that [Mr. Trump is] safe and doing well. I’m praying for him and his family and for all those who were at the rally.”
• Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi stated, “I thank God that former President Trump is safe.”
• Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said he was “horrified” by what happened and was “relieved that former President Trump is safe.”
• California Gov. Gavin Newsom said on X, “My thoughts are with President Trump and everyone impacted at the rally today."
• House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries responded, “My thoughts and prayers are with former President Trump. I am thankful for the decisive law enforcement response. America is a democracy. Political violence of any kind is never acceptable.”
• And independent candidate Robert Kennedy Jr. posted to X, “Now is the time for every American who loves our country to step back from the division, renounce all violence, and unite in prayer for President Trump and his family.”
What does this say about our nation and our future?
“The only nation that is founded on a creed”:
In many countries around the world, violence against political opponents is an endemic part of the culture. Russian President Vladimir Putin has systematically and violently stamped out opposition to his regime. The autocrats in Communist China and North Korea do the same. In my many trips to Cuba, I was cautioned never to speak negatively about the Communist leaders, even in my hotel room, for fear of reprisals.
By contrast, Americans across the political spectrum are horrified by what has happened this afternoon. Why?
British writer G. K. Chesterton observed, “America is the only nation that is founded on a creed.” This creedal conviction that we are equally granted “unalienable rights” to “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” is on full display today.
And this creedal conviction itself points us to the origin of these rights: “all men are created equal.” Each one of us, from Donald Trump to his bitterest political rivals, is created uniquely and intentionally by God in His image (Genesis 1:27). This biblical conviction, more than any other single factor, explains the uniqueness and vitality of our nation.
As a result, violence such as we witnessed today horrifies each of us, as it should. And it calls us to pray fervently for Mr. Trump’s continued safety, for the safety of President Biden and all our other elected officials, and for the Secret Service and others who protect our leaders and our citizens.
“Darkness cannot drive out darkness”:
In addition, I am praying for God to redeem today’s tragedy by using it to expose the deadly dangers of political animosity. Hate in speech becomes hate in action. Condemning those with whom we disagree dehumanizes them and incites violence against them.
If we don’t want what happened today to happen again tomorrow, we must heed the words of our Lord:
“But I tell you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who mistreat you and persecute you, so that you may show yourselves to be children of your Father in heaven.” ~ Matthew 5:44-45a
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was prophetic when he declared:
"Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate. Only love can do that."
How will you drive out the darkness and hate in America today?
_________________
~ published by: Denison Ministries
https://www.denisonforum.org/daily-article/shooting-at-donald-trump-campaign-rally-in-pennsylvania/
•
As a true believer – a disciple of Christ Jesus – if you found yourself siding with those that desired for the death of a man created by God – in His image, for such a time as this, then you need to seriously consider if you have been saved by grace at all. A person saved by God’s grace will not be wishing for the death of another believer. God saved this man for a reason. Thank You Lord.
“Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate. Only love can do that.” ~ Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
•
What Seeds are You Sowing?
“Don’t be deceived: God is not mocked. For whatever a person sows that will they also reap.” ~ Galatians 6:7
The Bible has a lot to say about “sowing seeds” – and rightly so. We all sow (plant) seeds on a daily basis, and we will reap a harvest of exactly what we sow – later than we planted and more than we planted. Later than we planted because it takes time for the seed to grow, and more than we planted because a single seed can sprout into an abundance of crop – and it also multiplies the original single seed into many seeds of like kind.
So, the question is: “What seeds are we planting on a daily basis?”
If we’re filling our minds and time with ungodly thoughts, words, actions and deeds – then that is exactly what we will reap – and like seed will be spewed unto our circle of influence of family, friends, and associates.
On the other hand, when we fill our minds and time with the Word (Bible), seek to know and do God’s will – then we are sowing godly seeds, that will reap the fruits of the Spirit springing forth from us onto our circle of influence.
The seeds that we are sowing also have eternal consequences – as pointed out in Galatians 5:
“Now the works of the flesh are obvious: adultery, sexual immorality, moral impurity, promiscuity, idolatry, sorcery, hatreds, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambitions, dissensions, factions, envy, murders, drunkenness, carousing, and anything similar. I am warning you about these things — as I warned you before — that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.” (verse 19-22)
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. The law is not against such things. Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.” (verse 22-25)
I pray that you will continually seek out – and walk in – the paths of righteousness as taught and demonstrated by our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Trust me – you will never regret planting the godly seeds in your life.
•
We – Together
“But when they measure themselves by one another and compare themselves with one another, they are without understanding.” ~ 2 Corinthians 10:12
We live in a world full of gifted people. Everywhere we go we are surrounded by the beauty, skill, and passion of others.
Unfortunately, our responses to the greatness of others are not always healthy. Jealousy. Comparison. Envy. Wrath even. We sometimes feel as though the ability of others is a condemnation of our own ability. As soon as someone succeeds, we can feel stifled and limited, as if our own success is being subsequently pushed out of the way.
We forget that we are all in this together. We are made to work as a team. Counter-intuitive as it seems, celebrating others actually allows us the opportunity to be ourselves. Others are great. We can’t stop that (and shouldn’t). The prison is not the ability of others but the perspective we adopt in response.
Unhealthy responses are a treadmill that waste our energy and keep us from progressing. An untrue perspective can poison us, creating unnecessary obstacles and paradigms that are unproductive.
Celebrating the greatness in others is part of participating in greatness. It frees us to be encouraged and contributive. It leads to understanding. Choosing to value others unleashes power to unlock the potential within ourselves. It is an act of love. Acting in love taps in to the unlimited power of the Spirit.
To see others as valuable is an opportunity to also look within and see how we might partner with the good going on in the world.
___________________
~ published by: Yellow Balloons
https://yellowballoons.net
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