Sun, Jun 29th - 11:24AM
THERE ARE LEVELS OF FAITH IN THE BELIEVER’S LIFE MARK 9:14-24 The theme of faith permeated the Lord’s ministry. Jesus esteemed complete trust like Abraham’s and commended those with strong confidence in God, such as the centurion. He also urged those with weak convictions to believe. Many of us fall into this last category--over and over, we wrestle with doubt and worry. Five times in the book of Matthew, Jesus pointed out examples of little faith. First, in Matthew 6:30, He mentioned people who believed their resources were insufficient. Like them, we can become anxious about not having enough time, energy, or money. Then there was the terrible storm--Jesus slept through it, but the disciples were afraid. Continuing fear shows lack of trust. ( Matthew 8:23-26) Next, Peter allowed doubt to take over. At Jesus’ command, he started to walk on water but then sank when unbelief set in. (Matthew 14:31) A fourth case concerned the disciples’ failure to think through Jesus’ teaching and actions to reach the right conclusion. (Matthew 16:5-12) In the fifth situation, the disciples had successfully cast out demons in previous attempts but were unable to do so this time. (Matthew 17:14-21) Because their faith was so little, they lacked the divine power to carry out a harder task. In order to grow spiritually stronger, we must take our eyes off our circumstances and look to the Lord. By trusting in His character and believing in His promise, we can overcome anxiety and disbelief and have a greater faith. On whom or what are your eyes fixed? With God’s Love, Lois
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Mon, Jun 23rd - 3:52PM
HOPE FOR A CHANGING WORLD ACTS 8: 26-35 The people of this world are starving for true hope while we who are Christians are filled with hope and light of God. It is up to believers to be available so that we can share our message of encouragement with unbelievers. There is absolutely no hope in this life or in the life to come, apart from a relationship with God through His Son Jesus Christ. Because of Christ, we have righteousness before God and the promise of resurrection..all because Jesus died in our place. Whatever hope we need for living now and throughout eternity comes though Him. According to Romans 5:6, Christ died for the ungodly..each and every person who will ever live. So what was Jesus' plan for getting His message of salvation to all of these people? In Matthew 28, He commissioned the saved to share the Good News with the lost. As a matter of fact, spreading the word of God through people is the only method given in the Bible. Jesus said, "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations" (v19). His disciples went without question. The Lord is still calling us to go, whether our field is in a faraway country or at our own workplace. When God calls us, He doesn't want excuses or pleas to wait; He wants our obedience. If we are surrendered to Him, the only thing we can answer when He calls us is "yes." Could it be that God wants you to lay aside your plan for your life and take up His call..spreading hope to a rapidly changing world? With God's Love, Lois
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Sat, Jun 21st - 9:42PM
PSALM 118:24 -- This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. PSALM 118:14 --- The Lord is my strength and song, and is become my salvation. 1 TIMOTHY 6:6 -- But godliness with contentment is great gain. 1 TIMOTHY 6:7 -- For we brought nothing into this world, an it is certain we can carry nothing out. 1 TIMOTHY 6:8 --And having food and rainment let us be therewith content. ISAIAH 54: 17 -- No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgement thou shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of me, saith the Lord. PHILIPPIANS 4:13 -- I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. ROMANS 8: 1 -- THERE is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. ROMANS 8:2 -- For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. REVELATION 22:12 -- And, behold, I come quickly: and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. REVELATION 22:13 -- I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. REVELATION 22:20 -- He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. REVELATION 22:21 -- The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen. Just some of my favorite Scriptures...... kjv In Christian Love, Lois J.
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Fri, Jun 20th - 10:53PM
WE MUST END THE BLAME GAME GALATIANS 5:19-25 I’m sure everyone has heard this….A woman was disciplining her son sends him to sit quietly in a chair. Glaring over his shoulder, he walks to the chair and circles it a few times until his mother say in a firm voice, “Sit down!” The boy does, but as she leaves the room, he calls after her, “I’m standing up in the inside!” We can’t control people, not even the children. But thankfully, this universal truth means that we cannot be controlled by others, either. Yet we often cast blame as if someone else’s actions dictated our emotional response: “ So and so made me so mad…” In reality, that person could not made you get mad; you chose to be angry (justifiably or not). We also decide whether to react in a godly or worldly fashion when someone hurts or frustrates us. No matter how much blame we attempt to offload onto others, the Lord cannot be misled by our maneuvering. He looks only at the heart when determining how to discipline believers or convict them of sin. As a result, the blame game does not end up making us look better. Instead, it hinders our fellowship with God. The responses He is looking for are forgiveness when we are hurt and repentance when we do the injuring. Otherwise, we are too caught up in either vengeance or escaping culpability to focus on spiritual matters. Followers of God are to sow peace and grow spiritual fruit like love, joy, and kindness. (Galatians 5:22-23) If you are clinging to blame, all that is growing are the emotional “weeds” separating you from God’s best. Ask Him for forgiveness and the strength to forgive others. The blame game is over…. With God’s Love, Lois
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Thu, Jun 19th - 10:14PM
LET’S RUN WITH ENDURANCE HEBREWS 10:35-36 -- Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompense of reward. V36...For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. Kjv Hebrews 12:1 -- WHEREFORE seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us. kjv -- Tells us to run with endurance, the implication is that we are going to face hardships and suffering. We sprint though many seasons--periods that are beautiful, times when we hurt, and says when the track turns abruptly. We must face each season with steadfast determination to complete the race. God understands that we will stumble and falter. We do not need to finish our race perfectly; we do, however, need to achieve His purpose for us. When we are on course to fulfill God’s specific plan, then our life is full and meaningful. Running with endurance means that we are diligently watching for entanglements. When we allow Satan to get a toehold in our life, then we take a step off the track and can soon find ourselves mired in mud. Unlike encumbrances, which are habits or attitudes that slow us down, entanglements are sins that can stop us altogether. But we are to treat the two the same, asking the Lord to identify with an entanglement would look like for us and then relying upon Him to help us avoid it. We know that we can trust God to help us because He has provided a running companion. Jesus Christ is ensuring that we never run alone. He is always one step ahead to show us the way and one step behind to pick us up when we fall. He is also running at our side, encouraging and cheering us on. Are you tripping in your race? Start fixing your eyes upon Jesus so that you can live to the fullest and finish well. With God's Love, Lois
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Wed, Jun 18th - 5:10PM
THE CROSS: OUR BRIDGE TO GOD JOHN 14:1-6 We hear people say a God of love will not exclude someone from heaven. But this narow perspective overlooks the fact that He is also holy and just. Because of the Father's holiness, He cannot tolerate impurity in His presence. Therefore, sin...the willful disobedience that corrupts the heart..separates man from Him. In addition, God's justice demands punishment for wrongdoing. The penalty for sin is death (Ezekiel 18:4; Romans 6:23), which makes isolation from the Lord eternal. We can never be perfect and thereby earn access to the Father. Our efforts to build a bridge by means of right behavior or good works are of no use because we inevitably destroy the structure with sin. In His great love, God made a provision that allows us to enter His presence: He laid the cross over the gap created by our corruption. The penalty for our sin had to be paid, so the Father piled every transgression onto His Son and sent Him to die in our place. Only Jesus, who had no sin-debt of His own, could be the perfect sacrifice God reqired. But both Father and Son paid a heavy price..for a period of time, the connection between the two was severed. (Matthew 27:45-46) Jesus died so we could live eternally, and He endured separation from the Father so we could be forever connected with Him. Through His death, the savior satisfied the requirements of justice and demonstrated God's love for each of us. When we ask forgivenesss for our sins and receive Jesus into our lives, we cross the bridge into righteous communion with God. With God's Love, Lois
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Tue, Jun 17th - 11:56PM
JOSEPH: FORWARD BY FAITH GENESIS 39 Every believer will falter occasionally in his or her faith. When that happens, how can we keep doubts to a minimum? The key is to remain focused upon God so that we can move forward in His will. Consider the Old Testament hero Joseph, who trusted in God through the harrowing events of his early years. Faith sustained him through betrayal, slavery, and imprisonment. Resting on his confidence in the Lord, Joseph didn't allow circumstances environment, or the opinions of others to distract him from acting in His will. Joseph believed that every situation of his life was by God's design. Most people react to trials by complaining that the situation is unfair and undeserved. They are so focused on their circumstances and how unfortunate they are that they miss opportunities to serve God. Joseph chose a different approach. This young man who'd been sold into slavery by his brothers decided to do his work with excellence. His duties in Potiphar's house were probably menial, but he performed them as if he were working for the Lord. Only through this kind of commitment could Joseph have earned the attention and respect of his master. And the Hebrew slave was rewarded with greater responsibility. As Joseph moved through one hardship after another, he stayed focused on God, who had promised to raise him to a position of leadership (Genesis 37:10). He had a practical approach to the downward turn in his fortunes: he kept thinking about God and serving Him instead of dwelling on his trials. With God's Love, Lois
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Mon, Jun 16th - 8:40PM
FINDING PEACE JOHN 14:27 --- Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afarid. Although life's circumstances are continually changing, God's peace is a constant that's always available for those who seek His quieting touch. Our world offers peace in the form of financial security, possessions, or power. Even though these may appear reliable and concrete, they are ultimately an illusion. Some people believe that peace is a by-product of right decisions or good intentions. Others define it as the absence of difficulty or the ability to avoid dealing with hard issues. All of these views, however, contradict the simple yet accurate description of peace...the inner serenity that flows out of a right relationship with God. When you know that the Lord is with you, His power will bring a sustaining calm that will encourage your soul while delivering you through every storm. You may be facing a job loss, a broken relationship, or unsettling news from your doctor. Though it may not make sense, peace is often most evident during periods of struggle. Despite the ominous storm clouds around you, the silver lining of our heavenly Father's promise will bring the blessing of a steadfast soul and tranquil heart. With God's Love, Lois
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Sun, Jun 15th - 10:15PM
WE KNOW GOD HAS A PLAN FOR ALL HEBREWS 10:35-36 -- Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompense of reward. V36...For ye have need of patience, that after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. Kjv The most awesome realizations for a believer in Christ Jesus is that God has a plan for your life. He knows you, loves you, guides you, and sees exactly what you should do in every situation. Not only does He have a will for you, but He also makes it possible for you to know what that will is. First, God has a moral will. In other words, there are universal truths, such as the Ten Commandments, that apply to every man and woman on earth. Many people pay no heed to these precepts, but ignoring them does not negate them. In fact, people who disregard them actually live in a continuous state of rebellion against the will of their Creator. Second, God has a specific, personal will for very individual. His plan for you is completely different than His plan for me. Both are God-given, but tailor-made for our own unique personalities. Because each person makes mistakes, we can see that God’s personal will contains some circumstantial qualities. If we step outside of the Lord’s will, does that mean we can never again get on track with Him? No, of course not. Rather, God chooses to work within our lives, guiding us through whatever circumstances we face. When we slip up, He works through that mistake to bring us back in line with His will. His truth never changes, but His methods of bringing us into that truth are modified according to our situation. Don’t let troubles keep you from God’s plan for your life. He wants to use your trials to strengthen you for the future. With God's Love, Lois
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Sat, Jun 14th - 11:19AM
GOD IS OUR REFUGE AND STRENGTH PSALM 46:1-11 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and thought the mountains be carried unto the midst of the sea; Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountain shake with the swelling thereof. Selah. There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the Most High. God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early. The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: he uttered his voice the earth melted. The Lord of hosts is with us; and the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah. Come, behold the works of the Lord, what desolations he hath made in the earth. He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariot in the fire. Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge, Selah. kjv With God’s Love, Lois
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Fri, Jun 13th - 10:34AM
~AMAZING GRACE~ Amazing Grace! How sweet the sound
that saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost but now am found,
was blind but now I see. 'Twas Grace that taught my heart to fear
and grace my fears relieved;
how precious did that grace appear
the hour I first believed. Through many dangers, toils and snares
I have already come;
'Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far,
and grace will lead me home. When we've been there ten thousand years
bright shinning as the sun,
We've no less days to sing God's Praise
than when we first begun! With God's Love, Lois
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Thu, Jun 12th - 11:15PM
MESSAGE OF A LIFETIME JOB 23:10-14 -- ( verse 10 -- But He knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold) Just imagine going to a nice restaurant for dinner. The table is set with linens, fine china, and crystal glasses. The waiter delivers your plate with a flourish. In the middle of that exquisite china plate is a single marshmallow. What a letdown! Instead of receiving a nutritious, meaty meal, we are left with a puff of sugar and no satisfaction. If we become lax, our lives can resemble that disappointing meal. Instead of being believers with a weighty message full of hope, we can find ourselves with nothing to offer but a bit of fluffy sweetness. God’s message is meant to nourish and sustain; our family, our friends, and even we ourselves cannot be satisfied by meager provisions. Our Father wants us to have such impact that people will never be the same after we arrive. If the Lord is building a valuable message into our life, we must receive everything that comes our way as from Him. When a bad event passes through God’s permissive will to affect us. He will bring good from it. (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 is purpose) Truthfully, no person can share a message of hope unless he or she has first suffered. When we are hurting, we seek comfort from people who have faced similar hurt. Likewise, others will trust our comfort if we have known pain. Whatever the circumstances, we should be evaluating what God is doing in us. Like a gem polisher, He will work off our rough edges by running us up against tough experiences and people. When we look for His purposes and lessons, we hasten the time when our life message reflects the hope that is available in Christ Jesus. With God's Love, Lois
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Wed, Jun 11th - 1:15PM
What a friend we have in Jesus
What a friend we have in Jesus,
all our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfait,
O what needless pain we bear.
All because we do not carry
everything to God in prayer.
Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged;
take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful
who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness;
take it to the Lord in prayer.
Are we weak and heavy laden,
cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge,
take it to the Lord in prayer!
Do your friends despise, forsake you?
Take it to the Lord in prayer!
In his arms he'll take and shield you;
you will find a solace there. With God's Love, Lois
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Tue, Jun 10th - 12:45AM
OUR FAITH IS PRECIOUS TO GOD 1 PETER 1:3-7 -- Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. V4...To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, v5...Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. V6...Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: v7...That the trial of your faith, being much more precious then of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: kjv You know our tested faith is more precious than perishable gold. The more coins we spend, the fewer we have, but our assurance in God never runs out as we use it. Men are often impoverished by the quest for gold, but faith can only enrich a person. And while money may temporarily appease one’s greed, trust in Jesus forever satisfies the soul. Gold doesn’t begin its life as the pure, shiny material we see in jewelry. Instead, miners drag out hunks of dirty metal with bits of black running throughout. Before a piece of gold can become a beautiful necklace or a perfectly shaped coin, it must be refined by fire and crafted with tools, In the same way, God sends trials into Christians’ lives to shape His children. His ultimate goal is to transform each believer into the likeness of Jesus Christ. God uses many tools in His transforming work--disappointment, broken relationships, illness, and financial problems are a few. He always chooses the device that will build our faith in the area He is focused upon. Unlike inanimate gold, we have a choice to accept or reject His work. We can whine, resist, and give up without making any changes. But let this be fair warning. God will return repeatedly to a faith area that needs His attention until we finally submit. He loves us too much to leave us in our imperfect condition. Our faith is precious to God. Though His work is sometimes painful, He will never challenge us beyond what we can stand., ( 1 Corinthians 10-13- ----There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it). And through the refining fire and shaping process the Master Craftsman holds us closely. With God's Love, Lois
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Sun, Jun 8th - 12:02AM
OUR HEAVENLY HOME REVELATION 21:22 - 22:6 Movies often include scenes of people arriving home. Delighted to be back, they rush through the front door and gaze at all that is familiar. The aposte John's vision included glimpses inside our future home, New Jerusalem. The things from our abode will be missing? But what replaces them will be infinitely better. First, John told us he did not see any church building, "for the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb are its temple" (Revelation 21:22). No longer will the family of God in Christ be seperatd by denominations. Next, the apostle reported there will be neither sun nor moon to shine upon the city, "for the glorly of God has illumined it, and its lamp is the Lamb" (Revelation 21:23). There will be no need for electricity, flashlights, or candles! Third, the gates of the city will always be open. Unlike the present, locks will be unecessary in our heavenly home. Nothing impure will ever enter that future residence..sin is banished, and only holiness dwells in the heavenly place. Death and decay will also be absent. Neither nature nor mankind will ever suffer again from these. The abundant life in Christ will be a perfect reality there, as pain and suffering cease to exist. At the center of the holy city are the throne of Almighty God and the Lamb. Present in this city will be all those who have received spiritual life through the shed blood of Jesus Christ. Next time someone asks you where your home is, explain that you have two..one you live in now and a future one given to you by your loving heavenly Father. With God's Love, Lois
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Fri, Jun 6th - 11:02PM
THE CROSS: OUR BRIDGE TO GOD JOHN 14:1-6 We hear people say a God of love will not exclude someone from heaven. But this narow perspective overlooks the fact that He is also holy and just. Because of the Father's holiness, He cannot tolerate impurity in His presence. Therefore, sin...the willful disobedience that corrupts the heart..separates man from Him. In addition, God's justice demands punishment for wrongdoing. The penalty for sin is death (Ezekiel 18:4; Romans 6:23), which makes isolation from the Lord eternal. We can never be perfect and thereby earn access to the Father. Our efforts to build a bridge by means of right behavior or good works are of no use because we inevitably destroy the structure with sin. In His great love, God made a provision that allows us to enter His presence: He laid the cross over the gap created by our corruption. The penalty for our sin had to be paid, so the Father piled every transgression onto His Son and sent Him to die in our place. Only Jesus, who had no sin-debt of His own, could be the perfect sacrifice God reqired. But both Father and Son paid a heavy price..for a period of time, the connection between the two was severed. (Matthew 27:45-46) Jesus died so we could live eternally, and He endured separation from the Father so we could be forever connected with Him. Through His death, the savior satisfied the requirements of justice and demonstrated God's love for each of us. When we ask forgivenesss for our sins and receive Jesus into our lives, we cross the bridge into righteous communion with God. With God's Love, Lois
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Thu, Jun 5th - 5:28PM
THE BASICS OF FAITH 2 CORINTHIANS 5:6-9 -- Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. Wherefore we labor, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him. Most people live according to sight, feeling, and reasoning. In other words, life choices are based on preferences, obvious circumstances, and what one's limited knowledge determines is best. A decision made in this way can seem completely rational but be far outside the Lord's will. Our eyes, emotins and intuition can deceive us; however, God never will. As we live by faith, the center of our existence shifts from selfish ambition to Jesus Christ. We seek His way before making plans and depend on His provision for our needs. Proverbs 3:5-6 --Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. We build godly faith by prayer, reading, studying God's Word and Spiritual sermons, but we know that faith has to be experienced. Those who walk with the Lord do not await His commands in the comfort of their easy chair. All throughout Scripture, we see individuals act after placing trust in God. Deborah and Gideon each led their nation to war ( Judges 4:7 -- And I will draw unto thee to the river Kishon, Sisera, the caption of Jabin's army, with his chariots and his multitude; and I will deliver him into thine hand).......The apostle Paul went to the mission field. Acts 9:20 -- And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God........These people were putting their belief to work, strengthening their trust daily. We can stumble through our days with only our limited sight to guide us, or we can slip a hand confidently into our Lord's grasp and walk confidently. The choice is left to each believer. Give God just one area of your life, and you'll experience His trustworthiness. Give Him everything, and you will walk triumphantly every day. With God's Love, Lois
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Thu, Jun 5th - 12:29AM
JESUS IS OUR PEACE JOHN 14:27 -- Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. Some people read these words of Jesus and scoff, "Well, that was fine back then, but there is just no way to live free of anxiety today." To those who would raise this objection, let me ask: Is Jesus surprised by your troubles? Do you believe that your difficulties are beyond Jesus' understanding, or that He could not have imagined the stresses in your life? The view that any these are possible would certainly limit Jesus' sovereignty and infinite knowledge. You must remember that Jesus is not in some far..off place called heaven, simply looking down on us and doing His best to understand our lives. Instead, He stepped down from heaven and walked these streets with us. He knows the troubles of this life because He faced them Himself; in fact, He faced more trouble than we could possibly imagine. Hebrews 2:17-18 -- Wherefore in all things it behooved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the poeple. For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succor them that are tempted. Why, then, do we often fail to heed His call of peace, rest, and comfort? Matthew 11:28-30 -- Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto our souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. It is almost as though anxiety has become a close companion to many people, and the thought of surrendering it brings on even more stress. However, if you want to become the growing, mature, joyous believer the Lord has called you to be, then you must lay down your burdens. Anxiety, quite simply, is the enemy of the peace of God. As long as we hold on to our problems, we cannot pick up the armfuls of peace that Christ so freely offers. With God's Love, Lois
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Mon, Jun 2nd - 11:58PM
STANDING BEFORE GOD'S OPEN DOOR
1Corinthians 16:8-9 --- What an exciting time this is to be alive and serving the Lord! Think about the unparalleled door of opportunity that stands wide open before us to reach the entire world for Jesus Christ--it is tremendously motivating and inspiring to be able to participate in delivering the Gospel to so many people. The apostle Paul must have felt the same way when he wrote the Corinthians and told them of "the wide door for effective service" that the Lord had opened for him in Ephesus. (1Corinthians 16:9) God is like that. He is opening doors for each of us all the time. Every day, we wake up to a new opportunities to affect others for good. When we follow Jesus, we begin to understand that doors do not just swing ajar as we approach them; every opportunity signifies that Someone has gone before us to open that door. The question is, Will you walk through the doorway or keep to your own path? Today we have unprecedented technological capabilities and can transmit the Gospel broadly and effectively. The door is wide open, providing expanded opportunities to participate in the primary task of the church and the kingdom: the redemption of mankind. As followers of the Lord Jesus, we are all under a commission. (Matthew 28:19-20) We have been given the assignment from almighty God to get the Gospel to every person on the face of the globe. It is not a matter of choice: we are under obligation. In times like this, we should be asking where we personally fit into God's plan. We can't afford to sit back and act as if this job were intended for only preachers and missionaries. We may have all kinds of reason why we think that we are not qualified, but it is time we got past our excuses. We can read and study the Bible and then begin to share it with others. You have the Savior in whom you believe, and you have received eternal life from Him, so you should be able to talk about Him. We stand before an open door. Are you willing to step through it? With God's Love, Lois
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Sun, Jun 1st - 10:46PM
QUALIFICATIONS OF BISHOPS 1 TIMOTHY 3:1-7 -- This a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. V2..A bishop(or Pastor) then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behavior, given to hospitality, apt to teach; v3..Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; v4..One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; v5..(For if a man know now how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?) v6..Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil. V7. Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil. THE QUALIFICATIONS OF DEACONS Verse 8.. Likewise must the deacons be grave, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre; v9..Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience. V10..And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless. V11..Even so must their wives be grave, not slanders, sober, faithful in all things. V12..Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well. V13..For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus. Kjv MANY BLESSING TO THE ONES THAT GOD HAS CALLED TO BE PASTORS, PREACHERS, TEACHERS , DEACONS AND ALL THE OTHER HE HAS CALLED OUT TO DO HIS WORK…. With God’s Love, Lois
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Name: Lois J.
