Fri, Sep 15th - 10:45AM

Labeling Christians...

"Little children, yet a little while I am with you. Ye shall seek Me;

as I said unto the Jews, Whither I go, ye cannot come;

so now I say to you.

A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another;

as I have loved you, that ye also love love one another.

By this shall all men know that ye are My disciples, if ye have love one to another."

John 13:33-35

The question is do we wear the badge of Christ? Are you a labeled Christian, or just one by self proclaimation?It is possible to be a Christian without the label, but in order to share Christ, the Gospel or even the Salvation message in the most effective way, one must wear the mark of Christ...

Take a moment and consider what is truly being said in this passage; we are commanded to love. Sure it is without saying that we are to love one another, which within the four walls of the church building that may be easy (if not we just change churches like we do an old pair of shoes.) , yet there is to be a balance, please make note of the examples set by Jesus, He loved all of mankind, not just those close to Him.

Since all men bear the image of God. They have value, not because they are redeemed, but because they are God's creation in God's image. Francis Schaeffer drives this point home in his book the Mark of a Christian. It is said that modern man has rejected this thought of value. Man has no clue as to who he is, and because of this he can find no real value for himself or for other men. This tends to lead to downgrading the value of other men and produces the horrible thing we face today- a sick culture in which men treat men as inhuman, as machines.

Please make note that we as Christians are to love all men as they are or neighbors; we are to love them because they were created in the image of God. This is on the basis of creation not redemption. They are to be loved at even a great cost.

"As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good to all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith." Galatians 6:10

What does your label read?

Thu, Sep 14th - 11:18AM

Man's Transition....

"Lord, You have been our dwelling place in all generations.

Before the mountains were born or You gave birth to the earth and the world,

Even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God.

You turn man back into dust and say, "Return, O children of men."

For a thousand years in Your sight are like yesterday when it passes by,

Or as a watch in the night."

Psalm 90: 1-4

Oh how great is our God...

That there is truly none to compare to Him. There is such humility in this thought, for it brings to light the truth of humanity; we were not created for one another, but for the passion of a God that would desire for man to bask in His glory, That man would worship Him in all that they did; song dance, work, relationships....

The heart of man has been corrupted, and the spirit of man robbed; through the fall of mankind. Be not dismayed for the Lord has given even a soulotion to this, His name is Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Through the williness of the shedding of His blood for all men. God desire that not one would die, but that all would have eternal life.

Yet because of the depth of His love for each of us, He has allowed us a free will. God has given us a perfect example of love and yet we reason away any ability one might have to love this way. How many of us love our children, spouse or others in our life, so much that we are willing to make attempts to control them? If you are one that does not allow others to make their own choices, or to allow others to live through consequences then you might have too strong of a gripe on them... When we spend more time evaluating others rather then self (within the shadow of the cross) then we are not loving one another as God inteneded man to love... It is not about how others love and serve the Lord, it is how we do indivdually. It is about a personally relationship not a group call...(this does not excuse accountability, that is a whole other topic)

It has been experienced through this life, that the closer to God, the smaller the space to squirm; the greater the expectation from those close...If one is truly willing to live within the Shadow the Almighty, then one must be prepared for what comes with it.

The foot of the cross is not a neat clean place, it was caked with many different mixtures of human waste, there was nothing clean about it...You see it is not where one is to remain, it is just a place of refuge for a time appointed by the Lord. Just as they carried His body to the tomb, so we too must follow Him to the place where victory over death was truly conquered...To live within the power and authority that Jesus took back from the enemy...Life eternal, to walk within His Shadow...

"You have swept them away like a flood, they fall asleep;

In the morning they are like grass which sprouts anew.

In the morning it flourishes and sprouts anew;

Toward evening it fades and withers away.

For we are consumed by Your anger and by Your wrath we have been dismayed.

You have placed our iniquities before You.

Our secret sins in the light of Your presence.

For all our days have declined in Your fury;

We have finished our years like a sigh.

As for the days of our life, they contain seventy years, or if due to strength, eighty years,

Yet their pride is but labor and sorrow;

For soon it is gone and we fly away.

who understands the power of Your anger and Your fury, according to the fear that is due You?

So teach us to number our days,

That we may present to You a heart of wisdom.

Do return, O Lord, how long will it be?

And be sorry for Your servants.

O satisfy us in the morning with Your loving kindness, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.

Make us glad according to the days You have afflected us, and the years we have seen evil.

Let Your work appear to Your servants and Your majesty to their children.

Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us:

And confirm for us the work of our hands;

Yes, confirm the work of our hands."

Psalm 90:5-17

Wed, Sep 13th - 10:35AM

"Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne;

Lovingkindness and truth go before You."

Psalm 89:14

The Lord is coming to restore justice and truth. Is not God all about justice;

it is the very foundation of His throne.

Tue, Sep 12th - 10:35AM

Acknowledge God's Supreme Power

"Drip down, O heavens, from above,

And let the clouds pour down righteousness:

Let the earth open up and salvation bear fruit,

And righteousness spring up with it.

I, the Lord have created it."

Isaiah 45:8

Cry out unto your Lord, your Savior, allow your heart to pour forth unto Him. Spirit of the living God, have mercy on us, as we stumble through this journey called "life". Your servant is here, awaiting Your touch, so to awaken that which has slumbered and has yet to break forth... May this mouth decree forth Your righteousness, desiring to experience the fruit of Your salvation....For you have created it, truly there is none like you!