God is good all the time...here's why!

Discussion in 'Discussion Group' started by Strawbaleman, Jun 9, 2007.

  1. Kent

    Kent Well-Known Member

  2. Kent

    Kent Well-Known Member

    In light of some of the posts I've been reading lately, this was my devotion today from Dr. Adrian Rogers. Seems appropriate and timely.

    BIBLE MEDITATION:
    "Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise: be thankful unto Him, and bless His name." Psalm 100:4

    DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
    There was a preacher on a train. He saw a well-dressed man and magnificently dressed woman with expensive jewelry. The woman was complaining about everything -- the train ride, the weather, the news, the food, the service.

    The preacher decided to engage this couple in a conversation. He asked the man what kind of business he was in and the man told him. Then he asked, "What does your wife do?" He said, "Oh, she's in the manufacturing business. She manufactures her own unhappiness."

    There are a lot of people like that. They manufacture their misery because they fail to be grateful. Only Christ can turn our lives around and stir up a grateful heart within.

    ACTION POINT:
    Go through the alphabet and be thankful for something with each letter.

    Share devotional with a friend
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  3. MommySAIDno

    MommySAIDno Well-Known Member

    Great reminder Kent!:-D
     
  4. God'schild

    God'schild Well-Known Member

    This is a devotional from Bible.com that I read today. it is so correct in that we want everything to be done NOW and our prayers answered NOW. Here is some insight to what we SHOULD be doing while praying. Maybe this will clear things up for those who think that God doesn't answer their prayers.

    Thoughts for the Day

    This verse from Proverbs uses an illustration as to how a gold earring becomes an ornament on an ear, so are the wise man's words of reproof, when someone has a listening ear and will obey. Obedience is a necessary ingredient in the Christian walk.

    We must obey when God speaks to us and not try to get God to accept our way of doing things. His ways are higher than our ways. Our precious Lord would never ask us to do anything that would not bring a blessing to our lives. Sometimes that blessing is not immediately seen; yet if we hold fast and continue to follow in His ways, we will discover He has a most beautiful plan for our lives. We must let the Lord work His patient nature into our lives and not always expect instant answers. This is difficult for us as we are living in an age in which everything is instant: instant coffee, instant tea, instant mashed potatoes, etc.

    One of the things that must accompany our faith is obedience, which Abel was an example of in Genesis 4. Cain and Abel were brothers and both of them brought an offering to God. However, Cain's sacrifice was rejected of God, while Abel's was accepted. The reason for this was Abel obeyed God's rule and brought a blood sacrifice, while Cain brought the fruit of the ground as his offering. Abel obeyed and did it God's way, coming in faith and obedience, while Cain disobeyed by bringing an offering he determined would be accepted.

    Hebrews 11:4: By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.

    James 2:17-18: Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works; shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.

    The works mentioned refer to the works of the Spirit, not works of the flesh. We can do many so-called good works and still not be pleasing to God, for He looks upon the heart and not upon the outward appearance. We must obey from the heart and do those things that are pleasing to God. Faith and works go together; the one is not complete without the other. We know that faith without works is dead.

    Cain approached God with a sacrifice that was not acceptable because rebellion was in his heart; he didn't do the things God required, as Abel did. Many times we pray for God to do certain things, but we are not willing to be the vessels that He uses to bring them about.

    For example, we pray and ask God to save our relatives, yet we want the Lord to send someone else to them with the salvation message. We must be willing to be the one God uses to tell them of His love. In fact, for every prayer we pray, we must be willing to be the vessel that God uses to answer that prayer. The Lord may not always require it of us, but we must be willing. If we are praying that God meets someone's financial needs, then we must be willing to be the one who does it. If we are praying for God to provide a place for someone to stay, then we must be ready to open our house to that person. Whatever we pray, if it is possible for us to be the answer, then we must be willing for the Lord to use us. We must obey God, even if our flesh is resisting what the Lord would have us do. We must determine to follow and obey God regardless of the cost.

    We can pray long hours, fast, and sacrifice in many ways; yet if we do not obey, it will all be in vain. That is why many do not see the answers to their prayers. They refuse to obey the things the Lord speaks to them. Obedience and faith go "hand in hand." They will not work separately. Works of the Spirit are those that are commissioned by God. All works of the flesh are futile. When the Bible speaks of faith without works being dead, it is speaking of those spiritual works inspired by God. They are the outcome of our faith and walk with God. When we walk with God, we will do those works that are pleasing to Him.

    I Samuel 15:22: ...Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.

    Prayer for the Day

    Dear Heavenly Father, Thank You for all of the things You are doing in my life. Lord, I do want to have a listening and obedient ear to all You are speaking to me. Lord, help me to obey quickly when You speak to me to do something. Lord, I do want to overcome my flesh and walk in the spirit and always have faith and trust in You. I choose to do it Your way and not mine, no matter what the cost, as I want to go all the way with You. Remove anything from my heart that would hinder my walk in You. I ask this in the name of Your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.
     
  5. ServerSnapper

    ServerSnapper Well-Known Member

    I thought this topic was buried three days ago. But it has risen again. Sorry bad humor.
     
  6. nsanemom22

    nsanemom22 Well-Known Member

    haha ... just goes to show ya, God is always here! [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: Sep 26, 2007
  7. God'schild

    God'schild Well-Known Member

    Since this is a thread about GOD, I felt it appropriate. This may have helped someone out there who feels like they are forgottoen by God. It may not mean much to you but to maybe ONE person out of thousands, it could be like water to dry land.......Think about it......;)
     
  8. Kent

    Kent Well-Known Member

    God'schild: You did a fine job with that devotional.
     
  9. God'schild

    God'schild Well-Known Member

    Kent,

    Why are people so upset at God for the bad things that happen and then when you try to help them, like this devotional, they get even more upset. It's like, they just want to blame blame blame and not except a solution. Does "blaming" feel THAT good???? I hear so many people downing God an prayer and all it entails because they didn't get it THEIR way. And then ya try to help and give an answer as to how and what we need to do, like in this devotional, they won't accept it. :confused: :confused: I just want to shake them and say, "Are you completely oblivious? I just gave you the answer!!!" :roll: For the life of me I will NEVER understand. I mean some won't even TRY. But yet theyll sit and sulk and complain all day in self pity. Seems to me like the better thing to do is try it the way God wants ya to. You waste more time and energy sulking and pitying yourself. Oh and yes, I am speaking to myself as well.....I have been just as guilty. But I've learned, and am still learning, that God's way is the ONLY way to get it right.....even when it doesn't make sense.;)
     
  10. Kent

    Kent Well-Known Member

    I found what I thought was a good response to your question:

    Many are quick to ask: Where is God in the world today?

    To honestly answer this one, we’ve got to slow down and ask ourselves: Well, where am I?

    We tend to blame God rather than blame ourselves because it hurts us less when we’re not to blame. The last thing any of us want to hear is how wrong we are. But, sometimes we need to know our wrongs before things can ever seem right.

    The truth is that we live in a world where the majority of people have turned away from God. They have rejected God’s Laws. They refuse to obey God. Instead, they give themselves over to their own desires. They set their hearts on money, pleasure, technology, fashion, etc.

    And so, these things become their god, because they set their heart on them. They forget the Giver and get carried away with the gifts. No wonder it seems as if God is not here, the lives that most of the people of this world are living don’t invite God in, they reject Him!

    INSTRUCTION

    God strictly commands that all the people He creates in the world should live a certain way. God, who knows best, instructs us with the way that we’re supposed to live. He made rules and set them up as laws for us to obey, for our own good. Following them will keep us safe from danger. God’s laws are
    laws of love. If the people of the world lived by God’s laws, this world would be such a better place for all.

    Jesus showed us that the 10 commandments can be summed up as follows:
    “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind.” - love God! He created you, and wants to bless your life in abundance. He wants to set you free from all your troubles. He’ll come to save your life if you let Jesus Christ in.

    “Love your neighbor as yourself” This means care for other people! We all need to have others who care about us! We all know how much it means to know people who care about us!

    DISOBEDIENCE

    However, many become disobedient. They forget about God. They treat Him as if He didn’t exist. They turn away from God and to the many distractions of the world. Without God they have no true knowledge of good, and so they unkowingly surrender themselves over to evil things.

    They think worthless thoughts. They accept evil lies and believe them as if they were the truth. They speak against God and say that He doesn’t exist. They ignore God. They reject God’s promises. They live unfaithfully to God’s laws. They live but have no idea why they were created, why they’re here, and what the purpose of their life is. They’re alive but they’re ignorant of life, and so they’re as good as dead.

    An evil heart has grown up in all of us humans. This evil heart has made us disobedient toward God. It has separated us from God, and has caused in us mental, physical, and spiritual corruption. This evil heart has brought us into the ways of death, removing us far from abundant life.

    WAKE UP

    We’ve been blindfolded by the devil. We’ve got to start seeing the world for what it really is. We’ve got to stop thinking that death, sickness, war, poverty, famine, murder, suicide, pain, etc are normal parts of life. These things don’t just happen. They happen for a reason. The world wasn’t always like this. God created a perfect world. The world became this way after humanity rebelled against God. We’ve separated ourselves from God and so the fullness of God’s power is no longer in full effect over the world. This is why the world is full of problems.

    “But know this, that in the last days dangerous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, braggers, proud, disrespectful of holy things, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, gossipers, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, traitors, stubborn, arrogant, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God…led away by various
    lusts, always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.” 2 TIMOTHY 3

    Many of you can also admit that you see and notice these things in yourself as well. We are living dangerous times, we are living in the last days. What the Bible predicted thousands of years ago is what is happening today. And every Bible prediction has come true. The coming of Jesus Christ was predicted hundreds of years before in the Old Testament. We’re living a life separated from God. That’s why we look for God but do not see God. We must repent and turn back to God.

    REALIZE

    “But I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Therefore remember from where you have fallen, and repent…” Rev 2:4-5. These are God’s very words to the people of this planet. We’ve abandoned God, our first love. He was the one who loved us before anyone else even knew about us.

    God has invited many, but very few respond to Him. We could turn to God and draw near to Him anytime we want, but most of us stay away. God provides for our every day, He holds us up, waiting for us to turn back to Him. Don’t expect to hear God’s voice or to see God before you even consider Him. We live a life separated from God because of sin (rebellion). God gave us a free will. We have to choose God before we can experience Him. We have to make that choice, then God will respond to us.

    Very few respond to God because We have other things in our lives that seem more important. Work, friends, family, making money, having fun, etc. Are these things really more important than the almighty God of the universe and Father of us all, who is the only reason why we’re breathing. It’s not because of our friends, not because of money or fun, but because God made it to be so. It’s not even because of our parents, they couldn’t do much for us during the first 9 months of our existence.

    WHAT GOD SAYS (from the Bible)

    The LORD says “I called but you did not answer, I spoke but you did not listen. You did evil in my sight and chose what displeases me.”

    The LORD says “All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient people, who walk in ways not good, pursuing their own imaginations, a people who continually provoke me with their sins.”

    The LORD says “Surely the arm of the LORD is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear. But your sins have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear.”

    Those who do not turn to God are rebelling toward God. Those who turn to God, he calls His children and His servants. About this the LORD says: “My servants will eat, but you will go hungry; my servants will drink, but you will go thirsty; my servants will rejoice, but you will be put to shame. My
    servants will sing out of the joy of their hearts, but you will cry out from anguish of heart and wail in brokenness of spirit.” God will not keep silent but will pay back to each according to what they deserve.

    REPENT

    Definition of Repent: To sorrow or be pained for sin, as a violation of God’s holy law, a dishonor to his character and government, and the foulest ingratitude toward God’s infinite love for us.

    1. Repent ( have a change of mind which issues in regret for past sins and in change of conduct for the better)

    “But your sins have separated you from your God”

    Our sins are what separate us from God. John the Baptist came telling everyone to repent. Jesus Christ came telling everyone to repent because the Kingdom of God (of heaven) is on its way. Before that, there is the judgment time when each one of us will have to stand before God to be judged either for heaven or for hell.

    Imagine the pain God feels when He looks down on earth today and sees the majority of HIS children rebelling against Him and turning their back on Him. Some will even go as far as deny that He even exists.

    If a child constantly disobeyed and rebelled against his/her parents, imagine the pain they would feel. The parents do so much for their child, and this is the thank you they get? A rebellious child who does not love them, does not care about them, does not listen to them, and does not respect them. The parents would be heartbroken. How much more is God heartbroken by the billions of people who turn their back to Him day after day.

    We need to repent. We need to turn away from our disobedient life and turn back to God. We need to acknowledge that we’re in the wrong. We need to admit that we have been rebelling against God and His perfect laws of love. We should feel so sorry about our disobedience toward God. Sorry means we’ll
    never want to do it again. Sorry means that we’ll now want to obey God, we’ll want to learn God’s perfect laws and live by them. Our lives will only improve from there!

    As we repent and turn to God, we plead for His forgiveness because He’s so good and we’ve been so bad. God gave us all one way back to Him, and that way is Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is the only way in which sinners can be saved. Jesus Christ is the only way back home to the Father.

    In Luke 13:3, the Lord Jesus Christ said, “…unless you repent, you shall all likewise perish.” If there’s one thing we need to know, it’s repentance. Whether we repent or not affects our eternal destiny. We are all sinners and can only be cleansed from sin by repenting (turning from sin) and turning to Jesus Christ for salvation.

    2. Believe (trust in, rely on) the good news (the Gospel).

    The good news is that God sent His Son Jesus Christ to save sinners! Though we are worthy of destruction because of our sins, God does not destroy us. He loves us so much that He sent us a Savior! The punishments that we deserve to suffer for our disobedience towards God have already been paid. Jesus Christ took our sins upon himself and suffered punishment for them. Jesus Christ paid the penalty for each and every one of us. When we believe that Jesus Christ died for our sins and resurrected for our victory, his saving sacrifices covers our sins and God forgives us when we repent. Jesus Christ reconciles us back to God.

    The moment we accept Jesus Christ as Savior and Master of our lives, His saving sacrifice cleanses us from sin and purifies our hearts. In Christ, our spirits come to life. We are made anew, a new birth of the spirit begins in us. We are adopted as children of God, inheriting amazing blessings!

    Jesus Christ said “I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.”

    God’s Kingdom will be composed of spirits that have been born of God. God’s Kingdom will be composed of a divine royal family of God that will help administer God’s Government over all of the universe forever. Adopted children of God will be born into the soon coming Kingdom of God and they will help to establish heaven on earth forever!

    And so, it’s not about where God is (don’t worry, He’s very much alive and watching) but it’s about where you are in your relationship with God. If you have no relationship with God, then of course you can’t see Him and you doubt Him.

    Don’t throw it all away, turn to God today!
     
  11. mommy3

    mommy3 Well-Known Member

    Feeling a little low tonight with all that is going on in the neighborhood.

    Spent some time re-reading this thread for some uplifting.

    Thanks again Kent for starting this thread.
     
  12. Jester

    Jester Well-Known Member

    Got a good report from our child's eye doctor that his eyesight has improved remarkably in just a few months. Thank you, Lord. My son has been offering me some words of encouragement the past few days.

    The other day he wanted to stop at the convenient store to get some chocolate milk. They were out and he was disappointed. Couple of days ago he wanted to stop again. I told him they may not have it. He said, "They will...you just got to believe." They had it.

    Then the other night, I was asking him about his statement about believing and he said, "dad...sometimes you have to put your brain on your heart." More I thought about it, the more it made sense.

    Out of the mouths of babes...
     
  13. Kent

    Kent Well-Known Member

    mommy3: Thought about you when I read my devotional for today from Dr. Adrian Rogers' Love Worth Finding:

    BIBLE MEDITATION:
    ". . . the very hairs of your head are all numbered." Matthew 10:30

    DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
    The Lord sees you. He knows all about you. And I guarantee you on the authority of the Word of God, that He loves you.

    This is amazing when you realize that we are just specks on a globe that's about the size of a grain of sand or less compared to the size of the universe. There's no more reason that the Lord of glory should be interested in us then we should be interested in an ant floating on a piece of cheesecake in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean.

    And yet our Lord looks down and He sees us as cherished individuals that He loves one by one. The great God that runs the universe is concerned about you as though that were His only goal.

    - - - - -

    Jester: That is a fantastic saying from your son.
     
  14. mommy3

    mommy3 Well-Known Member

    Thanks Kent,
    I would love to meet you in person one day. I tell so many people about you and this thread. With all of our turmoil in the neighborhood I have really struggled with the person I am today vs. the one from my past. Anger vs. forgiveness. Ultimately, I layed a lot at the alter yesterday at church. I came away with a better sense of understanding and forgiveness for my anger. And, as an added plus, my youngest son (9) came to know Christ yesterday!!!! We had been having quiet moments with scripture for weeks working up to this time. It was just the 2 of us riding in the car. He began crying and talking about how he wanted to go to heaven and did not want to go "you know where" when he died. I pulled over on the side of the road right then. When the Lord calls...stop and listen.

    Everyone...please pray for our once happy little community. In my heart I believe that all will be well once again.

    Thanks
     
  15. Kent

    Kent Well-Known Member

    mommy3: that is great news about your son!

    Tell him that he made news in Heaven yesterday, that his name was written down in the Lamb's Book of Life, never, never, NEVER to be erased.

    You did great by pulling over while the Lord was dealing with your son. You never know when or where the Lord wants to do His work.

    As for you, my sister in the Lord, the foot of the Cross is the only place to lay your burdens.

    Family, friends, co-workers, neighbors - all will let you down - but there's always room at the Cross for you.

    Jesus said, "Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." Matt 11:28-30

    This song's for you tonight: There is a river - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l5n8w3OI70Y
     
    Last edited: Oct 1, 2007
  16. Kent

    Kent Well-Known Member

    Dads - this is for you

    A mother was doing some yard work one day while Paddy, the family dog, romped in the front yard by the road.

    A rabbit was spooked in some nearby bushes and took off across the road with the dog in hot pursuit.

    Not paying attention, Paddy ran out in front of an oncoming car and was killed.

    The mother wondered how she was going to tell her young son the bad news. He would soon be arriving home from school on the bus. She wished her husband was home from his never-ending business trips so he could be the one to break the news.

    As the son stepped off the bus and saw his mother, he sensed something was wrong.

    “Son, I have some bad news”, said Mom. “Paddy was hit by a car today and died.”

    The son looked down at his feet, not saying anything, kind of shuffled his feet, and then looked back up at his mom, and said, “OK”, and then ran off to play on the swings.

    “Wow!” thought mom. “That wasn’t what I expected.”

    As supper time neared, the young boy’s older sister arrived home from a part time job after school.

    When the three of them had all gathered around the table, Mom said to her daughter, “I’ve already told your brother, but I have some bad news. Paddy was struck by a car today and died.”

    At that very moment the young boy’s head snapped toward his mother and with tears streaming down his eyes he exclaimed, “Paddy! Paddy is dead?! No! I can’t believe it! I loved Paddy so much!”

    “But, son,” said his mom, “I told you when you got off the bus that Paddy was killed. You hardly had any reaction at all. Why are you carrying on like this now?”

    “I thought you said Daddy was dead. Not Paddy!”, said the heart-broken boy.

    - - - - - - - -

    Dad, is this the reaction your son or daughter would have?

    Are you developing a solid, personal relationship with your children as the spiritual and moral leader of your home?

    Can your family look to you for guidance and comfort in a world going to Hell?

    Or, is your precious family time being diverted to other things such as work, going out with your friends to (___fill in the blank___), playing with your big-boy toys, or with you just vegetating on a couch watching TV, oblivious of the needs of your family?

    - - - - - - - -

    Here's a good summary I found by Angie Lewis. It's not all inclusive, but a great start:

    Responsibilities of a spiritual leader:

    1. Loving God (Christ) with all your heart, mind and soul. You will not be able to lead your home properly if you do not submit to God's will for you.

    2. Bringing God's truth and wisdom into the home.

    3. Making major decisions for the home, but not before discussing your decision with your wife, unless for some reason she is unable to interact with you and the decision needs to be made immediately.

    4. Discussing all minor decisions with the wife, and coming to a spiritually based conclusion, even if the wife has to compromise with her husband.

    5. Submitting your undying devotion to your wife, meaning you are willing to die for her if you have to. Besides God, your wife is the most cherished and loved person in your life. Love her with the wisdom God has given you, and she will understand how to submit to your authority. She really will. It is a natural loving process that any spiritual minded woman will see.

    6. Protecting wife and children from all physical, mental, and emotional danger.

    7. Disciplining the children in the ways of the Lord, and not in the ways of the world. Wife can do minor disciplinary if it is what both husband and wife have agreed upon already. Dad protects his children from outside negative influences doing whatever it takes to keep children safe, secure, educated and loved properly.

    The main focus here is to believe in yourself! Have faith that this is what your true responsibility as husband and father are. You must try and do the best you can and continually pray that God give you the wisdom and instruction for your duties every single day!

    A spiritual leader needs to place God FIRST in his life, above all others, even wife and children. The man who submits to God recognizes wisdom for his life and marriage, and will do whatever it takes to keep it together.

    Here are the five major objectives of becoming a good spiritual leader.

    1. Bible study: at least 2 times a week. Don't be intimidated by the words, "bible study". Just read the bible and you will be studying it. God knows your heart and He will give you the answers you need.

    2. Start disciplining, protecting children and wife properly – Values and morals need to be assessed on everyone in the home. Have family discussions about new responsibilities, tasks, and roles that they will partake in.

    3. Proper decision-making – Discernment about functions, friends, relations, issues in the home. Ask for the wisdom to discern what is right for your family.

    4. Be a good example to self, wife, children, and above all God.

    5. Make all needed changes in the home that will benefit everyone involved. Be team players working together instead of each family member going their separate ways.

    How can a man become the spiritual leader in his home?

    1. Get organized and focused on your objectives. Know what you're going to say to the family before you say it.

    2. Get family all together and explain your intentions, making sure everyone understands the new structure in the home, whatever you have decided upon.

    3. Have a twice a week bible study and counseling with the whole family.

    4. Stand firm to God's word by placing wife, children, marriage, and self under the foundations of Jesus Christ. This is a calling for all men, but many have just not seen it that way.

    5. Keep studying, learning, growing, and gaining more and more spiritual insight for you and your family to grow on. Always stay faithful.

    You can do this!

    Do not let anyone tell you otherwise. You have the potential to feel good about yourself, and have a great family and marriage. It is up to you and how much effort you are willing to put into it, that's all. Be all that God wants you to be and you will have the wisdom you were meant to have.

    At first your wife may rebel.

    She is used to having things her way. But whose error is that? The way things are going between husband and wife these days it is not just the fault of the woman who feels she needs to be the man in high heels, but the weakness of the man who hasn't yet recognized his god-given role in life!

    Love your wife with the wisdom God has given you and she will submit to your love for her.

    Link: http://www.ezinearticles.com/?Its-Not-To-Late-To-Be-The-Spiritual-Leader-In-Your-Home&id=163430
     
  17. Kent

    Kent Well-Known Member

    Personal Testimony and Oh What a Savior - the names of our Lord!

    Quick personal testimony - Yesterday was a great day! On two different occasions I met a musician from Long Island, NY, and a retired Navy Lieutenant Commander raised in N. Wake Co.

    We spent about 20 minutes apiece sharing with each other our love for the Lord and how each of us were led to Christ.

    What a blessing those two encounters were to me.

    And you know what, both conversations started out about something else entirely. All it took was for me to ask a simple question: Where are you going to church?

    What do you talk about with your family, friends, neighbors, and co-workers?

    How long do you go during the week without ever getting into any type of spiritual discussion with someone?

    One of my sister churches has as their motto: Find those who need Jesus, feed all on the word until we are fully established in Christ!

    How are you going to find them?

    How about a conversation?

    We are the salt of the Earth, a light to a dark and dying world!

    Make a difference in someone's life today! Introduce them to Jesus, the name above all names!

    The consequences are Eternal.

    - - - - - - - - - - -


    The whole Bible is filled with references to Jesus in one way or another. Beyond that, the primary message spread by the Lord Himself and his followers was to go directly to Jesus Himself, place a submissive-obedient faith and trust in him and continue [endure] to the end for salvation.

    It is very easy to see why we are directed by God to do this after noting the various ways the Lord Jesus is described by his many names and titles. Each refers to yet another important place or position that Jesus holds in God’s plan for man’s salvation.

    Please ponder how precious and preeminently important Jesus is for man’s salvation.

    The truth is: Jesus is the all-sufficient Savior. No other savior is needed besides Him or with Him. (Please know that the following is just a partial listing of the many Scriptural names and titles of the Lord. There are others not listed here.)

    Advocate (1 John 2:1)
    Almighty (Rev. 1:8; Mt. 28:18)
    Alpha and Omega (Rev. 1:8; 22:13)
    Amen (Rev. 3:14)
    Apostle of our Profession (Heb. 3:1)
    Atoning Sacrifice for our Sins (1 John 2:2)
    Author of Life (Acts 3:15)
    Author and Perfecter of our Faith (Heb. 12:2)
    Author of Salvation (Heb. 2:10)
    Beginning and End (Rev. 22:13)
    Blessed and only Ruler (1 Tim. 6:15)
    Bread of God (John 6:33)
    Bread of Life (John 6:35; 6:48)
    Bridegroom (Mt. 9:15)
    Capstone (Acts 4:11; 1 Pet. 2:7)
    Chief Cornerstone (Eph. 2:20)
    Chief Shepherd (1 Pet. 5:4)
    Christ (1 John 2:22)
    Creator (John 1:3)
    Deliverer (Rom. 11:26)
    Eternal Life (1 John 1:2; 5:20)
    Gate (John 10:9)
    Faithful and True (Rev. 19:11)
    Faithful Witness (Rev. 1:5)
    Faithful and True Witness (Rev. 3:14)
    First and Last (Rev. 1:17; 2:8; 22:13)
    Firstborn From the Dead (Rev. 1:5)
    Firstborn over all creation (Col. 1:15)
    Gate (John 10:9)
    God (John 1:1; 20:28; Heb. 1:8; Rom. 9:5; 2 Pet. 1:1;1 John 5:20; etc.)
    Good Shepherd (John 10:11,14)
    Great Shepherd (Heb. 13:20)
    Great High Priest (Heb. 4:14)
    Head of the Church (Eph. 1:22; 4:15; 5:23)
    Heir of all things (Heb. 1:2)
    High Priest (Heb. 2:17)
    Holy and True (Rev. 3:7)
    Holy One (Acts 3:14)
    Hope (1 Tim. 1:1)
    Hope of Glory (Col. 1:27)
    Horn of Salvation (Luke 1:69)
    I Am (John 8:58)
    Image of God (2 Cor. 4:4)
    Immanuel (Mt. 1:23)
    Judge of the living and the dead (Acts 10:42)
    King Eternal (1 Tim. 1:17)
    King of Israel (John 1:49)
    King of the Jews (Mt. 27:11)
    King of kings (1 Tim 6:15; Rev. 19:16)
    King of the Ages (Rev. 15:3)
    Lamb (Rev. 13:8)
    Lamb of God (John 1:29)
    Lamb Without Blemish (1 Pet. 1:19)
    Last Adam (1 Cor. 15:45)
    Life (John 14:6; Col. 3:4)
    Light of the World (John 8:12)
    Lion of the Tribe of Judah (Rev. 5:5)
    Living One (Rev. 1:18)
    Living Stone (1 Pet. 2:4)
    Lord (2 Pet. 2:20)
    Lord of All (Acts 10:36)
    Lord of Glory (1 Cor. 2:8)
    Lord of lords (Rev. 19:16)
    Man from Heaven (1 Cor. 15:48)
    Mediator of the New Covenant (Heb. 9:15)
    Mighty God (Isa. 9:6)
    Morning Star (Rev. 22:16)
    Offspring of David (Rev. 22:16)
    Only Begotten Son of God (John 1:18; 1 John 4:9)
    Our Great God and Savior (Titus 2:13)
    Our Holiness (1 Cor. 1:30)
    Our Husband (2 Cor. 11:2)
    Our Protection (2 Thess. 3:3)
    Our Redemption (1 Cor. 1:30)
    Our Righteousness (1 Cor. 1:30)
    Our Sacrificed Passover Lamb (1 Cor. 5:7)
    Power of God (1 Cor. 1:24)
    Precious Cornerstone (1 Pet. 2:6)
    Prophet (Acts 3:22)
    Rabbi (Mt. 26:25)
    Resurrection and Life (John 11:25)
    Righteous Branch (Jer. 23:5)
    Righteous One (Acts 7:52; 1 John 2:1)
    Rock (1 Cor. 10:4)
    Root of David (Rev. 5:5; 22:16)
    Ruler of God’s Creation (Rev. 3:14)
    Ruler of the Kings of the Earth (Rev. 1:5)
    Savior (Eph. 5:23; Titus 1:4; 3:6; 2 Pet. 2:20)
    Son of David (Lk. 18:39)
    Son of God (John 1:49; Heb. 4:14)
    Son of Man (Mt. 8:20)
    Son of the Most High God (Lk. 1:32)
    Source of Eternal Salvation for all who obey him (Heb. 5:9)
    The One Mediator (1 Tim. 2:5)
    The Stone the builders rejected (Acts 4:11)
    True Bread (John 6:32)
    True Light (John 1:9)
    True Vine (John 15:1)
    Truth (John 1:14; 14:6)
    Way (John 14:6)
    Wisdom of God (1 Cor. 1:24)
    Word (John 1:1)
    Word of God (Rev. 19:13)

    JESUS can be fully trusted and relied upon 100% for our personal salvation. There is no surer source of truth, for he himself is the truth and only way to God (John 14:6).

    Link: http://www.evangelicaloutreach.org/jesustitles.htm
     
  18. Kent

    Kent Well-Known Member

  19. Kent

    Kent Well-Known Member

    What was I supposed to be? - Ray Boltz

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eMA4zgWbRyE&mode=related&search=

    When Jesus walked upon the earth
    On the shores of Galilee
    He'd say to his disciples,
    Let the little children come to me

    I wonder if up in heaven
    Do you suppose we'll see
    Little children ask Him,
    What was I supposed to be?

    CHORUS:
    What was I supposed to be?
    What were my eyes supposed to see?
    And why did I taste of death
    Before I even drew a breath
    Or laid my head
    At my mother's breast to sleep
    Oh, Jesus, what was I supposed to be?

    CHORUS

    Was I to be a prophet
    Used in the ministry?
    A doctor who would find the cure
    For some terrible disease?
    Even if I'd been born imperfect
    Why couldn't my parents see
    That I'd have been made perfect
    When you came back for me?
    Oh, Jesus,

    CHORUS

    What was I supposed to be?
    Jesus, what was I supposed to be?

    - - - - - - - -
    It's around 0130 hrs and I should have been in the rack an hour ago, but my spirit was restless tonight, and the Lord just kept me up until I found this song by Ray Boltz.

    Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, And before you were born I consecrated you; I have appointed you a prophet to the nations. Jeremiah 1:5

    I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, And my soul knows it very well. Psalm 139:14
     
  20. Kent

    Kent Well-Known Member

    The Bridge - a powerful video

    http://www.godtube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=13a4a045cd290bc2ae2d&page=4&viewtype=&category=mv

    - - - - - - - - - -

    Have you ever just felt like shouting, "Thank you, Lord!"?

    Let's do it right now!

    Thank you, Lord!

    Thank you, Lord!

    One more time...Thank you, Lord!

    Glory, that felt good to me.

    How about you? Feel anything at all?

    Well, let's do this.

    Stand up.

    Hold your hands out like you were going to catch someone.

    Now, repeat those three simple words - Thank you, Lord! - until your soul is saturated with the peace of the Holy Spirit ministering to you.

    As you are repeating those words feel your spirit get lighter and lighter as you release the weights and burdens of any guilt and stress and anxiety and hurt and anquish and doubt that you've been carrying long enough.

    Thank you, Lord!

    Thank you, Lord!

    I love you, Lord!
     

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