My Trials and Temptations

Hello, sorry so long since the last post, I have been spending much time in thoughtful prayer and contemplation. I have had many trials and temptations as of late and really, I was trying to make sense of them all. I have been just confused and mystified at all the things that seem to come up and get in the way of my relationship with my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Then I stopped trying to figure it out and listened to Brother Larry’s sermon. Let me just mention how thankful I am for Bro. Larry, Sister Patsy and their family. Not only are they priceless role models for Christian living but also they are truly compassionate Christians! Sometimes these qualities are just hard to find. I am thankful that God’s perfect path for my life included them, I am. Even if I do not see the path as perfect and I do not agree that the dips and curves are joyous and a smile is not always on my little face, I realize God’s perfect will I am to thankful to obey.
For the past 3 weeks now, our patient Pastor has been preaching out of James 1. I am one of those who do mark in her Bible the dates and yes the “cliff notes” if you will to summarize if ever I need to go there for a quick reference. Last week when I realized that we were on the same chapter and verse I was a bit confused. Then this past Sunday when we were again on the same chapter and verse I was a bit shocked, until it came to me. I got it! Not that I did not already know, but maybe with all the stuff that is life I have forgotten or just took for granted the “living word” the Bible! The power of this chapter and verses in James just about felt like a slap to the face.
I have noticed the frustration on Brother Larry’s face and in his voice while preaching to a sometimes not so enthusiastic crowd . And again I wondered what are we missing? What is it that he is trying to get across to us that we apparently are missing? And I read and I researched and I asked and I did not get it! Guess we were trying his patience. Now I am not speaking for the whole of our church, for I am positive that there are many in our congregation who understood and “got” his meaning behind this. I am just speaking for myself. But I feel sure there are a few other than myself who might have felt the same!
And this is the chapter and verse, read through them they are enlightening as all God’s words are!

James 1
Greeting to the Twelve Tribes
1 James, a bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,

To the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad:

Greetings.
Profiting from Trials

2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
The Perspective of Rich and Poor

9 Let the lowly brother glory in his exaltation, 10 but the rich in his humiliation, because as a flower of the field he will pass away. 11 For no sooner has the sun risen with a burning heat than it withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beautiful appearance perishes. So the rich man also will fade away in his pursuits.
Loving God Under Trials

12 Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. 13 Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. 14 But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. 15 Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.
16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. 17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. 18 Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures.
Qualities Needed in Trials

19 So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; 20 for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.
Doers—Not Hearers Only

21 Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; 24 for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. 25 But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.
26 If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless. 27 Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.

So, what do you think? I cannot pretend to know another’s heart or the reasons for their actions. I cannot even assume that I might understand why others act or say what they do. However, I do know my own heart and reasons for my actions. I do know and understand this.

I know that the BIBLE is the LIVING WORD OF GOD. And that there is power on those pages that are life altering. For me understanding this makes all the difference in my daily walk with Christ!

Each and every time I heard these verses I gained a bit more knowledge and understanding than I had before. Each and every time I heard Brother Larry read through the whole chapter(yes he did every Sunday for the past 3 weeks!)I realized that my previous understanding developed the ground work for what I needed to grasp.

My conclusion:

Trials are a gift from God. He places them in our lives in order that we might receive a blessing from them. However, temptations are not of God but from satan. The evil of this world wants nothing more than to rob us from receiving God’s blessings by placing events in our lives that will put an obstacle or stumbling block in our relationship with our Lord. And tries to keep us from sharing God's joy and love to others. When we give in to temptations we fail the test God has set before us, and we must go through the trial again. When we overcome the temptations we will receive God’s blessings.
And the BIBLE, THE LIVING WORD is our game plan (our source of reference for wisdom, knowledge and understanding) another gift from God! All I have to do is read it! Any situation that comes my way the instructions on how it should be handled are there!

Always... 19 So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; 20 for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God. (James 1)

I will search my heart, I will read my Bible, I will pray to my Lord for direction, I will rely on His instruction, I will endure my trials with a thankful heart, I will gain wisdom from all God’s perfect gifts and works, I will avoid temptations and stumbling blocks (but when they come I will keep my focus on Just Serving Jesus) I will not let the evil of this world invade my relationship with God, I shall be steadfast in His love (for He loves me so!).

Thank you for Your patience God!

As for my house!

As for me and my house we will serve the Lord!

Joshua 24:15 (New King James Version)
And if it seems evil to you to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.

Thank you Lord for speaking to all of us through Brother Larry. I am always in awe of the seemingly coincidental similarities of my life and your sermons! But I understand there really is just no such thing as coincidence, yet rather I should look at it as "Gods hands , God's doing, God's will". I am thankful.

Help me to be more like David, who chose to allow the focus of his life to be You, Dear Lord.

David’s Principals

1. Consecrated to God.

Psalms 5:1-8
¹ Give ear to my words, O LORD,
Consider my meditation.
² Give heed to the voice of my cry,
My King and my God,
For to You I will pray.
³ My voice You shall hear in the morning, O LORD;
In the morning I will direct it to You,
And I will look up.

⁴ For You are not a God who takes pleasure in wickedness,
Nor shall evil dwell with You.
⁵ The boastful shall not stand in Your sight;
You hate all workers of iniquity.
⁶ You shall destroy those who speak falsehood;
The LORD abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man.

⁷ But as for me, I will come into Your house in the multitude of Your mercy;
In fear of You I will worship toward Your holy temple.
⁸ Lead me, O LORD, in Your righteousness because of my enemies;
Make Your way straight before my face.

2. Consumed with the word of God.

Psalm 17:1-15

A Prayer of David.

¹ Hear a just cause, O LORD,
Attend to my cry;
Give ear to my prayer which is not from deceitful lips.
² Let my vindication come from Your presence;
Let Your eyes look on the things that are upright.

³ You have tested my heart;
You have visited me in the night;
You have tried me and have found nothing;
I have purposed that my mouth shall not transgress.
⁴ Concerning the works of men,
By the word of Your lips,
I have kept away from the paths of the destroyer.
⁵ Uphold my steps in Your paths,
That my footsteps may not slip.

⁶ I have called upon You, for You will hear me, O God;
Incline Your ear to me, and hear my speech.
⁷ Show Your marvelous lovingkindness by Your right hand,
O You who save those who trust in You
From those who rise up against them.
⁸ Keep me as the apple of Your eye;
Hide me under the shadow of Your wings,
⁹ From the wicked who oppress me,
From my deadly enemies who surround me.

¹⁰ They have closed up their fat hearts;
With their mouths they speak proudly.
¹¹ They have now surrounded us in our steps;
They have set their eyes, crouching down to the earth,
¹² As a lion is eager to tear his prey,
And like a young lion lurking in secret places.

¹³ Arise, O LORD,
Confront him, cast him down;
Deliver my life from the wicked with Your sword,
¹⁴ With Your hand from men, O LORD,
From men of the world who have their portion in this life,
And whose belly You fill with Your hidden treasure.
They are satisfied with children,
And leave the rest of their possession for their babes.

¹⁵ As for me, I will see Your face in righteousness;
I shall be satisfied when I awake in Your likeness.

3. Conduct myself to be upright in the sight of God.

Psalm 26:1-12

A Psalm of David.

¹ Vindicate me, O LORD,
For I have walked in my integrity.
I have also trusted in the LORD;
I shall not slip.
² Examine me, O LORD, and prove me;
Try my mind and my heart.
³ For Your lovingkindness is before my eyes,
And I have walked in Your truth.
⁴ I have not sat with idolatrous mortals,
Nor will I go in with hypocrites.
⁵ I have hated the assembly of evildoers,
And will not sit with the wicked.

⁶ I will wash my hands in innocence;
So I will go about Your altar, O LORD,
⁷ That I may proclaim with the voice of thanksgiving,
And tell of all Your wondrous works.
⁸ LORD, I have loved the habitation of Your house,
And the place where Your glory dwells.

⁹ Do not gather my soul with sinners,
Nor my life with bloodthirsty men,
¹⁰ In whose hands is a sinister scheme,
And whose right hand is full of bribes.

¹¹ But as for me, I will walk in my integrity;
Redeem me and be merciful to me.
¹² My foot stands in an even place;
In the congregations I will bless the LORD.

4. Show concern for all, even my enemies.

Psalm 35:1-14

A Psalm of David.

¹ Plead my cause, O LORD, with those who strive with me;
Fight against those who fight against me.
² Take hold of shield and buckler,
And stand up for my help.
³ Also draw out the spear,
And stop those who pursue me.
Say to my soul,
“I am your salvation.”

⁴ Let those be put to shame and brought to dishonor
Who seek after my life;
Let those be turned back and brought to confusion
Who plot my hurt.
⁵ Let them be like chaff before the wind,
And let the angel of the LORD chase them.
⁶ Let their way be dark and slippery,
And let the angel of the LORD pursue them.
⁷ For without cause they have hidden their net for me in a pit,
Which they have dug without cause for my life.
⁸ Let destruction come upon him unexpectedly,
And let his net that he has hidden catch himself;
Into that very destruction let him fall.

⁹ And my soul shall be joyful in the LORD;
It shall rejoice in His salvation.
¹⁰ All my bones shall say,
“LORD, who is like You,
Delivering the poor from him who is too strong for him,
Yes, the poor and the needy from him who plunders him?”

¹¹ Fierce witnesses rise up;
They ask me things that I do not know.
¹² They reward me evil for good,
To the sorrow of my soul.
¹³ But as for me, when they were sick,
My clothing was sackcloth;
I humbled myself with fasting;
And my prayer would return to my own heart.
¹⁴ I paced about as though he were my friend or brother;
I bowed down heavily, as one who mourns for his mother.

5. Have confidence in God, for He is trustworthy!

Psalm 41:1-13

To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.

¹ Blessed is he who considers the poor;
The LORD will deliver him in time of trouble.
² The LORD will preserve him and keep him alive,
And he will be blessed on the earth;
You will not deliver him to the will of his enemies.
³ The LORD will strengthen him on his bed of illness;
You will sustain him on his sickbed.

⁴ I said, “LORD, be merciful to me;
Heal my soul, for I have sinned against You.”
⁵ My enemies speak evil of me:
“When will he die, and his name perish?”
⁶ And if he comes to see me, he speaks lies;
His heart gathers iniquity to itself;
When he goes out, he tells it.

⁷ All who hate me whisper together against me;
Against me they devise my hurt.
⁸ “An evil disease,” they say, “clings to him.
And now that he lies down, he will rise up no more.”
⁹ Even my own familiar friend in whom I trusted,
Who ate my bread,
Has lifted up his heel against me.

¹⁰ But You, O LORD, be merciful to me, and raise me up,
That I may repay them.
¹¹ By this I know that You are well pleased with me,
Because my enemy does not triumph over me.
¹² As for me, You uphold me in my integrity,
And set me before Your face forever.

¹³ Blessed be the LORD God of Israel
From everlasting to everlasting!
Amen and Amen.

6. Conversion, know you are a child of God.

Psalm 55:1-17

To the Chief Musician. With stringed instruments. A Contemplation of David.

¹ Give ear to my prayer, O God,
And do not hide Yourself from my supplication.
² Attend to me, and hear me;
I am restless in my complaint, and moan noisily,
³ Because of the voice of the enemy,
Because of the oppression of the wicked;
For they bring down trouble upon me,
And in wrath they hate me.

⁴ My heart is severely pained within me,
And the terrors of death have fallen upon me.
⁵ Fearfulness and trembling have come upon me,
And horror has overwhelmed me.
⁶ So I said, “Oh, that I had wings like a dove!
I would fly away and be at rest.
⁷ Indeed, I would wander far off,
And remain in the wilderness. Selah
⁸ I would hasten my escape
From the windy storm and tempest.”

⁹ Destroy, O Lord, and divide their tongues,
For I have seen violence and strife in the city.
¹⁰ Day and night they go around it on its walls;
Iniquity and trouble are also in the midst of it.
¹¹ Destruction is in its midst;
Oppression and deceit do not depart from its streets.

¹² For it is not an enemy who reproaches me;
Then I could bear it.
Nor is it one who hates me who has exalted himself against me;
Then I could hide from him.
¹³ But it was you, a man my equal,
My companion and my acquaintance.
¹⁴ We took sweet counsel together,
And walked to the house of God in the throng.

¹⁵ Let death seize them;
Let them go down alive into hell,
For wickedness is in their dwellings and among them.

¹⁶ As for me, I will call upon God,
And the LORD shall save me.
¹⁷ Evening and morning and at noon
I will pray, and cry aloud,
And He shall hear my voice.

7. Contact, having a close personal relationship with my God!

Psalm 69:1-22

To the Chief Musician. Set to “The Lilies.”A Psalm of David.

¹ Save me, O God!
For the waters have come up to my neck.
² I sink in deep mire,
Where there is no standing;
I have come into deep waters,
Where the floods overflow me.
³ I am weary with my crying;
My throat is dry;
My eyes fail while I wait for my God.

⁴ Those who hate me without a cause
Are more than the hairs of my head;
They are mighty who would destroy me,
Being my enemies wrongfully;
Though I have stolen nothing,
I still must restore it.

⁵ O God, You know my foolishness;
And my sins are not hidden from You.
⁶ Let not those who wait for You, O Lord GOD of hosts, be ashamed because of me;
Let not those who seek You be confounded because of me, O God of Israel.
⁷ Because for Your sake I have borne reproach;
Shame has covered my face.
⁸ I have become a stranger to my brothers,
And an alien to my mother’s children;
⁹ Because zeal for Your house has eaten me up,
And the reproaches of those who reproach You have fallen on me.
¹⁰ When I wept and chastened my soul with fasting,
That became my reproach.
¹¹ I also made sackcloth my garment;
I became a byword to them.
¹² Those who sit in the gate speak against me,
And I am the song of the drunkards.

¹³ But as for me, my prayer is to You,
O LORD, in the acceptable time;
O God, in the multitude of Your mercy,
Hear me in the truth of Your salvation.
¹⁴ Deliver me out of the mire,
And let me not sink;
Let me be delivered from those who hate me,
And out of the deep waters.
¹⁵ Let not the floodwater overflow me,
Nor let the deep swallow me up;
And let not the pit shut its mouth on me.

¹⁶ Hear me, O LORD, for Your lovingkindness is good;
Turn to me according to the multitude of Your tender mercies.
¹⁷ And do not hide Your face from Your servant,
For I am in trouble;
Hear me speedily.
¹⁸ Draw near to my soul, and redeem it;
Deliver me because of my enemies.

¹⁹ You know my reproach, my shame, and my dishonor;
My adversaries are all before You.
²⁰ Reproach has broken my heart,
And I am full of heaviness;
I looked for someone to take pity, but there was none;
And for comforters, but I found none.
²¹ They also gave me gall for my food,
And for my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.

²² Let their table become a snare before them,
And their well-being a trap.

Psalm 69:28

²⁸ Let them be blotted out of the book of the living,
And not be written with the righteous.

I have so much to contemplate now. Thank you for wisdom.

NEW SONGS!!!

Check out Donald's new songs!!! They are wonderful! Thank You Lord! Thank You Donald for Just Serving JESUS through your talents!!!

Recession Proofing My Life!

4-26-09

Recession proofing my Life, and we are not talking money here!

By having more faith!

Hebrews 11:1-6 ¹Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.²For by it the elders obtained a good report. ³Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear. 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. ⁵By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God. ⁶ But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

By living by faith!

Romans 1:17 ¹⁷For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

By believing God!

Romans 10:8-17 ⁸But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; ⁹That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. ¹⁰For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. ¹¹For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. ¹²For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. ¹³For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. ¹⁴How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? ¹⁵And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! ¹⁶But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? ¹⁷So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

By being patient!

James 1:3-7 ³Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. ⁴But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. ⁵If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. ⁶But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. ⁷For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.

By listening and doing and asking for wisdom!

James 1:22 ²²But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

By walking & talking to the Lord! By Experiencing God!

Proverbs 3 ¹My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments:

²For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.

³Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart:

⁴So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man.

⁵Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

⁶In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

⁷Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.

⁸It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.

⁹Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:

¹⁰So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.

¹¹My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction:

¹²For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.

¹³Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.

¹⁴For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold.

¹⁵She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her.

¹⁶Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honour.

¹⁷Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.

¹⁸She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her.

¹⁹The LORD by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath he established the heavens.

²⁰By his knowledge the depths are broken up, and the clouds drop down the dew.

²¹My son, let not them depart from thine eyes: keep sound wisdom and discretion:

²²So shall they be life unto thy soul, and grace to thy neck.

²³Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely, and thy foot shall not stumble.

²⁴When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet.

²⁵Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh.

²⁶For the LORD shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken.

²⁷Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it.

²⁸Say not unto thy neighbor, Go, and come again, and to morrow I will give; when thou hast it by thee.

²⁹Devise not evil against thy neighbor, seeing he dwelleth securely by thee.

³⁰Strive not with a man without cause, if he have done thee no harm.

³¹Envy thou not the oppressor, and choose none of his ways.

³²For the froward is abomination to the LORD: but his secret is with the righteous.

³³The curse of the LORD is in the house of the wicked: but he blesseth the habitation of the just.

³⁴Surely he scorneth the scorners: but he giveth grace unto the lowly.

³⁵The wise shall inherit glory: but shame shall be the promotion of fools.

Thank you dear Lord for your patience, for listening, for doing, for having faith in me!

Easter Drama

EASTER DRAMA!!!

Liberty Baptist Youth Group

11 a.m. Easter morning

Followed by Sunday Service

Followed by Egg Hunt!!!

(Oh, for those of you who are early birds, we are having a bring a dish breakfast @ 8a.m.!)

HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE!!!

Do you know the place, this Calvary?

3-29-2009

Do you know this place, this Calvary?

Oh Calvary, This Place, where my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ gave his life so freely to save you and me, Jesus the one and only son of God. Pure sinless perfect man who gave his all to save a sin filled world who hated him. It seems impossible to believe that God loves us this much, that he would send this precious redeemer to fulfill His word his promise to this faithless world. Nevertheless, He did and He did it for all of us!

On Calvary where Jesus was tortured, mocked, spat upon, laughed at, crucified; oh this place where Jesus took on all the sins of this world! Have you ever heard the phrase “leaving it at the alter” “leaving our sin at the cross” and what a Holy Alter we have to leave all our burdens and worries. Jesus did this for me! Jesus did this for you!

Always around Easter time, I am filled with this sense of overwhelming sadness at the price Jesus had to pay for all my sins. I am saddened at the fact that His blood had to be shed for my wrong doings. Then I was told something that truly changed how I feel about this sadness. Jesus was fulfilling His fathers command. Until the end, He listened and obeyed, allowing for my eternal salvation! What a Savior I have!

I am positive I have heard this in a Church service before, however it was not until this Sunday did I ever feel truly thankful about this place Calvary, only mentioned once in the Bible.

Luke 23:33
33And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left.

Some say it is the same Golgotha, the place of the skull that is mentioned in Matthew 27:33,, & , Mark 15:22, & John 19:17. This place where death and destruction of human life abound, yet The Place where God saw fit to place His Alter, where Jesus takes my sin and washes me clean. Yes, A place of seemingly little significance, however actually the most important of places. Had Jesus chose to not listen and follow God’s word and will for His life this place, Calvary would just be any other place in the world. However, JESUS chose to follow and be crucified making this place of death a place of everlasting life with God! Through the blood of Jesus Christ, we have redemption we have our salvation secured! If only you we chose to leave our life, our human life at the Alter and accept Jesus!

Do you have The Place, This Calvary?
Here is a link you might want to look at if you find you are looking for This Place, This Calvary!
http://theromansroad.com ( just copy and paste into your web browser, if link is not available.)

Just Serving Jesus by listening and following!

Thank you Dear Lord for, The place, This Calvary where I can leave all my sin, all my worries, my burdens and have everlasting life with you, if only I ask and accept.

Who is God?

3-15-2009

Who is God?

Who is God? What makes God God? What does God do to prove He is God? Who is God to you? I often ponder these few questions. It is sad to admit, however at times I have just taken my perception of God at face value, really giving no thought into His greatness. I was intrigued by this sermon for my 6-year-old daughter, Bethany, has been asking these same questions! And my answer to her is that God is God, God is love, God is everywhere, and everything! However, upon further study and prayer I feel I have a better, more complete answer for my precious little one! Thanks Brother Larry for you guidance. Thanks for bringing these scriptures to my attention!

Psalm 18 (and 2^nd Samuel 22 is almost identical, did not post but you can check it out!)

¹I will love thee, O LORD, my strength.

²The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.

³I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.

⁴The sorrows of death compassed me, and the floods of ungodly men made me afraid.

⁵The sorrows of hell compassed me about: the snares of death prevented me.

⁶In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried unto my God: he heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him, even into his ears.

⁷Then the earth shook and trembled; the foundations also of the hills moved and were shaken, because he was wroth.

⁸There went up a smoke out of his nostrils, and fire out of his mouth devoured: coals were kindled by it.

⁹He bowed the heavens also, and came down: and darkness was under his feet.

¹⁰And he rode upon a cherub, and did fly: yea, he did fly upon the wings of the wind.

¹¹He made darkness his secret place; his pavilion round about him were dark waters and thick clouds of the skies.

¹²At the brightness that was before him his thick clouds passed, hail stones and coals of fire.

¹³The LORD also thundered in the heavens, and the Highest gave his voice; hail stones and coals of fire.

¹⁴Yea, he sent out his arrows, and scattered them; and he shot out lightnings, and discomfited them.

¹⁵Then the channels of waters were seen, and the foundations of the world were discovered at thy rebuke, O LORD, at the blast of the breath of thy nostrils.

¹⁶He sent from above, he took me, he drew me out of many waters.

¹⁷He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from them which hated me: for they were too strong for me.

¹⁸They prevented me in the day of my calamity: but the LORD was my stay.

¹⁹He brought me forth also into a large place; he delivered me, because he delighted in me.

²⁰The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me.

²¹For I have kept the ways of the LORD, and have not wickedly departed from my God.

²²For all his judgments were before me, and I did not put away his statutes from me.

²³I was also upright before him, and I kept myself from mine iniquity.

²⁴Therefore hath the LORD recompensed me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in his eyesight.

²⁵With the merciful thou wilt shew thyself merciful; with an upright man thou wilt shew thyself upright;

²⁶With the pure thou wilt shew thyself pure; and with the froward thou wilt shew thyself froward.

²⁷For thou wilt save the afflicted people; but wilt bring down high looks.

²⁸For thou wilt light my candle: the LORD my God will enlighten my darkness.

²⁹For by thee I have run through a troop; and by my God have I leaped over a wall.

³⁰As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him.

³¹For who is God save the LORD? or who is a rock save our God?

³²It is God that girdeth me with strength, and maketh my way perfect.

³³He maketh my feet like hinds' feet, and setteth me upon my high places.

³⁴He teacheth my hands to war, so that a bow of steel is broken by mine arms.

³⁵Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy right hand hath holden me up, and thy gentleness hath made me great.

³⁶Thou hast enlarged my steps under me, that my feet did not slip.

³⁷I have pursued mine enemies, and overtaken them: neither did I turn again till they were consumed.

³⁸I have wounded them that they were not able to rise: they are fallen under my feet.

³⁹For thou hast girded me with strength unto the battle: thou hast subdued under me those that rose up against me.

⁴⁰Thou hast also given me the necks of mine enemies; that I might destroy them that hate me.

⁴¹They cried, but there was none to save them: even unto the LORD, but he answered them not.

⁴²Then did I beat them small as the dust before the wind: I did cast them out as the dirt in the streets.

⁴³Thou hast delivered me from the strivings of the people; and thou hast made me the head of the heathen: a people whom I have not known shall serve me.

⁴⁴As soon as they hear of me, they shall obey me: the strangers shall submit themselves unto me.

⁴⁵The strangers shall fade away, and be afraid out of their close places.

⁴⁶The LORD liveth; and blessed be my rock; and let the God of my salvation be exalted.

⁴⁷It is God that avengeth me, and subdueth the people under me.

⁴⁸He delivereth me from mine enemies: yea, thou liftest me up above those that rise up against me: thou hast delivered me from the violent man.

⁴⁹Therefore will I give thanks unto thee, O LORD, among the heathen, and sing praises unto thy name.

⁵⁰Great deliverance giveth he to his king; and sheweth mercy to his anointed, to David, and to his seed for evermore.

God is:

My rock, for He is unyielding when I crumble like sand.

My fortress, for He keeps me safe when I am afraid.

My deliverer, for He holds my hand through all life’s situations.

My strength, for He endures whilst I stumble.

My sword, for His word is perfect!

My buckler, for He is my spear.

My shield, for He protects me in everyday battles.

My horn of salvation, for He is my strength!

My breastplate, for He is my help, whom I put my faith in!

My high tower, for He stands tall while I fall.

My Everything, for He is love.

And much much more!!!

TILL THE END.

Just Serving Jesus by building a better personal relationship with God!

(less of me and more concentration on HIM!)

Thank you Dear Lord for this beautiful day and your beautiful word. I am in awe of the mercy and grace you bestow upon me.

Stand Fast in the Lord

3-8-2009

Be Content!

Philippians 4:1-11

^" Therefore, my beloved and longed-for brethren, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, beloved. I implore Euodia and I implore Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. And I urge you also, true companion, help these women who labored with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the Book of Life. Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you. But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at last your care for me has flourished again; though you surely did care, but you lacked opportunity. Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content:"


Now if I can just do this, and not miss out on the wonderful life God has planned for me!

Thank you Lord for these words of wisdom.

Turn Your Eyes Upon JESUS

3-1-2009

Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus

Thanks, Dean and Donald, the song was beautiful! I guess we just have a houseful of musicians in our Church! This is one of my most favorite songs… “Turn your eyes upon Jesus. Look full in His wonderful face. And the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace.” And tis true, for when you have your eyes on Jesus it is really hard to see anything else! Yes, you all might have noticed I did not post last week’s sermon, and for that, I do ask you forgiveness. I had a couple of sick little ones who dearly needed their momma at every waking moment.

Welcome visitors! I am just plain thankful you guys feel welcome here. It is just an awesome feeling to walk into the house of the Lord and fellowship with His children.

Vernacular
Too many times we have become used to, desensitized, just plain numb to some words or phrases in our vocabulary, words that really should stir up great feelings and emotions within us, words that should hold important meaning in our lives.

Take the word “Christian” or “Christianity”.

The New Testament gives a simple answer to the question who a Christian is: “Whoever claims to live in Him [Jesus] must walk as Jesus did.”
1John 2:6
The American Heritage Dictionary defines a Christian as “one who professes belief in Jesus as Christ or follows the religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus; one who lives according to the teachings of Jesus.”
Simply stated a Christian follows the example of Jesus’ life in thankful obedience to God's will. However, we hear this word many times by or about people who do not truly hold to its meaning! We have become just used to hearing it and assume it just means these people go to church, when the meaning is oh so much more than that! It has just become a vernacular.

How about “Born Again”

“But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”
John 1:12-13
How many times have you heard this word when used in reference to Christians, or used by Christians to explain their rebirth in Christ. Yes, it is a wonderful word with the most of important aspects of my relationship with Jesus, however it is a word that is tossed around and I am afraid the meaning and the reverence that should be associated with it are “lost in translation”. A Vernacular.

But When Our Eyes are On JESUS!!!

These words “Christian” and “Born Again” mean so much more, more than just a vernacular, when you have a relationship with the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, Son of God! Moreover, when you become a Christian, by being born again and accepting Jesus as your savior there are important aspects to you, your spirit, that are an evident proclamation of Christ to others!

“That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life - the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us— that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. And these things we write to you that your joy may be full.”
1John 1:1-4

6 Distinguishable Aspects of Spiritual Maturity
A Christian who is truly born again.

“This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.”
1John 1: 5-10

1. Spiritual Deportment: conduct or behavior of our spirit.
- LOVE
- Cannot hate
- Abiding by God’s Will

“My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world. Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.” 1John 2:1-6

2. Spiritual Desire.
- Desire God’ s Will
- Desire Not to practice habitual sin
- Desire to abide in Christ
- Desire to love one another
“Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore, the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure. Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness. And you know that He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him there is no sin. Whoever abides in Him does not sin. Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him. Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous. He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose, the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God.”
1John 3:1-9

3. Spiritual Disposition.
- Unconditional love for one another
“By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?
My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. And by this we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him. For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things. Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence toward God. And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight. And this is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as He gave us commandment.”
1John 3:16-23

4. Spiritual Discernment.
- Must know and believe that Jesus is the Son of God!
- Keep His 2 Commandments
• Love the Lord
• Love one another
“Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world. You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. They are of the world. Therefore they speak as of the world, and the world hears them. We are of God. He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error. Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.”
1John 4:1-11

5. Spiritual Deliverance.
- Faith
“Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves Him who begot also loves him who is begotten of Him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome. For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?”
1 John 5:1-5

6. Spiritual Dominion.
- Confidence in Christ
“These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God. Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him. If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin which does not lead to death, he will ask, and He will give him life for those who commit sin not leading to death. There is sin leading to death. I do not say that he should pray about that. All unrighteousness is sin, and there is sin not leading to death. We know that whoever is born of God does not sin; but he who has been born of God keeps himself, and the wicked one does not touch him. We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one. And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding, that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life.”
1John 5: 13-20

“Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.”
1 John 5:21

Just Serving JESUS by Keeping Our Eyes on HIM!!!

Thank you Lord for your word and your instruction.
Thanks, Brother Larry for your service.

I Saw The Light

2-15-2009

I Saw The Light

Wow! What a testimony I heard this morning, thank you Mr. Paul Flowers. You are an inspiration to me. Yes, you are right it is hard to believe that Jesus Loves us so. He loves us in spite of all the things we do (good or bad)! As you and Mrs. Gale and Mr. One Man Band aka Donald sang, "No more darkness; no more night. Praise the Lord I saw the light". You guys sound just wonderful together! I hope to hear more songs by you guys in the near future! Paul I am thankful you shared your life story with us, a brave Christian leader you are indeed. Thank you.

Again, thank you visitors for choosing to fellowship, worship with us, and sing praises to our magnificent Lord, Jesus Christ! Welcome! Welcome! Welcome! I hope you all had a pleasant experience today. I am just excited about you all being here!

I Marvel At Your Creation!

"O Lord, our Lord,

How excellent is Your name in all the earth,

Who have set Your glory above the heavens!
Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants
You have ordained strength,
because of Your enemies,
That You may silence the enemy and the avenger.
When I consider your heavens, the work of Your fingers,
The moon and the stars, which You have ordained,
What is man that You are mindful of him,
And the son of man that You visit him?
For you have made him a little lower than the angels,
And You have crowned him with glory and honor.
You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands;
You have put all things under his feet,
All sheep and oxen-
Even the beasts of the field,
The birds of the air,
And the fish of the sea
That pass through the paths of the seas.
O Lord, our Lord,
How excellent is Your name in all the earth!"
Psalms 8

What is man that you are so mindful of me?

How wonderful it feels to sing of his praise. To read scripture and understand and to just be in awe of God and all he has done / does/ and will do! The book of Psalms is beautiful, and even so God is worthy of so much more! With this statement being made and acknowledged as fact, how then can I even begin to explain the question that Brother Larry presented to us today! How can a marvelous, miraculous, wonderful God, think so much of me. Think so much of me that he is mindful of me. A me of over billions of individuals? Yes, it is true every single person he knows. We are all His creation! And you know what he knows us. Not just kind knows us like a passing friend or close sister, He really knows us! God Loves Us, Each and Every one of Us!!!

"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you;
Before you were born I sanctified you;
I ordained you a prophet to the nation."

Jeremiah 1:5

How Precious Every Individual is to God!

Really, there is just no way I could ever sing the praise of my Lord any more wonderfully than David, so just read on and let his words be an inspiration to you. The words need no paraphrasing, the message is clear!

God Knows Me!

"O Lord, You have searched me and known me.
You know my sitting down and my rising up;
You understand my thought afar off.
You comprehend my path and my lying down,
And are acquainted with all my ways.
For there is not a word on my tongue,
But behold, O Lord, You know it altogether.
You have hedged me behind and before,
And laid Your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
It is high I cannot attain it.
Psalms 139:1-6

I am Captured By God's Hand!

"Where can I go from Your Spirit?
Or where can I flee from Your presence?
If I ascend into heaven, You are there;
If I make my bed in sheol, behold, You are there.
If I take the wings of the morning,
And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
Even there Your hand shall lead me,
And Your right hand shall hold me.
If I say, "Surely the darkness shall fall on me",
Even the night shall be light about me;
Indeed the darkness shall not hid from You,
But the night shines as the day;
The darkness and the light are both alike to You.
Psalms 139:7-12

I am Fearfully and Wonderfully made

"For You formed my inward parts;
You covered me in my mother’s womb.
I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Marvelous are Your works,
And that my soul knows very well.
My frame was not hidden from You,
When I was made in secret,
And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed.
And in Your book they were written,
The days fashioned for me,
When as yet there were none of them.
Psalms 139:13-16

God Loves me and you and you and you... all of us he thinks of individually more than the sands of the earth! WOW!

"How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God!
How great is the sum of them!
If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand;
When I awake, I am still with You.
Psalms 139:17 & 18

Our God is and awesome God! For sure, he not only created everything upon the earth, He created us from mere substances. And He knows us better than we know ourselves. He is never surprised by our actions or words because he knows what we are going to say and do before we say or do it! He knows our thoughts. He knows our inner most desires. He knows! And guess what? He still LOVES US!!! He loves us so much that when we make a poor decision or bad choice, that He knew we would make, He waits. Yes, waits for us to ask him for forgiveness. Then he forgives, if we ask. Oh my, how He Loves us! I saw the light…

God Loves You!

Thank you Lord for all you have given me.
Thank you Lord for loving Me.
Thank you Lord!

"Thy word, have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. Blessed art thou O Lord: teach me thy statutes."
Psalms 119:11 & 12

Just Serving Jesus by growing stronger through praising my Awesome Lord!

Thanks Brother Larry.