Starting today August 7th, 2024, in order to post in the Married Couples, Courting Couples, or Singles forums, you will not be allowed to post if you have your Marital status designated as private. Announcements will be made in the respective forums as well but please note that if yours is currently listed as Private, you will need to submit a ticket in the Support Area to have yours changed.
Savedsis said:Amen...Great thoughts everyone...
Let us keep a keen focus....
Get this and do not forget it...You will not stand alone when outnumbered or stand tall when tested or stand firm when discouraged if your focus remains on the odds..Your eyes must be trained on the Lord..
It is helpful for us to remember that our eyes are focused on one of four places at all times:
On our circumstances,
On others,
On ourself,
Or on the Lord..
If they focus on one of the first three and not on the Lord, we will drift and ultimately fail...
We must cultivate a keen focus on the Lord, not on the odds......Lord, help us to stay focused on You...Hold us and help us to FOCUS on You....Amen
Savedsis said:Amen...Great thoughts everyone...
Let us keep a keen focus....
Get this and do not forget it...You will not stand alone when outnumbered or stand tall when tested or stand firm when discouraged if your focus remains on the odds..Your eyes must be trained on the Lord..
It is helpful for us to remember that our eyes are focused on one of four places at all times:
On our circumstances,
On others,
On ourself,
Or on the Lord..
If they focus on one of the first three and not on the Lord, we will drift and ultimately fail...
We must cultivate a keen focus on the Lord, not on the odds......Lord, help us to stay focused on You...Hold us and help us to FOCUS on You....Amen
Numbers 15:38-40 (KJV) 38 Speak unto the children of Israel, and bid them that they make them fringes in the borders of their garments throughout their generations, and that they put upon the fringe of the borders a ribband of blue: 39 And it shall be unto you for a fringe, that ye may look upon it, and remember all the commandments of the LORD, and do them; and that ye seek not after your own heart and your own eyes, after which ye use to go a whoring: 40 That ye may remember, and do all my commandments, and be holy unto your God.
God is so good to us......I appreciate Him so much....EarthMomma said:This message of keeping focus came to mind this morning as I read the Word of Lord to Moses, reminding the people of the necessity of obedience, and avoiding following our own hearts and minds in search of knowledge.
Holiness with God requires that we keep our eyes and hearts on Him, and by His grace and mercy, all else falls into place, for it really is His show, and not ours! And remembering first His commands is easy, if we focus on Him: love, love and more love! Loving Him because He first loved us, loving Him because He's so good to us, loving Him because He tells us to (for He knows what's best), and loving others because we love Him so much that we love all those He loves! The Royal Law! It's beautiful, and beyond our comprehension, unless we abide in Him and let Him abide in us.
He is indeed great and awesome and we should always praise Him..angelwind said:this made me think of this verse I read earlier this evening,,,It is Nehemiah encouraging the Jews to rebuild the wall os Jerusalem after the captivity.
Their strength was failing...there was a lot of rubbish lying around and their enemies were hard at work threatening them.
After I looked these things over, I stood up and said to the people,
"Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your kin, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes.
Nehemiah 4:14
Ephesians 1:3-23 (KJV) 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: 4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: 5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, 6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. 7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; 8 Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; 9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: 10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him: 11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: 12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. 13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, 14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory. . . .
17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:
18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,
19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, 20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, 21 Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: 22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, 23 Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.
Romans 8:15 (KJV) For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
Galatians 4:5-7 (KJV) 5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. 6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. 7 Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.
Savedsis said:What kind of grace do you need today? Do you need housecleaning grace, job coping grace, child training grace, spending grace, care giving grace, tithing grace, or saving grace? The list could go on and on.So, let us come bodly today to God's throne of grace, to receice His unmeritied gift, excellence of power, and spiritual strength, so that we can appropriate all we need to serve HIm joyfully and live an abundant life....
And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work...2 Corintians 9:8
Romans 16:20 (KJV) And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.
Savedsis said:I want to thank and praise the Lord for all His kindness and love....I kneel before Him...I thank Him for the lessons I have learned...My mission is to please Him, I have made mistakes, and make them every day..But thanks to Him my spiritual muscles are becoming well developed, becoming defined in the things of God, and maturing thanks to the Holy Spirit...
Nay, I am more than a conquerer, because I've come to know that I need time with Him to express my appreciation...I am a daughter who is cherished and loved...I need You Lord to nurse the wounds that life inflicts on us all...I need the sweet Oil of gladness...It is so soothing...My constant Refuge, my Relief and Reason for existing, Refresh me, Holy Spirit..Strengthen me, Sustain me where I'm weak...I can be strong because of You..I thank Him for washing me in His blood.
I shall continue to praise Him at all times, even when I do make mistakes...
John 13:3-5 (KJV) 3 Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God; 4 He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself. 5 After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded.
1 John 1:6-7 (KJV) 6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
Matthew 11:28-30 (KJV) 28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
Savedsis said:I want to thank and praise the Lord for all His kindness and love....I kneel before Him...I thank Him for the lessons I have learned...My mission is to please Him, I have made mistakes, and make them every day..But thanks to Him my spiritual muscles are becoming well developed, becoming defined in the things of God, and maturing thanks to the Holy Spirit...
Nay, I am more than a conquerer, because I've come to know that I need time with Him to express my appreciation...I am a daughter who is cherished and loved...I need You Lord to nurse the wounds that life inflicts on us all...I need the sweet Oil of gladness...It is so soothing...My constant Refuge, my Relief and Reason for existing, Refresh me, Holy Spirit..Strengthen me, Sustain me where I'm weak...I can be strong because of You..I thank Him for washing me in His blood.
I shall continue to praise Him at all times, even when I do make mistakes...
EarthMomma said:WHY I FOLLOW CHRIST
Written by John C. Hutchinson, Jr., in 1981
Ive not seen clearer statistical evidence that fewer Christians die of cancer than non-believers, or that they are immune in greater degree from the diseases that afflict the human race. Some of the kindest, most selfless persons I have known have had more than their share of bad health. The fact that they belong to Christ did not insulate them from disease. Therefore, I will not follow Christ for promised healing. I will not deny or dispute evidence of restoration of health. I will rejoice at every recovery from what seems to be hopeless threatened death. I will not hesitate to pray for recovered health for my loved ones and acquaintances. I will set no limits on what God may do, but I will not follow Christ for promised healing.
I see no sign that Christians escape disaster and accident more often than others. Ive helped dear friends empty muddy water out of dresser drawers and new appliances after a disastrous flood. I remember as a child taking clothes to a widow with five children whose house had burned to the ground. A bullet makes no detour around the body of a believer. Therefore, I will not follow Christ for any promised protection from disaster. I will not scoff at amazing survivals nor deny that providence has and continues to work for the good of Gods own. I will continue to pray for protection from wicked men and tragedy, but I will not follow Christ for promised protection from accident or catastrophe.
I do not observe that Christians are especially favored with prosperity like James. Weve all seen the rich oppressing the poor and justice is rarely perfect in this world. The psalmist has said that he had not seen the righteous forsaken nor his seed begging bread, and in the deepest needs of this life that is certainly true. But all of us have known people of integrity who have not prospered. Therefore, I will not follow Christ for promised freedom from physical want or hope of affluence.
Im not sure the Christians have stronger personalities or fewer neuroses than non-believers. I do know that there is no bitterness like religious bitterness and no arrogance more insufferable. I have watched Christians suffer emotional and mental disabilities. And though it may seem heretical, I am not sure that I would really enjoy living in the same house with either the apostle Peter or Paul. God wills that the mind of Christ be formed in us, and there is no doubt in my mind that the Christians attitudes and actions will be improved by his Christianity, but I will not follow Christ for any promise of personality enhancement or perfection.
Why then follow Christ? Why become a disciple of Jesus when life may become more complicated as He so often warned? For one reason alone - in Jesus we behold the face of God. He is the truth, the everlasting truth, God in the flesh. I know that in this, that in His life, death, and resurrection I am reconciled to God, the giver of life. I believe that nothing can separate us from the love of God. He has all power and goodness and I trust Him and His promises. To Him I offer my life, damaged or whole, brief or full of years, it matters not. He is the one certain thing in an uncertain world. He is to be worshipped not so something will happen to me or to the world - something already has happened to me and the world - but because He is God who through Christ has reconciled the world to Himself. He saves me. He is my justification. He is the center that holds. To worship the God of our salvation, to offer sacrifices of praise and thanksgiving, that alone is our vocation. We offer our lives to God, not so as to be healthy, wealthy, or wise; not even so to gain the strength to do great things for Him. We offer our lives to Him because He alone has claim upon us. God is not a means to an end.
from Love Worth Finding website
http://sites.silaspartners.com/CC_Content_Page/0,,PTID319326|CHID665818,00.html
Pilgrim1951 said:Earthmomma, thank you for sharing this excerpt, I was so moved by it. And it is timely now as well as 25 years ago. Pilgrim
Savedsis said:Planting Hope...
Trust makes you able to endure circumstances that seem humaly unberable..
To hope on to the plough, while wiping our tears...this is Christianity..
Every day either He is God or He is not...How do we make that choice? What gives us the power to pick Jesus? It is knowing Him and knowing who we are in Him...
We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:
Do you accept cookies and these technologies?
We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:
Do you accept cookies and these technologies?