Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Awaken Our Soul To Your Salvation

Christ and Christ alone brings salvation! Going to church does not bring salvation! You must believe in Christ through faith for salvation. One mediator! One ransom paid by His blood! One debt, we owed, paid by Christ, for us to be reconciled to a holy God!
Definition of ransomed: Obtain the release of (a prisoner) by making a payment demanded
We are the prisoners, held captive by sin and headed for hell. Christ made payment for our release! Christ has conquered sin and death! God desires for all men to be saved! Because of the hardness of their hearts, not all will be saved!
1 Tim.2:3-6 This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time.
Ps.142:7 Bring me out of prison, that I may give thanks to your name! The righteous will surround me, for you will deal bountifully with me.
People do not think of sin as being in a prison but it most certainly is! You become a slave to sin and go deeper into that way of thinking and before long, you are in so deep, you think there is no way out!! But Jesus is the way out, He will change the vilest of hearts and you will never be the same!
Lord, I pray for the ones who think that they can not escape the prison they are in. If they would but call on You, in humbleness, repent and follow You. Your Word is an ever present help when we are lost and confused. Pour out Your power on the ones who want to know You. You are merciful beyond words. Amen
You can die happy in Christ when it is your time to go or you can be lost and go into eternity and be in fear of judgement and Hell.

Sunday, August 28, 2011

Christ Unites the Church

We are undeserving sinners united by unfathomable mercy. Christ came to save sinners. He died. He has risen. He will come again! We have been given unmerited grace! Christ kept the law, we can not! Your works can not earn grace. You can not live a sinless life! You life is not acceptable before God. You are condemned before a holy God but Christ has come to bring salvation to the lost. Do you even know that you are lost? Do you want to be reconciled to God? Jesus can save the worst offender! Listen to Paul's account of how he received mercy!
1 Tim. 12-17  I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service, though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life. To the King of ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
Lord, I pray for You to open hearts. Time is getting short, we need a great revival. We need people to know that their eternity depends on Jesus. Amen
As we teach the Word, we must be careful to keep the gospel pure. The law shows our guilt. The Word shows Christ as redeemer!
1 Tim.3-11 As I urged you when I was going to Macedonia, remain at Ephesus so that you may charge certain persons not to teach any different doctrine, nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies, which promote speculations rather than the stewardship from God that is by faith. The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. Certain persons, by swerving from these, have wandered away into vain discussion, desiring to be teachers of the law, without understanding either what they are saying or the things about which they make confident assertions. Now we know that the law is good, if one uses it lawfully, understanding this, that the law is not laid down for the just but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who strike their fathers and mothers, for murderers, the sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality, enslavers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine, in accordance with the gospel of the glory of the blessed God with which I have been entrusted.

Saturday, August 27, 2011

My Soul Waits for the Lord

Ps.130:1-5 Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD! O Lord, hear my voice! Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my pleas for mercy! If you, O LORD, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? But with you there is forgiveness, that you may be feared. I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in his word I hope;
To the unbelieving world, there is no hope. But to us who have been given the gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ, we know the truth about hope! We know that we are only visitors here and we will soon go home! That being said, we will have trouble in this life but we will never be without hope. As storms head up the coastline, I pray the lost will think about eternity. You will have one, with Christ or without. Hell is a real place for the unrepentant soul.
Luke 16:22-26 The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried, and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. And he called out, 'Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame.' But Abraham said, 'Child, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us.'
I could tell you what I think about Hell but it does not matter. God's Word is the only true thing that matters. He is judge and we are all going to be judged by Him.
Lord, I ask for mercy as we try to follow You. We are rotten because of sin and we need a Savior! Jesus is our only hope for reconciliation with a holy God. We believe Your word as truth! Amen
Judgement!
Rev.20:11-15 Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

Thursday, August 25, 2011

Mercy Covers All

You can't buy it! You don't deserve it! Mercy covers all!!
Jesus paid for it! His blood covers all our sin!
Definition of mercy: Compassionate treatment, especially of those under one's power; clemency. A disposition to be kind and forgiving, something for which to be thankful; a blessing
Titus 3:5 says, “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his MERCY he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;”

Jude 1:21 says, “Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the MERCY of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.”
You belong to the Lord!
1 Cor.6:19-20 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.
Ps.124:8 Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth.
There is coming a day of reckoning! The Lord will tarry only so long! He is not slow as some would count slowness!
2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.
1 Timothy 2:4 who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.
Isaiah 30:18 Yet the LORD longs to be gracious to you; he rises to show you compassion. For the LORD is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him!
World wake up! The Lord is coming soon!
Holy God, we deserve death and destruction. But, in your mercy, you sent Your only Son, Jesus to bring salvation to the nations. Help us as we take your word to the world. Open hearts to the glory that is found in you. Amen

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

The Sum of Your Word Is Truth

Ps.119:160 The sum of your word is truth, and every one of your righteous rules endures forever.
Heb.4:12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
Christ is the living Word!
John 1:14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
John 6:68-69 Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God."
Lord, Lord, my spirit is grieved by all those who turn away from Your mercy. By your power, soften the hard hearted, give them a thirst for Your truth which can not be satisfied. In Jesus name, Amen.
Psalm 119:89 Your word, O LORD, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens.
Your word is nourishment to our souls!
Psalm 19:7 The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul. The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple.

Monday, August 22, 2011

God's Growth, God's Harvest

1Cor.3:5-11 What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, as the Lord assigned to each. I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor. For we are God's fellow workers. You are God's field, God's building. According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it. For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
God is sovereign over all! His Word is true!
Ps.119:88-91 In your steadfast love give me life, that I may keep the testimonies of your mouth. Forever, O LORD, your word is firmly fixed in the heavens. Your faithfulness endures to all generations; you have established the earth, and it stands fast. By your appointment they stand this day, for all things are your servants.
We stand on God's Word. We are a witness to His truth!We are here to show the hope that is found in Christ! We are sent to the ends of the earth to proclaim His righteousness. We plant seeds of His Word and He reaps the harvest of sinners saved by grace through His Son! Christ is the Lord of the harvest!
Matt.9:37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few
Matt.9:38 Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field."
Romans 10:12-18 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. For "everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!" But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, "Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?" So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. But I ask, have they not heard? Indeed they have, for "Their voice has gone out to all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world."
Lord, snatch them from hell by Your power! Amen
Jude 1:23 save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh.
1 John 5:11And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.

Sunday, August 21, 2011

Till Death/God's Marriage Covenant

Marriage is a covenant, instituted by God, between a man and a woman. Not to be entered into lightly, for God's plan of marriage was meant to last their life time.
Gen.2:18-24
The LORD God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him." Now the LORD God had formed out of the ground all the beasts of the field and all the birds of the air. He brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name. So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds of the air and all the beasts of the field. But for Adam no suitable helper was found. So the LORD God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man's ribs and closed up the place with flesh. Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man. The man said, "This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called 'woman,' for she was taken out of man." For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.
1Cor.7:39 A woman is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes, but he must belong to the Lord.
Mark 10:6-9 "But at the beginning of creation God 'made them male and female.'' For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.' So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate."
Malachi 2:15 Did he not make them one, with a portion of the Spirit in their union? And what was the one God seeking? Godly offspring. So guard yourselves in your spirit, and let none of you be faithless to the wife of your youth.
Where did the time go? Yesterday, I was a young girl getting ready to be married, and today I am a grandmother! How fast time goes by, it is really just a blink of the eye!! Our life truly is just a vapor! Trust Christ today for you may not have a tomorrow.
James 4:14 "You do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away".
Today 41 years ago, before God, my husband and I entered into a covenant marriage. Through the rearing of our 4 daughters and all of the other day to day struggles, by the grace of God, we have survived this journey. We have never taken lightly the promises we made before God that day.
Lord, I pray our life is pleasing to You. We have nothing to offer but our feeble attempts at obedience to Your commands. You have poured out many blessings on our family and thank You is just not enough. Jesus is our only hope of salvation and everlasting life! Have mercy on this family of sinners. Amen


Saturday, August 20, 2011

False Gods/Where is their God?

Ps.115:4-8 Why should the nations say, "Where is their God?" Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases. Their idols are silver and gold, the work of human hands. They have mouths, but do not speak; eyes, but do not see. They have ears, but do not hear; noses, but do not smell. They have hands, but do not feel; feet, but do not walk; and they do not make a sound in their throat. Those who make them become like them; so do all who trust in them. 
Our God is the one and only true living God. He is creator and king, He sits on His throne and waits for the time when He will judge all unrepentant sinners. God has sent mercy to man through His Son, Jesus Christ. We trust in Christ alone for our salvation. There is nothing man can do to be reconciled to God. The power of the cross is our only hope!! 
1 Cor.1:19  
For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written, "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the 
discerning I will thwart."
How can man not fall on his face before God and humbly ask for mercy for his foolish heart being enticed by all manner of wickedness? Some people worship false gods, some run after money, some hunger for power, some just ignore the power of Christ and others just say that Christ is a lie. There will be a time of judgement. You will stand before a holy Judge! 
Praise the Lord for He is worthy!
Ps.118:14 The LORD is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation.
Ps.118:24 This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.
The Lord is our help!
Ps.116:1-2 I love the LORD, because he has heard my voice and my pleas for mercy. Because he inclined his ear to me, therefore I will call on him as long as I live.
We walk in His Spirit!
1Cor.2:9-16  But, as it is written, "What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him"-- things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. For who knows a person's thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual. The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one. "For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?" But we have the mind of Christ.
Lord, teach us to rest in Your holy presence! You are the only true and living God, we praise Your name. Amen

Thursday, August 18, 2011

Whether We Live Or Whether We Die

You belong to the Lord!
Romans 14:7-9  For none of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself. For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord's. For to this end Christ died and lived again, that he might be Lord both of the dead and of the living.
We are all under divine judgement!
Romans 14:10 Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God; for it is written, "As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God." So then each of us will give an account of himself to God.
Our strength is from the Lord!
Ps.109:26-27 Help me, O LORD my God! Save me according to your steadfast love! Let them know that this is your hand; you, O LORD, have done it!
His truth endures forever!
Ps.100:5 NKJ For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting, And His truth endures to all generations.
Oh Lord, I praise Your holy name! Amen

Through the Encouragement of the Scriptures We Might have Hope

Romans 15:4 For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.
Jew and Gentile hope in the Lord Jesus!
Romans 15:8-9 For I tell you that Christ became a servant to the circumcised to show God's truthfulness, in order to confirm the promises given to the patriarchs, and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written, "Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles, and sing to your name."
Romans 15:12-13 And again Isaiah says, "The root of Jesse will come, even he who arises to rule the Gentiles; in him will the Gentiles hope." May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.
The believer's mission!
Romans 15:21 but as it is written, "Those who have never been told of him will see, and those who have never heard will understand."
God's word!
Heb.4:12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
Scripture is breathed out by God and can not be broken!
John 10:35 If he called them gods to whom the word of God came--and Scripture cannot be broken--
2 Tim.3:16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness
Read and believe!
John 5:37-47 And the Father who sent me has himself borne witness about me. His voice you have never heard, his form you have never seen, and you do not have his word abiding in you, for you do not believe the one whom he has sent. You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life. I do not receive glory from people. But I know that you do not have the love of God within you. I have come in my Father's name, and you do not receive me. If another comes in his own name, you will receive him. How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the only God? Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father. There is one who accuses you: Moses, on whom you have set your hope. For if you believed Moses, you would believe me; for he wrote of me. But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe my words?"
Lord, Your Word is good! Have mercy on heard hearts so they may hear and believe! Amen

Monday, August 15, 2011

God's Servant for Your Good

Romans 13:4 for he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God's wrath on the wrongdoer.
Laws of the land are set up by the people with the underlying theme being, to keep order in society. God has all authority! He has given man authority to govern and to keep society peaceful by means of laws.
Romans 13:1-3 Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval
1Tim. 2:1-2 First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.
Be very careful when you vote for someone who will make laws for our country. The anarchists are trying to bring down our lawful society with laws that do not keep peace in society. The lawbreaker goes unpunished under the guise of civil liberties! If you break the law, you forfeit your civil liberties and your freedom! Be very prayerful in matters of society because the devil will use any means to create havoc! Whether our governing authorities want to admit it or not, all knees will bow to the Christ the Lord! Christ is the ultimate ruler over all!! All power in heaven and on earth is His! God bless America!
Romans 14:11 for it is written, "As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God."
Phil.2:10-11so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Matt.28:18 And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
Lord, I ask for Your healing power on this nation. Forgive us and heal our land, teach us obedience to your Word. Lord, thank You for Your Word which teaches us to be like You. Bless our officials and keep their hearts on your Word. Bless our law enforcement who keep peace in society and shake the foolish judges who disregard Your Word. Bless the wise judges who seek after Your Word and Your justice. In Jesus name and by His power, Amen.