TO EVERYTHING THERE IS A TIME AND SEASON

SEASON OF PLENTY
Source: Christiansunite.com


WORD OF WISDOM
AGRICULTURE ~ It was forbidden to sow a field with divers seeds (Deuteronomy 22:9). A passer-by was at liberty to eat any quantity of corn or grapes, but he was not permitted to carry away any (Deuteronomy 23:24, 25; Matthew 12:1). The poor were permitted to claim the corners of the fields and the gleanings. A forgotten sheaf in the field was to be left also for the poor. (See Leviticus 19:9, 10; Deuteronomy 24:19.)

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Ecclesiastes 3
1 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
2 A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
3 A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;
4 A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
5 A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
6 A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
7 A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
8 A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.
9 What profit hath he that worketh in that wherein he laboureth?
10 I have seen the travail, which God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised in it.
11 He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.
12 I know that there is no good in them, but for a man to rejoice, and to do good in his life.
13 And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it is the gift of God.
14 I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him.
15 That which hath been is now; and that which is to be hath already been; and God requireth that which is past.
16 And moreover I saw under the sun the place of judgment, that wickedness was there; and the place of righteousness, that iniquity was there.
17 I said in mine heart, God shall judge the righteous and the wicked: for there is a time there for every purpose and for every work.
18 I said in mine heart concerning the estate of the sons of men, that God might manifest them, and that they might see that they themselves are beasts.
19 For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath; so that a man hath no preeminence above a beast: for all is vanity.
20 All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again.
21 Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth?
22 Wherefore I perceive that there is nothing better, than that a man should rejoice in his own works; for that is his portion: for who shall bring him to see what shall be after him?

Every day that we live there are new hopes and dreams. Everyday gives us the chance to start again. In the morning we get up and thank the Lord for a new day, and ask Him to bless and guide us as we go into the world. At the end of our day it is time to reflect on what we have done, ask forgiveness for our failures and mistakes, and then praise the LORD for all the good that He has given to us. We cannot undo, we can only go forward. As we grow in the LORD we come into many seasons of life. There is a purpose in all that the Lord brings before us.
Look back at some of the seasons of your life; ask yourself what did I do for the LORD?

There was a popular song years ago about this scripture: To everything turn, turn, turn, there is a reason, turn, turn, turn. We need to get up each morning and turn, turn, turn, we need to turn to the LORD, and stay in the LORD. And if we make a mistake: turn, turn, turn.

God Bless,
rECj/LJG

THINK ON THIS
Your heart is a place to draw true happiness.

WHAT DIFFERENCE CAN ONE PERSON MAKE?

Christiansunite.com

WORD OF WISDOM
GOSPEL ~ The term is often used to express collectively the gospel doctrines; and `preaching the gospel' is often used to include not only the proclaiming of the good tidings, but the teaching men how to avail themselves of the offer of salvation, the declaring of all the truths, precepts, promises, and threatenings of Christianity." It is termed "the gospel of the grace of God" (Acts 20:24), "the gospel of the kingdom" (Matthew 4:23), "the gospel of Christ" (Romans 1:16), "the gospel of peace (Ephesians 6:15), "the glorious gospel," "the everlasting gospel," "the gospel of salvation" (Ephesians 1:13).

Source: Easton's Bible Dictionary

We have but to turn on the television or read one of many Christian magazines and we can rest assured that there are many reaching out to the lost and dying of the world. What difference can one person make?

How will you be remembered? Will you be remembered as someone who made a difference? My Uncle BW, who went home to be with the Lord, was remembered as many things. He was the man with the key who unlocked the church doors; he was the man who had a Word for everyone he met. The church was overflowing with people whose life’s he had touched. My dear Granny Carter was known as the lady who never said a bad word about anyone. There were people at her funeral that I had never met. Now that is a good way to go.

I read the obituaries and will give you an example of some of what I read. “He will be remembered for his love of fishing.” “So and so loved to play bingo.” The casino will miss so and so.” I myself want to be remembered for dancing in the store to Christian music, and as the one bold enough to pray in the store.

One person can make a difference. What difference are you making? How many people do you come in contact with each day that do not even know you are a Christian? How will you be remembered?

Today is yours fresh and new, what can you do, what will you do today to share the most precious gift you have ever received. It was not given to you to keep. It was a gift to use and develop and give away.

What difference can one person make? Why not try today and see.

God Bless,
rECj/LJG

THINK ON THIS
God has promised forgiveness to your repentance, but He has not
promised tomorrow to your procrastination.

-- St. Augustine of Hippo

Keep Pressing On,
Rev. John W. Sweat, Sr.
CROSSROADS Baptist Church
(904) 376-5049

SUNDAY EDITORIAL

Christiansunite.com

WORD OF WISDOM
FATHER ~ Believers are called God's "sons" (John 1:12; Romans 8:16; Matthew 6:4, 8, 15, 18; 10:20, 29). They also call him "Father" (Romans 1:7; 1 Corinthians 1:3; 2 Corinthians 1:2; Galatians 1:4).

Source: Easton's Bible Dictionary

“The church,’ he begin, is in grave danger of changing her message, which is the saving and keeping power of Jesus Christ, and the Living water, for the dry and hopeless mirage of a ‘changed world,’ through humanistic endeavor.
‘Humanism says, ‘change man’s environment and living conditions.’ Christianity says, ‘you must be born again’—that in it and through Christ we become a ‘new creation.’
Humanism would make the prodigal comfortable, happy and prosperous in the ‘far country’ and leave him there. Christianity seeks man’s immediate welfare, but above and beyond all else, it brings the prodigal back to his Father through the Lord Jesus Christ.
…death is the ultimate end of all human existence-a fact that the so-called social gospel seems to ignore.”
Dr. Nelson Bell in his retiring moderator’s sermon June 10, 1973 from the United Presbyterians. Dr. Bell was the father of Ruth Bell Graham wife of Billy Graham.

Thirty-five years ago Dr. Bell spoke those words, within less then 2 months he would go home to be with Jesus. What he said at that time was true and is even more so true today. It seems today that there are those helping people as far as their living conditions are concerned, without doing anything to help the soul of that person know and have a relationship with Christ, which we know is the only real helpful change that can save someone.

There is nothing wrong with reaching out to help others, but that without Christianity it is nothing. Sounds strong, yes, and it is meant to be. We are to help others as we would help ourselves. Giving a meal to a family in need does not help them in the future. Giving a supply of food is better, but what then? Do we give that food with the love of Christ or merely because it is the thing to do? Do we take the time to tell someone why we are helping them? Do we take the time to share the love of Christ with them? What of our own families?

We can show more than we can do sometimes. Our actions do speak louder then our words. I pray that this causes you to think about why you do the things you do.

PS In life there are many people Christian and non-Christian who reach out in extreme times and make the decision to get involved to help save someone. To me it is in times like this that we react to the situation, doing what we know in our hearts is the right thing to do. Then there are those who choose to do things they do not have to do in normal times because of a love for Christ, to show true love. I am asking that you watch the following video clip. It was sent to me this week, and expresses to me the best example on earth that I have ever seen of a mans love for his son.

May God bless you this week to search your heart concerning not only strangers but also family in why and how you should show the love of Christ.

A son asked his father, 'Dad, will you take part in a marathon with me?' The father who, despite having a heart condition, says 'Yes'. They went on to complete the marathon together. Father and son went on to join other marathons, the father always saying 'Yes' to his son's request of going through the race together. One day, the son asked his father, 'Dad, let's join the Ironman together.'

To which, his father said 'Yes' .

For those who didn't know, Ironman is the toughest triathlon ever. The race encompasses three endurance events of a 2.4 mile (3.86 kilometer) ocean swim, followed by a 112 mile (180.2 kilometer) bike ride, and ending with a 26.2 mile (42.195 kilometer) marathon along the coast of the Big Island .

Father and son went on to complete the race together. View this

Click Here to View the View of the duo.
http://www.godtube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=8cf08faca5dd9ea45513

God Bless,
rECj/LJG

THINK ON THIS
When you face the perils of weariness, carelessness, and
confusion, don't pray for an easier life. Pray instead to be a
stronger man or woman of God.

-- Luis Palau

Keep Pressing On,
Rev. John W. Sweat, Sr.
CROSSROADS Baptist Church
(904) 376-5049

SATURDAY EDITORIAL

Christart.com

ARE YOU WILLING TO BE A BAD OR A GOOD SERVANT?

WORD OF WISDOM
FAITHFUL ~ As a designation of Christians, means full of faith, trustful, and not simply trustworthy (Acts 10:45; 16:1; 2 Corinthians 6:15; Colossians 1:2; 1 Timothy 4:3, 12; 5:16; 6:2; Titus 1:6; Ephesians 1:1; 1 Corinthians 4:17, etc.).
It is used also of God's word or covenant as true and to be trusted (Psalm 119:86, 138; Isaiah 25:1; 1 Timothy 1:15; Revelation 21:5; 22:6, etc.).


Mat 25:26 His lord answered and said unto him, [Thou] wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed:

It is the real Christian's liberty and privilege to be employed as his Redeemer's servant, in promoting His glory, and the good of His people: the love of Christ constrains him to live no longer to himself, but to Him that died for him, and rose again. Those who think it impossible to please God, and in vain to serve Him, will do nothing to please God. They complain that He requires of them more than they are capable of, and punishes them for what they cannot help. Whatever they may pretend, the fact is, they dislike the character and work of the Lord. The slothful servant is sentenced to be deprived of his talent. This may be applied to the blessings of this life.

Let us not envy sinners, or covet any of their perishing possessions

Mat 25:30 And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

A state of banishment from the presence of the Lord. Have you a trust from the Lord? Are you useful to Him according to your ability?

For what was the unprofitable cast into outer darkness? What had he done? It is true he had not done good. But neither is he charged with doing any harm. Why, for this reason, for barely doing no harm, he is consigned to outer darkness. He is pronounced a wicked, because he was a slothful, an unprofitable servant. So mere harmlessness, on which many build their hope of salvation, was the cause of his damnation! There shall be the weeping - Of the careless thoughtless sinner; and the gnashing of teeth - Of the proud and stubborn. The same great truth, that there is no such thing as negative goodness. We are either good or bad. Hot or cold. Workers for God or not for God.

Mat 25:23 His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
Christ keeps no servants who are idle: they have received their all from Him, and have nothing they can call their own but sin. Our receiving from Christ is in order to our working for Him. We must all be reckoned with as to what good we have got to our own souls, and have done to others, by the advantages we have enjoyed. It is not meant that the improving of natural powers can entitle a man to Divine grace. It is the real Christian's liberty and privilege to be employed as his Redeemer's servant, in promoting His glory, and the good of His people: the love of Christ constrains him to live no longer to himself, but to Him that died for him, and rose again.

Phl 2:7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
His divine glory was exchanged for human lowliness. Jesus willingly relinquished, His claim. He was content to forego the glories of the Creator, and to appear in the form of a creature; yes, to be made in the likeness of the fallen creatures; and not only to share the disgrace, but to suffer the punishment, due to the meanest and vilest among them all.

"He took "the form of a servant" and in order to explain how He took "the form of a servant," there is added, by "being made in the likeness of men." His subjection to the law (Lu 2:21; Ga 4:4) and to His parents (Lu 2:51), His low state as a carpenter, and carpenter's reputed son (Mt 13:55; Mr 6:3), His betrayal for the price of a bond-servant (Ex 21:32), and slave-like death to relieve us from the slavery of sin and death, finally and chiefly, His servant-like dependence as man on God, while His divinity was not outwardly manifested (Isa 49:3, 7), are all marks of His "form as a servant." This proves: (1) He was in the form of a servant as soon as He was made man. (2) He was "in the form of God" before He was "in the form of a servant." Matthew Henry

The example of our Lord Jesus Christ is set before us. We must resemble Him in His life, if we would have the benefit of His death. Notice the two natures of Christ; His Divine nature, and human nature. Who being in the form of God, partaking the Divine nature, as the eternal and only-begotten Son of God, Joh 1:1, had not thought it a robbery to be equal with God, and to receive Divine worship from men. His human nature; herein He became like us in all things except sin. Thus low, of His own will, He stooped from the glory He had with the Father before the world was. Christ's two states, of humiliation and exaltation, are noticed. Christ not only took upon Him the likeness and fashion, or form of a man, but of one in a low state; not appearing in splendour. His whole life was a life of poverty and suffering. But the lowest step was His dying the death of the cross, the death of a malefactor and a slave; exposed to public hatred and scorn.

The final reward depends on faithfulness, not greatness!

God's Blessings to each of you,
LJG/rECj

THINK ON THIS
September 151770 - English founder of Methodism John Wesley wrote in a letter: 'To use the grace given is the certain way to obtain more grace. To use all the faith you have will bring an increase of faith.'

Source: Today in Christian History

THOUGHTS ON FAITH FROM STACY

Christiansunite.com
Faith.....the essence of things unseen, of things hoped for. Faith, necessary to a relationship with God. It is gifted to us by God. Free and for the asking......enough to accept Christ. Then others are blessed with more, as a part of their Spiritual gifts when they receive Christ. I seem to have inherited an ample share, on the whole. God didn't bless me with this gift because he likes me more. He blessed me so that I may share it. Spread it around. Work it.

Faith is a journey. The path goes and down through valleys and over mountains. Sometimes the sun is in your eyes. Sometimes a fog rolls in. Sometimes trees and brush hang over the path and hinder your way. But you have to keep taking steps. Small ones. Or big strides. Depends on the strength of those faith muscles that day. Depends on how far the Guide has marked for that days journey, also. The Guide is dependable. You have to trust that. And that in itself is a big part of faith. He'll urge you on and sometimes He'll tary His stride to wait on you.....quietly. When those muscles cramp up and your knees buckle below you, he'll catch you and carry you if you just whisper His name. And then sometimes if your throat is too parched from the journey to speak His name, He'll call it for you.....from His Sweet Spirit within you.

Faith is much like a muscle. It has to be excercised. How do you excercise it? By using it. When do you use it? To a point everyday. But then there are other times it really gets a work out! And there are blessed times of "cool down". When you revel in the afterglow of faith extended and met with Faithfulness.

There are times when you can't feel your own faith. Sometimes because it is out in front, driving and supporting you. Sometimes because it is weak and fragile. Sometimes it's like breathing, and at other times it takes every concious fiber of your being. Sometimes you are bare-knuckles hanging on to the last shread for dear life. Sometimes you are rolling in the green pastures of abundance.

As for advice. Stay near the source. Even when you don't feel like it. Even if you feel let down or ignored. Stay in the Word. It's full of faith commended, faith tested, faith failing, faith restoring examples. Continue to pray, even if your prayers sound more like rants. I say it often, but He's big enough to take it! And He loves you enough to put up with it! You can't make Him unlove you. He is unchanging.

Draw on every memory of faith you have. That's what they are there for. Little exercises of the past, to strengthen us in the here and now. Recall every answer, every gesture. Praise Him and thank Him for these. Even if you don't feel like it now. (If you love me you will obey me He says. We are told repeatedly to give thanks in all things.) Do it because you are supposed to.

New to faith, not enough life experience and water under the bridge? Surround yourself with folks that have a testimony of faith. Call on them often. Here their stories. Over and over. Use their blocks to begin building your tower.

And don't ever think yourself unworthy or second class when your faith waivers! We all do it in some form, to some extent! You need look no further than the twelve to see twelve examples of this. Fact is on our own, none of us are worthy. We are worthy only because He decided we were worthy on a hill two thousand years ago.

And buy some mustard seed! Get a good look at it. For He tells us from His own mouth if we have faith even of the grain of mustard seed, we can speak to mountains and move them. Mountains of doubt, fear, dread, indifference. Any mountain on the horizon of your life.

Whatever else, know you are not alone Stacy!

Source: Barbara at http://journals.aol.com/bhbner2him/LifeFaithinCaneyhead/entries/2005/11/06/thoughts-on-faith-for-stacy/1716

THINK ON THIS

April 16 1772 - Anglican clergyman and hymnwriter John Newton wrote in a letter:
'I think there is a scriptural distinction between faith and
feeling, grace and comfort.... The degree of the one is not
often the just measure of the other.'

Source: Today in Christian History

HEED THESE WORDS

Christiansunite.com

WORD OF WISDOM
JUDGEMENTS ~ (1.) The secret decisions of God's will (Psalm 110:5; 36:6).
(2.) The revelations of his will (Exodus 21:1; Deuteronomy 6:20; Psalm 119:7-175).
(3.) The infliction of punishment on the wicked (Exodus 6:6; 12:12; Ezek. 25:11; Revelation 16:7), such as is mentioned in Genesis 7; 19:24,25; Judges 1:6,7; Acts 5:1-10, etc.

Source: Easton's Bible Dictionary

Deuteronomy 12:1 These are the statutes and judgments, which ye shall observe to do in the land, which the LORD God of thy fathers giveth thee to possess it, all the days that ye live upon the earth.

The Israelites are charged not to bring the rites and usages of idolaters into the worship of God; not under colour of making it better. We cannot serve God and mammon (Matt 6:24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon); nor worship the true God and idols; nor depend upon Christ Jesus and upon superstitious or self-righteous confidences.

This divine command was founded on the tendencies of human nature; for to remove out of sight everything that had been associated with idolatry, that it might never be spoken of and no vestige of it remain, was the only effectual way to keep the Israelites from temptations to it.

My dear people, please do not think these scriptures apply only for the Israelites. These scriptures have more meaning today, as we have been so very slack in removing all the places of idol worship. We are so busy trying to please other men that we forgot who our true God is.

There is a God, and there is but one God, arise those great fundamental laws, That God is to be worshipped, and He only, and that therefore we are to have no other God before Him: this is the first commandment, and the second is a guard upon it, or put a hedge about it. To prevent a revolt to false gods, we are forbidden to worship the true God in such a way and manner as the false gods were worshipped, and are commanded to observe the instituted ordinances of worship that we may adhere to the proper object of worship.

We must not think that our worship of God is instituted only to be our work in the years of our servitude, our entertainment in the places of our solitude, and our consolation in affliction; no, when we come to possess a good land, still we must keep up the worship of God in Canaan as well as in a wilderness, when we have grown up as well as when we are children, when we are full of business as well as when we have nothing else to do.

Let it never be said of this holy land that it had been thus polluted, but let all these dunghills be carried away, as things they were ashamed of. The safety of their religion; let none be left remaining, lest profane unthinking people, especially in degenerate ages, should make use of them in the service of the God of Israel. Let these pest-houses be demolished, as things they were afraid of. He begins the statutes that relate to divine worship with this, because there must first be an abhorrence of that which is evil before there can be a steady adherence to that which is good, Rom. 12: 9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. The kingdom of God must be set up, both in persons and places, upon the ruins of the devil's kingdom;
they cannot stand together, nor can there be any communion between Christ and satan.

While we are here in our state of trial, we must continue in our obedience, even to the end, and never leave our duty, nor grow weary of well-doing.

God's Blessings to each of you,
LJG/rECj

THINK ON THIS
Feb 26 1840 - Scottish clergyman Robert Murray McCheyne wrote in a letter:
'Our soul should be a mirror of Christ; we should reflect
every feature: for every grace in Christ there should be a
counterpart in us.

Source: Today in Christian History

HAND OF GOD

Christiansunite.com

WORD OF WISDOM
IDOLATRY ~ Image-worship or divine honour paid to any created object. Paul describes the origin of idolatry in Romans 1:21-25: men forsook God, and sank into ignorance and moral corruption (1:28). To attempt to seduce others to false worship was a crime of equal enormity (13:6-10). An idolatrous nation shared the same fate. No facts are more strongly declared in the Old Testament than that the extermination of the Canaanites was the punishment of their idolatry (Exodus 34:15, 16; Deuteronomy 7; 12:29-31; 20:17), and that the calamities of the Israelites were due to the same cause (Jeremiah 2:17).

Source: Easton's Bible Dictionary

Deu 32:39 See now that I, [even] I, [am] he, and [there is] no god with me: I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal: neither [is there any] that can deliver out of my hand.

We learn by our own sad experience what vain and impotent things idols are (An idol--Anything that comes before God). I am He - The only true, omnipotent and irresistible God.

Glory to God. No escape can be made from His power. It speaks terror to His enemies. Terror indeed to those who hate Him. The wrath of God is here revealed from heaven against them. It speaks comfort to His own people and whatever judgments are brought upon sinners, it shall go well with the people of God.

Now look at this; "There is no god with me. None to help with me, none to cope with me." There are no idols can do the things that He, Himself does. He kills and wounds His enemies, but heals and makes alive His own people, kills and wounds with His judgments those that revolt from Him and rebel against Him; but, when they return and repent, He heals them, and makes them alive with His mercy and grace. It shows His incontestable authority to dispose of all His creatures, and the things He has given them, so as to serve His own purposes by them.

The Jerusalem Targum reads, I kill those that are alive in this world, and make those alive in the other world that are dead. Of an irresistible power, which cannot be controlled: Neither is there any that can deliver out of my hand those that I have marked for destruction. As no exception can be made against the sentence of God's justice, so no escape can be made from the executions of His power.

Though He can and will kill, He makes alive again: though He cause grief, yet will He have compassion on all those who get rid of other gods they have set against and before Him. To those who aren't saved must come to God and those of us who are saved must repent of all that keeps us from His love and mercy.

Get rid of our idols so that we will be able to live in the world of the living.

God's Blessings to each of you,
LJG/rECj

THINK ON THIS
There is not a hint of one person who was afraid to draw near
him [Jesus]. There were those who mocked him. There were those
who were envious of him. There were those who misunderstood him.
There were those who revered him. But there was not one person
who considered him too holy, too divine, or too celestial to
touch. There was not one person who was reluctant to approach
him for fear of being rejected.

-- Max Lucado

Keep Pressing On,
Rev. John W. Sweat, Sr.
CROSSROADS Baptist Church
(904) 376-5049

REALLY THINK ON THIS
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JW4LLwkgmqA&feature=related

RECONCILATION

WORD OF WISDOM
PARDON ~ The forgiveness of sins granted freely (Isaiah 43:25), readily (Nehemiah 9:17; Psalm 86:5), abundantly (Isaiah 55:7; Romans 5:20). Pardon is an act of a sovereign, in pure sovereignty, granting simply a remission of the penalty due to sin, but securing neither honour nor reward to the pardoned. Justification (q.v.), on the other hand, is the act of a judge, and not of a sovereign, and includes pardon and, at the same time, a title to all the rewards and blessings promised in the covenant of life

A change from enmity to friendship. It is mutual, i.e., it is a change wrought in both parties who have been at enmity.
(1.) In Colossians 1:21, 22 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled 22 In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight, the word there used refers to a change wrought in the personal character of the sinner who ceases to be an enemy to God by wicked works, and yields up to Him His full confidence and love. In 2 Corinthians 5:20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God., the apostle beseeches the Corinthians to be "reconciled to God", i.e., to lay aside their enmity.

(2.) Romans 5:10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life., refers not to any change in our disposition toward God, but to God Himself, as the party reconciled. Romans 5:11, And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement, teaches the same truth. From God we have received "the reconciliation" (R.V.), i.e., He has conferred on us the token of His friendship. So also 2 Corinthians 5:18, 19, And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation, 19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation, speaks of a reconciliation originating with God, and consisting in the removal of His merited wrath. In Ephesians 2:16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:, it is clear that the apostle does not refer to the winning back of the sinner in love and loyalty to God, but to the restoration of God's forfeited favour. This is effected by His justice being satisfied, so that He can, in consistency with His own nature, be favourable toward sinners. Justice demands the punishment of sinners. The death of Christ satisfies justice, and so reconciles God to us. This reconciliation makes God our friend, and enables Him to pardon and save us.

God's Blessings to each of you,

LJG/rECj

Source: Easton's Bible Dictionary

THINK ON THIS:

November 12 1556 - Dutch Anabaptist reformer Menno Simons wrote in a letter: 'I can neither teach nor live by the faith of others. I must live by my own faith as the Spirit of the Lord has taught me through His Word.'

Source: Today in Chritian History

WITHOUT

WORD OF WISDOM
CARPENTER ~ An artificer in stone, iron, and copper, as well as in wood (2 Samuel 5:11; 1 Chronicles 14:1; Mark 6:3). The tools used by carpenters are mentioned in 1 Samuel 13:19, 20; Judges 4:21; Isaiah 10:15; 44:13. It was said of our Lord, "Is not this the carpenter's son?" (Matthew 13:55); also, "Is not this the carpenter?" (Mark 6:3). Every Jew, even the rabbis, learned some handicraft: Paul was a tentmaker. "In the cities the carpenters would be Greeks, and skilled workmen; the carpenter of a provincial village could only have held a very humble position, and secured a very moderate competence."

Source: Easton's Bible Dictionary

Matthew 13:57 And they were offended in him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and in his own house.

Christ repeats His offer to those who have refused them. They said unto Him, Is not this the carpenter's son? Yes, it is true He was said to be so; and no disgrace to be the son of an honest tradesman; they should have respected Him the more because He was one of them, but they despised Him. He did not do many mighty works there, because of their unbelief. Unbelief is one of the great hinderances to Christ's favours.

They looked on Him as a mean, a man of low birth, not worthy of any respect. The reason, He caused them to stumble and led them into the error of their evil ways. The lowness of His family bring Him into contempt: nor can they understand that He, who was before equal with, or below them, should now bear a superior character. Our Lord's long residence in Nazareth merely as a townsman had made Him too common, keeping them from appreciating Him as others did who were less familiar with His everyday ways in private life.

We may wonder that He should speak such words of grace to such graceless people as mankind. Some prejudice often furnishes an objection against the humbling doctrine of the cross; and while it is the word of God that stirs up men's disgust, they will blame the conduct or manner of the speaker. The doctrine of God's sovereignty, His right to do His will, provokes proud men. They will not seek His favour in His own way; and are angry when others have the favours they neglect. Still Jesus is rejected by multitudes who hear the same message from His words today. While they crucify Him afresh by their sins, may we honour Him as the Son of God, the Saviour of men, and seek to show we do so by our obedience.

Let us keep faithful to Him as the Saviour who has made our peace with God.

God's Blessings to each of you,
LJG/rECj



Christart.com

SUNDAY EDITORIAL

WORD OF WISDOM
PRAYER ~ Is converse with God; the intercourse of the soul with God, not in contemplation or meditation, but in direct address to him. Prayer may be oral or mental, occasional or constant, ejaculatory or formal. It is a "beseeching the Lord" (Exodus 32:11); "pouring out the soul before the Lord" (1 Samuel 1:15); "praying and crying to heaven" (2 Chronicles 32:20); "seeking unto God and making supplication" (Job 8:5); "drawing near to God" (Psalm 73:28); "bowing the knees" (Ephesians 3:14).

Source: Easton's Bible Dictionary

Matthew 26:38 Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me.

Christ, who is a true man, is about to suffer the punishment which we should have suffered for forsaking God, is forsaken by His own. He has a terrible conflict with the horror and fear of the curse of God: out of which He, since He escaped as a conqueror, causes us not to be afraid of death any more.

The weight of woe was literally crushing out the Savior's life. He had wished His chosen disciples to be near Him in His woe; and yet, as it advanced, He felt that He must retire even from them, and be alone with Himself and His Father.

He who made atonement for the sins of mankind, submitted Himself in a garden of suffering, to the will of God, from which man had revolted in a garden of pleasure. Christ took with Him into that part of the garden where He suffered His agony, only those who had witnessed His glory in His transfiguration. Those are best prepared to suffer with Christ, who have by faith beheld His glory.

The words used show the most entire dejection, amazement, anguish, and horror of mind; the state of one surrounded with sorrows, overwhelmed with miseries, and almost swallowed up with terror and dismay. He now began to be sorrowful, and never ceased to be so till He said, It is finished. He prayed that, if possible, the cup might pass from Him. But He also showed His perfect readiness to bear the load of His sufferings; He was willing to submit to all for our redemption and salvation.

He communicates to them His sorrow, in order to arouse them to sympathy; not that He was unacquainted with their weakness, but in order that they might afterwards be more ashamed of their carelessness. This phrase expresses a deadly wound of grief; as if He had said, that He fainted, or was half-dead with sorrow.

Somewhere on the western foot of Olivet lay the garden, named from an oil-press formerly in or in it then, which was to be the scene of the holiest and sorest sorrow on which the moon, that has seen so much misery, has ever looked. Truly it was 'an oil-press,' in which 'the good olive' was crushed by the grip of unparalleled agony, and yielded precious oil, which has been poured into many a wound since then. Eight of the eleven are left at or near the entrance, while He passes deeper into the shadows with the three. They had been witnesses of His prayers once before, on the slopes of Hermon, when He was transfigured before them.

Out of the darkness He reaches a hand to feel for the grasp of a friend, and piteously asks these humble lovers to stay beside Him, not that they could help Him to bear the weight, but that their presence had some solace in it. His agony must be endured alone, therefore He bade them tarry there; but He desired to have them at hand, therefore He went but 'a little forward.' They could not bear it with Him, but they could 'watch with' Him, and that poor comfort is all He asks. No word came from them. They were, no doubt, awed into silence, as the truest sympathy is used to be, in the presence of a great grief. [While seeking heavenly aid in this hour of extremity, our Lord also manifested His desire for human sympathy. All the eleven apostles were with Him in the garden, and the three most capable of sympathizing with Him were stationed nearer to Him than the rest.]

The nervous prostration of Jesus was such as to endanger His life, and the watching of the apostles may have been doubly needful. Not only did He require their sympathy, but He may also have looked to them to render Him assistance in the case of a physical collapse.

According to this example of Christ, we must drink of the bitterest cup which God puts into our hands; though nature struggle, it must submit.

Are we in a state of slumber when others ask us to watch and pray?

God's Blessings to each of you,
LJG/rECj


Christiansunite.com

SATURDAY EDITORIAL

WORD OF WISDOM
TRUTH ~ Used in various senses in Scripture. In Proverbs 12:17, 19, it denotes that which is opposed to falsehood. In Isaiah 59:14, 15, Jeremiah 7:28, it means fidelity or truthfulness. The doctrine of Christ is called "the truth of the gospel" (Galatians 2:5), "the truth" (2 Timothy 3:7; 4:4). Our Lord says of himself, "I am the way, and the truth" (John 14:6).

Source: Easton's Bible Dictionary

Titus 1:16 They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate (void of judgement, rejected as worthless when tested).

There are so many people who say they know God, but in every step of their life they deny and reject Him. Look how miserable the lives of the hypocrites are, they have a form of godliness, but have no power. But let us check out our lives first before we start trying to lay the blame on them.

Paul isn't talking about their knowledge of God but they do not have an outward showing of Him. Paul was talking about and to the Jews, the seducing teachers and those who had been feed bad doctrine, at the time he wrote this but I think it applies to so many people other than the Jews today. Look at around you and you will find so many who are so full with their own believes in the knowledge of the true God. They will not admit that any other people can have this knowledge nor do they believe God ever did or would reveal Himself to any other people but themselves.

These people are counterfeit even though they have the name of God. They do good work but not in the spirit that it should have been done. I sometimes wonder why they even bothered to do anything in the first place. For example, they never let anyone forget what they done for them. They need to refer to Mathew chapter 6. But they first should have the true word of God engraved in and on their hearts before anything will help them.

The truth, which is according to godliness, in reference to eternal life, should be carefully regarded. The substantial knowledge of the truth must have faith for its foundation, godliness for its rule, and eternal life for its end.

He who does not begin well, is never likely to finish fair. He who does not refer everything to eternity is never likely to live well or happy in this world much less in eternity.

God's Blessing to each of you,
LJG/rECj


Source: Christiansunite.com

WAIT ON THE LORD

WORD OF WISDOM
LIFE ~ Generally of physical life (Genesis 2:7; Luke 16:25, etc.); also used figuratively (1) for immortality (Hebrews 7:16); (2) conduct or manner of life (Romans 6:4); (3) spiritual life or salvation (John 3:16, 17, 18, 36); (4) eternal life (Matthew 19:16, 17; John 3:15); of God and Christ as the absolute source and cause of all life (John 1:4; 5:26, 39; 11:25; 12:50).

Source: Easton's Bible Dictionary

2 Kings 7:3 And there were four leprous men at the entering in of the gate: and they said one to another, Why sit we here until we die? 4 If we say, We will enter into the city, then the famine is in the city, and we shall die there: and if we sit still here, we die also. Now therefore come, and let us fall unto the host of the Syrians: if they save us alive, we shall live; and if they kill us, we shall but die.

I had to share this scripture. These men had the right idea. They were already outcast, what did they have to lose. Most all of us have heard the saying “I might die, but I will die trying.”

So what do we do to get our miracle? Stay in the Word, medicate on it day and night, and plant it in our hearts. We need to do a mind change, an attitude change. I am going to do my part to get my miracle. I want to get a hold of what God has for me and I am not going to let go. I will not just sit here and wait for somebody else.

And the rest of the story. 5 And they rose up in the twilight, to go unto the camp of the Syrians: and when they were come to the uttermost part of the camp of Syria, behold, there was no man there. 6 For the LORD had made the host of the Syrians to hear a noise of chariots, and a noise of horses, even the noise of a great host: and they said one to another, Lo, the king of Israel hath hired against us the kings of the Hittites, and the kings of the Egyptians, to come upon us. Wherefore they arose and fled in the twilight, and left their tents, and their horses, and their asses, even the camp as it was, and fled for their life. 8 And when these lepers came to the uttermost part of the camp, they went into one tent, and did eat and drink, and carried thence silver, and gold, and raiment, and went and hid it; and came again, and entered into another tent, and carried thence also, and went and hid it. 9 Then they said one to another, We do not well: this day is a day of good tidings, and we hold our peace: if we tarry till the morning light, some mischief will come upon us: now therefore come, that we may go and tell the king's household.

Not only did they live, but they became rich because of what they did. Where they wrong for plundering the left items? No those items were left behind when the Syrians ran from the noise. They also went and let the town know what they found.

Something else came to me as I was writing this. We as Christians should pay heed to this. The lepers were still lepers, but now they were rich lepers. Better to be rich lepers then poor lepers. Better to be rich in the Lord, then poor in the world. Think about that.

God Bless,
rECj/LJG


Christiansunite.com

WAIT ON THE LORD

WORD OF WISDOM
HALT ~ Lame on the feet (Genesis 32:31; Psalm 38:17). To "halt between two opinions" (1 Kings 18:21) is supposed by some to be an expression used in "allusion to birds, which hop from spray to spray, forwards and backwards." The LXX. render the expression "How long go ye lame on both knees?" The Hebrew verb rendered "halt" is used of the irregular dance ("leaped upon") around the altar (ver. 26). It indicates a lame, uncertain gait, going now in one direction, now in another, in the frenzy of wild leaping.

Source: Easton's Bible Dictionary

John 5:1 After this there was a feast of the Jews; and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 2 Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five porches. 3 In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water. 4 For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had. 5 And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years. 6 When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole? 7 The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me. 8 Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk. 9 And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked: and on the same day was the sabbath.

Wait on the Lord. Isaiah 30:18 (King James Version) 18 And therefore will the LORD wait, that he may be gracious unto you, and therefore will he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you: for the LORD is a God of judgment: blessed are all they that wait for him. Psalm 40 1 I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. Psalm 62:5 (King James Version) 5 My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him.

Yes the Word says wait on the Lord. But did He say to sit and do nothing while we wait? Look again at the man beside the pool. What would you have done differently. I believe I would have somehow in those 38 years pulled myself up on the side and at the troubling of the water would have thrown myself into the pool. What about you?

We are to wait on the Lord, but I am not going to wait on somebody which is what this man was doing. He was waiting for someone else to put him in the water. Remember he waited 38 years.

Many of us at times wait on someone to pray for us, to bring to us, to do for us. We are not looking to God, nor are we doing what we can to get what is promised to us. If all you can do is pray, then pray. Pray for yourself, pray for others. I might be here right now, but I am going to do what I can while I am here.

Acts 1: 13 And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James. 14 These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren. Acts 2 1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.

Not only did they stay in prayer while they waited they also cast lots to see who would take the place of Judas.

Acts 1:24 And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, shew whether of these two thou hast chosen, 25 That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place. 26 And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.

We are not to just sit and wait on the Lord. Yes miracles do happen, but we all know that we must work for most of the things that come to us from God. It is in working toward those goals that we grow. Don’t waste your life sitting and waiting for God to just move you into a home, go looking, and plan for that move. Plant seed, and get your finances together. If you feel a call to sing in church then practice at home, join the choir. Do not sit in the pew and wait for the Pastor to call you to sing. Whatever you feel led to do then get ready to do it. Don’t sit on the side and wait for somebody else to lift you into the pool. Pull yourself up to the edge and go for it.

God Bless,
rECj/LJG
(to be continued)


Christiansunite.com

HOW DO WE USE THE WORD

Word of Wisdom
WORD ~ Gr. Logos), one of the titles of our Lord, found only in the writings of John (John 1:1-14; 1 John 1:1; Revelation 19:13). As such, Christ is the revealer of God. His office is to make God known. "No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him" (John 1:18). This title designates the divine nature of Christ. As the Word, he "was in the beginning" and "became flesh." "The Word was with God " and "was God," and was the Creator of all things (Comp. Psalm 33: 6; 107:20; 119:89; 147:18; Isaiah 40:8).

We read the Word, we quote the Word, but do we use the Word as we should? We know that God tells us in Isaiah 55:11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. How many times though do we look up a scripture to speak onto a prayer request?

Prayer is powerful. When we pray actual scriptures, we are putting power behind the prayer. We can easily say Lord You said, I am praying what You said, and here is the scripture that says You said it.

There is no subject that is not covered in the Bible. We need to study and medicate on the Word, we need to plant it in our souls and minds. When a prayer need comes up we can either pull from what we have planted or we can go to the Word and find out what God says about it, and then stand on what He says about any issue in our life’s or the life’s of those we are praying for.

The Bible is not there just to read, it is there for us to use. Today take the time to search for those issues in the Bible and then we can say God, You said. He desires for us to have the prayers we pray answered. So back those requests up with His own Words.

God Bless,
rECj/LJG


Christiansunite.com

SUPER EARTH

WASHINGTON (June 16) - European researchers said on Monday they discovered a batch of three "super-Earths" orbiting a nearby star, and two other solar systems with small planets as well.

Super earths have been found. I find that ever interesting, science is after all never boring. I do believe that I am living on Super Earth. The earth that God created by speaking it into being.

Genesis 1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. 2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. 3 And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. 4 And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness. 5 And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day. 6 And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters. 7 And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament: and it was so. 8 And God called the firmament Heaven. And the evening and the morning were the second day.

14 And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years: 15 And let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth: and it was so. 16 And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also. 17 And God set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth, 18 And to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness: and God saw that it was good.
31 And God saw everything that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.

It is always a wonderful experience to discover something. I remember many things that I discovered as I have grown older. What amazes me even more, is knowing that it was there all alone, it just was not known by me.

Super earth, yes that is what God created. A place set apart and different for His children to live and grow. Our home. The earth has been used and abused, burnt and scared, it has been dumped into and onto. None of that changes the fact that it was created to be our home.

One day Super Earth will be as God intended. For now lets take better care of it, showing God that we know it is our home. Take the time to pick up behind yourself. Be aware of the products you use and dispose of. Let's start acting like it is our Home.

God Bless,
rECj/LJG



Source: ChristArt.com

DOES THIS APPLY TO US?

Titus 1:1 Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God's elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness;

We don't write or speak in this way any longer, but our lives do the speaking for us.

He states his apostleship, not for Titus, but for the Cretian's sake, he is confirming his testimony by his outward calling and by his agreeing with all the elect from the beginning of time. As Christ was, so are ministers. In his office as a minister he is called a servant, Isa 43:10.

The faith in which all the elect, those who were chosen by God, agree, is the true and sincere knowledge of God for this purpose. That by worshipping God correctly we may at length obtain everlasting life according to the promise of God, who is the true one, this promise was shown by Him in Jesus. The elect didn't become as such because of their faith, they became elect because they received faith, to become believers, by divine will and purpose of God.

We serve God according to the amount of faith we have and we fulfill our public office with the amount of our knowledge. Paul wrote this to Titus mainly for three reasons: 1) for Titus to keep his eyes on God; 2) the churches had become careless as to the truth of God;and 3) for churches careless in the proper order of God's House.

All of us are servants of God, well, at least those of us who are slaves of sin and satan. All gospel truth is according to godliness, teaching the fear of God. The purpose of the gospel, or one anyway, is to take the mind and heart off the things of the world and raise them to heaven and the things above.

How many people know that we are servants of God without our mouth telling them so? Makes you wonder don't it?

God's Blessings to each of you,
LJG/rECj



IS THIS THE ONLY TIME OR
PLACE THAT YOU GIVE
THANKS FOR ALL OUR
PRIVILEDGES THAT
HAS BEEN GIVEN
US?

OR IS THIS THE ONLY TIME
OR PLACE THAT PEOPLE
WILL KNOW THAT WE
EVEN KNOW ANYTHING
OF GOD?

Source: Christiansunite.com

SUNDAY EDITORIAL

ONE MORE NIGHT WITH THE FROGS

Exodus 8:8-12 (King James Version) 8 Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron, and said, Intreat the LORD, that he may take away the frogs from me, and from my people; and I will let the people go, that they may do sacrifice unto the LORD. 9 And Moses said unto Pharaoh, Glory over me: when shall I intreat for thee, and for thy servants, and for thy people, to destroy the frogs from thee and thy houses, that they may remain in the river only? 10 And he said, To morrow. And he said, Be it according to thy word: that thou mayest know that there is none like unto the LORD our God. 11 And the frogs shall depart from thee, and from thy houses, and from thy servants, and from thy people; they shall remain in the river only. 12 And Moses and Aaron went out from Pharaoh: and Moses cried unto the LORD because of the frogs which he had brought against Pharaoh.

Pharaoh was a king, when he spoke he expected people to do what he said, when he said it. What we have here does not sound like a king. He asks Moses to ‘intreat the Lord.’ Intreat means: to negotiate, intercede, plead, to deal with.

What stands out to me, and honestly had me sitting up in bed laughing is verse 10. In answer to Moses question ‘WHEN’ shall I intreat for you, Pharaoh answers ‘TOMORROW.’ Okay wait a minute, you are ran over by frogs. Frogs are in your house, your bed, your food, frogs are everywhere, and Pharaoh says ‘TOMORROW.’

I don’t know about you, but I would want the frogs out ‘NOW.’ As Christians we are sometimes comfortable enough with our frogs, that we are okay with tomorrow. That is not where we should be. We should know that even if our frogs are still evident we should be comfortable knowing that our frogs are already taken care of today, in spite of what we see. We are to have joy from within, we should be at peace whatever the circumstances, but never are we to be comfortable with the frogs.

Philippians 4:8-10 (King James Version) 8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. 9 Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

When we think on the things of God, His peace shall be on us, and we will know that all is well. The frogs might be there, but we know that the answer is already there. When do we desire for the frogs to be gone, today, now. We are not to be comfortable with the frogs, after we have asked God to take care of them, we are to have the peace of God within us.

The devil wants us to keep our eyes on the frogs, he wants us to think it will happen tomorrow. Take your eyes off the frogs and focus them on the joy within you that comes from Christ. If you have asked Him to take care of the frogs, He will, and while He is taking care of your frogs, you will have your heart full of joy.

Have a blessed day in the Lord.
rECj/LJG


Source: Christianart.com

SATURDAY EDITORIAL

Before we get into today's editorial I would just like to take this time to tell you that I am a great granny for the third time. He is just plain adorable but enough of my joy.

I was going to use the scripture for "God works in mysterious ways, His wonders to behold," but guess what it ain't in there. It is uncertain in origin, it is thought that it might have come from William Cowper's hymn "God Moves in a Mysterious Way." Yes, He does work in ways that are curious and beyond the measure of our limited experience and thinking powers.

The reason I was going to use that scripture was to show you how God has worked in my life these past few days. It all began when I received an e mail from our preacher's son telling us that his hours had been cut at work and he would gladly cut our grass if we need him to. Well, dear folks, that was an answer to my prayers.

You see my ex husband lives right next door to me and his grass was so high it was awful. The ugliest yard in whole area. Well, I e mailed him back and ask him to do the yard for me. Bless his heart he was here last Saturday morning at 7:15 and ready to go. Afterwards he came over and we must have talked about the Lord for two hours.

Let me explain this about me. I love new born's up to the age of them getting mouthy, then I think they should be done away with and then brought back when that stage of their and my live is over with. He is at the latter stage of course.

Then he came back on Wednesday morning to get the rest of his money, this time we only talked for about an hour and a half. Saturday we shook hands, Wednesday we hugged.

The really amazing part is that our young people don't think about cutting grass anymore or even talking about God and His mighty works. How He brings people together totally blew our minds. Another amazing thing is the fact that as a preacher's son he loved talking about God as much as I did. I grew up with preacher's son's and deacon's sons as well, and they certainly didn't want to be bothered with talking about God.

You know what this tells me? Our preacher and his wife, who by the way is a very wonderful person herself, is practicing what he preaches in his home. Imagine that if you can and will.

I thank God for this young man and his mama and daddy. I especially thank God that He gave me glorious opportunity to meet this young man and I am so looking forward to him coming over again.

God's Blessings to each of you,
LJG/rECj



CAN'T YOU JUST PLAIN HEAR
HIM SHOUTING ABOUT THE
FIRE AND BRIMSTONE
THAT IS AWAITING
US?

NO, OUR PREACHER ISN'T LIKE THIS
BUT I JUST COULDN'T HELP MYSELF

Source: Christiansunite.com

LET'S TAKE A BREAK

Today we are just going to relax, take time to pray about the Spiritual Gifts being applied to our life's. So, we are going to share some beautiful creations hand made by God.










God's Blessings to each of you,
LJG/rECj

SPIRITUAL GIFTS INVENTORY

Source: Christiansunite.com
For the last two pages of the questions please go to this url: http://journals.aol.com/momsfirstscreenn/FAITH/

SPIRITUAL GIFTS INVENTORY

Ya'll I have been working on these questions for two weeks trying to get them ready for posting on our sites. We are sure ya'll have seen the mess I made with yesterday's and today. I have prayed, cried out to the Lord in pure desperation for help and let me let you He did send it to me. By shear divine intervention He sent me an e mail from a cousin of mine who lost her brother back in April I think it was and wanted me to put it on her page on my genealogy site. Oh yes I did have trouble getting the memorial page to be big enough to read this like on these questions. He just plain opened this hard head of mine and poured out the way for my mind and fingers to get it done.

Please forgive me if I have rambled and my sentences rambled on as well. I am just plain so excited I can't be still. Oh yes, my dear folks, GOD DOES ANSWER MY PRAYERS and ya'll's as well.

Let us all take a minute and SHOUT THANK YOU JESUS!!!

God's Blessings to each of you,

LJG

See what keeping His praise in our hearts, minds and on our lips will do for us?
Source: Christiansunite.com

For more questions please go to this url: http://journals.aol.com/momsfirstscreenn/FAITH/

SPIRITURAL GIFTS

The following Spiritual Gifts Inventory provides opportunity for you to respond to 125 statements. Your response to these statements will help determine areas of personal strength and ministry and provide a tool to help discover your spiritual gifts. Respond on the basis of your interest and/or experience. Honest responses are essential. Don’t respond on the basis of how you think others want you to respond.

DIRECTIONS:
Pray before you begin. Ask the Lord to help you begin to discover your spiritual gift through this experience. As Him for His wisdom.
Read each statement and give it a moment of serious thought.
For each statement say to yourself: “In my life I have satisfactorily experienced…”
Then place an X in the appropriate box labeled “Very much,” “Much,” “Some,” “Little,” “Not at all.”
Complete the entire survey before referring to the computation chart at the end of the inventory.

"In my life I have satisfactorily esperienced...Very much...Much...Some...Little...Not at all...

For the questions please go to this url: http://journals.aol.com/momsfirstscreenn/FAITH/

God Bless,
rECj/LJG


(This is going to be another wonderful and great week for doing our Lord's work. Thank God I enjoy working with my hands. I will keep His praises in my heart, mind and on my lips at all time.

So sorry for everything not being neat and tidy, just didn't work out. LJG)

Source: Christiansunite.com

SUNDAY EDITORIAL

BUTTERFLY KISSES

I love getting butterfly kisses from the Lord. I call the wonderful unexpected little things that happen in my life from God, butterfly kisses. It is easy to miss them some times, or to look back later in the day and go oh yes that was a BK.

My week has been filled with many BK’s. Oh there were many things that went wrong, but there were enough BK’s to keep a smile on my face, and joy in my heart. Okay I slipped the other night at work when I couldn’t seem to get done and out of there, but along comes my Brother in the Lord and patiently waited for me. He is a BK.

I am blessed with so much, which to the outsider might seem like so little. I can truly understand if someone looked at me and thought poor old lady. Little do they know that I am one very anointed young woman.

I say young because I have only lived half my life. All my needs are being met by the Father. He talks to me and tells me things and I know that I am loved. Better to be where I am in Him than in the world with much.

I walk outside and there is my bird singing to me from the top of that old dead tree. I don’t know what that tree was like when it was alive, but even dead it still brings joy into my life. While sitting outside a squirrel came up to within 2 feet of me and just sat there. My LJG and I had not had a chance to talk all week, last night we talked till she got sleepy on me.

The other night while laying in bed the Lord laid this on my heart, which LJG mentioned briefly in Saturday’s Editorial. Greater is He that is within me, then he that is in the world. If He that is greater is within me, and I am in He, then with He in me I am greater then he that is in the world.

BK’s, the little things that make you stop and say yes Lord. I pray that today you will receive many BK’s. God bless each one of you and have a very blessed day in the Lord.

PS: I pray that you have enjoyed reading the articles about gifts. We will be doing a questionnaire that will help guide you to the gifts that you have. We believe if you will pray and be honest you might be surprised at the gifts you do have. Our goal since we started these sites is to get the individual person to open themselves up to learning and growing in the Lord. We have always and will continue to encourage you to read and seek the Lord for yourself. The Bible is our guideline to all we are and all we hope to be. May the grace of God be with you in all you do in strengthening your relationship with him.

God Bless
rECj/LJG


Source: Snuggle-Me Stories: Butterfly Kisses
Author: Sandra Magsamen
Christiansunite.com

SATURDAY EDITORIAL

Lucifer

Isa 14:12 - 15 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! [how] art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! 13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: 14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. 15 Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.

From early childhood we are taught that satan looks like one of the above pictures. To see the picutres mentioned please go to this url: http://clipart.christiansunite.com/Satan_Clipart/. Which is a lie. Wasn't satan called a "beautiful angel?"

Look at all the things he entices us with. There ain't nothing ugly about them The women are the prettiest, the men the most handsome. The cars are the best and newest. The houses are the biggest with all this beautiful furniture. All the places he shows us are so wonderful looking. The clothes on the men and women are the most modern, what there are of the clothes.

We aren't shown fat men and women. The men are all muscled up and the women are so thin you can count their ribs. Oh yes they are so fine it just plain takes our breath away. But in reality they will put is in places that we know deep in our hearts we should never be.

My rECj and me were talking tonight and she reminded me that there are spirits out there just waiting to jump on us and take us over. Yes, my dear folks, they really do exist. That is what the beauty of this sinful world is all about. But if we remember that Who is in us is greater than anyone the evil spirits don't stand a chance.

We need to remember when see all the beautiful things of this world that is so freely offered to us we should think of the beauty that is awaiting us. When we see a nice vacation spot lets remember not to say, " I wish I was there." Just those simple words could cause a flow in lives that we really don't need or want.

We must always be on guard with our thoughts, minds and tongue as we continue our walk with God. The beauty of this world isn't the goal we are reaching and working for.

God's blessing to each of you,
LJG/rECj

HOW HAS YOUR WEEK BEEN?

Good morning folks. Well, let me tell ya'll this has been a week of "if it can go wrong it did." Sunday morning before 11 am our Internet provider went down. Why? They had some "problems," not in Clay County but in Duval as well. God did sent His music along with His band, thunder and lightning, it was a frog strangler. If we get a good clap of thunder the lights go out and they did, for about four hours. We had no internet connection all day Monday. But come Tuesday it was back on, the only problem with that It kept going down . That continued til yesterday. Of course we had no music or band playing yesterday.

Then last night I went online to get the article for today, no article could be found anywhere! Of course I e mail my rECj and she was so tired from her long hours of work this week that she wasn't able to stay up long enough to find it for us. I know I had all the articles, so where did they go? I have no idea only God knows.

Ready for the finishing touch? My son and I each have a printer. The ink for mine is the wrong size and his was working and then for some reason it just plain stopped working. Why do I need a printer? Cause when my rECj took the question pages, she used a pen of all things to mark her answers with. I went onto Word and typed the questions out, had the prettiest boxes for ya'll to use. But when I copied and pasted them onto a page to get them ready to put on our sites, I had the biggest mess you have ever seen. From that mess I learned I just plain don't know how to use Word graftics.

So come Monday or Tuesday morning we will be posting the question pages with her questions already marked. We ask that you over look them and please just answer how you feel about the questions. There are no right or wrong answers, it is simply between God and you.

For now all we ask is that ya'll have pen, or pencil, and paper ready for next week. There quite a few questions so they will run for a day or two.

It is time for me to get this posted to our sites and get tomorrows editorial ready.

Gods Blessings to each of you,
LJG/rECj


Maybe the shark ate our article.
Reckon I should take him off my computer?

CRAFTSMANSHIP

Source: Christiansunite.com

Key Verse: Exodus 31:1-11 [esp. 3]-Here we see God calling a specific person by name, Bezaleel, filling him with the spirit to work with his hands in gold, silver, brass, stones, timber, etc.

Definition: The God-given ability to use one’s hands to make, create, repair and construct whatever is necessary to further the work of the Lord and bring glory to God.

Scriptural References and Examples:

2 Chr 34:9-12-Under Josiah’s reign, workman [craftsman] repaired and remodeled the temple.
Acts 9:39-Dorcas, with the gift of craftsmanship, ministered to widows and others in need.
Acts 18:1-3-Paul, Aquila, and Priscilla were able to support their ministry by working with their hands.

Notes and observations on the Gift of Craftsmanship:

This is a very important gift. While those who have this gift are often much-less known their gift is essential to the work of God. The gift, of course, is never mentioned as a ‘charisma,’ yet it is very definite from the Ex 31:1-11 passage that the Spirit of the Lord came upon several of the Israelites for the specific purpose of using their hands to build items necessary for worship.

The Ex 31:11 passage reveals important aspects about this gift.
God called a specific individual by name, verse 2, to be a craftsman, just as he had called Moses by name to lead the Israelites.
God filled him with the Holy Spirit, verse 3, to be a craftsman’s, just as He filled Gideon to lead the Israelites into battle against the Mideanites.
God gave Bezaleel specific instructions and tasks in using this gift, verses 4-11.
God gave him others to help, verse 6.

Craftsmanship has been a part of God’s plan from the beginning of time. Consider Noah and his gift to build an ark. Consider those who built the tabernacle. Consider those who helped build the temple of Solomon. Consider those who helped rebuild the wall in Ezra’s day.

Today, God has placed people in the Body of Christ with this gift. They are architects, builders and craftsmen who help take God’s money and use it most judiciously to build worship centers at home and abroad for the glory of God. While God gifts some men and women with the ability to lead and inspire with the ability to see that building is completed properly and wisely.

God also uses people with trades to help keep the house of God in good repair. These people can also help widows and others who need their homes and cars repaired. Every local church needs a staff of craftsmen [artist, handcrafts, tradesmen] to complete the ministry for the church.

Practical Uses for the Gift of Craftsmanship:

Serve on a Building Maintenance committee for a church.
Be available at the church to use electric, carpentry, plumbing, and painting skills as needed without complaint.
Help widows and others in the Body of Christ who need their homes, properties, cars, etc, repaired.
Use artistic talents [painting, drawing, creative writing] to honor god by making projects, flyers, bulletin boards and other items to help portray the message of Christ.
Use handicraft talents to work with the children in Sunday School, Vacation Bible School and Children’s Church-making the lesson more fixed in their minds.
Keep church vehicles repaired and maintained.

God Bless,
rECj/LJG

HOSPITALITY

JESUS FEEDING THE 5000

Source: Christiansunite

Key Verse: 1 PETER 4:9,10

These verses indicate that hospitality is a gift [charisma] of the Spirit. The word ‘gift’ in verse 10 is ‘charisma.’

Definition:
Greek work: Philoxenia. Literally: ‘The love of strangers.’ The God-given ability to love even strangers to the degree that one is willing to open his home to provide a warm welcome to those needing lodging and food. Also, that God-given ability to help people feel welcome and accepted in any situation.

Spiritual References and examples:
Christ, Himself, was a welcome guest in the home of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus on several occasions.
Acts 16:15-Lydia, a Philippian businesswoman, urged Paul and his missionary team to stay at her home.
Acts 21:4,7,8,16-on Paul’s last trip to Jerusalem, he stayed in several homes. He stayed seven days with disciples at Tyre, 21:4. He stayed at someone’s home in Ptolemais one day, 21:7. He stayed many days at Philip’s the evangelist, home, 21:8. In Jerusalem, he stayed in the home of an ‘old disciple,’ Mnason, 21:16.

Notes and Observations on the Gift of Hospitality:

An amplification of 1 Peter 4:9 might be: ‘Gladly open up your homes and welcome each other as guests, especially those who need a meal and room overnight, and don’t complain about the inconvenience. Again we see the encouragement to use our gifts and also a word on the attitude that should accompany the use of the gift.

Romans 12:13-Paul urges the Romans to be ‘given to hospitality.’ Gaius, a servant of the Lord, housed Paul in Corinth. It was from Corinth [and Gaius’ home], Paul wrote to the Romans, Romans 16:23. In Hebrews 13:1-2, we are reminded, ‘Be not forgetful of hospitality’ or ‘Don’t forget to love a stranger.” 3 John 5-8, Gauis was commended because he received strangers and helped them forward in their gospel mission. There are some limitations to hospitality. We are not to provide lodging for false teachers, 2 John 10,11. The aim of hospitality is to appreciate each guest and help them feel comfortable and loved. Not only do those with the gift have the ability, but they love to do it. Hospitality can be extended to making people feel welcome at our Christian gatherings. Greeters and ushers can play a vital role in helping guests and first time visitors feel welcome and relaxed. That prepares them for the singing and the preaching of the word, thus opening their hearts to what God desires to do in them.

Practical Way to Put this Gift to Use:
Greeter/Host
Usher
Housing overnight guests, like visiting choirs or speakers
Home fellowship hosts
Home Bible studies
Having a college student over for dinner
Inviting a new person in the church for a time of fellowship


This is rECj/LJG writing now; we would like to add this word of caution. We cannot in this day and age open our homes to anyone without knowing who that person is. Here they are speaking of Christians, though the word strangers is used, it is people that are known to be Christians. We, and that includes men, should not invite someone of the opposite sex to our home that will leave us alone with them, to fellowship, or to stay overnight. We are not to put ourselves in a possible situation that could be awkward, we have to be careful.

God Bless,
rECj/LJG