SUNDAY EDITORIAL

MAY 29, 2011

I have been known to send articles to LJG with a big note-DO NOT PRINT-. Why? It is easy sometime to put my personal feelings into my writing.

Today I am not going to add that note. If the shoe fits-PLEASE-wear it.

We have always welcomed questions and comments. Most are sincere and either words of encouragement or questions for more information. There have been disagreements with what we have wrote. We have no problem with this, everyone will not always agree. We respect your right to your view. Some of these comments have resulted in well researched articles.

What both of us do not understand is if you disagree with our views, why do you continue to read us and leave hurting comments on our sites. Not once have you said anything that would give us cause to change our views. If we are able to respect your right to your view why do you not accept our right to ours.

Do you feel a need to challenge us? There are many sites we have gone to and seeing beliefs that do not line up with the Word of God, as we understand it,we don't go back.

In studying others beliefs we do research, but never have we felt lead by the Lord to try and convert their beliefs. This is entirely different then witnessing to someone the Lord has lead us to meet.

Again we respect your right to your views, respect ours. We use the King James Bible with the assistance of dictionaries and concorances. With that we pray and let the Lord lead us.

As a young child my earthly Dad told me that some people take the Bible apart so much that they lose sight of the truth of the Word. I remember a man who read the Bible and tried to rewrite it to his understanding, he went crazy.

The Bible tells us that only the eyes of those that have been opened will understand the truth of God's Word. We believe our eyes to be opened, our proof of this is that we have come across scripture that we thought to mean one thing but after prayer and study God has showed us different. We have found that by reading and study God will reveal His truth to us.

Now I think I said that fairly nicely. I do tend to be blunt, and hard at times. Our main goal was/and still is, is to get people to ask questions and NOT accept what their Momma or anyone else said about the Bible but to read and study for themselves.

Maybe just maybe that is what bothers some people, since we do not agree with them Well don't get mad at us, we back up everything we write about the Bible with the Bible.

God Bless
recj/LJG

P.S. We are doing research right now on the Law; Jesus came to fulfill the Law, does that mean the Law no longer applys to us? Look for it in the near future.

"SPECIAL BLESSING" AT THE FEET OF JESUS - THERE IS A PLACE OF SUPPLICATION

WE WILL BE GIVING YOU A SPECIAL BLESSING today and hopefully
for many more days to come. We will continue with our articles and other
postings. We are just adding “SPECIAL BLESSINGS.”

These “SPECIAL
BLESSING” are by the Senior Pastor, JOHN SWEAT, SR, of CROSSROADS BAPTIST
CHURCH, located on Baxley Road in Middleburg, Florida.


At the Feet of Jesus – There is a Place of Supplication
John 11:32
May 15, 2011 AM

Last week I preached about a woman named Mary who spent a lot of time at the feet of Jesus. She was indeed a true worshipper of our Lord! She did not care what others said about her, she simply worshipped the Lord without hesitation or apology.

Last week we saw an occasion in Mary’s life where she sat at the feet of Jesus to listen and learned from His Word. Her life was filled with all the normal things that kept a person busy, but when Jesus was in her house she sat down in a place of stillness and worshipped at His feet.

Today we find her again…at the feet of Jesus…but the occasion that brings her to Jesus feet this time is much different. For this time she hasn’t come to listen or to learn, but rather to lean.
This time she sits not in a place of stillness…but a in place of supplication.

You may recall that last week I mentioned that there is no inappropriate time to worship at the feet of Jesus. For in the good times and the bad we can come to Him and know that He is still deserving of our worship. In busy times and in slack times we must learn to take the time to worship at His feet. Are you taking the time?

Now, there are times when we come to listen and learn as Mary did…there are times we come to praise Him for all the wonderful things He has done for us…but there are also times when we come with physical and emotional, anguish and sorrow. Times when we don’t have the answers; times when we don’t know what we will do next; times when we wonder if Jesus knows or cares about what we are going through.

I gotta tell you friend, it is times like this that we especially need to fall at the feet of Jesus and pour out our hearts to Him...because at His feet we find a place of supplication.

Let’s stand and read John 11:1-45

As we read this entire story we can see that the Lord has an expected end in mind.
Could Jesus have gotten to Bethany sooner than He did? YES!
Could Jesus have kept Lazarus from dying? YES!
So why did He delay His coming? Why did He not heal Lazarus before he died?

Truth is that Jesus allowed Lazarus to die:
So that the glory of God might be revealed - 4
So that the faith of the disciples might be increased – 14-15
So they many others might believe as well – 41-42, 45

We would all do well to remember some things about suffering and sorrow:
God never promised that we would not have any suffering or sorrow
Jesus told us that we can expect suffering and sorrow in this life
And He never promised to take us out of it, but rather that He would be with us and get us through it.

And we would say Amen to that! Yet, at the same time I don’t think that there is one of us who would say, bring on the suffering and sorrow. Truth is, we do not want it. We don’t like it; we don’t want it; and we would do almost anything to avoid it.

But we cannot avoid it! And whether we like it or not it will come…and perhaps it has come upon some of you already! So what do we do in those times? How do we endure it/overcome it?

Well, I think we will find the answers we need right here in our passage. Mary has given us insight into how to deal with suffering and sorrow. And her example is given us from a place of supplication, at the feet of Jesus.

And at the same time we will see that it is not Mary’s position or prayerfulness alone that instructs us, but it is the response of Christ to Mary’s supplication that gives us the most encouragement.

So, with this in mind notice that there at the feet of Jesus, we can find a place of supplication…

Where We Can See That He Cares About Us
Notice verse 5 – “Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus.”
Notice also verse 36, after they saw Jesus weeping – “Behold how He loved him (Lazarus).”

The word love here comes from the Greek word agape, which is a strong and genuine love that is unconditional. The usage of this particular word indicates that Jesus loved them more than anyone could ever know.

He cares about us! I Peter 5:6 – Cast all your care upon Him (Jesus), for He cares for you.”

I am reminded also that He not only cares about what I am going through, but He knows what I am going through and He can relate to what I am going through.

Turn quickly to Hebrews 4:14-16…

He cares, He knows, He can relate! Therefore we can come boldly unto the throne of grace and we can obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need!
Psalm 138:6 – Though the Lord be high, yet he has respect unto the lowly.
That word respect means “to see, discern or behold”…He sees us, and He knows, and He cares!
But the real question is are we taking the time to come before His throne of grace?

At His feet there is a place of supplication where we can see that He cares and


Where We Can See That He Calls to Us
Notice verse 28 – “The Master is here and He is calling for you”

Why would Jesus want to see Mary? Because He knows that she is hurting…and He cares about her and what she is going through.

Notice also, that He came to where she was, yet He called for her to come to Him. It is the same way for us today. The Lord is near…and He is always here! But He calls for us to come to Him.

He knows what we are going to go through before it happens. He knows what is going to rock our world; or challenge our faith…yet He wants us to come to Him anyway!

He calls for us to come to Him…and to trust Him with our burdens. He wants us to learn to lean on Him and have faith that He will meet our deepest needs.

Psalm 55:22 – Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.
Matthew 11:28 – Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
J.C. Ryle said, "Means are to be used diligently, without question in time of need. Doctors are to be sent for in sickness. Lawyers are to be consulted when property or character needs defense. The help of all friends is to be sought. But still after all, the first thing to be done is to cry to the Lord Jesus for help."
Isn't it amazing that the Person who can do the most, the quickest is often the last One we turn to in a time of need.

Whether or not you come to Him…His offer still stands.

At His feet there is a place of supplication where we can see that He care, He calls and…

Where We Can See That He Cries For Us
Notice verses 33 – “When Jesus saw Mary and the others weeping…He groaned in the spirit and was troubled…and then in verse 35 – Jesus wept.

Keep in mind and do not minimize the fact that Jesus is God! Yet here we can clearly see that He cries because His people are hurting.

Note: In Luke 19 we also find Jesus weeping. This time He is weeping over the city of Jerusalem. He is weeping because of their rejection and lack of faith, and because judgment was coming upon them.

One other important point to consider here is the fact that Jesus cries out to the Father for us.

Hebrews 7:25 – Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.
Romans 8:34 – Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
At His feet there is a place of supplication where we see that He cares, He calls, He cries and…

Where We Can See That He Can Answer Us
Notice verse 43 – “Jesus cried with a loud voice, ‘Lazarus, come forth!’” And praise God! Lazarus came forth!

Listen, if death itself must obey our Lord, then there is nothing that is too big for Him to overcome for us! Amen!

No matter what your problem may be; no matter how great your need; no matter how deep your sorrow…Jesus can supersede the laws of nature in order to meet your needs.

Remember the Disciples in the boat – “Lord don’t you care that we are going to die?” Peace be still.
Remember Peter when he got out of the boat and walked on the water, and then when He began to sink, “Lord save me!”
Remember the thief on the cross – “Lord Remember me…”

We could go on and on talking about how He answered prayers in the life of others, but what about you? Your needs…your life?

Friends if we can trust Him for eternal salvation, then we can certainly trust Him with anything else in this life!

And it all begins at the feet of Jesus, in that place of supplication

Closing:
Question: How much time do you spend at the feet of Jesus?
Listening to Him, learning from Him…Calling out to Him in the time of need?

The Word of God has given each of us a clear message today:
That He Cares about you…and what you are going through
That He Calls or invites you to come to Him in the time of need
That He Cries…not only in prayer for you, but His heart breaks when you heart is broken
That He Can take care of your greatest needs

Here this morning you have an opportunity to come to one of these altars…fall down at His feet and lay down your burden; lay down your sorrow; lay down your suffering; or whatever it is…if you will simply come to Jesus today He can take care of your greatest need.

DEALING WITH REJECTION

Acts 13:51-52So they shook the dust from their feet in protest against them and went to Iconium. And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.



Not long ago I had one of those heart-wrenching moments as a parent when my daughter Amanda came home from school clearly upset about something that had happened. Amanda is somewhat like me in that she gets very quiet when something is wrong. My wife and I know this behavior so I asked her what was wrong. She said with her lower lip quivering, "None of the other kids wanted to play with me today." I thought to myself, "Wow, now that's rejection, nothing like a school playground to teach life lessons." I asked her how she felt about that. "I didn't like it. Everyone was playing with someone else, so I played on the monkey bars by myself -- and that was just fine," she replied stubbornly. The next day, as I asked her how her day went, she was all smiles again. She once again played on the monkey bars, but this time all the kids played with her. If only life were that easy. Sometimes it is -- as long as we have the right perspective.

In our passage today, Paul and Barnabas were rejected as well. In fact, their rejection went all the way to persecution -- which ultimately forced them to leave the region. This despite doing the Lord's will. I do a lot of mentoring and I always find it interesting how many Christians believe that if they do God's will, everything will work out wonderfully. The problem is our idea of wonderful and God's may not be the same.

I believe the church functions as a body as Paul describes in Romans 12:4-5, "Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body..." To use this as a farming analogy: some of us plant seeds; others pull weeds, dig wells, water, prune, harvest, etc. Paul and Barnabas were "seed planters." After they planted the seed -- introduced the Word of God to Pisidian Antioch -- their job was done. They weren't responsible for the result, only God is and God would indeed find someone else to water, weed and nurture. Often times we stick around too long as if we need to finish something that is not our job to complete. This is a really hard concept to understand. What is our function? When is it finished? When is it time to move on despite the apparent lack of completeness? Knowing who you are in Christ and your role within the body is the key to this understanding.


Paul and Barnabas were seed planters and they knew this was their role within the body. So when rejected, they just shook the dust from their sandals and moved on -- then they "were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit." Notice the sequence: it was only after they let go that they were able to experience joy and fullness. Joy because they were finished and fullness because they had completed their task. I know it's really hard to let go when something isn't finished in your own mind, but have you considered that it might not be your job to see it through to completion? Do you experience frustration when something you are involved in is not getting finished? What would it look like for you to step back, realize your part is done, and let another finish the task?

pocketpower.org

"SPECIAL BLESSING" AT THE FEET OF JESUS - THERE IS A PLACE OF STILLNESS

WE WILL BE GIVING YOU A SPECIAL BLESSING today and hopefully for many more days to come. We will continue with our articles and other postings. We are just adding "SPECIAL BLESSINGS."

These "SPECIAL BLESSING" are by the Senior Pastor, JOHN SWEAT, SR, of CROSSROADS BAPTIST CHURCH, located on Baxley Road in Middleburg, Florida.


Luke 10:38-42
May 8, 2011 AM

Happy Mother’s Day! I am wondering if there is anyone here who would like to say a word about their mother…We should thank God for mothers!

I am not going to speak to you about mothers today, but I do want to speak to you about a remarkable woman named Mary. Now this is not Mary the mother of Jesus, but a different Mary.

And the reason that I want to focus on this particular Mary is because every time we encounter her in Scripture she is doing the same thing. And what we find her doing is something that each of us needs to learn to do on a regular basis.

So, what is it that she is doing that deserves our attention today?

Every time we encounter her she is at the feet of Jesus. And what is more significant is that she is at the feet of Jesus at a time or in a way others often thought was inappropriate…
But honestly friends, Is there ever an inappropriate time to be at Jesus’ feet?

Solomon wrote in Ecclesiastes, To every thing there is a season and a time for every purpose under heaven. But I would say further that that in everything, and in every time, no matter the purpose we would do well to learn to be at the feet of Jesus.

Really the essence of this message; the essence of what we learn from Mary is that worshipping at the feet of Jesus is proper and important in every season and circumstance of life.

We sure experienced to some worship this past week! We had some great revival services! It all started last Sunday morning and ended Friday night…and I hope and pray that it is still overflowing here this morning!

Let’s begin by standing and reading Luke 10:38-42…

The first thing I want you to see is that...

At the Feet of Jesus – There is a Place of Stillness (Luke 10:38-42)

This occasion in Mary’s life comes when Jesus is passing through her village…and her sister Martha invites Jesus into their home. It is likely, though not mentioned, that the disciples were also with Jesus in their home.

Nevertheless, Martha was busy as a bee preparing and serving her guests…she was trying hard to be a good hostess. However, the scripture tells us that Mary was just sitting there at the feet of Jesus listening to Him.

While Martha opened her home to Jesus, Mary opened her heart to Jesus. In fact, Martha was so busy serving the Lord that she failed to see that listening to Him was far more important.
And so while Martha labored, Mary listened. And as Mary listened she found a place of stillness in the midst of business.

Today, most of us are busy…we are too busy! We are so busy doing good things that sometimes we fail to do the best things. And we are so busy doing so many things that most of the time we can’t do anything well.

And honestly, when we need to sacrifice time somewhere it is usually time that we would normally give to the Lord.

I think we would do well to learn to be still…we are so used to being busy that sometimes it is hard to be still…

Friends, at the feet of Jesus there is a place of stillness…

Where We Can Forget About Our Cares

While Martha cumbered about, Mary calmly sat and worshipped. The word cumbered means to be driven about mentally, or to be distracted.

Notice what Jesus said in verse 41, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things.” Martha was stressing over everything she had to do.

We ought to remember that there will always be much to do…always. There are worries and troubles enough for every day! But at the feet of Jesus, we can find a place where we can forget about all our cares. That is what Mary found!

Jesus said, “Come unto me, all you that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”
Paul said, “Cast all your cares upon Him, for He cares for you.”

Friends if we will learn to just sit down at His feet now and again…and be still before Him, all our worries and burdens will begin to fade away. Not that we won’t have them anymore, but we will be better equipped to handle them.

Let me ask you…do you think Jesus is more honored by our being busy for Him, if we are not taking time to be still before Him?

Think about it…Mary welcomed Jesus in, but was to busy to spend time with Him…
We can get so busy serving the Lord, serving our families; busy at work or at play…or whatever! And we forget that Jesus is right there in our presence, waiting for us to just be still before Him.

We cannot hear Him if we don’t listen. And how can we listen to Him if we fail to sit still and worship Him?

Psalm 46:10 – Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.
Every day’s quiet time is an opportunity to worship…every Sunday morning, Sunday night and Wednesday night is an opportunity to worship! But I fear some are too busy…too much to do to commit to faithfulness at His feet?

At His feet we find a place of stillness – Where we can forget about our cares…and…

Where We Can Feed Our Souls

As we can see Martha was worried about physical food…while Mary was more concerned with feeding her soul. Maybe she remembered…

Job 23:12 - Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.

Or Matthew 4:4 - Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
Church, it is no wonder that many Christians are weak and many are still babes in Christ…because they are either too busy serving Him to sit at His feet, or they are just too busy with too many other things to take time for Him at all!

Some people see Martha as a worker and Mary as a worshipper…and that they have to be one or the other…but I don’t think that is an accurate view at all. I think we can and should be both!
Charles Welsey said it perfectly in one of his hymns:
Faithful to my Lord's commands, I still would choose the better part;
Serve with careful Martha's hands, And loving Mary's heart.
It seems evident that the Lord wants each of us to imitate Mary in our worship and Martha in our work. Balance!
Work without worship will eventually lead to burn-out and frustration!
Worship without work will eventually lead to laziness and lack of purpose!

I have often said in leaders meetings that I do not want anyone here at CBC missing every service because they are always in service. You need to be in at least one worship service every week…and that doesn’t mean that you only need to be at one service!! Regular attendance whether serving or worshipping is crucial to your spiritual health!

Listen, believe it or not I do pay attention…and I have even noticed that there are sometimes people get in the habit of only coming to church when they are on the schedule to work!

Remember this Church: If you are not properly worshipping Him, then your work in vain. We must have balance…we all need balance in our work and in our worship!

So, at His feet there is a place of stillness where we can forget about our cares, where we can feed our souls, and…

Where We Can Focus Our Priorities

Was what Martha was doing a bad thing? No. Was it important to eat physical food? Yes. Was it a good thing for Martha to be a good hostess and serve Jesus? Sure it was!

So, why did Jesus tell her that she was troubled and worried about many things…yet Mary had chosen the good thing?

Consider Martha's situation. She received Jesus into her home and then neglected Him as she prepared an elaborate meal that He did not need! Certainly a meal was in order, but what we do with Christ is far more important than what we do for Christ.

Life is full of priorities, but not all of them have the same weight or value. Friends, there is nothing more important than learning to sit at the feet of Jesus!

Closing…For there we find a place of stillness, where we can forget our cares, feed our souls, and focus our priority on Christ!

Will you please bow your heads...What about you? Are you spending time with Jesus? Be honest! He knows!

And usually when a Christian is not spending time with Jesus, you can tell it! They are irritable; they complain; they are just not pleasant to be around! But when they have been worshipping at the feet of Jesus…you can tell it!
You see the key is to have the right priorities: Jesus must be first, then others, and ourselves last. It is vitally important that we spend time "at the feet of Jesus" every single day, letting Him share His Word with us.
The most important part of the Christian life is the part that only God sees.
Unless we meet Christ personally and privately each day, we will soon end up like Martha: busy but not blessed.
Who needs to find a place of stillness today? Who needs to forget their cares? Who needs to feed their souls? Who needs to refocus their priorities on Jesus? Who needs to be saved? Come to the feet Jesus right now!

(Any errors are on my part or my computers fault. Forgive us our errors.)

GOD ANSWERS ALL PRAYERS

We have all heard that expression. God does answer all prayers, sometimes He says yes now; then knowing it is not good for now, He will say no. Sometimes we get no answer at all. We can only stand in faith and ask His will not ours.

He does tell us He will give us the desires of our hearts. We think all of us would agree that what we desire at one time in our life, would not be desired at another.

We need to think about what we pray for, remembering it is His will we are to strife for above all. God in His wisdom knows the results of saying yes to His children.

As we are to our children, how much more so our Father is to us.

God Bless
recj/LJG

GREAT PLANS

It is easy to set goals that we know we can accomplish. It is only when we realize that it is not within ourselves to accomplish something, that we open ourselves to the Greatness of God. If God gives us a goal, He is not going to give us something that we know we can do alone.

Ephesians 3:20-21a To Him who is able to do above and beyond all that we ask or think--according to the power that works in you--to Him be the glory.

What a mighty God we do serve. We are to do works in His power and might, not in our own. It is Him that lives inside of us that strengthens us to do the impossible.

Whatever your plans are, take the time to step back and ask God what His plans are. We can promise His plans are bigger and better then anything we can come up with.

May God give us each the desires of our Hearts, let the goals that we have set come to pass. Lord we thank You for all you have done and are doing.

recj/LJG

GOD IS AT WORK IN OUR LIVES...!

The only survivor of a shipwreck was washed up on a small, uninhabited island. He prayed feverishly for God to rescue him, and every day he scanned the horizon for help, but none seemed forthcoming. Exhausted, he eventually managed to build a little hut out of driftwood to protect him from the elements and to store his few possessions. But then one day, after scavenging for food, he arrived home to find his little hut in flames, the smoke rolling up to the sky. The worst had happened; everything was lost. He was stunned with grief and anger. "God, how could you do this to me!" he cried. Early the next day, however, he was awakened by the sound of a ship that was approaching the island. It had come to rescue him. "How did you know I was here?" asked the weary man of his rescuers. "We saw your smoke signal," they replied. It is easy to get discouraged when things are going badly. But we shouldn't lose heart, because God is at work in our lives, even in the midst of pain and suffering. When we are in the point of asking, "God, how can you do this to me?" we can find the answer in prayer. Like Job we need to turn to God and speak to Him. Let us recommend ourselves to God for His mercy and compassion. We may not understand what's happening to us right now, but let us believe God knows what is best for us. Helen Steiner Rice once said, "Whenever we are troubled, and when everything goes wrong, it is just God working in us to make our spirits strong." Remember, next time your little hut is burning to the ground--it just may be a smoke signal that summons The Grace of God.

agape7701@gmail.com

TITHE OR NOT TO TITHE

There are those though that would look at some scriptures and say that no we do not need to pay tithes. The 7th Book of Hebrews has been interpreted by many to show that we are not to pay tithes. We encourage you to read the entire book, for our purposes we will include the following verses.

Hebrews 7:
5And verily they that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the office of the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though they come out of the loins of Abraham:...12For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law... 16Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life... 19For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God...22By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament... 27Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once, when he offered up himself. 28For the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, maketh the Son, who is consecrated for evermore.

Hebrews 7 compares the Old Covenant and the New, it shows that our relationship with God is different than those under the Law of Moses. By reading the chapter is it easy to see that one would feel that if we are in fact in a different relationship, then we do not need to follow that Law. By not following the Law then no we would not have to pay tithes.

Many say and it is true that Jesus did not say 'pay tithes'. That is right Jesus did not tell us to 'pay tithes', does that mean then that we are not to. This is just another reason why we encourage you to read, pray and ask God to open the Words of the Bible to you. Let us now look and see what Jesus did say.

Matthew 5:17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. 18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. 19. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 22:21 They say unto him, Caesar's. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's.
Tithing after the law does not do away with the law, but establishes it.

Leviticus 27:30 "And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land, or of the fruit of the tree, is the LORD'S: it is holy unto the LORD."

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

I will close with this scripture for you to ponder on.

Revelation 3:18: "I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see."

God Bless
recj/LJG

TITHES

The Old Testament instructs us to pay tithes, it is this instruction that Jesus was raised up knowing and practicing. At no time did He tell us to not pay tithes. It is in giving to God that we are blessed. We are promised that our tithes will be returned to us. This return is reason enough to give to the Lord, but to us there is a more important reason. It is because of God that we have the income we have. Our money belongs to Him first, we are only giving back to Him a part of what He was blessed us with.

Months ago I wrote a play about tithing. It is impossible to include the entire play here, but I will include part of the outline. A Pastor offers you a hundred dollars, asking that after he gives it to you, you will take the money, make change and return to him 10%. By you doing this he will promise to you that he will mulitily the ten dollars you have given him and give that also back to you. Now in truth I would think that any of us would do this if it was a Pastor we knew. There is no way to lose.

Do we not trust the Lord to do as He promised? Malachi 3:6For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed. 7Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from mine ordinances, and have not kept them. Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the LORD of hosts. But ye said, Wherein shall we return? 8Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. 9Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation. 10Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.

Tomorrow we will look at scriptures that some take to believe that we do not need to pay tithes.

God Bless
recj/LJG

SUNDAY EDITORIAL

MAY 22, 2011

Alot in the news this week. Sometime I wonder why I even read it. The paper in my town is called a rag by most of us, they report news from the larger towns around us, while forgoing most news in our area.

Thanks to the internet I am told much more then I can begin to want or care to know. Arnold admitting to a love child, for some reason was no suprise. I admit to a little interest in the Casey trial going on in Florida. After OJ nothing will suprise me there. Being a Christian she is innocent until proven guilty, so I would like to see some facts about what did happen to this child. Macho Man Randy Savage is dead, which only got me to thinking about Elizabeth, who died from a drug overdose years ago. Of course reading newspapers and watching news only confuses me, well maybe the court will show just facts. Then I saw about the couple who claim to be Jesus and Mary, to be followed by Jesus is coming Saturday at 6pm. Okay I admit sometime it takes me time to think over things, but if He was here already, how then is He coming this afternoon. [It is Saturday around 1pm as I write this.]

If you are in fact reading this, well another false call. I do remember the Bible saying nobody would know. First do not go looking for the word rapture in the Bible, you will not find it. What we do find is scripture that points to Christ's return.

1 Thess 4:13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. [14] For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. [15] For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. [16] For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: [17] Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. [18] Wherefore comfort one another with these words. ***

We can be comforted by these Words, He is surely comming again. When He is coming, is given to us also.

Matthew 24:36 But of that day and hour knoweth no [man], no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.

The bigger question should be are we ready when He does come?

God Bless
recj/LJG

*** People, please, don't be just plain stupid to believe every word that comes out of the men of this world. If you know God then you know the truth. If you don't know God please get your heart right with God so we can meet you on the other side.
I am looking forward to seeing my love ones knowing that we will never be separated again. Now that thought just plain wants to make me shout with joy.
What really saddens me the most is verse 13 'even as those who have no hope.' Do you have hope? Are you watching the Eastern Sky for the return of our Lord? Are you listening for the loud voice and the trump? So, you afraid of heights or flying? You won't be then. LJG

SATURDAY EDITORIAL

May 27, 1096
Terrible Outbreak of Antisemitism
Dan Graves, MSL

Tension developed early between Jew and Christian. Christianity was at first a Judaic sect. Christ was a Jew and so were the apostles. The first converts were also Jews. But Peter, Paul, and other apostles extended the gospel to Gentiles. The willingness of Christians to accept Gentiles without requiring them to obey the Mosaic laws infuriated Jews, who were also jealous of the Christians' growing numbers.

Early on, the Jews persecuted Christians. Paul, one of the persecutors, became a convert to the new faith and its greatest spokesman. His decision to take the gospel to Gentiles was received with bitterness in Jerusalem. Paul was subsequently often arrested and imprisoned. The gap between Christian and Jew widened when Christian Jews refused to support rebellion against Rome; Christians were seen as unpatriotic. Truly Christ's words were fulfilled. "I have not come to bring peace but a sword," for division widened. Christians for their part, increasingly saw the Jews as hostile to and deliberately rejecting God's light.

After Christianity became the official religion of the Roman empire in the late 4th century, Jews were discriminated against. Church and state alike deprived this Semitic people of their rights. Increasingly, as the Middle Ages progressed, Jews were harassed. Anti-Semitism became overt. Jews were accused of murdering Christian children. Isolated incidents such as the sixth century massacre of 20,000 Yemeni Christians in a fire-pit by the Jew Dzu Nuwas did nothing to ease tensions. Christians maligned Jews as Christ-killers. Some of their customs rankled their Christian neighbors. Despite a few papal bulls that spoke out against anti-Semitism, persecution against the Jews erupted again and again.

One of the worst outbreaks occurred at the time of the First Crusade. Godfrey of Bouillon, leader of the crusade, announced his determination to either convert or wipe out all Jews in Europe. He marched into the Rhine Valley where Jews were numerous, pious, and prosperous and began a butchery not without economic incentives. Many Jews consented to conversion; those who refused were executed. A few brave Jewish women killed their children and themselves rather than violate their consciences.

This day, May 27, 1096, may have witnessed the worst atrocities. Archbishop Ruthard of Mainz, unwilling to be a party to a massacre of the descendants of Jacob, hid 1,300 of them in his cellars. The mob learned of it, broke in, and killed over a thousand. The archbishop saved the rest by taking them into his cathedral.

One Christian who raised his voice against mistreatment of Jews was Bernard of Clairvaux. He was not completely alone. A few other Christians showed Christ-like love toward their Jewish neighbors. This was especially true in Cologne where the common folk hid them in their homes or helped them into the countryside. Unfortunately, the marauders went seeking their victims in the villages and killed hundreds more. 1096 was a bitter year for Jews.

Bibliography:

Beit, Andreas Ludwig. Mainzer Domberren. Kirkheim, 1924. Source of the image.
Various histories of antisemitism and of Jews.
Various histories of the Crusades.
Various encyclopedia and internet articles on Ruthard and Mainz.
Last updated April, 2007.

Christianity.com@crosswalkmail.com

HOW CAN WE EXPECT GOD TO DO WHAT WE WON'T

Did that catch your eyes? Certainly we can expect and do expect God to keep His promises. In doing so He is able to do all that we are unable to. The question though is how can we expect him to do for us what we don't or won't do.

Let us look at the prodigal son: Luke 15:11-32 13... 'the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living. 14 And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country...17 “But when he came to himself...21 And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22 But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. 23 And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. 24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate. [The second son though was hurt and angry.] 28 But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him, 29 but he answered his father, ‘Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!’ 31 And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. 32 It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.’”

How much more shall our Father in heaven do for us? God is a loving and forgiving Father. The point we want you to see here is that the prodigal son did not expect anything, he desired to be as a servant because of his actions, he knew though that he had sinned, that he was unworthy.

If we are not willing to take responsibility and take steps of forgiveness, should we expect forgiveness. If we don't act, how then can we expect God to act.

Galatians 6:7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
Matthew 6:14 For if ye forgive their trepasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:

One important thing we want you to remember about this loving God we serve, even when we don't deserve it, He will take our mistakes and turn them into blessings.

God Bless
recj/LJG

TIME FOR GOD

Jeremiah 33:3 Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.

Do you spend more time talking to the Lord about what is going on in your life then praising and thanking Him for what He has done for you?

Psalm 118:1 Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.

Continuing through Psalm 118 we are told:

5 the Lord answered me

6 is on my side

7 is for me

14 my strength and song--He has become my salvation

27 given us light

There are many promises that we can praise and thank Him for. If you are at a lost of what to say to the Lord look to Psalms 145-150. Psalm 144 could be called a soldiers prayer.

Thought to ponder on: would I want God to spend the time on me that I spend on Him?

God Bless

recj/LJG

WHAT KIND OF LIGHT ARE YOU?

Acts 13:47"For this is what the Lord has commanded us: 'I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.' "

Previously in verse 46, the Jews were pretty clear they weren't interested in what Paul and Barnabas had to say. So Paul and Barnabas took their message of salvation to the Gentiles by saying to the Jews, "Fine if you don't consider yourselves worthy of eternal life, we'll tell the Gentiles instead." The Lord had made Paul and Barnabas a "light for the Gentiles." What is the purpose of a light? A light illuminates darkness, just as a spotlight turns a theater stage into daytime or a lighthouse beacon warns a ship of impending danger. The children's song goes: "This little light of mine, I'm going to let it shine; Let it shine; Let it shine; Let it shine; All the time." Paul and Barnabas were not just letting their light shine; in fact they had themselves become the light.

Yesterday, I started this devotional message while I was at the airport in Portland. My trip had already been delayed by two hours (due to "mechanical problems"), when the airline's agent announced a gate change for another flight waiting near us. I noticed an elderly woman sitting nearby who looked concerned, so I asked her if she was on the flight affected by the change. She said, "Yes." I asked her if she knew where the new gate was located, and although her response was, "No", she was reluctant to accept my offered help. I insisted it was no problem whatsoever, and as I helped her up I also asked if I could carry her bags. She readily agreed. As we walked and talked, she shared with me that she was returning home from a visit with her two sons and their families in Portland. She also told me that although she walked two miles every day, she really had difficulty seeing, and finding this gate might have been a big problem.

I wasn't completely myself at that particular moment. I wasn't in a hurry, self important, or irritated with my own delayed flight and postponed plans. Instead, I allowed Jesus to express Himself through me in a random act of kindness. I became a light to the world -- to this particular woman. How or why I am not sure. What I do know is that I had been in the Word. The Word was in me and my light shined brightly for a moment in that act -- in this dark world.

What kind of a light have you become? What kind of light emanates from you when you walk into your place of work? Is it different than any other? What about when you are in line at the grocery store? Have you allowed the Lord's Word to reside in you? There were many needs in the Portland airport that day. However, the one the Lord showed me was an older woman who needed assistance finding her way to another gate. Was I an answer to her prayer? I don't know, but I might have been the answer to her granddaughter's prayer when she asked the Lord to help her grandmother get home safely. What about you? Will you respond the next time the Lord nudges you with someone's need? Will you be an answer to prayer?

pocketpower.org

PURPOSE STATEMENT

From time to time LJG and I will share with you the reasons why we do what we do and why we do it the way it is done. It started off as thoughts to ponder that I would leave for LJG on e-mails we would exchange each day. LJG can fine a scripture on anything. Both of us were raised up by Granny's who loved the Lord with all their hearts. The Lord is the love of both our lives. We look to the Bible as the only true Word of God. LJG decided that we should share with others our own lessons and study.

The goal was to encourage others to not accept what they are told to believe about the Bible, but to read, study, pray and let the Lord lead them to the truth about His Word. We hope the following Q&A will help you to better understand us adn what we do.

1. Why do we not give more scriptures? If you know the word of God then you know where to find them in the Bible. If you don't know the Word that well then we will give you the incentive to get in the Word and learn from it.

2. Why do we not go more in depth on some things? We go as far in depth as God leads to go. That leaves the door wide open for you to dig deeper in God's Word to find the answer for yourself.

3.Why should you believe what we write? Now this is a good question. We tell you to question not only others but us. We are believable because our words comes from the one true Word. The Words spoken by our God and His son Jesus. The only people who may have a problem believing are those that don't know or don't want to know what God has said He would and what He said He will do. God's word don't lie. He has promises to all His children and we reap those promises BECAUSE we are obedient to His Word. Are you? Oh yes, we slip, stumble and fall sometimes but our God is there to help us get up and keep going. Yes, we believe He even helps brush the dirt and trash off us so it will take us longer to fall the next time.

Other comments From the very beginning in our writings we have asked for your input, questions, any and all comments will be welcome. Well, wait a minute, let us clarify that last statement. We don't accept trash or filthy words about our God. He is the first love of our life's. If you want answers or help in any way, all you have to do is ask. If you are a new babe in Christ then yes you should have a lot of questions to ask and we are here willing to help show you the way.

LJG--I have been in Church off and on since I was three years old and let me tell you what I learned the other day. Remember Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead AND it was shortly after that His time had come. I got so excited. See it don't matter how long you've been studying God's word there is always something new and amazing just waiting for us to care enough to find.

recj--We love the Lord enough to accept correction that comes from His Word. We love studying and will continue to research until we stand before our Teacher, Jesus Christ.

If you should find where we have made a mistake and prove it in the King James Bible, we will gladly thank you and Praise God for letting you show us the error of our ways so we can correct them. We are all one family. So come and dine with us so we all can feast on the Holy Word of God.

We do what we do for "HEAVEN'S SAKE." What are you doing for "HEAVEN'S SAKE?"

We sign ourselves as LJG and recj not because we are ashamed, but to give God all the glory in what He guides us to write.

God Bless
LJG/recj

RIGHTEOUS ANGER

Righeous anger takes a clear understanding of a bad situation and gives us a reaction that does not lead to sin. Much easier said then done. We have all been in the situation where we have calmly stated our opinion on something to someone, to have them 'push our buttons' until we do react in anger. That reaction is irritation, exasperation, and irrationality. We must be honest here, there will be people like this is our lifes. I/We had to made a decision if the friendship is worth the battle.

Jesus showed righteous anger when the disciples forbade the children to go to Him. Mark 10:14 In Matthew 23:13-36 when He condemned the scribes and Pharisees. Again when He told Peter to get behind me, Satan. In each one of these cases Jesus understood the wrong.

Still confused. Okay let's look at it another way. As Christians righteous anger would be our attitude toward criminal activities. We do not hate the sinner but the sin. The crimial actitity must be stopped, the person caught, prosecuted and sentenced. As believers our very growth will bring us to a place where we don't hate the criminal regardless of their behavior.

We see righteous anger when we look at the love God has for us in that He loves us anyway. His love depends on His character, not ours.

It is possible to have this divine viewpoint. We put the matter in the Lord's hands, stay in fellowship, maintain a relaxed attitude. Still not easy, nobody said it would be. By staying in fellowship we are placing ourselves in the best position to be of service in the situation. The Bible continually tells us to maintain righteousness in the face of unfair treatment. Example: Turn the other cheek, forgive 70 X 7.

Anger is not always wrong. [In our research we came across the following. Alas recj lost the site info. We do include it as copied.] Righteous anger can be distinguished by the following characteristics:

(1) Godly anger is God-like anger, it is an expression of the anger which has toward the actions of men. Godly people are angry when God is angry. It is anger which is consistent with the holy and righteous character of God.

(2) Godly anger is legal anger. It is wrath based upon men’s violation of God’s law, and it is anger which is lawfully expressed. The Old Testament Law not only revealed that conduct which was unacceptable to God, making Him angry, but what the consequences of God’s anger would be. Godly anger is not vigilante justice, it is legal justice. Those who hate abortion but express their anger in the burning of abortion clinics (and thereby endangering other lives) are not expressing their anger legally.

(3) Godly anger is not explosive, but is only slowly provoked.
Then the Lord passed by in front of him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth (Exodus 34:6). Repeatedly, God warned sinful Israel through the prophets before pouring out His wrath on them. God’s anger does not have a hair trigger.

(4) God does not take pleasure in expressing His anger in the judgment of men.
The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9).

For the LORD will rise up as at Mount Perazin, He will be stirred up as in the valley of Gebeon; To do His task, His unusual task, And to word His work, His extraordinary work (Isaiah 28:21).

(5) Godly anger is always under control. Godly anger does not lose its temper. Ungodly anger is excessive and abusive; godly anger never is. Godly anger is always under the control of the one expressing it, rather than anger taking control of them.
But He, being compassionate, forgave their iniquity, and did not destroy them; And often He restrained His anger, And did not arouse all His wrath (Psalm 78:3).

Be Angry, but do not sin! Even the best thoughts can turn sour. Paul said sin not, but immediately told us to not sin. The two go hand in hand.

God Bless you
recj/LJG

SUNDAY EDITORIAL

Thanks to God for a awesome day. We pray that God will in His wisdom bless each one of you today according to His riches and glory for those needs that each of you has in your lifes.

Much is going on in our world and we need to put our focus on Christ. We doubt there is a one of us that does not have desires and wants in our lifes. We need to be sure that we are being obedient to Him in everything. Not always easy to do, but what we should strife for.

Psalm 37:4 Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.

What a promise to give to a child. If we will keep looking to Him, wait and not be anxious, don't worry, oh the things He can and will do for us. Know that He loves you, that He is in fact a mighty God, believe in Him, you will see and be satisified.

God Bless
recj/LJG

YOUR TALK SAYS A LOT ABOUT WHAT MOTIVATES YOU

Acts 13:44-45 On the next Sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord. When the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and talked abusively against what Paul was saying.

Webster's Dictionary defines jealous as: "envious; fearful of competition; and protective." The Bible describes the Lord our God as a jealous God, for example Exodus 20:5, "You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me". The Bible even describes God's name as jealous in Exodus 34:14, "Do not worship any other god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God." We know through study and experience that unlike the first two definitions in Webster's, our God is neither envious nor fearful of competition, rather it is the latter that best describes His nature: protective.

So how do we know when we are feeling jealous or experiencing another's jealousy -- if it is the good (protective) or the bad (envious and fearful of competition) kind of jealousy? The answer lies in the motivation. God's jealousy is motivated by wanting what's best for us (not what's best for Him) and is fully anchored in His complete and total love. Not so the Jews from our passage today, their jealousy was motivated by their desire to retain control of the people, and the result was they "talked abusively against what Paul was saying." In other words, "when the Jews saw the crowds", it didn't matter to them if what Paul said was right or wrong, all that mattered to them was that the city was now listening to Paul (and the word of the Lord) instead of them. So what did they do? They bad-mouthed him. Their jealousy was motivated by envy and the desire to control not by love.

If you want to know what you are motivated by, listen to your thoughts and your words. Are you bad-mouthing someone? Are you being abusive? Many times jealousy will be motivated by envy: another person has someone or something we want. Other times it will be motivated by competition: we want to feel important, be recognized, or acknowledged above someone else. When you feel jealous, how do you react? How would you like to react? What will you do differently the next time you feel jealousy?

pocketpower.org

HE COUNTED HIS BLESSINGS

By Cindy Beall

He told me he was depressed when I tucked him in last night. Of course that made my heart sad. As his momma, I don't want him to feel depressed. I also didn't just dismiss it because I don't want to be that parent who says, "Oh, you're fine." I want him to know that I will listen to him and consider what he has to say.

I prayed for him and because he attended a slumber party the night before where he only slept five hours, he drifted off to dreamland fairly quickly.

This morning he walked into my study and said, "Mom, remember when I was sad last night? Well, I thought about how sad I might be if I didn't have a house to live in or a family to love. Then, I realized how I do have that and it made me thankful."

My heart swelled with pride that only momma's get and I said, "You counted your blessings."
And he smiled and said, "Yeah, I guess I did."

Sometimes I grow weary in my mothering role, wondering if I am doing enough or saying enough or training them enough. And then God, in His infinite wisdom and mercy, decides to bless me with a gift such as this. It's like God said to me, "See Cindy, he is listening. Keep up the hard work. It's paying off."

So I will keep training my sons to love Jesus, love others, walk in gratitude, give generously and serve their part of the world without expecting anything in return.

Moms, the hardest job we have is being mothers. I know how long the days are when you need that 14-month old to just take a nap. I know the struggles you face when you desire first-time obedience from your children and don’t receive it. I get that for once you just wish someone would thank you for all of the sacrifices you make.

Just remember that your efforts are not in vain. You are working for something eternal, more than just a temporary pat on the back. You are incredible women of God who are training the future men and women who will change the world for Christ.

Believe it. Own it. Step into it.

Scripture Of The Day: “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” Galatians 6:9 (NIV)

GIVE MORE, HAVE MORE

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
“One person gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty”
(Proverbs 11:24)



TODAY’S WORD from Joel and Victoria
In the natural, it doesn’t make sense that you will have more if you give more. But God’s kingdom operates on the principle of sowing and reaping. This is one of the first things He established with Adam and Eve in the book of Genesis. He said, “As long as the earth remains, there will be seedtime and harvest.”

We have to realize that everything we need in this life has been given to us in seed form. We set the blessing of God into motion in our lives when we plant those seeds and give what we have. Galatians tells us that whatever we sow, we will reap. Seeds produce after their own kind. If you sow apple seeds, you reap apple trees. If you sow kindness and blessing, you reap kindness and blessing in the future. If you sow financial seeds, you’ll reap a financial harvest.

Today, no matter what you need, you have it in seed form. Ask the Holy Spirit to show you how to plant and water that seed. Trust Him because He is faithful to His Word. Know that when you give, it will come back to you in greater measure. When you give more, you have more. So sow a seed and watch what God will do!



A PRAYER FOR TODAY
Father God, thank You for Your Word which is truth that sets me free! Today, I choose to sow good seeds so I can reap a good harvest. Guide my thoughts today. Direct my path. Use me for Your glory. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

— Joel & Victoria Osteen

FORGIVENESS PART TWO

Yesterday we shared the remarkable story of Corrie ten Boom's forgiveness of a Nazi guard. It is easy to say forgive but even harder sometime to put those words into vocal output, when hurt our natural reaction is to protect ourselves. Colossians 3:13 instructs us to forgive as God forgives us.
We can look at Jesus and see where He could easily have mercy and grace. May we remind you of Him turning over the tables in the temple. We are after all made in His image, and according to the Word able to do all He did. First we need to look at what forgiveness is.
It is a choice that we choose to made toward another. We do it out of obedience to God and His commandment to forgive. As we read with Corrie ten Boom she did not go by her feelings but according to the Word of God. It was only in that act of obedience that release came.
Faith in God's Word being true, that He will keep His promises, we must forgive by faith, not by feelings. We have to put our trust in God that he will do His work in us to completion. Our job is to ask forgiveness, His job is to work the act of forgiveness in our heart. Phillippians 1:6
How then do we know if we are forgiven? Matthew 18:21-22 tells us we are to forgive seventy-seven times. Keep doing it until you feel forgiveness in your heart. Jesus would not instruct us to do it 77 times if it was easy.
Two main reasons for asking forgiveness: so that our prayers will not be hindered Mark 11:25; out of obedience. By doing this we will recieve our reward which is freedom.
"Forgiveness is to set a prisoner free, and to realize the prisoner was you," Corrie ten Boom
God Bless
recj/LJG

FORGIVENESS FROM ANGER PART 1

Corrie ten Boom tells one of the greatest stories about forgiveness I have ever heard. I encourage you to read her books. She was a prisoner in Nazi Germany. After World War II she traveled the world teaching the Gospel of Christ. In this first part I will let her book speak. Please return for part two.

In her book, "Tramp for the Lord," Corrie ten Boom wrote:

"For a long moment we grasped each other’s hands, the former guard and the former prisoner. I had never known God’s love so intensely as I did then."

In the same passage of her book, in which she wrote about forgiving the SS guard, Corrie wrote that in her post-war experience with other victims of Nazi brutality, it was those who were able to forgive who were best able to rebuild their lives.

Corrie Ten Boom Story on Forgiving

"It was in a church in Munich that I saw him—a balding, heavyset man in a gray overcoat, a brown felt hat clutched between his hands. People were filing out of the basement room where I had just spoken, moving along the rows of wooden chairs to the door at the rear. It was 1947 and I had come from Holland to defeated Germany with the message that God forgives.

"It was the truth they needed most to hear in that bitter, bombed-out land, and I gave them my favorite mental picture. Maybe because the sea is never far from a Hollander’s mind, I liked to think that that’s where forgiven sins were thrown. ‘When we confess our sins,’ I said, ‘God casts them into the deepest ocean, gone forever. …’

"The solemn faces stared back at me, not quite daring to believe. There were never questions after a talk in Germany in 1947. People stood up in silence, in silence collected their wraps, in silence left the room.

"And that’s when I saw him, working his way forward against the others. One moment I saw the overcoat and the brown hat; the next, a blue uniform and a visored cap with its skull and crossbones. It came back with a rush: the huge room with its harsh overhead lights; the pathetic pile of dresses and shoes in the center of the floor; the shame of walking naked past this man. I could see my sister’s frail form ahead of me, ribs sharp beneath the parchment skin. Betsie, how thin you were!

[Betsie and I had been arrested for concealing Jews in our home during the Nazi occupation of Holland; this man had been a guard at Ravensbruck concentration camp where we were sent.]

"Now he was in front of me, hand thrust out: ‘A fine message, Fräulein! How good it is to know that, as you say, all our sins are at the bottom of the sea!’

"And I, who had spoken so glibly of forgiveness, fumbled in my pocketbook rather than take that hand. He would not remember me, of course—how could he remember one prisoner among those thousands of women?

"But I remembered him and the leather crop swinging from his belt. I was face-to-face with one of my captors and my blood seemed to freeze.

" ‘You mentioned Ravensbruck in your talk,’ he was saying, ‘I was a guard there.’ No, he did not remember me.

" ‘But since that time,’ he went on, ‘I have become a Christian. I know that God has forgiven me for the cruel things I did there, but I would like to hear it from your lips as well. Fräulein,’ again the hand came out—’will you forgive me?’

"And I stood there—I whose sins had again and again to be forgiven—and could not forgive. Betsie had died in that place—could he erase her slow terrible death simply for the asking?

"It could not have been many seconds that he stood there—hand held out—but to me it seemed hours as I wrestled with the most difficult thing I had ever had to do.

"For I had to do it—I knew that. The message that God forgives has a prior condition: that we forgive those who have injured us. ‘If you do not forgive men their trespasses,’ Jesus says, ‘neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses.’

"I knew it not only as a commandment of God, but as a daily experience. Since the end of the war I had had a home in Holland for victims of Nazi brutality. Those who were able to forgive their former enemies were able also to return to the outside world and rebuild their lives, no matter what the physical scars. Those who nursed their bitterness remained invalids. It was as simple and as horrible as that.

"And still I stood there with the coldness clutching my heart. But forgiveness is not an emotion—I knew that too. Forgiveness is an act of the will, and the will can function regardless of the temperature of the heart. ‘… Help!’ I prayed silently. ‘I can lift my hand. I can do that much. You supply the feeling.’

"And so woodenly, mechanically, I thrust my hand into the one stretched out to me. And as I did, an incredible thing took place. The current started in my shoulder, raced down my arm, sprang into our joined hands. And then this healing warmth seemed to flood my whole being, bringing tears to my eyes.

" ‘I forgive you, brother!’ I cried. ‘With all my heart!’

"For a long moment we grasped each other’s hands, the former guard and the former prisoner. I had never known God’s love so intensely, as I did then"

(excerpted from "I’m Still Learning to Forgive" by Corrie ten Boom. Copyright © 1972 by Guideposts Associates, Inc., Carmel, New York 10512>).

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY

HAPPY MOTHERS DAY
MEMORIAL TO MOMMA [GRANNY CARTER],GRANNY GODWIN,GRANNY GUNNER, AUNT EDNA, AUNT MARY, AUNT JOYCE,
and LOUISE, SANDY, LORI, JULIE, JACKIE, MISSY, LINDA, TERRI, ANGEL
and all the other MOTHERS WE KNOW

Any women can have a child, but it takes a Special Women to be a Mother. Each one of the women listed above was named for a reason. Their Motherhood has touched our life. The paths they have traveled have not been a bed of roses. There have been tears, heartbreak, and lost, but they have stood the test of time showing others the meaning of the word Mother. Many of them stood as Mothers to others when they were not asked, nor was it expected of them. They choose to act towards others with the love that only a Mother can show toward another.

FOR TODAY AND ALL THE TOMORROWS THAT IS BLESSED TO THEM TO LIVE
FOR THE GIFTS AND MEMORIES GIVEN TO US BY THOSE DEPARTED

Thank you for the love
Given to those entrusted to your care
Prayers lifted up to heaven
Waiting for answers you knew would come
Diets that were really fasting for family
Never hiding your love for Christ
Teaching us His ways
Taking us to church
Letting us know that church
Is also within us
Strength shown in trying times
Joy departed
Giving of yourselves to others
Hugs given and received
Words of encouragement
A touch of your hand
Accepting without question
Gifts given in love
Questions answered
Cleanliness
Swimming pools and dresses
Promises kept
Wisdom and knowledge
Correction when needed
Loose teeth pulled
Bobo's kissed and bandaged

We have watched you with tears
Seen you part with those you love
Watched you pull yourself up
It is a honor to know each of you.

Happy Mother's day to each of you.

Lord Jesus we ask today that you continue to Bless each one of these women that is still with us. We ask Lord that you continue to watch over them and guide them to be a light to You and Your Word. Lord we were blessed to have each one of these in our lifes. Through them You have shown a light that continues to burn to this day.

recj/LJG

IF

A few days ago I received an email from my baby sister saying she dreamed she was sitting in my lap. Now for any one who really knows me anything you say or do around me can end up in an article. So Baby Girl thanks for the lead on this one.
Going back. What a good thought. We have all said things like: if I would have known; oh to be young again. We think back to things of old. I remember getting as close to Momma as I could after I got to old for her lap, just to be a close as possible. I would give anything to do that now. I remember one day it hit me: Lord who will be praying for me now? Yes going back would be nice.

How many of us have asked the Lord to take us back to where we first believed? Remember those first hours, days, weeks. He was our everything and then slowly we went back into the world and well we all know what happened. First it was one thing and then another.

Now to think about it, it would seem that we would want to be further along with Him then we were at the beginning of this relationship. Honestly many have never grown past that to higher ground, so we desire the best we remember of our time with Him. To others who have gone to that higher ground, it is the sense of that newness we had that first time.

When we first believed we did it with no questions, no doubts, complete innocence. We believed He could and would do anything. We believed in that total love, agape love. We had our eyes on Him and Him only not on anything in our life.

Take us back to where we first believed. Take us back to the belief we had that He loved us in spite of who we were and are. Think of it this way: if He loved you with all that sin on you, then He certainly would not give up on us now. He is not going to give up on the house He is building, He is not finished with you, BUT He knows the final floor plan.

God Bless
Recj/LJG

WHEN ALL AROUND YOU IS FALLING IN

When it seems all around you is falling in, then there is only one thing to do, Praise the Lord. Your way might be to read a Psalm or to get on your knees it might be to sing out in joy to our Saviour. In one thing we are in agreement Praise will work when nothing else does. Praise Him in all the ways that you can. Shout if you need to.

Lord my God

Who created me

You have the answers

Though I might be blind to them

Lift up my heart

Lift up my soul

Let me cuddle under Your wing

In Your arms

Let me stand close

Reach out your hands

Touch what is going on in my life

Surround me with peace

Only You can impart

No evil can befall me

All done will glorify You

Lord work on my mind

Let me speak no evil

Put Your banner before me

Have my back

Bring me through again

No matter what

I praise You

Work on me

God Bless,
rECj/LJG

CALGON PLEASE TAKE ME AWAY

by rosejones

Years ago there was a commercial about a woman taking a bath with Calgon, saying Calgon take me away!. I am sure in real life the minute she got in that tub, someone would have needed her right then.

I do not believe there is a one of us who has not at some time wanted to just get away. Today was one of those days, the house was so noisy I actually said Lord how can I even think straight to talk to You with all this going on?

The Lord laid Psalm 91:1-2 on my heart. I read while in the back ground the noise continued. Again I said to the Lord, Please give me some peace. The next thing I know I realized all was quite. I got up to check, as a Mom quite can be as alarming as noise, everyone was sleeping.

Praise the Lord. Even now as I reread that scripture I know I am blessed.
I am dwelling/living in the most secret place of the Most High under His shadow, hidden from all that can come against me in this world. I can sing and shout He is my refuge/protection and my fortress/permanent fortification; He is my God, yes Mine. I will trust in Him.

May you abide under His shadow in all you do.

No matter what is going on, if we will but reach out He is there to take our hand and pull us into His embrace.

God Bless
recj/LJG

WHY ARE WE SURPRISED WHEN GOD ANSWERS OUR PRAYERS?

Acts 12:16But Peter kept on knocking, and when they opened the door and saw him, they were astonished.


Previously the church was earnestly praying for Peter's release from prison. Now here he was standing at the door, yet when they opened the door and saw him, they were astonished. I see a lot of myself in this story. The church was busy praying, the servant girl comes and tells them that Peter is at the door (verse 15). Those praying tell her she is crazy and return to praying; she tells them again (verse 16) and they say it must be his angel and go back to praying. Peter keeps knocking (verse 17) and they finally open the door to find Peter standing there -- the answer to their prayers -- yet they were astonished. Why? Why were they so shocked? Peter's presence at the door was God's direct answer to their prayers. Isn't that what they had been praying for?

I think the answer lies in what we think our role is in a miracle. Did the church think it was the length of their prayer that was important? Maybe they weren't finished as not everyone had a chance to pray. Did they have a different expectation for the outcome? Perhaps they expected a more public demonstration of God's power (how about a lightning bolt?). The warning to us in this passage is to not miss God's answer to our prayer just because it comes quickly or isn't exactly what we expect.

There is a very fine line here: knowing when to continue to pray (being steadfast), yet knowing when to look up and acknowledge that a prayer has been answered. It can be very confusing because God doesn't always choose to answer prayer in the way we expect. Take a moment and go down your prayer list. Has God already spoken or answered your prayer? Why do you continue to pray? Maybe it's because the outcome isn't what you expected or wanted? Do you really think God is wrong? How strong is your faith?

Do you keep a prayer list? Let me encourage you to record what you are praying for and when you begin praying for it. Include personal requests, requests from family and friends, and requests from church and missionaries. When God answers a prayer from your list, record what His answer was and when it came. Often we cannot see answers to our prayers until we ask specifically and then expect results.

pocketpower.org

FEELINGS EXPRESSED

Across the United States people have been celebrating since Sunday night when the news first came out Osama bin Laden was dead. When I wonder did the questions start to arise? Is it really him, show us proof. Is this enough, will it bring closure, help heal wounds, give peace?
The number of deaths he is responsible for is unknown. The ones we can account for are the United States embassies 1998 in Africa 224; USS Cole year 2000, 17; September 11, 246 on four planes, 2,606 in New York, 125 at the Pentagon, two deaths as a result of exposure years later.
Thank God no Americans were lost Sunday.
Many thoughts go through my head. As a Believer I do not find happiness in the death of anyone unsaved. The Bible though tells us not all will be saved. He was an enemy of the United States, an enemy of God.
Is he the biggest or greatest enemy we have faced or continue to face? The shock of 9-11 pulled this country together for a short time. We reached out with compassion to each other.
Bin Laden was an enemy we could see. How many enemies do we have even now, today in the United States, and yet we turn a deaf ear and blind eye? Afer all we do have a right to live our life's the way we want to live them, without putting God first and foremost.
How much worst are the enemies we overlook, then the ones we see? The United States was formed under one God, and until this nation turns back to that God we will continue to have enemies seen and unseen. Only with God can we have closure, heal wounds and have peace.
God Bless America
recj/LJG

THOUGHTS TO PONDER

THOUGHTS TO PONDER

*I might not like it to begin with. But…if God says do it…then I will learn to love it.

*His word is…truth, strength, might, power…It will never fail you.

*All within these pages…will lift you up and set you feet on solid ground.

*You can be…All He created you to be…or yourself.

*This is His story, this is His song. Reading these pages will bring you along.

*Become a part of Jesus. The reward outweighs the price you pay.

*Use what you know…or use what God gives you.

*Have you had FUN with Jesus today?

God Bless
Recj/LJG

SUNDAY EDITORIAL BY OUR BELOVED rECj

Each one of us is one of a kind. My path is mine, yours is yours.

Proverbs 4:26 Ponder the path of your feet, And let all your ways be established.

Psalms 27:11 And lead me in a smooth path.

Psalms 16:11 You will show me the path of life.

Each one of us has a path to travel in life. Human nature being what it is there are times the paths we choose are not always good. It would be nice if we could click on UNDO or backspace in life. Alas that is not possible. It is easy to look back and see were we should have gone right instead of left. Wrong turns, green pastures that turned into swamps; rocks that caused us to trip causing unwanted bruises and pain.

Though we don’t always travel alone, it is our own path. God is there at all times whether we are aware of it or not. There are times when friends, family and at times even strangers walk our path with us. Still it is our path.

If you haven’t been down my path you cannot know why I am as I am. Wait! I am not saying you cannot try to understand, have compassion or empathy for someone that is possible. You cannot though know how they feel. Two individuals can go through the same thing, and both have different experiences. This is life, it is reality.

We can share our beliefs, opinions; agree to disagree; comfort. We can be there for each other in many ways. That is a good thing.
How many times have we said I’ve been there, done that and it didn’t work for someone else. They continue going forward and all we can do is watch and pray. They are on their own path not ours. Try as hard as we can, we cannot make our path someone else’s any more then theirs can became ours.

I say all this to say: be there for others, but remember you can only change yourself. Let God lead you in the way you should go, and pray for others to be lead by Him also. Do not take it personal when someone decides to travel their path.

God Bless
Recj/LJG