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Jesus' Way...the Only Way

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His Servant Amanda

How do people hear from God ?

Hearing God's Voice - Are You Ready to Listen?

Hearing God's voice is something we all long for-but did you know that
it's not hard to do? In fact, God wants you to hear His voice! He
doesn't speak to us through a quiver in our liver or through vibes or
mediums. Hearing the voice of God is as natural as hearing your best
friend talk to you. What's more, we can hear Him everyday and not just
on special occasions or by chanting special incantations. He speaks to
us in the natural moments of life. Do you want to hear God's voice? Then
you must be ready to listen.

Hearing God's Voice - Why Do You Want to Hear Him?
Why do you want to hear God's voice? That may sound like a silly
question, but motives are important in anything we do. The Bible says
this about God's Word: "For the word of God is living and active.
Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul
and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of
the heart." (Hebrews 4:12)

Do you want to hear God's voice? If you do, it's possible you're hearing
Him already, for He may be the one giving you the longing to hear Him.

Hearing God's Voice in the Bible
In his book Knowing God, J. I. Packer says, "God has spoken to man, and
the Bible is His Word, given to us to make us wise unto salvation."

The Bible itself declares, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word
was with God, and the Word was God" (John 1:1). In another place, we
read: "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching,
rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness." (2 Timothy 3:16).

You may hear people say that the Bible is just a book written by men,
but the Bible itself claims to be God's Word! Can we rely on it? The
evidence of history, archaeology, fulfilled prophecy and personal
testimony over thousands of years is overwhelming that the Bible is,
indeed, God's Word. Do you want to hear God's voice? Then read the
Bible. Find a good daily reading plan, and stick to it.

Hearing God's Voice through Prayer
When you want to have a conversation with someone, how do you begin? Do
you stand in front of the person and hope they will talk to you? That
might work, if the other person is outgoing enough, but usually we begin
a conversation by opening our own mouths and talking, engaging the other
person's attention. It's the same with God! He loves to hear us talk to
Him, and it's in those moments that we prepare ourselves to hear the
voice of God. Prayer is like saying, "Hello, God, it's me. I believe You
created me and that You know way more about how I should live my life
than I do. I'd like to get to know You better. Here's what's going on in
my life, and I'd sure like Your thoughts on how to handle it. Would You
please speak to me about this today?"

In an ordinary conversation, we speak, then listen for the response of
the other person. It's the same with God! Once we've prepared our hearts
to listen through prayer, we're more likely to hear the voice of God.
Does He speak to us through an audible voice? Some claim He does, but
usually that's not the case. We may not actually "hear" the voice of
God, but He speaks to us in many ways. Here are some of them:

* God speaks through His Word
* God speaks through our thoughts
* God speaks through conversations with others
* God speaks through circumstances

Hearing God's Voice through Jesus
The Bible also tells us that Jesus is God in the flesh. Therefore, if
you want to hear the voice of God, you must study and know the teachings
of Jesus. Here's how John describes Him: "That which was from the
beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which
we have looked at and our hands have touched - this we proclaim
concerning the Word of life." (1 John 1:1). You must also have a
personal relationship with Jesus. Have you ever tried to carry on a
conversation of any depth with a person you did not know? It doesn't
usually go very far.

Shortly before He was crucified, Jesus met with His disciples to
reassure them of what would happen after He was gone. He promised them a
helper: "And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another
Counselor to be with you forever - the Spirit of truth. The world cannot
accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him,
for he lives with you and will be in you." (John 14:16-17). The Holy
Spirit, then, is the fulfillment of the way we hear God's voice!

Hearing God's Voice with the Help of the Holy Spirit
"But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my
name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have
said to you." (John 14:26). The second chapter of Acts describes the
events that occurred on the day of Pentecost, after Jesus ascended into
Heaven. Verse 3 says they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, the
Counselor promised by Jesus. This unique aspect of God's personality did
not come to them as someone they could see and touch, but rather He came
to live inside them. That same Spirit is available to you and me today.
Are you a Christian? If so, you already have the Holy Spirit available
to you. Ask God for a fresh filling everyday, and He will prepare your
heart to hear God's voice. His Spirit, that still, small voice inside
you, is the One who will remind you of what God said, and help you
recognize God's opportunities in your life.

Hearing God's Voice - Conclusion of the Matter
So we have the Bible, prayer, Jesus, the Holy Spirit and our own hearts
to help us in hearing God's voice. Do you want to hear God's voice? That
is the final question, for God responds to willing hearts. In the book
of Revelation, we read: "Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If
anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with
him, and he with me." (Revelation 3:20). God will never force you to
obey Him, but waits for your willing response to His call. Are you
hearing His voice right now? Don't let your final answer be the wrong
one.

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Christ is a Restful Relationship

Christ is a Restful Relationship
When you know you are loved, and your lover is committed to you, you
settle down to a deep restful joy and peace. You are satisfied with one
another and you delight to be in the presence of the other person.

Our Lord Jesus loves His bride and delights Himself in us. He rejoices
over us with the highest and purest delight. Christ enjoys His
relationship with His bride. Have you entered into that mutual delight
and satisfying relationship between Christ and the believer?

"There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ"
(Romans 8:1). "Therefore having been justified by faith, we have peace
with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Have you entered into that mutual rest in Christ? He is at peace with
you and you are at peace with Him.

The very moment you put your faith and trust in Christ as your personal
Savior the Holy Spirit entered into your heart and took up a permanent
abiding residence. Your heart became the habitation of the Holy Spirit
and the abiding presence of Christ. Since then the Holy Spirit gradually
acquires a more possession of our hearts, and we avail more and more of
ourselves to Him.

We don't need more of Him; He needs more of us. We need "to be
strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man; so that
Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being
rooted and grounded in love."

Oh that we would let Christ settle down in a permanent dwelling in our
hearts and make Himself completely at home. That is what He longs to do
in your heart and mine. He wants to be perfectly at rest in this heart
of mine.

The Holy Spirit continually works one gracious work after another in our
hearts. Daily Christ becomes more beautiful, lovely, pleasant and
wonderful to us. We will grow in our intimacy with Christ as we live
with Him in balanced and sanctified lives.

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Our Criticism Will Rob Us
What a terrible harvest we will reap! Our criticism will rob us of the
most precious gift that Jesus has given us: forgiveness and the blotting
out of our sins. Criticism provokes the wrath of God, who has forgiven
us.

So it means that we have to make every effort to get free from this
spirit of criticism and whole-heartedly repent. Here we must act
according to Jesus' words, "If your eye causes you to sin, pluck it
out!" (Mark 9: 47).
That means waging an intensive battle against the satanic sin of judging
others. Jesus clearly shows us the way and we have to follow i

Otherwise there will be no release. "First take the log out of your own
eye!" (Matt. 7: 5). Jesus is exhorting us: Stop giving your opinions
about others and accusing them, before you become quiet in the presence
of God and ask Him whether you are guilty of the same sin.
Our sin of criticism usually begins when we neglect to do this. We do
not follow Jesus' words; we criticize immediately without first becoming
silent in the presence of God and humbling ourselves under our sin which
is even greater.

When we come into the light of God, we will usually find out that we
have the same faults, perhaps even more dominantly and many other
undesirable traits in addition. Then we will see that our guilt is like
a log in contrast to our brother's splinter. We will be ashamed of our
own sin and lose our desire to criticize others.

Is your Salvation real?
How do you know you are saved from death, hell, and the grave; and, you have been spiritually born again into a spiritual kingdom of God? What is the proof that your salvation is real and legitimate?

Do you recognize anything here that proves you are saved? Which would apply to you?
1.I was born to Christians parents.
2.I attend a Christian church.
3.I believe in Jesus.
4.I was baptized.
5.I have the inner witness of the Holy Spirit that spoke and speaks to me.

Mt 7:21-23 - 21 "Not everyone who says to Me, "Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22Many will say to Me in that day, "Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' 23And then I will declare to them, "I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'
According to this Scripture, one can be deceived about the legitimacy of their salvation.

2Co 13:5 - Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?--unless indeed you are disqualified.
According this Scripture, we are required to know beyond any reasonable doubt that our salvation is genuine. It will be too late to get before Jesus in judgment and say I thought I was.

Php 2:12 - Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling;
According to this Scripture, we are to be aggressive and cautious in the walk of and living in our salvation.

I was saved in Aug 1991 by the Holy Spirit telling me that Jesus was indeed the living Word of God that came in the manner of flesh, but was the God. I was a convert from Islamic practices and thoughts that believed that Jesus is the Word of God. However, they say he is still simply a man and not God.

I was invited to a home Bible study and the topic was the plan of salvation. I was invited by a Christian friend who promised me that a lot of girls would be there and that we would go out on the town afterwards to play. During the course of instruction, the Holy Spirit took me to John 1:1 and broke it down in the Greek; and, the rest is spiritual history.........

I clearly remember the Holy Spirit asking me from an inaudible voice within my inner man, “Who do you say Jesus is.” I responded without audibility speaking, “God.” Then the Spirit asked me what I was going to do about this revelation of who Jesus was. I simply said He is my God and Savior, and then I received Him without telling anyone else until I got home. I immediately went home from this Bible Study called my girlfriend, told her I got saved, and that I was breaking up with her because I did not want a girlfriend anymore to get in between Jesus and me. LOL This is my witness of salvation and spiritual birth into the Kingdom of God.

Psalm 139:14 I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made,
Marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well.

Stop despising the things that make you unique. You were born at just the right time, in just the right place, with just the right gifts, to fulfill a plan that nobody but you can fulfill. Open your Bible and see what God thinks of you.
After all, His opinion is the only one that really matters.
Listen to what David the Psalmist says, "You saw me before I was Born and scheduled each day of my life before I began to breathe. Every day was recorded in your Book!
How precious it is Lord, to realize that you are thinking about me constantly.
If you want to work on your self-image, here's a prayer to help you.

"Lord, it's taken me a long time to figure out that I'm different by divine design; that you made me with abilities, traits, and a genetic combination that nobody else has. Nobody in all the ages of time has ever been me, and nobody ever will.
Deliver me, Father, from feeling weird; from wishing I were some one else.
Deliver me from envy and jealously towards others
Help me to discover the unique person You created me to be; to enjoy the little things that make me so special;
Help me to realize that what I can give to the world is Your Word through my
messages. Let the Holy Spirit fill me with Your love and let it overflow to all
whom want to receive it.
"Thank you, Lord, for the creative work You have done, and continue to do,
in making me who I am.
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I wonder what the cavemen thought, as they gazed up at the stars. Did the cavemen take enough time out from their busy lives of hunting and gathering to contemplate their place in the universe as a whole. Did they wonder and ask themselves the question, "Why am I here?"
These early earth dwellers probably had about as much of an answer to that question as we do today. The question, "Why are we here?" has been ringing in our ears since the first man (and woman) walked the face of this earth. I have asked myself that same question many times too numerous to count. I think the answer lies in our constant prayer answers. If God gave us the answer immediately and in a way that we could fully understand, then why would we be put on this earth?

Life is a never-ending challenge that takes us everywhere. Our lives get stressed out and we wonder is all this really necessary. Is all the suffering on earth really necessary? The violence, the wars, the famines, these are thing that seem to make the least sense. I believe that we can never blame God for any of the bad things that happen in our lives.
Our lives are all entwined in a web that reaches farther in proportion than the Internet will ever reach. The free will that we have and that God has given us as human beings as a whole has caused all this to happen. If a bad thing happens, it is a result of a series of events that have taken place that is caused by people that have had bad things happen to them and are taking out this aggression that they feel inside, on humanity, or in other words, whoever is in the wrong place at the wrong time.

So do we blame God for putting us in the wrong place at the wrong time, or do we look around us and look inside ourselves at the madness that we have created in our own lives, and come up with an understanding of why others may have cracked under the pressure and done something that is so irrational and bad that we wonder if God made it happen. God did not make it happen. It is all a matter a persons free will getting the best of them and taking it out on the rest of the world
Why have their been more problems on earth in the last few decades? Why do the problems seem to be getting worse as time goes on? It seems that no matter how many 'things' we have, the more we want. We are ever striving to gain a better life, It is sometimes a lonely place this world has become, because we are so busy "gaining", that we never spend enough time "praying." With that in mind it seems that the answer to the question, "How do I make this planet a better place for those loved ones that will go after me?" is this, "Through Prayer." It starts with prayer.
Just think about it. When was the last time you had 'the time' to sit by yourself and ask God for some help in your life. God is always there for us. He can peel back the rind that has captured our hearts and give us the love and the understanding we need in this world of stressful strife. A favorite gospel song comes to mind. "Take it to the Lord in prayer. What a privilege to carry, everything to God in prayer."
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In the spiritual sense there is no battle anywhere until the Christian pitches in. There is no concern in the the mind of Satan about the church at all until he sees a selfless Christian seeking only the glory of God.

Does Satan worry at all from your service in worshiping God?
Have you cause the devil any overtime worry about how you are serving the Lord?
Are you interested in anything save the welfare of the people?
Have you any ambition except to please God?
Have you concern for any reputation but the Master's?
Then, and only then, is Satan angry.

The costliest preparation of all is to look into the face of the Lord Jesus alone, with no applause and no public, and to say to Him,"Lord Jesus, in this task I seek only Thy glory and the blessing of souls."

Only some may reign because the price is so great too pay, but a hundred people with a burden are better than a thousand without. It is quality and not quantity that God is looking for, this is the age of mass production, but in the spiritual sense God deals with men one on one.

No Eye - Every Eye
1 Corinthians 2:9 No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him. I was thinking about God's love for each of us recently. He really touched my heart with how wide and long and high and
deep is the love of Christ. It's so big - that we as humans can not comprehend it right now - no eye - no ear - no mind. But - just wait... John 14 holds a wonderful promise! Jesus has gone on ahead of us to prepare a place for each of us. Look at these verses
from (John 14 ):. 2 In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for
you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4 You know the way to the place where I am going. 6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life."... Jesus is coming back for us -- He is the way to this wonderful place in His Father's house. Right now we can't comprehend
what the Lord is preparing for those who love Him. This will change when Christ returns for His bride.Then every eye shall see... Revelations 1 5 To Him who loves us and has freed us from our
sins by His blood, 6 and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father—to Him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen. 7 Look, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the peoples of the
earth will mourn because of Him. So shall it be! Amen. 8 "I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty." Then the bride will experience all that is being prepared, all love, honor, joy and gladness with the King forever.
(Psalm 45 )

A pressed lily has been placed in the book of remembrance. It represents

the hurt and pain inflicted on my children by others. There are things I

never forget. I forget your sins but I remember the actions of those who

intentionally do evil and do not repent. The aroma of this flower is the

aroma of death to those who hate me. They hate without a cause. The wounded servant is my Rose. (Above All) Come to the garden. The lily of the valley is there. The pressed lily speaks. I write your name in the Lamb’s Book of life. Amen

by Byron Putnam

: ) : ) : )

These words really touched me -- I felt like a pressed lily just last week!
God Bless,
Amanda

____________________________

Pressed Lily

Pressed lily, hard pressed on every side

Let your fragrance rise

a sweet offering - a pleasing sacrifice

among the liles He browses

Pressed lily, each tear a precious gem

a flower impressed on the book of remembrance for all time

tears that will reap and return amidst songs of joy

Pressed lily found in the valley so low

a perfect rose that speaks forever

of the mighty flame that can not be snuffed out

that speaks forever I am His and He is mine.

____________________________

2 Corinthians 4:8-9, 16-18

We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not

in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.

Therefore we do not lose heart. ... For our light and momentary troubles

are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we

fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

Psalm 56:8

Record my lament; list my tears on your scroll — are they not in your record?

Psalm 126:5-6

Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy. He who goes out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with him.

Song 2:1-2, 16

I am a rose of Sharon, a lily of the valleys. Like a lily among thorns is my darling among the maidens.

My lover is mine and I am his; he browses among the lilies.

Song 8:6

Place me like a seal over your heart, like a seal on your arm; for love is as strong as death, its jealousy unyielding as the grave. It burns like blazing fire, like a mighty flame. {like the very flame of the LORD}

Ephesians 5:1-2

Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

Esther
Bold, Brave and Beautiful

Name Meaning: "Esther" was the Persian name of this queen and it means "a star". And like a star, Esther shined brightly before her people.

WHO WAS ESTHER?

Orphaned due to the death of her parents, Esther was raised by her cousin Mordecai as if she were his biological daughter. She was a woman of great beauty who was self-controlled, clear in judgement and self-sacrificing. From exile and poverty to riches and royalty, Esther is the epitome of
obedience, loyalty, selflessness and wisdom.

HER BEAUTY

When Queen Vashti refused a request made by King Ahasuerus (Esther 1:12), Esther, along with several other young virgins, was brought to the palace to compete for her position. The only qualification required, or so it seemed, was that the contestants be beautiful (Esther 2:12).

When the king saw Esther's beauty, he was attracted to her more than any of the other women. So she won his approval and was chosen as Queen Vashti's successor (Esther 2:17).

HER OBEDIENCE

From the time Esther had been taken to the palace to compete for the position of Queen, she obeyed Mordecai's instructions not to reveal the fact that she was Jewish (Esther 2:10,20). Ironically, the same man (Mordecai) who insisted that Esther conceal her identity, was the same man who ultimately persuaded her to reveal it! (Esther 2:14) Both times, Esther was faithful in her obedience to her adopted father -- even at the risk of losing her own life. Even more ironic is that it was Mordecai's DISOBEDIENCE that made Haman, a highly favored authority in the kingdom, seek to destroy the Jewish people in the first place! (Esther 3:2-6)

HER LOYALTY TO HER PEOPLE

When Mordecai realized that Haman was plotting genocide on the Jewish race and that King Ahasuerus approved of it, he went out into the city wailing loudly and bitterly. (Esther 4:1) Esther heard of her cousin's sorrow and sent an attendant out to get the details of his dilemma. (Esther 4:5)

Mordecai relayed the situation to Esther's attendant and told him to urge Esther to go to the king and beg for mercy for him and the Jewish people. (Esther 4:7-8) Despite the fact that Esther could have been killed for approaching the king without being summoned, she boldly took the risk for the sake of
her people saying, "I will go to the king, even though it is against the
law. And if I perish, I perish." (Esther 4:16)

HER BELIEFS

Apparently, Esther believed in the power of fasting and prayer because before she would approach the king to make a plea for the freedom of her people, she sent instructions to Mordecai to gather all of the Jews to fast on her behalf. Esther, her maids and all of the Jewish people fasted for three days -- all day and all night. (Esther 4:16-17)

HER WISDOM

Esther carefully planned how she would make her request known to the king. Since King Ahasuerus was impressed by beauty, we can assume that Esther painstakingly looked her best before entering his courts. The king was so pleased when he gazed upon her that he extended his golden scepter to her indicating that it was alright for her to approach him.

When the king asked what Esther desired, she didn't just jump right in and make a plea for the freedom of her people. Instead, she invited him and Haman (the enemy of the Jews) to a banquet in their honor. This act would prove to show that she reverenced her king, and it would
also boost Haman's ego because he was the only nobleman who was extended
an invitation to the banquet.

As they dined, the King asked Esther again what she desired from him, and again, Esther patiently and purposefully waited to make the plea on behalf of her people. Instead, she invited the king and Haman to another banquet in their honor the following day. At the second banquet, when the King asked Esther what she desired from him, she made her requests known. (Esther 7:3, 8:3,5)

In the final analysis, Esther's requests were honored; the Jew's persecutor, Haman, was executed; and, the Jewish people were triumphant. (Esther, Chapters 8 and 9)

LESSONS TO BE LEARNED FROM ESTHER

* Obedience - Esther dutifully obeyed her foster father, Mordecai, even though she could've lost her life. Likewise, we are to obey our HEAVENLY Father at any cost.

* Loyalty - Many times, when people are elevated to positions of power, they forget where they came from. But Esther remembered her people and in the hour of crisis whe was not ashamed to own her race. Like Esther, we may be elevated to high positions at some point in our lives, but we must never forget who deserves the glory, and we must never be ashamed to acknowledge who we are in Him.

* To Seek Divine Guidance - During the time of trouble, Esther acknowledged God as the Author of Mercy by believing in the power of prayer and fasting. As she sacrificed fleshly desires, she believed that the spirit would intercede on her behalf.

* Selflessness - Esther saw a need and jeopardized her royal position to assist her people. When we see that there is a need we should be willing to exert ourselves for the good of others.

FINAL THOUGHT/DEVOTIONAL

Esther may have thought that God placed her in such a position simply to bestow material blessings upon her. But He had a greater purpose than that in mind. As her cousin Mordecai pointed out, "who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?" (Esther 4:14) Right at a time
when the Jewish people needed an influencial person to speak on their behalf.

Was it purely coincidence that she was chosen and favored by the king? Was it just dumb luck that he was willing to grant any request that she made of him? No! God positioned Esther to fulfill a purpose greater than to be a pretty face for the king to admire.

Likewise, look at where you are in your life right now. Who really knows WHY you are WHERE you are? But you can best believe that God has systematically placed you there to fulfill a purpose. You are set in position RIGHT NOW to positively influence someone else's life. At first glance it may not appear so. But I challenge you to take a closer look. You just may steer someone toward a life of freedom in
Christ Jesus!

Why worship?

I will worship God today because it is good and right to do so.

I will worship God today, not because of what it will do for me, or because it is popular, or because it is Sunday, or because I like the worship music, but for the simple reason that I was made to do this. To worship God is what I am here for.

Worship is not an asset. It is not an added benefit to my life like working out or taking vitamins. Nor is it a secret formula that will add a deeper dimension to my life.

Worship is raw. Basic. Worship is the air I breathe. It is the blood pumping through my veins. It is the cells in my body that reproduce and keep me alive for this. Everything else I do is extemporaneous. To worship God is the root of my being. To not worship is to miss the fundamental reason for my existence.

Worship is what happens when you get in touch with God. Something about it is automatic. When any human being encountered a vision of God in the Bible, the same thing happened: they hit the dirt. It was the natural response. Some of that was fear, some of that was worship as expressed by awe and respect. Much of it was feeling little and insignificant in His sight. That's part of worship too, because we are. That's why it is so amazing that He is mindful of us. That He even notices us. (Psalm 8)

And because He loves us so much, and knows how far away we can stray from our stated purpose, and how much damage we can do to ourselves and others in the process, He has commanded us to worship Him. We are to love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength (Luke 10:27). That's not because He is arrogant, but because He knows us better than we know ourselves. He knows our fulfillment is in Him. The Rolling Stones get it right every time they sing it: "I can't get no satisfaction." That's because there is no ultimate satisfaction until God is in His rightful place in our lives.

Think of it as God commanding us to do what we were meant to do. God is commanding us to do the one thing that will make us deeply satisfied and forever fulfilled. That's a twist, because we're so used to laws being overbearing, backbreaking spoilers of our fun. This is a law that commands us to do what will be our delight for now and for eternity.

Hows your love life??

Live the Love Life

"But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected:

hereby know we that we are in Him. He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked."

-- (1 John 2:5-6)

There is nothing--absolutely nothing--that is more important than learning to love. In fact, how accurately you perfect the love walk will determine how much of the perfect will of God you accomplish. That's because every other spiritual force derives its action from love. For example, the Bible teaches us that faith works by love. And answered prayer is almost an impossibility when a believer steps outside of love and refuses to forgive or is in strife with his brother.

Without love, your giving will not work. Tongues and prophecy will not work. Faith fails and knowledge is unfruitful. All the truths that you have learned from God's Word work by love. They will profit you nothing unless you live the love of God.

First Corinthians 13:4-8 paints a perfect picture of how love behaves.

It's patient and kind. It's not jealous or proud. It doesn't behave rudely or selfishly and it isn't touchy. Love "bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things."

Sounds like a tall order, doesn't it? But don't despair. You are a love creature. God has recreated your spirit in the image of love. And He has sent His love Spirit to live in you and teach you how to love as He loves. You can live the love life. Why not begin today?

Imagine this

Just hit a thought today. I would be outside looking up in the sky. If you've tried that, you'd notice that the sun would practically blind you causing you to squint. The sun is HUGE! Millions of miles away and look how bright it still shines. If you look at it long enough, well, it's not pretty after that is it?

Then theres the ocean. Man have you ever tried to swim for 200 meters and not get tired? Ever tried to think as to how can you get from point a to point b by yourself?

Not to mention the big desert. Tried walking through it for 2 days and not need a drink?

I kinda figured, God's glory is soooooooooo intense, it would make the sun look like a flicker of light compared to Him. His love is bigger than the ocean heaps more than we can conceive and his Word fills us with strength to struggle through the hard times. God is like a billion infinity times awesome than the world we live in. So how can we say that we're fit to be in His presence?

That's why he gave Jesus. And you think at all the times you get sunburnt, all the times you look at the ocean, all the times you struggle we can sometimes not want to rely on JEsus who can help us through all of them then some.

GODS CAKE

Sometimes we wonder... "What did I do to deserve this?" or "Why did this have to happen to me?"

Well, here is a wonderful explanation!

A daughter is telling her Mother how everything is going wrong in her life. She's failing algebra, her boyfriend broke up with her and her best friend is moving away. Meanwhile, her Mother is baking a cake and asks her daughter if she would like a snack, and the daughter says, "Absolutely Mom, I love your cake." Well then, here, have some cooking oil," her Mother offers. "Yuck !" says her daughter. "How about a couple raw eggs?" "Gross, Mom!" "Would you like some flour then? Or maybe baking soda?" "Mom, those are all yucky!" To which the mother replies: "Yes, all those things seem bad all by themselves, but when they are all put together in the right way, they make a wonderfully delicious cake! God works the same way. Many times we wonder why He would let us go through some bad and difficult times, but God knows that when He puts these things all in His order, they always work for good! We just have to trust Him and, eventually, they will all make something wonderful! --Author Unknown

....and we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28

Loneliness

Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me." (John 16:32) I recently spoke with a friend of mine who was experiencing major feelings of loneliness. Because of these feelings, she unequally yoked herself to an unsaved man. What she did for companionship, now leaves her feeling regret; added to her regret, are still feelings of loneliness.

This taught me that one's feelings of loneliness can not be combatted by including other "people" in our lives. For even though this sister now has a husband, children and many friends, she still walks around feeling a deep sense of loneliness. How can that be?

I once heard a well-known preacher say that God isolates us right before He is about to promote us to another level because "people" can create a great distraction for us, which will prevent us from hearing Him clearly.

I don't know how true this is or how scriptural; however, I must say that in my own life I've noticed that when God wants to get my attention and wants to do something new in me, He makes sure that my friends and associates are not available!!

I'll try to call someone to talk about an issue and no one will be home nor will they return my calls/emails until after God has already restored peace to my discontented soul. When left with absolutely no one to talk to but God, (which of course is exactly what He wants us to do in the first place!! LOL!!) I get answers, peace and a clear understanding about what He wants out of me.

I don't mean "out of me" only in a sense of what He wants me to do about an issue; but literally, God is sometimes trying to "purge" some mess out of me so that I can mature and change. So He isolates me for that purpose.

I was thinking about "aloneness" and about how Adam was once a lone person, yet he was not lonely. He never asked God to create him a companion. In fact, it was God Himself in Genesis 2:18, who looked at the man He created and decided, "It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him."

Adam never experienced a sense of loneliness or even felt he had a need for companionship. Why? Because he had God. He fellowshipped with God, was obedient to God and served God. In doing so, he found complete contentment.

I believe God wants all of us to do that: Fellowship with Him, serve Him and be obedient to Him. As we do this, He somehow seems to fill those empty spaces in our lives without us necessarily having to ask Him to.

Whether it be loneliness, lack of joy, lack of peace, whatever it is ... God wants us to seek Him first for fulfillment, and then He takes care of the rest by sending us exactly who or what we need in our lives.

What IS YOUR PROOF?

John 13:35 By this all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

Someone once asked a question, If your life was on trial for being a Christian.

Would there be enough evidence to convict you?

That seems to be a pretty heavy question, don't you think? We must understand that the world is looking at the way we live as Christians. They want to find any excuse that they can to have a reason why they should not give there life to Jesus We must keep in mind that our lives is the only Bible that some would ever read. We need to do a self examination on ourselves to see if our life is lining up with the Word of God.

Do you really love all of your brothers and sisters in the Lord?

When we see a brother or sister in need are we there to give them a helping hand? When we help our brothers and sisters in the Lord, then we are helping God.

Are we loving the way Christ loved us?

Only you know the answer to that question.

Heavenly Father I come to you in Jesus name, to say I am sorry for all the times that I have let you down. I need your help to love the way that you love. I want the world to know that my sisters and brothers are close to me.

I want the world to see your love in me. Please help me to love unconditionally like you have loved me.

Things Will Improve

READ: Joshua 21:43-45

Joshua 21:45 (NASB) "Not one of the good promises which the LORD had made to the house of Israel failed; all came to pass."

What is 3,272 miles long and takes 66 days to complete? That is how long it would take you to beat the new record for swimming the Amazon River. Martin Strel, 52, of Slovenia battled piranhas, crocodiles, sunburn, and exhaustion to become the first person to swim the entire length of the great river. "I couldn't sleep at night and I thought we would have to stop for a week or so. But with time things improved," he said.

Now, what took thousands of miles and over 40 years to complete? The capturing of the Promised Land. Years of disobedience and punishment finally culminated in the allocating of the land to the tribes (Joshua 19-21). The writer of the account, most probably Joshua himself, reflects, saying, "Not one of the good promises which the LORD had made to the house of Israel failed" (21:45a). The Lord had given them every necessary to insure victory against their enemies. His promises of so many years were absolutely trustworthy and true.

"Faithful is He who calls you," writes Paul, "and He also will bring it to pass" (1 Thess. 5:24). Bring what to pass? That our bodies will one day also enter the Promised Land of the heavenly kind as pure and blameless vessels.

You may be swimming against the current or just treading water. But all of the "…sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us" (Rom. 8:18). Hang in there. In His time and way, things will improve, all to the glory of God the Father.

Faith Lesson: "God is faithful, through whom you were called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord."

—1 Cor. 1:9

The Lord Takes Our Hand

Body: The journey through this life can be difficult at times. As we make this journey, we will encounter many different obstacles. There will be things in that path that will both block and test us. You might have situations in your journey that might have caused you to stumble. The devil and the world will surely try to cause to stumble and to fall away from the Lord. There are many people who have stumbled and have fallen away from the Lord. Some of these people never regain their balance, and they never return to the Lord.

Even believers will have those times when they might stumble and lose their balance. Believers are encouraged to take hold of the Lord's hand. He is there to hold us steady. He will not alloow us to fall, or to stay down. We will have those times when we fall, but through faith, we can be raised up again. Jesus stands ready to reach out His hand and to help us to stand again.

There will be times along the journey when you'll stumble. There will be forces that will try to pull you away from the Lord. As you travel along this journey, take hold of the Lord's hand. He'll keep you steady, and He'll lead you to the heavenly home.

Why worship?

I will worship God today because it is good and right to do so.

Worship is not an asset. It is not an added benefit to my life like working out or taking vitamins. Nor is it a secret formula that will add a deeper dimension to my life.

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