Choosing God's way is an ongoing process.

True faith lets God be God.

Because Christ rose from the dead, we know that our world is heading for redemption, not disaster. We know that death has been conquered and that we, too, will be raised from the dead to live forever with Christ. We know that Christ is alive and ruling his kingdom, and that God’s power that brought Jesus back from the dead is available to us so we can live for him in an evil world. Do you believe? Then live with joy and hope and power. --Dave Veerman

One who is safe and secure in the love of God and sustained by His grace no longer hears from a distant God. He now listens to Someone who loves him enough to bring him into a personal relationship, and that makes all the difference. --Charles Stanley

Let us think of his greatness; it will be really praising him if we thus think of him. You need not speak, but just ponder, weigh, consider, contemplate, meditate on the character of the Most High. Begin with his mercy if you cannot begin with his holiness, but take his attributes one by one and think about them. As you think of any one of them, it will delight you and carry you away. You will be lost in wonder, love, and praise as you consider it; you will be astonished and amazed as you plunge into its wondrous depths, and everything else will vanish from your vision. That is one way of making God great—by often thinking about him. --Charles Spurgeon

The next way to make God great is by often drinking him into yourself. The lilies stand and worship God simply by being beautiful – by drinking in the sunlight and dewdrops. Standing for the Lord and drank him in; you understand what I mean by this expression? You go down to the seaside when you are sickly; there is a delightful breeze coming up from the sea; you feel as it came in at every pore of your body and you seem to be drinking in health at every breath you breathe. Do just like that in a spiritual sense with God; go down to the great sea of Godhead; magnify it by thinking how great it is, and then take it into your very soul. God cannot be greater than he is, but he can be greater in you than he is at present. He cannot increase; there cannot be more of God than there is, but there may be more of God in you. More of his great love, more of his perfect holiness, more of his divine power may be manifested in you, and more his likeness and light may be revealed through you. Therefore, make him great in that respect. --Charles Spurgeon

Our Savior kneels down and gazes upon the darkest acts of our lives. But rather than recoil in horror, he reaches out in kindness and says, “I can clean that if you want.” And from the basin of his grace, he scoops a palm full of mercy and washes our sin. --Max Lucado

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When You Worry by Kimberley Dubard
Hebrews 4:16 - Let us therefore draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and may find grace to help in time of need.
Have you been struggling and planning, worrying and sweating, crying and running at a furious pace, trying to move that mountain by yourself again? God asks that you "cast all your cares on Him because He cares for you" *(1 Peter 5:7)*. Think about what your worrying says to God when you refuse to give things over to Him.
When you worry about money, you're telling Him that He is unable to provide for His children, that although He has riches beyond belief in heaven, He is too stingy to share them with you.
When you worry that no one understands you, you're telling Him that although He has been with you since before you were formed in the womb and has carved you into the palm of His hand, He doesn't know you.
When you worry that you will not have enough food, you're telling Him that although He rained down bread from heaven in the desert to feed His children, you are the one He's forgotten.
When you worry that your enemies will have victory over you, you're telling God that, although He has given you spiritual battle gear to defend yourself, that despite His track record of being a giant slayer, a Red Sea divider, a lion mouth closer, and a furnace cooler, He can't handle your co-worker, your neighbor, your former friend.
When you worry that your children have decided to follow the world instead of your example, you're telling God that He doesn't keep His promises, that, despite the fact that you have raised them up in the way they should go, they'll stray because, basically, He lied.
When you worry because the doctors told you that children are impossible, that a cure is impossible, that healing is impossible, you're telling Him that this world controls your fate. You're saying that prayer time with Him is merely something to pass the time. You're saying that although He can raise the dead, make a virgin conceive, open the womb of a woman well past eighty, heal a 12 year issue of blood, make the blind see, and the lame walk, He can't help you.
When you worry that you won't be able to do enough to earn forgiveness, you're telling Him, "That's okay, Lord; no need for Your Son to die, I can earn my own forgiveness." You're acting like Jesus never died, or like here was no need for Him to go to the cross.
When you worry that no one will love you, that you'll be lonely for the rest of your life, you're telling Him that His love is insufficient. You're also saying that, although He has promised life more abundantly, He was lying, that despite the fact that He started off saying that it is not good that we be alone, He's changed His mind.
When you worry and refuse to give the problem over to Him, you're telling Him that although He could create the world, He can't handle what's going on in your world, so *you* will. You are saying that He won't work things out, that obstacles cannot be overcome, that mountains can't be climbed, that healing cannot occur, that what is lost will not be found, that joy does not come in the morning, that He is not the God of a second chance, that the promised land has been swallowed up by the desert, and that you have explored the height, depth and width of His love and found it to fall short of your needs.
Think about all that you're saying to the one who loves you the most and who has all power. Really think about it. Then open your hands and release what you've been holding onto. Bow down on your knees and ask Him to forgive you for doubting Him.
Walk away with a peaceful heart and note the footprints that go before you to straighten the crooked places, prepare a way in the wilderness and make water spring forth in the desert.
"Do not fear, for I am with you; do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand." (Isaiah 41:10)
Prayer: Heavenly Father, forgive my nearsighted nature and pride. That is You around the bend, Lord; how could I not see You? How could I not trust You? Let me tell you, Jesus, all that is on my mind. I'm tired of standing in the rain. Allow me to find shelter under Your wings. My list of worries is long but so is Your patience. Allow me to begin...

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THANKS FOR THE RIDE By Joseph Walker
It was mid-winter at the height of the Great Depression, and George and David were making their way across the country looking for work. Any work. Anything that would provide them with a few dollars to send home to their struggling, starving families.
They did a lot of walking. A lot. It wasn’t a very efficient way to get from one place to another, but they didn’t have a lot of options. They walked and lived off the land (you’d be surprised the things you’re willing to eat when you’re hungry enough) and the kindness of strangers. Occasionally they hitched a ride with a kindly trucker driver. And once they met a sympathetic train conductor, who agreed to . . . you know . . . look the
other way when they slipped into an open cattle car.
“It won’t be much for comfort,” the conductor told them, “but it will get you where you want to go faster than walking will.”
Saying that the cattle car wasn’t much for comfort was a little like saying the stock market crash of 1929 didn’t do much for the economy. For one thing, it was a cattle car, which meant cattle . . . you know. . . residue. And plenty of it. You couldn’t step anywhere in the car without stepping on – or in – something disgusting. Plus there was a ton of hay, which blew around the car like little wind-driven spears as the train picked up steam. And then there was the fact that it was an open car, with icy wind blasting them from every side. Smoke and burning cinders from the engine also blew directly into the car, making them cough and gag. Some cinders even started a fire in the hay, which might have been disastrous for the train had George and David not been back there to stamp it out.
Uncomfortable? Make that “hellish.”
But the conductor was also right about the speed of the train, which carried them several hundred miles across difficult terrain. In a matter of hours they arrived in a large city where they were sure they could find jobs – a journey that would have required weeks to complete on foot.
When the train finally came to a stop the conductor hurried back to check on his charges.
"I can’t believe you made us stay back there!” George said as he mopped his cinder- pocked face with his handkerchief. “There had to be a better place for us on the train.”
The conductor started to explain how it would have been impossible to have them ride anyplace else without paying, but George held up a hand to stop him.
“I don’t want to hear it,” he said. “Thanks for nothing.”
As George stormed off, David looked at the anguish on the conductor’s face. He tapped him on the shoulder, shook his hand and smiled.
“Never mind him,” David said. “You’ve given us a great gift. We have a lot more time now to earn money for our families. Thanks for the ride.”
Life takes us on lots of different journeys during our time on this planet. Some are slick and smooth and fast and comfortable. Others are bumpy and rough, with blowing hay and burning cinders blasting us in the face and cow residue under foot. Sometimes the journey is rough because of our own poor choices. Sometimes our journey is adversely impacted by the poor choices of others. And sometimes the journey is hard because . . . well . . . sometimes journeys are hard. Earthquakes happen. Hurricanes happen. Cancer happens. Life happens.
As I watch people travel life’s journeys, both easy and hard, it occurs to me that it isn’t so important what happens to us, since we’ll all get our share of both kinds of journeys. What’s important, and what truly seems to make a difference in our lives, is how we respond to what happens to us. Are we like George, shaking a fist at the heavens and complaining about how hard and painful life can be? Or are we like David, brushing off the cinders, shaking out the hay and thanking God for the privilege of a ride?
It’s an attitude, but it’s more than just an attitude. It’s an approach to living that embraces life – fully and completely. Residue and all.

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What Have We Learned?
As sobering reports continue to come of the massive loss of life and property in Haiti, we cannot help being affected. When we consider how suddenly everything about us can change, we realize our own vulnerability. But rather than being traumatized by this awareness, we should look inward and upward and ask the Lord what He would have us learn from this situation.
Peter’s epistle walks us through some thoughts which can help us clarify our thinking. He writes not of the destruction of one city, but the demolition of the entire heavens and earth, a thought almost beyond our comprehension. Then he asks a sobering question:
Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? (2 Peter 3:11, NIV).
This is an elemental question we should be asking ourselves regularly, as it helps us keep our values in proper focus. Note the following inherent principles in his question.
The Present World is Temporal
Because we must live with the tangible realities of this present world, it is easy to become consumed by them. We need food to eat today, clothes to wear for warmth and propriety, and a bed to sleep in tonight. Because of these needs, we go to work, thus setting up a cycle of life that can become all-consuming.
But Peter wants us to keep in focus that one day this life will come to a screeching halt as suddenly as the Haitian earthquake. Even if we do not see the final end of all things, our own life and the things we accumulate are temporal. Keeping that thought in focus helps us hold the material world lightly.
Our Lives Reflect our Beliefs
Peter moves quickly from informing us of the ultimate end of things to discussing our response to this knowledge. What we believe does affect the way we live. If you look out the window and see sunshine, you hang your coat back in the closet. You respond to what you believe to be true. This principle can be applied to all our knowledge.
Peter answers his own question promptly, so we will get it right:
You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming (2 Peter 3:12, NIV).
The terms holy and godly might elude us, but Peter further defines the lifestyle he wants for believers:
So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him (2 Peter 3:14, NIV).
He summarizes his admonition with this statement:
Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:18, NIV).
Our Hope is in the Lord
Knowing that—as the old song went—“There’s a great day comin’,” helps us live our daily lives in a manner pleasing to God. While we make every effort to live godly lives while we are here, God’s grace and peace are with us. Even if everything around us seems to be shaking, we can live in that grace and peace today. --Peggy Musgrove

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You are valuable not because of who you are, but because of whose you are.
What is it that makes you valuable? What makes you feel important? Is it your wealth? The fact that you're well educated? Do you feel important because you get lots of cell phone calls, so that must mean you're popular? Or do you feel valuable because you have a high position of leadership at work?
While it certainly isn't wrong to be wealthy, well educated, popular, or in leadership, we must not let those things define our worth and value, because things can (and likely will) fail us. Cars break down; houses burn down; profits sink down; and with them, our self-worth falls down.
But God declares that you're worth everything to him -- you're worth all Christ offered. You are not your own; you were bought at a price (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). That price is the life of Jesus.
You are precious in God's sight -- you're his child (Ephesians 1:5). Almost every parent would agree that his or her child is the most precious thing in the world; and that's the way God views you! It's no wonder God labels his people as his treasured possession (Deuteronomy 14:2).
Don't let wealth, education, popularity, status, or anything else define your value. Know that you worth everything to God, because you're His. Weekly Wisdom

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You can spend your time, waste your time, or invest your time. It's your choice.
We all have exactly 24 hours in one day. No more; no less. You will use that time on what you consider to be important.
No one else is forcing you to do anything. You only commit to things because you choose to; so, your schedule reveals your priorities. Examine your schedule, and you might be surprised when you discover what your priorities turn out to be.
Instead of scheduling your priorities around your life, you ought to schedule your life around your priorities.
What should those priorities be? In Matthew 6:33, Jesus says, "Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." Of the Ten Commandments, the very first commandment God gave was: "You shall have no other gods before me." The Bible is clear: God should be our number one -- most important -- priority.
In John 15:1-4, Jesus talks about pruning off things that produce no fruit. That is, he tells us to cut off anything that does not have meaningful, eternal value, which means that we are to get rid of anything that doesn't further our relationship with God. Clearly, God doesn't want to be number ten on a list of top ten priorities. In fact, God really doesn't even want to be number one on a list of ten; God wants to be number one on a list of one!
You could spend or waste your time doing meaningless things; or you could invest your time in order to achieve maximum eternal impact.
When you seek God as the only thing you need, he will take care of everything else (see Matthew 6:33). In Luke 10:38-42, we learn the story of Mary and Martha. As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!" "Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her." That's what it means to seek the only meaningful, eternal thing -- God.
Therefore, prune your life. List practical ways that you can cut out the junk in your life in order to focus on knowing God better, seeking him and knowing his word and his truth. That's the only thing needed -- that's how you invest your time wisely. Weekly Wisdom

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"God Knows" by Kelly D. Caron
When you are tired and discouraged from fruitless efforts... God knows how hard you have tried.
When you've cried so long and your heart is in anguish... God has counted your tears.
If you feel that your life is on hold and time has passed you by... God is waiting with you.
When you're lonely and your friends are too busy even for a phone call... God is by your side.
When you think you've tried everything and don't know where to turn... God has a solution.
When nothing makes sense and you are confused or frustrated... God has the answer.
If suddenly your outlook is brighter and you find traces of hope... God has whispered to you.
When things are going well and you have much to be thankful for... God has blessed you.
When something joyful happens and you are filled with awe... God has smiled upon you.
When you have a purpose to fulfill and a dream to follow... God has opened your eyes and called you by name.
Remember that wherever you are or whatever you are facing... God knows!

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Don’t Give Up by Donna Mitchell
Perseverance is not my favorite word. It means to continue a course of action in spite of difficulties. There are other ways to say it…hang in there, keep going, remain, stand firm, stick at it, don’t give up. I believe perseverance is what it is going to take for every believer to finish well. It is going to take perseverance to believe God even when we don’t see evidence of what He is doing or we witness what appears to be contrary evidence.
When challenges arise, it will take perseverance to believe God’s heart is good and His ways are perfect. Perseverance will help you love sacrificially and obey His leading. It’s what you’ll need to pray when you don’t want to, praise when you don’t feel like it, stay when you feel like leaving, and embrace when you feel like giving up.
Remember, Jesus continually demonstrated perseverance.
The book of 2 Thessalonians is an encouragement in perseverance. I would encourage you to read it with that theme in mind. In the third chapter, Paul’s request for prayer is our prayer for each other…
“Finally, dear brothers and sisters, we ask you to pray for us. Pray that the Lord’s message will spread rapidly and be honored wherever it goes, just as when it came to you. Pray, too, that we will be rescued from wicked and evil people, for not everyone is a believer. But the Lord is faithful; He will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one. And we are cc in the Lord that you are doing and will continue to do the things we commanded you. May the Lord lead your hearts into a full understanding and expression of the love of God and the patient endurance that comes from Christ” (2 Thessalonians 3:1-5, NLT).
We have to let Him lead our hearts into a full understanding and expression of the love of God and the patient endurance that comes from Christ. Jesus gave His life away to reach others – in life and in death. He is maturing us, changing our hearts, building our faith, and deepening our love for Him and for others. He helps us put love into action, and teaches us to stand firm and endure patiently. He is not asking us to do something He didn’t willingly do Himself. Every believer, all through the centuries, has been called to do likewise.
No matter how you consider perseverance – it is not easy. However, it is easier when you resolve the issue in your mind. To persevere is a choice, an attitude of the will. It is driving a stake into the ground and saying, ‘thus far, the Lord has led me’ and I will choose to follow Him. (See 1 Samuel 7:12-14)
Father, I want to follow where You lead, in Your time, take Your way, at whatever cost. I will endure as You give me strength. I will choose to praise and to pray. I will seek a full understanding and seek to express the love of God with patient endurance, through You who give me strength! Thank you that you have promised to be faithful, to strengthen me and to guard me from the evil one. In Jesus’ powerful and precious Name, Amen!
Questions: What would help you persevere in your current situation? What new attitudes, “stakes in the ground” would help you not give up or give in?

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Down in My Heart by Julie Cosgrove
“We have thought on your steadfast love, O God, in the midst of your temple” ( Psalm 48:9).
I can still hear little church campers’ voices belting out, slightly off key but full of gusto, “I’ve got the love of Jesus down in my heart. Where? Down in my heart to stay.” Now you are humming it, too, right? They were singing of God’s steadfast love in the midst of His temple- them.
Through the power of the Holy Spirit, God now dwells in us, taking up space in our thoughts, heart and actions, when we yield to Him that is. More than our conscious, His whispers encourage us, guide us, teach us and protect us. It reminds me of those spy movies when the agent has a hidden communication device and headquarters is tracking him, speaking with him and monitoring his moves. God is right there with us, every step of the way.
There are times I forget my heart is beating. It just goes on doing its thing: silently, constantly pumping in blood and forcing it back into my body. I barely notice is until I get in a panic, or run hard, or lie awake in the wee hours of the night. Then I hear and feel that thump, thump, thump. It used to be there were times I’d forget God was inside me. I’d go about my way until, you guessed it, I got in a panic, ran from danger, or lay awake in the wee hours. Then I’d hear Him faithfully tapping on my heart – “I’m here- turn to me.”
The more I dwell in the Word and pray to Him regularly, the more I’m in tune to that tapping -the one that is in sync with my heartbeat but so distinctive. The more I pray, the more I hear headquarters monitoring my steps and giving me direction and the more I truly know the love of Jesus is down in my heart to stay – in the midst of His temple – me.
“Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?” (1 Corinthians 3:16).
Thank you Father that I don’t need to go far to find You, You are right here with me. Help me to hear your voice whispering to me. Draw me in close so that I can hear Your heartbeat. Amen.
Question: Have you felt God’s love tapping in you?

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When God is Silent by Janet Morris Grimes
Are you feeling ready to walk away from a relationship – are you possibly even considering divorce? We want to pray for you.
“I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I put my hope” (Psalm 130: 5).
Have you wondered what God is doing when you can’t see him? Have you ever felt that He is too busy to answer your cry for help? Have you felt forgotten in this crazy world? We all feel that way at times.
For whatever reason, sometimes, God chooses to be silent. His purpose is not to punish you. He is not too busy. Don’t for a second believe the lie that He may have forgotten you.
The silence may be what pushes us to dig deeper, like a growing plant in search of water. It could be that the answers are before our eyes, but we are too human to see what God wants us to see. Maybe we are looking with our eyes instead of our heart. It might not be time for God to reveal what he has for you.
It’s not easy to wait, especially when God is silent, but experience tells us that it will be worth it. We know that our impatience will only get in the way of what he plans to do with us. We can try to hurry him along, but we’ll only end up feeling frustrated. The truth is that we should only want what he wants for us. True happiness lies in resting in his will, in his hands, on his path, in his time.
So, we wait and believe and trust. In posture of prayerful acceptance we can leave all of our doubts behind.
“The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged” (Deuteronomy 31:8).
Dear God, please hold us even closer during the times we wonder what you are up to. We long to feel your presence; to see evidence that you are working even when we cannot see you. We never mean to doubt you, but we get lonely, and sometimes scared, by the happenings in our life. When we feel the most out of control, help us rest in the fact that you are more in control than ever. And rather than worry, we always choose to worship you, because it is impossible to do both at the same time. In Jesus Name, Amen.
Questions: Do you sometimes feel God is too busy for your problems? Who is telling you that God has forgotten you? Why?

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Trust Is Tough by Marilyn Ehle
“When I am most afraid, I put my trust in you… ” (Psalm 56:3).
With the sun setting beyond a placid lake and the sky softly glowing, we see the silhouette of a tall young man walking hand in hand with his small daughter. It is a painting that some would say perfectly captures the essence of trust: the child is quietly confident in the presence of her protective parent.
Yet the psalmist would tell us that this scene pictures only the early stages of trust. Walking together – with loving parent, friend, spouse…or God – in peaceful times is important and necessary for the process of developing the relationship. But the tough test of trust comes “when we are most afraid.” In his book Ruthless Trust, Brennan Manning writes that the Old Testament patriarch Abraham “models the essence of trust…convinced (emphasis mine) of the reliability of God.” Further he writes, “without exception trust must be purified in the crucible of trial.”
When we have walked hand in hand with the Savior in peaceful times, His presence will then be sure and constant when we are most afraid.
Thank You, loving Father, for those times when we have peacefully walked hand in hand. Thank You for those moments when I have learned to love You. Now, Lord, when times are tough, I want to step up to the next level of trust.
Questions: Have you ever been “most afraid” and how did God help you in that situation? Is there something in your life that you can praise God for?

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Find Time For God
Every word of God is pure: He is a shield unto them that put their trust in Him. Proverbs 30:5
When we trust in God enough to let Him lead us in His path and believe that He wants what is best for us, we will not let fear and doubt have any place in our heart and life.
We will trust Him to give us that which is best for us and the desire of our heart will be to serve Him in what-ever capacity He asks of us. We will be willing to let go and let Him have His perfect will! Author Unknown

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Small Straws In A Soft Wind by Marsha Burns
Be sensitive to the leading of My Spirit, for you are entering a time when you can truly put an end to procrastination and tie up loose ends. I am surrounding My people with an extraordinary measure of favor and grace to do all that is necessary. As soon as you choose to be done with the things that have overwhelmed you, the burden of heaviness will lift and you will be free to move forward. I will enhance and accelerate your every effort, says the Lord, but you must take the first step. Hebrews 12:12-13 Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed.

In these days your decisions will take on greater significance, and your choices will be as seeds sown that will produce a harvest of greater magnitude than you have previously ever experienced. It is, therefore, to your advantage to choose according to My wisdom. It is vital in this season that you draw near to Me, that you walk in truth and humility, and that you exercise the utmost integrity in all that you think, say, and do, says the Lord. Ask for wisdom, and be wise! Proverbs 4:7 Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding.

Be still and listen! Do you hear the sound of My voice calling to you to come to Me? I wish to have a time of fellowship with you, says the Lord. Do you sense the stirring in your spirit, a shift in desire causing a very subtle but gentle awakening? Put aside the noise of circumstances and busyness, and allow your yearning heart to be fulfilled in sweet communion. Matthew 11:28 "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

Watch for the enemy to try to gain access by provoking you through aggravation. Refuse to allow the devil to have any control over you whatsoever. When irritation presents itself, be slow to anger and quick to forgive. Division is an effective weapon against you, My people. Rise up and resist every temptation that would lead to sin in your heart. Be strong and courageous against every power of darkness, says the Lord. James 1:19-20 So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.

Beloved, there has been an extreme and intense shaking in and among you, My people. This has been for the purpose of revealing aspects of your lives that need redemption. These are things that must either be transformed from flesh to Spirit or be removed altogether. This reformation is vital in this time of the preparation of My Bride, says the Lord. And, you must deliberately surrender everything that is resistant to this process if you are to proceed in My purposes. To hide or protect your carnality is to resist the cleansing. Revelation 19:7 "Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready."

Keep looking up, and refuse to allow discouragement to keep you from breakthrough. There are things over which you have no control, things that are beyond your level of responsibility and authority. These are the circumstances that you need to release to Me, says the Lord. That means you must let go completely. Otherwise, your thoughts and emotions concerning these issues only hinder the work of My Spirit. Answers and breakthrough will come as You seek Me, and I will give you peace when you trust Me. Isaiah 26:3 You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.

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The Trumpet by Bill Burns
"Set the trumpet to your mouth!" Hosea 8:1
The Spirit of the Lord says: My people, I delight in you. And, it is My delight at this time to make you a garden of renown; a place of expression, fruitfulness, safety, and provision. These things I would have you abide in, for I come in the awesomeness of My power and the authority of My kingdom to place this habitation in your life where the river of anointing flows. It is living water and produces a harvest in your lives so that there may be an increase of your health, strength, and provision. It is My good pleasure to cause you to be a garden of life. Come and partake of the Tree of Life, which has been reinstated for you, My people. Now come and enjoy; come and partake, for the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations, says the Lord.

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Let Go and Let God
Have you talked to the Lord this morning and asked for His guidance throughout the day?
Have you asked Him to open the right doors for you and keep you on His straight and narrow way?
Have you let Him know that what He asks of you, you'll be patient, willing and ready to do? Have you made room for Him in your schedule today,
Taken time in His word and to kneel down and pray?
When we let go and let God have His perfect way......
we'll not be tempted to wander and go astray.
When we learn to trust completely in Him,
All our troubles and worries will fade and grow dim!
When we take time to praise and worship His name.......
His contentment and joy will be ours to claim!
Have a great day in the Lord and remember.....
God Loves You and so do I.....
Helen Johnson

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Greatness (January 17, 2010)
O Lord
I am not great
But You greatly delight in me
And with Your greatness
You sustain
And provide for me.
I am not strong
But You strongly treasure me
And with Your strength
You defend me
And empower me.
I am not perfect
But You perfectly love me
And mold me
More and more
toward perfection
By Your mercy
That in my lowness
Weakness
And sin
You smile upon me
And raise me
To Your Presence.
Ray McAllister

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Now thank we all our God,
With hearts and hands and voices;
Who wondrous things hath done,
In whom this world rejoices.
Who, from our mother's arms,
Hath led us on our way,
With countless gifts of love,
And still is ours today.
--Martin Rinkar

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1 Oh, give thanks to the LORD! Call upon His name; Make known His deeds among the peoples! 2 Sing to Him, sing psalms to Him; Talk of all His wondrous works! 3 Glory in His holy name; Let the hearts of those rejoice who seek the LORD! 4 Seek the LORD and His strength; Seek His face evermore! 5 Remember His marvelous works which He has done, His wonders, and the judgments of His mouth, 6 O seed of Abraham His servant, You children of Jacob, His chosen ones! Psalm 105:1-6

I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and My fortress: my God; in Him will I trust. Psalm 91:2

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And when you pass through the rivers, they will Not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, You will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the LORD, your God, The Holy One of Israel, your Savior. Isaiah 43:2-3

"No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thornbushes, or grapes from briers. The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks." Luke 6:43-45

The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body--whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free--and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. 1 Corinthians 12:12-13

Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God's sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin. Romans 3:20

The LORD is my light and my salvation -- whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life -- of whom shall I be afraid? Psalm 27:1

The LORD is my light and my salvation -- whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life -- of whom shall I be afraid? Psalm 27:1

Better a patient man than a warrior, a man who controls his temper than one who takes a city. Proverbs 16:32

When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise. Proverbs 10:19

You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:6-8

Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. Deuteronomy 6:5

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Eight Habits to Be Spiritually Healthy by Dr. John Barnett
Here is the question to ponder today, how hard is it to die when you have so much wealth? Consider this... People who lay up treasures on earth spend their life backing away from their treasures. To them, death is loss.
People who lay up treasures in heaven look forward to eternity; they are moving daily toward their treasures. To them, death is gain.
Those who spend their life moving away from their treasures have more and more reasons to despair. Those who spend their life moving toward their treasures have more and more reasons to rejoice.
Is the passing of time causing you and me to despair or rejoice? God's ownershipof everything is the reference point for all of us who serve the Lord. [1]
God's Word teaches us 8 habits that can keep us spiritually healthy until death. Wouldn't it be great to be in robust spiritual health, looking forward to Heaven? The habits recorded in Psalm 116 are not just for those who have one foot in the grave, they are actually good habits for all of our lives. Here are the simple habits that make our death precious in the sight of the Lord. These are the marks of a healthy spiritual life that takes the sting out of death.
v. 1 Believe in Him that He is listening and watching and respond in love.
v. 2 Cry out to Him. Get used to talking to the Lord. Pour out your heart, your fears, your woes - share them with Him.
v. 9 Follow Him through your daily life. He is the Shepherd and we are His sheep.
v. 13 Drink Him. He is our cup of salvation. We thirst and He alone satisfies. Let Him into your life to meet your deepest needs!
v. 14 Obey Him. Do what He says. Give in and submit to Him.
v. 16 Serve Him. Tell Him that, say it aloud and offer it as an offering.
v. 17 Thank Him. Think through all the many blessings and benefits the Lord has heaped upon you. If you have troubles, listen to some children pray. They thank the Lord for eyes to see, warm "blankies" to sleep under, food to eat and all the other simple and sweet blessings of life.
v. 18-19 Live for Him. From now on live for His glory, talk of His blessings, come into His presence, worship and adore Him.
Do your plans and priorities for the rest of 2009 mirror what the Lord desires? His desires are clearly laid out in His Word.
Our key passage for this series is 1st Timothy 4:7. Paul says we are to discipline ourselves towards godliness. What encourages a godly life?
The Discipline of Scripture. Time alone with God in His Word, the Scriptures, is the great necessity of our spiritual lives. We need to be alone with God daily! We need to find times to get away alone. Psalm 16:11 You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore. The Lord God of the Universe wants to Arrange your life, and Accompany you trip through life, and authorize everything needed from now on. Wow, that is the best life there is. The Discipline of Spirit Filled Living. Jesus explained the Holy Spirit in our lives by using the image of a strong river of water flowing out of us. John :37-39: "On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, 'If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink (present active imperative). He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water." But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified." Rivers of water is the way Jesus describes the normal life of believers, His children.
The Discipline of Stewardship. A life given back to God as an offering is what stewardship is all about. Stewardship is not about money it is about life itself. Time and life are far greater treasures than money and possessions. God wants you 1st and foremost! A Godly steward knows that God owns him and everything he has. Romans 12:1-2: "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God." 2 Corinthians 5:15: "...and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again." He who lays up treasures on earth spends his life backing away from his treasures. To him, death is loss. He who lays up treasures in heaven looks forward to eternity; he's moving daily toward his treasures. To him, death is gain. He who spends his life moving away from his treasures has reason to despair. He who spends his life moving toward his treasures has reason to rejoice.
Is the passing of time causing you and me to despair or rejoice? God's kingdom was the reference point for these men. They saw all else in light of the kingdom. They were compelled to live as they did not because they treasured no things, but because they treasured the right things.
We often miss something in missionary martyr Jim Elliot's famous words, "He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose." We focus on his willingness to go to the mission field. That willingness started when he relinquished his hold on things as MINE!

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Dear God, let us live in your will so that we will be examples and guides for those around us. May they become faithful believers as we support and love them. Amen.

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Read Through The Bible
Deuteronomy 16
The Passover Reviewed
1 “Observe the month of Abib, and keep the Passover to the LORD your God, for in the month of Abib the LORD your God brought you out of Egypt by night. 2 Therefore you shall sacrifice the Passover to the LORD your God, from the flock and the herd, in the place where the LORD chooses to put His name. 3 You shall eat no leavened bread with it; seven days you shall eat unleavened bread with it, that is, the bread of affliction (for you came out of the land of Egypt in haste), that you may remember the day in which you came out of the land of Egypt all the days of your life. 4 And no leaven shall be seen among you in all your territory for seven days, nor shall any of the meat which you sacrifice the first day at twilight remain overnight until morning. 5 “You may not sacrifice the Passover within any of your gates which the LORD your God gives you; 6 but at the place where the LORD your God chooses to make His name abide, there you shall sacrifice the Passover at twilight, at the going down of the sun, at the time you came out of Egypt. 7 And you shall roast and eat it in the place which the LORD your God chooses, and in the morning you shall turn and go to your tents. 8 Six days you shall eat unleavened bread, and on the seventh day there shall be a sacred assembly to the LORD your God. You shall do no work on it.
The Feast of Weeks Reviewed
9 “You shall count seven weeks for yourself; begin to count the seven weeks from the time you begin to put the sickle to the grain. 10 Then you shall keep the Feast of Weeks to the LORD your God with the tribute of a freewill offering from your hand, which you shall give as the LORD your God blesses you. 11 You shall rejoice before the LORD your God, you and your son and your daughter, your male servant and your female servant, the Levite who is within your gates, the stranger and the fatherless and the widow who are among you, at the place where the LORD your God chooses to make His name abide. 12 And you shall remember that you were a slave in Egypt, and you shall be careful to observe these statutes.
The Feast of Tabernacles Reviewed
13 “You shall observe the Feast of Tabernacles seven days, when you have gathered from your threshing floor and from your winepress. 14 And you shall rejoice in your feast, you and your son and your daughter, your male servant and your female servant and the Levite, the stranger and the fatherless and the widow, who are within your gates. 15 Seven days you shall keep a sacred feast to the LORD your God in the place which the LORD chooses, because the LORD your God will bless you in all your produce and in all the work of your hands, so that you surely rejoice. 16 “Three times a year all your males shall appear before the LORD your God in the place which He chooses: at the Feast of Unleavened Bread, at the Feast of Weeks, and at the Feast of Tabernacles; and they shall not appear before the LORD empty-handed. 17 Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the LORD your God which He has given you.
Justice Must Be Administered
18 “You shall appoint judges and officers in all your gates, which the LORD your God gives you, according to your tribes, and they shall judge the people with just judgment. 19 You shall not pervert justice; you shall not show partiality, nor take a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and twists the words of the righteous. 20 You shall follow what is altogether just, that you may live and inherit the land which the LORD your God is giving you. 21 “You shall not plant for yourself any tree, as a wooden image, near the altar which you build for yourself to the LORD your God. 22 You shall not set up a sacred pillar, which the LORD your God hates.

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Help us, Gracious God, to choose the abundant life you offer. Help us let go of our desire to control our lives and to define who you are and limit what you can do. Please hold on to us, especially in our uncertainty. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen

Wherever you are in life, whatever you've done, you can begin again. If you do not have Jesus in your life and wish to ask Jesus into your life please go to this link now to do so: http://www.christianrecoverysupport....nto-your-life/ .
Jesus is calling you to live a life that matters.