I will love thee O Lord my strength!

"I will love Thee O Lord my strength!" is my theme verse. (Psalm 18:1)

I was researching the words "will love" in this verse.... and stumbled across something that spoke to my heart in a mighty, mighty way. (I say stumbled, but we know that God's hand and Spirit guides us in the study of His Word, and we never "stumble" upon things!)

Psalm 18:1 is now glued upon my very soul. David is not just saying "I love you God".

This word:רחם , translated "love" *does* mean to love, have mercy or have great compassion, but it is much deeper. It is derived from this word: רחם which is a masculine noun referring to a womb! When the plural form this word was used, the author had in mind the idea of compassion, tenderness, or mercy as seen in Psalm 18:1 - my theme. Okay, now to the deeper part!

The Old Testament authors thought of the womb or bowels as the seat of warm and tender emotions. For example, when Joseph saw his brother Benjamin, he became overwhelmed with tender affection. This is oft translated in the KJV as "bowels". An example is in Gen 43:30 And Joseph made haste; for his bowels did yearn upon his brother: and he sought where to weep; and he entered into his chamber, and wept there.

It was then I realized the depth of David's cry to God. He loved God intensely. His love penetrated him. Do you see the picture too?
He loved God with everything he had - from the depth of his soul, from his bowels. With every fiber in his body he cried, "I LOVE YOU O LORD MY STRENGTH!!!"

Hallelujah!

Introduction to the Gospels

Introduction to the Gospels in Devotions

It is recommended that the reader read the entire chapter for each devotion, as the “theme” is often set in the verse chosen for the particular devotion. The Lord has wonderfully blessed in allowing me to write a devotion for every chapter of the Bible, a great task indeed. I am thankful for the opportunity to do so, and in attempt to glorify the Lord in all things, I hope to keep the focus on the Lord and on His Precious and wonderful Word. I have found Him in nearly every chapter of the Bible, and have sought to “bring Him out” and expose Him to others. The teaching will then be solely for the honor and glory of God, and not in any way to glorify self. I have worked diligently to keep these principles in focus in every devotion and I believe, by the grace of God, that He has allowed me to do so. One can glean some great truths here, and go back over some familiar ground, but all can benefit from the practicality of the Word of God contained in these short devotions. They were designed to be short and hopefully powerful, and to the point, as I realize that people are very busy these days.

We begin chapter one of The Book of Mattew tomorrow.

Happiness Is, Is It?

The word 'happy' is found 25 times in the Bible. In James 5:11 Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.

This post isn't a word study on happy because the Bible uses it in several different contexts. However, generally speaking, we have a spirit of harmony and unity when we are being blessed by God and things seem to be going well. It's easier to put a smile on our face, be nice to people, stay away from the pity parties, pray, read our Bibles, be active in church..................The list could be very long.

The day we live in is tough. The political climate ushers in much contention among our citizens. We use our disagreements with what see around us as an excuse to be argumentative and unfriendly. Not enough Christians are praying for our leaders or we'd be living more of a quiet and peaceable life. Anyway, and to stay on the subject, from where are you and I drawing our happiness. 1Peter 3:14 But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled; Troubles and bad times will come! But, if Christ lives within us we have a never- ending well-spring of living water to quench or spiritual and emotional thirsts.

When I was a little boy we sang this song in church. Do you remember it?

Happiness is to know the Savior,
Living a life within His favor,
Having a change in my behavior,
Happiness is the Lord.

Happiness is a new creation,
Jesus and me in close relation,
Having a part in His salvation,
Happiness is the Lord.

Real joy is mine, no matter if teardrops start;
I’ve found the secret, it’s Jesus in my heart!

Happiness is to be forgiven,
Living a life that’s worth the living,
Taking a trip that leads to Heaven,
Happiness is the Lord,
Happiness is the Lord,
Happiness is the Lord!

Light the Fire Again

This isn't my original but found it to be very good...

Light The Fire Again

Read 2 Timothy 1:6 says, "Stir up the gift of God which is in thee...." Timothy had the privilege to have a Gospel heritage. He had been brought up under the influence of a godly grandmother named Lois. His mother was a dear Christian lady by the name of Eunice. Even with a background like Paul knew, he found that the fires of God could burn dimly in your heart.

In a fireplace, the fires can die down. When you stir the dimmed coals with poker, the fire begins to burn brightly again. The reality of the matter is this—the coals are not burning brightly as they should be in our personal lives and in the church as well. There is a failure in the work of spiritually radiating and reflecting the honor and glory of God in our lives. To "stir up" is to fan a spark into a flame. The fires of God in our lives need to be restirred and rekindled.

I. Dangers-

First, the danger of familiarity is a reality. We can get so accustomed to the spiritual; we lose the excitement and thrill of it all.

Secondly, frustration can creep into the hearts of people. It is so easy to get frustrated with others and with the circumstances of life. If frustration is present, the fires of God need to be rekindled.

Thirdly, there is the danger of failure. It is possible to be so overwhelmed with failure that we seem to lose sight of what God can do for us.

II. Duty- What is our duty in regard to the spiritual ? Never let the flame of God in our hearts lose its intensity and brightness. The stirring up involves human responsibility. Why is seeing to it that we are stirred up our responsibility?

Number one, the command of the Bible necessitates it here in our text.

Then, the condition of the saints make it our duty.

As well, the conversion of the sinner is dependent up it. If you do not fan the flames of spirituality in your personal and church life, sinners will not see the Lord Jesus Christ in you and be saved. As salt, we are to help make the sinner thirsty.

III. Delight- When the fires burn brightly, at least two things are true.

First, we will have a lit-up church. People can come into that kind of atmosphere and get under old time heaven-sent, Holy Ghost conviction.

In addition, we will have a let-go church. We will stop trying to put our hand of control over everything and say, "I want Jesus to get glory more than I do to claim it for myself."

In conclusion, we will also have a let-it-rip church. We will witness for the Lord Jesus to others and not hold back when we need to give testimony(Acts. 1:8)

WATCH

I found a small anagram/outline that may be helpful to someone; I have had it for many years, and committed it to memory.

We need to watch our:

Words
Actions
Thoughts
Companions, and
Hearts.

Supper For Thursday

My Homemade Spaghetti Sauce

Sauce
1 pound of Ground Chuck
1 small Valdilla onion
6 fresh mushrooms chopped up
1 12 oz can of Tomato Sauce
1/2 can of diced tomatoes
1 teaspoon chopped Garlic
1 teaspoon of Italian spices
pinch of salt and pepper

Directions
Brown ground chuck, onion, mushrooms, there is no fat left so no need to drain,
add 1 can of tomato sauce,1/2 can of diced tomatoes,add garlic,
Italian spices and salt and pepper to taste.

1/4 of 16oz Ronzo Spaghetti, I like it because it has substance, not just a flimsy noodle, lol cook til becomes sticky, do not over cook spaghetti, it only takes about 8 minutes if that to cook, then drain well, do not rinse, your sauce will not stick good if you rinse it.
we like ours mixed together, but you can serve your spaghetti and top it with the sauce.
To Top it off, I add a a sprinkle of either Parmesan or Mozzarella cheese.

Trying of Your Faith

James 1: 3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.

1. What do we need to know with absolute confidence, surety, and understanding? We are going to fall into many and various trials and tests.

2. During the trying our worthiness will be tested and proved

3. Our assurance and confidence in Christ should be strengthened

4. A sense and reality of accomplishment will be seeded inside of us

5. With hopeful expectation we will be ready willing and bale for the next trial or test

Divide and apply God's Word

But He sought us where we were...

I love this line of a song (I will add a link so you can hear the song). It is a beautiful song, but lately, the third verse about Jesus our Shepherd brings a tear of gratitude to my eye. As I go through life, the images and icons I am drawn to change, but lately it has been Jesus as my Shepherd. I never grasped the full meaning of this thought before, but He is a loving and kind, caring Guide, and such a good, good, wonderful Shepherd, who will bring us SAFELY HOME TO GOD! (Amen!) Here are the words to the song, I hope you take the time to listen to it, and I hope it blesses you too.

He was wounded for our transgressions,
He bore our sins in His body on the tree;
For our guilt He gave us peace,
From our bondage gave release,
And with His stripes,
and with His stripes,
And with His stripes our souls are healed.

He was numbered among transgressors,
We did esteem Him forsaken by His God;
As our sacrifice He died,
That the law be satisfied,
And all our sin,
and all our sin,
And all our sin was laid on Him.

We had wandered, we all had wandered
Far from the fold of "the Shepherd of the sheep";
But He sought us where we were,
On the mountains bleak and bare,
And bro't us home,
and bro't us home,
And bro't us safely home to God.

Music HERE

Plant, Water, and Increase

Just a simple query for today....

I am not in line for the award for greatest witness but I do want to understand the correct way to witness. So, I offer the following for critique:

Do we dangle heaven as the bait during a witness, too much, instead of focusing on the real problem of sin? Gotta get them lost and to the realization that they are a sinner deserving of hell. Heaven, indeed, is the benefit. I need to learn how to be a better witness and learn that he Holy Spirit still has a ministry of conviction.

Hey, also, don't pick on those who are least trying to be a witness...Even if their method doesn't match yours.

D.L. Moody said he once spoke with a woman who didn't like his method of evangelism. "I don't really like mine all that much either. What's yours?" he asked. She replied that she didn't have one. Moody then said, "Then I like mine better than yours."

Wednesday's Wonderful Words of Life

“Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” John 14:1-3

The first time I really used this verse in my life was way back in 1978, I was getting ready to have a major surgery, and was reading my Bible, Jesus jumped out of the pages with this verse. I had been really concerned about this upcoming ordeal, and needed comfort and encouragement, my Lord and Saviour met that need that day, and every one I have had since then.

Jesus is not only Saviour, he is our roots, he is our rock, he keeps us grounded in God's holy word, he keeps our feet from falling, and he has prepared a place in heaven just for us. We all know Jesus cannot lie, he is without sin, he is the only perfect one ;and he told us he would prepare a place for us, and if he goes to all of that trouble to make a special home and he said mansion, in heaven then we certainly can be sure he will come again for us, he will take us to be in that wonderful place called heaven and to live with him forever and ever.

I know my mansion will be lit with his illumination, and decorated with his many jewel and beautiful purples, and brilliant pearls, we can never be sure what our economy will do here on earth, it is run by man, and man is certainly self destructive, it seems every day the financial parts of our lives get worse, but with God that is not so, when we put our trust in him, we do see the light at the end of the tunnel, we can face tomorrow because Jesus gives us that assurance of his grace, his love, and his hand of protection. As I write this out, he touches my heart, ever so much with this special verse today, Let Not YOUR be heart be troubled.. Look to him for all your answers, look to him for your peace in a troubled time, God bless you this day, and may God bless America.

Do you Twitter? IFB_KJV does now!

Just signed up this Blog Directory to automatically "Tweet" anytime one of the authors posts a blog entry directly to this blogroll. If you have your blog here, you can be an author and post (or repost) some of your entries right to this blogroll. If you just want to read what others have posted, and you use Twitter, click on this URL and click the "follow" button! That's all there is to it. :)

IFB_KJV's Twitter url is here: http://twitter.com/IFB_KJV

Many of our members already have author permission (around 20), but we can have 100 authors who all post to this blog, so if you need author permission, just email me and I will set you up.

God Bless Our Military, Past, Present, and Future

http://http//www.usba.com/memorialday/

"HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY"

May we all take a few minutes to day to pay honor to all those brave men and women who lay down their lives for us on a daily basis, pray earnestly and fervently for these folks, and pray Almighty God put a hedge about them, and keep them safe and out of harms way.

We live in a free Country, and our military keep it a free place to live, but the cost was very high, it was paid for with their lives, so may we never as a Nation turn our back on our Military, God help us if we do, may we never get so cold and indifferent that we do not take at least a minute a day to pray for these men and women who so selflessly give for us, as you watch this video that is posted in the link, make it point to pray for each of them, pray for America, and pray that we will turn back to God, folks it will take exactly what God said in

2 Chronicles 7:14 "If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land". If we are ever going to stand for God now is the time, and remember "For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation".

2 Corinthians 6:2.

Have a wonderful Holiday, and be a blessing to some today. Remember to have complete Joy it takes==

J esus

O thers

Y ourself

What does God say about His Word, and what price does He put on it?

This is a summary of a Bible Study Bro. George put together. It was SO WONDERFUL and POWERFUL I had to write up a condensed version and share it with our brothers and sisters!! :)

What should our attitude be about the Scriptures? What is God's attitude about our Bible?

God Promises His Word is:

Settled Ps 119:89

Kept  Psa 12:6-7

Preserved Psa 12:6-7

Won't pass away Luke 21:33, Isa 40:8

Pure Psa 12:6

Warning-Don't Add/Subtract from God's Word

Front of the Bible warning: Deu 4:2

Middle of the Bible warning:   Prov 30:5

End of the Bible warning:    Rev 22:18

His Word IS:

Sweet Psa 119:103

Honey Psa 119:103

Life Deu 8:3, Luk 4:4

Water Eph 5:25

Milk 1 Pet 2:2

Meat Heb 5:12

Pure Psa 12:6

Tried Psa 18:30

Right Psa 33:4

Powerful Heb 4:2, Psa 33:6

Truth Psa 119:43

Lamp, Light Psa 119:105

True Psa 119:160

Righteous Psa 119:172

Fire Jer 23:29

Hammer Jer 23:29

Faithful Tit 1:9

Quick Heb 4:12

Sword Heb 4:12

Discerner Heb 4:12

Sure 2 Pet 1:9

What the Word DOES:

Tries Ps 105:19

Cleanses Psa 119:9

Keeps from sin Psa 119:11

Stregthens Ps 119:28

Gives Hope Psa 119:49

Gives Comfort Psa 119:50

Gives Light Psa 119:130

Gives Understanding Psa 119:130

Builds up Acts 20:32

Accomplishes Isa 55:10

Prospers Isa 55:10

Judges John 12:47

Sanctifies John 17:17

Works Effectually 1 Thes 2:13

Saves Ja 1:21, Eph 1:13,

Ro 10:17, 1 Pet 1:22

Our Attitude Toward the Word should Be:

Praise Ps 56:10

Don't Rebel Against Ps 105:28

Take Heed Psa 119:9

Hide Word Psa 119:11

Remember Psa 119:16

Keep Psa 119:17, 101

Trust Psa 119:42

Hope Psa 119:74

Esteem Psa 119:128, Job 23:12

Walk in Psa 119:133

Meditate Psa 119:148

In Awe Of Psa 119:161

Rejoice Psa 119:162

Speak Psa 119:172

Hold Fast 2 Tim 1:13

Rightly Divide 2 Tim 2:15

Preach 2 Tim 4:2

Desire 2 Tim 4:2

Rejoice Jer 15:16

Tremble Isa 66:1,5

In order to determine God's attitude toward His Word, we 1^st have to look at the importance of God's name.

God's Name is:

Word of God Rev 19:12,13

King of Kings Rev 19:16

Lord of Lords Rev 19:16

Name above all Names Phil 2:9, Eph 1:21

Every Knee Shall Bow at His name  Phil 2:10

Every Tongue Confess His name  Phil 2:11

Declared through the whole Earth Ro 9:17

No other name that we might be saved  Acts 4:12

Alone is Excellent  Psa 148:13

God's attitude toward His Word:

Thou hast magnified thy Word above all thy name (Psa 138:2)

Wow. Amen. :)

Friendly Baptist Forum

I found a forum I really can recommend as a friendly, kind-hearted place with good godly people who frequent the place...some pastors and pastor's wives, but also just good IFB KJV church members from all over the states (and a few missionaries too!). If you are interested, drop by the newly reformed "Friendly", which started back up about a week ago, and join us for a game, a chat, a laugh, a prayer request, a sermon, a devotion...(you get the point) :)

http://www.friendlybaptistforum.com/

Hope to see you there. I am "water5" there.

The Whole Council of God

Pssst....if someone were to sneak in your house during the night and cut one of the minor prophets out of your Bible, how long would it be before you noticed? 

............Micah? Zephaniah?

I was thinking on this just the other day. The LORD convicted me that there had been some books of the Bible I had not read for about year when I last read through the Bible.

The Bible tells us something about the words of God. 

Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. (Proverbs 30:5)

But he [Jesus] answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. (Matthew 4:4)

It is easy to focus our attention on the Gospels and the New Testament isn't it? Then time gets away from us. But even the small books are so important! Let's get back to Zephaniah. 

Here we read about God searching His nation. Think about our nation as you read it:

And it shall come to pass at that time, that I will search Jerusalem with candles, and punish the men that are settled on their lees: that say in their heart, The LORD will not do good, neither will he do evil. (Zephaniah 1:12)

Men that are "settled on their lees" means men that are complacient, spiritually stagnent, they are spiritually settled on their blessed assurance! These men say in their 

heart that God will not do good or evil. Isn't that so predominent now? I hear it all the time - people that believe in a "divine power" but quote, "He does not interact with His creation". This verse speaks to that. It's a jewel. Couldn't you ust hear a sermon on it? :)

Later in the book, it is penned:

Woe to her that is filthy and polluted, to the oppressing city! She obeyed not the voice; she received not correction; she trusted not in the LORD; she drew not near to her God. Her princes within her are roaring lions; her judges are evening wolves; they gnaw not the bones till the morrow. Her prophets are light and treacherous persons: her priests have polluted the sanctuary, they have done violence to the law. (Zephaniah 3:1-4)

Woah! Does that remind you of the United States? Her officials are roaring lions, her judges are wolves, her prophets are arrogant and treacherous. Haven't many of our priests (preachers) polluted the sanctuary? God pronouces doom on them.

Zechariah doesn't leave us in destruction. It promises restoration at the Lord's return, but in the meantime gives us an important piece of advice:

Seek ye the LORD, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the LORD'S anger. (Zephaniah 2:3)

God is good. Amen! Let us not neglect to study the whole council of His Word, lest we miss out on His instruction, blessings and promises. God bless ya'll!

Little Is Much When God Is In It

I love the story of the widow's oil! (2 Kings 4:1-7) And I love teaching it to little kids!
This little lady, her husband was dead, with her two sons, had no money and they were going to take her two sons away to pay her debts. So she went to the preacher to find out what to do...the preacher told her to go take her oil, the only thing left in her house, and fill as many vessels as she could find. I love how this lady and her sons went to accomplish what the Lord told them to do with no questions--complete obedience!

It is so exciting to see what the Lord will use in our lives! Just like in this dear lady's life, He uses something so small, like a little vessel of oil, to work a miracle, not just in our life but other's lives. I know working in the bus ministry, it is like that sometimes...you think what am I accomplishing, but it is so worth it to see a child walk the aisle and accept Christ as their Savior. Or maybe you are a stay at home mom, and you think what is the use?!? but I know as a daughter to one...it is worth having a mother at home to help and teach you! Maybe you think that the Lord has given you an insignificant job to do, but just think of what the Lord has in store...you'll never know until you obey!

Anyway back to the story...the little lady obeyed, and when she had filled all her jars, she went back to the preacher, Elisha, to find out what to do next. Isn't it so great that she trusted the Lord enough to go a step farther and obey even more? For her obedience, the Lord richly blessed her. He provided for her needs...He took her little and made it much!
When we allow the Lord use our little, He will work a great miracle...even though for a time it may seem...what in the world? But "Little is much WHENEVER God is in it"!

Moving On With God

When Moses had an encounter with God at the burning bush, it changed his life, but he did not stop his walk with God right there and build "the burning Bush church of God"

Paul encountered Jesus Christ on the road to Damascus. 

Acts 9:3-4 says, "And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?"

This encounter changed his life. But Paul did not stop his walk with God there and build "Damascus Minsistries". Can you see it? The sign on the front might say, "Damascus Ministries: Come into the Light!" ;)

Paul and Moses both spent time with God and grew in Him as they took God's deliverance and message to God's people.

Let us never be satisfied with yesterdays experience with the Lord. Remember God gave the Israelites fresh manna daily in the desert. This is a spiritual principal for us. May we seek Him day by day and serve Him, never being content only with what was past, but striving to hear what He wants to show us and what He wants us to become.

Amen

Proverb of the Day 5/17 (Please read!)

Proverbs 17:20 - “He that hath a froward heart findeth no good: and he that hath a perverse tongue falleth into mischief.”

Have you ever met a person who just seemed to complain about everything is his/her life? No matter how good things are, they are about to get bad, or no matter how bad things are, it will get worse, they say. They don’t wake up in the morning, they resurrect! lol They look at the big blue sky and say, “YUCK! It’s Monday!” They gripe that they have to go to work…they gripe that they have to take care of the kids…they gripe that they have to do their chores…they gripe about the bills…the gripe about their boss…they gripe about their parents…they gripe about the weather…the gripe about their pastor…they gripe and gripe and gripe!!! They kinda always look like the lady above, unhappy! Why? This verse tells us why.

That person may be your co-worker at work. Why is he unhappy/griping all the time! Is it because there is no good in his life? NO! He has the same job as you, he has the same boss as you, he has the same pastor as you, he lives in the same country as you, he looks at the same blue sky as you, but yet he is unhappy, grumpy, or depressed 24/7!!! Why? It’s not because his life does not contain good things, but rather that HE DOESN’T SEE THEM!!! He overlooks them! He doesn’t even notice that they exist! Why? His heart is not right with God. Are you like this? Do you have a hard time finding good in your life? Friend, it is not because it is not there! There IS good in your life! You just have to stop overlooking it!

When was the last time you walked outside and looked up at the sky and said, “Oh Lord, look at that sky! How beautiful! YOU MADE THAT! Oh, life is good!” When was the last time you saw a bird fly, and you sat in amazement at its graceful soaring and said, “Oh Lord, life is good!” When was the last time you looked at a flower, and said, “Even Solomon was not arrayed like one of these! Oh Lord, life is good!” When was the last time you saw the American flag, and you said, “God, you have allowed me to be born into a free country! I wasn’t born in Iraq! I wasn’t born in Afghanistan! I’m an AMERICAN! Oh, life is good!” When was the last time you read, “And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hands.”, and said, “Dear Jesus, I’VE GOT A HOME IN HEAVEN!!! I know that I’m not rich on this earth, but I’m rich in Heaven!!! I know everything is not right down here…everything is not perfect, but bless God, I’m going to Heaven in just a little while!!!! OH God, LIFE IS GOOD!!!!”

Life is good Christian! You just have to see it! Stop staring at your finances, and look at the GOOD! Stop staring at your uncertain future, and look at the GOOD! Stop staring at your wayward child, and look at the GOOD! Stop staring at the government’s issues, and look at the GOOD! Stop staring at the faults of your friends, spouse, and pastor, and look at the GOOD! There is good to be found…it just all depends on how you look at it. Don’t be like the lady in the picture…depressed…grumpy…sad…all because things aren’t perfect. They guy in the cubicle next to you at work has got the same problems as you, but he doesn’t stare at them!!! Let’s turn off the internet right now, exit out of the blog, get down on our knees and thank God that, LIFE IS GOOD!!!!

Armed Forces Day

A special thank you to all of our soldiers, today!

A friend of our family was told that he was an "extreme nationalist" a couple weeks ago. Soldiers comming home from Iraq are being viewed as potential terrorists by their own government.

It must be discouraging to sacrifice so much, and be treated as "the enemy." I want you all to know today, that my family and I appreciate the sacrifies that you and your families make each day. You make it possible for us to freely worship God, train the next generation to serve the Lord, and to actively share the Gospel.

Pastor Jim Schettler of the Campus Church at PCC used to say, "Invest your life in the two things that are eternal, the souls of men and the Word of God." I firmly believe that each day, you are doing just that. You sacrifice that the Word of God may have free course, and that the souls of men might have the freedom to come to the Savior. Thank you!

"I thank my God upon every remembrance of you,
"Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy,
"For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now;
"Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ."
~Philippians 1:3-7

"For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;
"That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;
"Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;"
~Colossians 1:9-11

~Photo from Smithsonian Images' Vietnam Memorial Collection

Help for staying on the straight and narrow path

Let's talk about two things that will keep us on that straight and narrow path as a Christian. ..not just in theory - in application.

#1. Take Encouragement in the Lord by Rejoicing in Him

Really. The Bible tells us not once, not twice but NINE times to rejoice in the Lord

>You might think: "Everything is going bad for me right now. I'm almost mad at the Lord. Why should I rejoice? HOW can I rejoice?" That is a fair question. Every Christian, if they were honest has been there!

Did you know David felt the same way?

1Sa 30:6  And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David **encouraged himself in the LORD his God.**

How do we do that? By dwelling in and believing His Word

Isa 61:10a  I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for  he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation,

HALELLUJAH! IF YOU KNOW JESUS, YOU ARE SAVED!!!! You are saved from the fires of hell. If that isn't something to rejoice about I don't know what is!

Remember, your troubles here - your life here is just a blink of an eye. It is a mere gust of wind and then it's gone. What is a little trouble here in light of eternity?

Paul writes, "For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal." (2Co 4:17-18)

The second part of God's promise through Isaiah is   "he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels." (Isa 61:10b)

Male, or female: God has DECKED YOU OUT Spiritually - REJOICE!!!

#2. The second thing we need to do is avoid sinning and thinking about sin. This is a very serious thing.

Eph 5:3,4,7  But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. ...Be not ye therefore partakers with them. 

Not only need we stay away from sin, we need to not look back at sin.

When recounting the people of faith like Abraham, the writer of Hebrews pens:

Heb 11:14-15  For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. 

To have returned in the Greek literally means to “bend their way back again" 

We don't want to "bend our way back" into sin. We never want to return to a sinful lifetyle! Remember Lot's wife who looked back at Sodom. She lost her life. And while we probably won't turn into a pillar of salt, we can start dying spiritually when we entertain sin - in thought or action.

Rom 13:14  But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof. 

I pray this for you, me and all our brothers and sisters in Christ as Paul did for the Colossian church 

Pray that you have the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;  Strengthened with all might!  (Col 1:9-10 paraphrase)

I love you all!!!!

Amen

Is It Just Me?

Did I miss something? Did someone hijack the United States of America, and the media forgot to tell us? More than likely, the Lord is just allowing us to realize the consequences of our apathy.

Congress has refused to define "sexual orientation" in the "Hate Crimes" bill, and now America is preparing to give special protection status to pedophiles (as well as various other sexual perversions, including Sodomy)!

This horrible bill has already passed in the House, and the Senate will vote on it today. Please call your senators and ask them to vote against Bill S.909!