If you love Me... you'll obey Me

If you love Me... you'll obey Me

If you pay attention to these laws and are careful to follow them, then the LORD your God will keep his covenant of love with you, as he swore to your forefathers.

He will love you and bless you and increase your numbers. He will bless the fruit of your womb, the crops of your land - your grain, new wine and oil--the calves of your herds and the lambs of your flocks in the land that he swore to your forefathers to give you.

Deuteronomy 7:12-13 NIV

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If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to you.

Truly, truly, I say to you, a slave is not greater than his master, nor is one who is sent greater than the one who sent him. If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them.

John 13:14-17 NASB

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Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

Matthew 7:19-21 KJV

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A good man obtaineth favour of the LORD: but a man of wicked devices will he condemn. A man shall not be established by wickedness: but the root of the righteous shall not be moved.

Proverbs 12:2,3 KJV

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Do not worry then, saying, "What will we eat?' or "What will we drink?' or "What will we wear for clothing?'

"For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Matthew 6:31-34 NASB

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Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift:
Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God
is the object of our faith; the only faith
that saves is faith in Him.

For Unto Us A Child Is Born...

For Unto Us A Child Is Born...
Jesus is the Prince of Peace, bringing peace between
A Holy, Righteous God and sinners like you and me.
Prophecy:
"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given:
and the government shall be upon his shoulder:
and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor,
The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace."
Isaiah 9:6

Fulfillment:
"And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven."
Colossians 1:20

"These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world."
John 16:33

And, He is the wonderful counselor in Isaiah 9 as well
Fulfillment:
"And when he was come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works?"
Matthew 13:54

"But he passing through the midst of them went his way, And came down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee, and taught them on the sabbath days. And they were astonished at his doctrine: for his word was with power."
Luke 4:30-32

"That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ; In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge."
Colossians 2:2-3

Thanks be unto God for His wonderful gift:
Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God
is the object of our faith; the only faith
that saves is faith in Him.

Christ Story, Christmas Symbols

I put out lighted candy canes with the Manger Scene every year and a neighbor wanted to know why, so I looked it up for her and here it is for you.
http://ww2.netnitco.net/~legend01/candycane.htm

THE BOOK OF PALSM

God Is With Us to Help Us... Those who sow in tears
shall reap with joyful shouting.
He who goes to and fro weeping, carrying his bag of seed,
Shall indeed come again with a shout of joy, bringing his sheaves with him.
Psalm 126:5,6

Whom have I in heaven but thee?
And there is none upon earth that
I desire beside thee.
My flesh and my heart fail:
but God is the strength of my heart,
and my portion for ever.
Psalm 73:25:26

Why are you downcast, O my soul?
Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him,
my Savior and my God.
Psalm 42:11

Thanks be unto God for his wonderful gift!
Jesus Christ, the only begotten
Son of God is the object of our faith;
the only faith that saves is faith in Him.

A Dream

A dream
I haven't been tithing the way I should. You see I don't have a lot of money, but I always figured when I became rich I would be able to give to the church much more of my wealth. Well tonight I had a dream, and in this dream I did become wealthy and I did give great wealth to the church. I gave much more than my 10%. In fact I gave so much they named one of the Sunday school rooms after me. Then it came time for me to meet my maker. I came face-to-face with Christ and he said I came to you as a poor child, born in a manger, worked as a carpenter, lived my life as a poor man, and gave everything for you. Yet you decided to withhold from me until you became wealthy. I had no need of your wealth, I wanted your love, commitment, and dedication. Tithing was way for you to express these to me.

A Man of God

A Man of God


One Fathers Day more than a year ago I was given a pen, this pen had an inscription on it that said "man of God" and I began to wonder what is a man of God? I looked in every Bible concordance, and dictionary, and even on the Internet for a man of God, and I could not find a reasonable definition for that phrase.
I decided to take a trip to the Bible and see if I can figure out who was a man of God.

Was Abraham a man of God? Let's see he had a child out of wedlock because he thought that was the right thing to do, and he nearly sacrificed his own son on an altar because God told him to. I'm glad my mother wasn't around back then she would have been yelling at him "if he told you to jump off a bridge would you". I don't know how Abraham knew that it was God and not the devil is a shape shifter that was telling him to sacrifice his son and I will agree that Abraham was a very obedient man so let's put a point in his corner.
Was David a man of God? He wrote Psalms, and he had his best friend killed in war so he could marry his wife. David was inspired and a very brave man when he went up against Goliath. So I'll give him a point also.
Was Jabez a man of God? There is two short versus in Chronicles Chapter 4 versus 9 and 10 that read And Jabez was more honourable than his brethren: and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, Because I bare him with sorrow. And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me! And God granted him that which he requested. Jabez did what God expects of us, ask and thou shalt receive. I'm sure the Jabez asked with the most sincere faith that what he asked for he would receive. I can remember telling my Pastor that I never get what I pray for and his response always was "that's because you either do not believe you deserve it or you do not ask with child like faith that you will receive it."
Was Moses a man of God? First he was the master of the Israelites, and then at God's command he was a leader of the Israelites. He went up on a mountain and received the 10 Commandments written with the finger of God. He led the Jewish people out of Egypt and into the promised land.
But that's not what I was looking for when I was looking for a man of God. I went through the apostles one by one, I looked at some women like Mary of Bethany whose brother Lazarus was raised from the dead because of her faith.
None of the people the Bible that I looked at answered my question, What is a Man of God? I was just about to give up on ever finding the answer when on Palm Sunday this year my current pastor gave a sermon on Luke 19: 28-40. His sermons are to moving for me to try to put it in writing here. I believe they are actually inspired by The Holy Spirit. His main focus of that sermon was who was the best witness for Jesus that day. It wasn't the Pharisees who did not want him there and were going to end up condemning him to death within a week, it wasn't the multitudes of crowds that were praising him as they would trade him for Barabbas within a week, it wasn't even the apostles, some of whom like Thomas would doubt his resurrection or those that would not even show up for his trial. I will let you read the passage and then I will tell you what I got out of it.
Luke 19: 28-42 And when he had thus spoken, he went before, ascending up to Jerusalem. And it came to pass, when he was come nigh to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount called the mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples, Saying, Go ye into the village over against you; in the which at your entering ye shall find a colt tied, whereon yet never man sat: loose him, and bring him hither. And if any man ask you, Why do ye loose him? thus shall ye say unto him, Because the Lord hath need of him. And they that were sent went their way, and found even as he had said unto them. And as they were loosing the colt, the owners thereof said unto them, Why loose ye the colt? And they said, The Lord hath need of him. And they brought him to Jesus: and they cast their garments upon the colt, and they set Jesus thereon. And as he went, they spread their clothes in the way. And when he was come nigh, even now at the descent of the mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen; Saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest. And some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said unto him, Master, rebuke thy disciples. And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out. And when he drew nigh, he saw the city and wept over it, saying, If thou hadst known in this day, even thou, the things which belong unto peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes
My Pastor's main point was that the colt was there waiting for Jesus right where he was supposed to be when he was supposed to be there, when he needed him. And the colt came without question when it was called. And the colt carried the load that he was told to carry. All that donkey was required to do was to lift Jesus up and carry Him to the people.
Now there is no way I can be anywhere near as eloquent in this writing as my Pastor is in his inspired sermons so not going to try to be. But I will tell you what I got from that sermon. Jesus requires that for salvation we be ready, willing and able to lift him up and carry him to the people.
A man of God is someone who is willing to lift Jesus up and carry him to the people.
Proverbs 3: 5-6 Trust in Jehovah with all thy heart, And lean not upon thine own understanding: In all thy ways acknowledge him, And he will direct thy paths.
If you would like the blessing of hearing this sermon you can, (1) Drop me an eMail at myebook@mail.com and I will send you a link so you can download the sermon (at my expense) in mp3 format in a zip file, or (2) You can write to the church at Oak Ridge Baptist Church, 9714 Ridge Blvd., Jacksonville, FL 32208. And ask for the CD for Palm Sunday 2010. I am sure they will send it to you and they would also appreciate a small donation to cover the cost of creating the CD and mailing it. And of course you are always welcome to come by on Sunday at 11 am to hear Pastor Dr. Mike Castle give another of his inspired messages.
God Bless and Have a God Filled Life


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“My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?”

“My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?”

We here behold the Savior in the depth of his sorrows. No other place so well shows the griefs of Christ as Calvary, and no other moment at Calvary is so full of agony as that in which his cry rends the air-”My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” At this moment physical weakness was united with acute mental torture from the shame and ignominy through which he had to pass; and to make his grief culminate with emphasis, he suffered spiritual agony surpassing all expression, resulting from the departure of his Father’s presence. This was the black midnight of his horror; then it was that he descended the abyss of suffering. No man can enter into the full meaning of these words. Some of us think at times that we could cry, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” There are seasons when the brightness of our Father’s smile is eclipsed by clouds and darkness; but let us remember that God never does really forsake us. It is only a seeming forsaking with us, but in Christ’s case it was a real forsaking. We grieve at a little withdrawal of our Father’s love; but the real turning away of God’s face from his Son, who shall calculate how deep the agony which it caused him?
In our case, our cry is often dictated by unbelief: in his case, it was the utterance of a dreadful fact, for God had really turned away from him for a season. O thou poor, distressed soul, who once lived in the sunshine of God’s face, but art now in darkness, remember that he has not really forsaken thee. God in the clouds is as much our God as when he shines forth in all the luster of his grace; but since even the thought that he has forsaken us gives us agony, what must the woe of the Saviour have been when he exclaimed, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?”

All good gifts come from Him!

All good gifts come from Him!

Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God's kindness leads you toward repentance?

Romans 2:4 NIV

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For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

Romans 1:20 KJV

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He did not leave Himself without witness, in that He did good and gave you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness.

Acts 14:17 NASB

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For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it.

Romans 8:24,25 NASB

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Thanks be unto God for His wonderful gift:
Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God
is the object of our faith; the only faith
that saves is faith in Him

Enjoy the Fruit of Your Labor

Enjoy the Fruit of Your Labor
5:18 I have seen personally what is the only beneficial and appropriate course of action for people:
to eat and drink, and find enjoyment in all their hard work on earth during the few days of their life which God has given them, for this is their reward.
5:19 To every man whom God has given wealth, and possessions,
he has also given him the ability to eat from them, to receive his reward and to find enjoyment in his toil;
these things are the gift of God.
5:20 For he does not think much about the fleeting days of his life
because God keeps him preoccupied with the joy he derives from his activity.

The Lord's love is with those who fear Him

Meditation 1/17 - 1/23: Ps 103:17-22 NASB

The Lord's love is with those who fear Him

But the lovingkindness of the LORD
is from everlasting to everlasting
on those who fear Him,
And His righteousness to children's children,
To those who keep His covenant
And remember His precepts to do them.
The LORD has established His throne in the heavens,
And His sovereignty rules over all.
Bless the LORD, you His angels,
Mighty in strength, who perform His word,
Obeying the voice of His word!
Bless the LORD, all you His hosts,
You who serve Him, doing His will.
Bless the LORD, all you works of His,
In all places of His dominion;
Bless the LORD, O my soul!

Psalm 103:17-22 NASB

Well Done!

"His master replied,

'Well done, good and faithful servant!
You have been faithful with a few things;
I will put you in charge of many things.
Come and share your master's happiness!'

Matthew 25:21 NIV

Well done! Pleasing the God who made us and loves us!

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Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.

2 Corinthians 5:9 KJV

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Suffer hardship with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No soldier in active service entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life, so that he may please the one who enlisted him as a soldier.

2 Timothy 2:3,4 NASB

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Thanks be unto God for His wonderful gift:
Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God
is the object of our faith; the only faith
that saves is faith in Him.


Through the Bible in a Year - Readings for January 19

January 19: Luke 14:25-35, Genesis 26, Psalm 19

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Let Us Grow in Him

Let Us Grow in Him

Speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ.

Ephesians 4:15 NIV

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But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever.

2 Peter 3:18 KJV

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But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.

2 Corinthians 3:18 NASB

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Thanks be unto God for His wonderful gift:
Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God
is the object of our faith; the only faith
that saves is faith in Him.
Through the Bible in a Year - Readings for January 17

January 17: Luke 13:18-35, Genesis 24, Psalm 17

Why Pray?

Why Pray?
2 Thessalonians
Thanksgiving
1:3 We ought to thank God always for you, brothers and sisters, and rightly so, because your faith flourishes more and more and the love of each one of you all for one another is ever greater. 1:4 As a result we ourselves boast about you in the churches of God for your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and afflictions you are enduring.

1 Chronicles 22
21:30 But David could not go before it to seek God’s will, for he was afraid of the sword of the Lord’s messenger.

1 Corinthians 14
14:1 Pursue love and be eager for the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy. 14:2 For the one speaking in a tongue does not speak to people but to God, for no one understands; he is speaking mysteries by the Spirit. 14:3 But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening encouragement, and consolation.

1 John 5
Assurance of Eternal Life
5:13 I have written these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.
5:14 And this is the confidence that we have before him: that whenever we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 5:15 And if we know that he hears us in regard to whatever we ask, then we know that we have the requests that we have asked from him.

2 John 1
1:2 because of the truth that resides in us and will be with us forever. 1:3 Grace, mercy, and peace will be with us from God the Father and from Jesus Christ the Son of the Father, in truth and love.

1 Peter 3
3:8 Finally, all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, affectionate, compassionate, and humble. 3:9 Do not return evil for evil or insult for insult, but instead bless others because you were called to inherit a blessing. 3:10 For the one who wants to love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from uttering deceit. 3:11 And he must turn away from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it. 3:12 For the eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous and his ears are open to their prayer. But the Lord’s face is against those who do evil.

John 11
11:22 But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will grant you.”

1 Corinthians 11
Live to Glorify God
10:23 “Everything is lawful,” but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is lawful,” but not everything builds others up. 10:24 Do not seek your own good, but the good of the other person.

1 John
3:20 that if our conscience condemns us, that God is greater than our conscience and knows all things. 3:21 Dear friends, if our conscience does not condemn us, we have confidence in the presence of God, 3:22 and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do the things that are pleasing to him.

John 14
14:12 I tell you the solemn truth, the person who believes in me will perform the miraculous deeds that I am doing, and will perform greater deeds than these, because I am going to the Father. 14:13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14:14 If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it

Because it works

the above Bible verses where copied from NET BIBLE that was downloaded for free from Bible.org

Read The Bible, Through in a year or from front to back

Read the Bible through in s year or from front to back.It doesn't matter how you decide to do it just do it and once it becomes a habit you will enjoy your daily visit with the Word. Some say a habit takes two weeks to form and forever to get rid of. If you want to see how habits are a part of your life, try this excersise. If you put you shirt or blouse on by inserting your right arm first then your left arm, go one whole week attempting to do it the opposite way. You will discover that habits are more difficult to break than you think. This is a good habit (reading the Bible) so pick a time of day and just do it.
I don't know if I mentioned it before but God answers my prayer, some times I don't like the answer, but that's my problem not his. My prayer is that you read the bible, and if it is his will, you enjoy it. I know I do.
Go here if you need help http://bible.org/get-connected