Psalm 25:2-3
In you I trust, O my God. Do not let me be put to shame, nor let my enemies triumph over me. No one whose hope is in you will ever be put to shame, but they will be put to shame who are treacherous without excuse. (NIV)
Psalm 119:114
You are my refuge and my shield; I have put my hope in your word. (NIV)
Psalm 147:3
He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. (NIV)
Lamentations 3:20-23
I well remember them, and my soul is downcast within me. Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. (NIV)
Habakkuk 3:16-19
I trembled inside when I heard all this; my lips quivered with fear. My legs gave way beneath me, and I shook in terror. I will wait quietly for the coming day when disaster will strike the people who invade us. Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vine; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty, yet I will rejoice in the LORD! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation. The Sovereign LORD is my strength! He will make me as surefooted as a deer and bring me safely over the mountains. (NIV)
Acts 2:25-27
David said about him: "I saw the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will live in hope, because you will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy One see decay... (NIV)
Romans 8:28-39
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.
What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: "For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered."
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (NIV)
Friday, September 08, 2006
Thursday, September 07, 2006
What color Red Are You?
You Are Apple Red |
 You're never one to take life too seriously, and because of it, you're a ton of fun. And although you have a great sense of humor, you are never superficial. Deep and caring, you do like to get to the core of people - to understand them well. However, any probing you do is light hearted and fun, sometimes causing people to misjudge you. |
Anxieties of Living - Mid Week Epistole by Jim Massey
ANXIETIES OF LIVING
Have you ever been anxious about a day? You rise up the first thing in the morning and you already dread what the day will bring. You are not sure why, you only know the feeling of dread seems to cover your heart like a damp heavy blanket, and no matter where we turn, every word we hear causes us to fear what "might " be coming.
If you feel that way today, then I want to take you for a moment to the letter that Paul wrote to the Church in Galatia. In the fifth chapter, Paul begins by saying: "For freedom Christ has set us free; stand fast therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery." And it is the 22nd verse of that chapter that tells us what God provides to the Christian who walks in the fullness of the Spirit of God: "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such there is no law. " (Galatians 5:1f)
I heard it told yet another way.
"Love is the key.
Joy is love singing.
Peace is love resting.
Long-suffering is love enduring.
Kindness is love's touch.
Goodness is love's character.
Faithfulness is love's habit. ,
Gentleness is love's self-forgetfulness.
Self-control is love holding the reins."
Many times I realize that the character of God, which is love at it's fullest, offers us greater strength than we could never imagine. Even in the times it may appear that we might never be victorious, the suffering will have to be endured.
Let us pray: Eternal and loving God. We walk in this world today with deep concerns in our hearts. We wish we could tell what tomorrow will bring, but we know that it is in Your plan, and because of that wonderful assurance, we are content with the tasks you present to us today. Let us draw upon Your love now and forever. We pray this in the blessed name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
This has been Rev. Jim Massey. Next week we will open God's Word together again. As we leave, let me share another thought with you:
"God is the key.
Joy is God singing.
Peace is God resting.
Long-suffering is God enduring.
Kindness is God's touch.
Goodness is God's character.
Faithfulness is God's habit.
Gentleness is God's self-forgetfulness.
Self-control is God holding the reins."
May God richly bless you this day.
Have you ever been anxious about a day? You rise up the first thing in the morning and you already dread what the day will bring. You are not sure why, you only know the feeling of dread seems to cover your heart like a damp heavy blanket, and no matter where we turn, every word we hear causes us to fear what "might " be coming.
If you feel that way today, then I want to take you for a moment to the letter that Paul wrote to the Church in Galatia. In the fifth chapter, Paul begins by saying: "For freedom Christ has set us free; stand fast therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery." And it is the 22nd verse of that chapter that tells us what God provides to the Christian who walks in the fullness of the Spirit of God: "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such there is no law. " (Galatians 5:1f)
I heard it told yet another way.
"Love is the key.
Joy is love singing.
Peace is love resting.
Long-suffering is love enduring.
Kindness is love's touch.
Goodness is love's character.
Faithfulness is love's habit. ,
Gentleness is love's self-forgetfulness.
Self-control is love holding the reins."
Many times I realize that the character of God, which is love at it's fullest, offers us greater strength than we could never imagine. Even in the times it may appear that we might never be victorious, the suffering will have to be endured.
Let us pray: Eternal and loving God. We walk in this world today with deep concerns in our hearts. We wish we could tell what tomorrow will bring, but we know that it is in Your plan, and because of that wonderful assurance, we are content with the tasks you present to us today. Let us draw upon Your love now and forever. We pray this in the blessed name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
This has been Rev. Jim Massey. Next week we will open God's Word together again. As we leave, let me share another thought with you:
"God is the key.
Joy is God singing.
Peace is God resting.
Long-suffering is God enduring.
Kindness is God's touch.
Goodness is God's character.
Faithfulness is God's habit.
Gentleness is God's self-forgetfulness.
Self-control is God holding the reins."
May God richly bless you this day.
Tuesday, September 05, 2006
Observation's of Paul
We are about to conclude our study on Acts in Sunday school and on sunday we studied acts 24ish....about paul being taken to jail. And he almost seems humbled. Almost. Not excatly...but almost. And we had this discussion about paul's life, and I had one of those lightbulb moments.
So many times in our lives, we want to ask...why God? Why did it happen this way? What is your plan for us Lord? Why? Isnt that the question of man....why? And we want answers so badly. We pray for God's will, and even when we get it....we are unhappy. We want to understand why we must suffer and why we must go through bad times. We want to know how this works for God's plan. If we are doing it right.....
Then I look at paul. Often I have wondered...Why Paul? Why Paul, Lord? He hurt God's people. He was so passionate about everything he did, including hurting God's people. So, Why Paul? Paul was a roman citizen and we see in Acts how that saved his neck a time or two. And once he was changed, he was just as passionate about bringing others to Christ. We see he was beaten or people tried to kill him....in every city he went into. And yet, Paul built the modern day church of the gentiles. So, when we ask....Why Paul? What we are really asking is Why Me? Am I too worthy to serve? What is your plan for me?
This story as a whole is a wonderful one that shows that to every person, God has a plan. We can accept that plan...or turn from it. But God's plan for us is there. We may not always understand it. There is times the world too will flog us. Maybe not physically but mentally beat us down. But no matter what God's plan is for us.... Even through the dark times, God has a plan. If we give ourselves to His will, His plan....He will surely lead us.
As I read these passages in Acts, I was thinking of a hymn. This hymn is a wonderful song....and it always touches me in such a way...
So many times in our lives, we want to ask...why God? Why did it happen this way? What is your plan for us Lord? Why? Isnt that the question of man....why? And we want answers so badly. We pray for God's will, and even when we get it....we are unhappy. We want to understand why we must suffer and why we must go through bad times. We want to know how this works for God's plan. If we are doing it right.....
Then I look at paul. Often I have wondered...Why Paul? Why Paul, Lord? He hurt God's people. He was so passionate about everything he did, including hurting God's people. So, Why Paul? Paul was a roman citizen and we see in Acts how that saved his neck a time or two. And once he was changed, he was just as passionate about bringing others to Christ. We see he was beaten or people tried to kill him....in every city he went into. And yet, Paul built the modern day church of the gentiles. So, when we ask....Why Paul? What we are really asking is Why Me? Am I too worthy to serve? What is your plan for me?
This story as a whole is a wonderful one that shows that to every person, God has a plan. We can accept that plan...or turn from it. But God's plan for us is there. We may not always understand it. There is times the world too will flog us. Maybe not physically but mentally beat us down. But no matter what God's plan is for us.... Even through the dark times, God has a plan. If we give ourselves to His will, His plan....He will surely lead us.
As I read these passages in Acts, I was thinking of a hymn. This hymn is a wonderful song....and it always touches me in such a way...
The Spirit Song// Hymn of Promise
In the bulb there is a flower; in the seed, an apple tree;
In cocoons, a hidden promise: butterflies will soon be free!
In the cold and snow of winter there’s a spring that waits to be,
Unrevealed until its season, something God alone can see.
There’s a song in every silence, seeking word and melody;
There’s a dawn in every darkness, bringing hope to you and me.
From the past will come the future; what it holds, a mystery,
Unrevealed until its season, something God alone can see.
In our end is our beginning; in our time, infinity;
In our doubt there is believing; in our life, eternity,
In our death, a resurrection; at the last, a victory,
Unrevealed until its season, something God alone can see.
Sunday, September 03, 2006
Grace
John Wesley believed in 3 kinds of grace.
prevenient (preparing) grace
accepting (justifying) grace
sustaining (sanctifying) grace
Prevenient grace is with us from birth, preparing us for new life in Christ. Mankind was not completely depraved. Instead, God gave us a small smark of divine Grace to help us to recongize the justifying grace when it arrived in our lives.
Justifying Grace talks about a conversion or being born again. This grace allows us a new life with our Lord and Savior. Man has free will, we are free to accept or deny Christ justifying Grace.
Substaining Grace is what happens next. This Grace moves us towards perfection Too many times we live in the Justifying....and do not move towards the substaining. Wesley believed that people could backslide. That without substaining grace, one could fall from grace.
prevenient (preparing) grace
accepting (justifying) grace
sustaining (sanctifying) grace
Prevenient grace is with us from birth, preparing us for new life in Christ. Mankind was not completely depraved. Instead, God gave us a small smark of divine Grace to help us to recongize the justifying grace when it arrived in our lives.
Justifying Grace talks about a conversion or being born again. This grace allows us a new life with our Lord and Savior. Man has free will, we are free to accept or deny Christ justifying Grace.
Substaining Grace is what happens next. This Grace moves us towards perfection Too many times we live in the Justifying....and do not move towards the substaining. Wesley believed that people could backslide. That without substaining grace, one could fall from grace.
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