tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-79514206444273857592024-03-13T08:36:13.645-07:00Pastor James' WordWelcome to my happy thoughtful spot! Here you can get a good solid word that will encourage you and lift you up! Here are some great devotionals that will help you live life!Pastor James Farmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16888229168606495470noreply@blogger.comBlogger48125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7951420644427385759.post-39639519896668545332017-08-07T18:13:00.000-07:002017-08-07T18:17:26.776-07:00Check out our webcast devotional, "With Coffee Too!" <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Watch our latest episode. Subscribe and share too!Pastor James Farmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16888229168606495470noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7951420644427385759.post-5178222730759135362017-01-28T21:01:00.001-08:002017-01-28T21:11:10.674-08:00With Coffee Too: 1/25/17 (002) Vision For Your Future Tomorrows<div style="font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; background-color: black;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;">In this episode of With Coffee Too, Pastor James shares how you can see your future tomorrows in this New Year. You'll learn how the setting of goals is the key to those tomorrows! With Coffee Too is a weekly Christian video devotional that will empower you to live a life of victory!</span></span></div>
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Pastor James Farmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16888229168606495470noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7951420644427385759.post-30625722822063175142016-12-21T11:45:00.001-08:002016-12-21T11:45:37.419-08:00Count Your Blessings!<span style="color: #f3f3f3;">I just wanted to post something for Christmas. This is one of my favorite Irving Berlin songs, Count Your Blessings. My all time favorite Christmas movie is "White Christmas". So Merry Christmas and may you be blessed!</span><br />
<span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><br /></span>
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<span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><br /></span>Pastor James Farmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16888229168606495470noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7951420644427385759.post-41205762956924688982016-05-25T12:46:00.005-07:002016-05-25T12:46:46.144-07:00The Most Important Place To Be<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">Jumbo jets crashing.
Nations coming against nations. Invasions! Wars and rumors of wars. The Middle
East. On a more personal level, people who are living for themselves instead of
God, and people basing their lives by their emotions and falling away from the
truth. What do we do in the days in which we living? Where is THE most
important place to be in the days that are before us? It’s simple and the Bible
tells us clearly. Be in church! Be a part of church! Love church! It is your
true life-support line in these days!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">Our key verse in the
New Testament is <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Hebrews 10:24-25</b>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">"And let us
consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the
assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one
another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching." (NKJV)<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">Notice how The Message
Bible reads. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">"So let's do it--full of belief, confident that we're presentable
inside and out. Let's keep a firm grip on the promises that keep us going. He
always keeps his word. Let's see how inventive we can be in encouraging love
and helping out, not avoiding worshiping together as some do but spurring each
other on, especially as we see the big Day approaching." (The Message
Translation)</i></b><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">The Word of God said to
not forsake our coming together. It says not to avoid worshiping together
because it spurs each other onward. We live in a society today that chooses to
magnify hurts, depression, emotional issues, and problems in general. We live
in a victim society; an issue-driven society. Sadly, that attitude has crept
into the church. The Bible tells us that some will "fall away" in the
last days. When we submit to the "world system", or the way the world
is thinking, we will pull away from the things that have remained stable and
sure for generations. The local church is one of those sure things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">The world now mocks the
church. We must be careful not to allow this world system to drive our
attendance habits through the cares and things of life and everyday living.
This way of thinking is completely apart from what the scriptures tell us about
coming together. We need to come together on a regular basis as believers. We
need to hear the preaching and teaching of the Word of God to encourage us and
help us in living a life of hope and victory. The preaching and teaching of the
Word of God helps us to have a stable focus. It helps us, as believers, to be
accountable as well. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">The local church is a
life source for all of us. We individually need it. We see it in the book of
Acts. The church was the place where "it" was happening. It was
exploding with growth, excitement and the power of the Holy Spirit. The church
of today should exemplify that same excitement and growth. Excitement breeds
excitement. How you come to church affects the service. When you come to
church, come excited and ready, and just see what happens and what the Lord
will do.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">Look at some other
verses here. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;">Psalm 122:1</span></b><span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;"> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">"I was glad when they said to me, "Let us go into the house
of the LORD." (NKJV)</i></b><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;">Psalm 42:4</span></b><span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;"> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">"When I remember these things, I pour out my soul within me. For I
used to go with the multitude; I went with them to the house of God With the
voice of joy and praise, With a multitude that kept a pilgrim feast."
(NKJV)</i></b><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">Notice being glad to go.
Going with the multitude.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">If you just do a word
search of the Bible with the words "temple" and "Jesus"
you'll find that Jesus was there, in church, over and over and over. It was a
part of His life, not just His ministry. One that I love is this: <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Luke 4:16</b>, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">"He went to Nazareth, where
he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as
was his custom. And he stood up to read."<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></i></b><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">The Apostle Paul had
"customs" or "habits" too! Notice <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Acts 17:2</b>, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">"As his custom was, Paul went into the
synagogue, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the
Scriptures."<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></i></b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;">Acts 5:42</span></b><span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;"> says,<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> "And daily in the temple, and in every
house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ."</i></b><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">There are many, many
references to coming together throughout the Word of God. Being in the
sanctuary, the temple, the church, needs to be a part of our lives for so many
reasons. Let me give you some straight points as to why it's important to you
as an individual.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;">1. Important for family relationships and life.</span></b><span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">The Local Church is a
very important place for family and relationships. Strong, godly relationships
"spark" you. "Iron sharpens iron." (Proverbs 27:17)
Families and individuals learn about life and how to live it. We learn about
walking in victory and being happy. We learn about giving to our fellow man
through outreach and community projects. We learn as a family the power of
walking with Christ living big in our lives.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;">2. It's a community of faith.</span></b><span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">In this community of
faith is where we gain a revelation of Jesus Christ. Church is about growing up
and maturing, not about what level you're on. It's where you have a Pastor who
ministers the Word of God to you so that you can run and step out in faith and
be a doer of the Word. Your Pastor and the other relationships that you have
are there for you in a tough time or to celebrate the joys of your life. It's a
place where we develop personal and lasting friendships and relationships that
endure a lifetime.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;">3. It's a non-threatening place.</span></b><span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">There are no perfect
people, but we are a people who have a perfect God. In this place you don't
have to put on a performance. Jesus loves and accepts people the way they are.
Church is that kind of place. It's a place where people find empathy, not
sympathy; a place to be lifted up and encouraged to live for Christ. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;">4. It helps people face difficult & conflicting areas of
their lives.</span></b><span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">While dealing with
struggles, sins of the past, lack of self-confidence, and more, we learn that
the precious blood of the Lamb has been given for our freedom. It's a place
where there is comfort in a time of loss or need; a place where Jesus' arms are
spread wide through the love of a congregation of family and friends.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;">5. A place of spiritual strength.</span></b><span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">Church is a place where
people can find out who they are in Christ and grow in the things of God. It is
a place where your giftings from the Lord can be developed and shine. It is a
place where you are encouraged and uplifted to step out and serve the Lord. It
is a place where you can be sent out to do the calling of God that's on your
life.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;">6. A place of accountability.</span></b><span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">At church we learn
about life and that we are accountable to the Lord. We establish relationships
where we are accountable to one another. Church helps in establishing
accountability in our personal walk of life and to the Word of God, by
fostering healing, evangelism, deeper faith, family roots and more. Plain and
simple, it helps keep you from becoming "flaky"! When you are off on
your own, your imagination about what's spiritual and what's not, can go to all
sorts of places that can mislead you at a time and place in your life where you
need "your" pastor and "your" church family for life,
encouragement, and rock solid consistency. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;">7. A place for marriage, family, & home.</span></b><span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">You can be on your way
to church and arguing about what seems huge, but when you get to church and are
in the middle of worship, the Holy Spirit deals with you. The message seems to
be just like the Lord was personally talking with you. It changes you and
changes your home. It brings the two of you closer as a husband and wife. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">It works on your kids.
They're learning how to live for God and not just play like it. They learn that
a relationship with God is a personal experience and that it's real. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">The Bible says to, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">"Train
up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from
it." Proverbs 22:6<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></i></b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">As a parent, your
responsibility is to plant those seeds of training in your kids. If church
isn't important to you, don't expect it to be important to your kids. If
praying is not important to you, don't expect it to be important to your kids.
If giving is not important to you, don't expect them to be givers either. You
train them up... they will follow. Your emphasis will be the foundations for
not just you, but for generations to come. Fear breeds fear. Joy breeds joy.
Godliness breeds godliness. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">Dads need to set that
example. Moms too! What you tolerate in moderation, your kids will tolerate in
excess. The seeds that are sown will produce when they are older. Psalm 78
tells us that these things also pass down to their kids, your grandkids.
Generation to generation! Think and do what's important to you, and your kids
will do it too, good or bad. Galatians 6:6 says that you reap what you
sow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">Dads, how you treat Mom
is contagious. Moms, how you treat Dad is contagious. How you both treat
spiritual things is contagious too. Being in the local church helps all of the
family to grow and mature and send a message to the next generation. As
parents, we are sending a message through our children into a time we will not see.
<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">The local church is so
very important to all of us. Being around those of like faith can spark us to
greater things in God. Sharing a meal together, fellowshipping, laughing and
enjoying the Word of God together is so very vital and important in the days in
which we live. All of us need to plug in, be active, and be excited. We need to
live this life of Christianity and bring others to church! Bring our families
to church! In the days that we live in right now, it’s not just vital, but
critical! Church is what we each make it to be individually. Plug in as they
did in the book of Acts and let excitement breed excitement. Today is here and
now, but the seeds of today will produce tomorrow! Let’s get ourselves at the
most important place to be in the days in which we live! Let’s go to church!
We'll see you there! Amen!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><b>Prayer</b>:
Father, I know that your Word says that a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
Being together with a local body of believers, fellowshipping around your Word,
building relationships is a source of strength and a faith builder for my life.
I choose to make time to be hooked up with my local church family. Amen.</span></span></div>
Pastor James Farmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16888229168606495470noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7951420644427385759.post-7325949761493743352015-07-01T00:45:00.001-07:002015-07-01T00:54:57.547-07:00My Thoughts On Turning Fifty <div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;">January
1<sup>st</sup>, 2015, marked the beginning of the year that I turn fifty years
old.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many tend to look at that
number with apprehension and concern.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Some call it middle aged, which is actually unscriptural.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’re promised 120 years according to
Genesis 6:3, the 70 to 80 is a curse that only applied to the generation of
Korah who followed the golden calf crowd, so technically speaking, I still have
ten more years to go until I am the middle age of 60. And so it is true for
everyone. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What are you believing
for? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I want to live a long life,
following the Lord, fulfilling His purpose, till I see Him face to face!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He’s promised us longevity of life. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It belongs to every one of us too!
Choose to live and live big for Him.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;">As
I am thinking about turning 50, to be honest, I am excited about it. After my
birthday, I am looking forward to the next fifty years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is still so much to do and so
many dreams to achieve. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact we
should never stop dreaming about what’s next.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Press toward the prize! <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;">As
this year started though, I must admit that there were a few “hiccups” that I
have had to deal with.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These
hiccups made me think I needed some more duct tape for my body and some WD-40
to grease my joints!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What happened
you ask?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hiccups like a trip to
the ER with chest pains and I got a hearing aid for my left ear!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Through it all, God is good and the ER
trip turned out to be nothing! In fact, there were no heart problems at all,
but what a night!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Honestly,
the hearing aid has changed sound to me so much that it brings tears to my eyes
just to describe how much I can really hear now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;">This
June marked the month that I moved from the age of 49 to 50. This birthday is
no different than any other one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It is what it is… another birthday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But… and there is a but here, the thoughts of this change of
age has caused me to look back over these past fifty years in retrospect and
consider where I have been and everything that has happened in my life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These things, good and bad, have shaped
me into the man that I am and brought me into the season that I am in right
now. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;">There
is so much to be thankful for.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Since graduation from high school and then Bible College, I have had the
privilege to travel around the world many times, minister in many states and
nations, speak and minister to thousands upon thousands of teenagers and
adults. I have worked for and served many famous people, and I have had the privilege
to meet and even become close friends with many famous and well-known
people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have stood in many
pulpits and preached, I led worship for thousands, I have recorded many albums,
and I have received many awards, royalties, and endorsements, and much, much
more.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;">But
in looking over the past 50 years, what matters the most, are the relationships
that are so sweet and dear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And
even much more than all of that, the literal thousands that have come to the
knowledge of Christ Jesus being their Lord and Savior, the thousands filled
with the Holy Spirit, and many others receiving a touch from the Lord for
healing or breakthroughs in their lives. Now, we are pastoring the sweetest
congregation I know. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t think
I really understood fulfillment until we started being the lead pastors of the
church we started.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>People are so
special and they are the reason why I keep doing what I do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ministry is all about people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It's about serving people and helping
people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s not a business.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The day that the ministry becomes a
business, rest assured, it is no longer the ministry.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;">To
say God has been good is an understatement right now. He has been very good to
me and my wife and boys. We are overwhelmed by His goodness that He has shown
in our lives many times over. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oh
sure, there have been down moments over the past 50 years, from being told I
had a lung disease that I was healed of, to driving my car under a semi-truck (in
and out the other side and walking away from it) and other moments too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I want you to know without a
doubt, I have always made the choice to be OVER IT and NOT under it. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;">NEVER give up your joy and peace over a
circumstance or a feeling. It's only temporary. “Rejoice, and again I say
rejoice” is what we are told in Philippians 4. It’s all up to you to stir it
up! You can be over it or under it!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There’s a great quote that says this, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">"By perseverance the snail reached the ark."</b> We need to
be like that snail in everything! Persistence is a habit and so is quitting!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Never quit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know I have never quit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #eeeeee;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">As
I sit here now and write these words, being thankful for my family and blessings
that we have, it just overwhelms me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Again, God is good!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So
good!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All the time, He is
good!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And you know what?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All of you who are reading this have so
much to be thankful for too!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And
all of you, as do I, have so much that is ahead for you!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are things to be done!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Greatness is upon your lives, run your
race and never stop, until you see the Lord face to face.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Jeremiah
29:11</b> (HCSB), the Lord Himself tells us all, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“</i></b></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">For I know the
plans I have for you”—this is the Lord’s declaration—“plans for your welfare,
not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.”</span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><br /></span></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #eeeeee;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As
I turn 50 there are some things that I have written that mean a lot to me that
I want to share with you right now. It’s entitled </span><b><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 15.0pt;">The
3 Things I Have Learned In Life So Far</span></b><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 15.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No matter what your age,
these things, I believe, ring true.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #eeeeee;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">A good friend and
mentor in my life used to make this statement when he would minister, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">“It’s what you learn after you know it all
that counts.”</b> That is so very true. In life, you should always be
learning and always be growing. After all, if growth stops you will find
that decay will set in to your life. It’s vital in our walk with the Lord
that we are growing! </span><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Jesus told us to
seek the Kingdom.</span><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #eeeeee;"><b><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Matthew 6:33 (</span></b><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">New
Living Translation) <b> <i>“Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and
live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.”</i></b></span><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #eeeeee;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">The Amplified
Bible reads, <b><i>“But seek (aim at and strive after) first of all His kingdom
and His righteousness (His way of doing and being right), and then all these
things taken together will be given you besides.”</i></b></span><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #eeeeee;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">We should desire
strength in our lives. The Lord is our strength in all things. We
always grow stronger as we are seeking after the Lord. Even in our
struggles, in the hard and dark places, we always will find peace, joy, and
victory as we seek Him.</span><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #eeeeee;"><b><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Isaiah 26:9 </span></b><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"> ”<b><i>With
my soul I have desired You in the night, Yes, by my spirit within me I will
seek You early; For when Your judgments are in the earth, The inhabitants of
the world will learn righteousness.”</i></b></span><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #eeeeee;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">We need to
remember what <b>Proverbs 10:24 says, in the Amplified Bible (AMP) <i>"The
thing a wicked man fears shall come upon him, but the desire of the
[uncompromisingly] righteous shall be granted."</i></b></span><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #eeeeee;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">What you dwell on
can be a powerful force in your life; in your thoughts and in the words you
speak. It can drive your emotions and push your flesh to react in bad and
totally wrong ways. </span><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #eeeeee;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">The other day the
Lord reminded me of an episode of The Andy Griffith Show. When ole Barney
would get all worked up and flustered with Andy, he would say things like,
"Nip it! Nip it in the bud!" Or, "Tick a lock, Ange!
Tick! Tick a lock!" Our attitude always will determine
our altitude, spiritually and naturally. </span><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #eeeeee;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">James 1:4 says,<b><i>
"But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect
and complete, lacking nothing."</i></b> </span><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;">Sometimes our
flesh can be uncomfortable, but you’d better "Nip it!" and you’d
better, "Tick a lock!" Don't you allow the work of patience
that is being worked in you, to be undone by circumstances and outside
influences. The enemy wants you to complain and say the wrong things.
<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #eeeeee;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">But YOU need to
speak the Word to the mountain. YOU need to speak the Word to the
circumstance. And in PRAYER, speak the Word regarding anything and everything
and not what you think is happening. Let the Lord do the work. You
relax in Him! Flesh is deceiving. The Lord wants you perfect and
complete, lacking nothing. There are things going on that you cannot
see. Don't tear it down. You can't get across the river by kicking
the rocks that you are suppose to use to get to the other side. </span><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #eeeeee;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">One of our
missionaries wrote, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“Remember, if the
going is real easy, we need to beware that we may be headed down hill. There's
always free cheese in the mouse traps, but the mice ain't happy there.”</i></span><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #eeeeee;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">There are times in
which I find myself “between a rock and hard place.” When I do, I remind
myself of three simple things that really reset my compass. Make a note
of them and allow them to speak to you and reset your compass. I call
these points:</span><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #eeeeee;"><b><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">The Three Things I
Have Learned In Life So Far</span></b><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #eeeeee;"><b><span style="font-size: 16pt;">1. This is the day the Lord has made – make the most of it.</span></b><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #eeeeee;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">The Bible says, in
<b>Psalm 118:24 <i> ”This is the day the LORD has made. We will rejoice
and be glad in it.”</i></b></span><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #eeeeee;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">It’s HIS
DAY! He told you to rejoice and be glad! He didn’t say to be a
whiner or a complainer. He said it’s HIS DAY, you rejoice and be
glad! </span><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #eeeeee;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">In <b>Psalm
34:8 </b> it says, <b><i>“Taste and see that the LORD is good. Oh, the
joys of those who take refuge in him!”</i></b></span><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #eeeeee;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">It’s important </span><span style="font-size: 16pt;">you're giving your best attitude, integrity and loyalty where
you serve, where you work and in your relationships right now!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Know that you're not healthy enough to
quit and take another job if you are not.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #eeeeee;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">You’ll always be
better off being faithful and having the best attitude.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You’ll always be better off reminding
yourself of His goodness and His promises rather than your trouble.</span><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #eeeeee;"><b><span style="font-size: 16pt;">2. God is smarter than I am</span></b><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">.</span><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #eeeeee;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Stop and think
here. There are over 7 billion people on the earth and only one with my
fingerprint. God made you special and unique. Get it in your
head that He’s watching over you. Jesus said in Luke 12:7, <b><i>“And the
very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are more
valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows.”</i></b></span><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;">He’s got it
together. His blood was shed. You are the redeemed. He has
whatever you think is so huge and overwhelming, under control. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #eeeeee;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Jesus told us in
Matthew 6:25-31, “<b><i>25 “That is why I tell you not to worry about
everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to
wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? 26 Look
at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your
heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they
are? 27 Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?
28 “And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and
how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, 29 yet Solomon in
all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. 30 And if God
cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the
fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?
31 “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What
will we drink? What will we wear?’ 32 These things dominate the thoughts
of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs.
33 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he
will give you everything you need. “</i></b></span><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;">Enough said!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #eeeeee;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">And lastly,</span><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #eeeeee;"><b><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">3. Jesus has
whooped the devil</span></b><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">. </span><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #eeeeee;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">The real fight is
in your mind and heart. It’s the flesh versus the spirit. Colossians 2:15
says that Jesus, <b><i>“…spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of
them openly, triumphing over them in it. </i></b></span><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #eeeeee;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Ephesians 1:19-23
tells us about Jesus, <b><i>“19 and what is the exceeding greatness of His
power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power
20 which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated
Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all
principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named,
not only in this age but also in that which is to come. 22 And He put all
things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church,
23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.”</i></b></span><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #eeeeee;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Jesus whooped the
devil. Whooped him! Won the victory! He put the enemy under
His feet and Jesus gave that victory to you! He made you MORE than a
conqueror. He could have just made you a conqueror. That’s pretty
good! But the Bible says in Romans 8:37 that He made you <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">MORE
THAN a conqueror</i></b>! </span><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #eeeeee;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Always remember
that you have the will of God before you all the time. His Word is His
will. Believe it and speak it. When things come in on your thought
life, remember to do what 2 Corinthians 10:5 says, <b><i>“Casting down
imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge
of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.”</i></b></span><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Amen!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #eeeeee;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Don’t be a
quitter!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Run your race!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let’s be just like Paul when his days were drawing to a
close, he spoke to Timothy in </span><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue Medium"; mso-bidi-font-size: 18.0pt;">2 Timothy 4:7-8 (</span><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue Medium"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">Modern
English Version) (MEV) <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“</i></b></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">I have fought a good fight, I have
finished my course, and I have kept the faith. From now on a crown of
righteousness is laid up for me, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give
me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved His
appearing.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"><span style="color: #eeeeee;">Let us all run our race and reach
for that prize, that high calling in Christ Jesus our Lord.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let’s fight to the finish!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So in that day in which we will stand
before Him, we will hear Him say, “Well done good and faithful one.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Amen.</span></span><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue Medium"; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Pastor James Farmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16888229168606495470noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7951420644427385759.post-68876843412194464872015-05-28T06:05:00.000-07:002015-05-28T06:05:14.103-07:00What does that mean, "Render due benevolence?"<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Through
the years I have sat with many couples and talked with them before they got
married, while they were married and in the midst of their married
problems. There are a couple of
things that I tell couples often. A
few months ago my doctor and I were talking about situations he has with
patients and their marriages and my situations in counseling marriages. It was amazing how simple his answers
were and how they lined up with scriptures. In this devotional I am going to be as “straight forward” as
possible, gleaning from our conversations that day. So, with open eyes and an open heart, consider seriously
what I am sharing. It could very
well save your marriage from destruction. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">Let’s start with a Bible verse.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">1
Corinthians 7, verses 1-5</b> we read this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 15.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">“</span></b><b><i><span style="font-size: 15.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">It is good for a man not to touch a woman.
Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let
every woman have her own husband. </span></i></b></span><b style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><u><span style="font-size: 15.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">Let the husband render
unto the wife due benevolence</span></u></i></b><b style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-size: 15.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">: and <u>likewise also the wife unto the
husband</u>. The wife has not power of her own body, but the husband: and
likewise also the husband has not power of his own body, but the wife. </span></i></b><b style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><u><span style="font-size: 15.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">Defraud ye not</span></u></i></b><b style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-size: 15.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"> one the other, except it be with consent for a time,
that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again,
that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency."</span></i></b><b style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"> </span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<b><span style="font-size: 15.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The term
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">“due benevolence”</b> is a two way
street that is ignored in our culture today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our excuse usually is that we are too tired or too
busy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most women take offense to
this as well as some men.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s
ignored because we live in a society where it has to be “all about me.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That selfish reality is destroying
marriages, causing them to be susceptible to emotional affairs and physical
affairs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Eventually, it will lead
to separation and divorce. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How
many of our friends and family have divorced over the years and are no longer
in church?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Social media has
destroyed homes and relationships and made us an “all about me” society. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">These
verses in Corinthians are ignored in our busy society today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But remember and understand that
marriage was designed by the Lord for a man and a woman to become <u>One Flesh</u>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The home, the husband and wife, were
the first institution created in the Bible in the beginning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When you
get married, you no longer have control over your own bodies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As a pastor and a counselor, I hear
about a lot of “defrauding going on” in the marriage bed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sex becomes a once a week thing
or even worse.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve never heard anyone
come in my office and ask, “What can <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>I</u></b>
do to save <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">MY </b>marriage?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Usually it’s things like “they do this
and that.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Never is there a focus
on the “I” or “ME” factor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Many men
would like to have sex once a day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I know that is hard to understand for ladies, but it’s true none-the-less.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Men are actually wired to be sexually
driven.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sure, that’s hard for a
woman who works, who is pregnant, nursing or raising kids.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But ladies, pleasing your man
could take only a few minutes or so and keep him from being so moody around the
house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unfulfilled desires are the
biggest factor of becoming the “two ships passing in the night” situation. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Three Reasons<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">One of
the first things that I share with a couple, whether they are about to get
married or coming in for counseling is the <i>“Three Reasons People Get
Divorced”</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They may seem
simple, but it is the simple things that spouses always ignore, that cost
them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These are in no given order
of priority, but the first one is a big one where men are concerned.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The
first one is sex.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Whether it is
the lack of it, intimacy issues, physical problems etc, <u>sex is a big deal</u>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The second reason is money.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Financial problems create stresses that
lead to many different problems emotionally and physically.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The third reason is children.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Children are a blessing from the
Lord!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But better said, “the
pressure of children” can create problems in your marriage relationship. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The
verses that we started with plainly deal with the sexual relationship in our
marriages.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If it is important for
the Holy Ghost to inspire the writer, then each of us need to take it
seriously.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let’s deal with sexual
relationships in our marriages for the rest of this article.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">One of the things I share with couples is found in <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Proverbs 5:15-19</b>, “</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">Drink water from
your own cistern, And running water from your own well. Should your fountains
be dispersed abroad, Streams of water in the streets? Let them be only your
own, And not for strangers with you. Let your fountain be blessed, And rejoice
with the wife of your youth. <span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">As a</span>
loving deer and a graceful doe, Let her breasts satisfy you at all times; And
always be enraptured with her love</span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i><span style="font-size: 16pt;">.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ladies you
are the <i>cistern</i>, or the <i>covered pot</i> to be correct.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No one has the right to touch that <i>pot</i>
but the husband and only your husband can remove its <i>cover</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The <i>fountain</i> (which should be
clearly understandable), your man’s <i>“fountain”</i> doesn’t belong to him when
married, but to you the woman.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If
a man <i>“disperses his fountain abroad”</i> with someone other than his wife,
he risks having <i>“rivers in the streets”,</i> or, easier said, children
coming up to him from other partners saying, <i>“Hey Daddy!”</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is because he is not satisfying
his thirst or being denied his drink from his <i>covered pot</i>, his <i>well</i>,
his wife.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or in the case of a woman,
she’s not being satisfied by her <i>fountain</i>, her husband.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How’s that for being straight forward?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oh the Word of God is amazing when you
really look at it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s got the
answers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s life and medicine to
ALL your flesh!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You see,
if you are <i>“defrauding one another”</i>, as the verses in Corinthians talk
about, you are opening up the door in your marriage for resentment, emotional
issues and more!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once you are
married you give up the right of control over your body.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A lot of women and men defraud their
spouse of their bodies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They do it
out of their own pride and selfishness. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As
ladies and men too, we need to not think of sex as a chore. If you do, shame on
you. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We need to let it be that we
are making the most important person in our life happy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When you have a crying baby, they quit
whining and crying when you feed them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Isn’t that right?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">According
to these verses in Corinthians, the Lord knew how important a satisfying sexual
relationship should be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When you
deprive one another, it will harm and separate you emotionally.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If your man is not getting it from you
he may go elsewhere.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Men have a </span><span style="font-size: 15pt;">physical need for sex that most women just don't understand and
comprehend, but God did and He gave this scriptural instruction to us. It
is vital that we believe it and obey it!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We really can take this scripture at face value and obey it. Yes
it is that simple! But if you will think about it and obey it, then you could
be reaping the rewards of doing things God's way.</span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 15pt;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So many
spouses are <i>Obsessive Compulsive</i> about the wrong things at the wrong
times. I heard one lady minister share to a group of ladies that when you loose
your keys, you’ll dump your purse out, empty your pockets and more, till you
find them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ladies have you lost
your keys?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Your spouse is the most
precious, best friend that you have in your life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You should treat them as such.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You should love them and prize them.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Bible
tells us, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i>“For this cause shall a man
leave his father and mother and cleave unto his wife.”</i></b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">(Matthew19:5,
Mark 10:7, Ephesians 5:31)</b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
word, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i>cleave, </i></b>means to <i>“stick
like glue or to forever chase after.”</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Think about that for a moment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>When you first met you did things for each other.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You got a little crazy too, bedroom
crazy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You did things to “light the
fire and keep it lit.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The chase
is important to your relationship.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Ladies, it’s really important to your man.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Most men
like doing things for their wives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>When you start to complain about what he does and deny him the
opportunity, you will train him just like a whooped puppy and he will
stop.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Men are really wired to
chase.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Men are hunters and they
love the hunt and the catching of the prize.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When you stop them from chasing you, they will become
unfulfilled and they will draw back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They will become emotionally damaged and it can even affect their <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>“stamina.”</u></b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No drug can fix that but YOU. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You’ll be frustrated and not realize how
it started. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When
your husband is in the mood and he makes advances toward you, don’t deny him,
don’t push him off or make him wait too long.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He will eventually take it as you rejecting him. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Men have a sex drive that is powerful and it can be broken.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God made him that way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Making it a matter of schedule or
making him ask for a “time frame” will train him to stop.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It makes him feel emotionally rejected
by you. You must make time and take the time for each other.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Men are emotional, but they are different
in how they are wired.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sure, there
is balance in having the right time and moment for our intimacies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But you should never cut him or her
off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The more you push your spouse
away, they will become “gun shy” of you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They will become afraid to touch and shy to advance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With your husband, you’ll be breaking
him, right out of how God made him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>When we do that, we are going against how the Lord designed us and going
against His Word.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You
wouldn’t send your kids to bed hungry would you? So many spouses send their
most precious, best and intimate friend to bed hungry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most women will complain about their
moody, angry, short tempered and irritable husbands. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Usually, it will come down to one thing, because of the whole
due benevolence and chase factor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>One or the other has denied their needs. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wake up husbands and wives before you lose your keys and you
cannot find them anymore.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Holy
Ghost wrote these things a long time ago to keep your marriage from getting
into trouble.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If you want to <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">affair proof</b> your marriage, don’t push
away or deny your spouse the fulfillment of their needs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let’s not become disobedient to the Word
of God in these areas because we allow our own selfishness, pride and
insecurities to dictate our bedroom practices.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ladies
you need to understand or at least try to, that men are turned on by sight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He needs to be drunk on you! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t you want him to be consumed with
thoughts of you? Are you doing things to make him drunk on you?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Song of Solomon talks about being drunk
on love. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He needs to be drunk on
your love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Taken by you!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He should be dreaming about coming home
to you, like a wino sniffing the cork who cannot wait for the next drink! <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Let’s
talk sniffing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Your husband likes to
sniff perfume and see you! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s a
drug to him and draws him like a moth to the flame!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ladies you know how to catch your man and make him not
forget about you. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At the same
time, men, you need to understand that women are turned on by touch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They need your affection, slowly and
gently. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They need your
conversation and sweet touch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Men, you need to smell good and be
clean.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not all sweaty and
nasty.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fellows, you need to take
your time and love your wife slow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Never be a “wham bam thank you” kind of jerk.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Each of you,
husbands and wives need to treasure one another.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>According to <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">1 Peter
3:7</b>, you are <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i>“heirs together of
the grace of life.”</i></b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
encourages us to know that and walk it so that, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i>“…our prayers be not hindered.”</i></b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Never forget the power of your precious intimate friend that
the Lord brought to your life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>What a great prize the Lord has blessed you with.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Let me
close with this story.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My father
is a private pilot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Years ago on a
Saturday or Sunday afternoon he would take me to this grass strip airport.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All the “old pilots” would be sitting
on this porch area and they would tell flying stories.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As a young kid, oh about 11 or 12, some
of these were absolutely hilarious.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>One day my Dad was up flying with someone and I was waiting for him to
land and we were going to go get some ice cream or something.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of the older men there was telling
a story and it was so funny.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
got to the end of his story and after everyone had gotten over their laughter,
he piped up loudly and said, “Boys, this has been fun today! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But it’s time for me to go home and play
with mama.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You all would be wise
to do that too!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This guy was in his 80’s.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What a
statement. It rings true
today. Don’t lose your keys. Don’t send your dearest and most
intimate friend to bed hungry. Render “Due Benevolence” to each other. You’ll find that a lot your problems
will be cured. </span><span style="color: #262626;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Pastor James Farmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16888229168606495470noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7951420644427385759.post-89978473084672373732015-01-10T16:58:00.001-08:002015-01-10T16:58:11.021-08:00The Most Important Place To Be In The Days In Which We Live<span style="color: white; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jumbo jets disappearing. Nations coming against nations. Invasions! Wars and rumors of wars. The Middle East. On a more personal level, people who are living for themselves instead of God, and people basing their lives by their emotions and falling away from the truth. What do we do in the days in which we living? Where is THE most important place to be in the days that are before us? It’s simple and the Bible tells us clearly. Be in church! Be a part of church! Love church! It is your true life-support line in these days!<br /> <br />Our key verse in the New Testament is Hebrews 10:24-25. <br />"And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching." (NKJV)<br /> <br />Notice how The Message Bible reads. "So let's do it--full of belief, confident that we're presentable inside and out. Let's keep a firm grip on the promises that keep us going. He always keeps his word. Let's see how inventive we can be in encouraging love and helping out, not avoiding worshiping together as some do but spurring each other on, especially as we see the big Day approaching." (The Message Translation)<br /> <br />The Word of God said to not forsake our coming together. It says not to avoid worshiping together because it spurs each other onward. We live in a society today that chooses to magnify hurts, depression, emotional issues, and problems in general. We live in a victim society; an issue-driven society. Sadly, that attitude has crept into the church. The Bible tells us that some will "fall away" in the last days. When we submit to the "world system", or the way the world is thinking, we will pull away from the things that have remained stable and sure for generations. The local church is one of those sure things. <br /> <br />The world now mocks the church. We must be careful not to allow this world system to drive our attendance habits through the cares and things of life and everyday living. This way of thinking is completely apart from what the scriptures tell us about coming together. We need to come together on a regular basis as believers. We need to hear the preaching and teaching of the Word of God to encourage us and help us in living a life of hope and victory. The preaching and teaching of the Word of God helps us to have a stable focus. It helps us, as believers, to be accountable as well. <br /> <br />The local church is a life source for all of us. We individually need it. We see it in the book of Acts. The church was the place where "it" was happening. It was exploding with growth, excitement and the power of the Holy Spirit. The church of today should exemplify that same excitement and growth. Excitement breeds excitement. How you come to church affects the service. When you come to church, come excited and ready, and just see what happens and what the Lord will do.<br /> <br />Look at some other verses here. <br /> <br />Psalm 122:1 "I was glad when they said to me, "Let us go into the house of the LORD." (NKJV)<br /> <br />Psalm 42:4 "When I remember these things, I pour out my soul within me. For I used to go with the multitude; I went with them to the house of God With the voice of joy and praise, With a multitude that kept a pilgrim feast." (NKJV)<br /> <br />Notice being glad to go. Going with the multitude.<br /> <br />If you just do a word search of the Bible with the words "temple" and "Jesus" you'll find that Jesus was there, in church, over and over and over. It was a part of His life, not just His ministry. One that I love is this: Luke 4:16, "He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. And he stood up to read." <br /> <br />The Apostle Paul had "customs" or "habits" too! Notice Acts 17:2, "As his custom was, Paul went into the synagogue, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures." <br /> <br />Acts 5:42 says, "And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ."<br /> <br />There are many, many references to coming together throughout the Word of God. Being in the sanctuary, the temple, the church, needs to be a part of our lives for so many reasons. Let me give you some straight points as to why it's important to you as an individual.<br /> <br />1. Important for family relationships and life.<br />The Local Church is a very important place for family and relationships. Strong, godly relationships "spark" you. "Iron sharpens iron." (Proverbs 27:17) Families and individuals learn about life and how to live it. We learn about walking in victory and being happy. We learn about giving to our fellow man through outreach and community projects. We learn as a family the power of walking with Christ living big in our lives.<br /> <br />2. It's a community of faith.<br />In this community of faith is where we gain a revelation of Jesus Christ. Church is about growing up and maturing, not about what level you're on. It's where you have a Pastor who ministers the Word of God to you so that you can run and step out in faith and be a doer of the Word. Your Pastor and the other relationships that you have are there for you in a tough time or to celebrate the joys of your life. It's a place where we develop personal and lasting friendships and relationships that endure a lifetime. <br /> <br />3. It's a non-threatening place.<br />There are no perfect people, but we are a people who have a perfect God. In this place you don't have to put on a performance. Jesus loves and accepts people the way they are. Church is that kind of place. It's a place where people find empathy, not sympathy; a place to be lifted up and encouraged to live for Christ. <br /> <br />4. It helps people face difficult & conflicting areas of their lives.<br />While dealing with struggles, sins of the past, lack of self-confidence, and more, we learn that the precious blood of the Lamb has been given for our freedom. It's a place where there is comfort in a time of loss or need; a place where Jesus' arms are spread wide through the love of a congregation of family and friends.<br /> <br />5. A place of spiritual strength.<br />Church is a place where people can find out who they are in Christ and grow in the things of God. It is a place where your giftings from the Lord can be developed and shine. It is a place where you are encouraged and uplifted to step out and serve the Lord. It is a place where you can be sent out to do the calling of God that's on your life.<br /> <br />6. A place of accountability.<br />At church we learn about life and that we are accountable to the Lord. We establish relationships where we are accountable to one another. Church helps in establishing accountability in our personal walk of life and to the Word of God, by fostering healing, evangelism, deeper faith, family roots and more. Plain and simple, it helps keep you from becoming "flaky"! When you are off on your own, your imagination about what's spiritual and what's not, can go to all sorts of places that can mislead you at a time and place in your life where you need "your" pastor and "your" church family for life, encouragement, and rock solid consistency. <br /> <br />7. A place for marriage, family, & home.<br />You can be on your way to church and arguing about what seems huge, but when you get to church and are in the middle of worship, the Holy Spirit deals with you. The message seems to be just like the Lord was personally talking with you. It changes you and changes your home. It brings the two of you closer as a husband and wife. <br /> <br />It works on your kids. They're learning how to live for God and not just play like it. They learn that a relationship with God is a personal experience and that it's real. <br /> <br />The Bible says to, "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it." Proverbs 22:6 <br /> <br />As a parent, your responsibility is to plant those seeds of training in your kids. If church isn't important to you, don't expect it to be important to your kids. If praying is not important to you, don't expect it to be important to your kids. If giving is not important to you, don't expect them to be givers either. You train them up... they will follow. Your emphasis will be the foundations for not just you, but for generations to come. Fear breeds fear. Joy breeds joy. Godliness breeds godliness. <br /> <br />Dads need to set that example. Moms too! What you tolerate in moderation, your kids will tolerate in excess. The seeds that are sown will produce when they are older. Psalm 78 tells us that these things also pass down to their kids, your grandkids. Generation to generation! Think and do what's important to you, and your kids will do it too, good or bad. Galatians 6:6 says that you reap what you sow. <br /> <br />Dads, how you treat Mom is contagious. Moms, how you treat Dad is contagious. How you both treat spiritual things is contagious too. Being in the local church helps all of the family to grow and mature and send a message to the next generation. As parents, we are sending a message through our children into a time we will not see. <br /> <br />The local church is so very important to all of us. Being around those of like faith can spark us to greater things in God. Sharing a meal together, fellowshipping, laughing and enjoying the Word of God together is so very vital and important in the days in which we live. All of us need to plug in, be active, and be excited. We need to live this life of Christianity and bring others to church! Bring our families to church! In the days that we live in right now, it’s not just vital, but critical! Church is what we each make it to be individually. Plug in as they did in the book of Acts and let excitement breed excitement. Today is here and now, but the seeds of today will produce tomorrow! Let’s get ourselves at the most important place to be in the days in which we live! Let’s go to church! We'll see you there! Amen!<br /> <br />Prayer: Father, I know that your Word says that a threefold cord is not quickly broken. Being together with a local body of believers, fellowshipping around your Word, building relationships is a source of strength and a faith builder for my life. I choose to make time to be hooked up with my local church family. Amen.</span>Pastor James Farmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16888229168606495470noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7951420644427385759.post-25547772550933567772014-08-09T21:36:00.000-07:002014-08-09T21:42:30.331-07:00Decompression And Understanding The Value Of Time<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"><span style="color: #eeeeee;">For
almost two weeks now, we’ve been on a family vacation. It’s been the
first vacation that we’ve had in over eight and half years and we’ve been very
thankful for it. To the family who followed their hearts and blessed us
with the means to have this trip, we say thank you! Your graciousness has
really been a refreshing for us. We’ve not been a position to have the
fun that we’ve been having these past several days and it’s just been a joy to
“enjoy life” and the free time. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"><span style="color: #eeeeee;">On
our trip, it was about the third or fourth day of our time away, that I really
began to “decompress” and feel free. Free in my thoughts, my relaxing,
and my just being able to let it all be still. As I was relaxing on the
porch, seven hours away from it all, with the mosquito candles burning, hearing
the crickets, seeing the stars and pondering everything, I was reminded of a
message that has meant a lot to me over the years. When I stop and get
quiet, I remind myself of its points. I thought that I would put it into
words and on paper and share it with you. We all need to “decompress” and
value our time. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"><span style="color: #eeeeee;">The
Bible tells us in James 4:13-17, <b><i>"Come now, you who say,"Today
or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and
sell, and make a profit"; whereas you do not know what will happen
tomorrow. For what is yourlife? It is even a vapor that appears for
a little time and then vanishes away. Instead, you ought to say, "If
the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that." But now you boast
in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. Therefore, to him who
knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin."</i></b><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"><span style="color: #eeeeee;">The
Bible describes our existence in this life here on the earth like a
vapor. The Amplified Bible says, <b><i>"You are [really] but a wisp
of vapor (a puff of smoke, a mist) that is visible for a little while and then
disappears [into thin air]."</i></b> Naturally speaking, our
existence here on this earth is but for a moment of time. When you start
to look at it in the light of eternity it is really a very brief moment at that. Our
natural existence in the light of eternity is really a short time. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"><span style="color: #eeeeee;">The
little fraction of time that we have here on this earth has great bearing on
our eternity. 1 Timothy 5:8 says, <b><i>"For bodily exercise profits
a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the
life that now is and of that which is to come."</i></b> How we live
now affects us here and now, but how we live now has great bearing on eternity
too. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"><span style="color: #eeeeee;">Grasp
eternity for a moment. It's FOREVER! How long is forever? <b>FOREVER!</b>
If we stop and consider time, it has a beginning and an end. Our time of
existence, should Jesus tarry, has a beginning and an end. When we get to
heaven there will be a new time reference, eternity. Right now, we have a
beginning and an end here and now. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"><span style="color: #eeeeee;">All
of life is a process. All of life is a process that will one day have an
end result. So, that means to me that <u>TIME is valuable</u>! It
has a beginning and it has an end. Time itself cannot be stopped.
You can manage time, mismanage it, or even waste it altogether. In
various sporting events, you can stop the clock to move the
"chains". In some games you can put more time back up on the
board or the clock. You can repeat the "down". In our
lives, we don't get the privilege of putting more time on the board or stopping
the clock to move the markers. No, our life is measured and represented
by the time that we have here. Our time spent is eventually what others
will look at when they remember us and what we have done. Therefore we
should value with all diligence the time that we have here and now.
Amen. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"><span style="color: #eeeeee;">There
are great things before each of us! The Lord has GOOD things for
us! We need to value the Lord’s blessing in our lives and where we are at
right now. It’s a special place. As we are sharing on time, on a
personal level, let us take the time and increase in our intimacy with God, our
passion for Him and His Word, and our commitment toward Him. Some of my
favorite verses in God's Word are found in Job. Job 22:21-23 says, <b><i>"Yield
now and be at peace with Him; thereby good will come to you. Please
receive instruction from His mouth, and establish His words in your
heart."</i></b> (New American Standard) We must discipline ourselves
to yield to the Lord. We must yield to Him more in our lives. Yield
more to His influence. Yielding yourself to Him puts you in a position to
receive increase. God wants to be your provider, but He also wants you to
seek His face. Psalm 34:10 says, <b><i>"They that seek (inquire of)
the Lord shall not want any good thing."</i></b> The Amplified Bible
reads, <b><i>"None of them shall lack any beneficial thing."</i></b> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"><span style="color: #eeeeee;">Job
11:13, 17-19 reads, <b><i>"If you would direct your heart right, and
spread out your hand to Him... and your life would be brighter than noonday;
darkness would be like morning. Then you would trust, because there is
hope; and you would look around, and rest securely. You would lie down
and none disturb you, and many would entreat your favor." </i></b> (New
American Standard) Seeking God more, becoming more intimate with Him,
having a passion more for the things of God and His Word, and being committed
to Him will give you peaceful sleep, brighter days, supernatural security, and
supernatural favor. Seek God's face, not His hand! Let’s not be whiners
and complainers in the moment and miss the prize. We need to remind
ourselves that just because things don’t always go our way, doesn’t mean we’re
not smack dab in the middle of the will of God for our lives. Let's draw
closer to Him more and more each and every day of our lives. Amen!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"><span style="color: #eeeeee;">All
of life is a process. All of our lives should be a
"progression" or, simply put, "personal growth". We
should be increasing and moving ahead in our walk with Him. Look with me
at Ephesians 5:15-16. Notice what it says here, <b><i>"See then that
you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because
the days are evil."</i></b> I love the way The Amplified Bible
reads, <b><i>"Look carefully then how you walk! Live purposefully and
worthily and accurately, not as the unwise and witless, but as wise (sensible,
intelligent people), making the very most of the time [buying up each
opportunity], because the days are evil." </i></b><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"><span style="color: #eeeeee;">It
is important how we live because we may not have an opportunity to repeat it or
make up for it. It's vital that we draw close to God. Seeking the
Lord and spending time with Him will put you in a position of increase in your
walk with the Lord. It will also multiply your days and the quality of
those days according to Proverbs 3:1-2, <b><i>"My son, forget not my law
or teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments; for length of days and
years of a life [worth living] and tranquility [inward and outward
andcontinuing through old age till death], these shall they add to you."</i></b><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"><span style="color: #eeeeee;">Think
about YOUR time. Think in the light of eternity. What you do and what
you are doing are so precious right now. Don't go and grab all the gusto
that you can. No, grab all of God that you can. It will bless
so many by the way that you live your life. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"><span style="color: #eeeeee;">Just
being busy does not produce happiness. Activity does not produce
productivity. Your time with the Lord will multiply in your life on all
levels. Prioritize your time. Prioritize your living life and the
priorities of your life. Put your life in order with God first, spouse
second, children third, church fourth, job fifth, and so forth. My
goodness, our time with God and our spouses and our children is so
important! What you are doing now and how you are living now has bearing
on so many things both here and now, and for our eternity that is still to
come. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"><span style="color: #eeeeee;">Get
hungry for more of God. Seeking God more, becoming more intimate with
Him, having a passion more for the things of God and His Word, and being
committed to Him will give you peaceful sleep, brighter days, supernatural
security, and supernatural favor. Seek God's face, not His hands.
Let's draw close to Him more and more each and every day of our lives.
Let's value our TIME. Amen!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #eeeeee;"><b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">Pray
this prayer:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"> Father, I choose to take the time and
make You my priority everyday. I choose to spend time with You and
progress forward in my walk with You. You are my all in all. You
are my everything. I have decided to follow YOU and follow I will do.
Amen.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"><span style="color: #eeeeee;">Pastor James Farmer</span></span></div>
</div>
Pastor James Farmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16888229168606495470noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7951420644427385759.post-64303202372378553202014-07-15T11:42:00.001-07:002014-07-15T11:42:06.029-07:00Check Out Our Music On Reverbnation! <div class="widget_iframe" style="border: 0; display: inline-block; height: 320px; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%;">
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Pastor James Farmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16888229168606495470noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7951420644427385759.post-76960372347820449382014-05-03T18:54:00.001-07:002014-05-03T19:03:52.002-07:00God's Kind of Life<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />For the past several years I have been dealing with some blood sugar issues. These issues have really changed my life in many ways. I am constantly working on a good "balance" in what I eat and how much. Today I wanted to post something that I read that blessed me. It encouraged me in my stand on what the Word of God says regarding healing. I thought that it might bless someone else. This is a short devotional regarding healing. It is from Pastor Mark Brazee, entitled, God's Kind of Life. Enjoy!<br /><br />The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. —John 10:10<br /><br /><br />Where does sickness come from? I was taught for years that sickness was sent from God to teach us and make us pious and more “Christ-like.” However, if we look in the Word, we definitely see that sickness comes from the enemy—not from God. Jesus certainly didn’t get Christ-like through sickness and disease, so I don’t know why we would either. <br /><br /><br />Sickness is a satanic force. God called it a curse in Deuteronomy 28:59-61. In Luke 13:16, Jesus called it a bondage. And by the inspiration of the Holy Ghost, Peter called it satanic oppression in Acts 10:38. God doesn’t like sickness; He’s totally and completely against it. He has done, and is still doing, everything in His power to get healing and health to His children. <br /><br /><br />The devil is the one who steals, kills, and destroys. Sickness steals money, families, homes—it steals everything it can steal. Jesus said, “I have come that you might have life and have it more abundantly” (John 10:10). The word life in the Greek is “zoe,” and it refers to life as God has it. Jesus was saying, “I have come that you might have the life of God.” Was God ever sick? No! Sickness doesn’t come from God; otherwise, Jesus would’ve included it in His “abundant life” package. No, Jesus didn’t come to bind us in chains of bondage. He came to set us free!<br /><br /><br />Confession: Jesus gives me abundant life—life as God has it. God doesn’t get sick, so I don’t allow sickness to stay in my body. Divine health belongs to me.</span>Pastor James Farmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16888229168606495470noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7951420644427385759.post-69862577915461602432014-01-20T18:04:00.000-08:002014-01-20T18:04:22.188-08:00So They Hurt Your Feelings<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We all make choices to be offended. No one really offends us, we choose to "take offense". That's the truth. I had some notes from Rev. Keith Moore and several other ministers and put together a message on the subject of getting your feelings hurt. Here it is. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I want to share with you a subject that can make you get
"touchy".<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What we
want to share is all about dealing with being offended.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Every one of us has been offended
at some time or another.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But
we must realize that if we are offended, it is because we yielded to the
offense and we did it because we chose to do so. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Let's start by looking at a couple of scriptures that will
open our eyes to the truth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Notice what Psalm 119:165 says.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">" Great peace have they which love thy
law: and nothing shall offend them."</i></b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Amplified Translation makes it even clearer to
us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It reads, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">"
Great peace have they who love Your law; nothing shall offend them or make them
stumble." </i></b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Well, how many of us have had our feelings hurt?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The good news is that your
feelings are going to get hurt again!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think that all of us at different times in our lives
have taken an offense.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Here's another verse in Ecclesiastes chapter 10 that speaks a lot as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Notice how it reads in verse four
from several different translations. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The New King James: <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">"If the spirit of the ruler rises
against you, do not leave your post; for conciliation pacifies great
offenses." <o:p></o:p></i></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The New Living Translation: <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">"If your boss is angry with
you, don't quit! A quiet spirit can overcome even great mistakes."</i></b>
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Message Translation: <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">"If a ruler loses his temper
against you, don't panic; a calm disposition quiets intemperate rage."</i></b>
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Spurrell Translation: <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">"If the spirit (anger) of
the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for yielding pacifieth
great offenses." <o:p></o:p></i></b></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Many people in churches get offended.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have been a part of or in the
ministry for over 25 years and I can tell you I have seen people offended time
and time again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are
all sorts of reasons why people get offended.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, the questions to ask are: Is it OK to be
offended? Am I justified to be offended? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The enemy is real to our lives, and the Bible says that we
need not be ignorant of his devices.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>First Peter 5:8 tells us to <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">"Be sober, be vigilant;
because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom
he may devour."<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></i></b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Bible is really clear that the devil
is looking for ones whom he may devour.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The devil sets traps for us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The word <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>"offense"
means a trap or a snare</u></b>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A good hunter will use different types of weapons to catch
or snare the prey.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The devil
uses different types of weapons or snares for different people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The devil is looking for your
weaknesses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He will prod and
poke at you until he finds that sensitive spot that sets you off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then he will set a trap for you
to fall into time and time again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Different things offend different people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Things may offend you that won't
offend somebody else.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What
might offend someone else won't mean a thing to you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Folks will get offended over comments made that didn't
mean anything close to the way they took it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you are the "offended type", it seems the
enemy will pick anybody and everyone around you to say something and do things
that irritate you and hit your "offense" spot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then... you're offended! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It never fails that when people are offended, they feel
insulted, hurt, and angry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They start out feeling sorry for themselves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then they want to lash out at somebody.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Being offended is simply giving
place to the devil.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Being
angry, being hurt, and insulted is not the fruit of the spirit at all is
it?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When you are offended, get this clear in your head and in
your heart... it is not someone else's fault.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is your fault!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You are offended because you are wrapped up in your
own <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>PRIDE</u></b>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Nobody wants to deal with PRIDE, but all of us need to deal
with it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Anybody who says
they don't have a problem with pride is usually the one who will consistently
yield to pride. Selfishness is the initiator of pride. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Look at Romans 6 and verse11. "Likewise you also,
reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus
our Lord." He's talking about making your OLD MAN "to be dead."
You can go to any cemetery and see that dead men are never lifted up in pride,
no matter what you say about them, because they're dead! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We should reckon our old stinkin' flesh to be dead no matter
what is said or done to us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Being insulted or offended should be far from our lives. If we get
offended over something, it is because we failed to reckon the old man
dead.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don't think for a
minute that you will never have any feelings of being hurt or angry, or being
offended, because I'm telling you right now, you will.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Feelings come to every one of
us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If your old man acted or
felt dead, you wouldn't have to reckon him to be dead.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The test for you and me is that
when those feelings of offense come, you resist them - don't yield to
them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Put your flesh under.
Catch this one clue here, act like you love people who say and do things that
are hurtful to you, no matter how you feel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That isn't being fake, it is just the simple fact that
you are choosing to yield to love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>You are choosing to walk in love. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Remember 1 Corinthians 13:4-8.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Notice what the Word says.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Look at it like you've never seen it before! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Love
suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is
not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked,
thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears
all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love
never fails..." <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Beck Translation reads, "Love is patient. Love is
kind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Love isn't jealous. It
doesn't brag or get conceited. It isn't indecent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It isn't selfish. It doesn't get angry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It doesn't plan to hurt anyone.
It doesn't delight in evil but is happy with the truth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It bears everything, believes
everything, hopes for everything, endures everything. Love never dies." <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I've been working in ministry or been involved in ministry
now for over 25 years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
have served as an associate several times, in youth ministry, as worship leader
and in the itinerant or the traveling ministry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have heard and seen a lot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">People will say "the Lord led us here."<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They hook up and become a great
blessing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then all of the
sudden they quit helping and even quit coming to church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When you talk to them, they say,
"We're not coming back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>So and so said this and you did this and we're just hurt and
offended."<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That begs
the question, "If the Lord led you to come here, then what are you being
led by now?"<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is my dead
man showing?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is my maturity
or immaturity showing? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It is not always easy to follow what the Lord is telling us
at times.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We will run into
circumstances and we will run into personalities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There will be times you will hurt all over.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But faith doesn't quit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Noah stood firm and followed the Lord and what He told him
for over 100 years before he saw a drop of rain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Abraham waited for years before he saw the
promise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What if Joseph had
been offended in jail, would he have ever been elevated to the position God had
prepared for him?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even when
circumstances are at their worst, we still find ourselves in the middle of
God's plan for our lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>You don't quit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Remember Ecclesiastes 10:4 again, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">"... don't quit! A quiet
spirit can overcome even great mistakes..."</i></b> even your own offense.
Submission will pacify your great offense.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don't quit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ask yourself, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">"Is
the Lord leading me or is my flesh just yielding to my offense?"</b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many people never mature in God
or go on to the things that the Lord has prepared for them because they can't
cope, so they quit when it's hard. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There was a man who was in a Nazi concentration camp during
World War II.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He suffered
many things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After being
out, he chose never to hold a grudge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He said that the greatest power that any man has is
ability to choose how to react to the circumstances around him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What a statement!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Think of that in reference to our
yielding to an offense.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
had a ton of things about which he could have been offended.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Had he been offended, he could
have died there never seeing his liberation and freedom. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Don't be forced out of a situation and miss the plan of God
by your flesh and its desire to be offended.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>First Peter 5:6-7 says, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">"Humble yourself under the
mighty hand of God, so that He may exalt you in due time, casting all of your
care on Him for He cares for you."</i></b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When it comes to offenses, you will find yourself better off
if you will crucify your flesh and its feelings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You choose to put the old man under.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Be led by the Spirit and not
forced out of God's plan for your life due to an offense.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Remember, Jesus didn't just make us conquerors, He made us
MORE than CONQUERORS!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We've
got the victory, but we alone are the ones who choose to yield to it and walk
in it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Prayer:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Father, I choose to yield to the walk of Love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I choose to put my flesh under and fulfill Your plan
and Your purpose for my life. I forgive and I forget, just as you did with
me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Amen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Pastor James Farmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16888229168606495470noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7951420644427385759.post-70422217970560614362014-01-20T17:48:00.002-08:002014-01-20T17:48:53.398-08:00Hey! You can follow me on Facebook!<br />
<br />
<iframe allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" src="//www.facebook.com/plugins/follow?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FMonsignor.James&layout=standard&show_faces=true&colorscheme=light&width=450&height=80" style="border: none; height: 80px; overflow: hidden; width: 450px;"></iframe>Pastor James Farmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16888229168606495470noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7951420644427385759.post-61442528566160650092013-03-29T07:09:00.000-07:002013-03-29T07:09:10.922-07:00Devotional: What's So Important About Church?
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Recently I saw a sign
that read "Home Improvement: Take Your Family To Church." Our title
for this edition of "The Devotional" asks the question, "Why
Church?" Why do we go to church? Why is it important?
Why does church set everything else apart in our lives? What does the
Bible say about attending? What is Jesus' example? Let's take a
look and see.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Our key verse in the
New Testament is Hebrews 10:24-25. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<b><i><span style="font-family: Verdana;">"And
let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not
forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but
exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day
approaching." </span></i></b><span style="font-family: Verdana;">(NKJV)</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Notice how The Message
Bible reads. <b><i>"So let's do it--full of belief, confident
that we're presentable inside and out. Let's keep a firm grip on the promises
that keep us going. He always keeps his word. Let's see how inventive we can be
in encouraging love and helping out, not avoiding worshiping together as some
do but spurring each other on, especially as we see the big Day
approaching." </i></b>(The Message Translation)</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">The Word of God said
to not forsake our coming together. It says not to avoid worshiping
together because it spurs each other onward. We live in a society today
that chooses to magnify hurts, depression, emotional issues, and problems in
general. We live in a victim society; an issue driven society.
Sadly, that attitude has crept into the church. The Bible tells us that
some will "fall away" in the last days. When we submit to the
"world system", or the way the world is thinking, we will pull away
from the things that have remained stable and sure for generations. The local
church is one of those sure things. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">The world now mocks
the church. We must be careful not to allow this world system to drive
our attendance habits through the cares and things of life and everyday living.
This way of thinking is completely apart from what the scriptures tell
us about coming together. We need to come together on a regular
basis as believers. We need to hear the preaching and teaching of the Word of
God to encourage us and help us in living a life of hope and victory.
The preaching and teaching of the Word of God helps us in having a stable
focus. It helps us as believers in being accountable as well. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">The local church is a
life source for all of us. We individually need it. We see it in the book of
Acts. The church was the place where "it" was happening.
It was exploding with growth, excitement and the power of the Holy
Spirit. The church of today should exemplify that same excitement and
growth. Excitement breeds excitement. How you come to church affects the
service. When you come to church, come excited and ready, and just see
what happens and what the Lord will do.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Look at some other
verses here. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Psalm 122:1 <b><i>"I
was glad when they said to me, "Let us go into the house of the
LORD." </i></b> (NKJV)</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Psalm 42:4 <b><i>"When
I remember these things, I pour out my soul within me. For I used to go with
the multitude; I went with them to the house of God With the voice of joy and
praise, With a multitude that kept a pilgrim feast." </i></b>(NKJV)</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Notice being glad to
go. Going with the multitude.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">If you just do a word
search of the Bible with the words "temple" and "Jesus"
you'll find that Jesus was there, in church, over and over and over. It
was a part of His life, not just His ministry. One that I love is this
one. Luke 4:16 <b><i>, "He went to Nazareth, where he had been
brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his
custom. And he stood up to read." </i></b></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">The Apostle Paul had
"customs" or "habits" too! Notice Acts 17:2, <b><i>"As
his custom was, Paul went into the synagogue, and on three Sabbath days he
reasoned with them from the Scriptures." </i></b> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Acts 5:42 says, <b><i>"And
daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach
Jesus Christ."</i></b></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">There are many, many
references to coming together throughout the Word of God. Being in the
sanctuary, the temple, the church, needs to be a part of our lives for so many
reasons. Let me give you some straight points as to why it's important
to you as an individual.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana;">1. Important for
family relationships and life</span></b><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">The Local Church is a
very important place for family and relationships. Strong, godly
relationships "spark" you. <b><i>"Iron sharpens
iron." </i></b> (Proverbs 27:17) Families and
individuals learn about life and how to live it. We learn about walking
in victory and being happy. We learn about giving to our fellow man
through outreach and community projects. We learn as a family the power
of walking with Christ living big in our lives.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana;">2. It's a community of
faith</span></b><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">In this community of
faith is where we gain a revelation of Jesus Christ. Church is about
growing up and maturing, not about what level you're on. It's where you
have a Pastor who ministers the Word of God to you so that you can run and step
out in faith and be a doer of the Word. Your Pastor and the other
relationships that you have are there for you in a tough time or to celebrate
the joys of your life. It's a place where we develop personal and
lasting friendships and relationships that endure a lifetime. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana;">3. It's a
Non-threatening Place.</span></b><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">There are no perfect
people, but we are a people who have a perfect God. In this place you
don't have to put on a performance. Jesus loves and accepts people the
way they are. Church is that kind of place. It's a place where
people find empathy, not sympathy; a place to be lifted up and encouraged to
live for Christ. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana;">4. It helps people
face the difficult and conflicting areas of their lives.</span></b><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">While dealing with
struggles, sins of the past, lack of self-confidence, and more, we learn that
the precious blood of the Lamb has been given for our freedom. It's a place where
there is comfort in a time of loss or need; a place where Jesus' arms are
spread wide through the love of a congregation of family and friends.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana;">5. A Place of
Spiritual strength</span></b><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Church is a place
where people can find out who they are in Christ and grow in the things of God.
It is a place where your giftings from the Lord can be developed and
shine. It is a place where you are encouraged and uplifted to step out
and serve the Lord. It is a place where you can be sent out to do the
calling of God that's on your life.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana;">6. A place of
accountability.</span></b><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">At church we learn
about life and that we are accountable to the Lord. We establish
relationships where we are accountable to one another. Church helps in
establishing accountability in our personal walk of life and to the Word of
God, by fostering healing, evangelism, deeper faith, family roots and more.
Plain and simple, it helps keep you from becoming "flaky"!
When you are off on your own, your imagination about what's spiritual and
what's not, can go to all sorts of places that can mislead you at a time and
place in your life where you need "your" pastor and "your"
church family for life, encouragement and rock solid consistency. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana;">7. Marriage, Family,
& Home.</span></b><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">You can be on your way
to church and arguing about what seems huge, but when you get to church and are
in the middle of worship, the Holy Spirit deals with you. The message
seems to be just like the Lord was personally talking with you. It
changes you and changes your home. It brings the two of you closer as a
husband and wife. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">It works on your kids.
They're learning how to live for God and not just play like it.
They learn that a relationship with God is a personal experience and that it's
real. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">The Bible says
to, <b><i>"Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is
old, he will not depart from it." </i></b> Proverbs 22:6 </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">As a parent, your
responsibility is to plant those seeds of training in your kids. If church
isn't important to you, don't expect it to be important to your kids. If
praying is not important to you, don't expect it to be important to your kids.
If giving is not important to you, don't expect them to be givers
either. You train them up... they will follow. Your emphasis will
be the foundations for not just you, but for generations to come. Fear
breeds fear. Joy breeds joy. Godliness breeds godliness. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Dads need to set that
example. Moms too! What you tolerate in moderation, your kids
will tolerate in excess. The seeds that are sown will produce when they
are older. Psalm 78 tells us that these things also pass down to their
kids, your grandkids. Generation to generation! Think and do what's important
to you, and your kids will do it too, good or bad. Galatians 6:6 says
that <b><i>you reap what you sow. </i></b> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Dads, how you treat
Mom is contagious. Moms, how you treat Dad is contagious. How you both
treat spiritual things is contagious too. Being in the local church helps
all of the family to grow and mature and send a message to the next generation.
As a parent, we are sending a message through our children, into a time
we will not see. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">The local church is so
very important to all of us. Being around those of like faith can spark
us to greater things in God. Plug in, be active, and be excited.
Church is what we each make it to be individually. Plug in as they did
in the book of Acts and let excitement breed excitement. Today is here and now,
but the seeds of today will produce tomorrow! Amen.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Prayer: Father, I know that your Word says that a
threefold cord is not quickly broken. Being together with a local body
of believers, fellowshipping around your Word, building relationships is a
source of strength and a faith builder for my life. I choose to make
time to be hooked up with my local church family. Amen.</span></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Pastor James Farmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16888229168606495470noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7951420644427385759.post-7950301437163061972012-12-09T15:43:00.003-08:002012-12-09T15:43:46.380-08:00Pastor’s James' Tips For Managing Stress During The Holidays<span style="color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This Sunday, I ministered on "Stopping The Christmas Heart Attack". As the service closed I gave out 25 quick points to "keep your heart" during the Christmas holiday. </span><span style="color: white;"><b><i><span style="font-family: Arial;">"Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it springs
the issues of life.”</span></i></b><span style="font-family: Arial;"> <b>Proverbs 4:23 NKJV</b></span></span><br />
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<!--StartFragment-->
<!--EndFragment--><span style="color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> This is from Rev. Tony Cooke. Be sure to check out his website at tonycooke.org. </span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<br />
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<b><span style="color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Pastor’s James' TIPS FOR MANAGING STRESS, THE BLUES, AND
GRIEF DURING THE HOLIDAYS (From Rev. Tony Cooke)<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 150%;">1.<span style="line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="line-height: 150%;">Plan ahead</span></b><span style="line-height: 150%;"> – this involves not only time, but
also money (a budget)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: .25in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt .5in; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt .5in; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 150%;">2.<span style="line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="line-height: 150%;">Prioritize</span></b><span style="line-height: 150%;"> and decide how much you can
actually do, how much you can (and should) actually spend, etc. You don’t want
to start the new year with bills that you can’t pay. Do your best to create an
atmosphere that focuses on <i>"doing"</i>
rather than <i>"having."</i><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt .5in; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 150%;">3.<span style="line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="line-height: 150%;">Don’t be afraid to say, <i>"no."</i></span></b><span style="line-height: 150%;"> There may be some things you can do to reduce some of the demands on
your life and time.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 150%;">4.<span style="line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="line-height: 150%;">Pace yourself.</span></b><span style="line-height: 150%;"> People tend to overextend
themselves and to commit to doing more than they possibly can in the limited
time they have. Be careful during holidays not to over-commit. Don't take on
more than you can comfortably handle, and stop trying to be Superman or
Superwoman by doing it all yourself.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 150%;">5.<span style="line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="line-height: 150%;">Be realistic! </span></b><span style="line-height: 150%;">Unrealistic and hyper-idealistic
expectations set you up for disappointment.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 150%;">6.<span style="line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="line-height: 150%;">Examine traditions</span></b><span style="line-height: 150%;"> – which ones do you want to keep?
Is it time to establish some new ones?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 150%;">7.<span style="line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="line-height: 150%;">Realize that people are unique</span></b><span style="line-height: 150%;">. What is
enjoyable and fulfilling for one person is stressful and unpleasant for
another.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 150%;">8.<span style="line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="line-height: 150%;">Some solitude is OK, but avoid excessive isolation</span></b><span style="line-height: 150%;">. Reach out to people and make it a point to be with others. Especially
seek out people who are supportive and care about you.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="line-height: 150%;">9.<span style="font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b><span style="line-height: 150%;">Reach out to an old friend you’ve
lost contact with.<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="line-height: 150%;">10. If you have some specific needs during the holidays, tell others.</span></b><span style="line-height: 150%;"> Don’t expect others to be mind-readers. Realize that others may not
respond to or meet all of your needs.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="line-height: 150%;">11. Find a way to serve and help others. </span></b><i><span style="line-height: 150%;">"I don't know what your destiny will be, but one
thing I know: the only ones among you who will be really happy are those who
have sought and found a way to serve."</span></i><span style="line-height: 150%;"> - Albert
Schweitzer<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="line-height: 150%;">12. Take care of yourself. </span></b><span style="line-height: 150%;">If your tendency
is to take care of everyone else and neglect yourself, do some special things
just for you, and don’t let yourself feel guilty about it.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="line-height: 150%;">13. Be proactive.</span></b><span style="line-height: 150%;"> Don’t wait for something to happen.
Make something happen. Ask yourself about the kind of holiday experience you’d
like to have, then ask, <i>"What can I
do to make that happen?"</i> Don’t accept a victim’s mentality – you may
be experiencing some circumstances you wouldn’t have chosen, but there are
things you can do to make the holidays better for yourself and others.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="line-height: 150%;">14. Give yourself permission to grieve if necessary.</span></b><span style="line-height: 150%;"> Give yourself permission to enjoy the holidays as well. Journaling can
be a healthy and helpful way of identifying and expressing feelings.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="line-height: 150%;">15. Remember the wisdom of the Serenity Prayer</span></b><span style="line-height: 150%;"> – <i>"Lord, grant me the
serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things
that I can, and the wisdom to know the difference."</i><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">16. Don’t focus on the past.<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">17. Don’t dwell on what you don’t have.<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="line-height: 150%;">18. Moderation!</span></b><span style="line-height: 150%;"> Avoid the temptation to dive into
extremes.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="line-height: 150%;">19. Take care of your health</span></b><span style="line-height: 150%;"> – Eat right, get
plenty of rest, and exercise regularly. Common stress reactions during the
holidays include headaches, over-eating, and difficulty sleeping.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="line-height: 150%;">20. Put some humor in your holidays. </span></b><span style="line-height: 150%;">Laugh a
lot! Rent a funny movie! <i>A merry heart
does good like a medicine</i> (Proverbs 17:22).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="line-height: 150%;">21. Make a list of all the FREE things that can be enjoyed at Christmas</span></b><span style="line-height: 150%;">… light displays, church services, community plays, etc. Partake of some
of these.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="line-height: 150%;">22. Be honest about your own emotional health and your own personality
tendencies.</span></b><span style="line-height: 150%;"> Do you need to address anger?
Perfectionism? A tendency to blame others?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">23. Focus on the spiritual aspects of the holidays.<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="line-height: 150%;">24. Maintain or even increase your spiritual disciplines. </span></b><span style="line-height: 150%;">Philippians 4:6-7 (The Living Bible) <i>6
Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything; tell God your
needs, and don't forget to thank him for his answers. 7 If you do this, you
will experience God's peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind
can understand. His peace will keep your thoughts and your hearts quiet and at
rest as you trust in Christ Jesus.</i><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="line-height: 150%;">25. Live a "Christmas life," not just Christmas day. </span></b><span style="line-height: 150%;">Is it possible that part of our problems around the holidays is that we
are trying to cram a year’s worth of love, celebrating, remembering, etc., into
a mere month?</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Pastor James Farmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16888229168606495470noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7951420644427385759.post-44814975527851303362012-10-31T13:00:00.001-07:002012-10-31T13:00:13.253-07:00Special Guest: Joseph MorrisSo much is going on in the world right now and especially in the Middle East. I believe that Jesus is coming again. One of my favorite ministers is Joseph Morris. Each week he shares an "End Of Days Update." It's always powerful. You can sign up and receive and email each week when he post a new update. This is todays update, October 31st, 2012. Joe is a great friend and has been at our church before. After you watch this, take some time and read my blog on the "End of Days: The Four Specifics."<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="300" mozallowfullscreen="mozallowfullscreen" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/52558561" webkitallowfullscreen="webkitallowfullscreen" width="400"></iframe>Pastor James Farmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16888229168606495470noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7951420644427385759.post-50057603146900464912012-05-26T19:30:00.000-07:002012-05-26T19:30:02.713-07:00The 3 Things I Have Learned In Life So Far<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u><br /></u></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A good friend and mentor in my life used to make
this statement when he would minister, “It’s what you learn after you know it
all that counts.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That is so very
true.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In life, you should always
be learning and always be growing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>After all, if growth stops you will find that decay will set in to your
life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s vital in our walk with
the Lord that we are growing!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jesus told us to seek the Kingdom. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Matthew 6:33 (</b>New Living Translation) <b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“</i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Seek
the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you
everything you need.”<o:p></o:p></i></b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Amplified Bible reads, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“But seek (aim at and strive after) first of
all His kingdom and His righteousness (His way of doing and being right), and
then all these things taken together will be given you besides.”<o:p></o:p></i></b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We should desire strength in our lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Lord is our strength in all things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We always grow stronger as we are
seeking after the Lord.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even in
our struggles, in the hard and dark places, we always will find peace, joy, and
victory as we seek Him. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="text-decoration: none;">Isaiah 26:9</span><span style="text-decoration: none;"> </span></b> ”<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">With
my soul I have <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">desire</span>d You in
the night, Yes, by my spirit within me I will seek You early; For when Your
judgments are in the earth, The inhabitants of the world will learn <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">righteousness</span>.”<o:p></o:p></i></b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We need to remember what <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Proverbs 10:24 says, in the <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Amplified Bible (AMP) <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">"The thing a wicked man fears shall
come upon him, but the desire of the [uncompromisingly] righteous shall be
granted."</i></b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What you dwell on can be a powerful force in your
life, in your thoughts and in the words you speak.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It can drive your emotions and push your flesh to react in
bad and totally wrong ways.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The other day the Lord reminded me
of an episode of The Andy Griffith Show. When ole Barney would get all worked
up and flustered with Andy, he would say things like, "Nip it! Nip it
in the bud!" Or, "Tick a lock Ange! Tick! Tick a
lock!" Our attitude always will determine our altitude, spiritually
and naturally. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">James 1:4 says,<b><i> "But let
patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete,
lacking nothing."</i></b> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sometimes our flesh can be
uncomfortable, but you’d better "Nip it!" and you’d better, "Tick
a lock!" <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don't you allow the
work of patience that is being worked in you, to be undone by circumstances and
outside influences. The enemy wants you to complain and say the wrong things.
But YOU need to speak the Word to the mountain. YOU need to speak
the Word to the circumstance. And in PRAYER, speak the Word regarding any thing
and everything and not what you think is happening.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let the Lord do the work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You relax in Him! Flesh is deceiving. The Lord
wants you perfect and complete, lacking nothing. There are things going
on that you cannot see. Don't tear it down. You can't get across the
river by kicking the rocks that you are suppose to use to get to the other
side. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One of our missionaries wrote,
“Remember, if the going is real easy, we need to beware that we may be headed
down hill. There's always free cheese in the mouse traps, but the mice ain't
happy there.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There are times in which I find myself “between a
rock and hard place.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I do, I
remind myself of three simple things that really reset my compass.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Make a note of them and allow them to
speak to you and reset your compass.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I call these points:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The
Three Things I Have Learned In Life So Far<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1.
This is the day the Lord has made – make the most of it.<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Bible says, in <b><span style="text-decoration: none;">Psalm 118:24 </span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> ”<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">This</span> <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">is</span> <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">the</span> <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">day</span> <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">the</span> <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">LORD</span> <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">has</span> <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">made</span>. We will rejoice and be glad in it.”</i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><o:p></o:p></i></b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It’s HIS DAY!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He told you to rejoice and be glad!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He didn’t say to be a whiner or a complainer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He said it’s HIS DAY, you rejoice and
be glad!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In <b><span style="text-decoration: none;">Psalm 34:8 </span></b> it
says, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Taste</span> <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">and</span> <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">see</span> that the LORD is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge
in him!</i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">”<o:p></o:p></i></b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You’ll always be better off reminding yourself of
His goodness and His promises rather than your trouble.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>2.
God is smarter than I am</u></b><u>.<o:p></o:p></u></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Stop and think here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are over 7 billion people on the earth and only one
with my fingerprint.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God made you
special and unique.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Get it
in your head that He’s watching over you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Jesus said in Luke 12:7, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“</i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">And the very hairs on your head are
all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole
flock of <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">sparrow</span>s.”<o:p></o:p></i></b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He’s got it together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His
blood was shed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You are the
redeemed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He has whatever you
think is so huge and overwhelming, under control.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus told us
in Matthew 6:25-31, “<b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">25 </i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“That is why I tell you not to worry about
everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to
wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? </i></b><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">26 </i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Look
at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your
heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they
are? </i></b><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">27 </i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Can all your worries add a single moment to your
life? </i></b><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">28 </i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“And why worry about your clothing? Look at the
lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, </i></b><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">29 </i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">yet
Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. </i></b><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">30 </i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">And if
God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into
the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little
faith? </i></b><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">31 </i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What
will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ </i></b><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">32 </i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">These
things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already
knows all your needs. </i></b><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">33 </i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Seek the Kingdom of God</i></b><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> </i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">above all else, and live righteously,
and he will give you everything you need. “<o:p></o:p></i></b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And lastly,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">3.
Jesus has whooped the devil</b>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The real fight is in your mind and heart. It’s the
flesh versus the spirit. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Colossians 2:15 says that Jesus, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“</i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">…spoiled
principalities and powers, he made a shew of <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">them</span> <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">openly</span>,
triumphing over <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">them</span> in it.</i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></i></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ephesians 1:19-23 tells us about Jesus, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“</i></b><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">19 </i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">and
what <span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">is</span> the exceeding greatness
of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power
</i></b><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">20 </i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">which
He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated <span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Him</span> at His right hand in the heavenly
<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">places,</span> </i></b><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">21 </i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">far
above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is
named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. </i></b><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">22 </i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">And He
put all <span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">things</span> under His feet,
and gave Him <span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">to be</span> head over
all <span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">things</span> to the church, </i></b><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">23 </i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">which
is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.”<o:p></o:p></i></b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jesus whooped the devil.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Whooped him!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Won the victory!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He put the
enemy under His feet and Jesus gave that victory to you!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He made you MORE than a conqueror.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He could have just made you a
conqueror.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s pretty
good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But the Bible says in Romans
8:37 that He made you MORE THAN a conqueror.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Always remember that you have the will of God
before you all the time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His Word
is His will.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Believe it and speak
it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When things come in on your
thought life, remember to do what 2 Corinthians 10:5 says, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“</i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Casting
down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the
knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of
Christ.”</i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><o:p></o:p></i></b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Amen!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Prayer:
Father, I choose to believe YOU.
I choose to believe YOUR WORD.
I cast down the wrong thoughts and imaginations that try to pull me down
and cause me to whine and complain.
I choose to believe and speak good things. I choose to walk in the victory that YOU bought, paid for,
and won for me. Amen!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Myriad Roman'; font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Pastor James Farmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16888229168606495470noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7951420644427385759.post-39223072403843392052012-02-09T10:41:00.000-08:002012-02-09T10:42:05.548-08:00End of Days: The Four Specifics<span style="font-style:italic;">Note: My good friend John George inspired me with a letter I received from him a while back. Two of his paragraphs was the inspiration for this devotional. For the past few weeks, we've been ministering on end time events that are happening now. We've talked about international affairs and national affairs. This devotional has to with each of us internally and our walk in these lasts days. </span> <br /> <br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">“Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?” Matthew 24:3</span><br /> <br />Let me encourage you! God has great things in store for you! He has a plan and a purpose for you to fulfill! He has set you apart for such a time as this. He has good in mind for you! His Word tells us that He does. All of that is so true, but so is how YOU live your life. <br /> <br />Your spiritual life is vital in the days and times in which we live now. It’s important to take note of how we deal with circumstances, relationships, and our flesh, especially in the days and times in which we live. We need to get a hold of our mind and our thought life. The Bible tells us to cast down wrong thinking that’s not in line with what the Word of God tells us. <span style="font-weight:bold;">"We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ" (2 Corinthians 10:5, NIV)</span> Please note that it is up to us to do the casting down. That’s a discipline that WE MUST DO!<br /> <br />We live in a day where people get angry if it’s not “all about them”. The world’s way of thinking today will cry out in anger, “Don’t judge me!” But you know that same attitude has gotten into the lives of believers too! The ways of the world can creep in. Sometimes, without realizing where we are, we will not judge ourselves. No self-control, no self-evaluation, and no heart-check. We must ask ourselves, could we stand before Him and say that what’s in our heart reminds us of Him? <br /> <br />We live in a day and time where offenses rule the day. We live in a time where emotions and feelings rule the day, instead of spiritual truth that is unfailing. We live in a day where people will not submit to the authority of the Word. We live in a day where people seek out things that please their fancy. We truly live in a day where the love of God that was shed abroad in our hearts is growing cold among believers. Like James said, <span style="font-weight:bold;">“…these things ought NOT be, brethren.” (James 3:10)</span> We must remember that pride will always make excuses, but humility makes adjustments!<br /> <br />In Matthew 24, Jesus shares some very clear facts about the last days. Jesus told us to learn the parable of the fig tree. Notice what He said in these verses. After all, it is, and should be, what HE said that counts, right? <br /> <br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Matthew 24:32-34, “Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. 33 So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near—at the doors! 34 Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place.”</span><br /> <br />Jesus told us to learn this parable. This parable figuratively is talking about Israel. The “fig tree” is a representative of Israel. We ought to be watching Israel. Jesus said while it is still young and begins to produce… pay attention because summer is near! That means that harvest is very close. Israel, as a nation, is a powerhouse of production. Being only 62 years old, it is a powerhouse economically, in technology, in agriculture, and so much more. Many great things that you and I enjoy had their invention in Israel. The Fig Tree is producing in great measure. Harvest is close. <br /> <br />In Matthew 24, the disciples asked Jesus what would be the sign of His coming and the end of the age (Verse 3). The disciples, according to scripture, were “privately asking”. Jesus then got very direct and specific about His answer in verses 4 through 14 about the end of the age. There are Four Specifics, spoken to BELIEVERS, that Jesus warned us about in those verses. As believers, let us consider them. <br /> <br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">1. Let No Man Deceive You.</span><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Matthew 24:4, “Take heed that no one deceives you.” </span>The Bible warns us about being people with ears that are easily tickled. 2 Timothy 4:3, <span style="font-weight:bold;">“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears.”</span> People don’t like to be wrong. None us do. When you go just to get your ears tickled instead of being a DOER of the Word, you’ll find yourself in the middle of nowhere, with no paddle, and absolutely no anchors. You will find yourself adrift in the sea of a spiritually shallow life.<br /> <br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">2. You Will Hear Of Wars And Rumors Of Wars. (Matthew 24:6)<br /></span>There’s been a whole lot going on in the earth since Israel became a nation. A whole lot. Many wars and civil wars. Unrest. No peace. The Middle East itself is a hotbed of war and terrorism. Today, as I write this, the Middle East has become more intense than ever before. Pay attention that you are living for Him and doing the things He has called you to do. This is not the practice run of your life; this is the real deal. <br /> <br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">3. Many Will Be Offended, Betray & Hate One Another. (Matthew 24:10)<br /></span>Second Timothy 3:2 tells us that people will be lovers of themselves more than lovers of God. When you are more into YOU, you’ll slander, attack and betray to get YOUR way or to make your case. It’s not in the name of Jesus that you do this in… it’s in the name of your flesh. There are so many who are offended and walking out of love in our circles today simply because they didn’t get their way. Jesus was talking about believers here. Just because something is said to you that doesn’t set too well with you, doesn’t mean that it’s wrong. Advancement without character will always lead to ruin. Faithfulness will be lacking in these last days. Check your heart.<br /> <br />The Bible tells us that the Love of God is shed abroad in our hearts. We need to check our hearts. Have self-control. Have character. Be godly! Godliness is profitable in this life and in the life to come (1 Timothy 4:8). The harvest is plentiful but the laborers ARE FEW! Why? Because of number three here! The offended, the betrayers, and the haters. Are you yielding to the Love of God shed in your heart? Or are you yielding your flesh? There are few laborers because our lives are warning signs to this world that is lost. You may be the only Bible someone will ever read. You may be the only Jesus they will ever see. Live for Him, show Him to be true in you! The world as a whole has not rejected Jesus; they have rejected our example of Him.<br /> <br />Lastly, and this is a kicker too! <br /> <br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">4. Iniquity Will Abound And Love Will Grow Cold Among Believers. (Matthew 24:12)<br /></span>Over the years I have seen so many fall into sin. They secretly delve into sin and then wipe their mouth as if nothing is wrong. I have seen others become very cold toward other believers, engaging in strife and backbiting, and opening the door for all kinds of trouble. If you yield to those things, it’s as if you just open up the door to your home with a sign in your yard that says, “take all that I have!” That’s what the enemy will do too! The Bible says, <span style="font-weight:bold;">“Neither give place to the devil,”</span> Ephesians 4:27. If you are in sin and walking out of that love walk, you’ll open up the door to things you won’t see with the eyes of your flesh. <br /><br />We ought to consider those things that Jesus said. We are living in an exciting time. Yes we are! But we need to be sharp and living for Him. We need to be diligent about being that doer and not just a hearer only. The times in which we live may be difficult at moments but Jesus said, <span style="font-weight:bold;">“As we endure, stand firm under pressure, in our faith, we will be saved.” Matthew 24:13. </span> <br /> <br />Let me encourage you as we close here. Hebrews 10:25 says to forsake not the assembling of yourselves together. Be in church. Be involved. Serve. Reach out and touch others. Do the things that move you forward and upward in your growth in God. Don’t allow the circumstances and cares of life to get you down. Stand firm under pressure, and endure. Keep a handle on your flesh. Again, God has great things in store for you. He has a plan and a destiny for you to fulfill. Don’t allow the things that the enemy throws at you to pull you away from your walk with God. Jump in and let’s run for Jesus’ glory in these last days. Let’s bring in that harvest! Let’s be ON FIRE for God in these last days! Amen!<br /> <br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Prayer:</span> Father I thank You that I am Your child. I choose to live daily for you. I choose to crucify my flesh and put it under subjection to Your Word. I will live my life Godly in service to You until I see You face to face! Amen.Pastor James Farmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16888229168606495470noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7951420644427385759.post-3505956284394182952011-11-05T19:09:00.000-07:002012-02-09T11:13:07.533-08:00Thanksgiving & Worship The Ultimate Act Of Faith<span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Times;color:#ffffff;" ><p align="left"><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:100%;">It is so vital that we be hungry for God in our lives. Keeping yourself in a state of consistently growing is so important to your Christian walk. Do you want something new? I mean something new, something fresh? Something beautiful! You know if your horse is dead, you need to get off of it. Do something different! If what you're doing is not working, then hey, get off of it and do something different! I believe God is all about change, don't you?</span></p><p align="left"><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:100%;">If you want a crop that you've never had before you have to plant seeds that you've never planted before. If you want something that you've never had before in your life, then you have to do something that you've never done before. We want a fresh move of God!</span></p><p align="left"><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:100%;">You see, if you want God to do something new in your life, then usually you've got to do something new. The Bible says, "Draw nigh unto God and He'll draw nigh unto you." If you want God to hurry and move in your life then you need to hurry and move toward Him! Isn't that right?</span></p><p align="left"><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:100%;">If you want a quick move of God, then repent quickly. Believe Him quickly. Obey Him quickly and you'll get a quick move of God. Amen!</span></p><p align="left"><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:100%;"><strong>Worship is an act of your faith!</strong></span></p><p align="left"><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:100%;">Worship is so powerful for our daily lives.</span></p><p align="left"><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:100%;">• <strong>Praise Him in the church.</strong></span></p><p align="left"><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:100%;">Hebrews 2:12 says, <em>"Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee."</em></span></p><p align="left"><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:100%;">Psalm 35:18 <em>"I will give thee thanks in the great congregation: I will praise thee among much people."</em></span></p><p align="left"><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:100%;">Psalm 150:1 <em>"Praise ye the Lord. Praise God in His sanctuary: praise Him in the firmament of His power." </em> </span></p><p align="left"><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:100%;">These are just a few of many scriptures that I could use in reference to praising God in the church.</span></p><p align="left"><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:100%;">• <strong>Praise Him outside the church (translated "all the time").</strong></span></p><p align="left"><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:100%;">1 Thessalonians 5:16 <em>"Rejoice evermore."</em></span></p><p align="left"><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:100%;">Philippians 4:4 <em>"Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say rejoice."</em></span></p><p align="left"><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:100%;">Psalm 34:1 <em>"I will bless the Lord at all times: His praise shall continually be in my mouth."</em></span></p><p align="left"><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:100%;">The Ultimate act of faith is worship according to Hebrews 13:15. It says to us, <em>"By Him let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to His name."</em></span></p><p align="left"><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:100%;">We have a responsibility as the Body of Christ, to worship God. We can see that in the few verses we've given so far. Worship is not all there is to our walk with the Lord. It is not everything, but it's a vital part of our relationship with God. It's not what we know, it's what we do that counts.</span></p><p align="left"><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:100%;">Praise and worship is also the gateway to the supernatural. It opens up the door for God to move, touch, and speak to you. Worship creates that supernatural connection that we all hunger for in our lives. </span></p><p align="left"><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:100%;">You can't please God in your flesh. John 4:23-24 says, <em>"But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship Him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth." </em></span></p><p align="left"><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:100%;">Romans 8:8 tells us that, <em>"So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God."</em> In the Old Testament, men used to have to go to the temple, but now we can all worship. In the OT times a priest did the communication. Now, because of Jesus, we have a constant flow of communication if we make the connection. Praise and worship is the key to keeping your communication lines open to the promptings of the Lord.</span></p><p align="left"><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:100%;">Let's talk about the power of our focus.</span></p><p align="left"><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:100%;">Let's look at Psalm 133:1-2. </span></p><p align="left"><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:100%;"><em>"Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! (2) It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments."</em> </span></p><p align="left"><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:100%;">In verse one we see a clue of the power of focus. There's nothing like saying the same thing. ONE FOCUS, on ONE THING, at ONE TIME. We can do that by singing and worshipping God. </span></p><p align="left"><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:100%;">In verse two we see the results of the right focus. That ointment, (or the anointing) starts out as a drop, then a flow, then it coats everything that comes in contact with it. It gets stronger as it flows. The anointing comes, not just so you can get blessed, but so other people can get help too. </span></p><p align="left"><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:100%;">You bring His presence and His anointing on the scene when you worship Him. </span></p><p align="left"><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:100%;"><strong>Four Goals That You Should Seek In Worship</strong></span></p><p align="left"><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:100%;">• <strong>Begin by rejoicing and stirring up the joy.</strong></span></p><p align="left"><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:100%;">The joy of the Lord is our strength. In His presence is fullness of joy. Right? In Children's ministry you don't come in boring, you come in with joy. (Example: "If you're happy and you know it.") You don't come in heavy. </span></p><p align="left"><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:100%;">Isaiah 12:3 <em>"Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation." </em> </span></p><p align="left"><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:100%;">There's a connection from heaven when you worship. Joy unspeakable. But YOU stir up that joy by putting a smile on your face. Putting feet to your faith. Taking action. Faith without works is dead. If your horse is dead GET OFF OF IT!</span></p><p align="left"><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:100%;">• <strong>Get into thanksgiving and praise. </strong></span></p><p align="left"><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:100%;">In its purest form, being thankful is a response to the goodness of God. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 says,<em>"In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." </em> Giving thanks: that's the will of God right there for you!</span></p><p align="left"><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:100%;">• <strong>Endeavor to worship God. </strong></span></p><p align="left"><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:100%;">When we say that we endeavor to worship, that simply means you and God in communion and fellowship together. One of the ways we endeavor to worship is by lifting up holy hands.</span></p><p align="left"><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:100%;">Look at your hands and say this, <em>"These are holy hands." </em>1 Timothy 2:8 tells us to lift up holy hands. Lifting up your hands to worship is an act of great reverence and consecration because it pulls a part of your flesh (that you use for yourself) and you take that focus away from your body and you point it toward your Creator. There's a difference between "praise" and "worship". </span></p><p align="left"><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:100%;">Clapping during the worship times, those quiet moments, was a big issue at one time. If Billy Graham, or even the President of the United States walked in, we would honor them with a standing ovation. But there is something different when God shows up. We need to be humble and lift up holy hands and praise the one who conquered death, hell, and the grave for you and me. The one who has delivered us! Period! Oh, when the Lord shows up, He is Holy. Holy is the Lord! </span></p><p align="left"><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:100%;">• <strong>Take the time to worship so that when you get out into the world you have a source of power.</strong></span></p><p align="left"><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:100%;">You see, in the dark hour, and before you are in a dark hour, you must worship Him. Quit being controlled by your feelings or what the circumstance looks like or what your emotions are telling you, and praise your Deliverer!</span></p><p align="left"><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:100%;">Acts 16:25-31 reads, <em>"Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening. Suddenly, there was a massive earthquake, and the prison was shaken to its foundations. All the doors immediately flew open, and the chains of every prisoner fell off! The jailer woke up to see the prison doors wide open. He assumed the prisoners had escaped, so he drew his sword to kill himself. But Paul shouted to him, "Stop! Don't kill yourself! We are all here!" The jailer called for lights and ran to the dungeon and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. Then he brought them out and asked, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" They replied, "Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, along with everyone in your household." </em></span></p><p align="left"><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:100%;">They sang praises at the darkest moment, in the lowest part of the prison. Theologians say that was the place where the sewers ran. They say that old Paul and Silas could have been waist deep in unspeakables! Oh, but at the midnight hour they sang praises! The whole prison heard them. They were LOUD! Then, the "suddenly" happened. It would do you and me a whole lot of good if we'd just praise Him at all times! That way something good is always happening to me!</span></p><p align="left"><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:100%;">God is always faithful and always present. Ready to move if we would just open up that door corporately and personally. </span></p><p align="left"><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:100%;"><strong>Abraham Lincoln </strong></span></p><p align="left"><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:100%;">It's been said that President Lincoln had an appointment one day with a very elderly lady. As she entered the President's office, he arose, seated her, and asked, "How may I be of service to you, madam?" </span></p><p align="left"><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:100%;">The little lady said, "Mr. President, I know that you are a busy man. I have not come to ask you anything. I simply came to bring you this box of cookies, for I heard that you enjoy them so much."</span></p><p align="left"><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:100%;">A silence followed in which tears overflowed the eyes of the President. Finally, he raised his head and spoke to the little lady. "Madam, I thank you for your thoughtful gift. I am greatly moved by it. Since I have been President of this great country, thousands of people have come into this office asking for favors and demanding things from me. You are the first person who has ever entered these premises asking no favor and indeed, bringing a gift for me. I thank you from the bottom of my heart." </span></p><p align="left"><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:100%;">Church, we need to always be aware that our existence is not so that we can have a new car or house, money, etc. God cares about us, and He will always bless us. But our existence is to have fellowship with our creator. </span></p><p align="left"><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:100%;">So many requests...as President Lincoln said. So many requests, and our Father simply wants our companionship. Amen.</span></p><p align="left"><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:100%;"><strong>Prayer: </strong> Father, I choose to be thankful! I choose to worship and adore You. You are an awesome God! Thank You for saving me and delivering me! Amen.</span></p></span>Pastor James Farmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16888229168606495470noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7951420644427385759.post-72205634916827944912011-10-08T16:09:00.000-07:002011-10-08T16:24:44.368-07:00Your Personal Home Maintenance & Repair<span style="font-weight:bold;">October Devotional<br /></span><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">"And David inquired of God, saying, "Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will You deliver them into my hand?" The Lord said to him, "Go up, for I will deliver them into your hand." So they went up to Baal Perazim, and David defeated them there. Then David said, " God has broken through my enemies by my hand like a breakthrough of water." Therefore they call the name of that place Baal Perazim." </span><br />1 Chronicles 14:10-11<br /> <br />The Amplified Bible says in verse eleven <span style="font-weight:bold;">"the Lord of Breaking through." </span>One translation says in the literal sense that the Lord is the <span style="font-weight:bold;">"Master of Breakthroughs."</span> Our God is a God of breakthroughs! He's never late, but He's always right on time all the time. He is the Master of Breakthroughs for you and for me! So much of the time we yield our "eyes" to other things. We allow ourselves to pulled away from being fixed and on track. We allow ourselves to be pulled away from being on course and fixed on purpose and hitting the mark. <br /> <br />There will always be times in our lives when we seem to be held up or we "feel" like our wheels are moving slow. There will be times when things just don't seem to be right. We must be alert that we are not allowing fear to take hold of us with feelings of inadequacy. We must not allow these feelings to shackle us and hold us back right when we are about to step into our victory!<br /> <br />When I was in high school, I took a class called "Home Maintenance and Repair." I learned so much in that class. I learned about wiring, fixing a wall, hanging wallpaper, building shelves, even soldering copper water lines with a propane torch and so much more. It was a fun class and it was an easy class to score a perfect grade, but you had to do it right! If you didn't do it right your project would turn out wrong. If you didn't do it right your project would be lopsided and goofy and to beat it all, you'd have to do that particular project all over again till you got it right! This devotional can help you get hold of some truths to help you "get it right" every time!<br /> <br />One of the greatest truths that the enemy just does not want you to understand or grasp in any way, shape, or form is the simple but profound truth, "You can control your thought life." <br /> <br />All of us deal with our thinking. That old stinkin' thinkin'. A lot of the time it's that old stinking thinking that is keeping those feelings hanging around in our lives. They may be feelings that we keep fighting off and on in our lives like feelings of defeat and discouragement. You know all those words that begin with "de" and "dis" like disgruntled and deflated etc. <br /> <br />Proverbs 23:7 tells us, <span style="font-weight:bold;">"For as he thinks in his heart, so is he." <span style="font-style:italic;"></span></span>The goofy devil's purpose for attacking your mind is really simple. If he can get you to think about something long enough and hard enough, he knows that you'll become the object of your meditation. You choose what you dwell on. The only thing that the devil can do is throw those curve balls, you're the one that chooses to catch them and keep them.<br /> <br />If you meditate on fearful thoughts, you'll be afraid. If it's discouragement, then you'll be discouraged. If it's inadequacy, you'll be incapable. You alone can hinder yourself from fulfilling God's plan for your life all by being bound by your own thought life! Ouch! That's good preaching! <br /> <br />Here are three Home Maintenance and Repair keys for you and me to apply to keep us breakthough-minded!<br /> <br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">ONE: Cast down goofy imaginations!</span><br /> <br />Second Corinthians 10:4-5 says, <span style="font-weight:bold;">"for the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ."<span style="font-style:italic;"></span></span><br /> <br />When the enemy sticks a thought out there, don't just sit there! CAST IT DOWN! When bad thoughts come, say it out loud, "In the Name of Jesus, NO, I will not think that way!" Bring your thoughts into captivity and think on what His Word says! You don't have to think on all that stuff if you really don't want to. Stop it!<br /> <br />Don't sit there and wait for God to do something. He already did it! Jesus has already died and been resurrected! You've got it. You do something about your thoughts! Cast down those vain imaginations. The problem so much of the time is that we look for some "outside" help or influence to help us deal with the problem. There are times in the midst of a situation that we do need some outside help. But when it comes to our thoughts, it's up to us to cast them down!<br /> <br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">TWO: Fill your mind with thoughts of faith!</span><br /> <br />Did you know that the word "success" is only mentioned one time in the Bible? It's true. The one reference is in Joshua 1:8, <span style="font-weight:bold;">"This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success." <span style="font-style:italic;"></span></span> <br /> <br />What is interesting here in the only reference to word success in the Bible, is that it is connected to our meditation! We must make a decision to be dominated by faith and not fear. I was coming back from a trip once on one of the major airlines. As we were coming in for the landing, the plane banked hard and you could feel the landing gear doors open. Flying as much as I have, certain sounds in flight can become "comforting". The landing gear doors opening and then hearing them come down is one that I recognized. It felt different this time. All of a sudden, as we were approaching, the pilot pulled the gear doors closed, and we were going back higher in the air. The approach was made again. And again the gears didn't come down. The pilot came on and told us they were having some problems. The person beside me started asking me serious questions about what would be next. For the next hour and a half we flew around as they tried to get that gear down. Isn't it funny that when we're in a situation like that, we find ourselves thinking the worst? The worst thoughts come up first because of the way we have programmed our own thinking!<br /> <br />Well they got the gear down and we landed safely, but I tell you, the thoughts were real. I chose to cast them down and believed instead, "We'll be just fine!" And we were! People will sometimes react with the worst of thoughts, "Oh, I've got a terrible headache, it must be a brain tumor!" No, you've got to change your thinking. "I dwell in the secret place of the Most High, His angels have charge over me. I will not fear!"<br /> <br />We are the ones who make the decision about what we dwell on! Thoughts are out there, but we choose whether we'll take that thought or not. A computer will only do what somebody has told it to do. You and I only do, act, and say what we've plugged into that space between our ears!<br /> <br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">THREE: Watch your thought intake!</span><br /> <br />A lot of us struggle with our thoughts. People wonder why they struggle with certain things. It always goes back to what we've taken in!<br /> <br />The old adage, "You are what you eat." That is so true. Too much intake of things that cause you to drift is very dangerous! Too much secular things will dull you and lull you into a drift. A ship that is not anchored is a hazard to other vessels. Your anchor must be sure and steadfast. Warning signs for drifting are things like: a diminishing desire to study the Word, a diminishing desire to be with God's people, a diminishing desire to share the Gospel, and an increasing thrill over the things of the world. All of those things create undercurrents that will pull you off course. Put the Word in and the Word will come out! Jesus said in Mark 4:24, <span style="font-weight:bold;">"Take heed what you hear."<span style="font-style:italic;"></span></span> We must be careful of the type of seeds that we plant in our heads. If you don't keep your grass cut and treated you'll have a mess of weeds. Watch your thought intake!<br /> <br />Make a quality decision and the necessary adjustments, and set a guard on your thoughts. Be faithful to take care of your "Home Maintenance and Repairs."<br /> <br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Prayer:</span> Heavenly Father, I am a believer, full of faith in Your Word. I cast down every thought that would prevent me from walking in victory. I control my thoughts; my thoughts do not control me. There is no weapon formed against me that shall prosper, and You are leading me in Your triumph through Christ. I thank You, Father, for the mind of Christ. I am releasing Your miracle-working power to flow through my life and circumstances now, in the mighty Name of Jesus! Amen!<br /> <br />Pastor James FarmerPastor James Farmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16888229168606495470noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7951420644427385759.post-72855039721739862772011-08-30T18:37:00.000-07:002011-08-30T18:41:36.415-07:00Your Thought LifeOur thought life before we were born again and after being born again should be different like night and day. The fact remains that we all struggle with our thought life. Romans 8:7 tells us, <span style="font-weight:bold;">“Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be.” <span style="font-style:italic;"></span></span>It says here that your mind is at war against God. Your flesh doesn’t want to do certain things at times. Especially regarding spiritual matters. There are a lot of spiritual things that can be tough on your flesh.
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<br />Appetites are developed in life. Habits are developed. Desires are developed. Your thought life is developed as well. You feed all those things too. I’m not crazy about broccoli, but when you put cheese on it, it is a little easier to eat. That’s a developed appetite. There are all kinds of wrong thoughts and “habitual thinking” which can create wrong processes in your life. When I say “habitual thinking”, I am talking about the way you have been programmed either through the way you were brought up or through your own consistent way of thinking. Much of who we are and how we act is a reflection of how we grew up. How we think is a reflection of our feelings and experiences in life. It is always good to ask yourself at times, “What are the most dominant thoughts in my mind and heart right now?”
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<br />We should take an inventory of what is going on in our thought life. What are you allowing yourself to dwell on? If you dwell on “Twinkies” you’ll go get one or a Little Debbie snack! We only resist what we want to resist. It’s one thing to think on it, but it’s another thing to yield to it. Can you see the seeds that have been sown in your thought life over time? Everything in your life begins as a thought. What you allow yourself to dwell on can change your destiny.
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<br />Thoughts that are dwelt on and pondered will eventually lead to actions. You don’t just wake up one day and find your life in shambles. All those things started as a thought that was planted into your mind and you let it take root and grow. It is in our mind that the battlefield rages. Most of the hardest battles that we face in life are faced in our minds. The battleground is truly between our ears!
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<br />Have you ever had weeds in your yard? Weeds can really be a problem if you let them go unchecked. If you don’t take care of your yard, those weeds will creep in and multiply until they take over and choke out your good grass. What do you do with weeds? Well, you use certain products that you can spray or sprinkle on your grass that will defend against weed “attacks”. Your mind can have “weeds” that creep in. You resist them at first and they go away. But over time, if you dwell on them, they will multiply.
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<br />What do you do? Well, going to church and having a daily devotional and Bible study plan, and having godly relationships can be like getting your mind “sprayed” with the Word of God. That can make a big difference. What you are doing or not doing can make a difference as well. Just like you would spray for weeds in your yard, you need to keep your mind sprayed too. The more you spray, the more you will find that those “weeds” in your thought life will start coming down one, two, three, four and they are NO MORE! You will find yourself coming to a point where it is a rare thing to struggle with those “weeds” in your mind. It will be rare that those wrong thoughts come up. When they do surface, they will be much easier to deal with because you keep them sprayed. Remember, weeds will grow and multiply if you leave them alone and don’t deal with them.
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<br />You can keep the doubt out by allowing the “abundance of the heart”, God on the inside of you, to be the “playmaker” of your life. One preacher once said, “It’s a whole lot easier to pull up a weed than to cut down a tree.” Deal with yourself and your thought life. Keep yourself and your flesh sprayed with the Word of God.
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<br />It is so vital that we be very selective about what we plant in our soul (which, of course, is our mind, our will, and our emotions). Philippians 4:8-9 tells us, <span style="font-weight:bold;">“Summing it all up, friends, I'd say you'll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious - the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies.” <span style="font-style:italic;"></span></span>(The Message Translation) Think right and your harvest in your personal life will be joy, health, long life, prosperity, peace of mind, and stability.
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<br />What do I do to insure my stability in the walk of life? The Bible tells us in Psalm 103:1-5, <span style="font-weight:bold;">“Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits; Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, Who satisfies your mouth with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.”
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<br />You know, we have so very much for which to be thankful! I like another really good word, “grateful”. The word grateful, in the Webster’s Dictionary, means: appreciative of benefits received, expressing gratitude: affording pleasure or contentment: pleasing; pleasing by reason of comfort supplied or discomfort alleviated. Wow! Psalm 103:1 says, <span style="font-weight:bold;">“Bless the Lord, O my soul.”<span style="font-style:italic;"></span></span> Your soul is your mind, will, and emotions. There are many times in life that you need to just tell yourself to bless the Lord! Thank Him! Praise Him! Your mind will say a lot of things that will not remind you of God’s goodness in your life. Verses 2-5 tell us of His goodness and that we should <span style="font-weight:bold;">“forget NOT”!</span> Amen! Again, you have so much to be grateful for! Sometimes you just need to tell yourself so that you always “KEEP” your joy and peace in any circumstance or situation. Be grateful!
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<br />Here are a few things to “Think On”!
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<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">• Get the right “Spray” on your “Weeds” (Your thoughts).</span>
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<br />Get into the Word of God. Hang out with God. Stay there! Read and meditate and be a doer of the Word. There are many bystanders in life, but participators get results. Be a doer of the Word. Spray your mind by being a worshiper. Spend time worshipping Jesus apart from church, apart from anything else. You worship Him and make it intimate by fellowshipping with God one on one. Fill yourself with Him. Spray your mind with the Word. Renew your thinking according to Romans 12:1-2. Get the right “spray”.
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<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">• Direct your affections.</span>
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<br />Lot set his tent toward Sodom and Gomorrah. He set it toward that direction and he wound up there! Colossians 3:2 says, <span style="font-weight:bold;">“Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. “ <span style="font-style:italic;"></span></span>You direct what you dwell and think on. You direct what you have an affection or a craving for. You are the director of your life. You alone sit in the director’s chair. You call the shots. You yield to and do what YOU WANT. It’s time to DIRECT your affections.
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<br />1 John 2:15-17 from The MessageTranslation reads, <span style="font-weight:bold;">“Don't love the world's ways. Don't love the world's goods. Love of the world squeezes out love for the Father.”<span style="font-style:italic;"></span></span>
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<br />Practically everything that goes on in the world - wanting your own way, wanting everything for yourself, wanting to appear important - has nothing to do with the Father. It just isolates you from Him. Direct your affections!
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<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">• Ask God To Help You.</span>
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<br />We have a responsibility to do that which we know is right. But there are many times in life where we need help. John 15:4-8 out of The Message Translation reads, <span style="font-weight:bold;">"Live in me. Make your home in me just as I do in you. In the same way that a branch can't bear grapes by itself but only by being joined to the vine, you can't bear fruit unless you are joined with me. "I am the Vine, you are the branches. When you're joined with me and I with you, the relationship is intimate and organic, the harvest is sure to be abundant. Separated, you can't produce a thing. Anyone who separates from me is deadwood, gathered up and thrown on the bonfire. But if you make yourselves at home with me and my words are at home in you, you can be sure that whatever you ask will be listened to and acted upon. This is how my Father shows who he is - when you produce grapes, when you mature as my disciples.”<span style="font-style:italic;"></span></span>
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<br />When you need help, run home to the Lord. Hook up and let Him help you to grow. Philippians 4:13 says, <span style="font-weight:bold;">“I can do all things through Christ Who strengthens me.” <span style="font-style:italic;"></span></span>You cannot do it all yourself, you need His grace and strength to move upward and onward in Him.
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<br />God wants you to walk a life of joy and victory every day. God wants you to walk in His peace and in His joy. God wants you strong and stable because you are HIS NAMESAKE in this earth. Live for Him and consistently and habitually yield yourself to His Word and His way.
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<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><span style="font-style:italic;">Prayer:</span><span style="font-style:italic;"></span></span> Father, I thank You that I have the mind of Christ. I have Your wisdom. My mind is continually being renewed to think exactly like Jesus. Because I am diligent to Your Word, my thoughts tend only to plenteousness. Every thought that I have is brought into captivity to the obedience of Christ Jesus! Amen. (1 Cor 2:16, 1:30, Eph 4:23-24, Pro 21:5 & 2 Cor 10:3-5)Pastor James Farmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16888229168606495470noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7951420644427385759.post-37648525375023894662011-05-04T09:26:00.000-07:002011-05-04T09:29:13.512-07:00Special Guest Post: Tony Cooke<span style="font-weight:bold;">Grace, Repentance, and Confession<br /></span>By Rev. Tony Cooke<br /><br />I recently had the privilege of doing some extended meetings at Pastor Jerry Weinzierl’s church in Sterling Heights, Michigan, and was able to teach in-depth on the topic of grace. One of the areas I taught related to how God’s grace affects whether believers need to confess sins or repent. Some have the distinct impression that being under grace means that it is unnecessary to repent of or confess sins we commit. Instead, it is thought, believers simply need to recognize that they were already forgiven.<br /><br />Before addressing this, it is vital to define our terms scripturally. The words “repent” and “repentance” do not mean that we anxiously wallow in guilt, hashing and re-hashing our failures, or that we walk perpetually in sin-consciousness. Here is what some of the most respected Greek scholars have to say about the Greek word for repentance:<br /><br />“The Greek noun metanoia literally means, ‘a change of mind.’ It is more than an emotional sorrow, which too often does not produce any change of life. Rather, it is a change of mind, or attitude, toward God, sin, and ourselves” (Ralph Earle).<br /><br />“...the change of mind of those who have begun to abhor their errors and misdeeds, and have determined to enter upon a better course of life, so that it embraces both a recognition of sin and sorrow for it and hearty amendment, the tokens and effects of which are good deeds” (Joseph H. Thayer).<br /><br />In his outstanding work, A Light in the Darkness: Seven Messages to the Seven Churches, Rick Renner writes: “When the words meta and nous are combined together; the new word depicts a decision to completely change the way one thinks, lives, or behaves. This doesn’t describe a temporary emotional sorrow for past actions; rather, it is a solid, intellectual decision to turn about-face and take a new direction, to completely alter one’s life by discarding an old, destructive pattern and embracing a brand new one. True repentance involves a conscious decision both to turn away from sin, selfishness, and rebellion, and to turn toward God with all of one’s heart and mind. It is a complete, 180-degree turn in one’s thinking and behaving.”<br /><br />Resolutions are not the same as repentance. William Douglas Chamberlain wrote, “The Christian faith turns men’s faces forward. Repentance is the reorientation of a personality with reference to God and His purpose.” Further, he states that in order for believers to enjoy the kingdom of God, they must “undergo a mental transfiguration, which we call ‘repentance.’ Repentance looks ahead in hope and anticipation while remorse “looks backward in shame and forward in fear.”<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Jesus Preached Repentance<br /></span>The very first words Jesus preached (according to Matthew 4:17) were “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Notice that Jesus didn’t simply advocate people turning from the negative, but He wanted people to awaken to the positive - the kingdom of heaven - that was becoming available to them. In this sense, we can say that repentance is really prophetic preparation; it is the preparation of our hearts for something wonderful that God is making available to us.<br /><br />Repentance occurs when we awaken to God’s glorious potential for our lives. In the light of God’s goodness and good intentions toward us, we recognize the deficiency of our selfish perspective and the destructiveness of our sinful behavior. Thus, we turn from them in order to embrace a new, better, and higher life offered by the God of grace. Like grace, repentance involves both attitude and action. There is the discontinuation of wrong behavior based upon a heart and mind that have turned completely toward God and His ways.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">But Do Believers Have to Repent?<br /></span>Some believe that confession of sin and repentance is important for unbelievers, but becomes unnecessary once a person has become born-again. After all, it is reasoned, if Jesus already died for and has already forgiven all of our sins, why would we need to acknowledge them or confess them if they’re already under the blood?<br /><br />Long after His ascension, Jesus addressed believers in various congregations throughout Asia Minor (Revelation 2-3). He told five out of seven congregations that they needed to repent of certain sins, and specifically told the Laodiceans: “Those whom I [dearly and tenderly] love, I tell their faults and convict and convince and reprove and chasten [I discipline and instruct them]. So be enthusiastic and in earnest and burning with zeal and repent [changing your mind and attitude]” (Revelation 3:19, Amplified).<br /><br />Jesus was not telling these believers that they needed to earn their forgiveness by repentance, but He certainly wanted them to acknowledge the areas where they needed to make adjustments and align themselves with His Word.<br /><br />The Apostle Paul certainly believed that it was important for believers who had missed it to repent before God and, with the help of God, to get their lives in order. In 2 Corinthians 12:20-21 (NLT), he said, “For I am afraid that when I come I won’t like what I find, and you won’t like my response. I am afraid that I will find quarreling, jealousy, anger, selfishness, slander, gossip, arrogance, and disorderly behavior. Yes, I am afraid that when I come again, God will humble me in your presence. And I will be grieved because many of you have not given up your old sins. You have not repented of your impurity, sexual immorality, and eagerness for lustful pleasure.”<br /><br />Paul has often been called “The Apostle of Grace,” and yet he obviously believed that repentance is important for Christians who get off-track. I believe the clear teaching of Scripture is not that grace makes repentance unnecessary, but that grace makes repentance possible. Because God is gracious, He doesn’t reject us or cast us out when we struggle or fail, but He invites us to, “...come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16). In 2 Corinthians 7:10, Paul said that, “godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.”<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">What About Confession?<br /></span>When we understand what confession (of sin) really entails, we realize that it is THE first step in the repentance process. The Greek word “homologeo” is derived from two words meaning “same” and “to speak.” Hence, it is typically defined as meaning to speak the same thing. Confess also means to agree with, to concede, to admit, and to acknowledge. If a person doesn’t first acknowledge that there is a problem, how or why would they bother to change their mind, their attitude, or their conduct about that problem? A person will never repent unless they first confess (or acknowledge) that the issue is a sin.<br /><br />It is unfortunate that some have endeavored to diminish the significance of confession by claiming the 1 John 1 was not written to Christians, but to unbelievers or gnostics. Many epistles were written against backdrops of doctrinal error, but every New Testament epistle was written to Christians. 1 Corinthians was written against a backdrop of antinomianism, Galatians against a backdrop of legalism, Colossians against a backdrop of asceticism, and 1 John against a backdrop of gnosticism, but ALL were written TO Christians.<br /><br />The Bible Knowledge Commentary states: “In modern times some have occasionally denied that a Christian needs to confess his sins and ask forgiveness. It is claimed that a believer already has forgiveness in Christ (Ephesians 1:7). But this point of view confuses the perfect position which a Christian has in God’s Son (by which he is even ‘seated…with Him in the heavenly realms’ [Ephesians 2:6]) with his needs as a failing individual on earth. What is considered in 1 John 1:9 may be described as ‘familial’ forgiveness. It is perfectly understandable how a son may need to ask his father to forgive him for his faults while at the same time his position within the family is not in jeopardy. A Christian who never asks his heavenly Father for forgiveness for his sins can hardly have much sensitivity to the ways in which he grieves his Father. First John 1:9 is not spoken to the unsaved, and the effort to turn it into a soteriological affirmation is misguided.”<br /><br />Grace does not eradicate or make unnecessary any other New Testament teaching or discipline. Grace does not do away with the need for repentance, obedience, holiness, church involvement, or giving. Rather, grace provides forgiveness when we have fallen short of His directives, and if we will respond to His grace, we will find the power to obey Him in all things. Grace is not an excuse; it is enablement. Grace is not a cop-out; it is a catalyst. Grace is not divine permission to do wrong; it is divine empowerment to do right!<br /><br />May you find great strength in His all-sufficient grace!<br /><br /><br /><br />For more information on Tony Cooke visit: www.tonycooke.orgPastor James Farmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16888229168606495470noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7951420644427385759.post-75497457161295787122011-03-04T22:56:00.000-08:002011-03-04T22:58:29.377-08:00What Is Your "Real Threat Level"?What is your "Real Threat Level"? The other day I was reading something from another minister where he made the statement that adverse circumstances are not your greatest threat, but your greatest threat is in the incorrect thoughts and beliefs that do their best to slip in during our hardships. Victory should always be a way of life and not a "one-time" event! Many times our troubles will sour our thinking and our believing. <br /> <br />The Bible says about the righteous that believe, in Psalm 37:19, <span style="font-weight:bold;">"They shall survive through hard times; even in famine (or economic hard times) they will have more than enough." </span>(NLT) Even in adversity we should hold fast to what His Word says and not circumstance. Don't you sit there and say "my circumstance" either. It's NOT your circumstance and it is NOT your problem...unless you are taking it. In the military they assess the "threat level" in a situation. I'm asking you, "Are you taking it?" Are you taking your circumstance or problem and holding it close to you because you believe it more than you believe His Word? If you are, you need to re-assess by asking yourself, "Whose report do I really believe?" <br /> <br />You see, faith is the ability to not panic. If you are in panic or worry, you didn't pray. If you prayed, then don't worry or panic. Why? Because we believe what His Word says! Guard your thoughts! Guard what you dwell on! When you dwell on something, you'll find it getting down into your heart. Once it gets into your heart, you'll begin to start believing it. After you start believing it, you'll start speaking it. After you start speaking, you'll be living in it. Circumstances and problems will come and go, but His Word never changes! It's a constant that you can stand fast on. It is your duty to honor the Lord by,<span style="font-weight:bold;"> "casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ." </span>(2 Corinthians 10:5) Remember that your feelings are nothing but a thermometer, but your confession is your thermostat.<br /> <br />If you are in a "dark place" or battling incorrect thoughts and beliefs because of adversity, here is a scripture to encourage you and help you to re-assess your "threat level". <span style="font-weight:bold;">“Because you got a double dose of trouble and more than your share of contempt, your inheritance in the land will be doubled and your joy go on forever”</span> (Isaiah 61:7, The Message). I believe that the Lord wants to bless you and not just repay you, but the God of restoration wants to bless you double for all your trouble! Keep Philippians 4:8-9 in your thoughts,<span style="font-weight:bold;">"Summing it all up, friends, I'd say you'll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies." </span>(The Message) So, what is your "real threat level" right now? Amen.Pastor James Farmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16888229168606495470noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7951420644427385759.post-78135489651819203492011-03-04T22:54:00.000-08:002011-03-04T22:56:09.006-08:00What Feeds You?Think about this one, "What feeds you, will lead you." Oh there is so much truth in that statement. If you are led by your flesh, that will be what will lead you. If you are led by your spirit, then that will be what will lead you. Paul told us in 1 Thessalonians 5:23,<span style="font-weight:bold;">"Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." <span style="font-weight:bold;"></span></span> <br /> <br />Notice that Paul said, "spirit, soul, and body." Even in the old texts, that is the order of the words. I believe that there is a point to be made here. Paul wrote those words in that order! One, two, three! Divine order! We tend to live it backwards! If you are led by your "body" first (your flesh), then your body will be the one telling your soul (which is your mind, your will, and your emotions) what to do, and keep your spirit man down. BUT, if you are following after the Lord, feeding your spirit man FIRST, then your "spirit" man will be telling your soul and your body what to do. You see, "What feeds you, will lead you!" <br /> <br />You can tell a lot about what you feed on by what you say out of your mouth. Even the things that you do willingly and the strife that you're in. Some people feed on so much "subtle" stuff that they drift so far from shore that they cannot see the answer to get back. Usually, they are in deep sin and blame everyone else and refuse to look in the mirror and correct their life. Sin will take you further than you want to go, keep you longer than you want to stay, and cost you way more than you want to pay! <br /> <br />So, what are you feeding on? Have you lost your friends and your godly relationships because of your "feeding habits"? Is it controlling you and keeping from walking closer to God? Or is it causing you to hunger and thirst for MORE of Him? Who or what are you yielding to? What are you feeding on? What's leading you? Amen or Oh me!Pastor James Farmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16888229168606495470noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7951420644427385759.post-77379427813445968242011-01-25T09:29:00.000-08:002011-01-25T09:32:37.465-08:00Putting First Things First<span style="font-weight:bold;"></span><span style="font-weight:bold;">“Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.“<br /><span style="font-style:italic;"></span></span> I Corinthians 4:2 The New King James Version<br /> <br />Years ago I heard somebody say, <span style="font-weight:bold;">“You live your life, first, up to God, second, outward to others, and thirdly, inward to yourself.” </span>In all of those areas we should be faithful. The Bible says, <span style="font-weight:bold;">“A faithful man shall abound with blessings.”<span style="font-style:italic;"></span></span> (Proverbs 28:20) We need to be dedicated to our walk with the Lord. In doing that, whatever you put into your life on a personal level in regard to your relationship with the Lord will show up on the outside in your public life. What goes on in private shows up in your public life. So, being faithful to serve the Lord causes your outward life to be a testimony to others and in the long run, you are inwardly applying Christ's character to your life. We all need to be faithful in doing those things on a daily basis.<br /> <br />The Bible tells us in 1 Corinthians 4:2, <span style="font-weight:bold;">“Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.” <span style="font-style:italic;"></span></span>You are a steward of God's presence and character. These things dwell in you and should radiate from you to others.<br /> <br />There are a lot of people who will say that they want a powerful relationship with God, but most of us struggle with the discipline to do it. There is an old saying that is so true, “We all talk about it, but none of us do it.” Powerful and lasting relationships come by spending time with someone. When people get married the true power of marriage is after years go by and you start becoming one in mind. You are one flesh when you get married but oneness of mind comes from years of partnership. Strong, lasting marriages develop over time. Time is that which brings the reward of things in your relationship becoming better and stronger.<br /> <br />A good cheese becomes great by being aged. An award winning wine comes by age. A strong relationship comes with age. A powerful relationship with God comes by taking the time to enrich it, bring depth to it, and bring oneness into being. It only comes as we discipline ourselves to do so. Proverbs 29:18 says, <span style="font-weight:bold;">“Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.”<span style="font-style:italic;"></span></span> If you don't have a vision of God being BIG in your life, you will be weak and fall prey to the things of this world and the attitudes of its influences.<br /> <br />You honor God by putting Him first in your life. He must be the center of your focus. If it's not real to you, it won't be real to anybody else around you. You cannot trust the Lord as your healer if you don't know the Healer. You cannot trust the Lord as your provider if you don't know the Provider. You cannot walk in perfect peace if you don't really know the Prince of Peace.<br /> <br />Many Christians have a “mental” relationship with the Lord. Or you could say it like this: <span style="font-weight:bold;">Many Christians settle for the “positional” presence or relationship with the Lord instead of the “manifested” presence of God in their daily lives.</span> All of which begs to ask the question, “How are you walking today?” Are you honoring the Lord by putting Him first?<br /> <br />It has been said that excellence has its own reward. The Bible says that as a faithful man you will abound with blessings. As you are faithful to the Lord and your relationship with Him, you will abound with blessings of His manifested presence. That's the key to living a joyful life, full of His peace and His presence, a life full of His power and His majesty flowing and working in you and through you. That's life and life more abundantly! Jesus said, <span style="font-weight:bold;">“I am come that you might have life and life more abundantly!” <span style="font-style:italic;"></span></span>(John 10:10)<br /> <br />You will only worship Him to the degree that you know Him. What shows up on the outside is a direct reflection of what you're doing on the inside in your private time. If you'll just get excited about it and let it be real to you, then it will work for you. AMEN!<br /> <br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Prayer:</span> Father, I choose to put You first. I choose to put You first in my life on a personal, intimate level. I will honor You by putting You first. Amen.<br /> <br />Pastor James FarmerPastor James Farmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16888229168606495470noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7951420644427385759.post-32221578651462025322010-12-25T13:48:00.000-08:002010-12-25T13:49:17.300-08:00We've Come To WorshipAs I have been going over the Christmas story through the Gospels, one passage made me think about a simple fact. In Matthew chapter two, in the first two verses, we read how the wise men came to see the infant Christ. Their goal was to worship Him. Verse two reads, <span style="font-weight:bold;">“Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.” <span style="font-style:italic;"></span></span><br /> <br />When we make it a priority to worship the Lord, there is an exchange that takes place. Coming to the Lord isn’t something that we do only in the midst of a crisis. Many times, when we get overwhelmed with our problems, before we realize it, we are glorifying the problems and not the Lord Himself. Jesus cares about our hurts and what we struggle with; but when we allow Him access to our situations and circumstances is when we cease to struggle with our “problem” and we worship the One Who gets us out of our mess. Our purpose is to acknowledge how awesome the Lord is, not how big the problem is. He’s given us the victory and has made us more than a conqueror. <br /> <br />Isaiah 40:28-31 are some good verses to study. Part of those verses says that, <span style="font-weight:bold;">“He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength…. But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint”<br /> <span style="font-style:italic;"></span></span><br /><br />Waiting on the Lord is worship. It is the exchange of our weakness for His strength. It is the exchange of our lack of ability for His ability. It’s time for us to do some exchanging on a more regular basis! The very Throne of God, where we come in and worship Him, is always there for us. We can make our habitation in His presence every day! Even when we “feel” otherwise, the Word is the same and true. Just as the three wise men did so many years ago, let us step into His presence each and every day. What a great time it is this Christmas to change your habits to being more focused on His presence. Amen!<br /> <br />Melissa and I want to wish each of you a very Merry Christmas! If you are in town and can be at service this Friday, you’ll be a part of a special Christmas Eve service. As the service proceeds, Melissa and I will personally serve Communion to each individual or family and personally pray for each of you. It will be an intimate time in the presence of the Lord that you will not want to miss. The Christmas Eve service is at 4:00 p.m.<br /> <br />We look forward to seeing you at The Lord’s Church this Sunday. Blessings to you and Merry Christmas!<br /> <br />Pastor James & Melissa FarmerPastor James Farmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16888229168606495470noreply@blogger.com