What’s most valuable and worthy of God’s own affection? You are! After all He died for you, and not only you but others too. “You are God’s masterpiece.” Do you see yourself that way? How about others? You are priceless and filled with the potential to be mighty and magnificent, as are others. Do you recognize it and draw it out? I challenge you to see yourself and others in the image of the Almighty?
Look inside and you will see God in thee and in others be.
2 Cor 5:14-21
Our firm decision is to work from this focused center: One man died for everyone. That puts everyone in the same boat. 15 He included everyone in his death so that everyone could also be included in his life, a resurrection life, a far better life than people ever lived on their own.
16 Because of this decision we don't evaluate people by what they have or how they look. We looked at the Messiah that way once and got it all wrong, as you know. We certainly don't look at him that way anymore. 17 Now we look inside, and what we see is that anyone united with the Messiah gets a fresh start, is created new. The old life is gone; a new life burgeons! Look at it! 18 All this comes from the God who settled the relationship between us and him, and then called us to settle our relationships with each other. 19 God put the world square with himself through the Messiah, giving the world a fresh start by offering forgiveness of sins. God has given us the task of telling everyone what he is doing. 20 We're Christ's representatives. God uses us to persuade men and women to drop their differences and enter into God's work of making things right between them. We're speaking for Christ himself now: Become friends with God; he's already a friend with you.
21 How? you say. In Christ. God put the wrong on him who never did anything wrong, so we could be put right with God.
MES
Eph 2:10
10 For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.
NLT
Col 1:27
27 To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
NKJV
Col 1:27
27 God wanted everyone, not just Jews, to know this rich and glorious secret inside and out, regardless of their background, regardless of their religious standing. The mystery in a nutshell is just this: Christ is in you, therefore you can look forward to sharing in God's glory. It's that simple. That is the substance of our Message.
MES
Friday, October 15, 2010
Thursday, October 14, 2010
I Am
You’re created in the image of Him who is Almighty and “I Am.” Selah
Gen 1:26-27
26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
Gen 1:26-27
26 God spoke: "Let us make human beings in our image, make them
reflecting our nature
So they can be responsible for the fish in the sea,
the birds in the air, the cattle,
And, yes, Earth itself,
and every animal that moves on the face of Earth."
27 God created human beings;
he created them godlike,
Reflecting God's nature.
He created them male and female.
Ex 3:14
14 And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.
KJV
Rev 1:8
8 "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End," says the Lord, "who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty."
NKJV
Mark 14:62
62 Jesus said, "I am. And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven."
NKJV
Luke 9:20
20 He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?"
Peter answered and said, "The Christ of God."
NKJV
Luke 22:67-70
67 "If You are the Christ, tell us."
But He said to them, "If I tell you, you will by no means believe. 68 And if I also ask you, you will by no means answer Me or let Me go. 69 Hereafter the Son of Man will sit on the right hand of the power of God."
70 Then they all said, "Are You then the Son of God?"
So He said to them, "You rightly say that I am."
NKJV
John 6:35
35 And Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.
NKJV
John 8:12
12 Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, "I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life."
NKJV
John 8:23-24
23 And He said to them, "You are from beneath; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. 24 Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins."
NKJV
John 8:28
28 Then Jesus said to them, "When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and that I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father taught Me, I speak these things.
NKJV
John 9:5
5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world."
NKJV
John 10:9
9 I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.
NKJV
John 10:11
11 "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.
NKJV
John 10:14
14 I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own.
NKJV
John 11:25-26
25 Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. 26 And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?"
NKJV
John 13:7
7 Jesus answered and said to him, "What I am doing you do not understand now, but you will know after this."
NKJV
John 13:13-14
13 You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am.
NKJV
John 13:18-20
"I do not speak concerning all of you. I know whom I have chosen; but that the Scripture may be fulfilled, 'He who eats bread with Me has lifted up his heel against Me.' 19 Now I tell you before it comes, that when it does come to pass, you may believe that I am (He).
NKJV
John 14:6
6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
NKJV
John 15:1
"I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser.
NKJV
John 15:5
5 "I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.
NKJV
John 17:16-18
16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.
NKJV
John 18:2-9
3 Then Judas, having received a detachment of troops, and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, came there with lanterns, torches, and weapons. 4 Jesus therefore, knowing all things that would come upon Him, went forward and said to them, "Whom are you seeking?"
5 They answered Him,"Jesus of Nazareth."
Jesus said to them, "I am He." And Judas, who betrayed Him, also stood with them. 6 Now when He said to them, "I am He," they drew back and fell to the ground.
7 Then He asked them again, "Whom are you seeking?"
And they said, "Jesus of Nazareth."
8 Jesus answered, "I have told you that I am He. Therefore, if you seek Me, let these go their way,"
NKJV
John 18:37
37 Pilate therefore said to Him, "Are You a king then?"
Jesus answered, "You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice."
NKJV
John 20:17
17 Jesus said to her, "Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren and say to them,'I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God.'"
NKJV
Acts 18:9-11
9 Now the Lord spoke to Paul in the night by a vision, "Do not be afraid, but speak, and do not keep silent; 10 for I am with you, and no one will attack you to hurt you; for I have many people in this city."
NKJV
Acts 22:6-8
6 "Now it happened, as I journeyed and came near Damascus at about noon, suddenly a great light from heaven shone around me. 7 And I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?' 8 So I answered, 'Who are You, Lord?' And He said to me, 'I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting.'
NKJV
Rev 1:17-18
17 And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying to me, "Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last. 18 I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death.
NKJV
Rev 2:23b
…I am He who searches the minds and hearts.
NKJV
Rev 21:2-8
3 And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. 4 And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away."
5 Then He who sat on the throne said,"Behold, I make all things new." And He said to me, "Write, for these words are true and faithful."
6 And He said to me,"It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. 7 He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son.
NKJV
1 John 3:2-3
2 Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.
NKJV
Rev 1:1
The Revelation of Jesus Christ…
1 John 4:16-17
16 And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.
17 Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world.
NKJV
John 15:5
5 "I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit
Gen 1:26-27
26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
Gen 1:26-27
26 God spoke: "Let us make human beings in our image, make them
reflecting our nature
So they can be responsible for the fish in the sea,
the birds in the air, the cattle,
And, yes, Earth itself,
and every animal that moves on the face of Earth."
27 God created human beings;
he created them godlike,
Reflecting God's nature.
He created them male and female.
Ex 3:14
14 And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.
KJV
Rev 1:8
8 "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End," says the Lord, "who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty."
NKJV
Mark 14:62
62 Jesus said, "I am. And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven."
NKJV
Luke 9:20
20 He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?"
Peter answered and said, "The Christ of God."
NKJV
Luke 22:67-70
67 "If You are the Christ, tell us."
But He said to them, "If I tell you, you will by no means believe. 68 And if I also ask you, you will by no means answer Me or let Me go. 69 Hereafter the Son of Man will sit on the right hand of the power of God."
70 Then they all said, "Are You then the Son of God?"
So He said to them, "You rightly say that I am."
NKJV
John 6:35
35 And Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.
NKJV
John 8:12
12 Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, "I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life."
NKJV
John 8:23-24
23 And He said to them, "You are from beneath; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. 24 Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins."
NKJV
John 8:28
28 Then Jesus said to them, "When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and that I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father taught Me, I speak these things.
NKJV
John 9:5
5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world."
NKJV
John 10:9
9 I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.
NKJV
John 10:11
11 "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.
NKJV
John 10:14
14 I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own.
NKJV
John 11:25-26
25 Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. 26 And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?"
NKJV
John 13:7
7 Jesus answered and said to him, "What I am doing you do not understand now, but you will know after this."
NKJV
John 13:13-14
13 You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am.
NKJV
John 13:18-20
"I do not speak concerning all of you. I know whom I have chosen; but that the Scripture may be fulfilled, 'He who eats bread with Me has lifted up his heel against Me.' 19 Now I tell you before it comes, that when it does come to pass, you may believe that I am (He).
NKJV
John 14:6
6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
NKJV
John 15:1
"I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser.
NKJV
John 15:5
5 "I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.
NKJV
John 17:16-18
16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.
NKJV
John 18:2-9
3 Then Judas, having received a detachment of troops, and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, came there with lanterns, torches, and weapons. 4 Jesus therefore, knowing all things that would come upon Him, went forward and said to them, "Whom are you seeking?"
5 They answered Him,"Jesus of Nazareth."
Jesus said to them, "I am He." And Judas, who betrayed Him, also stood with them. 6 Now when He said to them, "I am He," they drew back and fell to the ground.
7 Then He asked them again, "Whom are you seeking?"
And they said, "Jesus of Nazareth."
8 Jesus answered, "I have told you that I am He. Therefore, if you seek Me, let these go their way,"
NKJV
John 18:37
37 Pilate therefore said to Him, "Are You a king then?"
Jesus answered, "You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice."
NKJV
John 20:17
17 Jesus said to her, "Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren and say to them,'I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God.'"
NKJV
Acts 18:9-11
9 Now the Lord spoke to Paul in the night by a vision, "Do not be afraid, but speak, and do not keep silent; 10 for I am with you, and no one will attack you to hurt you; for I have many people in this city."
NKJV
Acts 22:6-8
6 "Now it happened, as I journeyed and came near Damascus at about noon, suddenly a great light from heaven shone around me. 7 And I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?' 8 So I answered, 'Who are You, Lord?' And He said to me, 'I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting.'
NKJV
Rev 1:17-18
17 And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying to me, "Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last. 18 I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death.
NKJV
Rev 2:23b
…I am He who searches the minds and hearts.
NKJV
Rev 21:2-8
3 And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. 4 And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away."
5 Then He who sat on the throne said,"Behold, I make all things new." And He said to me, "Write, for these words are true and faithful."
6 And He said to me,"It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. 7 He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son.
NKJV
1 John 3:2-3
2 Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.
NKJV
Rev 1:1
The Revelation of Jesus Christ…
1 John 4:16-17
16 And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.
17 Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world.
NKJV
John 15:5
5 "I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
You are Amazing!
You are awesome, amazing, fearfully and wonderfully made, called, chosen and created for God’s Glory! You are mot merely liked but lavishly loved. You are not only appreciated, accepted and adopted by the Almighty but actually recreated as His own offspring. He doesn’t just call you His child but sends His Spirit and makes it so. You have God’s spiritual DNA; you are a new creature, a partaker of the divine nature. The Author of all is in your heart and will never part, so you know you’ll never be ignored, God Himself is your “exceeding great reward!”
Ps 139:13-14
13 For You formed my inward parts;
You covered me in my mother's womb.
14 I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Marvelous are Your works,
And that my soul knows very well.
NKJV
Eph 2:10a
For we are God's [own] handiwork (His workmanship)
AMP
Eph 2:10a
For we are God's masterpiece.
NLT
Isa 43:7
7 Everyone who is called by My name,
Whom I have created for My glory;
I have formed him, yes, I have made him."
NKJV
2 Thess 2:13-15
13 But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth, 14 to which He called you by our gospel, for the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
NKJV
Eph 1:3-6
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, 4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, 5 having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, 6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.
NKJV
1 Peter 2:9-10
9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 10 who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.
NKJV
1 John 3:1
3 How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!
NIV
John 1:12-13
12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: 13 who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
NKJV
2 Cor 5:17
17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
KJV
2 Peter 1:2-4
2 Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, 3 as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, 4 by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
NKJV
Gen 15:1
15 After these things the word of the Lord came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.
KJV
Ps 139:13-14
13 For You formed my inward parts;
You covered me in my mother's womb.
14 I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Marvelous are Your works,
And that my soul knows very well.
NKJV
Eph 2:10a
For we are God's [own] handiwork (His workmanship)
AMP
Eph 2:10a
For we are God's masterpiece.
NLT
Isa 43:7
7 Everyone who is called by My name,
Whom I have created for My glory;
I have formed him, yes, I have made him."
NKJV
2 Thess 2:13-15
13 But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth, 14 to which He called you by our gospel, for the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
NKJV
Eph 1:3-6
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, 4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, 5 having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, 6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.
NKJV
1 Peter 2:9-10
9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 10 who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.
NKJV
1 John 3:1
3 How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!
NIV
John 1:12-13
12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: 13 who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
NKJV
2 Cor 5:17
17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
KJV
2 Peter 1:2-4
2 Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, 3 as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, 4 by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
NKJV
Gen 15:1
15 After these things the word of the Lord came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.
KJV
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
IN Love
YOU ARE AWESOME! You’re created in the image of the Almighty. You have amazing potential and power. You are the object of God’s affection, “the apple of His eye.” You are loved with Divine, everlasting and intense love. You have the opportunity and the ability to love others also. You are blessed! - Blessed with every spiritual blessing in heaven and on earth. Blessed to be a blessing, and when you are a blessing it just multiplies into more and more blessing. You are gifted. Gifted by God Himself, and your gifts are made for giving. The more you give of your gifts the more of your gifts you get to give. You also get to receive from the God given gifts in others. And isn’t it great?
Of everything on earth people are the priority and nothing else should ever take the precedence. People say, “People are more important than things” and they are, but is this how we act? We’re created to live in love. If we receive God’s love we will be “in love” with Him, if we’re “in love” with Him we be “in love” with those whom He loves and He’s “in love” with everyone. He doesn’t love them merely for who they are but for Who He is. He is love and therefore He loves. Are you love? Can you love others because you have the love of the Almighty? Don’t just judge them by what they do, but look at who they actually are. They are created in Gods own image, they are His offspring. Even though they don’t always act like it. But maybe they don’t act like it because we don’t act like it! Or they may not even know it at all. And if they don’t know it at all it’s because we haven’t answered our call. For it’s our calling and commandment to receive the love of God Himself and then let it show that they may know.
And that my friend is why God made you awesome, so He could fill you with His awesome love and so you could act out His awesomeness. Because if you’re awesome then obviously you ought to act like it. And what is more awesome than His love?
YOU ARE AWESOME and you know it, so be a blessing and show it!
Ps 47:2
2 For the Lord Most High is awesome;
He is a great King over all the earth.
NKJV
Gen 1:26-28
Then God said,"Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth." 27 So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. 28 Then God blessed them, and God said to them,"Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth."
NKJV
Eph 5:1-2
5 Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.
NKJV
Acts 17:28-29
28 for in Him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your own poets have said, 'For we are also His offspring.'
NKJV
1 John 3:11
11 For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another,
NKJV
1 John 4:7-16
7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 8 He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. 9 In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. 10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
12 No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us. 13 By this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit. 14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world. 15 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. 16 And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.
NKJV
Ps 66:5
5 Come and see the works of God;
He is awesome in His doing toward the sons of men.
NKJV
And again…
Eph 5:1
Therefore be imitators of God as dear children.
Of everything on earth people are the priority and nothing else should ever take the precedence. People say, “People are more important than things” and they are, but is this how we act? We’re created to live in love. If we receive God’s love we will be “in love” with Him, if we’re “in love” with Him we be “in love” with those whom He loves and He’s “in love” with everyone. He doesn’t love them merely for who they are but for Who He is. He is love and therefore He loves. Are you love? Can you love others because you have the love of the Almighty? Don’t just judge them by what they do, but look at who they actually are. They are created in Gods own image, they are His offspring. Even though they don’t always act like it. But maybe they don’t act like it because we don’t act like it! Or they may not even know it at all. And if they don’t know it at all it’s because we haven’t answered our call. For it’s our calling and commandment to receive the love of God Himself and then let it show that they may know.
And that my friend is why God made you awesome, so He could fill you with His awesome love and so you could act out His awesomeness. Because if you’re awesome then obviously you ought to act like it. And what is more awesome than His love?
YOU ARE AWESOME and you know it, so be a blessing and show it!
Ps 47:2
2 For the Lord Most High is awesome;
He is a great King over all the earth.
NKJV
Gen 1:26-28
Then God said,"Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth." 27 So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. 28 Then God blessed them, and God said to them,"Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth."
NKJV
Eph 5:1-2
5 Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.
NKJV
Acts 17:28-29
28 for in Him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your own poets have said, 'For we are also His offspring.'
NKJV
1 John 3:11
11 For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another,
NKJV
1 John 4:7-16
7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 8 He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. 9 In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. 10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
12 No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us. 13 By this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit. 14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world. 15 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. 16 And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.
NKJV
Ps 66:5
5 Come and see the works of God;
He is awesome in His doing toward the sons of men.
NKJV
And again…
Eph 5:1
Therefore be imitators of God as dear children.
Monday, October 11, 2010
“It’s Fine?!”
I’m going through my annual fall ritual of working on the boiler and one thing I’ve figured out is that it’s hard to figure things out when you don’t know much about the things you’re trying to figure. I’ve had a couple of plumbers look at and one said, “I don’t know about that boiler” and another said “It’s fine.” And it is “fine” part of the time, which is all summer long when it’s not running. But then every fall it seems to have some glitch. And it’s hard to find a plumber that really is fine and the one that I do know, I can never get to come. If he would I’m sure he could figure it out in about a tenth of the time it takes me, but it’s not so because he’s not here. And I really don’t like to pay anyway, unless I absolutely have to. So I’m left to my own devices and with the help of my Father on the phone and other friends I “get to” learn all about it and figure it out as I go.
So I was thinking that challenges are much easier to conquer for someone with wisdom, because that it’s hard to figure things out when you don’t know much about the things you’re trying to figure. And yet so many people are still trying to figure out the future. It’s like trying to solve a problem without factoring in all the figures. People will offer you all kinds of “answers” which they have deduced about the future without all the figures, or they may say, “It’s fine.” But the truth is, they really don’t know. They only assume and “assumption is the lowest form of knowledge.” People who actually know are even rarer than good plumbers. And if you’ve worked with most plumbers then you know what I’m saying.
But don’t dismay, remarkably there is one who definitely knows the future, and honestly has all the figures. No, not a plumber, nor any person, not even yourself (if you can believe it), but it is the Almighty. He’s always on call and available to help at a moments notice. He truly does care about your problems and your future and when He says, “It’s fine” then you can know that it’s true, because He’s Almighty and He’s there for you.
On Call
God knows all and He’s always on call.
So if you need help - just ask, for He’s is able, no matter the task.
And even before you pray, He’s already there, with wisdom, power and knowledge to spare.
He’s simply waiting for you to believe, so call upon the Almighty and you shall receive.
Jer 33:3
3 'Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.'
NKJV
Matt 6b
For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.
NKJV
Heb 4:16
16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
NKJV
2 Cor 9:8-9
8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.
NKJV
Rom 10:12-13
12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. 13 For "whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved."
NKJV
So I was thinking that challenges are much easier to conquer for someone with wisdom, because that it’s hard to figure things out when you don’t know much about the things you’re trying to figure. And yet so many people are still trying to figure out the future. It’s like trying to solve a problem without factoring in all the figures. People will offer you all kinds of “answers” which they have deduced about the future without all the figures, or they may say, “It’s fine.” But the truth is, they really don’t know. They only assume and “assumption is the lowest form of knowledge.” People who actually know are even rarer than good plumbers. And if you’ve worked with most plumbers then you know what I’m saying.
But don’t dismay, remarkably there is one who definitely knows the future, and honestly has all the figures. No, not a plumber, nor any person, not even yourself (if you can believe it), but it is the Almighty. He’s always on call and available to help at a moments notice. He truly does care about your problems and your future and when He says, “It’s fine” then you can know that it’s true, because He’s Almighty and He’s there for you.
On Call
God knows all and He’s always on call.
So if you need help - just ask, for He’s is able, no matter the task.
And even before you pray, He’s already there, with wisdom, power and knowledge to spare.
He’s simply waiting for you to believe, so call upon the Almighty and you shall receive.
Jer 33:3
3 'Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.'
NKJV
Matt 6b
For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.
NKJV
Heb 4:16
16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
NKJV
2 Cor 9:8-9
8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.
NKJV
Rom 10:12-13
12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. 13 For "whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved."
NKJV
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Forevermore
This life’s but a moment, contrasting everlasting.
However - there’s provision forever,
That we may never die; but live eternally.
And those who we know, but had to go,
We shall see again in heaven’s domain.
Then endless joy, we shall enjoy – united again immortally.
James 4:14b
For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.
NKJV
John 6:47
Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me has everlasting life.
NKJV
John 11:25-26
25 Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.
NKJV
John 16:16
16 "A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me, because I go to the Father."
NKJV
John 16:22
22 Therefore you now have sorrow; but I will see you again and your heart will rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you.
NKJV
1 Thess 4:13-18
13 But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.
15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.
NKJV
1 Cor 15:50-58
50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. 51 Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed — 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: "Death is swallowed up in victory."
55 "O Death, where is your sting?
O Hades, where is your victory?"
56 The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.
NKJV
2 Cor 4:16-5:8
16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. 17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, 18 while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.
5 For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven, 3 if indeed, having been clothed, we shall not be found naked. 4 For we who are in this tent groan, being burdened, not because we want to be unclothed, but further clothed, that mortality may be swallowed up by life. 5 Now He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who also has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.
6 So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord. 7 For we walk by faith, not by sight. 8 We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.
NKJV
John 14:1-3
14 "Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.
NKJV
Rev 21:3-4
3 And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. 4 And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away."
NKJV
Jude 1:24-25
24 Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling,
And to present you faultless
Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy,
25 To God our Savior,
Who alone is wise, Be glory and majesty,
Dominion and power,
Both now and forever.
Amen.
NKJV
However - there’s provision forever,
That we may never die; but live eternally.
And those who we know, but had to go,
We shall see again in heaven’s domain.
Then endless joy, we shall enjoy – united again immortally.
James 4:14b
For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.
NKJV
John 6:47
Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me has everlasting life.
NKJV
John 11:25-26
25 Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.
NKJV
John 16:16
16 "A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me, because I go to the Father."
NKJV
John 16:22
22 Therefore you now have sorrow; but I will see you again and your heart will rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you.
NKJV
1 Thess 4:13-18
13 But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.
15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.
NKJV
1 Cor 15:50-58
50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. 51 Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed — 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: "Death is swallowed up in victory."
55 "O Death, where is your sting?
O Hades, where is your victory?"
56 The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.
NKJV
2 Cor 4:16-5:8
16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. 17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, 18 while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.
5 For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven, 3 if indeed, having been clothed, we shall not be found naked. 4 For we who are in this tent groan, being burdened, not because we want to be unclothed, but further clothed, that mortality may be swallowed up by life. 5 Now He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who also has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.
6 So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord. 7 For we walk by faith, not by sight. 8 We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.
NKJV
John 14:1-3
14 "Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.
NKJV
Rev 21:3-4
3 And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. 4 And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away."
NKJV
Jude 1:24-25
24 Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling,
And to present you faultless
Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy,
25 To God our Savior,
Who alone is wise, Be glory and majesty,
Dominion and power,
Both now and forever.
Amen.
NKJV
Saturday, October 9, 2010
Grasshopper or Cookie Monster
Perspective has to do with point of view,
It’s the lens that you see the world through.
It greatly determines how well you do,
And will set your free, if it is true.
Get it wrong,
Sing a sad song,
And mope around all day long,
Corrupted vision, hinders lifelong.
Get it right,
Walk in the light,
Be filled with might,
And Delight!
Because you know your future’s bright.
You have the power to choose the way you see,
And determine how your life will be.
So with the lowly darkness will you agree,
Or have the higher view of the Almighty?
Matt 6:22-23
22 "The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light. 23 But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness!
NKJV
Luke 11:34-36
34 The lamp of the body is the eye. Therefore, when your eye is good, your whole body also is full of light. But when your eye is bad, your body also is full of darkness. 35 Therefore take heed that the light which is in you is not darkness. 36 If then your whole body is full of light, having no part dark, the whole body will be full of light, as when the bright shining of a lamp gives you light."
NKJV
When it came time for Israel to possess the promise land they sent in twelve men to spy it out. For God had said, “Look, the Lord your God has set the land before you; go up and possess it, as the Lord God of your fathers has spoken to you; do not fear or be discouraged.” (Deut 1:21) But ten of the twelve men came back from the mission with grasshopper mentality. They gave a bad report and said, “We are not able to go up against the people for they are stronger than we.” and “we were like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their sight." And they complained saying, "If only we had died in the land of Egypt! Or if only we had died in this wilderness! Why has the Lord brought us to this land to fall by the sword, that our wives and children should become victims?” They had their eyes on themselves and not the Almighty and so their puny perspective caused them to perish. Everyone in their entire generation except Joshua and Caleb ended up dying in the wilderness. And it was because they couldn’t see things the way God saw them and so couldn’t possess His promises. Because of the way that they saw they said “we can’t!” and so they couldn’t.
But Joshua and Caleb had a different perspective for they said, “"Let us go up at once and take possession, for we are well able to overcome it." And “If the Lord delights in us, then He will bring us into this land and give it to us, 'a land which flows with milk and honey.' Only do not rebel against the Lord, nor fear the people of the land, for they are our bread; their protection has departed from them, and the Lord is with us. Do not fear them." And because of the way that they saw they said, “We can!” and so they could and they did. They only had to wait for all the naysayers to die and resist the puny perspective of the majority. They had to persist with the proper perspective through forty years of funerals in order to possess God’s promise.
One group said, “We were like grasshoppers” and ended up dead, while the others said, “they are our bread” and on the enemy fed. The victims looked at themselves and declared discouragement. But the victors looked at God and declared the victory. This is probably where we get the saying, “Those who say they can’t and those who say they can are both right.” And what say you depends on your sight.
Num 13:16 – 14:38
You can also read 1 Samuel Chapter 17. It’s another great story illustrating the effect of perspective.
The men of the armies of Israel were full of fear and dismay,
when a boy with God’s view point came, and their giant slay.
Matt 13:15-16
15 For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.
16 But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.
KJV
Ps 36:9
9 For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light.
KJV
It’s the lens that you see the world through.
It greatly determines how well you do,
And will set your free, if it is true.
Get it wrong,
Sing a sad song,
And mope around all day long,
Corrupted vision, hinders lifelong.
Get it right,
Walk in the light,
Be filled with might,
And Delight!
Because you know your future’s bright.
You have the power to choose the way you see,
And determine how your life will be.
So with the lowly darkness will you agree,
Or have the higher view of the Almighty?
Matt 6:22-23
22 "The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light. 23 But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness!
NKJV
Luke 11:34-36
34 The lamp of the body is the eye. Therefore, when your eye is good, your whole body also is full of light. But when your eye is bad, your body also is full of darkness. 35 Therefore take heed that the light which is in you is not darkness. 36 If then your whole body is full of light, having no part dark, the whole body will be full of light, as when the bright shining of a lamp gives you light."
NKJV
When it came time for Israel to possess the promise land they sent in twelve men to spy it out. For God had said, “Look, the Lord your God has set the land before you; go up and possess it, as the Lord God of your fathers has spoken to you; do not fear or be discouraged.” (Deut 1:21) But ten of the twelve men came back from the mission with grasshopper mentality. They gave a bad report and said, “We are not able to go up against the people for they are stronger than we.” and “we were like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their sight." And they complained saying, "If only we had died in the land of Egypt! Or if only we had died in this wilderness! Why has the Lord brought us to this land to fall by the sword, that our wives and children should become victims?” They had their eyes on themselves and not the Almighty and so their puny perspective caused them to perish. Everyone in their entire generation except Joshua and Caleb ended up dying in the wilderness. And it was because they couldn’t see things the way God saw them and so couldn’t possess His promises. Because of the way that they saw they said “we can’t!” and so they couldn’t.
But Joshua and Caleb had a different perspective for they said, “"Let us go up at once and take possession, for we are well able to overcome it." And “If the Lord delights in us, then He will bring us into this land and give it to us, 'a land which flows with milk and honey.' Only do not rebel against the Lord, nor fear the people of the land, for they are our bread; their protection has departed from them, and the Lord is with us. Do not fear them." And because of the way that they saw they said, “We can!” and so they could and they did. They only had to wait for all the naysayers to die and resist the puny perspective of the majority. They had to persist with the proper perspective through forty years of funerals in order to possess God’s promise.
One group said, “We were like grasshoppers” and ended up dead, while the others said, “they are our bread” and on the enemy fed. The victims looked at themselves and declared discouragement. But the victors looked at God and declared the victory. This is probably where we get the saying, “Those who say they can’t and those who say they can are both right.” And what say you depends on your sight.
Num 13:16 – 14:38
You can also read 1 Samuel Chapter 17. It’s another great story illustrating the effect of perspective.
The men of the armies of Israel were full of fear and dismay,
when a boy with God’s view point came, and their giant slay.
Matt 13:15-16
15 For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.
16 But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.
KJV
Ps 36:9
9 For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light.
KJV
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