Monday, March 6, 2017

Season to encourage

"For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven."  Ecclesiastes 3:1.  

I can't begin to understand the kind of week you just had or are about to have but I want to encourage you.  

"Peace be with you, dear brothers and sisters and may God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you love with faithfulness.  May God's grace be eternally upon all who love our Lord Jesus Christ."  Ephesians 6:23-24.

See you're going to have some good and bad days but you're not alone and with Paul's words I want to wish you well.  So remember this week.  "Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you."  How many worries and cares oh no more than all of them.  Why because he cares about you.  You yeah that's right you are cared about.  Let that sink in!  

"I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding. For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ's return.  May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation--the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ-- for this will bring much glory and praise to God."  Philippians 1:9-11

See I mentioned before there is a season for everything and that season right now is for me to encourage you because some of you took time from your busy schedule to read scriptures and listen to music on a blog that whether you admit it or even thought about it you needed something to encourage you.  So before you walk away making Scooby Doo confused noises pay attention to the encouragement I tried to bring you.  



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Monday, February 27, 2017

Known forgiveness

This past Saturday I sent my Dad an email because I was reading in Luke 22:31-32 and these two verses caught my attention.  Now first of all I want to let you in on part of my story.  When I first started trying to find the church I was going to spend my time at I went to this church that no longer exists.  There was a pastor there who tried to preach a flawed sermon on Mark 5:24-35 about the woman healed from the issuance of blood by touching Jesus garment.  This man tried to claim when Jesus asked "Who touched me?" It was Because he didn't know.  I stopped going to that church the night I heard that.  Jesus was both fully God and fully man and he knew exactly who touched him.  I was not going to sit under a pastor who denied Jesus's deity and God's sovereignty.  Before his death on the cross Jesus predicts his betrayal and denial.  There's a conversation that takes place in the upper room I want you to look at.  This is Jesus speaking and also further proof he knew all that was about to happen.  "Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift each of you like wheat.  But I have pleaded in prayer for you Simon, that your faith should not fail.  So when you have repented, and turned to me again, strengthen your brothers."  Three times Peter denies Christ.  But Jesus knows he will do so.  But catch the phrasing in the verses because when I read this and remembered his conversation with Jesus after the resurrection that he and Peter have on the beach it takes on a much deeper meaning.  In John 21 Jesus asks Peter 3 times "Simon, son of John do you love me?"  After Peter says yes Jesus tells him feed my sheep.  Peter becomes a man who helps turn the world upside down for Christ.  Jesus predicted his betrayal and his return and lovingly welcomes Peter back and gives him a task to strengthen his brothers.  The man denied Christ three times and he's welcomed back and forgiven.  That's forgiveness and love only God can give. See in Romans 5:8 Paul explains it about as clearly as it can get.  "But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners."  It's a love and forgiveness that Peter didn't deserve or could never earn. Jesus knew he was going to betray him and knew he would turn back and he welcomed him back with love.  We don't deserve it either.  

"Love keeps no record of being wronged."  1 Corinthians 13:5

"Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will never count against him."  Romans 4:8

"I stand amazed in the presence of Jesus the Nazarene and wonder how he could love me a a sinner condemned unclean."  




 

I Stand Amazed (How Marvelous) - Chris Tomlin - Passion 2014

Passion 2014 Chris Tomlin - I Stand Amazed (How Marvelous)


 

Amazing Love (You Are My King) - Hillsong

Most photographic images, videos, Audio song, trademarks & logos are owned by their respective copyright own...


 

Grace Flows Down by Christy Nockels (Lyrics)

Great songs, one of my favorites. Lyrics in the video. Comment, Rate, Favorite, Subscribe, Enjoy


 

Amanda Cook - Broken Vessels (Bethel Music Worship)



 

'Your Grace Still Amazes Me'(Lyrics) Phillips, Craig & Dean

Nothing amazes me more than the Grace of the Lord...



I need to let you in on something that happened a little over a week ago.  I have an employee I sign in multiple times a week named Bruce and he has a tendency to show up at work with what I caught after a bit to be sermons playing in his car.  Well on a Sunday he showed up and i heard this voice singing and it was Your Great Name by Natalie Grant.  like Bruce told me it's always a good time to praise God.



 

Your Great Name by Natalie Grant (Live Performance)

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Tuesday, February 21, 2017

Reminder of stability



If you're a believer in Christ I want to give you a reminder of what your faith is built on.  I go to a big church and sometimes it's incredibly easy to get lost in the shuffle and busyness of all a big church entails.  It's easy to get the feeling of not belonging or fitting in anywhere.  The busyness of the church is not always the problem either.  But sometimes you need to get your eyes off the hustle and bustle and get them back on your foundation.  Ephesians 2:19-22 is a good reminder of that.  "So now you Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners.  You are citizens along with all of God's holy people.  You are members of God's family.  Together, we are his house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself.  We are carefully joined together in him, becoming a holy temple for the Lord.  Through him you Gentiles are also being made part of this dwelling where God lives by his Spirit."  Next time you start feeling unconnected in a big or small church remember you and those people around you are part of the body of Christ and he is shaping you and those around you to be his bride the church.  Step out of your comfort zone and say hi to some of them.  Two weeks ago I met a man named Ruben who recently signed up for the blog and we sat and talked for about a good ten minutes.  One of the hardest things for me personally doing this blog is connecting faces to the readers because this is for busy people and put online where I don't always know who reads it.  God does because his word does not go out without accomplishing his purpose. So connect with someone and keep your eyes on Jesus Christ the foundation for your faith.  



 

Two Sets of Jones' - Official Music Video

This is the original Big Tent Revival "Two Sets of Jones'" music video, captured directly from the...

As you listen to the song Ever Be I hope you pay attention to the lyrics about God will have his bride pure.  


 

Ever Be // Kalley Heiligenthal // We Will Not Be Shaken Official Lyric Video

Bethel Music's collective of worship leaders aim to write and record songs that carry the culture of heaven ...


 

Geoff Moore And The Distance - Foundations

7th track off Geoff Moore And The Distance's album "Foundations" from 1989



 

Solid Rock - The Avalon

Solid Rock - The Avalon, Jesus said, Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.The spirit is will...
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