Blessed Valentine’s Day In Christ Jesus To All!

Good morning and Blessed Valentine's Day greetings to all in the precious name of Jesus our Savior and Lord; I pray this finds you and your family well in our Lord!

Can we give God a big thank You and amen for His never-ending love to us? THANK YOU and AMEN!! Come on, you can do it, especially today on Valentine's Day.

Let us declare God's love which is not fleeting or wrapped up in a temporary box of chocolates but rather wrapped up in the gift of His one and only Son, Jesus, who died as our Savior, the perfect sacrifice for our sin, and rose again as our one true Lord! Jesus demonstrated His love for all people by dying so ALL who receive Him as Savior and Lord would be forgiven, transformed, and set free from ALL the power of sin AND death.

As we celebrate Valentine's Day today let us remember God's Valentine to us is Messiah Jesus. If no one sends you a card, eCard, chocolates, jewelry, or flowers to celebrate Valentine's Day please remember Almighty God sent you Jesus as The Perfect Valentine so rejoice! Also remember receiving God's Perfect Valentine of His Son Jesus as your Savior and Lord will not add pounds to your figure nor whither away after a few days or lose its sparkle and get tarnished. Rather Jesus will lighten your burdens, love you for eternity, and will brighten your life brighter than the noonday sun. Follow Jesus as taught in God's Holy Word and you will be transformed and amazed! Psalm 40:1-5 reminds us of some of what God can and wants to do for us.

Psalm 40:1-5

¹ I waited patiently for the Lord;
    he turned to me and heard my cry.
² He lifted me out of the slimy pit,
    out of the mud and mire;
he set my feet on a rock
    and gave me a firm place to stand.
³ He put a new song in my mouth,
    a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear the Lord
    and put their trust in him.

⁴ Blessed is the one
    who trusts in the Lord,
who does not look to the proud,
    to those who turn aside to false gods.
⁵ Many, Lord my God,
    are the wonders you have done,
    the things you planned for us.
None can compare with you;
    were I to speak and tell of your deeds,
    they would be too many to declare.

Blessings in Christ Jesus,
David

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"Remember the prisoners as if chained with
them - those who are mistreated - since
you yourselves are in the body also."
                              -- Hebrews 13:3

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So how are you celebrating my birthday today?

31 December 2012

Hi All!

So how are you celebrating my birthday today? Yes, it really is my birthday. I’d like to honor God, Mom, and Dad for giving me life so many years ago by saying thank you to them! I’m glad I was born! : )

Two questions to ponder as we close out 2012 and open 2013: 

1. For what one important blessing are you thankful that God gave you in 2012?
2. In what new way will you covenant with God for Him to use you to bless Him and others in 2013?

May God continue to bless and grow us all so we may be made more into the image of Christ Jesus and live our lives more as the Body of Christ truly caring for and embracing one another so that non-Christians would see the love we have one for another and so be drawn through our lives to Christ Jesus for their salvation.

⁴² They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. ⁴³ Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. ⁴⁴ All the believers were together and had everything in common. ⁴⁵ They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. ⁴⁶ Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, ⁴⁷ praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. Acts 2.42-47 (NIV)

May we all have a Blessed New Year in Christ Jesus each and every day.

• may we read and study God’s Word more faithfully,
• may we believe God’s Word more intensely,
• may we trust God more open-heartedly and without limits,
• may we pray in faith more confidently,
• may we hope more fearlessly
• may we live our Christian faith with more conviction,
• may we express God’s love more consistently,
• may we witness to others more courageously,
• may we rely more on the presence of the Holy Spirit and less on our plans,
• may we judges not and love more,
• may we boldly journey with God wherever and however He leads,
• may we live so that at the end of our journey on earth we will have no regrets,
• may we live on earth so we will be greeted in heaven by God telling us, “Well done, good and faithful servant! . . . Come and share your master’s happiness!” -- Matthew 25.23

Blessed be the name of the Lord God and all who live as Jesus taught us!

Blessings in Christ!

¹ I will extol the Lord at all times;

his praise will always be on my lips.

² I will glory in the Lord;

let the afflicted hear and rejoice.

³ Glorify the Lord with me;

let us exalt his name together.

⁴ I sought the Lord, and he answered me;

he delivered me from all my fears.

⁵ Those who look to him are radiant;

their faces are never covered with shame.

⁶ This poor man called, and the Lord heard him;

he saved him out of all his troubles.

⁷ The angel of the Lord encamps around those who

          fear him, and he delivers them. -- Psalm 34.1-7 (NIV)

Hi All!

Click below for "America Again" (1993), a profound, powerful, and insightful message by Christian singer, songwriter, performer, and evangelist, Carman, that is even more relevant for today than when he first published it in 1993 on his album "The Standard."

"America Again" (1993) by Carman

Check out Carman's other music for powerful messages that have impacted scores of people for Christ Jesus over the years that are still relevant for today!

As we celebrate Memorial Day may we pause and . . .

As we celebrate Memorial Day may we pause and pray for the families of those who paid with their lives for our freedoms; it is for their ultimate sacrifice that Memorial Day was created, not for our pleasure but to honor their sacrifice and those of their loved ones.

“but that the members should have the same care
for one another. And if one member suffers, all
the members suffer with it; or if one member is
honored, all the members rejoice with it.”
                       -- 1 Corinthians 12.25b-26

Please, let us always remember . . .

This photo is from the "Veterans" Google+ page.
https://plus.google.com/113510772764418120996

New life in Christ Jesus brings forgiveness & transformation!

This is a powerfully moving story of:

• the death life without Christ Jesus brings,
• the redemption, restoration, forgiveness, & love life in Christ Jesus brings.

This is a must read by all...a great way to celebrate how life in Christ Jesus changes everything, even Mother's Day!

Blessed Mother's Day to all! : >

"Mommy Had an Abortion:" How I Apologized to My Children | LifeNews.com

A very powerful story demonstrating the commitment of Christian love and honoring God's direction.

Now here's a very powerful story of the commitment of Christian love. Feel free to share as it may encourage marriage commitments. Reminds me of my elder brother-in-law, Larry's, loving commitment to my elder sister, Debi, after her very severe stroke more than two years ago. God bless you all! : >

"The Story of Ian & Larissa" (English subtitles)
(c) 2011 Desiring God

http://www.universalsubtitles.org/en/videos/UR3O97Blfadd/info/the-story-of-ian-larissa/

Free live webinar with Richard Hammar on 2 May 2012 on "Child Abuse Reporting Laws" for ministers and church leaders!

Since April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month, Church Management Update is sponsoring a free webinar on 2 May 2012 with renown legal counsel, Richard Hammar, covering child abuse prevention and abuse reporting laws titled, "Child Abuse Reporting Laws--What Churches Can Learn From Penn State."

This is a rare opportunity for ministers and church leaders to hear directly from Richard Hammar on a subject that is, sadly due to the times in which we live, necessary. It will be helpful so please inform any minister or church leader you know with plenty of time so they can sign up. Since it's free and it's Richard Hammar is presenting, it should be excellent and filled with very useful information.

Click here to go directly to the registration page:

https://www4.gotomeeting.com/register/953763919

²⁰ Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, ²¹ to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. -- Ephesians 3.20-21

Blessed Resurrection Weekend thoughts to meditate upon...

Howdy All!

Blessed Resurrection Weekend to Everyone!

As we anticipate the power of Jesus' Resurrection, may we not forget to reflect on the horrific suffering our blessed Saviour & Lord willingly endured for us all; may we be willing to walk in the "fellowship of His sufferings."

 10 I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of His resurrection and participation in His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death, 11 and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead. -- Philippians 3.10-11 

A passage to meditate upon this weekend...

19 For it is commendable if someone bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because they are conscious of God. 20 But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. 21 To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in His steps.

      22 “He committed no sin,
            and no deceit was found in His mouth.”

23 When they hurled their insults at Him, He did not retaliate; when He suffered, He made no threats. Instead, He entrusted Himself to Him who judges justly. 24 “He himself bore our sins” in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by His wounds you have been healed.” 25 For “you were like sheep going astray,” but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. -- 1 Peter 2.19-25

God bless & and grow us all more into the image of Christ Jesus our Lord!

Blessings in Christ!

Now here's a great question worth investing some time to ask & answer, especially in our modern, easy-to-access, all-consuming entertainment-driven world...

http://www.christianpost.com/news/how-can-i-break-free-from-an-addiction-to-entertainment--70777/

How Can I Break Free From an Addiction to Entertainment?

www.christianpost.com

I believe I do love Jesus, but most of the time I'd rather spend time being entertained than spend time in God's word. How do I break this hold that entertainment has on my heart?

Reflecting on the meaning and purpose of Christmas

As we reflect on the meaning of Christmas and our Creator's purpose for blessing us with the gift of His only Son, Jesus, may we be like the shepherds and give Jesus the same excitement, reverence, and wonder they did...

17 When they had seen him (Jesus), they spread the

word concerning what had been told them about this

child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what

the shepherds said to them. -- Luke 2.17-18

Merry Christmas and God bless you all! : >

What are we doing for others and God’s Kingdom amidst recent calamities?

Amidst the myriad of disasters that have befallen humanity in recent times there still appears to be a lack of seeking of Jesus as Messiah among those not directly affected by these calamities.  It seems some are willing to go to these places and help, and even many more are willing to give their money to aid those who have been devastated.  But what about those who remain?  Are they seeking God in the face of what is happening elsewhere on our planet?  What are we doing to spread the Word of the Lord to those among us?  Maybe we need to be reminded what Jesus said would be the signs of the last days?  Let’s read His very words in Mark 13.5-8 (emphasis mine):

⁵ Jesus said to them: “Watch out that no one deceives you. ⁶ Many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am he,’ and will deceive many. ⁷ When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. ⁸ Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places, and famines. These are the beginning of birth pains. ~ Mark 13.5-8

How can we ignore God’s mandate to go and tell others about Jesus, especially during these latter days?  While it is needful to give to those in distress in other places and to tell them about Jesus, it is also essential to tell those around us about Jesus before calamity befalls so they too may be eternally prepared.

When is the last time you talked with someone about Jesus who was not a Christ-follower already?  If Christians are truly going to make an eternal impact for the Kingdom of God then we must speak up now, especially in times such as these.  We need to utilize the crises and ask simple questions like:

1)    What kind of preparation have you made for potential calamity?

2)    How would you handle life if you suddenly lost everything?

3)    In what or who do you put your daily hope and trust?

These simple questions are not meant to elicit fear in others, but they are simply to be a bridge to help others think about what has been reality for so many and what one day may be reality for them.  I am sure you can think of other questions to ask that will move the conversation to Jesus, so jump in and let’s spread the Gospel of Jesus and the eternal hope we have in Christ to others so they too may believe!  Remember Jesus said:

³⁷ Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. ³⁸ Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” ~ Matthew 9.37-38

Remember, we are Jesus’ workers!

The Importance of Praise

We place a high priority on worship, for we know that the Bible instructs us to praise God and often! In fact the New International Version of the English Bible uses the term "praise", or a variation of it, 420 times in 361 verses. For comparison "worry" is mentioned 13 times in 12 verses, "complain" and its variations are only mentioned 19 times in 19 verses, and "sadness" is only mentioned once. So let's take our cue from God's Holy Word and praise the Lord! Won't you join us and allow God, through the rich experience of praise, to minister to you by changing your life and enabling you to encourage and care for each other as all of us put our faith into action.

The Best Times Of The Day To Praise Are:

In the morning, O LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation. ~ Psalm 5.3

Evening, morning and noon I cry out in distress, and he hears my voice. ~ Psalm 55.17

16 Be joyful always; 17 pray continually; 18 give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. ~ 1 Thessalonians 5.16-18

On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night. ~ Psalm 63.6

Ministering to the sick among you, a few thoughts to ponder...

Have you ever known anyone around you who was sick? How did you respond? What did you do for them? Once semester I had the unfortunate situation of falling sick with pneumonia—no fun, trust me. I live in a fairly Christian community—I'm a Ph. D. student at a prestigious Christian seminary in the USA south. As a result of the response I have received during this illness, as well as previous bouts with sickness, I decided to share some of my thoughts.

I address my comments primarily to those who deem themselves "Christians" as a hopeful lesson in pragmatic holistic caring for the sick, but anyone who reads this will hopefully benefit in some way.

: >

To give a little more context to this matter, I posted the fact I was sick at home with pneumonia on three portals of my school's Intranet.

Most Christians tended to respond in several ways. Please note this is not an exhaustive list.

Emailed Responses:

1. There are those who wished me, the sick person, a "speed recovery"—well-wishes are nice, but these seem more like an abbreviated prayer for the person without actually praying for him/her.

2. Then there are those who offered their prayers, saying they'd be praying for me to get well quickly—this is a good.

3. Still others actually emailed me their prayers—obviously, this was better than 1 or 2.

4. A few even said "If I needed anything to let them know & then they'd help out" (my paraphrase)--interesting. This tends to be a very common response from Christians in the United States. This bothers me much. Is this really a biblical way to minister to the sick? Is this how Jesus taught or lived out ministry to those who were sick among him? I think not. I must confess, when I hear this from people via email or a conversation my first, second, or third thoughts are not filled with great gratitude for these people's kind offers. Rather, I tend to feel this "offer to help" makes these people feel like they've done something when in fact they've done nothing to minister to the sick person at all. Simply stated, this offer puts the responsibility on the sick person to initiate the communication or request for aid in some specific manner if any assistance is to be received. Hmm, what is wrong with this picture? Everything! Please think about this carefully & open-heartedly. When you are sick, the last thing you feel like doing is inconveniencing anyone, friend or acquaintance. You're already feeling miserable because of whatever illness you're struggling to get over, or have been doomed to live with. You've even already humbled yourself by putting your need "out there" for others to see—this can be so humiliating, not merely humbling, because you are saying to others, "Please, I need help because I'm sick or I've got this condition with which I have to live." This is no small feat in a culture that prizes strength, health, vim, & vigor.

5. And then there are those who do absolutely nothing, or it seems like nothing to the sick person because they receive no interaction from the person(s) whom they have informed that they are sick. I have been guilty of this one in that I learn of a need & then I quietly pray for the person in the privacy of my own home. While this is good & God hears our prayer, does it communicate to the sick person God's & our love for him/her? The key phrase in this question is "communicate to the sick person"? I think the honest answer is no, it does not. I assert this since there is not point of contact with the sick person who is in need of so much more than prayer. He/she is in need of what I term "body ministry". You see, when a person is sick he/she is removed, albeit hopefully only temporarily, from his/her community of friends with whom he/she normally tends to associate or fellowship.

Some Concluding Thoughts:

Since we are to respond to the sick among us in a manner in which our Lord God would be pleased let us actually reach out with a tangible act of kindness not merely a well-wish or well-intended offer of help.

Remember in Matthew 10.6-8 Jesus told His twelve disciples to “Go” to “the lost” and to “the sick”.

Matthew 10.6-8 (NIV) (emphasis mine)

⁶ Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel. ⁷ As you go, preach this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven is near.’ ⁸ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy,^b drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.

How should we interpret this? Might it be that God does not want us to wait for those in need to ask for our assistance before we go? Perhaps Jesus’ words, “Freely you have received, freely give” are best understood as a command and not as a suggestion to wait until someone contacts us first? Do you know any sick person/people? If so, then it might truly be best to simply go, preach, and minster healing to those who are lost and/or sick.

Also, we need to remember that in each instance when Jesus encountered a sick person he/she was completely transformed as a result of his/her time with Jesus. May the sick among us also be completely transformed due to the actual time we spend with them. God bless you as you minster to the sick God brings across your path in life! May you minister in the leading and power of the Holy Spirit!

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^b The Greek word was used for various diseases affecting the skin—not necessarily leprosy.

Hi there, I'm new at this

Hi there! I'm new at blogging so please be patient with me. Thank you very much!