© Carolyn Marshall, www.livinglifephoto.com
“We are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (Ephesians 2:10) Through God’s unmerited grace, not as the result of any effort, ability, intelligent choice, or act of service on our part, we become Christians. Out of gratitude for this free gift, we will seek to help and serve others with kindness, love and gentleness, and not merely to please ourselves. We are each under construction by our God who creates masterpieces, and are a work in progress. Christ is day by day chiseling and building us. He is removing the unwanted and harmful things in our lives and rebuilding the internal workings of our heart and mind. Just like the roads we travel each day, the construction goes on and the traffic cones are deployed. We must steer around them just as we need to steer around the things that are still obstacles in us so we don’t fall into pot holes or drive where the road is no longer there. Please watch the video below prior to listening to Pastor Ted's message.If you have never put your complete faith in Jesus Christ for your eternal salvation, why not believe what God's word says and call on Jesus Christ to save you right now? Click here and let us show you how you can KNOW JESUS.
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©2008 Carolyn Marshall, www.livinglifephoto.com
First off, you have to decide who you love most…you or God. Once you know that, if it is God you love, you’ll prefer to do things His way. You will have wisdom, instruction and protection. You will love His ways and shun the ways of the world, not because they are rules from a prudish God, but because you love Him, more than you love yourself. Read Psalm 73 and you will find out, as the Psalmist did, why you should even bother to do it God’s way. He looked all around and saw the wicked flourishing! He lamented before God that he had sacrificed and done without in order to follow God, and yet his life was full of suffering and lack. He was angry until he entered the presence of God and received the peace that surpasses all understanding. In that moment, he knew what God was saying. The rich and ungodly may have an easier time here, but they shall be forever condemned because they loved the world more than God. Don’t find out too late that it is better to do things God’s way…better both here and in eternity! [Originally recorded June 26, 2013] If you have never put your complete faith in Jesus Christ for your eternal salvation, why not believe what God's word says and call on Jesus Christ to save you right now? Click here and let us show you how you can KNOW JESUS.
© www.sharefaith.com
There are so many things, causes and people to be devoted to in this world. Satan, the god of this world who comes as an angel of light, desires, covets and actively seeks ways and means to stealthily and deceitfully garner the affection and devotion of every soul on earth. His mission is to steal, kill, and destroy. After all, he is also known as, “the Grim Reaper.” However, he can’t just appear with his deadly scythe and carry souls off to hell unless they exercise their God-given free will to choose him for their master. God earnestly desires for man to choose life eternal through His Son Jesus, and forsake the scheming and devious ways of Satan. Affection does determine destiny—Heaven or hell. Jesus said, “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will stand by and be devoted to the one and despise and be against the other. You cannot serve God and mammon (that is, deceitful riches, money, possessions or what is trusted in).” Paul said, “If then you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind (affections) on things above, not on the things that are on earth, for you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.” Peter was enabled supernaturally to walk upon the stormy sea because he set his affection on Jesus alone. He began to sink because he looked to the threatening waves of fear, doubt and unbelief. But here is the good news—for those who continue in their affection and faithful devotion to Jesus, though they may stumble and fall, like Peter, He will pluck them up from the storms they encounter and carry them safely to their heavenly destiny to be with Him forever. Scripture References: Matthew 6:24 (Amplified); Colossians 3:1-3 If you have never put your complete faith in Jesus Christ for your eternal salvation, why not believe what God's word says and call on Jesus Christ to save you right now? Click here and let us show you how you can KNOW JESUS. Humility is a spiritual discipline. It does not come to us naturally. If we even understand humility, we are often proud we are humble…duh…I think we need a bit more understanding! Discipline is hard work, done in obscurity, for the sake of excellence. Those same comments apply to humility. We are often not as familiar with humility as we are with pride. The sneaky thing about pride, though, is that we often think we are humble when we are not. Our “humility” is full of holes! Humility is not having low self-esteem, feeling unworthy or inferior or being a nobody. Humility just means you know your gifts but you know Whom they came from, and it wasn’t you! Humility is knowing you are valuable, especially valuable to God, and that is not inferior to anyone. But our relationship with God is all because of Him and not because of us…and that should keep us really humble. If you have never put your complete faith in Jesus Christ for your eternal salvation, why not believe what God's word says and call on Jesus Christ to save you right now? Click here and let us show you how you can KNOW JESUS.
© www.sharefaith.com
Jesus, immediately after performing the miracle of feeding multitudes with five loaves and two fish, compelled His beloved disciples to launch out to sea to get their spiritual “sea legs.” We understand this nautical term as meaning the ability to walk on board a ship with steadiness especially in rough seas. Jesus knew their journey would be perilous and life threatening and, therefore, went off by Himself to pray and intercede for them. Perhaps it was calm when they departed, but when they were about 3-4 miles out to sea by themselves at 3-6 a.m. and darkness was all around, they encountered a violent and vicious storm with waves battering their boat. Jesus, knowing their perilous situation, came to them walking on the water intent on saving them all. Peter was so bold to ask, and then was granted permission by Jesus, to come to Him on the water. He was so full of confidence! Here I come, Jesus! His focus was on Jesus alone—not on the water. But at some point, he looked away from Jesus, down at the water, maybe thinking it was incredible that he was actually walking on it in this raging storm. This was when he lost his focus and began to sink. However, like you and me today, we know in our hearts and minds that Jesus will never leave us nor forsake us, but too often we look to the storm, our faith lacking, and we begin to sink. We find ourselves under a “sea of circumstances” and not looking to Jesus who lifts us above these battering waves of fear and doubt. Perhaps our “sea legs” are in need of more training like Peter’s and the disciples with him. When Peter cried out to Jesus to save him, like we must do, Jesus reached out and took hold of him and said to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” And when they got into the boat, the wind stopped. See Matthew 14:13-33. All God’s people will also be sent out in our world today (the sea of life) to be trained and disciplined—to trust Him and have faith in Him in every circumstance we may encounter. R. W. Schambach, for more than five decades, boldly declared, “You don’t have any trouble—all you need is FAITH IN GOD.” If you have never put your complete faith in Jesus Christ for your eternal salvation, why not believe what God's word says and call on Jesus Christ to save you right now? Click here and let us show you how you can KNOW JESUS.
© www.sharefaith.com
As we reflect on this July 4, 2013, I want us to think on the greatness of this nation. We have done so much and it has been so successful. But I think we are slipping a bit. As our country has slowly removed God, references to Him, prayer and Bible from the public square, has anyone noticed the precipitous decline of our military might, our standing in the world, our academic achievements, our financial strength and the overall health of our country? Whoa…I think we’re cruisin’ for a bruisin’! A long time ago, it was said that America was great because her people were great, but that it would remain so only as long as her people remain great. We have gone from laws against abortion, homosexuality and pornography to laws for those issues. We have gone from laws for prayer and Bible reading in public school to laws against them. 2 Chronicles 7:14 is looking mighty pertinent right now! If you have never put your complete faith in Jesus Christ for your eternal salvation, why not believe what God's word says and call on Jesus Christ to save you right now? Click here and let us show you how you can KNOW JESUS.
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Paul considered himself the foremost of all sinners. He said he was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor and a violent aggressor against the faithful followers of Jesus Christ. He later became a recipient of God’s grace and found mercy through Jesus Christ. Paul said that Jesus demonstrated His perfect patience toward him as an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life. Paul expresses his gratitude to Jesus for saving his soul as follows: “I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me (KJV, “enabled” me) because He considered me faithful, putting me into service.” Like Paul, all who have received Jesus Christ as Lord and savior have been commissioned and enabled by the power of the Holy Spirit to serve God and glorify His holy name. Paul said he learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. He gives us the “secret” and says: “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” If you have received Jesus Christ as your Lord and savior, you also have been lavished with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus in order to serve the living God. Are you experiencing the ability to do all things through Jesus Christ who enables and strengthens you to serve Him daily? (I Timothy 1:12-17; I Peter 5:10, 11; Phil. 4:12, 13) If you have never put your complete faith in Jesus Christ for your eternal salvation, why not believe what God's word says and call on Jesus Christ to save you right now? Click here and let us show you how you can KNOW JESUS. |
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