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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.
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Peter begins his first letter in chapter three by saying, “In the same way you wives…” I had to stop before reading any further and ask the question, what “same way” is he talking about? In 1 Peter 2:21-24 he gives the answer, “For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps, who committed no sin, nor was any deceit found in His mouth; and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously; and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin (crucify the flesh), and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed. For you were continually straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your soul.” Wow—what an answer! All of us, not just our mothers, must come and follow in His steps as Jesus also entrusted (committed) Himself to His Father in heaven. We thank God for our mothers—past and present—who have dedicated their lives to following in the steps of Jesus. 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. © http://www.creationswap.com/paulsnyder On Saturday, December 8, I was seeking to hear the voice of God on what to share on Sunday, December 9. At 1:35 pm, I heard these words: “It takes a while for the old man to die, but let the “while” take place.” Paul certainly identified with this process of dying to self when he said, “For the good that I wish, I do not do; but I practice the very evil that I do not wish.” He goes on to say, “Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death?” Most importantly, Paul gives the answer to his question and says, “Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!” He also tells us when the dying to self takes place and said, “I die daily.” Letting the “while” take place can only be in the very moment in which we live looking to Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith. We must be crucified to self and live a resurrected life in Christ alone who enables us to do all things. (Romans 7:19-25; I Corinthians 15:31; Hebrews 12:2; Galatians 2:20 NASB) 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. Multitudes of people including our elected officials at all levels, lawmakers, judges, teachers, corporate CEOs and the general population from the young to the elderly have become cold and hard of heart to the ways and laws of God. Many are deceived and believe that they are better off charting their own course of morality than yielding to God. It is a philosophy of humanism and a lifestyle that will lead to despair, misery and death. However, there is hope! Vast numbers of people do value and hold fast to God’s commands and are fighting the good fight of faith to preserve religious freedoms, the sanctity of life, and God’s definition of family and marriage (the union of one man and one woman.). God Himself spoke these words regarding Abraham, “For I have chosen him, in order that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing righteousness and justice in order that the Lord may bring upon Abraham what he has spoken about him.” (Genesis 18:19) The choice facing our world is clear—Deny God’s outstretched arm through Jesus Christ and die, or hold fast to Him at all costs and live. 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.
Abraham faithfully arose early in the morning to obey God’s command to sacrifice Isaac. (Gen 22) His every step, heartbeat, and thought along the way was yielded to the living God when he was committed to and endeavored to serve. Fears, doubts and apprehensions must have pressed enormously on his mind and heart. But he was determined to allow God to give him strength and faith to accomplish His command; a faith that gives substance to things hoped for and evidence to things not seen. (Heb 11:1) This faith in him, and from God, was evident when he told the young men traveling with him and Isaac to stay behind and said to them, “Stay here with the donkey, and I and the lad will go yonder, and we will worship and return to you.” (Gen 22:5) Worship and return! How can this be when Isaac was to be offered? Because nothing is impossible with God, and the mind cannot tread where faith can venture. In the end, God spared Isaac and provided a ram for Abraham to sacrifice. Romans 4:3 says that, “Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness.” May followers of Jesus everywhere have such a renewed and fresh stirring to contend earnestly for the faith such as we see here in Abraham. (Jude 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.
© Carolyn Marshall, www.livinglifephoto.com Shirley and I recently attended a memorial service for Dr. Daniel Mayer, a wonderful man of God who officiated our wedding 35 ½ years ago. The congregation sang one of his favorite hymns, “It is Well with My Soul.” The first verse says, “When peace, like a river, attendeth my way, when sorrows like sea billows roll; whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say, it is well, it is well with my soul.” Though we are certain to experience peace and sorrow, it is God’s desire for us to have unbroken communion and fellowship with Him. When Jesus fed the multitude of 5,000 men, plus women and children—perhaps 15,000 people—with five loaves and two fish, the disciples were present to witness this miracle in a safe and peaceful setting. However, His disciples were soon sent out to sea where they were to face physical and spiritual sea billows of great magnitude. Jesus had gone up to a mountain to pray, and we can be assured He was praying for them. In Matthew 14, we read where He came to them walking upon the water, and He saved them all from perishing. If you will call out to Jesus, He will come to you, also, just like He came to Peter when he began to sink, and you, too, will be able to say, “It is well with my soul.” (Message recorded 7/15/12) LISTEN TO AUDIOPERSONAL TESTIMONIESPastor Mark shares a personal testimony with us prior to the morning's message. It is great encouragement to hear how the Lord is working in each of our lives. Listen to the personal testimonies and/or download file. Daniel was only sixteen when he was taken from Jerusalem into Babylonian captivity in 605 B.C. In chapter nine, he was in his eighties and still retained his perennial devotion and steadfastness to the only true and living God. He was determined and focused to abide by God's law in a far away and strange land. Perennial means "to last or endure an indefinitely long time." Knowing that his enemies were trying to trick him into disobeying King Darius' decree (not to worship or petition any god but Darius alone), Daniel opened his windows toward Jerusalem and "...he continued kneeling on his knees three times a day, praying and giving thanks before his God, as he had been doing previously." (Daniel 6:10, Proverbs 15:15) Today, our Father in Heaven is looking for people who are faithfully committed in their devotion and loyalty to Jesus Christ. Like Daniel, who was not swallowed up in a pagan culture, all God's people must strive to "...come out from their midst and be separate, says the Lord. And do not touch what is unclean; and I will welcome you." (2 Corinthians 6:17) How about you? Do you have a perennial passion, or are you content just being seasonal in a lukewarm relationship with Jesus Christ? Audio: (Click forward button below to play audio of sermon and/or download mp3 file.)
Personal Testimonies: Prior to the morning's message, Pastor Mark opens the floor to life testimonies. It is great encouragement to hear how the Lord is working in each of our lives. Click the forward button below to play the personal testimonies of Pastor Mark and others and/or download mp3 file.)
On January 14, the Tampa Tribune printed an article covering most of the front page about Tim Tebow, a devout Christian and quarterback of the Denver Broncos football team. The story was titled, "BOTH ON THE FIELD AND OFF, TIM TEBOW IS A MAN ON A MISSION." The article stated that, "the Denver quarterback has faith-driven motivation to capitalize on his time in the spotlight." This 24-year-old young man is humbly determined and committed to use his celebrity status on the world's athletic stage to glorify Jesus Christ. In like manner, all God's children have an obligation to let the light of the gospel of Jesus Christ shine in their daily life. God has a mission for you–a faith-driven mission that will please Him. He will fashion, mold, and shape you into the image of Jesus Christ, right where you are. He will connect the dots and put the pieces together for you. Most likely you are not famous like Tim, but you and I, and whomsoever will, must have faith-driven motivation and "...walk as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth), trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord." (Ephesians 5:8, 9) Do you have faith-driven motivation? Are you on a mission for Jesus Christ–for such a time as this? Audio: (Click forward button below to play audio of sermon and/or download mp3 file.)
Personal Testimonies: Prior to the morning's message, Pastor Mark opens the floor to life testimonies. It is great encouragement to hear how the Lord is working in each of our lives. Click the forward button below to play the personal testimonies of Pastor Mark and others and/or download mp3 file.)
I am always blessed (and sometimes amazed) at the wisdom I see coming from Akarion as she raises her little 2 1/2 year old Adelyn (Addy). Addy doesn’t have the “feeding yourself” thing down pat yet! Akarion is patient with her and teaches her how, but Addy often tips the spoon, misses her mouth, or drags her arm across the plate. A lot of things end up on her hands, elbows, nose, neck, the table, her shirt, etc. Akarion doesn’t throw little Addy away because she doesn’t have the art of eating mastered yet! Rather, Akarion gives Addy all the support she needs…the love, the teaching, the training, the encouragement and THE BIB! That is, the protection, the “covering” she needs until she masters the task. God does the same for us. His love, His redemption, His mercy, His directions…they are all there for those who will endure the process of learning, AND He provides the BIB—the help needed so we won’t destroy ourselves and all the others on the planet! Be humble and use your bib. Scripture References: Psalm 28:7, Psalm 40:17, Isaiah 41:10, Isaiah 50:9, Isaiah 42:16; Hebrews 13:6 Audio: (Click forward button below to play audio of message and/or download mp3 file.)
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