So often we ask, if God wants me to be happy why does he allow suffering.   Or how could he allow such tragic events to happen.  I think this is a hugh stumbling block for those who do not know Jesus and spend time in His word understanding Him.  We can be happy in turmoil.  We are not happy through circumstances and things. 

http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DXwu272eeyOY&h=4cbbb

I am really enjoying finding out more about our founding fathers and the roots of our country.  I am finding great strenght, peace and encouragement from reading about them.  I feel it is important to stay up with the news of the world so I can be a smarter voter, and also lift up in prayer events that the Holy Spirit prompts me to share with my Heavenly Father.  I hope you enjoy this and it touches your heart.

Samual Adams: Father of the American Revolution, Signer of the Declaration of Independence–  “I…recommend my Soul to that Almightsy Being who gave it, and my body I commit to the dust, relying upon the merits of Jesus Christ for a pardon of all my sins.”

Charles Carroll: Sighner of the Declaration of Independence–  “On the mercy of my Redeemer I rely for salvation and on His merits; not on the works I have done in obedience to His precepts.”

William Cushing: First Associate Justice Apppointed by George Washington to the Supreme Court–  “Sensible of my mortality, but being of sound mind, after recommending my soul to Almighty God through the merits of my Redeemer and my body to the earth . . .

John Dickinson:Sinner of the Constitution–  “Rendering thanks to my Creator for my existence and station among His works, for my birth in a country enlightened by the Gospel and enjoying freedom, and for all His other kindnesses, to Him I resign myself, humbly confiding in His goodness and in His mercy through Jesus Christ for the events of eternity.”

John Hancock:Signer of the Declaration of Independence–  “I John Hancock,…being advanced in years and being of perfect mnd and memory-thanks be given to God-therefore calling to mind the mortality of my body and knowing it is appointed for all men once to die (Hebrews 9:27), do make and ordain this my last will and testament…Principally and first of all, I give and recommend my soul into the hands of God that gave it: and my body I recommend to the earth…nothing doubting but as the general resurrection I shall receive the same again by the mercy and power of God…”

This man was an American Puritan.  He was a stimulator of the religious revivial “Great Awakening.”  I was reading some of his quotes and thought I would share some.

“A true love of God must begin with a delight in his holiness”

“Many pray with their lips for that for which their hearts have no desire”

“The best, more beautiful, and most perfect way that we have of expressing a sweet concord of mind to each other is by music

“Prayer is as natural an expression of faith as breathing is of life”

“Resolution One: I will live for God.  resolution Two: If no one else does, I still will”

“The happiness of the creature consists in rejoicing in God, by which also God is magnified and exalted”

http://www.facebook.com/kegirod?ref=profile#!/notes/american-center-for-law-and-justice/defending-the-national-day-of-prayer/383381624447

We need to keep on praying !!  Our coutry is a precious place.  Stay awake and informed. 

http://www.wallbuilders.com/LIBissuesArticles.asp?id=8755

Do you ever look to see what some of the great men and women of history say about God and the Bible.  Here are just a few.  Despite what is being taught in Americas public schools, our founding fathers were Godly, spiritual men.  Find out for yourselves.

George Washington said, “It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and the Bible.”

Abraham Lincoln believed that “the Bible is the best gift God has ever given to men.  All the good from the Savior of the world is communicated to us through this book.”

Napoleon wrote, “The Bible is no mere book, but a Living Creature, with a power that conquers all that opposes it.”

We have weekly bible messages and different series at our church on Sunday nights.  I love things that are practical and that I can apply to my daily walk with the Lord.  I really enjoyed this last one.  How do you know what your doing, thinking, saying and planning something that the Lord would approve of.  Also, what if someone says that the Lord told me to tell you this, or I had a dream and this was the message, what if someone tells you they can speak in tongues or can do faith healing.  Things can be very confusing and in the end times there will be many, many false prophets.  What do we do.  Just thinking about it makes my head spin.  So, our pastor gave us five questions to ask as we run it through the scriptures.  There are many other verses as you go through the bible that also apply besides the one listed here.  Enjoy the journey. 

1.  DOES THE EXPERIENCE LIFT UP CHRIST ALONE AS THE WAY OF SALVATION ? 

John 14:6  Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me.  (There are lots of false doctrine out there and lots of people who would like you to believe that there are lots of ways to get to heaven)

Galatians 1:6-8  I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel–not that there is another gospel, but there are some who are confusing you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ.  But even if we or an angel from heaven should proclaim to you a gospel contrary to what we proclaimed to you, let that one be accursed!

I John 4:1-3 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God; for many false prophets have gone out into the world.  By this you know the Spirit of God:  every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God.

2.  DOES THE EXPERIENCE LIFT UP SCRIPTURE AS THE TRUE WAY TO LEARN ABOUT THE SAVIOR ?

Hebrews 1:1-2  Long ago (Old Testament) God spoke to our ancestors in many and various ways by the prophets, but in these last days (New Testament) he has spoken to us by a Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom he also created the worlds.

2 Timothy 3:13-16  But wicked people and imposters will go from bad to worse, decieving others and being decieved.  But as for you, continue in what you have learned and firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it, now from childhood you have known the sacred writings that are able to instruct you for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.  All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, …

3.  DOES THE RECIPIENT CLAIM AUTHORITY BASED ON THEIR SUPERNATURAL EXPERIENCE ?  In other words, are they promoting Christ or self.

Colossians 2:18-19  Do not let anyone disqualify you, insisting on self-abasement and worship of angels, dwelling on visions, puffed up without cause by a human way of thinking, and not holding fast to the head, from whom the whole body, nourished and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows with a growth that is from God.  Footnote:  The false teachers were proud of their humility!  This false humility brought attention and praise to themselves rather than to God.  True humility means seeing ourselves as we really are from God’s perspective, and acting accordingly.  People today practice false humility when they talk themselves down so that others will they they are spiritual.  False humility is self-centered; true humility is God-centered.  As you grow in your Christian faith, let God’s Word be your guide, not the opinions of other people.  (life application bible-NRSV)

Jude 8-18  (I will let you read that one as it is quite long. It is the book right before Revelation.)

4.  DOES THE EXPERIENCE CALL PEOPLE TO A FAITH THAT IS CONSISTANT WITH HISTORICAL BIBLICAL FAITH?

Deuteronomy 13:1-5  If prophets or those who divine by dreams appear among you and promise you omens or portents, and the omens or the protents declared by them take place, and they say, “Let us follow other gods” (whom you have not known) “and let us serve them, ” you must not heed the words of those prophets or those who divine dy dreams; for the Lord your God is testing you, to know whether you indeed love the Lord your God with all your heart and soul.  The Lord your God you shall follow, him alone you shall fear, his commandments you shall keep, his voice you shall obey, him you shall serve, and to him you shall hold fast.  But those prophets or those who divine by dreams shall be put to death for having spoken treason against the Lord your God– who brought you out of the land of Egypt and redeemed you from the house of slavery –to turn you from the way in which the Lord your God commanded you to walk.  So you shall purge the evil from your midst.

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Well, this will wrap up chapter one of this book.  Some of you have probably read these suggestions in other books, I know I have, but sometimes it is nice to get a reminder.  Some people word things differently and a lightbulb just goes off for us.  So, here we go.   Here are the three practical steps for thirsting.

1.  Meditate on Scripture:  Now I have heard this many times.  “Note that we are to ‘meditate,’ not merely read.  Without the addition of meditation, warned the great man of prayer and faith George Muller, ‘the simple reading of the Word of God’ can become information that ‘only passes through our minds, just as water passes through a pipe.”  I needed this reminder as I would read the bible but then sometimes I would have to or choose to jump right into my day.  And also as I get older I need to meditate longer in order to remember things  LOL.  I like this next sentence.  ” if we don’t absorb some of it we will be affected by none of it.  And surely, if we should absorb anything that courses through our thinking, it should be inspired words from Heaven.  Without absorption of the water of God’s Word, there’s no quenching our spiritual thirst.  Meditation is the means of absorption.  Here comes some good practical and even fun, creative ways to absorb.  “Spend 25-50 persent of your Bible intake time meditation on some verse, phrase, or word from our reading.  ask questions of it.  Pray about it. Take your pen and scribble and doodle on a pad about it.  Look for at least one way you could apply it or live it.  Linger over  it.  Soak your sould slowly in the water of the Word, and you’ll find it not only refreshes you, but prompts a satisfying thirst for more.”

2.  Pray through Scripture:  “After you read through a section of Scripture, pray through part of that same passage. …”  It goes on to say that after your reading to go on to the book of Psalms.  This book was the God-inspried hymnbook of Isreal.  In the New Testament it is written twice (Eph 5:19 and Col 3:16) that we should sing psalms.

3.  Read thirst-making writers:  “After the God-breathed words ofthe Bible, read the time-tested works of those Christian writers who wrote with the thirst-making pen.”  Some listed here are: The Valley of Vision, Pilgrim’s Progress, books by John Owen, Richard Sibbes, Thomas Brooks, John Flavel, A.W. Tozer, John Piper’s Charles Spurgeon and there are so many others.

I really enjoyed the first chapter of this book and will be working on doing better with my devotions.  I hope this helped or even reinspired you or maybe it spoke to you in just the right way.  Whatever it is, spending time with God should be most important and hopefully not rushed as we journey along in this hectic world.  And trust me, I am right in there with you in the worldly battles of time, schedules, others interuptions and on and on.  But we must keep perservering.  Have a Great day in the Lord.

Hi, 

I am very excited to be a part of and share this new site with you.  You can have an opportunity to share what God is doing in your life and also see what he is doing in others lives.  It is a great way to reach out to other christians.  Encourage, share and grow.

Just click on the heading ” Mission HQ “  to the right and off you will go on a wonderful adventure with the Lord.