Veteran's Day - Remembering our Heroes

 Veteran's Day is a day to remember the great service and sacrifice made by every soldier who has serviced in the Armed Forces of our great Country.  Thank You, Veterans!  Thank you for keeping us safe and free.

I want to send a special thanks, not just to our Veterans, but to all soldiers who are currently serving, and to every family who has loved and supported their soldier and has sacrificed precious time with their loved one. To you all, we owe a debt that we cannot repay.  May God bless you with His richest and best blessings!


On special holidays, our local Rotarians get up early to erect flags in front of every participating home in Terrell. When I look out my front window and see the flags waving all throughout our neighborhood, it never fails to move me.  I'm so thankful to live in Country where I'm free to worship God without fear.  Thank you, honored Veterans, and all who are currently protecting our freedom.

http://youtu.be/5pfBUUZNbFM - Thank You Song on Veteran's Day

Dear Lord, Today we honor our veterans, worthy men and women
who gave their best when they were called upon to serve and protect their country.
We pray that you will bless them, Lord, for their unselfish service in the continual struggle
to preserve our freedoms, our safety, and our country’s heritage, for all of us.
Bless them abundantly for the hardships they faced, for the sacrifices they made
for their many different contributions to America’s victories over tyranny and oppression.
We respect them, we thank them, we honor them, we are proud of them,
and we pray that you will watch over these special people and bless them
with peace and happiness. 
In Jesus’ name we pray; Amen.

By Joanna Fuchs

Never Alone

http://youtu.be/ybHoecZ-1f8 - Abba Father - Acapella Company

Mark 14:36
“Abba, Father,” he cried out, “everything is possible for you. Please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.”

Despair and defeat can be overwhelming, leaving us unable to move; unable to do the things that need to be done in order to rise above circumstances.  What can I do when I feel hopeless and alone?

Jesus turned to His Father.  When He was facing certain death, and not an easy, falling asleep death, but an excruciatingly painful death, He turned to His Father.  Jesus knew that God was in control and He trusted Him.  All His Father had to do was say "no more!"  He pleaded,  "Abba, Father, everything is possible for You.  Please take this cup of suffering away from me."  But Jesus didn't stop there.  His final words showed His complete trust in  God.  "Your will be done - not mine."

We face devastating events and struggles in our lives.  Many times we feel just like Jesus did.  We are overcome in fear and loneliness. This passage describes the depths of despair that Jesus felt.  He understands when we feel hopeless and abandoned.  He's been there. Have you ever felt alone?  Jesus understands.  He understands when the only One we can turn to is God.  He's been there.

Matthew 26:36-46
Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to the disciples, “Sit here while I go and pray over there.” 37 And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and He began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed. 38 Then He said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me.”



39 He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.”


40 Then He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “What! Could you not watch with Me one hour? 41 Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”


42 Again, a second time, He went away and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if this cup cannot pass away from Me unless I drink it, Your will be done.” 43 And He came and found them asleep again, for their eyes were heavy.


44 So He left them, went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words. 45 Then He came to His disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46 Rise, let us be going. See, My betrayer is at hand.”
 
The Psalmist understood too well those moments when there's no where to turn and no help is in sight; when we face a crisis feeling striped of any defense.  But David knew the answer.  He turned to God.

Psalm 61
Hear my cry, O God; Attend to my prayer.
From the end of the earth I will cry to You,
When my heart is overwhelmed; Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.

For You have been a shelter for me, A strong tower from the enemy.


I will abide in Your tabernacle forever;  will trust in the shelter of Your wings. Selah


For You, O God, have heard my vows; You have given me the heritage of those who fear Your name.
You will prolong the king’s life, His years as many generations.
He shall abide before God forever.
Oh, prepare mercy and truth, which may preserve him!
So I will sing praise to Your name forever, That I may daily perform my vows.

I tend to think of David as a mighty conqueror and warrior. I remember him as the greatest king that ever ruled. He was wealthy and respected.  He was considered a man after God's own heart.  Sometimes, I forget how much David suffered, even after he became king.

We read in 1 Samuel that King Saul was threatened by young David.  David was everything Saul was not, and Saul wanted to kill him.  David had to go into hiding in fear for his very life, at times, he even lived in caves.  I can't even imagine.  That cave was a long way from the palace that he would some day have. On the run, David had to leave behind Michal, the woman he loved.  He also had to leave his best friend, Jonathan, who just happened to be the son of Saul.  He must have felt alone and deeply discouraged.  Yet David found comfort in God.

Psalm 27:7-14
Hear, O LORD, when I cry with my voice!

Have mercy also upon me, and answer me.
When You said, “Seek My face,” My heart said to You, “Your face, LORD, I will seek.”
Do not hide Your face from me; Do not turn Your servant away in anger;
You have been my help; Do not leave me nor forsake me, O God of my salvation.
When my father and my mother forsake me, Then the LORD will take care of me.
Teach me Your way, O LORD, And lead me in a smooth path, because of my enemies.
Do not deliver me to the will of my adversaries; For false witnesses have risen against me,
and such as breathe out violence.
I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the LORD
in the land of the living.  

Wait on the LORD; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart;
Wait, I say, on the LORD!

There's another story in the New Testament.  Jesus has just fed 5000 with only 5 loaves and 2 fish.
The apostles must have been on a spiritual high!  To witness such a great miracle would certainly be life changing. Jesus sent the crowds away, and then told the apostles to go on ahead without him. Jesus then went off by Himself to pray.

In the darkness of night, a storm arose.  The disciples are afraid and alone.  Can you imagine the fear that raced through their minds as the waves raged and threatened to overturn the boat?  Remember, the disciples have just witnessed Jesus's supernatural power, but Jesus wasn't there.  They were alone.

Read the story closely.  From His position on the mountain, he saw that they were in trouble and He went to them. The apostles thought they were alone, but Jesus saw their struggles, and He came to their rescue.


   Mark 6
After telling everyone good-bye, he went up into the hills by himself to pray.



47 Late that night, the disciples were in their boat in the middle of the lake, and Jesus was alone on land. 48 He saw that they were in serious trouble, rowing hard and struggling against the wind and waves. About three o’clock in the morning Jesus came toward them, walking on the water. He intended to go past them, 49 but when they saw him walking on the water, they cried out in terror, thinking he was a ghost. 50 They were all terrified when they saw him.


But Jesus spoke to them at once. “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “Take courage! I am here!” 51 Then he climbed into the boat, and the wind stopped. They were totally amazed, 52 for they still didn’t understand the significance of the miracle of the loaves. Their hearts were too hard to take it in.

"Don't be afraid.  Take courage! I am here!"

Does anyone besides me need to hear that?  "Don't be afraid.  Take courage! I am here!"
What happened next?  The wind stopped.  The sea became calm.  That's what happens when we trust Jesus.
Whatever the struggle may be, He sees and He cares.  No matter how alone we may feel, we are never alone. We have His promises.

Matthew 28:20
and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” 

Hebrews 13:5b-6
For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
 we may boldly say:

http://youtu.be/5q3IjmZQT2A - All I Need is You - Hillsong United

We are never alone, even when no human help is in sight.  The struggles we face, we do not face by ourselves.  Just like Jesus calmed the sea for the apostles, He can calm our sea as well.  Listen! Hear His voice saying: 

"Don't be afraid. Take courage! I am here!"

We are children of God.  He has invited us to call Him, Abba, Father!  We don't have to fear anything because our Father is Creator and Sustainer of the Universe.  We can trust Him to carry us through any struggle and when the time is perfect, He will bring us Home safely.


Galatians 4:6
And because we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, “Abba, Father.”

Romans 8:15-16
So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.” 16 For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children.

“ The LORD is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?”



http://youtu.be/zlA5IDnpGhc - Our God is Greater - Chris Tomlin
 
Prayer - from a "Book of Prayer" by Stormie Omartian
 
Lord, whatever I need to do to make my path one of safety and peace, show me how and enable me to do it.  Give me wisdom, strength, and clarity of mind to hear what You are saying to me in the midst of any dark or overwhelming situation.  I know that it is my enemy who "has made me dwell in darkness.  Therefore my spirit is overwhelmed within me.  Cause me to know the way in which I should walk, for I lift up my soul to You". (Psalm 143:3-4,8)  May my life be a testimony of the power of Your glory manifested as I walk in the light You have given me.  I ask these things in the powerful Name of Jesus. Amen.
 

Because I'm Forgiven...

Sometimes it's not so easy to  forgive.  I can't always do it on my own.  I get caught up in being "right" and deserving to be treated with respect.  That's doesn't always happen.  But Christ gives me the ability to stop clinging to my own sense of what's right.  He helps me let go of perceived offenses.  He puts His Light in me so that I can love and forgive others, just as He has loves and forgives me.

http://youtu.be/PWeb79W8EqQ - You Put the Light in Me  - Brandon Heath

What seems too difficult for us is a sure sign that it belongs to God.
                                                                 - Marie DePree

Forgiving others is one of the most effective ways to open the doors to God's blessings. It's not always easy to do. Many times, unforgiveness comes because I'm focused on myself. My unforgiveness centers around my sense of what I deserve. Someone doesn't treat me the way I think he should. So I get angry, then I resent that person and have bitterness towards him. The craziest thing about unforgiveness is that the person who has made me so angry usually doesn't even know it. My unforgiveness either doesn't affect my "enemy" at all, he's completely clueless, or my unforgiveness gives my enemy power over me. That's totally not what I want. The last person I want to have power over me is someone who has hurt me.

Sometimes, unforgiveness comes when a terrible injustice has been done to someone we love. I can forgive someone who hurts me, but boy, let them hurt my children, hell has no fury like a mother who is protecting her babies. But even in those situations, God still calls us to forgive.

Forgiveness isn't about giving your enemy a "free pass" for what he's done. It's about giving yourself freedom from the burden of anger and bitterness. When we hold anger and resentment and bitterness in our hearts, they become huge footholds for the real Enemy. Those destructive thoughts grow and grow and eventually will crowd out all the good things that God wants us to think on.

Jesus gave us the ultimate example. "Father, forgive them. They don't know what they are doing." Forgive. Leave justice to God. My enemy will have to answer for things he did against me. And, I will answer for my unwillingness to forgive. My job is to forgive and move on. When I forgive others, God blesses me with a peace that's beyond my understanding, but best of all, when I forgive, God is glorified in my life.

Do you ever feel God isn't answering your prayers? A heart full of unforgiveness can hinder your prayers. Confess your sins and ask God to renew your spirit, and give you a heart full of love and mercy.

Remember Peter's words:

1 Peter 2:22-24
He never sinned, nor ever deceived anyone.
He did not retaliate when he was insulted, nor threaten revenge when he suffered.
He left his case in the hands of God, ho always judges fairly.
He personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin
and live for what is right. By his wounds you are healed.

http://youtu.be/XyD1FSC3d08 - Blessed Redeemer - Casting Crowns

Ephesians 4:23-27
Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. 24Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy. 25 So stop telling lies. Let us tell our neighbors the truth, for we are all parts of the same body. 26And “don’t sin by letting anger control you.”[a] Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 for anger gives a foothold to the devil.


Holy Father, You are so merciful to me. I fail every day, yet Your mercies for me are new every morning. I am so thankful that You have removed my sins from me as far as east is to west. You look at me, and You don't see all my sins and shortcomings, You see the Righteousness of Jesus. His precious blood covers me.


Who am I, Lord? I accept Your forgiveness, but then I fail to forgive others? Why can't I forgive and forget, Lord? Please help me forgive the person who injured me. I know I cannot do this on my own, only in Your Strength, Your Grace and Your Love. Fill my heart with Your mercy so that I can be merciful. Father, You've forgiven me so much. Without Your mercy, I couldn't dare approach Your Throne. Thank You, Lord. Thank You, Jesus, for covering me with Your Righteous. Please purify my heart of any bitterness, anger, resentment, no matter how justified I may feel. You forgave me. Help me to forgive others. Now, please give me the means to forget this pain. I don't want to keep bringing it up and picking at the wound. Help me, Lord, as weak as I am, to forgive the offender and forget the pain. I ask these things in the Name of Jesus Christ, my Redeemer. Amen.

I heard Paul Yonggi Cho speak a few years back. Yonggi Cho is pastor of the largest church in the world. Several years ago, as his ministry was becoming international, he told God, “I will go anywhere to preach the gospel—except Japan.” He hated the Japanese with gut-deep loathing because of what Japanese troops had done to the Korean people and to members of Yonggi Cho’s own family during WWII. The Japanese were his Ninevites.


Through a combination of a prolonged inner struggle, several direct challenges from others, and finally an urgent and starkly worded invitation, Cho felt called by God to preach in Japan. He went, but he went with bitterness. The first speaking engagement was to a pastor’s conference—1,000 Japanese pastors. Cho stood up to speak, and what came out of his mouth was this: “I hate you. I hate you. I hate you.” And then he broke and wept. He was both brimming and desolate with hatred.


At first one, then two, then all 1,000 pastors stood up. One by one they walked up to Yonggi Cho, knelt at his feet and asked forgiveness for what they and their people had done to him and his people. As this went on, God changed Yonggi Cho. The Lord put a single message in his heart and mouth: “I love you. I love you. I love you.”


Sometimes God calls us to do what we least want to do in order to reveal our heart—to reveal what’s really in our heart. How powerful is the blood of Christ? Can it heal hatred between Koreans and Japanese? Can it make a Jew love a Ninevite? Can it make you reconciled to…well, you know who?


from  Mark Buchanan, Your God Is Too Safe (Multnomah, 2001)


Ephesians 4:32
Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.


Mark 11:25
But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too.

Matthew 18:21-35
21Then Peter came to him and asked, “Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?”


22 “No, not seven times,” Jesus replied, “but seventy times seven!


23 “Therefore, the Kingdom of Heaven can be compared to a king who decided to bring his accounts up to date with servants who had borrowed money from him. 24 In the process, one of his debtors was brought in who owed him millions of dollars. 25 He couldn’t pay, so his master ordered that he be sold—along with his wife, his children, and everything he owned—to pay the debt.


26 “But the man fell down before his master and begged him, ‘Please, be patient with me, and I will pay it all.’ 27 Then his master was filled with pity for him, and he released him and forgave his debt.


28 “But when the man left the king, he went to a fellow servant who owed him a few thousand dollars. He grabbed him by the throat and demanded instant payment.


29 “His fellow servant fell down before him and begged for a little more time. ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay it,’ he pleaded. 30 But his creditor wouldn’t wait. He had the man arrested and put in prison until the debt could be paid in full.


31 “When some of the other servants saw this, they were very upset. They went to the king and told him everything that had happened. 32 Then the king called in the man he had forgiven and said, ‘You evil servant! I forgave you that tremendous debt because you pleaded with me. 33 Shouldn’t you have mercy on your fellow servant, just as I had mercy on you?’ 34 Then the angry king sent the man to prison to be tortured until he had paid his entire debt.


35 “That’s what my heavenly Father will do to you if you refuse to forgive your brothers and sisters from your heart.”



http://youtu.be/Pt7OZyBj5Ik - Who Am I - Casting Crowns

Caring for the Orphans

http://youtu.be/hh8WONK6i4o - You're the God of this City - Chris Tomlin

God is calling us all to be His Hands and Feet.  Are you listening?  God is calling you to some ministry.  It may across the ocean, or it may be in your own community.  Don't close your ear to God's calling.  He will use you in wonderful ways if You just answer the call. 

Matthew 25:34-36"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'


Once again, I'm asking for your prayers for this little orphanage - Happy Choice in Kenya. Their needs are great and ongoing. God is the great Provider and He has shown His love for this ministry in amazing ways. The need is ongoing because the children need to eat every day, they need to get an education which in Kenya is not free, and they need to learn how to provide for themselves so that when they are old enough they can be self-sufficient - and maybe they will even contribute to the care of the children they have grown up with at Happy Choice.


God put Oscar and Emma in my life. Of that I have no doubt. Originally, I thought I was supposed to teach them about Jesus, but as it turned out, they have taught me about having a relationship with Jesus. They taught me about real faith. God always gives more than we give. I wanted to be a blessing to Oscar and Emma, but God has blessed me so much more by allowing me to know them.

1 Corinthians 1:27-31 (NIV)

But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: "Let him who boasts boast in the Lord."

Oscar and Emma have committed their time and limited resources to caring for orphans. When I first met them, Oscar and his preacher friend worked together to provide food and other needs for the children. There was a woman from their church who actually lived next to the hostel and took care of the children - sort of a house parent. But one day, she came to Oscar and said that she was moving to Nairobi (6 hours away) to study theology and would no longer be able to take care of the children. That's when Oscar and Emma made a big decision. They moved from their larger home into the houseparent home. Oscar and Emma because the care providers for all the children who lived at Happy Choice.

Jeremiah 22:16 (NIV)
He defended the cause of the poor and needy, and so all went well.
Is that not what it means to know me?"  declares the LORD.

Oscar and Emma truly know the LORD. They had always been involved with the care but now they were totally responsible for the day to day duties, and for 12 children plus their own three, that's a lot of work. But they love the children as their own. Oscar now is totally responsible for bringing in resources, i.e. food, clothing, money for tuition/medical expenses, etc. because during all the violence and uprising during the last election, Oscar's best friend, his preacher, was murdered as he traveled from their village into Kisumu for food.

Oscar and Emma have always believed that God will provide for their needs. They dreamed of building a better place for the children to sleep. They realized the need for a safe latrine. Their old one was falling down and in danger of collapse. Emma wanted to have a real kitchen where she could prepare the meals for all the children. The old kitchen had fallen down and was nothing more than the ruins of the old building - just a little corner of the old kitchen where she could build a fire to cook.

Emma had laid out for me an outline of all the things they wanted to do at Happy Choice, including offering training in various skills that the children could use to earn a living when they moved away. Trades like mechanics, farming, sewing, etc. They realized that not all the children would do well in school, and those children would need some way to provide for their future families. They started a garden and taught the children how to raise plants for food. They raise rabbits, too, and sell them in town.

The most amazing thing is that Oscar and Emma have kept all these children in school. Everyone of them is attending either primary or secondary school. Timoland will graduate this year. He is currently waiting on his final exam grades. That is a huge accomplishment in a country where education is not free.

Most important to Oscar is that the children know Jesus is their true Friend. He's lived alone on the streets when he was a young teen. He understands the fears and the desperation. He also understands that Jesus saved him and provided for him. Jesus was Oscar's only hope, and Oscar wants every homeless child to know that.

There have been so many needs for this little orphanage, and my personal resources have been limited. It is heartbreaking to see such need and not be able to provide for that need. But God showed me that for now, my biggest job is to tell others. HE does the rest by touching hearts for this little ministry.

God has very clearly drawn people to this work. At first, the donations were small, but as we shared the need for clean water (which is now piped in from Kisumu), and the new buildings - the hostel, kitchen and latrine, the donations became larger, and we felt a great burden to provide a way for those generous donations to be tax deductible. The cost of setting up and maintaining a 501K3 charitable organization was too great. But then God connected us to Lost Orphans, a wonderful organization whose main goal is to care for orphans all over the world. My good friend, Michelle Wallace was determined to get Lost Orphans to include Happy Choice as one of their featured orphanages, and she did it! Now donations made to Happy Choice through the Lost Orphans website are fully tax deductible. What a blessing! www.lostorphans.com

Another wonderful thing about this connection is we now have a way for people to sponsor one of our children by making donations online - it can be a one time, periodic or even monthly donation. On the website, a simple click to "Meet the Children" takes you to a page where you can choose an orphan ministry. Choose "Happy Choice" and you will see the sweet faces of all the children in Oscar's care. Most of these children have been with Oscar and Emma for five years or more.

Timoland is the oldest and hopes to study at the University level once he receives his final exam grades later this year. He has been living at Happy Choice for nine years and hopes to become a doctor. I believe he can do it. He's been such a blessing for Oscar and Emma - someone they can always rely on to help out with the children.

This is Rael. She's simply beautiful. Rael has been with Happy Choice since she was only six. She is now 10. I don't get lots of photos of the children from Oscar because he doesn't have a camera and must arrange for a friend to come take snap shots for him. I probably have seen Rael's photo 4 or 5 times in the last few years, at different periods in time. Every single photo little Rael is wearing the same shirt and sometimes the same little jacket. Every photo. = (

I often wonder how different the lives of these children would have been if they had been born in the United States, or even if their parents hadn't become sick and died. Our children have so much materially, so many advantages that the children at Happy Choice don't have. But one thing I know, these children feel loved, and they are being taught about Jesus. Because they have seen God at work - providing for them in amazing ways, they know He's real. And because of Oscar and Emma, they know that God loves them greatly.

This Saturday night Lost Orphans is having a fundraising banquet. Happy Choice is not their only ministry. There are several just as worthy, just as needy as Happy Choice. Please pray with me that God will touch hearts for each ministry, and that much money will be raised to help provide the essentials for these little orphanages. If' you are interested in coming to the Banquet, here is the invitation.

Thanks in advance for all your prayers and support.


LOI Hope 1:27 Banquet

Saturday, November 12, 2011 • 5:30-8:00 pm

Hosted by Tim Cypert

469.522.3457

Fairview Farms

3314 N. Central Expressway, #100

Plano, TX 75074

Join us as we celebrate how God has used LOI in 2011 and learn about new opportunities in 2012!

We will enjoy a casual BBQ dinner and entertainment by Jason Castro!

We love kids, but this event is for adults only.

Tickets are $25 each or $40 per couple. RSVP to brobinson@lostorphans.com or www.lostorphans.com. Tickets must be purchased in advance.

If you would like to be a table captain, $200 will get you a table for eight. If you would like to be a sponsor, $400 gets you a table for eight and your logo or name on the event program and signage!

Depending on Jesus

Philippians 4:13
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.



http://youtu.be/A8JsRxVczmQ - Strong Enough - Matthew West


Philippians 1: 20-23
Paul said "And I trust that my life will bring honor to Christ, whether I live or die. But if I live, I can do more fruitful work for Christ. So I really don’t know which is better.  I’m torn between two desires: I long to go and be with Christ, which would be far better for me. But for your sakes, it is better that I continue to live.


Honestly, this life is full of disappointments. Marriages break up, friends let us down, financial struggles humble us and take away all our security, children get sick, friends die, and on and on. What can we depend on?  One day, life is great and the next, everything is taken away and we feel like Job - stripped of all those things we thought were so important.

If we could just grasp that Christ is the only thing we truly need, and that HE's the one thing that can never be taken from us, can you imagine the peace we'd have? What could man do to us, if we really understood that HE is all we need?

Almighty God calls me His child. He loved me so much that He sent His Son to die for me. I'm going to spend Eternity in heaven - no more tears, no more fears, no betrayals, no more disappointments, no more pain or suffering. For all eternity! If you have access to a white board, take a marker and put a tiny little dot on the left edge of the whiteboard.  Now just imagine that the dot is your life on earth.  The rest of the whiteboard is just a glimpse of Eternity which is never ending.  When I think about my life now as that little tiny dot in that vast space of time, my strength is renewed.  Surely I can handle anything in that little tiny dot of time, and I can handle it in a way that honors God, because I have all of Eternity to look forward to.

Do we even come close to understanding how short our time is on earth compared to Eternity? I think if we did, our earthly lives would take on a whole different perspective. So much that we fret about just wouldn't matter any more. We'd be full of joy, longing for that Day when we get to wake up in Heaven.

Paul knew this life was full of meaningless junk. "Garbage", he called it. All that truly matters is belonging to Christ. If we could just understand that, we'd be shouting the good news to everyone we meet so that they, too, could spend Eternity in heaven. We'd love everyone, unconditionally, because of the prize set before us! Nothing could get us down. Nothing could still our joy!

If anyone could have been "good enough" by his own power to have righteousness, Paul says it was him. He had it all. He had honor, respect, knowledge, power, influence - all the things we humans think are so important. But Paul found something worth more than all those things. He found Jesus.

Paul left it all so that he might be one with Christ. Listen to his words: "everything else is worthless", "all garbage" when compared to the INFINITE VALUE of knowing CHRIST! Paul walked away from fame, fortune, prestige, everything!!! That should tell us something about the treasure we have in Christ.

Those days when you just feel like nothing is ever going to be okay again; when you feel like you've lost everything that gives your life meaning, remember Paul's words. It's all garbage compared to the value - the unmatchable, immeasurably great, having no boundaries Value - of knowing Christ as LORD.

If all you have left is Christ, you are rich beyond measure.

HE is the One you can always depend on no matter what comes. Depend on Him. He'll never leave you nor forsake you. He loves you more than we comprehend.

Psalm 139:7-10
I can never escape from your Spirit!
I can never get away from your presence!
If I go up to heaven, you are there;
if I go down to the grave,[you are there.
If I ride the wings of the morning,
if I dwell by the farthest oceans,
even there your hand will guide me,
and your strength will support me.


Philippians 3:3-11
For we who worship by the Spirit of God are the ones who are truly circumcised. We rely on what Christ Jesus has done for us. We put no confidence in human effort,  though I could have confidence in my own effort if anyone could. Indeed, if others have reason for confidence in their own efforts, I have even more!
I was circumcised when I was eight days old. I am a pure-blooded citizen of Israel and a member of the tribe of Benjamin—a real Hebrew if there ever was one! I was a member of the Pharisees, who demand the strictest obedience to the Jewish law. I was so zealous that I harshly persecuted the church. And as for righteousness, I obeyed the law without fault.


I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done. Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For His sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ and become one with Him. I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ. For God’s way of making us right with Himself depends on faith. I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised Him from the dead. I want to suffer with Him, sharing in His death,  so that one way or another I will experience the resurrection from the dead!


Honor Christ with your life. When we die, and we all will some day, the only thing we can take with us into Eternity is our inheritance that Christ has given us. His love, His Salvation, His Redemption and on yes, He gave us HIS Father. We are children of the Creator of the Universe.

What more could we ever want?

http://youtu.be/0vdLi8h-xdI - Dependence - Jamie Slocum


Thank You Jesus! You're all I need. Your love gives me hope to carry on. You are the One I can always turn to. There's nothing in this world that compares to the love I have in You. I love You, Jesus.

God loved Leah

http://youtu.be/rRm99TmblLE - Testify to Love - Wynonna Judd

When I was in high school, I had a boyfriend. He had the most incredible blue eyes.  He could give me a certain look that just melted my heart.  We were in love.  Well, one of us was in love.

We both worked at Tom Thumb along with several other kids from our high school.  There was this really cute girl who worked there, too.  One day, I had gotten to the store a little early for my shift.  I saw my boyfriend sitting over at the snack bar having a coke and talking with this other girl, so I went over to join them.  When I sat down next to my boyfriend, he didn't acknowledge me at all.  He was talking to this other girl and looking at her with the same special look that I thought was just for me.  I felt invisible, like I was intruding into their private little world of flirtation, and it made me feel horribly alone and unloved.  
  

I think Leah must have felt that way.  Her husband didn't choose her.  He chose her sister - the "pretty one".  Her dad played a dirty trick on Jacob, and Leah found herself married to a man who loved someone else.

Leah's story is sad, at least in the beginning.  But God saw her tears.  He understood the pain she felt watching her husband and her sister, Rachel.  Leah was a third wheel - not wanted... not loved.  But God loved her.  And God blessed her with a great honor.  The Messiah, Jesus Christ, would be born from Leah's lineage. 

Jacob may have chosen Rachel, but God chose Leah.  I like that.

http://youtu.be/k_MyC6kJzPg - Unfailing Love - Chris Tomlin


Father, there are times when we feel alone, like no one understands or cares. Our friends are so caught up in their own lives, they don't always "see" when we're hurting or struggling. But You see, LORD. And You care. You're always there, whether we realize it or not. Thank You for being our Comforter and our Strength. Your love, O GOD, is unfailing. We will trust in You. We pray this in the Name of Jesus, our Savior, who makes all things new. Amen.


Psalm 56:8
You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle.You have recorded each one in your book.


2 Chronicles 30:9
For the LORD your God is gracious and compassionate, and will not turn His face away from you if you return to Him."
Psalm 25:6
Remember, O Lord, your compassion and unfailing love, which you have shown from long ages past.


Jacob loved Rachel. It was love at first sight. He knew this was the woman that he wanted to marry. But to win her hand in marriage, Jacob had to work for his uncle Laban (Rachel's dad) for seven years. He did that willingly because of the prize set before him. After seven years of hard work and honorable service, Jacob was finally marrying the love of his life.

Laban was not quite as honorable as Jacob. You see, Rachel had an older sister, Leah. Evidently, Leah was not a woman who would make heads turn. Depending on the translation, the bible says Leah had tender or weak eyes. I'm not sure what that means. Either her eyes were soft and gentle - her one true asset, or they were weak and not pretty at all. I'd like to think that the Scripture was pointing to her one good trait, tender eyes. One things we do know, Rachel was a a knockout in every way. And Jacob wanted her, not her sister.

Laban decided he need to get Leah married off and the only way he saw that happening was to trick Jacob into marrying Leah. From what I've read, a marriage officially took place when the bride's father would bring his daughter to the groom on the wedding night - basically handing her over to her husband. That was the final act that sealed the convenant of marriage. So Laban delivered the bride (Leah) to Jacob in the dark of night. Jacob expected Rachel, but he was fooled.

Poor Leah! She was stuck in a marriage with no love - worse yet, her husband loved someone else, her very sister. As I read about Leah in Genesis 29, I couldn't help but feel sorry for her. God had compassion on Leah, also. In fact, the bible says "because Leah was unloved, the LORD let her have a child, while Rachel was childless." Leah had six of Jacob's 12 sons. After each birth, she named the sons:

Son                   Meaning of               What Leah said at his birth:
                           his name
_________________________________________________________________

Reuben                    "look, a son!"            "The Lord has noticed my misery and now maybe
                                                                                           husband will love me"

Simeon                   one who hears           "The Lord heard that I was unloved and has given me
                                                                                             another son."

Levi                       affection for              “Surely now my husband will feel affection for me, since
                                                                                          I've given him three sons"

Judah                        praise                                       "Now I will praise the Lord!"

Issachar                   reward                                          "God has rewarded me"

Zebulun                    honor                            "God has given me good gifts for my husband.
                                                                               Now he will honor me, for I have given
                                                                                                     him six sons"

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Doesn't it break your heart? She knew that Jacob didn't love her. Every day, she had to watch him with Rachel. All she wanted was for Jacob to love her. Can you imagine how miserable it would be to be stuck in a loveless marriage?

But God is so rich in mercy. He saw her pain and had compassion on her. Not only did He bless Leah with six sons, He also blessed her son, Judah, with an amazing blessing. Jesus, the Messiah, would descend from Judah, whose mother was Leah, not Rachel!

God blessed Leah.

One other thing I find interesting about this "love story", when Jacob was dying, he asked to be buried in the cave in the field of Machpelah, near Mamre in Canaan. He told his sons, "There Abraham and his wife, Sarah, are buried. There Isaac and his wife, Rebeccah, are buried. And there I buried Leah." Jacob was buried with his wife, Leah. Rachel, the one he loved, was buried alone in Bethlehem.

For the record, my research shows that these two burial sites were about 13-14 miles from one another. Jacob could have easily chosen to be buried with Rachel, or he could have had Rachel's bones moved to the family burial cave, but for some reason, he didn't. Instead Jacob chose to be buried with Leah. Maybe she was loved more than she knew.

Three things I've learned from this story:

• God sees our pain when no one else sees, and He has compassion.
• God can use the worst circumstances for good. He has a purpose for what he allows in our lives.
• Sometimes, our greatest blessings come after we're gone, to our children.

These are the names of the twelve sons of Jacob: The sons of Leah were Reuben (Jacob's oldest son), Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun." Genesis 35:22b-23

Matthew 1
The Genealogy of Christ, the Messiah

1 This is a record of the ancestors of Jesus the Messiah, a descendant of David and of Abraham:
2 Abraham was the father of Isaac.
Isaac was the father of Jacob.
Jacob was the father of Judah and his brothers.
3 Judah was the father of Perez and Zerah (whose mother was Tamar).
Perez was the father of Hezron.
Hezron was the father of Ram.
4 Ram was the father of Amminadab.
Amminadab was the father of Nahshon.
Nahshon was the father of Salmon.
5 Salmon was the father of Boaz (whose mother was Rahab).
Boaz was the father of Obed (whose mother was Ruth).
Obed was the father of Jesse.
6 Jesse was the father of King David.
David was the father of Solomon (whose mother was Bathsheba, the widow of Uriah).
7 Solomon was the father of Rehoboam.
Rehoboam was the father of Abijah.
Abijah was the father of Asa.
8 Asa was the father of Jehoshaphat.
Jehoshaphat was the father of Jehoram.
Jehoram was the father of Uzziah.
9 Uzziah was the father of Jotham.
Jotham was the father of Ahaz.
Ahaz was the father of Hezekiah.
10 Hezekiah was the father of Manasseh.
Manasseh was the father of Amon.
Amon was the father of Josiah.
11 Josiah was the father of Jehoiachin and his brothers (born at the time of the exile to Babylon).
12 After the Babylonian exile:
Jehoiachin was the father of Shealtiel.
Shealtiel was the father of Zerubbabel.
13 Zerubbabel was the father of Abiud.
Abiud was the father of Eliakim.
Eliakim was the father of Azor.
14 Azor was the father of Zadok.
Zadok was the father of Akim.
Akim was the father of Eliud.
15 Eliud was the father of Eleazar.
Eleazar was the father of Matthan.
Matthan was the father of Jacob.
16Jacob was the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary.
Mary gave birth to Jesus, who is called the Messiah.

http://youtu.be/rVcCKe2sz0Y - Give me Your Eyes by Brandon Heath



Have you seen this post on Facebook?

The Girl you just called fat, she's been starving herself & has lost over 30lbs. The Boy you just called stupid? Has a learning disability & studies over 4hrs a night. The Girl you just called ugly? Spends hours putting makeup on hoping people will like her. The Boy you just tripped? He's abused enough at home. The girl you called "Jesus Freak", she spends hours in prayer for you. There's a lot more to people than you think. Put this as your status if you're against bullying!

It's a good reminder. People are hurting and instead of encouraging and coming along side them, we sometimes make their pain even worse by our words and actions. I don't want to do that today. I don't want to do that ever.

God tells us in His Word that we are to encourage one another. He also tells us how powerful our words are. We can build people up (encourage) or we can tear them down. One careless word can do great harm to someone who is already feeling discouraged or alone.

Today, I have a challenge for you. Look around you. Really pay attention to the people God puts in your life. They are there for a reason. Look at them the way Jesus does. Can you see their pain? Do you see worry or discouragement? Instead of a cursory, "hi, how are you?". what if you really stopped to hear their answer to that question?

People are hurting. People you know and deal with every day are hurting. They are struggling with sickness, financial worries, divorce/separation, depression, ... Do you know that your friend may feel alone or discouraged? It's easy to ignore the signs, especially when they are so good at acting like everything is great. I dare say that there are very few people in this world who are really doing "great!". I guess the whole point of this message is we need to reach out with love to those around us, so that when they are ready to reach back, they will know we truly care.

What does Jesus see?

One thing I know is true. When you see someone "acting out", doing things that draw attention to themselves, chances are they are hurting. The "acting out" that we see, and unfortunately, that we judge, may really be a scream for help. Are you listening, or do you judge and condemn without taking the time to reach out and show you care?

What would Jesus do?

Today, my challenge to myself and to you, is to reach out, let's show people we really care by taking an extra moment to listen to their answer when we ask "How are you?" If they say "fine", look into their eyes and say, "are you really fine?" We might be surprised by their answer.

Today, I'm going to try to take "me" out of my conversations. I'm going to listen more and talk less about "me". Maybe then my friends will know I care about what's happening in their lives.

James 3:17
But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and good deeds. It shows no partiality and is always sincere. And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of goodness.

Ephesians 4:29 ESV
Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.


Philippians 4:8 ESV
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.


Proverbs 10:21 NLT
The words of the godly encourage many, but fools are destroyed by their lack of common sense.


Proverbs 31:8 NLT
Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves; ensure justice to those who are perishing.


Proverbs 11:17 NLT
Your own soul is nourished when you are kind, but you destroy yourself when you are cruel.


Proverbs 17:17 NLT
A friend loves you all the time, and a brother helps in time of trouble.

Proverbs 3:27-28
Whenever you are able, do good to people who need help. If you have what your neighbor asks for, don't say, "Come back later. I will give it to you tomorrow."


Hebrews 10:24 NLT
Think of ways to encourage one another to outbursts of love and good deeds. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage and warn each other, especially now that the day of His coming back again is drawing near.

Hebrews 3:13 ESV
But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.


Acts 20:35 ESV
In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”


Prayer
Merciful Father, thank You for loving me and showing me how to love others by Your example. Thank You for Your patience when I am slow to learn or too caught up in my own problems and cares to notice the pain others are feeling. I'm sorry that I fail so miserably most days.

I want to see what Jesus sees. I want to be an encourager, someone who makes things better, not worse. Open my eyes and soften my heart towards others so that I can make a difference for You in their lives.

I give You this day, Lord. Use me for Your glory, for You alone are worthy of all my praise and devotion. In Jesus' precious Name I pray. Amen.



http://youtu.be/g_m2FkisN98 - I Refuse - Josh Wilson