WHERE DO WE STAND BEFORE GOD

WHEN WE BECOME SAVED (JUSTIFICATION) THAT IS A MIRACLE ....."For it is by grace you have been saved , through faith - and this not from yourselves , it is a gift from GOD - not by works , so that no one can boast . For we are GOD'S workmanship , created in CHRIST JESUS to do goods works , which GOD prepared in advance for us to do ." EPHESIANS 2:8-10 ..... WHAT WE NEED ONCE THAT MIRACLE OCCURS IS TO BE TAUGHT THE WORD ..... "Jesus answered , "It is written : Man does not live on bread alone , but on every word that comes from the mouth of GOD . " MATTHEW 4:4 ..... GOD'S WORD NEEDS TO BE LEARNED LINE BY LINE AND SCRIPTURE BY SCRIPTURE IN ORDER FOR US TO UNDERSTAND IT CORRECTLY ....."For the WORD of GOD is living and active . Sharper than any double-edged sword , it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit , joints and marrow ; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart ." HEBREWS 4:12 ..... WHEN WE LEARN THE WORD OF GOD CORRECTLY WE BECOME CONVICTED TO SEE THE DEITY AND HOLINESS OF CHRIST AS THE TRUE SAVIOUR THAT HE IS ....." For in CHRIST deity all the fullness of the DEITY lives in bodily form , and you have been given fullness in CHRIST , who is the head over every power and authority . " COLOSSIANS 2:9 ..... WE ALSO LEARN OF THE MAN WHO JESUS WAS AS WELL ..... HE WAS A GREAT HIGH PRIEST WHO HAS BEEN ABLE TO SYMPATHIZE WITH US BECAUSE OF HIS LIFE HERE ON EARTH ..... "Therefore , since we have a great HIGH PRIEST who has gone into the heavens , JESUS the SON of GOD , let us hold firmly to faith we profess . For we do not have a HIGH PRIEST who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses , but we have one who has been tempted in every way , just as we are - yet was without sin . Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence , so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need . Every high priest is selected from among men and is appointed to represent them in matters related to GOD , to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins . He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and are going astray , since he himself is subject to weakness. This is why he has to offer sacrifices for his own people . No one takes this honor upon himself ; he must be called by GOD , just as Aaron was . So CHRIST also did not take upon himself the glory of becoming a high priest . But GOD said to HIM , "YOU are MY SON ; today I have become YOUR FATHER ." And HE says in another place , "YOU are a PRIEST forever , in the order of Melchizedek . "HEBREWS 4:14-16&5:1-6 ..... IT WAS WHILE JESUS WALKED THE EARTH THAT HE WENT TO HIS FATHER MANY TIMES TO PRAY FOR HIS FATHER TO SAVE HIM FROM DEATH ON THE CROSS HOWEVER WE SEE THAT HE WAS PERFECTLY OBEDIENT TO HIS FATHER , OUR GOD , IN THE END ..... "During the days of JESUS' life on earth , HE offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the ONE who could save HIM from death , and HE was heard because of HIS submission . Although HE was a SON , HE learned obedience from what HE suffered and , once made perfect , HE became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey HIM and was designated by GOD to be a HIGH PRIEST in the order of Melchizedek ." HEBREWS 5:7-10 ..... WE NOW CAN SEE THAT JESUS WAS 100% GOD AND 100% MAN ..... THE LORD GOD CHANGES PEOPLES HEARTS AND LIVES ..... "Therefore , if anyone is in CHRIST , he is a new creation; the old has gone , the new has come !" 2CORINTHIANS 2:17 ..... NOW MATTER HOW WE TRY TO FIX OUR LIVES , WE CANNOT AND WILL NOT HAVE PEACE UNTIL WE RECONCILE WITH JESUS ..... "Do not be anxious about anything , but in everything , by prayer and petition , with thanksgiving , present your requests to GOD . And the peace of GOD , which transcends all understanding , will guard your hearts and your minds in CHRIST JESUS." PHILIPPIANS 4:6-7 ..... AND SO WE ARE LEFT WITH SOME SCRIPTURES TO STUDY: ALTHOUGH WE ARE CHOSEN , WE MUST REMEMBER AND KNOW THAT CHRIST DIED FOR EVERYONE (HEBREWS 2:9) ..... AND FOR ALL (1TIMOTHY 2:6) ..... AND FOR THE WORLD (JOHN 3:16) ..... AND FOR THE SIN OF THE WHOLE WORLD (1JOHN 2:22) ..... AND FOR THE UNGODLY PEOPLE (ROMANS 5:6) ..... AND FOR THE CHURCH (EPHESIANS5:25) ..... AND FOR YOU & ME (GALATIONS 2:20) ..... SO NOW THE QUESTION ARISES WHERE DO WE STAND BEFORE GOD ......................................................SUMMER

THE DEADLY ARROW & THE SWEET BLESSING

THERE IS NOTHING WORSE THAN THE STING OF A HARSH WORD YET WE HAVE ALL FALLEN PREY TO EITHER BEING THE CULPRIT OR THE VICTIM OF SUCH ..... GOD SPEAKS OF THE TONGUE NINETY-THREE TIMES IN THE BIBLE .....MOST OF THE MENTION IS IN REFERENCE TO ITS ABILITY TO CAUSE DESTRUCTION.....AS IT IS REVEALED IN THE NEW TESTAMENT , "Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body , but it makes great boasts . Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark . The tongue also is a fire , a world of evil among the parts of the body . It corrupts the whole person , sets the whole course of his life on fire , and is itself set on fire by hell . All kinds of animals , birds , reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man , but no man can tame the tongue . It is a restless evil , full of deadly poison . With the tongue we praise our LORD and FATHER , and with it we curse men , who have been made in GOD'S likeness . Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing . My brothers , this should not be . Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring ? "JAMES 3:5-11 ..... WHEN WE LOOK AT THIS PASSAGE OF SCRIPTURE WE CANNOT IGNORE THE INTENSITY OF WHAT IS BEING SAID HERE ..... IT IS DIFFICULT TO GO THROUGH AN HOUR , LET ALONE AN ENTIRE DAY, WITHOUT FACING THE CHALLENGE OF KEEPING OUR TONGUE IN LINE ..... NO DOUBT AS HUMAN BEINGS WE HAVE MANY GOOD THINGS TO TALK ABOUT ..... WE COMPLIMENT EACH OTHER , TALK KINDLY OF ONE ANOTHER , GIVE GOOD REFERENCES FOR SOME AND SPEAK HIGHLY OF OTHERS ; BUT USING THE SAME BREATH WE BELITTLE , CURSE , GOSSIP AND SLANDER EACH OTHER WITH THE RISING AND THE SETTING OF EACH DAY'S SUN ..... AS THE OLD TESTAMENT STATES , " A deceitful tongue crushes the spirit . " PROVERBS 15:4 ..... AND YET THE OLD TESTAMENT SCRIPTURES REVEAL EVEN MORE ABOUT THIS SUBJECT WHEN IT SAYS , " Their tongue is a deadly arrow . " JEREMIAH 9:8 ..... WE WANT TO BELIEVE THAT WE CAN FIX THIS PROBLEM ON OUR OWN , HOWEVER THERE IS ONE THING THAT WILL ALWAYS GET IN OUR WAY ; THAT IS OUR SIN NATURE ..... BECAUSE THE HEART OF MAN IS DECEITFUL OUR TONGUES CANNOT BE TAMED WITHOUT THE HELP OF GOD HIMSELF ..... IF WE ARE TO PLEASE GOD AND GIVE HIM THE GLORY HE SO RIGHTFULLY DESERVES , WE MUST LEARN TO CONTROL OUR TONGUES ..... HUMBLY GOING BEFORE GOD ON A DAILY BASIS AND ASKING HIM TO ASSIST US IN THIS MATTER IS A NECESSITY ..... ASKING THE HOLY SPIRIT TO FILL OUR HEARTS AND MINDS IS THE BEGINNING OF HAVING A MORE SELF-CONTROLLED TONGUE ..... WHEN WE DO THIS HE WILL FILL US WITH HIS FRUITS AS IT IS SPOKEN OF IN THE NEW TESTAMENT , " But the fruit of the SPIRIT is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control . Against such things there is no law . " GALATIONS 5:22 ..... DAILY DEPENDENCE ON THE LORD JESUS , PRAYER AND STUDY OF HIS WORD WILL ENABLE US TO BECOME THE PERSON WHOM GOD HAS INTENDED US TO BE AND ALLOW US TO BRING A SWEET BLESSING TO THOSE AROUND US ..... THIS IS TURN WILL BEAR WITNESS TO THE FACT THAT OUR GOD TRULY IS AS HE SAYS , " I AM the ALPHA AND THE OMEGA ," says the LORD GOD , " who is , and who was and who is to come , the ALMIGHTY . '' REVELATION 1:8...............................Summer

INSTRUCTIONS FOR TODAY

DURING THESE DARK AND TRYING TIMES IN OUR WORLD IT IS DIFFICULT FOR US NOT TO BECOME DISCOURAGED ..... BECAUSE OF WHAT WE HEAR AND SEE ON THE DAILY NEWS WE MAY BE FEELING THIS WAY MORE THAN NOT ..... TWO THINGS WE ALL COULD USE TODAY ARE ENCOURAGEMENT AND HOPE ..... GOD HAS SOMETHING TO SAY ABOUT EACH ONE IN HIS BIBLE
..... IN THE OLD TESTAMENT GOD SPEAKS TO US WHEN HE SAYS : "Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth ; meditate on it day and night , so that you may be careful to do everything written in it . Then you will be prosperous and successful . Have I not commanded you ? Be strong and courageous . Do not be terrified ; do not be discouraged , for the LORD your GOD will be with you wherever you go . " JOSHUA 1:9 ..... JOSHUA CONQUERED THE ENEMY AND SUCCESSFULLY GAINED THE PROMISED LAND NOT BECAUSE OF ANY FANCY STRATEGIES OR " STATE OF THE ART " WEAPONRY ..... THE REASON FOR HIS SUCCESS WAS OBEDIENCE TO GOD AND CONSISTENT MEDITATION ON GODS LAW ..... BECAUSE OUR GOD IS THE SAME YESTERDAY , TODAY AND TOMORROW WE HAVE MUCH TO GAIN FROM THIS ADVICE MENTIONED ABOVE , EVEN IN TODAY'S MODERN WORLD .....WHEN WE ARE DISCOURAGED IT CAN BRING ABOUT FEELINGS OF HOPELESSNESS ..... WHEN THE
DRUDGERY OF LIFE'S DAILY BATTLES ARE CAST UPON US IT IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO LOOK AHEAD AND SEE BRIGHTER DAY ..... OUR GOD , IN HEBREW HIS NAME IS TRANSLATED AS ELOHIM-YACHEL , IS THE " GOD OF HOPE " ..... HE DOES NOT WANT US TO SULK OR GIVE UP..... WHEN WE STUDY THE BOOK OF ROMANS CHAPTER 15 VERSE 13 SPEAKS VOLUMES AS IT SAYS , " May the GOD of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in HIM , so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the HOLY SPIRIT . " ..... WHETHER WE ARE FACING A TIME OF DISCOURAGEMENT OR A SEASON OF HOPELESSNESS ,
OUR INSTRUCTIONS FOR TODAY ARE BEST TAKEN FROM THE BIBLE .....HERE WE FIND THESE WORDS NOT ONLY FLAWLESS AND TRUTHFUL BUT LIFE CHANGING AS WELL....................................SUMMER

WHAT HAVE WE DONE LATELY

TODAY WAS A DAY OF MUCH ACTIVITY FOR EVERYONE YOUNG AND OLD ,RICH OR POOR ,HAPPY OR SAD .....BEING KIND TO EVERYONE AROUND US IS VERY IMPORTANT BECAUSE WE LEARN EVERY DAY THAT EVERYONE IS FIGHTING SOME KIND OF BATTLE .....WE PUT ASIDE OUR OWN AGENDA'S AND WE PRAY ..... THE LORD TELLS US , "This , then , is how you should pray : 'Our FATHER in heaven , hallowed be YOUR name , YOUR kingdom come , YOUR will be done on earth as it is in heaven . Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts , as we also forgive our debtors . And lead us not into temptation , but deliver us from the evil one . ' " MATTHEW 6:9-13 ..... HAVE WE TAKEN THE TIME TO SMILE AT SOMEONE ..... IN THE OLD TESTAMENT GOD REVEALS : " A happy heart makes the face cheerful , but heartache crushes the spirit . " PROVERBS 15:13 ..... SO EVEN IF IT SEEMS TO BE A BAD DAY ,SMILE ..... HAVE WE SET ASIDE SOME OF THE TIME WE SPEND ON THINGS WE ENJOY DOING SO AS TO SPEND TIME WITH OTHERS ..... THE GOOD NEWS IS THIS : " For GOD so loved the world that HE gave HIS one and only SON , that whoever believes in HIM shall not perish but have eternal life . " JOHN 3:16 ..... KNOWING THAT GOD GAVE UP HIS ONLY SON IS AN ENCOURAGEMENT FOR US TO SURRENDER SOME OF OUR OWN TIME TO BENEFIT OTHERS ..... HAVE WE TREATED OUR BODIES WITH RESPECT ..... GOD DESIRES US TO BE HOLY AS WE SEE IN THE NEW TESTAMENT , "Therefore, I urge you , brothers in view of GODS mercy to offer your bodies as living sacrifices , holy and pleasing to GOD - this is your spiritual act of worship . " ROMANS 12:1 ..... HAVE WE THOUGHT ABOUT GOOD THINGS
..... DO WE REALIZE THAT WHAT GOES INTO OUR MINDS WILL COME OUT IN OUR LIVES......IN THE WORD WE LEARN : " Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world , but be transformed by the renewing of your mind . Then you will be able to test and approve what GOD'S will is - HIS good , pleasing and perfect will . " ROMANS 12 :2 .....HAVE WE TRIED TO PLEASE THE LORD TODAY.....
KNOWING HIM IN A DEEP AND ABIDING WAY MAKES US WANT TO SUBMIT TO HIS STATUTES .....WHEN WE READ THE BIBLE IT REVEALS , "For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh , but those who live according to the SPIRIT set their minds on the things of the SPIRIT . " ROMANS 8:5...... GOD IS DELIGHTED TO SEE US CONFORMING TO HIS WAY ..... HAVE WE CONSIDERED NOT ONLY BEING A CHILD OF GOD BUT BEING IN HIS FAMILY AS WELL ..... GOD'S MERCY & GRACE ARE GIFTS HE FREELY GIVES TO ALL WHO WILL ACCEPT ..... WE SEE THIS WHEN WE READ , " Yet to all who received HIM , to those who believed in HIS name , HE gave the right to become children of GOD - children born not of natural decent , not of human decision or husbands will , but born of GOD . " JOHN 1:12-13 .....ACCEPTING THAT JESUS DIED FOR US AND TOOK THE PAYMENT FOR OUR SINFUL NATURE ALLOWS US TO ESCAPE THE PERILS OF AN ETERNITY IN HELL .....THE GIFT FOR THOSE WHO REPENT , COMMIT AND BELIEVE IS ETERNITY IN HEAVEN .....LET US REFLECT ON WHAT HAVE WE DONE LATELY ........................SUMMER

BLIND TRUST and the ABSOLUTE GUARANTEE

HOPE IS WHAT TURNS BLIND TRUST INTO ABSOLUTE GUARANTEE......A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF THIS IS WHEN WE GENUINELY PLACE OUR TRUST IN THE LORD JESUS CHRIST AND HE GUARANTEES US AN ETERNAL HOME WITH HIM IN HEAVEN ...........HERE ARE SOME OF THE SCRIPTURES THAT VERIFY THIS TRUST AND GUARANTEE.....WE BEGIN WITH THE OLD TESTAMENT WHEN GODS WORD SAYS : "May YOUR unfailing love rest upon us , O LORD ,even as we put our hope in YOU ." PSALM 33:22 ......WHEN THE WORD HOPE IS TRANSLATED INTO HEBREW HERE IT IS SAID " YACHAL" WHICH MEANS "TRUST".......ANOTHER OLD TESTAMENT SCRIPTURE WHERE THE WORD TRUST IS MENTIONED IS WHEN GOD STATES : "But now , LORD , what do I look for ? My hope is in YOU . " PSALM 39:7 ...... THE HEBREW DEFINITION OF THE WORD TRUST IN THIS LINE TRANSLATES TO THE WORD "TOWCHELETH" ROOTED IN THE MEANING OF EXPECTATION ...... FOR THOSE WHO CLAIM JESUS AS THEIR SAVIOUR THE SUBJECT MATTER OF HOPE IS FOUND NUMEROUS PLACES THROUGHOUT THE NEW TESTAMENT ......JESUS' WORDS RING TRUE WHEN SPOKEN THROUGH THE APOSTLE PAUL AS HE STATES : " the faith and love that spring from the hope that is stored up for you in heaven and that you have already heard about in the word of the truth , the gospel that has come to you ."COLOSSIANS 1:5 ...... THIS LIVING HOPE IS A DEFINITE GUARANTEE GIVEN BY OUR SAVIOUR JESUS ......FURTHER INTO THE NEW TESTAMENT WE FIND EVEN MORE TRUTH WHEN OUR BROTHER PAUL
REVEALS GODS' SINCERE PROMISE : "a faith and knowledge resting on the hope of eternal life , which GOD , who does not lie , promised before the beginning of time , and at HIS appointed season HE brought HIS WORD to light through the preaching entrusted to me by the command of GOD our SAVIOUR ." TITUS1:2-3
......TO ASSURE US OF THIS HOPEFUL ETERNITY GOD OFFERS HIS GRACE TO EACH AND EVERY MAN , WOMAN AND CHILD WHO TRULY ACCEPTS IT .....THIS UNDESERVING MERCY IS OURS COMPLETELY FREE BECAUSE OF JESUS' WILLINGNESS TO ATONE FOR OUR SINFUL NATURE BY DYING ON THE CROSS AND RESURRECTING INTO HEAVEN .....CAN WE COUNT ON THIS HOPE BEING REAL ? ......WHEN WE LOOK AT THE SCRIPTURES , GOD SPEAKS THROUGH THE BELOVED APOSTLE JOHN WHEN HE STATES : " I write these things to you who believe in the name of the SON of GOD so that you may know you have eternal life . This is the confidence we have in approaching GOD : that if we ask anything according to HIS will , HE hears us . " 1JOHN 5:13-14.......ARE WE ABLE TO CLAIM THIS GUARANTEE OF ....... WE PRAISE OUR LORD IF SO
........ AND IF NOT , THEN THIS MAY BE THE MOMENT THAT GOD HAS ORDAINED JUST FOR THAT PURPOSE......... SO AS TO CLAIM THE HOPE THAT TURNS BLIND TRUST INTO ABSOLUTE
GUARANTEE ...............................................SUMMER

LIVING HOPE THAT IS PRICELESS !!

JUST ATOP THE VINTAGE GREEN SERVER SITS THE ROSEMARY PLANT THAT WAS IN THE GARDEN LAST SUMMER ......TRANSPLANTED FROM THE PICNIC TABLE TO THE BRIGHT SUNNY WINDOW IN THE KITCHEN LAST OCTOBER WITH THE HOPE THAT IT WOULD SURVIVE THE WINTER ......WHAT A BEAUTIFUL HERB IT IS ......LUSH GREEN CONIFEROUS STEMS WITH A SCENT THAT LINGERS AROUND THE TABLE EVERY TIME THE HEAT COMES UP ......SUCH AN ESSENTIAL KITCHEN HERB ROSEMARY IS ......IT SERVES A PURPOSE IN MANY A DISH FROM CHICKEN AND PORK TO BUTTERED CARROTS AND ROASTED NEW POTATOES ......WITH THE ANTICIPATION THAT THIS PLANT WOULD LIVE THROUGH THE DETRIMENTS OF THE WINTER SEASON , HAPPINESS COULD BE FELT IN THE AIR TONIGHT......AS THIS
COLD AND DARK SEASON COMES TO AN END THE SCRIPTURE THAT COMES TO MIND THIS EVENING IS ONE FOUND IN THE OLD TESTAMENT , " See ! The winter is past ; the rains are over and gone . Flowers appear on the earth ; the season of singing has come , the cooing of doves is heard in our land ." SONG of SONGS 2:11-12 ......MISS ROSEMARY SITS ; AWAITING THE RETURN OF FRESH AIR & WARMER TEMPERATURES , HOPE HAS PREVAILED ONE MORE WINTER SEASON ......TO SEE THIS POT OF LIVING HOPE REMINDS ME OF THE HOPE THAT THE LORD JESUS GAVE WHEN HE BECAME THE LAST BLOOD SACRIFICE FOR ALL MANKIND ......GOD EXPLAINS IT BEST WHEN HE SPEAKS THROUGH THE APOSTLE PETER IN THE NEW TESTAMENT PROCLAIMING , " Praise be to the GOD and FATHER of our LORD JESUS CHRIST ! In HIS great mercy HE has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of JESUS CHRIST from the dead ,and into an inheritance that can never perish , spoil or fade - kept in heaven for you , who through faith are shielded by GOD'S power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time . In this you greatly rejoice , though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials . " 1PETER 1:3-6 ......THESE WORDS , EVER SO TRUE , ASSURE ALL THOSE THAT PLACE THEIR FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST THAT HE IS THE LIVING HOPE THAT WILL SEE US THROUGH INTO ETERNITY ...... NOW THAT IS PRICELESS ....................................SUMMER

ARE WE IN AGREEMENT WITH THE LORD

THINKING ABOUT CHEATING THE GOVERNMENT ? ......LETS SEE WHAT THE LORD JESUS HAS TO SAY ABOUT THIS ...... " Later they sent some of the Pharisees and Herodians to JESUS to catch HIM in HIS words . They came to HIM and said , " Teacher , we know YOU are a man of integrity . YOU ren't swayed by men , because YOU pay no attention to who they are : but YOU teach the way of GOD in accordance with the truth . Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not ? Should we pay or shouln't we ? But JESUS knew their hypocrisy . "Why are you trying to trap ME ? , HE asked . Bring me a denarius and let ME look at it . " They brought the coin and HE asked them , " Whose portrait is this ? And whose inscription ? " ,HE said . " Caesar's , " they replied . Then JESUS said to them , Give to Caesar what is Caesar's and to GOD what is GOD'S . " And they were amazed . " MARK 12:13-17 ...... WHEN IT COMES TO GODS LAWS , INSTRUCTIONS AND WISDOM , THERE ARE NO ENTITLEMENTS ...... NONE ...... APRIL 15TH WILL BE HERE SOON ......ARE WE IN AGREEMENT WITH THE LORD .....................SUMMER