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Comment by ALCEDES JONES on August 6, 2010 at 2:16pm

WOW O HOW I LOVE THE WORDS OF GOD
Romans 12 (Amplified Bible)

Romans 12
1I APPEAL to you therefore, brethren, and beg of you in view of [all] the mercies of God, to make a decisive dedication of your bodies [presenting all your members and faculties] as a living sacrifice, holy (devoted, consecrated) and well pleasing to God, which is your reasonable (rational, intelligent) service and spiritual worship.

2Do not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His sight for you].

3For by the grace (unmerited favor of God) given to me I warn everyone among you not to estimate and think of himself more highly than he ought [not to have an exaggerated opinion of his own importance], but to rate his ability with sober judgment, each according to the degree of faith apportioned by God to him.

4For as in one physical body we have many parts (organs, members) and all of these parts do not have the same function or use,

5So we, numerous as we are, are one body in Christ (the Messiah) and individually we are parts one of another [mutually dependent on one another].

6Having gifts (faculties, talents, qualities) that differ according to the grace given us, let us use them: [He whose gift is] prophecy, [let him prophesy] according to the proportion of his faith;

7[He whose gift is] practical service, let him give himself to serving; he who teaches, to his teaching;

8He who exhorts (encourages), to his exhortation; he who contributes, let him do it in simplicity and liberality; he who gives aid and superintends, with zeal and singleness of mind; he who does acts of mercy, with genuine cheerfulness and joyful eagerness.

9[Let your] love be sincere (a real thing); hate what is evil [loathe all ungodliness, turn in horror from wickedness], but hold fast to that which is good.

10Love one another with brotherly affection [as members of one family], giving precedence and showing honor to one another.

11Never lag in zeal and in earnest endeavor; be aglow and burning with the Spirit, serving the Lord.

12Rejoice and exult in hope; be steadfast and patient in suffering and tribulation; be constant in prayer.

13Contribute to the needs of God's people [sharing in the necessities of the saints]; pursue the practice of hospitality.

14Bless those who persecute you [who are cruel in their attitude toward you]; bless and do not curse them.

15Rejoice with those who rejoice [sharing others' joy], and weep with those who weep [sharing others' grief].

16Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty (snobbish, high-minded, exclusive), but readily adjust yourself to [people, things] and give yourselves to humble tasks. Never overestimate yourself or be wise in your own conceits.(A)

17Repay no one evil for evil, but take thought for what is honest and proper and noble [aiming to be above reproach] in the sight of everyone.(B)

18If possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.

19Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave the way open for [God's] wrath; for it is written, Vengeance is Mine, I will repay (requite), says the Lord.(C)

20But if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals upon his head.(D)

21Do not let yourself be overcome by evil, but overcome (master) evil with good.

Comment by ALCEDES JONES on August 6, 2010 at 9:08am

9Therefore [because He stooped so low] God has highly exalted Him and has [f]freely bestowed on Him the name that is above every name,

10That in (at) the name of Jesus every knee [g]should (must) bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

11And every tongue [[h]frankly and openly] confess and acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

12Therefore, my dear ones, as you have always obeyed [my suggestions], so now, not only [with the enthusiasm you would show] in my presence but much more because I am absent, work out (cultivate, carry out to the goal, and fully complete) your own salvation with reverence and awe and trembling (self-distrust, [i]with serious caution, tenderness of conscience, watchfulness against temptation, timidly shrinking from whatever might offend God and discredit the name of Christ).

13[Not in your own strength] for it is God Who is all the while [j]effectually at work in you [energizing and creating in you the power and desire], both to will and to work for His good pleasure and satisfaction and [k]delight.

14Do all things without grumbling and faultfinding and complaining [[l]against God] and [m]questioning and doubting [among yourselves],

15That you may show yourselves to be blameless and guiltless, innocent and uncontaminated, children of God without blemish (faultless, unrebukable) in the midst of a crooked and wicked generation [spiritually perverted and perverse], among whom you are seen as bright lights (stars or beacons shining out clearly) in the [dark] world,

16Holding out [to it] and offering [to all men] the Word of Life, so that in the day of Christ I may have something of which exultantly to rejoice and glory in that I did not run my race in vain or spend my labor to no purpose.

Comment by ALCEDES JONES on August 5, 2010 at 7:25pm

THIS WAS TAKEN FROM Luke 8 (Amplified Bible)

Comment by ALCEDES JONES on August 5, 2010 at 7:18pm

4And when a very great throng was gathering together and people from town after town kept coming to Jesus, He said in a parable:

5A sower went out to sow seed; and as he sowed, some fell along the traveled path and was trodden underfoot, and the birds of the air ate it up.

6And some [seed] fell on the rock, and as soon as it sprouted, it withered away because it had no moisture.

7And other [seed] fell in the midst of the thorns, and the thorns grew up with it and choked it [off].

8And some seed fell into good soil, and grew up and yielded a crop a hundred times [as great]. As He said these things, He called out, He who has ears to hear, let him be listening and let him [b]consider and understand by hearing!

9And when His disciples asked Him the meaning of this parable,

10He said to them, To you it has been given to [come progressively to] know (to recognize and understand more strongly and clearly) the mysteries and secrets of the kingdom of God, but for others they are in parables, so that, [though] looking, they may not see; and hearing, they may not comprehend.(A)

11Now the meaning of the parable is this: The seed is the Word of God.

12Those along the traveled road are the people who have heard; then the devil comes and carries away the message out of their hearts, that they may not believe ([c]acknowledge Me as their Savior and devote themselves to Me) and be saved [here and hereafter].

13And those upon the rock [are the people] who, when they hear [the Word], receive and welcome it with joy; but these have no root. They believe for a while, and in time of trial and temptation fall away (withdraw and stand aloof).

14And as for what fell among the thorns, these are [the people] who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked and suffocated with the anxieties and cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not ripen (come to maturity and perfection).

15But as for that [seed] in the good soil, these are [the people] who, hearing the Word, hold it fast in a just ([d]noble, virtuous) and worthy heart, and steadily bring forth fruit with patience.

16No one after he has lighted a lamp covers it with a vessel or puts it under a [dining table] couch; but he puts it on a lampstand, that those who come in may see the light.

17For there is nothing hidden that shall not be disclosed, nor anything secret that shall not be known and come out into the open.

18Be careful therefore how you listen. For to him who has [spiritual knowledge] will more be given; and from him who does not have [spiritual knowledge], even what he thinks and [e]guesses and [f]supposes that he has will be taken away.

Comment by ALCEDES JONES on August 5, 2010 at 6:55pm

Chosen


TODAY'S SCRIPTURE

"For He chose us in Him before the creation of the world…"
(Ephesians 1:4, NIV).


TODAY'S WORD from Joel and Victoria

God chose you before the foundations of the earth. Before the worlds were ever formed, He knew you. And, He didn't create you to be average. He didn't create you to barely get by. No, He created you to excel! Not only has He chosen you, but He has equipped you with everything you need to live His abundant life. He has deposited seeds of greatness inside every person. But in order to tap into those seeds of greatness, you have to believe this and act on it.

Too many people today are going around with low self-esteem, feeling inferior like they don't have what it takes. They are living a lie. And as long as we have a poor self-image, we're not going to experience God's best. In order to be all that God has called us to be, we have to see ourselves as chosen, valuable and victorious.

Today, meditate on this truth. Let it sink down deep into your heart. Let it build confidence and security in you. As you understand your value, you'll rise up higher and higher into the life of victory He has prepared for you!


A PRAYER FOR TODAY

Father God, thank You for choosing me. Thank You for equipping me. Help me to see myself the way You see me. Show me Your ways that I may walk with You in confidence and trust all the days of my life. In Jesus' Name. Amen

Comment by ALCEDES JONES on August 5, 2010 at 6:11am

I THOUGHT THIS SHOULD BE SHARED MAY GOD USE IT FOR HIS GLORY
The Fruit of Our Words


TODAY'S SCRIPTURE

"I create the fruit of the lips…"
(Isaiah 57:19, KJV).


TODAY'S WORD from Joel and Victoria

Did you know that your words are like seeds? They have creative power. In the future, we will eat the fruit of our words. That means our words are going to produce exactly what we're saying.

That's why it's so important to make positive declarations over our lives every single day. We should say things like "I am blessed. I am prosperous. I am healthy. I am talented. I am creative. I am wise." When we do this, we are standing in agreement with God's Word. We are sowing good seed. We are preparing our future for when we arrive.

Today, make sure you are sowing good seed with your words. Speak God's Word which is truth that will set you free. Let His Word fill your heart and mind and direct your mouth with what to say. Set yourself up for success in your future and pave the way for victory with your words today!


A PRAYER FOR TODAY

Father God, thank You for Your Word which is truth that sets me free. Help me to guard my words and sow good seed into my future. I choose to hide Your Word in my heart. Keep me close to You and direct my steps. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

Comment by ALCEDES JONES on August 3, 2010 at 8:48am

Psalm 63
A psalm of David. When he was in the Desert of Judah.

1 O God, you are my God,
earnestly I seek you;
my soul thirsts for you,
my body longs for you,
in a dry and weary land
where there is no water.

2 I have seen you in the sanctuary
and beheld your power and your glory.

3 Because your love is better than life,
my lips will glorify you.

4 I will praise you as long as I live,
and in your name I will lift up my hands.

5 My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods;
with singing lips my mouth will praise you.

6 On my bed I remember you;
I think of you through the watches of the night.

7 Because you are my help,
I sing in the shadow of your wings.

8 My soul clings to you;
your right hand upholds me.

9 They who seek my life will be destroyed;
they will go down to the depths of the earth.

10 They will be given over to the sword
and become food for jackals.

11 But the king will rejoice in God;
all who swear by God's name will praise him,
while the mouths of liars will be silenced.

Comment by ALCEDES JONES on August 3, 2010 at 8:20am

Psalm 34 (Amplified Bible)

Psalm 34
[A Psalm] of David; when he pretended to be insane before Abimelech, who drove him out, and he went away.
1I WILL bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.

2My life makes its boast in the Lord; let the humble and afflicted hear and be glad.

3O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together.

4I sought (inquired of) the Lord and required Him [of necessity and on the authority of His Word], and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.(A)

5They looked to Him and were radiant; their faces shall never blush for shame or be confused.

6This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.

7[a]The Angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him [who revere and worship Him with awe] and each of them He delivers.(B)

8O taste and see that the Lord [our God] is good! Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) is the man who trusts and takes refuge in Him.(C)

9O fear the Lord, you His saints [revere and worship Him]! For there is no want to those who truly revere and worship Him with godly fear.

10The young lions lack food and suffer hunger, but they who seek (inquire of and require) the Lord [by right of their need and on the authority of His Word], none of them shall lack any beneficial thing.

11Come, you children, listen to me; I will teach you to revere and worshipfully fear the Lord.

12What man is he who desires life and longs for many days, that he may see good?

13Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit.

14Depart from evil and do good; seek, inquire for, and crave peace and pursue (go after) it!

15The eyes of the Lord are toward the [uncompromisingly] righteous and His ears are open to their cry.

16The face of the Lord is against those who do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.(D)

17When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears, and delivers them out of all their distress and troubles.

18The Lord is close to those who are of a broken heart and saves such as are crushed with sorrow for sin and are humbly and thoroughly penitent.

19Many evils confront the [consistently] righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.

20He keeps all his bones; not one of them is broken.

21Evil shall cause the death of the wicked; and they who hate the just and righteous shall be held guilty and shall be condemned.

22The Lord redeems the lives of His servants, and none of those who take refuge and trust in Him shall be condemned or held guilty.

Comment by ALCEDES JONES on August 3, 2010 at 7:57am

Choose Your Friends Wisely


TODAY'S SCRIPTURE

"…Do not throw your pearls before swine"
(Matthew 7:6, NAS).


TODAY'S WORD from Joel and Victoria

Do you realize you have treasure on the inside of you? You could say that your pearls are what God has given you to be a blessing to the world around you—your gifts, talents and abilities. When you get around true friends, people who really believe in you, they won't be jealous of your gifts. They won't constantly question who you are. They won't try to talk you out of your dreams. It will be just the opposite. They'll help you polish your pearls, develop your pearls, enhance your pearls, and grow your pearls. In other words, they'll give you ideas. They'll connect you with people they know. They'll help push you further along. If you stay around people who don't value your gifts nor appreciate what you have to offer, that's casting your pearls among swine.

Your inner circle, those who are closest to you, should be people who celebrate who you are; people who are happy when you succeed. They should be people who believe the very best in you. Remember, it's not the quantity of friends that's important, it's the quality of friends. Choose your friends wisely so you can be all that God has called you to be.


A PRAYER FOR TODAY

Heavenly Father, thank You for the gifts, talents and abilities You have given to me. Help me to recognize the treasure within. Give me wisdom to discern the right relationships You have ordained for me. In Jesus' Name. Amen

Comment by Pastor Bob B on August 3, 2010 at 6:53am

CREATION IS SHOWING US ALL ABOUT GOD

For choir director. A Psalm of David. "The heavens are telling of the glory of God; And their expanse is declaring the work of His hands. '' (Psalm 1:19)

“Because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them.
For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.” (Romans 1:19-20)

Norman Rockwell is one of my favorite artist. You can learn so much about him from reviewing his wonderful master pieces. He told a story with every creation. You can tell so much about what was important to him and even about his character from his creations.

God is also a great artist and each and every day is a creation from His wonderful hand. No matter how much human sinfulness has tainted his work, yet God's handiwork is evident everywhere. The heavens are continuing to tell the story of His glory. His invisible attributes, His eternal power, and his divine nature are clearly seen in his handiwork. Yes god is the greatest artist in the universe and it will take us an eternity to see all that He has created.

Prayer;
Father God you are a wonderful, masterful, creator. You have told us a story about yourself in your creation. You have done great and marvelous things that we can see with our own eyes, hear with our ears, and handle with our hands. Oh God how great you are and how worthy you are to be praise. We have no excuse because your handiwork is everywhere. In Jesus name amen

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