Refuge TLH

Jesus died for our sins and He was buried. Jesus has risen from the dead. He is alive again. This fact is the central theme proclaimed by the followers of Jesus in the early years of the Church. If this isn't true, nothing else truly matters. If this is true, nothing else matters more. Confidence in the resurrection affects our behavior and our willingness to give and to suffer. Jesus is still more patient and gentle than we have ever known. Will you trust Him?I want you to trust Him. These thoughts shared by Jason Stuart Percy at Refuge TLH in Tallahassee, FL on Sunday, March 13, 2022.

Jesus the Messiah died on the cross for sins. He was buried. He has been raised from the dead. He has accomplished a salvation that is effective for all whose trust is in Him. These thoughts shared by Jason Stuart Percy at Refuge TLH in Tallahassee, FL on Sunday, March 6, 2022. Join us!

Jesus pulls no punches in warning those who follow Him of the reality of rejection and sorrow and trouble. He promises to be present via the Holy Spirit who will teach us and He promises that He overcomes the world. It is the desire of Jesus that those who follow Him should be united and working together in love. LORD, help us! These thoughts shared by Jason Stuart Percy at Refuge TLH in Tallahassee, FL on Sunday, February 27, 2022.

Jesus is the only way to God. Jesus promised His disciples He would not leave them orphans. He promised the Holy Spirit owuld come too them and He encouraged them to remain attached to Him that they would bear much fruit. This fruit bearing would bring glory to God. Jesus promised peace unlike anything they would receive from the unbelieving world. Jesus promised the world would hate them just as the world hated Him. These truths delivered just before Jesus left the disciples would become strength and encouragement and joy to help them endure the difficulty they would face with Him gone. Jesus is always enough for us. Let us move no further. Let us remain with Him. Abide in Him. Abide in His words. These thoughts shared by Jason Stuart Percy at Refuge TLH in Tallahassee, FL on Sunday, February 20, 2022.

Jesus washed the disciples feet and said it was an example to them. They were to repeat this type of behavior. He was their Master and Teacher and He was washing their feet. We are asked to esteem others better than ourselves. We who follow Jesus have been shown that our lives are secure in Him and we are, therefore, free to love anyone right now. Anyone. Even our enemy. We are asked by our Messiah to look out not only for our interests but for the interests of others. Jesus enables us to die to ourselves and to live lives beneficial for others. This would certainly be reflected in our marriages, our family relationships, our jobs, our churches, and anywhere else we might find ourselves. Jesus gives us a new commanment, we are to love each other, as His disciples, in the same way that He has loved us. These thoughts were shared by Jason Stuart Percy at Refuge TLH in Tallahassee, FL on Sunday, February 13, 2022.

We are quick to judge other believers regarding our own conscience issues. We shouldn't. Jesus teaches us to love and serve and sets us free to do that by removing the dear of death. Jesus has overcome death. We who follow Jesus have the joyful freedom to lay our lives down for others and to think about their benefit. May God help us to lay our lives down others and to serve them. These thoughts shared by Jason Stuart Percy at Refuge TLH in Tallahassee, FL on Sunday, February 6, 2022.

'Anyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?, ' Jesus asked. Jesus teaches us that the dead aren't actually dead. They may have left their bodies, but they aren't dead. He restored Lazarus as evidence of this fact. We must decide in whom we will place our trust. We live in a world with many who only trust what they've experienced with their own senses. Jesus has asked us to believe Him, not to deny the experiences of our senses and their reality, rather to acknowledge that our senses may not be receptive of all that exists. There is more and we are challenged to believe the Word of the One who knows and promises that there is more. In Lazarus' resurrection, Jesus shows that those whose bodies have died are themselves not dead. There is a coming resurrection, some will be raised to eternal life and joy and others to eternal contempt and shame. These thoughts shared by Jason Stuart Percy at Refuge TLH in Tallahassee, FL on Sunday, January 30, 2022.

Jesus is The Good Shepherd. Jesus is the door into the sheepfold. My trouble is believing that He is truly in control as I wrestle through the issues of life. I would do well to trust Him. God help us. I want to encourage you not to lose hope. Please don't lose heart, dear followers of Jesus. The time is short, as it ever was. These thoughts shared by Jason Stuart Percy at Refuge TLH in Tallahassee, FL on Sunday, January 23, 2022.

Jesus frequently used temporal situations to illustrate larger spiritual issues. While many may have skewed understandings of sin and it's consequences, Jesus does not. Jesus is also confident of the God's ability to be in control of all things. Is it offensive to believe that God may allow some difficult thing, some painful thing using such to accomplish soemthing else that He wants? I'm confident there are many things we do not understand. This is where my trust in God lies, in His ability to know and oversee what I simply cannot. Jesus shows his tenderness to those who've been put out by the elite, by the ruling class, as He seeks out the man born blind when he is excommunicated from the Hebrew assembly. Jesus is still pursuing those cast out today. He rescues sinners, after all. That's really good news for me. And for you, unless you think you see already. These thoughts shared by Jason Stuart Percy at Refuge TLH in Tallahassee, FL on Sunday, January 16, 2022.

Jesus position and authority in the Godhead are without question. Jesus pulls no punches in equating Himself to God in various ways. The religious leaders know what He's claiming about Himself and they hate Him for it. to them, it sounds blasphemous. And it would be, were it not true. While some believe various things about Jesus, it is His disciples, His followers who remain in His Word, who abide in His Word. Jesus has promised liberty in the truth for those who hear Him and so hear the truth. He who has ears to hear, let him hear! These thoughts shared by Jason Sturt Percy at Refuge TLH in Tallahassee, FL on Sunday, April 9, 2022.

Jesus is very confident in the sovereignty of God. He is not afraid of the misunderstandings of others or of their lack of trust. He is sure in Himself and in the Work of the Father. God has promised rivers of flowing or living water flowing out of our inmost being... He didn't leave us to wonder what that means. God gives Himself, He gives His Spirit to those who trust in Him. God is present with us always, even to teh end of the age. Don't be afraid, dear Saint. God is not wondering what is happening as you are. He is not confused. He doesn't feel as though things are out of control. You might feel this way. He does not. God reigns on His throne as Sovereign over all of His creation. I would do well to trust Him. LORD, increase our faith. These thoughts shared by Jason Stuart Precy at Refuge TLH in Tallahassee, FL on Sunday, January 2, 2022.

We are frequently pursuing things that we believe will make life easier or gentler. We are frequently making choices to follow after things that we think will keep us from difficulties. Jesus presents Himself as the One who rescues from death; He who brings eternal life to those who will pursue Him, those who will trust in Him. Many are trying to work God's works... Jesus seems to turn the tables on this idea reminding us that God is the One who works in us. We must receive Jesus' life or we have no eternal life. We can receive His eternal life now. We often focus on the material world whereas Jesus reminds us that it is the Spirit that gives life, the flesh, the body, the material doesn't provide profit in spiritual things. Let us lay, as we are enabled, our trust and hope in Jesus alone. He died for our sins, He has been buried, and He has already been raised from the dead. These thoughts shared by Jason Stuart Percy at Refuge TLH in Tallahassee, FL on Sunday, December 19, 2021.

We humans are all dead in our trespasses and sins. We have no life in us. It is the effectual call of Jesus, the giver and sustainer of life, that revives and enables us to trust Him. He cares not about the way of our traditions, especially those we use to put ourselves above others and to neglect our acts of service and charity (love) to our neighbor. We are those who excuse ourselves from obedience for myriads of reasons, all of which we excuse in ourselves and condemn in others. What hypocrites we are! True life, eternal life, is in the Father and in the Son, Jesus. He gives life to whomever He wills. Let us be those who diligently search the sscriptures, that we might know God as He reveals Himself through the prophets and apostles. But... let us not stop with having knowledge... let us go on to commune with Jesus, let us respond to Him, let us come to Him... and find life. These thoughts were shared by Jason Stuart Percy at Refuge TLH in Tallahasee, FL on Sunday, December 5, 2021

It's okay to be sad. Jesus and His Kingdom message are true even if you don't feel anything. Jesus speaks the truth without all the modern hype. We're deceived by trying to live from dopamine rush to dopamine rush and calling that 'spiritual life'. The Father is seeking those who will worhip Him in Spirit and truth. Worship is not a type of song. It is not necessarily singing songs at all. Workship is bowing yourself down to something. Bowing down, in your heart, to someone or something, is workship. Jesus is able to save the sick, yes, but when should He stop? When would it be okay for Him to let someone you love die. Does death matter? Does life matter? If there is eternal life, if there is resurrection, then it matters more than we seem to think. These thoughts shared by Jason Stuart Percy at Refuge TLH in Tallahassee, FL on Sunday, November 28, 2021.

Jesus has his own schedule in everything. He is good and kind and trustworthy and faithful. And He does whatever He pleases. He really does care for us, even in the seemingly small things. We may bring our request to Him at any time. Mary's final words are continually apropos, 'Whatever He says to you, do it!'. They are wise who abide in His Word. Jesus assures Nicodemus that the prophecies of Ezekiel are true and that God will give new Birth, a Birth that is from above, a Birth through His Spirit. A supernatural birth. Jesus is ready and able to rescue any who come to Him... alas, too many abide in condemnation, in wrath, for they love darkness and will not come into the light. Dear friend, if you haven't yet, please come into the light that you might have everlasting life in Him, life in He who is True Light. He has so loved the world. These thoughts shared by Jason Stuart Percy at Refuge TLH in Tallahassee, FL on Sunday, November 21, 2021.

The bond between Faith and Good Works is inseparable. While we are saved by grace through faith alone, it is a true faith that is demonstrated by obedience to Jesus. The LORD knows those who are His. He is not deceived by our facades. do not be deceived, our Messiah Jesus has saved us for good works that we should walk in them! These thoughts were shared by Davy Waldman at Refuge TLH in Tallahassee, FL on Sunday, November 14, 2021.

Jesus is the Creator God and you should follow Him. in Him is life. Won't you have life? Shared by Jason Stuart Percy at Refuge TLH in Tallahassee, FL on Sunday, November 7, 2021.

Jesus believes the words of Moses and the prophets and the psalms. He believes they are God's words and that they must come to pass. Whether you believe them or not, is your problem to figure out. Jesus has been raised from the dead where He remains alive rescuing all those who lay their trust in Him. There is no other hope beyond death. No matter what happens in our lifetime or those after us or before us... if Jesus is alive and if Jesus raises the dead... we would be wise to consider what this means for us. For our children and our friends and our enemies. Church, let us believe the writings, as our King. Let us be committed to Holy living and service demonstrating the characteristics of the Kingdom that is quickly coming in fullness. Be strong, the night is far spent, the Day is at hand. The LORD comes. Shared by Jason Stuart Percy at Refuge TLH in Tallahassee, FL on Sunday, October 31, 2021.

Jesus submitted to the point of death. He has called us to follow him. Whom are you following? What are we really after? Let us follow Jesus, the crucified and risen King. Shared by Jason Stuart Percy at Refuge TLH in Tallahassee, FL on Sunday, October 24, 2021.

Jesus is not surprised as we are. His humble obedience to the Father, even to the point of death, becomes for us a guiding principle as we follow Jesus. We often fail. He knows. He knew from the beginning. Still He has committed Himself to us His disciples. We have been left with two wonderful traditions by which we proclaim the good news of Jesus' Kingdom. The church of Jesus has continued in these two practices since her beginning and shall until our King returns. Make no mistake, it may look like He is failing at times. He is not. His Kingdom comes. Let us be those who watch and wait and learn to trust Him. These thoughts were shared by Jason Stuart Percy at Refuge TLH in Tallahassee, FL on Sunday, October 17, 2021.

It's the end of the world as we know it... and I feel fine. Jesus reminds us of the futility of our finances and of the precious power of patience. Let us yield to Him. Let us lay our trust in the Sovereign King of the Universe who loved us and gave Himself for us. These thoughts were shared by Jason Stuart Percy at Refuge Tallahassee on Sunday, October 10, 2021.

Many people have doubts about Jesus. We are guilty of accepting the faulty logical fallacy of attempting to appeal to authority to decide if we should believe someone. Jesus repeatedly demonstrated that he was capable of responding to criticism and both honest and deceptive, cynical questioners. He is indeed able to handle our questions. But at the end of all things, let be sure that Jesus teaches there is a resurrection of the dead and we stand in peril as it relates to our eternal state. Jesus has come to save. He indeed does save. He saves by Himself all those who come to God through Him. We throw ourselves on the Messiah and find that He breaks us of the stuff that destroys us and others. Or, we refuse Him and will find that He grinds to powder in true judgement. Or, as John the Baptist said, He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor. These thoughts were shared by Jason Stuart Percy at Refuge TLH in Tallahassee, FL on Sunday, October 3, 2021.

Jesus has promised to return to the Earth. He brings His Kingdom. All those who've heard Him, who are trusting Him, following Him, are to be faithful in whatever He has delivered to us. It seems nonsensical to suggest we follow Jesus, the crucified Messiah of Israel, risen from the dead, while also trying to 'live our best life now'. Jesus is greater. His Kingdom is stronger and more wonderful still. We demonstrate our trust in Jesus and His Words by the choices we make with our lives. Not simply the small insignificant ones but the major, central direction of our lives and the thigns to which we give the greatest precendence. Jesus has rescued sinners. He still does. Let us cling to Him. These thoughts shared by Jason Stuart Percy at Refuge TLH in Tallahassee, FL on Sunday, September 26, 2021.

How we view ourselves, in spiritual matters, in righteousness and religion, has a direct impact on the way w e think about and manage our relationships with others. In the way of Jesus' Kingdom, we are taught to view outselves in a true state of humility and thus to esteem others better than ourselves. We are taught in the Way not to pursue things out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. In esteeming others abovee ourselves, we ought not fail to esteem and value infants, chidlren. What a joy to serve them! Jesus reminds us that we are to be a continually praying people as we have a delighted, continual fellowship with the Sovereign God of the Universe. Jesus still has compassion on regular people. In a world that esteem the rich and powerful, let us be those who serve and bless no matter the social standing of the recipient of that service. These thoughts shared by Jason Stuart Percy at Refuge TLH in Tallahassee, FL on Sunday, September 19, 2021.

Jesus intends that we use liberty, freedom as a means to serve others. Too often our liberty is viewed as an end in itself but no man is an island, as the saying goes. We are to be thinking of others, not only ourselves. When we've done well, our inward attitude is to say of ourselves, 'we are unprofitable servants, we've only done what was commanded'. Let this be a guard against arrogance and conceit; a bulwark to protect against that wicked separator of men, pride. It is clear that serving others may yield little reward from them, that is not the aim. We ought to please our Master. He is the Chief Magistrate. In the end, our King, while absent, has assured us of His return and of the consequences of such. He does not show favoritism to anyone. These thoughts shared by Jason Stuart Percy at Refuge TLH in Tallahassee, FL on Sunday, September 12, 2021.

God is a Great King. He is a good Father. He is more patient and kind than we have imagined Him to be. There is great joy in His Kingdom when even one sinner repents; when we change our mind and lay our trust in Him, alone. May we walk humbly considering ourselves and the gift of salvation to those who believe. God, keep us from arrogant, prideful attitudes of self-righteousness. LORD, you are all in all among those who believe You. Teach us to trust you more. Shared by Jason Stuart Percy on Sunday, August 8, 2021 at Refuge Christian Fellowship in Tallahassee, FL.

Jesus' Kingdom is upside down in it's priorities. Jesus teaches us to esteem others as better than ourselves and to lay down everything to be His disciple. The call to the Christian life is a call to total surrender of ourselves and our rights to the will and authority of another. While the generation of Jews to which Jesus was sent mostly rejected Him, some believed. While judgement came on those who rejected Him, some were rescued. The same is still true; for Jew or Gentile (non-Jew) alike. Jesus rescues sinners. Count the cost and come, follow Him. Shared by Jason Stuart Percy on Sunday, August 1, 2021 at Refuge Christian Fellowship in Tallahassee, FL.

Jesus commands all people everywhere to repent and to believe Him. We lay our trust in Him as the offering for our sins, as the One who died, was buried, and is alive again forever. God gives the gift of repentance that we might change our minds and turn from sin to the Living God. We are able to be free from traditions which teach us to value the tradition itself over the welfare of others. We understand that while the Kingdom of God began very small, it grows. We also understand that there are few who will be saved. Many will not turn aside to walk the narrow way which leads to life. Jesus laments over those who continue in rebellion to Him. Shared by Jason Stuart Percy on Sunday, July 25, 2021 at Refuge Christian Fellowship in Tallahasee, FL.

Life can be fraught with anxieties of various sorts. Jesus is greater still. His voice is not simply your friend, He is not a therapist, or a random internet commenter; He is the LORD. There is no other. Hear Him! Jesus is coming again. He will appear. Shared by Jason Stuart Percy at Refuge TLH in Tallahassee, FL on Sunday, July 18, 2021.

God partners with His children, with those people who actively trust Him, working in the world in various ways. We have the privilege of asking God to work for those around us and of obeying Him in being the answer to many of those prayers. Jesus is LORD over all, even the demons must obey His commands and none are able to overcome His strength. We are always in an evil generation; we frequently demand signs of Jesus, trying to force Him to prove Himself. His death, burial, and resurrection give witness to His power and truth and provide for us hope that lasts beyond our present circumstances. He isn't looking for pretenders; He wants genuine followers. Shared by Jason Stuart Percy on Sunday, July 11, 2021 at Refuge TLH in Tallahassee, FL.

God is able to provide precisely what we need when we need it. We may not trust Him to do so, but He is fully capable, and we find rest to the degree we learn to trust in His promises. Jesus, God's Prophet to Israel, pronounced judgement against those who rejected Him. If we refuse Him, we remain under condemnation. While we know what is right, we fail to live loving Him and loving others. He came to save sinners. After trusting Him and being brought into His Kingdom by the gift of His righteousness and grace, we have the privilege of serving and loving those who are rejected and outcasts and even our enemies. We have the privilege of laying our lives down for anyone; for everyone. We are neighbor to anyone we are acting in love toward. Shared by Jason Stuart Percy on July 4, 2021 at Refuge TLH in Tallahassee, FL.

Jesus' ministry on Earth presented Himsefl as the Messiah to Israel and offered His promised Kingdom to His people. While many rejected His Kingdom by rejecting the King, some believed and have entered that Kingdom. Jesus instructions for those following Him are universal; we deny ourselves, however we have previously defined ourselves, and we submit to His authority. He is, after all, the King of His Kingdom. We often listen to the voices of our generation; we would do well to greater attention to the things Jesus has taught. He is the Eternal King, after all. Jesus doesn't gaurantee things will go the way we want; He promsises we will be recieved into an everlasting Kingdom. This is a great hope since, no matter what else happens, we are all dying. Shared by Jason Stuart Percy on Sunday, June 27, 2021 at Refuge TLH in Tallahassee, FL.

Jesus is alive from the dead and all people everywhere are to repent and believe the good news that He died for our sins, He was buried, and has been raised from the dead never to die again. Jesus is the King of the Universe and will reign until all enemies are put under His feet and the last enemy is death. Let him who has ears to hear, hear what the Spirit says to the Church. Shared by Jason Stuart Percy at Refuge TLH in Tallahassee, FL on April 4, 2021.

What is the greatest of God's Commandments? Jesus identifies this One Great Command in Moses' Law and links a 2nd Command to it permanently. Love God with everything and Love your neighbor as yourself. Sometimes we, to our detriment, twist the 2nd command into a self-centered diatribe about learning to love ourselves rather than focusing on the point of the command, and of love in general, that we are to live sacrificially thinking of others as greater than ourselves. Indeed, the great Christian life is the life of a servant-hearted lover of others. Jesus teaches the scribes that the Hebrew Messiah, the Christ, was to be greater than King David, not simply one of his descendants. Jesus warns the people to beware of the scribes whose preference was their own honor. Finally, we are reminded that God doesn't need money. He already owns everything. How we share is far more important than how much we share. Shared by Jason Stuart Percy at Refuge Tallahassee on Sunday, March 14, 2021.

There are many voices vying for our attention and proclaiming 'truth' to us. They are not all truly 'Truth'. Let us be those who listen to the prophets and to The Prophet, Jesus. He is more than we have imagined. He is more than enough. These thoughts were shared by Jason Stuart Percy at Refuge Christian Fellowship in Tallahassee, FL on January 17, 2021.

The human condition is bleak. Though many attempt to trumpet the inherent goodness of humanity, the reality of our own relationships, and of the relationships of communities, cities, states, and nations, proves quite the opposite. All of the evil things of the world have flowed out of the hearts of humans. Cleaning up the outside of lives makes us only hypocrites, still in bondage the base desires of our bodies. Jesus' Kiingdom is about God's rule within the lives of those who trust Him. God comes to reside within us. He has promised to give us new lives, eternal life, and new hearts. Hearts of flesh rather than hardened hearts of stone. We ought to continue to pursue Him, to trust Him. Keep on praying, saints! He is able to open deaf ears and make the truth plain. Sometimes, the answer to physical problems may be something spiritual. Shared by Jason Stuart Percy at Refuge Christian Fellowship Tallahassee on Sunday, March 8, 2020.

As Christians, we live our lives by faith. We live by believing God and learning to trust Him. As weak humans, our faith can waiver, and following together with Jesus, we may find ourselves at times in spiritual highs and at other times in spiritual lows. In the midst of this, Jesus remains faithful. He remains steadfast, immovable, sure. He obeys the Father and He becomes for us the place where we find rest and refuge. We hope you'll begin to trust Him, too. There is no one like our God! Shared by Jonathan Albanese at Refuge Christian Fellowship Tallahassee on Sunday, March 1, 2020.

Often, even as followers of Jesus, we find our immediate response regarding behavioral psychological issues to be more in line with an unbelieving, materialistic, naturalistic worldview. This, in spite of the fact that Jesus regularly dealt with, talked about, and affirmed the reality of the meta-physical, the unseen spiritual world in which we live. At the very least, we should pause and pray, consider, and seek the LORD in the situations in which we find ourselves in relation to the people around us in regard to both their and our behavior. Maybe there's more to humans that random, electrical impulses, synapses, and chemicals. Where do we draw the line anyhow? And who gets to decide where that line even is? God has made a world full of powerful elements. Medicine can be good. We ought to trust in God and be wise. We are to live by faith. Shared by Jason Stuart Percy at Refuge Christian Fellowship Tallahassee on Sunday, February 23, 2020.

Traditions easily become used as a way to enforce prejudice. Especially after several generations of practice. We can forget to see the needs and the people around us and obey teh command to love them because we are so busy trying to keep our traditions. People are more important than our man-made traditions. Showing mercy is better than not healing on the Sabbath. While we struggle to understand and believe who Jesus really is, the demonic realm is absolutely sure of Him. And they tremble. Too bad we don't. Frequently the world sees Jesus and His followers as those who are out of their minds because spiritually things must be discerned by God's Spirit. His Spirit is in those who believe Him. The Jewish leaders blasphemed God's Spirit by attributing Jesus' works to the power of Satan. Even so, Jesus has come and is making a new family of all those who believe, both Jew and Gentile. Shared by Jason Stuart Percy at Refuge Christian Fellowship Tallahassee on Sunday, February 9, 2020.

Jesus gave His life as a ransom for ours. He died for our sins. The chastisement for our peace was upon Him. He laid down His life demonstrating the love of God for sinners. Anyone may be rescued from sin, death, hell, judgment, by trusting in Jesus. He, alone, is our hope for redemption. We have no other Savior. He rescues everyone who trusts Him. Let us be a people firmly planted on the solid ground that Jesus died for our sins, was buried, and has been raised from the dead. He is, therefore, alive now, receiving all those who place their trust in Him. Shared by Jason Stuart Percy at Refuge Christian Fellowship Tallahassee on Sunday, January 12, 2020.

Fear is a primary human motivator. We can all easily be controlled by it. Jesus was free from the tyranny of fear. He has overcome. It is His life which we enter into as His followers. He is able to set us free by His Spirit. LORD, let us be the free from the fear, the tyrant. Perfect Your love in us. Shared by Jason Stuart Percy at Refuge Christian Fellowship Tallahassee on Sunday, January 5, 2020.

Beginning of Jesus ministry. Shared by Jonathan Albanese at Refuge Christian Fellowship Tallahassee on Sunday, November 3, 2019.

Jesus is the Good Shepherd of those in His Kingdom. He ensures we have all we need, every moment, to do and be and think and say what He wants. He is the ruler of all the Earth and there is nothing that is hard for Him. He is able to help any who come to Him. Jesus rescues sinners. Many believe they have established there own righteousness but those who know they are sick are readily rescued by the Good Shepherd, Jesus. He justifies the ungodly. While he is able to and does variously heal physical illness or touble, we look forward to the fullness of His Kingdom, when all sorrow, sickness, death, and pain will pass away and we will be made new! Isn't He wonderful!??!!!?!?!!

Jesus asks everything from those who follow Him. He will be second to none and nothing in the life of His disciples. Only He has the right to claim this kind of ownership of us since He created us, sustains us, keeps us alive, orchestrates our lives in the order in which we find them, and He knows the beginning from the end. God is supreme and Sovereign and there is no other being like Him. Jesus demonstrates to us the power and order and control of our God. We who follow Him lay down everything for Him. There is no other option for us for everything else is covetousness and idolatry. Jesus rescues us and brings us into his Kingdom where we find we needed no other things besides Him anyhow. He is present in our storms, able to calm when He is ready. He is able to heal and even the demonic forces know who He is and are under His authority as they, too, are something He created. He created them good, they turned away from Him, but they are no match for Him. That is sure. Be not afraid!

Jesus heals our sicknesses. Not always how we want, or when we want. Everyone that was healed by Jesus while He was on Earth still died. Those who trust Him are healed eternally and are in His presence awaiting the resurrection. Jesus demonstrated to Israel that He was truly the promised Messiah, God with Us, come to remove the curse upon creation after Adam's sin. Jesus did many great miracles and He still does. Not the least of which, He was raised from the dead and is, therefore, alive now. He has promised to raise everyone who lives and believes in Him. We have truly entered and enjoy His Kingdom knowing freedom from the fear of death! He Himself took our infirmities. Rejoice, we'll live free of sicknesses in the end.

We excercise judgement about many things every day. Jesus asks us to be wise in judgement and not to simply judge the outside or cursory things. We need wisdom and we need to be asking, seeking, and knocking that we might know how to treat others the way we want to be treated. It is possible to be decieved and so good judgement is of vital importance seeing that Jesus' way is narrow and there are few who find it. LORD, give us wisdom. Help us to be merciful to others. Help us to love each other enough to hold each other accountable with mercy and grace and love. Recorded at Refuge TLH on Sunday, August 5, 2019.

We are worried about many things. The Way of Jesus' Kingdom is the way of trusting the One who made and sustains us. Leaning on Him that we might be help to others and show them the Way of His Kingdom. Let us be, by grace, those who worry not about food, drink, and clothing, as the world is consumed by those cares, and instead be those who are focused on His Kingdom Way first. The LORD is worthy to be praised. Rest in Him, dear saints, He has redeemed, He will not leave you. We have this joy of living His Kingdom, in His power, not because of ourselves, but by faith, by trusting Jesus alone to rescue us and bring us near. He has died for our sins, He was buried, He is now raised, ready to save all those who come to Him, believing. Recorded at Refuge TLH on Sunday, July 28, 2019.

The way of Jesus' Kingdom is the way of authentic love pursuing God's pleasure and God's will. We ought to be authentic in our lives seeking to please God rather than men. Doing good things to be seen by people will result in failing to receive reward in the Kingdom of Heaven. Whether giving to the poor, praying, or fasting, let it be done in secret with no show. Let us not seek to manipulate others with our public demonstrations of 'good will'. Frequently, we are guilty of using the poverty of others for our own benefit. This should not be so. LORD, help us to be of no reputation, to take on ourselves the form of a slave, a servant; to do what is right and good and true and just, when no one sees. Even pursuing ways to do good with no one seeing. Because You see. And You are enough. Recorded at Refuge TLH on Sunday, July 21, 2019.

The way of Jesus, of His Kingdom, sets us free from the tyrrany of personal vendetta. We are free to forgive and love and help people who hurt us, who wound our pride, and who persecute us, who anger us. We are free to give away what we have knowing that God, who owns everything, is able to provide and protect and repay so that there will always be, in the end, justice, though we may see much injustice around us. God knows. Remember, while being hurt, Jesus neither fought back, nor ran away, rather he absorbed the hurt and forgave those responsible. The Spirit of Jesus is within all those who follow Him, trusting Him, those who've been born from above. LORD, help us to be different than we are. Recorded at Refuge TLH on Sunday, July 14, 2019.

God always keeps His Word. He does everything He says He'll do. Those conforming to His Kingdom are learning to keep our Word. We shouldn't have to make promises because we ought to be known as those who do what we say we'll do. With men, this is impossible. But with God, all things are possible. He has removed our sin. He has purchased us for Himself and forgiven us and has promised us an unending life in His presence, though we deserve none of these things. May we be those who trust Him. He has proven that He is faithful and true. Recorded at Refuge TLH on Sunday, July 7, 2019.