Podcasts about msg so

In the Book of Ecclesiastes, Solomon in all his wisdom worked hard to figure out why life is completely out of his control, even as a powerful king. In his writings, he was frustrated and angry and cynical and flippant and sarcastic. Does that sound familiar at all? Thank God that He gave us such a wide variety of people and circumstances in His Word to show us the collision between the divine and the human.Listen to Ecclesiastes 8:7-9 in The Message … Yes, there's a right time and way for everything, even though, unfortunately, we miss it for the most part. It's true that no one knows what's going to happen, or when. Who's around to tell us? No one can control the wind or lock it in a box. No one has any say-so regarding the day of death. No one can stop a battle in its tracks. No one who does evil can be saved by evil. All this I observed as I tried my best to understand all that's going on in this world. As long as men and women have the power to hurt each other, this is the way it is.Can you relate to any of Solomon's words?When we can't actually control anything about life but we want to, we usually end up hurting one another, trying to control each other. And we have to be so careful that we don't end up trying too hard to control our kids. Control is never the point of parenting.Let's fast-forward to the end of Ecclesiastes where Solomon finally resolves his search for truth.The words of the wise prod us to live well. They're like nails hammered home, holding life together. They are given by God, the one Shepherd. But regarding anything beyond this, dear friend, go easy. There's no end to the publishing of books, and constant study wears you out so you're no good for anything else. The last and final word is this: Fear God. Do what he tells you. And that's it. (Ecclesiastes 12:11-14 MSG) So, evidently it's okay to run through all of our crazy, mixed-up emotions and express our cynical and sarcastic opinions of how life treats us. Because what matters most after the process is where we end up. Better, not bitter. Realizing we will never be God and He always will be. And that will always be a great place to land.Let's pray together: “Heavenly Father, please help me to realize I can vent with You as my Father. I can tell you exactly what I think. You already know what I'm thinking so I may as well just voice it. But remind me in those moments that all I am saying is that You have to be in control—and to thank You that I'm not. As above, so below.”

Omoluabi Podcast | Season 7 Episode 1PROVERB CONSIDERED: “Ní teere, ní tèèrè, Ṣàngó ṣe bẹ́ẹ̀ ó jó wọjà.” (Translation: Erratically and imperceptibly, Shango continued to dance until he was at the market.)Context:The proverb uses the imagery of Shango, the Yoruba deity of thunder and lightning, known for his erratic and unpredictable dance moves.The proverb highlights how seemingly small, unnoticeable actions, performed consistently, can lead to significant and sometimes irreversible outcomes.Dancing into the marketplace in Yoruba culture signifies reaching a point of no return.Biblical Connections & Applications:Songs of Solomon 2:15 -"Catch us the foxes, the little foxes that spoil the vines, for our vines have tender grapes."John 15:1-8 - Jesus as the true vine and God the Father as the keeper of the vineyard, emphasising the importance of bearing good fruit.Psalm 90:12 -"Teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts to wisdom."Ephesians 5:15-17 MSG -"So watch your step. Use your head. Make the most of every chance you get. These are desperate times! Don't live carelessly, unthinkingly. Make sure you understand what the Master wants."1 Peter 5:8 -"Be sober-minded and alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour."Isaiah 5:1-7 - God is disappointed when His vineyard yields sour grapes despite His care.Practical Takeaways:Regularly reflect on your progress and make necessary adjustments.Practice small, consistent actions to achieve larger goals (e.g., the one-penny challenge).Be aware of subtle distractions and temptations("little foxes") that can derail you.Strive to bear good fruit in your life, reflecting God's work in you.Book Recommendation:Atomic Habits by James Clear

Closer, Pt. 3 | August 18, 2024 Pastor Wes MorrisLuke 18:1-8 (NLT) One day Jesus told his disciples a story to show that they should always pray and never give up. “There was a judge in a certain city,” he said, “who neither feared God nor cared about people. A widow of that city came to him repeatedly, saying, ‘Give me justice in this dispute with my enemy.'The judge ignored her for a while, but finally he said to himself, ‘I don't fear God or care about people, but this woman is driving me crazy. I'm going to see that she gets justice, because she is wearing me out with her constant requests!'”Then the Lord said, “Learn a lesson from this unjust judge. Even he rendered a just decision in the end. So don't you think God will surely give justice to his chosen people who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will grant justice to them quickly! But when the Son of Man returns, how many will he find on the earth who have faith?”✓ She was full of passion. ✓ She saw opportunities instead of obstacles. ✓ She was faith-filled. Luke 11:9-10 (ESV) And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.THE POWER OF PERSISTENCEI. SEEK GOD WITH YOUR WHOLE HEART. Jeremiah 29:11-13 (NLT) For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me.John 4:23 (NLT) But the time is coming—indeed it's here now—when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way. II. BE SURRENDERED TO HIS WILL. Romans 12:1 (MSG) So here's what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life - your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life - and place it before God as an offering. III. BE SET APART FOR HIS PURPOSE.Galatians 2:20 (NIV) I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.Galatians 5:24 (ESV) And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. IV. BE SATISFIED IN HIS PRESENCE. Psalm 63:1 (NLT) O God, you are my God; I earnestly search for you. My soul thirsts for you; my whole body longs for you in this parched and weary land where there is no water.James 4:8 (NLT) Come close to God, and God will come close to you.

Moving “up” is simply ______________ in our relationship with God through worship. [John 4:23-24] But the time is coming—indeed it's here now—when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way. [24] For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.” Worship is not ______________ it is a ______________. - ____________________ [Ephesians 5:18-19] Don't be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit, [19] singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts. We worship through music because music engages our _____________. - ____________________ [2 Corinthians 9:7] Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. [Romans 12:1] And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. [Romans 12:1 MSG] So here's what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. - ____________________ [Matthew 25:35-40] For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, [36] I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.' [37] Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? [38] And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? [39] And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?' [40] And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.' - ____________________ [Psalm 1:1-3] Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers. [2] But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night. [3] They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do. - ____________________ (_______________) [1 Timothy 2:1-2] I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. [2] Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity. True worship is about ______________ God is in our life and ______________ He is on our list of priorities. [1 Corinthians 10:31] So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.

Embark on a transformative journey with our podcast, "New Path New You," where we explore faith, empowerment, and personal growth. In this special episode titled "Now is Your Time," we delve into the profound significance of Good Friday, the resurrection, and the transformative power of baptism in Christ. Join us as we uncover timeless truths and biblical wisdom, empowering you to seize the moment and embrace your God-given potential. Discover how the resurrection of Jesus Christ opens the door to new beginnings and empowers us to walk boldly in His victory. Tune in for inspiring insights, uplifting stories, and practical guidance to ignite your journey towards a new path and a renewed you. Don't miss out – now is your time to shine!Romans 12:2 - (MSG) So here's what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.Need a guy to count on? Message Ron on Instagram.Connect with Ron:  NewPathNewYou.comConnect on Instagram: @rcooljrBecome a NPNY Supporter! One TimeMonthly  

In the Book of Ecclesiastes, Solomon in all his wisdom worked hard to figure out why life is completely out of his control, even as a powerful king. In his writings, he was frustrated and angry and cynical and flippant and sarcastic. Does that sound familiar at all? Thank God that He gave us such a wide variety of people and circumstances in His Word to show us the collision between the divine and the human. Listen to Ecclesiastes 8:7-9 in The Message … Yes, there's a right time and way for everything, even though, unfortunately, we miss it for the most part. It's true that no one knows what's going to happen, or when. Who's around to tell us? No one can control the wind or lock it in a box. No one has any say-so regarding the day of death. No one can stop a battle in its tracks. No one who does evil can be saved by evil. All this I observed as I tried my best to understand all that's going on in this world. As long as men and women have the power to hurt each other, this is the way it is. Can you relate to any of Solomon's words? When we can't actually control anything about life but we want to, we usually end up hurting one another, trying to control each other. And we have to be so careful that we don't end up trying too hard to control our kids. Control is never the point of parenting. Let's fast-forward to the end of Ecclesiastes where Solomon finally resolves his search for truth. The words of the wise prod us to live well. They're like nails hammered home, holding life together. They are given by God, the one Shepherd. But regarding anything beyond this, dear friend, go easy. There's no end to the publishing of books, and constant study wears you out so you're no good for anything else. The last and final word is this: Fear God. Do what he tells you. And that's it. (Ecclesiastes 12:11-14 MSG) So, evidently it's okay to run through all of our crazy, mixed-up emotions and express our cynical and sarcastic opinions of how life treats us. Because what matters most after the process is where we end up. Better, not bitter. Realizing we will never be God and He always will be. And that will always be a great place to land. Let's pray together: “Heavenly Father, please help me to realize I can vent with You as my Father. I can tell you exactly what I think. You already know what I'm thinking so I may as well just voice it. But remind me in those moments that all I am saying is that You have to be in control—and to thank You that I'm not. As above, so below.”

When All The Stars Are GoneVictory Life Church — Sunday, August 6, 20232 Corinthians 5:7 (NLT) For we live by believing and not by seeing.Jeremiah 12:5-6 (MSG) “So, Jeremiah, if you're worn out in this footrace with men, what makes you think you can race against horses? And if you can't keep your wits during times of calm, what's going to happen when troubles break loose like the Jordan in flood?”The Storm-Tossed Ship: Acts 27:1-44Acts 27:7-10, 18-20 (ESV) Since we were violently storm-tossed, they began the next day to jettison the cargo. And on the third day they threw the ship's tackle overboard with their own hands. When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small tempest lay on us, all hope of our being saved was at last abandoned.Faith sees the world through the reality of God's Kingdom.Acts 27:20 (ESV) When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small tempest lay on us, all hope of our being saved was at last abandoned.Romans 8:5–6 (ESV) 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. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.Acts 27:20-26 (ESV) Faith is living surrendered to God.Acts 27:23 (ESV) For this very night there stood before me an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I worship,Faith aligns with God's will.Acts 27:24 (ESV) and he said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before Caesar. And behold, God has granted you all those who sail with you.'Philippians 4:6-7 (ESV) do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.Faith trusts in the authority of God's word.Acts 27:25 (ESV) So take heart, men, for I have faith in God that it will be exactly as I have been told. But we must run aground on some island.”Acts 27:33-36 (ESV) As day was about to dawn, Paul urged them all to take some food, saying, “Today is the fourteenth day that you have continued in suspense and without food, having taken nothing. Therefore I urge you to take some food. For it will give you strength, for not a hair is to perish from the head of any of you.” And when he had said these things, he took bread, and giving thanks to God in the presence of all he broke it and began to eat. Then they all were encouraged and ate some food themselves.Support the showThis podcast is brought to you free of charge through the donations of generous people.If this content blessed you and you would like to help us reach more people, please take a few minutes to rate our podcast and leave us a review.If you'd like to support us financially, you can make donations hereIf you'd like to learn more about us you can visit our website.If you'd like to contact us directly follow this link. If you enjoyed this teaching, Pastor Jacob has another conversation-style podcast that we think you'd really enjoy. Check it out here!

When All The Stars Are GoneVictory Life Church — Sunday, August 6, 20232 Corinthians 5:7 (NLT) For we live by believing and not by seeing.Jeremiah 12:5-6 (MSG) “So, Jeremiah, if you're worn out in this footrace with men, what makes you think you can race against horses? And if you can't keep your wits during times of calm, what's going to happen when troubles break loose like the Jordan in flood?”The Storm-Tossed Ship: Acts 27:1-44Acts 27:7-10, 18-20 (ESV) Since we were violently storm-tossed, they began the next day to jettison the cargo. And on the third day they threw the ship's tackle overboard with their own hands. When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small tempest lay on us, all hope of our being saved was at last abandoned.Faith sees the world through the reality of God's Kingdom.Acts 27:20 (ESV) When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small tempest lay on us, all hope of our being saved was at last abandoned.Romans 8:5–6 (ESV) 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. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.Acts 27:20-26 (ESV) Faith is living surrendered to God.Acts 27:23 (ESV) For this very night there stood before me an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I worship,Faith aligns with God's will.Acts 27:24 (ESV) and he said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before Caesar. And behold, God has granted you all those who sail with you.'Philippians 4:6-7 (ESV) do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.Faith trusts in the authority of God's word.Acts 27:25 (ESV) So take heart, men, for I have faith in God that it will be exactly as I have been told. But we must run aground on some island.”Acts 27:33-36 (ESV) As day was about to dawn, Paul urged them all to take some food, saying, “Today is the fourteenth day that you have continued in suspense and without food, having taken nothing. Therefore I urge you to take some food. For it will give you strength, for not a hair is to perish from the head of any of you.” And when he had said these things, he took bread, and giving thanks to God in the presence of all he broke it and began to eat. Then they all were encouraged and ate some food themselves.Support the showThis podcast is brought to you free of charge through the donations of generous people.If this content blessed you and you would like to help us reach more people, please take a few minutes to rate our podcast and leave us a review.If you'd like to support us financially, you can make donations hereIf you'd like to learn more about us you can visit our website.If you'd like to contact us directly follow this link. If you enjoyed this teaching, Pastor Jacob has another conversation-style podcast that we think you'd really enjoy. Check it out here!

Holier than Thou - having or showing the annoying attitude of people who believe that they are morally better than other people1 Peter 1:13 MSG - So roll up your sleeves, get your head in the game, be totally ready to receive the gift that's coming when Jesus arrives. Don't lazily slip back into those old grooves of evil, doing just what you feel like doing. You didn't know any better then; you do now. As obedient children, let yourselves be pulled into a way of life shaped by God's life, a life energetic and blazing with holiness. God said, “I am holy; you be holy.” What is holiness - REALLY?  The Hebrew word for “holy” literally means “separate” or “set apart.” When we are “blazing with holiness” we are set apart from the world. How do you live a holy life daily?Disconnect From the World “Do not be conformed to this world.” –Romans 12:2 (ESV) ...Run from Temptation, “Flee the evil desires.” –2 Timothy 2:22 (NIV) ...Obey the Word of God  - “Be holy in all you do.”—1 Peter 1:15 (NIV)

Win At Home Pt. 1 | April 23, 2023Pastor Wes Morris Deuteronomy 6:4-9 (NLT) “Listen, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord alone. And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength. And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today. Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up. Tie them to your hands and wear them on your forehead as reminders. Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.”(10-13) “The Lord your God will soon bring you into the land he swore to give you…it is a land with large, prosperous cities that you did not build. The houses will be richly stocked with goods you did not produce. You will draw water from cisterns you did not dig, and you will eat from vineyards and olive trees you did not plant. When you have eaten your fill in this land, be careful not to forget the Lord, who rescued you from slavery in the land of Egypt. You must fear the Lord your God and serve him.”√  Culture√  Comparison I Peter 5:8-9 (NLT) Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith.SHAPED BY SCRIPTURE I. We build our life on God's Word. Matthew 7:24 (MSG) These words I speak to you are not incidental additions to your life, homeowner improvements to your standard of living. They are foundational words, words to build a life on. If you work these words into your life, you are like a smart carpenter who built his house on solid rock.II Timothy 3:16-17 (NLT) All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.II. We follow God's Word.Joshua 1:1-8 (NLT) After the death of Moses the Lord's servant, the Lord spoke to Joshua…“I promise you what I promised Moses: ‘Wherever you set foot, you will be on land I have given you. No one will be able to stand against you as long as you live. For I will be with you as I was with Moses. I will not fail you or abandon you.Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the instructions Moses gave you. Do not deviate from them, turning either to the right or to the left. Then you will be successful in everything you do.Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do."III. We develop a hunger for God's Word. Romans 12:2 (MSG) So here's what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God.

In the Book of Ecclesiastes, Solomon in all his wisdom worked hard to figure out why life is completely out of his control, even as a powerful king. In his writings, he was frustrated and angry and cynical and flippant and sarcastic. Does that sound familiar at all? Thank God that He gave us such a wide variety of people and circumstances in His Word to show us the collision between the divine and the human. Listen to Ecclesiastes 8:7-9 in The Message … Yes, there's a right time and way for everything, even though, unfortunately, we miss it for the most part. It's true that no one knows what's going to happen, or when. Who's around to tell us? No one can control the wind or lock it in a box. No one has any say-so regarding the day of death. No one can stop a battle in its tracks. No one who does evil can be saved by evil. All this I observed as I tried my best to understand all that's going on in this world. As long as men and women have the power to hurt each other, this is the way it is. Can you relate to any of Solomon's words? When we can't actually control anything about life but we want to, we usually end up hurting one another, trying to control each other. And we have to be so careful that we don't end up trying too hard to control our kids. Control is never the point of parenting. Let's fast-forward to the end of Ecclesiastes where Solomon finally resolves his search for truth. The words of the wise prod us to live well. They're like nails hammered home, holding life together. They are given by God, the one Shepherd. But regarding anything beyond this, dear friend, go easy. There's no end to the publishing of books, and constant study wears you out so you're no good for anything else. The last and final word is this: Fear God. Do what he tells you. And that's it. (Ecclesiastes 12:11-14 MSG) So, evidently it's okay to run through all of our crazy, mixed-up emotions and express our cynical and sarcastic opinions of how life treats us. Because what matters most after the process is where we end up. Better, not bitter. Realizing we will never be God and He always will be. And that will always be a great place to land. Let's pray together: “Heavenly Father, please help me to realize I can vent with You as my Father. I can tell you exactly what I think. You already know what I'm thinking so I may as well just voice it. But remind me in those moments that all I am saying is that You have to be in control—and to thank You that I'm not. As above, so below.”

Do you consider God your father? What does it mean to have a Heavenly Father? In this message, Pastor Jamie Nunnally unpacks the significance of knowing God as your Father.  Matthew 6:9-13 “Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. 10 Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread, 12 and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.” Our Father (in heaven)At the time, Father was a shocking way to refer to God. No other religious tradition thinks of God as a Father.Romans 8:15-16  "Abba” and “eema” are the Aramaic equivalent to our English “dad and mom.” Used by Jesus in Mark 14:16 and used by Paul twice in Romans 8:15 and Galatians 4:6. The rest of the prayer is meant to be said as if you're talking to a father! John 16:22-24 We live in a fatherless society: According to fatherhood.org, 25% of children live without a father in the home. 33% live without their biological father in the home.Psalm 68:5 – “Father to the Fatherless”You may not have had a physical father in the home, you can have a heavenly Father in your heart. Fatherlessness leads to an orphan mentality.1. Your Heavenly Father loves unconditionally, but the orphan mentality strives to gain approval.Romans 5:8 1 John 4:9-10 Son and daughters rest in God's approval regardless of their performance.  2. Your Heavenly Father protects and provides, but those with an orphan mentality live in fear.Matt 6:31-33 Provision from God comes from connection with God. When God is your source for life, He will be the source for everything else.Psalm 1:1 “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High, will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.”God is “the almighty” to those who make Him the “most high.” Divine protection is a byproduct of divine relationship.3. Your Heavenly Father is approachable, but orphans are quiet. Hebrews 4:16 MSG: So let's walk right up to him and get what he is so ready to give. John 14:16-18 Religion leaves you with rules to follow, but your Father has given you a person to know. So when you pray for comfort doesn't give you comfort, he gives you the comforter. When you pray for healing, He doesn't give you healing he gives you the Healer. He doesn't give you peace, he gives you the Prince of Peace. He doesn't give you guidance when you pray – he gives you The Guide. If you have financial needs He doesn't give you money, He is Jehovah Jireh your provider. He doesn't just give you a supply, He is the source!When you pray, are you talking to your Father?

Titus 2:7 “in all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility. PATTERNS ARE POWERFUL - FOR BETTER OR FOR WORSE Psalm 56:3 NIV When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. PATTERNS PREPARE US (Romans 12:1-2 MSG) So here's what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. PATTERNS ARE FORMED ONE DECISION AT A TIME A Pattern of Faith A Pattern of Mercy A Pattern of Generosity a generous man devises generous things..." Isaiah 32:8 “They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.”” ‭‭Mark‬ ‭12‬:‭44‬ ‭NIV‬‬ Q - What are the emerging patterns of your life?

Today's encouraging Charge is from Matthew 4:1; Deut 8:3, Ezekiel 37:4. Jesus paid it all Jesus put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself Jesus offered Himself as sacrifice for sin forever Heb 10:12; 14 In the Old Testament, the blood of animals were shed by the priests on a yearly basis to atone for the sin of the nation. However, the yearly sacrifices of animals could not permanently take away sin and make human perfect. Heb 10:1-4 That is why Jesus stepped in. He offered Himself as sacrifice for sin. And once for all, He cleared us all - He cleared humanity of sin. Heb 9:24-28 So, why do we struggle with sin? Why are we sin-conscious? Why do we feel condemned? Could it have been ignorance? For the Bible says “...my people perish for lack of knowledge “ Or not fully understanding our dentity in Christ? There is no more offering for sin! Jesus paid it all! Embrace the truth- Jesus became our Substitute for sin which means we can live habitually without sinning. Yes- but not by our power, strength or resolutions. “No one who is born of God [deliberately, knowingly, and habitually] practices sin, because God's seed [His principle of life, the essence of His righteous character] remains [permanently] in him [who is born again—who is reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, and set apart for His purpose]; and he [who is born again] cannot habitually [live a life characterized by] sin, because he is born of God and longs to please Him.” ‭‭1 John‬ ‭3:9‬ ‭AMP‬‬ This is how it works- the moment you accept / believe with your heart that Jesus is Your Lord and Saviour, and confess with your mouth that he died for you You accept His death and ressurection (Rom 6:1-12) His Spirit becomes a seal for entering into all God promised- a praising and glorious life. A life free of the enemy's shackles. “It's in Christ that you, once you heard the truth and believed it (this Message of your salvation), found yourselves home free—signed, sealed, and delivered by the Holy Spirit. This down payment from God is the first installment on what's coming, a reminder that we'll get everything God has planned for us, a praising and glorious life.” ‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭1:13-14‬ ‭MSG‬‬ So - why not make this life-transforming decision to embrace God's gift of salvation , if you have not. Your life will for ever be changed. Let us pray Father I thank You for Your liberating Word. I pray You will open our mind to understand the truth of Your Word for us. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/abimbola-arawande/message

Let's talk about how we spend our time! Staying consistent and intentional throughout the summer can be difficult due to the changes in rhythm and environment, so we must go back to the basics and keep it simple yet intentional. Here is the text from the book of Colossians that is read and discussed in this episode! Colossians 2:6-7(MSG) My counsel for you is simple and straightforward: Just go ahead with what you've been given. You received Christ Jesus, the Master; now live him. You're deeply rooted in him. You're well constructed upon him. You know your way around the faith. Now do what you've been taught. School's out; quit studying the subject and start living it! And let your living spill over into thanksgiving. Colossians 3:1–2 (MSG) So if you're serious about living this new resurrection life with Christ, act like it. Pursue the things over which Christ presides. Don't shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you. Look up, and be alert to what is going on around Christ—that's where the action is. See things from his perspective. If you would like to connect with someone on our team, we would love to connect with you! All you have to do is text the word “CONNECT” to (910 597-1160! Thank you for being a part of the Overflow Unplugged community!

In the Book of Ecclesiastes, Solomon in all his wisdom worked hard to figure out why life is completely out of his control, even as a powerful king. In his writings, he was frustrated and angry and cynical and flippant and sarcastic. Does that sound familiar at all? Thank God that He gave us such a wide variety of people and circumstances in His Word to show us the collision between the divine and the human. Listen to Ecclesiastes 8:7-9 in The Message … Yes, there's a right time and way for everything, even though, unfortunately, we miss it for the most part. It's true that no one knows what's going to happen, or when. Who's around to tell us? No one can control the wind or lock it in a box. No one has any say-so regarding the day of death. No one can stop a battle in its tracks. No one who does evil can be saved by evil. All this I observed as I tried my best to understand all that's going on in this world. As long as men and women have the power to hurt each other, this is the way it is. Can you relate to any of Solomon's words? When we can't actually control anything about life but we want to, we usually end up hurting one another, trying to control each other. And we have to be so careful that we don't end up trying too hard to control our kids. Control is never the point of parenting. Let's fast-forward to the end of Ecclesiastes where Solomon finally resolves his search for truth. The words of the wise prod us to live well. They're like nails hammered home, holding life together. They are given by God, the one Shepherd. But regarding anything beyond this, dear friend, go easy. There's no end to the publishing of books, and constant study wears you out so you're no good for anything else. The last and final word is this: Fear God. Do what he tells you. And that's it. (Ecclesiastes 12:11-14 MSG) So, evidently it's okay to run through all of our crazy, mixed-up emotions and express our cynical and sarcastic opinions of how life treats us. Because what matters most after the process is where we end up. Better, not bitter. Realizing we will never be God and He always will be. And that will always be a great place to land. Let's pray together: “Heavenly Father, please help me to realize I can vent with You as my Father. I can tell you exactly what I think. You already know what I'm thinking so I may as well just voice it. But remind me in those moments that all I am saying is that You have to be in control—and to thank You that I'm not. As above, so below.”

Romans 12:1-2 MSG - So here's what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/mildred-kingsley-okonkwo0/message

It's a new year and we asked recently what YOU wanted to hear on The Wonder Podcast! Well, you answered us and Quiet times, what, how, when, where, why, were at the top of the list! So we decided to tackle this idea with one of our favorite gals, Liz Steckel. Liz is the brains behind our social media accounts and helps us from every angle quite honestly. And she's also super tight with Jesus. We knew we could have her on the show and she would share from her heart why time with the Lord is so worth it. She didn't disappoint. In this episode, you'll hear how Liz tackles each day. She uses a plan she calls, READ. PRAY. LISTEN. Each day she reads several chapters of a book in the Bible (she started in Genesis), one Psalm and one Proverb. Then she prays and listens. And she does this mostly at 4am. ☺ Liz says her consistent quiet time began when her first daughter was born. She has walked with the Lord and met with Him her entire Christian life, but consistently? Like most of us, she struggled. But when Savannah was born, things changed. As she was up in the middle of the night with her newborn, she heard the Lord quietly ask her, “if not now, when?” And her early morning pursuit of Christ began. “I want to learn from and encounter the living God!” Liz Psalm 63, “God, you're my God! I can't get enough of you! I've worked up such hunger and thirst for God, traveling across dry and weary deserts. So here I am in the place of worship, eyes open, drinking in your strength and glory.” 1-4 MSG So if you're curious about why we need a quiet time, what it might look like in your life, or how to get started tune in to this episode of The Wonder Podcast. Remember, time with God isn't a check in the box. It's fuel for our lives. We need Him every day. Every hour. Every minute. Hit subscribe, and please tell your friends! Help us share the word! And we'd love to hear from you. If you LOVE what you hear, please throw us some stars!!! ***** Instagram - @talkwithchrissieandlisa www.lisaclarkspeaks.com www.chrissiedunham.org (In addition to co-hosting The Wonder Podcast, Lisa Clark and Chrissie Dunham also host Raising Sinners, a podcast launched September 2021 on Christian Parenting's Podcast Network. Lisa is the author of the book, “Raising Sinners.” Check it out!

When you start your day, I want you to ask yourself this question. Does Today matter to you? “The only limit to our realization of tomorrow will be our doubts of today. Let us move forward with strong and active faith.”   - Franklin Delano Roosevelt By Pastor George Lehman As you rise to each new today - How important are the choices you make, the determination to serve God and to live out his word, trusting Him and expecting Him to come through for you. – Living with conviction. Jude 3-4 (NIV) – Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt I had to write and urge you to contend* for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints.  For certain men whose condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you. They are godless men, who change the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord. *Contend to strive, to battle to fight. This is not an idle position.   2 Peter 1:12-13 (NIV) – So I will always remind you of these things, even though you know them and are firmly established in the truth you now have. I think it is right to refresh your memory as long as I live in the tent of this body, Story of the very old granny studying her bible – the one boy says to his friend I see your granny is always reading her bible whenever I come visit you Oh the grandson says, “she is just cramming for her finals.” We also need to be cramming for that great day when Jesus we shall see! Everyone has the power to impact the outcome of his life. Read it again The way to do it is to focus on TODAY.  TODAY is the only time you have. It's too late for Yesterday and you can't depend on tomorrow.  So how certain are you that “TODAY MATTERS”? Hebrews 3:13(NIV) – But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness. Today faith matters Hebrews 11:6 (Amp) -But without faith it is impossible[not hard or difficult] to please and be satisfactory to Him. For whoever would come near to God must [necessarily] believe that God exists and that He is the rewarder of those who earnestly and diligently seek Him [out]. Faith is the very essence of our walk with God. Ephesians 2:8 (NIV) – For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God. When we think of what faith is we normally think it trusting God for health, answers to prayers for our family our Jobs, need of work etc This is just the tip of the Iceberg – Our FAITH life is the whole ICEBERG. Walking in obedience, forgiveness, purity, integrity righteousness, standing strong through tough times -   it's a holistic faith walk – it encompasses every part of your life. Jesus asked this powerful question: Luke 18:8 – Will I find faith when I return? Today growth matters 2 Peter 1:5-9 (Msg) - So don't lose a minute in building on what you've been given, complementing your basic faith with good character, spiritual understanding, alert discipline, passionate patience, reverent wonder, warm friendliness, and generous love, each dimension fitting into and developing the others. With these qualities active and growing in your lives, no grass will grow under your feet, no day will pass without its reward as you mature in your experience of our Master Jesus. Without these qualities you can't see what's right before you, oblivious that your old sinful life has been wiped off the books. If you're not growing, you're dying.  If you are growing, you're most certainly changing. Today change matters Change is a clear sign of growth. Change is the clear evidence that you are no longer what you used to be. I'm not what I should be yet, but I'm sure not what I used to be. John 15:1-3 (Amp) - I AM the True Vine, and My Father is the Vinedresser.  Any branch in Me that does not bear fruit [that stops bearing] He cuts away (trims off, takes away); and He cleanses and repeatedly prunes every branch that continues to bear fruit, to make it bear more and richer and more excellent fruit. You are cleansed and pruned already, because of the word which I have given you [the teachings I have discussed with you]. Change is not change until you change. Today commitment matters It's your commitment to your decision to grow and change to become more like Jesus that keeps you on The Way. Helps you not be in the way Philippians 2:13 (Amp) - [Not in your own strength] for it is God Who is all the while 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 delight. Commitment will cost you everything. Your daily choices to be committed is the only thing you truly control. Today changing your self-talk matters What are you saying to yourself about yourself? Because the content of your self-talk matters WHAT YOU'RE SAYING - determines what you are becoming: You can only speak what is in your thoughts (HEART) and what is in your heart (THOUGHTS) is what you're believing, saying, and living out. Remember what we said about self-talk? Psychologists estimate that you are talking to yourself at a rate of 1200 to 1500 words per minute.  In contrast when we speak aloud, we can only go up to 250 words a minute. Proverbs 18:20-21 (Amp) - A man's [moral] self shall be filled with the fruit of his mouth; and with the consequence of his words, he must be satisfied [whether good or evil].  Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and they who indulge in it shall eat the fruit of it [for death or life]. Your attitude is determined by your self-talk. Good attitude good self-talk bad attitude bad self talk Today your attitude matters The state of your life is nothing more than a reflection of your state of mind. Nothing reveals who you really are, like your attitude does. The point is man is the only known creature who can reshape and remold himself by altering his attitude. Ephesians 4:23-24 (Amp) - And be constantly renewed in the spirit of your mind [having a fresh mental and spiritual attitude] And put on the new nature (the regenerate self) created in God's image, [Godlike] in true righteousness and holiness. Your attitude will determine your momentum.   Today momentum matters What God starts, never ends. Ecclesiastes 3:14 (NIV) – I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it, and nothing taken from it. God does it so that people will fear Him. God is fully committed to your success and growth.  You are the only one who can derail your progress. What are you carrying on your shoulders, what burdens are you allowing to slow you down? How quickly do you rise up in faith when you're going through trials, obstacles, and temptations? Would you say your life has momentum? Today moving from success to significance matters Ultimately, Success is when I add value to myself. Significance is when I add value to others. When God saved you, He had other sin mind. A life isn't significant except for its impact on other lives. “No individual has any right to come into the world and go out of it without leaving behind him distinct and legitimate reason for having passed through it.” -   G.W. Carver  If your life is only about you and improving yourself and your situation, (looking out for number 1) then you're still on the success track. Today your prayer matters With everything you've heard, simply put, your spiritual life is as great as your prayer life. The success of your Faith, Growth, Change, commitment, self-talk, attitude, momentum, and significance fully depends on your prayer. When people cease to pray, no matter the reason, Christians backslide, youth rebel, preachers leave pulpits, missions close and churches die! “Prayer and worshipping God is the great essential for spiritual fitness.  If you have not started Today in prayer and worship … when you get to work you will not only be useless yourself, but a tremendous hindrance to those who are associated with you.”  -  Oswald Chambers   “In the matter of New Testament, spirit-inspired, hell-shaking, world-breaking prayer never has so much been left by so many to so few.  For this kind of prayer there is no substitute.  We do it - or die!” -   Leonard Ravenhill “God forbid that our prayers should be a mere leaping out of bed and kneeling down and saying anything that comes to mind – on the contrary, may we wait on the Lord with holy fear and sacred awe.” - Spurgeon What have you put into place by now in your life to ensure that your ‘Today' matters?

(Matthew‬ ‭6:30-33‬ ‭MSG‬) So many times we chase shadows instead of chasing the real deal. We chase after ‘the created' instead of ‘the Creator' Himself who can lead us into the enviable positions He has planned for us. ““If God gives so much attention to the appearance of wildflowers—most of which are never even seen—don't we think he'll attend to us, take pride in us, do his best for us? God desires that we ‘relax' to not be so preoccupied with getting, so we can respond to His giving. Steeping our lives in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Not worrying about missing out. And in so doing, we will find all our everyday human concerns being met.” Are you tired of chasing shadows? Chase after God and His presence. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/abimbola-arawande/message

God is Our RefugePsalms | Week 6June 20, 2021 | Adam Barnett -- Psalm 46 NIV God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells. God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day. Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; he lifts his voice, the earth melts. The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Come and see what the Lord has done, the desolations he has brought on the earth. He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth. He breaks the bow and shatters the spear; he burns the shields with fire. He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.Psalm 46:4-5 NIV There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells. God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day.The city is safe not because of walls, weapons, or war strategies, but because of God's Presence.“We sing this psalm to the praise of God, because God is with us, and powerfully and miraculously preserves and defends his church and his word, against all obsessive spirits, against the gates of hell, against the relentless hatred of the devil, and against all the assaults of the world.” — Martin Luther2 Corinthians 4:16-18 NIV “Do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So, let's fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”2 Corinthians 4:16-18 MSG So we're not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace. These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times, the lavish celebration prepared for us. There's far more here than meets the eye. The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. But the things we can't see now will last forever.Psalm 46:10 NIV “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”Text the name JESUS to (918) 376-3438 to let us know!

Romans 12:1-2 (MSG) So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going to work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out.

In the Book of Ecclesiastes, Solomon in all his wisdom worked hard to figure out why life is completely out of his control, even as a powerful king. In his writings, he was frustrated and angry and cynical and flippant and sarcastic. Does that sound familiar at all? Thank God that He gave us such a wide variety of people and circumstances in His Word to show us the collision between the divine and the human. Listen to Ecclesiastes 8:7-9 in The Message … Yes, there’s a right time and way for everything, even though, unfortunately, we miss it for the most part. It’s true that no one knows what’s going to happen, or when. Who’s around to tell us? No one can control the wind or lock it in a box. No one has any say-so regarding the day of death. No one can stop a battle in its tracks. No one who does evil can be saved by evil. All this I observed as I tried my best to understand all that’s going on in this world. As long as men and women have the power to hurt each other, this is the way it is. Can you relate to any of Solomon’s words? When we can’t actually control anything about life but we want to, we usually end up hurting one another, trying to control each other. And we have to be so careful that we don’t end up trying too hard to control our kids. Control is never the point of parenting. Let’s fast-forward to the end of Ecclesiastes where Solomon finally resolves his search for truth. The words of the wise prod us to live well. They’re like nails hammered home, holding life together. They are given by God, the one Shepherd. But regarding anything beyond this, dear friend, go easy. There’s no end to the publishing of books, and constant study wears you out so you’re no good for anything else. The last and final word is this: Fear God. Do what he tells you. And that’s it. (Ecclesiastes 12:11-14 MSG) So, evidently it’s okay to run through all of our crazy, mixed-up emotions and express our cynical and sarcastic opinions of how life treats us. Because what matters most after the process is where we end up. Better, not bitter. Realizing we will never be God and He always will be. And that will always be a great place to land. Let’s pray together: “Heavenly Father, please help me to realize I can vent with You as my Father. I can tell you exactly what I think. You already know what I’m thinking so I may as well just voice it. But remind me in those moments that all I am saying is that You have to be in control—and to thank You that I’m not. As above, so below.”

When I say the word treasure, what comes to your mind?Perhaps you think of a chest filled with gold, precious jewels. Perhaps you think of a priceless artifact retrieved from the bottom of the ocean. Perhaps you think of a family heirloom which you greatly prize or a prized possession of a loved one which has been passed on to you. The word Treasure is synonymous with resources, riches, reserves, materials, assets, possessions. I love to watch the Antique Road Show, it is amazing the treasures people have and don't realize it. The other day I was watching, and a lady had a painting in her attic which had an estimated value of $300,000.00. We all love treasure hunting, don't we? Whether it is the prize in a box of Cracker Jacks, or a safe deposit box filled with cash, stocks, and gold we look forward to the discovery of treasure. Illustration: Al Capone's Vault Read Text:Luke 6:45 (NKJV) A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks. 1. What is "good treasure?"We might say the good treasure is the fruit of the Holy Spirit resident in our heart. Galatians 5:22 Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, meekness, faithfulness, goodness, self – control.2. What is "evil treasure?"Paul on several occasions lists what I'm calling "evil treasure." These are the works of sin in our flesh. They stand as the antithesis of the good treasure. Galatians 5:19-21 (NLT) When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, your lives will produce these evil results: sexual immorality, impure thoughts, eagerness for lustful pleasure, 20idolatry, participation in demonic activities, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, divisions, the feeling that everyone is wrong except those in your own little group, 21envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other kinds of sin. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.3. What are the treasures of your heart?Listen to your words, they reveal the content of the heart. What do you value most… replay your conversations of the past week and you will have a clear picture of your heart's treasure. Look at your checkbook it will also give you a very clear picture of the treasures of your heart. Matthew 6:21 (NKJV) For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. I conclude today by calling each of you to do a heart check. Jesus calls us to live a Spirit filled life, to walk in the authority and power of His Word. He calls us to be overcomers not victims, to be people of faith, not fear. When we fill our heart with His treasure, we become just that, even in the midst of less than ideal circumstances. Let's get the fear and anger out. Let's stop blaming others for our “issues” and let's fill our hearts with His treasure.Col. 3:1-17 (Msg) So if you're serious about living this new resurrection life with Christ, act like it. Pursue the things over which Christ presides. 2Don't shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you. Look up, and be alert to what is going on around Christ—that's where the action is. See things from his perspective.3Your old life is dead. Your new life, which is your real life—even though invisible to spectators—is with Christ in God. He is your life. 4When Christ (your real life, remember) shows up again on this earth, you'll show up, too—the real you, the glorious you. Meanwhile, be content with obscurity, like Christ.5And that means killing off everything connected with that way of death: sexual promiscuity, impurity, lust, doing whatever you feel like whenever you feel like it, and grabbing whatever attracts your fancy. That's a life shaped by things and feelings instead of by God. 6It's because of this kind of thing that God is about to explode in anger. 7It wasn't long ago that you were doing all that stuff and not knowing any better. 8But you know better now, so make sure it's all gone for good: bad temper, irritability, meanness, profanity, dirty talk.9Don't lie to one another. You're done with that old life. It's like a filthy set of ill-fitting clothes you've stripped off and put in the fire. 10Now you're dressed in a new wardrobe. Every item of your new way of life is custom-made by the Creator, with his label on it. All the old fashions are now obsolete. 11Words like Jewish and non-Jewish, religious and irreligious, insider and outsider, uncivilized and uncouth, slave and free, mean nothing. From now on everyone is defined by Christ, everyone is included in Christ.12So, chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline. 13Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense. Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you. 14And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It's your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it.15Let the peace of Christ keep you in tune with each other, in step with each other. None of this going off and doing your own thing. And cultivate thankfulness. 16Let the Word of Christ—the Message—have the run of the house. Give it plenty of room in your lives. Instruct and direct one another using good common sense. And sing, sing your hearts out to God! 17Let every detail in your lives—words, actions, whatever—be done in the name of the Master, Jesus, thanking God the Father every step of the way.

Today's episode is dedicated to Thomas F. Jones. My Pop Pop. You will truly be missed. Another episode of The Pieces Podcast is here to enjoy! On this podcast we hope to facilitate opportunities to convene and learn more about God through music lead devotionals. Let's get excited to enjoy our love for music and Christ in one place. On today's podcast, we'll get into what anchor scriptures are, our next dissected song, and step into the listening room! Anchor Scripture: An anchor scripture is that one scripture that holds a lot of power. It's a reminder that no matter how we might drift off or lose ourselves in the process of LIFE, it'll always help us recenter and remind us of the character and presence of God in our life. Isaiah 55:12a NIV - “You will go out in joy, and be led forth in peace” Isaiah 55:12a MSG - “So you'll go out in joy, you'll be led into a whole and complete life.” The SOAP Method on Scripture: S - Scripture O - Observation A - Application P - Prayer Devotionals: Jesus Calling Today's featured song: He Touched Me x Yolanda Adams Listen here: The Pieces Podcast Official Playlist - Apple Music or Spotify The lyrics say, Shackled by a heavy burden 'Neath a load of guilt and shame Then the hand of Jesus touched me And now I am no longer the same He touched, oh, He touched me And oh, the joy that floods my soul Something happened and now I know He touched me and made me whole We'll discuss the importance of faith without works, intentionality in all pursuit of your desires, and fasting. Tune into today's episode for the full breakdown. The Listening Room: Check out the songs featured on today's episode! Listen here: The Pieces Podcast The Listening Room - Apple Music or Spotify Guide to 21 Days of Fasting (Thank you for our listener - Nita for sharing some key facts!) What is a Fast? - Fasting is simply denying your flesh and what it wants in order to seek God for what He wants. Why do we fast? As you cleanse you body, your spirit is renewed and refreshed, allowing you to hear from God more clearly and be more sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit. Remember, FASTING WITHOUT PRAYER IS MERELY GOING ON A DIET. We want to see spiritual results as well as physical. What is the Daniel Fast? (see Daniel 1:12) Essentially a vegetarian/vegan diet Food Included: Whole Grains, Legumes, Fruits, Vegetables, Water, All natural Juices Food Not Included: Sugar, Desserts, Soft Drinks, Table or Box salt, Bread, Meats, Fish, Poultry, Dairy, Fried foods, Butter, etc.  The perfect way to start your fast: Glo Juice Bar: (Dallas, TX) - Real. Natural. Fresh! Glo Juice Bar specializes in fresh juice made from all-natural fruits and vegetables. Their vision is to promote healthy living and to get people to understand that being healthy doesn't have to be hard. Place your order today - www.glo-juicebar.com. Coupon Code: CHIERRA15 to get 15% off your order! Subscribe, Comment, & download this podcast on your favorite listening platform. Email us at thepiecespodcast@gmail.com

Today, we continue in our theme of Immanuel—God with us in newness. Today, as we are at mid-week, we’re going to give our focus on a passage from Colossians 3 from The Message Bible. I want you to close your eyes, empty your mind so the Word can fill you, and listen for the many calls to adopt the newness of Christ. (Colossians 3:1-4, 9-17 MSG) So if you’re serious about living this new resurrection life with Christ, act like it. Pursue the things over which Christ presides. Don’t shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you. Look up, and be alert to what is going on around Christ—that’s where the action is. See things from his perspective. Your old life is dead. Your new life, which is your real life—even though invisible to spectators—is with Christ in God. He is your life. When Christ (your real life, remember) shows up again on this earth, you’ll show up, too—the real you, the glorious you. Meanwhile, be content with obscurity, like Christ. … … Don’t lie to one another. You’re done with that old life. It’s like a filthy set of ill-fitting clothes you’ve stripped off and put in the fire. Now you’re dressed in a new wardrobe. Every item of your new way of life is custom-made by the Creator, with his label on it. All the old fashions are now obsolete. Words like Jewish and non-Jewish, religious and irreligious, insider and outsider, uncivilized and uncouth, slave and free, mean nothing. From now on everyone is defined by Christ, everyone is included in Christ. So, chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline. Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense. Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you. And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It’s your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it. Let the peace of Christ keep you in tune with each other, in step with each other. None of this going off and doing your own thing. And cultivate thankfulness. Let the Word of Christ—the Message—have the run of the house. Give it plenty of room in your lives. … Let every detail in your lives—words, actions, whatever—be done in the name of the Master, Jesus, thanking God the Father every step of the way. So powerful. Such great words describing what can make for a great life. As I’ve said before, if anything, or any phrase, stood out to you as I read, pay attention to that prompting. God may have been speaking to you … to offer you something new. If so, accept His gift. Listen again to what is said about our new life of love that we are to choose to put on. So, chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline. Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense. Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you. And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It’s your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it. Let’s pray: “Heavenly Father, I heard some of the old me in there, and then some of the current me, but I also heard the new me. But I want all of those words to describe me, so make me new where You need me to be. My life is Yours. As above, so below.”

Discipleship series #8 A disciple lives actively and effectively in the moment. By Pastor George Lehman   Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery. And today? Today is a gift – that’s why it’s called the present. Paul said: Philippians 3:1 (Amp) – For the rest, my brethren, delight yourselves in the Lord and continue to rejoice that you are in Him. To keep writing to you [over and over] of the same things is not irksome to me, and it is [a precaution] for your safety. Psalm 118:24 (NIV) - This IS the day the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it. Note: It does NOT say this WAS or WILL be the day, when? In this day. Not future tense or past tense but present tense. How we frequently miss out on the blessing in the NOW!  How can we actually be content in this moment when we are actually somewhere else? Let’s be honest, most times our lives are so absorbed in our worries, fears, hopes and expectations that we miss out on the only life we really have, the one happening right here, right now! These are not some idle words from Jesus Matthew 6:27 (LB) - Will all your worries add a single moment to your life? (It will possibly shorten your life.) Isn’t this true - that we often so consumed with trying to make our futures better that we don’t appreciate what God is trying to do in our “NOW”.   We need to stop waiting for perfect conditions to be fully engaged in our lives. Philippians 3:16 (LB) - Only let us live up to what we have already attained. Live in the ‘now’ you and I have more than what you need to live successfully, victoriously, courageously and confidently “Today”. Jesus said it: Matthew 6:34 (LB) - So don’t be anxious about tomorrow, God will take care of your tomorrow too. Live one day at a time. Just observe what happens when you’re totally engrossed or consumed by anything – a hobby or watching a gripping movie. For that time and space for 2 hours, all your problems disappear? Time flies, worries, regrets, and anger vanishes.  The tension of the day melts away. How does this happen? It’s not magic. It’s because you’re focused on something other than your problems. The moment you leave the movies or whatever consumed your ‘now time’ – you think or say… “Now I’m back in the REAL world”. The so called ‘real world’ is actually waiting for you to carry that peace right into it. God actually meant us to live this way. The word describes God as ‘omnipresent’.  Not omni-past or omni-future. He is present HERE and NOW! For so many people their relationship with God is consumed with – - what they don’t have, - what they haven’t ‘done right’ - how they failed or messed up. 4 Simple steps if applied will help you live a blessed life in the now – in the moment:   As an unsaved, non-Christian you just lived like you wanted to. But now that you are a disciple of Jesus, God’s intention for you is an abundant life. A strong, enduring, victorious life for TODAY!   #1  Live on purpose You have to stop drifting in life.   James 4:17 (LB) - Knowing what’s right to do and not doing it is sin.   2 John 1:8 (NIV) - Watch out that you do not lose what we have worked for, but that you may be rewarded fully. When you’re not focused and living ‘on purpose’. - James 1:8 (Amp) - [For being as he is] a man of two minds (hesitating, dubious {doubtful}, irresolute{not determined / shrinking back}), (He is) unstable and unreliable and uncertain about everything (he thinks, feels, decides).   Do everything it takes to live your spiritual life out “on purpose”. If you’re not living ‘on purpose’ you won’t experience the breakthrough promises. You’ll keep focusing on yesterday and hoping for a better tomorrow you’ll MISS OUT on the peace, joy and victory of TODAY!   #2  Maximise today.   It’s God’s job to make the day but it’s OUR job to make the most of it. You see, joy is a decision. You make the choice to rejoice. Philippians 4:4 (NIV) – “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” Tomorrow is ashes, yesterday is wood. Only today does the fire burn brightly. Eskimo proverb “Joy is like fuel.” You don’t wait to refuel only when you feel like it.   #3  Trust. Trust that God will provide and that you have the power, ability and resources within to find contentment and peace – not tomorrow but each moment of TODAY! You can’t trust someone who doesn’t keep their word. To trust someone, they must have a track record of integrity.   Psalm 62:8 (Msg) - So trust Him absolutely, people; lay your lives on the line for Him. God is a safe place to be.   Consider this track record: There are more than 1000 predictions or prophecies in the bible. Promises that God made before they happened. The chances of 17 of them coming to pass is 1 out of 450 billion x 1 billion x 1 trillion. Yet, not one of these 1000 promises have failed. In fact to this day 668 have already been fulfilled. You can relax and trust God. He won’t let you down!   #4  Be grateful and celebrate.   1 Corinthians 8:3 (Amp) - But if one loves God truly (with affectionate reverence, prompt obedience and GRATEFUL recognition of His blessing), he is known by God (recognized as worthy of His intimacy and love and he is owned by Him). When we live with an attitude of gratitude we live in the moment and find we will experience contentment. A thankless attitude traps you in the past or the future. It causes you to ignore the gifts and blessings that are present in your lives now! Many times it’s when we lose something or things go wrong – like our health, lose a job, then we appreciate and are grateful for our abundant past we had. Hebrews 3:15 (NIV) – “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion.” Disciple of God learn to thank and praise God: - Live on purpose - Maximise everyday - Trust God - Be grateful and celebrate. What has God already done in your life? Everything you are blessed with – a family, a home, a job, food and health. Doing this, before you know it, midnight will pass and morning will come. Living in the moment you can flow through life rather than struggle through it. Jesus died to make it possible! Poem with “TODAY”: Today is the most important day of my life. Yesterday with its successes and victories, struggles and failures is gone forever. The past is past. Done. Finished. I cannot relive it. I cannot go back and change it. But I will learn from it and improve my today. Today. This moment. NOW. It is God’s gift to me and it is all that I have. Tomorrow with all its joys and sorrows, triumphs and troubles isn’t here yet. Indeed, tomorrow may never come. Therefore, I will not worry about tomorrow. Today is what God has entrusted to me. It is all that I have. I will do my best in it. I will demonstrate the best of me in it - my character, giftedness and abilities. To my family and friends, clients and associates - I will identify those things that are most important to do today. And those things I will do until they are done. And when this day is done, I will look back with satisfaction at that which I have accomplished. Then, and only then, Will I plan my tomorrow. Looking to improve upon today, with God’s help. Then I shall go to sleep in peace… content.

Discipleship series #4 A disciple responds positively to testing. (The character test.) By Pastor George Lehman James 1:12 “Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.” Genesis 22:1-2 “Sometime later God tested Abraham. He said to him, “Abraham!” “Here I am,” he replied. 2 Then God said, “Take your son, your only son, whom you love—Isaac—and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain I will show you.” Deuteronomy 8:2 Remember how the Lord your God led you all the way in the wilderness these forty years, to humble and test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands.” I hope I shall possess firmness and virtue [goodness, uprightness, moral excellence] enough to maintain what I consider the most desirable of all titles – the character of an honest man. George Washington Character means the combination of qualities or features that distinguishes one person from another. What do you think that distinguishing mark in a disciple’s life should be? Colossians 3:10 (Amp) - And have clothed yourselves with the new [spiritual self], which is [ever in the process of being] renewed and remolded into [fuller and more perfect knowledge upon] knowledge after the image (the likeness) of Him Who created it. God is serious about our growth Why a character test?  Christians are to be good news before they share the good news. Most people won’t come right out and say it, but you’d better believe they’re thinking it - they’re not interested in committing their lives to Jesus Christ unless they observe attractive, qualities and consistent patterns of living in a Christian life that they know. Living a double standard life will never draw anyone to Jesus 2 Peter 1:5 (Msg) - So don’t loose a minute [i.e. use every second] in building on what you’ve been given, complementing* your basic faith with good CHARACTER, spiritual understanding. *To spend a long time thinking about your action We have taken off the old way of living, thinking, and acting... Have you? Here’s the reason why God gives us ‘the character test’: Ephesians 4:24 (Msg) - And working itself into your conduct as God accurately reproduces* His character in you. *To produce a copy of something Romans 8:29 “God pre-destined us to conform to the likeness of His Son.” God is redoing His original plan in us! How sad is this: The universe seems bankrupt as soon as we begin to discuss the character of individual lives. So many Christians are bankrupt of Character Luke 8:13 “Those on the rocky ground are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away Nothing is so fatal to character as compromising of principles. 1 Corinthians 15:33 (NIV) - Do not be mislead, “bad company corrupts good character”. Check who you mostly hang around with it will tell you where you’re headed. Men of genius are admired Men of wealth are envied Men of power are feared BUT ONLY MEN OF CHARACTER are TRUSTED and FOLLOWED and RESPECTED Definition:  In the character test, a disciple is surrounded by ungodliness, compromise and shortcuts that attempt to pull them in its direction.  These may tempt the disciple to sin in various ways to weaken their character. In order to develop a disciple with strong, godly character qualities – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, self-control, faithfulness. God puts His disciples in fiery places so they may learn to stand strong in Him. Job 23:10 “But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold”. You cannot dream yourself into a character – you must hammer and forge yourself into one. It takes sacrifice, dedication, commitment and focus Good character is more to be praised than outstanding talent. Most talents are to some extent a gift. Good character, by contrast, is not given to us.  We have to build it piece by piece – by thought, choice, courage and determination. The potential to fail and mess up is strong and very real. Purpose:  The character test shows to the disciples the areas of weakness in their own personality, in what they stand for. Character is like the foundation of a house – it’s below the surface. When God allows a situation into a disciple’s life which requires patience, resistance to temptation and steadfastness you realise you must call on more of God’s grace. Usually an area of need surfaces where you must allow God to work. Every disciple has hidden character deficiencies (Blind spots) of which he is totally unaware until confronted with a character test that will call for a Godly response. This will expose your own true inward self.  “The true you.” Self control (character) doesn’t vanish overnight. It slips away little by little under the constant pressure of an unguarded lifestyle. Interestingly this erosion of self control (character) is most likely to happen in those areas where you think you are strongest and feel most confident and secure. (Happens many times in older Christians) You can’t go on old energy and anointing. All of a sudden God exposes your true character to you – just when you thought you were on top of things. Romans 5:4 (Amp) - And endurance (fortitude) develops maturity of character (approved faith and tried integrity) and character (of this sort) produces (the habit of) joyful and confident hope of eternal salvation. Isaiah 59:19 says – when the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of God will raise up a STANDARD against him. Where on earth do you think the Standard will be raised if not in the life of a child of God. Character is the standard which destroys the enemy. When Character arrives on the scene the enemy will flee in many different directions How is your character? This is not a trick question which demands an honest answer The true disciple will watch over himself when he is alone.  He examines his heart that there may be nothing wrong and that he may have no cause of dissatisfaction with himself. Psalm 25:21 (NLT) - May integrity and honesty protect me, for I put my hope in you. How protected are you by your Honesty and integrity Action, looks, words, steps – form the alphabet by which you may spell CHARACTER. For those of you that have been serving the Lord for a number of years, remember, the higher the character the more you should regard your smaller actions. Character is made by many acts.  It may be lost by a single action. The favour and blessing and prosperity and provision of God rest upon the disciple of character. Isn’t it amazing – God will allow a ‘character test’ to develop character in us and then He goes out of His way to bless that character? God doesn’t want to hurt us but He knows what’s good for us. Psalm 84:11 (Amp) - For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows (present) grace and favour and (future) glory (honour, splendour and heavenly bliss)!  No good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly. How have you been responding to tests, hardships, difficulties, tough situations. If you’re not happy with your actions, speech and behavior Repent and ask God to change you. Psalm 26:2 “Test me, O Lord and try me, examine my heart and my mind…” -o0o-

Discipleship series #4 A disciple responds positively to testing. (The character test.) By Pastor George Lehman James 1:12 “Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.” Genesis 22:1-2 “Sometime later God tested Abraham. He said to him, “Abraham!” “Here I am,” he replied. 2 Then God said, “Take your son, your only son, whom you love—Isaac—and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain I will show you.” Deuteronomy 8:2 Remember how the Lord your God led you all the way in the wilderness these forty years, to humble and test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands.” I hope I shall possess firmness and virtue [goodness, uprightness, moral excellence] enough to maintain what I consider the most desirable of all titles – the character of an honest man. George Washington Character means the combination of qualities or features that distinguishes one person from another. What do you think that distinguishing mark in a disciple’s life should be? Colossians 3:10 (Amp) - And have clothed yourselves with the new [spiritual self], which is [ever in the process of being] renewed and remolded into [fuller and more perfect knowledge upon] knowledge after the image (the likeness) of Him Who created it. God is serious about our growth Why a character test?  Christians are to be good news before they share the good news. Most people won’t come right out and say it, but you’d better believe they’re thinking it - they’re not interested in committing their lives to Jesus Christ unless they observe attractive, qualities and consistent patterns of living in a Christian life that they know. Living a double standard life will never draw anyone to Jesus 2 Peter 1:5 (Msg) - So don’t loose a minute [i.e. use every second] in building on what you’ve been given, complementing* your basic faith with good CHARACTER, spiritual understanding. *To spend a long time thinking about your action We have taken off the old way of living, thinking, and acting... Have you? Here’s the reason why God gives us ‘the character test’: Ephesians 4:24 (Msg) - And working itself into your conduct as God accurately reproduces* His character in you. *To produce a copy of something Romans 8:29 “God pre-destined us to conform to the likeness of His Son.” God is redoing His original plan in us! How sad is this: The universe seems bankrupt as soon as we begin to discuss the character of individual lives. So many Christians are bankrupt of Character Luke 8:13 “Those on the rocky ground are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away Nothing is so fatal to character as compromising of principles. 1 Corinthians 15:33 (NIV) - Do not be mislead, “bad company corrupts good character”. Check who you mostly hang around with it will tell you where you’re headed. Men of genius are admired Men of wealth are envied Men of power are feared BUT ONLY MEN OF CHARACTER are TRUSTED and FOLLOWED and RESPECTED Definition:  In the character test, a disciple is surrounded by ungodliness, compromise and shortcuts that attempt to pull them in its direction.  These may tempt the disciple to sin in various ways to weaken their character. In order to develop a disciple with strong, godly character qualities – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, self-control, faithfulness. God puts His disciples in fiery places so they may learn to stand strong in Him. Job 23:10 “But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold”. You cannot dream yourself into a character – you must hammer and forge yourself into one. It takes sacrifice, dedication, commitment and focus Good character is more to be praised than outstanding talent. Most talents are to some extent a gift. Good character, by contrast, is not given to us.  We have to build it piece by piece – by thought, choice, courage and determination. The potential to fail and mess up is strong and very real. Purpose:  The character test shows to the disciples the areas of weakness in their own personality, in what they stand for. Character is like the foundation of a house – it’s below the surface. When God allows a situation into a disciple’s life which requires patience, resistance to temptation and steadfastness you realise you must call on more of God’s grace. Usually an area of need surfaces where you must allow God to work. Every disciple has hidden character deficiencies (Blind spots) of which he is totally unaware until confronted with a character test that will call for a Godly response. This will expose your own true inward self.  “The true you.” Self control (character) doesn’t vanish overnight. It slips away little by little under the constant pressure of an unguarded lifestyle. Interestingly this erosion of self control (character) is most likely to happen in those areas where you think you are strongest and feel most confident and secure. (Happens many times in older Christians) You can’t go on old energy and anointing. All of a sudden God exposes your true character to you – just when you thought you were on top of things. Romans 5:4 (Amp) - And endurance (fortitude) develops maturity of character (approved faith and tried integrity) and character (of this sort) produces (the habit of) joyful and confident hope of eternal salvation. Isaiah 59:19 says – when the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of God will raise up a STANDARD against him. Where on earth do you think the Standard will be raised if not in the life of a child of God. Character is the standard which destroys the enemy. When Character arrives on the scene the enemy will flee in many different directions How is your character? This is not a trick question which demands an honest answer The true disciple will watch over himself when he is alone.  He examines his heart that there may be nothing wrong and that he may have no cause of dissatisfaction with himself. Psalm 25:21 (NLT) - May integrity and honesty protect me, for I put my hope in you. How protected are you by your Honesty and integrity Action, looks, words, steps – form the alphabet by which you may spell CHARACTER. For those of you that have been serving the Lord for a number of years, remember, the higher the character the more you should regard your smaller actions. Character is made by many acts.  It may be lost by a single action. The favour and blessing and prosperity and provision of God rest upon the disciple of character. Isn’t it amazing – God will allow a ‘character test’ to develop character in us and then He goes out of His way to bless that character? God doesn’t want to hurt us but He knows what’s good for us. Psalm 84:11 (Amp) - For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows (present) grace and favour and (future) glory (honour, splendour and heavenly bliss)!  No good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly. How have you been responding to tests, hardships, difficulties, tough situations. If you’re not happy with your actions, speech and behavior Repent and ask God to change you. Psalm 26:2 “Test me, O Lord and try me, examine my heart and my mind…” -o0o-

Psalm 57:7-10 (NLT) My heart is confident in you, O God; my heart is confident. No wonder I can sing your praises! Wake up, my heart! Wake up, O lyre and harp! I will wake the dawn with my song. I will thank you, Lord, among all the people. I will sing your praises among the nations. For your unfailing love is as high as the heavens. Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds.Where we hear praise, He hears faith.Psalm 150 "Let everything that has breath praise the Lord."The very first thing we have to acknowledge is that; worship was given to us by God as a spiritual avenue to connect on a more authentic level with His presence.It's really not so much about style and preference. It should never be about what kind of mood we're in, or what we think we might need from Him.When we worship in those times when we don't feel like it, it's even more treasured - AW TozerYou see, it's in those times that we take a step of faith and offer our sacrifice of praise. When we hear praise, He hears faith.It's about us using our voices to exalt our God through a song. It's a place where we get to honor God with our words and our heart. Worship is one of the most spiritual things a Christian can take part in.John 4:24 (NLT)“For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.”Make no mistake about it, although we are not to rely on emotion, worship will absolutely impact us emotionally. After all, we're emotional people. When your spirit connects on a spiritual level with your Creator, there's no avoiding emotion.Throughout the scriptures we see that God's people are emotional people when it comes to worship. They would worship so loud that surrounding cities would not only hear them, they would feel it.Psalm 67 Let the peoples praise You, O God; LET ALL THE PEOPLE PRAISE YOU. Then the earth shall yield her increase and the Almighty shall bless us.And just in case you think it’s not for you, or maybe you struggle engaging in a deeper level of worship, why don't you ask God to help you in your worship. At the end of the day, we’re simply bringing something to God from our hearts, connecting with His presence.Awake my soul! Be exalted O God above to heavens.Psalm 100 Come into His presence with singing. Know He made us and we are His people. Enter His gates with thanksgiving, and His courts with praise. For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting, and His truth endures to all generations.One of the wonderful privileges of gathering for worship is the awesome opportunity to create such an atmosphere that when new people show up they actually feel His presence when they walk into the room.“There’s a sound I love to hear, it’s the sound of the Savior’s robe as He walks into the room.” Hillsong Worship - Awake My SoulRevelation 4:11 (NLT)“You are worthy, O Lord our God, to receive glory and honor and power. For you created all things, and they exist because you created what you pleased.”This is why worship was given to us by God as a spiritual avenue to connect on a more authentic level with His presence.So often it’s our sacrifice of praise that’s the on ramp to our breakthrough.I pray our talk inspires a more authentic, intentional heart of worship in all of us. Awake our souls, O God! So that it not only impacts our personal life, but that it becomes so contagious that it changes impacts who we are as a church. Truth is, at the end of the day, worship is a heart thing.1 Samuel 16 For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.This may take a minute to sink in, but the reality is, the way we are with people is the way we are with God.So for those of us that have some understanding of worship, when we come together for worship, let’s be aware that we’re helping others by setting the best example we possibly can. But because today's society has become so spectator driven, it easy for us to attend worship service on Sunday's like we're attending a concert.A big part of worshipping together is being aware that any Sunday could be someone's first real experience in authentic worship with their Heavenly Father.I can tell you from experience, the more I practice worship in my private life, the more comfortable I am in public worship. Just like with anything else in life, the more we do something, the better we are at it.The more worship is a lifestyle for us, not only will our public worship be more influential, but more enjoyable.Don’t kid yourself, if you’re not enjoying your own worship, what makes you think He is.Romans 12 (MSG) So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life, your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for Him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out.As we put into practice Paul’s instructions here, our worship goes from just an activity we do on Sunday's to a lifestyle we embrace.The danger is, when we refuse to make room in our lives for worship, we automatically fill that space with something else.This is one of David’s points in Ps. 57, Awake my soul, my praise wakes up the morning. I cannot overstate the importance of starting our day with the Lord. Taking those little moments throughout the day to inwardly acknowledge Him.Psalm 113 Let the name of the Lord be praised, both now and forevermore. From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the name of the Lord is to be praised. 

In life there is desires inside of us that we may have wanted to come into existence however we must understand that faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen. In Galatians Ch 6 vs 9,10 (Msg) So let's not allow ourselves to get fatigued doing good. At the right time we will harvest a good crop if we don't give up, or quit. Delay is happening with some of your prayers and I want to encourage you today to not give up, don't let up, don't give in but wait on GOD: Delayed is not denied! I want to speak in your spirit today and compel you to hold on to your faith in GOD! There is Almighty Power, Unlimited blessings in GOD in Jesus name may you be blessed. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/joylovepressed /support

Lets hit the ground running... I've been reading and listening to 1 Peter on repeat for a week going on two weeks. (Did you know that on the @Youversion Bible App you can hit the PLAY button and listen to Bible. Great for when you're working out, driving, cleaning, whatever.) So let's break these verses down starting with the first five words: SO ROLL UP YOUR SLEEVES! 1 Peter 1.13-16 MSG: So roll up your sleeves, put your mind in gear, be totally ready to receive the gift that’s coming when Jesus arrives. Don’t lazily slip back into those old grooves of evil, doing just what you feel like doing. You didn’t know any better then; you do now. As obedient children, let yourselves be pulled into a way of life shaped by God’s life, a life energetic and blazing with holiness. God said, “I am holy; you be holy.” Also shout out to #ElevationWorship and #TaurenWells for an awesome, uplifting, fist pumping worship song: Never Lost... That chorus: "You've never lost a battle... You never will" On repeat currently.

Habbakkuk2:18-20, “Of what value is an idol carved by a craftsman? Or an image that teaches lies? For the one who makes it trusts in his own creation; he makes idols that cannot speak. 19 Woe to him who says to wood, ‘Come to life!’ Or to lifeless stone, ‘Wake up!’ Can it give guidance? It is covered with gold and silver; there is no breath in it.” 20 The Lord is in His holy temple; let all the earth be silent before Him.” 1. Who do you put your trust in? vs.18Psalm 20:7, “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.”2. Who or what guides you? vs.19Psalm 31:3, “Since You are my Rock and my Fortress, for the sake of Your name, lead and guide me.”3. Who do you listen to? vs.20Psalm 81:13, “If My people would only listen to Me if Israel would only follow My ways, how quickly I would subdue their enemies and turn My hand against their foes!Conclusion: What does worship look like? Romans 12:1 (MSG) “So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering.”What is it? Psalm 100:2, “Worship the Lord with gladness; come before Him with joyful songs.”Are we committed to a King, and not a form of a King?Phil.2:9-11, “Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

2018/7/29 Ps Luke Kennedy ルーク　ケネディ牧師 Categories: Video: https://osaka.mylifehouse.com/tv/message/building-on-the-right-foundation-love Building on the right foundation: LOVE John 13:34-35 (NKJV) A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another. Romans 5:5 (NKJV) Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. 1 Peter 4:7-10 (NKJV) But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers. And above all things have fervent love for one another, for "love will cover a multitude of sins." Be hospitable to one another without grumbling. As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. 1 John 4:12 (NKJV) No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us. Treasure the relationships God has given me ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭34:8‬ ‭(NKJV‬‬) Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him! Isaiah 55:9 As high as the heavens are above the earth, so are your thoughts higher than my thoughts. How can I build relationships on love? Colossians 3:12-14 (MSG) So, chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline. Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense. Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you. And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It's your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it. Believe the best. ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭7:12‬ ‭(ERV‬‬) “Do for others what you would want them to do for you. This is the meaning of the Law of Moses and the teaching of the prophets. Forgive fast. Release people from your judgement quickly. “Forgivenesses creates a path forwards” Matthew 18:21-22 (NKJV) Then Peter came to Him and said, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?" Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven. Encourage Always. Proverbs‬ ‭25:11-12‬ ‭(MSG) The right word at the right time is like a custom-made piece of jewelry, And a wise friend’s timely reprimand is like a gold ring slipped on your finger. ‭‭‬ 正しい土台の上に築く: 愛 ヨハネによる福音書 13:34-35 (口語訳) わたしは、新しいいましめをあなたがたに与える、互いに愛し合いなさい。わたしがあなたがたを愛したように、あなたがたも互いにに愛し合いなさい。 互いに愛し合うならば、それによって、あなたがたがわたしの弟子であることを、すべての者が認めるであろう。 ローマ人への手紙 5:5 (JCB) この希望は失望に終わることはありません。それは、神が聖霊を与えてくださり、その聖霊が私たちの心に神の愛を満たしてくださっているからです。 ペテロの第一の手紙 4:7-8, 10 (口語訳) 万物の終りが近づいている。だから、心を確かにし、身を慎んで、努めて祈りなさい。 何よりもまず、互いの愛を熱く保ちなさい。愛は多くの罪をおおうものである。あなたがたは、それぞれ賜物をいただいているのだから、神のさまざまな恵みの良き管理人として、それをお互いのために役立てるべきである。 ヨハネの第一の手紙 4:12 (口語訳) 神を見た者は、まだひとりもいない。もしわたしたちが互いに愛し合うなら、神はわたしたちのうちにいまし、神の愛がわたしたちのうちに全うされるのである。 神様が私に与えてくれた人間関係を大切にする 詩篇 34:8 (口語訳) 主の恵みふかきことを味わい知れ、主に寄り頼む人はさいわいである。 イザヤ書 55:9 (口語訳) 天が地よりも高いように、わが道は、あなたがたの道よりも高く、わが思いは、あなたがたの思いよりも高い。 どうしたら愛を土台にした人間関係を築けるの？ コロサイ人への手紙3:12-14(MSG) 神様に選ばれてこの新しい愛の人生を生きるあなた方は、思いやり、優しさ、謙虚さ、忍耐強さを身にまといなさい。穏やかに、2番手に満足し、傷ついてもすぐに赦しなさい。神様があなたを赦したように、できるだけ早く完全に赦しなさい。他の何を身にまとったとしても、愛をまといなさい。愛は基本であり究極であるからです。必ず愛をまといなさい。 ベストを信じよう マタイの福音書 7:12 (JCB) 人からしてほしいと思うことを、そのとおり、人にもしてあげなさい。これがモーセの律法の要約です。 素早く赦そう 自分で人を裁く事を素早く手放す “赦しは前に進む道をつくる” マタイによる福音書 18:21-22 (口語訳) そのとき、ペテロがイエスのもとにきて言った、「主よ、兄弟がわたしに対して罪を犯した場合、幾たびゆるさねばなりませんか。七たびまでですか」。 イエスは彼に言われた、「わたしは七たびまでとは言わない。七たびを七十倍するまでにしなさい。」 いつも励まそう 箴言25:11-12(MSG) 正しい時の正しい言葉はオーダーメイドの宝石のようだ。知恵のある友からのタイムリーな忠告は、指にはめられた金の指輪のようだ。

Peace can be found, peace can be felt. Both internally and externally. Rest in that peace and then give it away to others. Denise McKinney concludes our study on dwelling with Christ by encouraging us to live into the peace of Christ. Shalom Dwell | Week 5 May 21, 2017 | Denise McKinney Shalom: wholeness, completeness, soundness, & welfare to make things right, or restore eirene: eiréneuó: to bring to peace, to be at peace eirénopoieó - I make peace, reconcile Shalom is …the webbing together of God, humans, and all creation in justice, fulfillment, and delight…Shalom means universal flourishing, wholeness and delight – a rich state of affairs in which natural needs are satisfied and natural gifts fruitfully employed. Shalom, in other words, is the way things ought to be…the full flourishing of human life in all aspects, as God intended it to be. -Cornelius Plantinga Ezekiel 34:11-16a (NLT) For this is what the Sovereign LORD says: I myself will search and find my sheep. I will be like a shepherd looking for his scattered flock. I will find my sheep and rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on that dark and cloudy day. I will bring them back home to their own land of Israel from among the peoples and nations. I will feed them on the mountains of Israel and by the rivers and in all the places where people live. Yes, I will give them good pastureland on the high hills of Israel. There they will lie down in pleasant places and feed in the lush pastures of the hills. I myself will tend my sheep and give them a place to lie down in peace, says the Sovereign LORD. I will search for my lost ones who strayed away, and I will bring them safely home again. I will bandage the injured and strengthen the weak. Colossians 1:19-20 (NLT) For God in all his fullness was pleased to live in Christ, and through him God reconciled everything to himself. He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of Christ’s blood on the cross. Colossians 1:19-20 (MSG) So spacious is he, so roomy, that everything of God finds its proper place in him without crowding. Not only that, but all the broken and dislocated pieces of the universe—people and things, animals and atoms—get properly fixed and fit together in vibrant harmonies, all because of his death, his blood that poured down from the cross. Peace is not the absence of struggle or pain, but the unmistakable and strong presence of God in it. Philippians 4:7 (NIV) And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Peace isn’t the absence of conflict or differences, or even war, but the intentional movement toward reconciling and restoring people to God and to each other. Ephesians 2:14-17 (NIV) For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. I myself will search I will be like a shepherd I will find and rescue I will bring them back home I will feed them I will give them good pastureland I myself will tend I will search for my lost ones I will bandage the injured I will strengthen the weak Bridge Over Troubled Water - Audrey Assad

Let us be determined to daily give our lives - our eating, sleeping, drinking, working, EVERYTHING - in total surrender to our Father God. And let's always have a smile on our faces - reflecting Jesus' light in us.   Romans 12:1-2 (MSG): “So here's what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life - your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life - and place it before God as an offering…”  

Romans 8:31 (MSG) So, what do you think? With God on our side like this, how can we lose?

Title: Becoming a Better You. Mediocrity:  To settle halfway to the summit of a difficult mountain.Slipping Points & Stepping Stones1.  Slipping Point: Aimlessness People who are successful in their efforts to reach the mountaintops of their lives do so by refusing to let circumstances & feelings define who they are.  (Colossians 3:1-3) (MSG) So if you're serious about living this new resurrection life with Christ, act like it. Pursue the things over which Christ presides. Don't shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you. Look up, and be alert to what is going on around Christ—that's where the action is. See things from his perspective. Your old life is dead. Your new life, which is your real life—even though invisible to spectators—is with Christ in God. He is your life. (Colossians 3:5) (MSG) And that means killing off everything connected with that way of death: sexual promiscuity, impurity, lust, doing whatever you feel like whenever you feel like it, and grabbing whatever attracts your fancy. That's a life shaped by things and feelings instead of by God. (Colossians 3:7-10) (MSG) It wasn't long ago that you were doing all that stuff and not knowing any better. But you know better now, so make sure it's all gone for good: bad temper, irritability, meanness, profanity, dirty talk. Don't lie to one another. You're done with that old life. It's like a filthy set of ill-fitting clothes you've stripped off and put in the fire. Now you're dressed in a new wardrobe. Every item of your new way of life is custom-made by the Creator, with his label on it. (Colossians 3:12-14) (MSG) So, chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline. Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense. Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you. And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. Stepping Stone: Know Your Identity 2. Slipping Point: Comfort The love of comfort is frequently the enemy of greatness. (Philippians 3:13) (MSG) Friends, don't get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I've got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward—to Jesus. I'm off and running, and I'm not turning back. (Philippians 3:15-16) (MSG) So let's keep focused on that goal, those of us who want everything God has for us. If any of you have something else in mind, something less than total commitment, God will clear your blurred vision—you'll see it yet! Now that we're on the right track, let's stay on it. (Philippians 3:17-19) (MSG) Stick with me, friends. Keep track of those you see running this same course, headed for this same goal. There are many out there taking other paths, choosing other goals, and trying to get you to go along with them. I've warned you of them many times; sadly, I'm having to do it again. All they want is easy street. But easy street is a dead-end street. Stepping Stone: Gauge Your Progress 3.  Slipping Point: Ego (Galatians 2:19-20) (MSG) What actually took place is this: I tried keeping rules and working my head off to please God, and it didn't work. So I quit being a “law man” so that I could be God's man. Christ's life showed me how, and enabled me to do it. I identified myself completely with him. Indeed, I have been crucified with Christ.(Galatians 2:19-20) (MSG) My ego is no longer central. It is no longer important that I appear righteous before you or have your good opinion, and I am no longer driven to impress God. Christ lives in me. The life you see me living is not “mine,” but it is lived by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I am not going to go back on that. Stepping Stone: Nurture Your Teachability Teachability: Be willing to re-learn what you think you already know. 4.  Slipping Point: Fear Stepping Stone: Remember Your Faith (Hebrews 11:1) (MSG) The fundamental fact of existence is that this trust in God, this faith, is the firm foundation under everything that makes life worth living. It's our handle on what we can't see. The act of faith is what distinguished our ancestors, set them above the crowd. 5.  Slipping Point: Isolation Stepping Stone: Find Your Friends (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10) (NLT) Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble.(Matthew 19:26) (NLT) … with God everything is possible.”

(1 Corinthians 2:3-5) (MSG) I was unsure of how to go about this, and felt totally inadequate—I was scared to death, if you want the truth of it—and so nothing I said could have impressed you or anyone else. But the Message came through anyway.   (1 Corinthians 2:3-5) (MSG) God's Spirit and God's power did it, which made it clear that your life of faith is a response to God's power, not to some fancy mental or emotional footwork by me or anyone else.   Today's Theme: We Will Not Forget   (Psalm 103:2) (NIV) Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits.   (Psalm 103:3-5) (NIV) …who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.   (Romans 8:31) (MSG) So, what do you think? With God on our side like this, how can we lose? If God didn't hesitate to put everything on the line for us, embracing our condition and exposing himself to the worst by sending his own Son, is there anything else he wouldn't gladly and freely do for us?   (2 Timothy 1:6) (NLT) This is why I remind you to fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave you when I laid my hands on you.   (2 Timothy 1:6-7) (NKJV)  For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.   Extra Benefits:   1. Power (Colossians 1:11) (NLT) We also pray that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need.   2. Love (1 John 4:18) (NLT) Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love. 3. Sound Mind (Psalm 139:17) (NLT) How precious are your thoughts about me, O God.  They cannot be outnumbered!

Join us this week as lead Pastor, Shane Frazier, continus our series Proverbs with a message on wisdom. (2 Chronicles 1:10) Give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may lead this people, for who is able to govern this great people of yours?”   (Proverbs 8:1-5) Listen as Wisdom calls out! Hear as understanding raises her voice! On the hilltop along the road, she takes her stand at the crossroads. By the gates at the entrance to the town, on the road leading in, she cries aloud, “I call to you, to all of you! I raise my voice to all people. You simple people, use good judgment. You foolish people, show some understanding.”   Title of message: Find Wisdom Find Life   (Proverbs 4:23) Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.   (Proverbs 4:23) (GNT) Be careful how you think; your life is shaped by your thoughts.   Thoughts that lead to an affair: 1.    I deserve to be happy 2.    I need another person to make me happy 3.    I married the wrong person so I deserve to start over 4.    I'm not good at marriage so I want out   12 Steps to an affair.   1.    You lean away from your marriage.         2.    You notice someone else. 3.    You take innocent meetings too far. 4.    You replace innocent meetings with intentional meetings. 5.    You try hard to set up purposeful conversations with the person.   6.    You change the conversation to feelings.   7.    You have isolated meetings with this person. 8.    You have isolated meetings for pleasure. 9.    Your embraces become affectionate and playful. 10.  Your embraces become passionate. 11.  You commit adultery. 12. The affair is made public.   Sin will take you farther than you want to go and cost you more than you are willing to pay.    (Proverbs 5:7-14) (MSG) So, my friend, listen closely; don't treat my words casually. Keep your distance from such a woman; absolutely stay out of her neighborhood.    (Proverbs 5:7-14) (MSG) You don't want to squander your wonderful life, to waste your precious life among the hardhearted. Why should you allow strangers to take advantage of you?  Why be exploited by those who care nothing for you?   (Proverbs 5:7-14) (MSG) You don't want to end your life full of regrets, nothing but sin and bones, Saying, "Oh, why didn't I do what they told me? Why did I reject a disciplined life? Why didn't I listen to my mentors, or take my teachers seriously? My life is ruined! I haven't one blessed thing to show for my life!"   Sin grows in the dark.  Sin dies in the light.    (Daniel 11:35) And some of the wise will fall victim to persecution. In this way, they will be refined and cleansed and made pure until the time of the end, for the appointed time is still to come.   (Proverbs 5:15-17)  Drink water from your own well—share your love only with your wife. Why spill the water of your springs in the streets, having sex with just anyone? You should reserve it for yourselves. Never share it with strangers.   (Proverbs 5:18-20) Let your wife be a fountain of blessing for you. Rejoice in the wife of your youth. She is a loving deer, a graceful doe. Let her breasts satisfy you always. May you always be captivated by her love. Why be captivated, my son, by an immoral woman, or fondle the breasts of a promiscuous woman? What captivates you?    How to affair proof your marriage:   1.    Pray together 2.    Date each other 3.    Talk openly about sexual temptations 4.    Stay accountable 5.    Praise one another   (Proverbs 8:32-33) (NLT) “And so, my children, listen to me, for all who follow my ways are joyful. Listen to my instruction and be wise. Don't ignore it. (Proverbs 8:34-36) (NLT) Joyful are those who listen to me, watching for me daily at my gates, waiting for me outside my home! For whoever finds me finds life and receives favor from the Lord. But those who miss me injure themselves. All who hate me love death.”

True Colors  What are some of the "Shades we wear?"  1.     Red = Unforgiveness The effects of Unforgiveness: ·        Isolation·        Stop all contact with people·        Mindset to never to trust again 2.     Yellow = Fear The effects of Fear: ·        Hesitation ·        Holding back·        Unwilling to risk 3.     Blue = Pain The effects of Pain: ·        This is where pain began·        This is where pain remains·        Stay away from this area 4.     Black=Death The effects of Death: ·        Addictions·        Destructive Behavior·        Abuse How do we remove the lenses? 1.     Unforgiveness: Removing the Red Lens (John 13:21 NLT) "Now Jesus was deeply troubled, and he exclaimed, "I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me!" (John 13: 26 NLT) "Jesus responded, "It is the one to whom I give the bread I dip in the bowl." And when he had dipped it, he gave it to Judas, son of Simon Iscariot." (Proverbs 30:33 NLT) "As the beating of cream yields butter and striking the nose causes bleeding, so stirring up anger causes quarrels." (Romans 12:19)  "Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written:  'It is mine to avenge; I will repay,' says the Lord." So what do you do?             RELEASE (1 Peter 1:6-7)  "In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.  These have come so that your faith--of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire--may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed." 2.  Fear: Removing the Yellow Lens (Hebrews 12:15)  "See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many." 3.  Pain: Removing the Blue Lens          (Psalm 147:3)  "He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds." (1 John 4:8-11)  "Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.  This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.  This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.  Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another." 4.  Death: Removing the Black Lens          (Luke 21:34)  "Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with dissipation, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you unexpectedly like a trap." (Colossians 3:8)  "But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips." (Romans 8:6)  "The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace." (Proverbs 11:19)  "The truly righteous man attains life, but he who pursues evil goes to his death." (Matthew 11:28) "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."  (Hebrews 10:23-25 MSG) "So let's do it—full of belief, confident that we're presentable inside and out. Let's keep a firm grip on the promises that keep us going. He always keeps his word. Let's see how inventive we can be in encouraging love and helping out, not avoiding worshiping together as some do but spurring each other on, especially as we see the big Day approaching." For more information on the vision of Freedom Church, please visit our website at www.freedom-church.org.