"Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness." (Isaiah 41:10).

If the Father is with us, why do we still have fear?  Despite the hardships that we are experiencing in our lives each day, fear should not overcome our faith in GOD  because His faithfulness  to His words is beyond what our mind can grasp… trust and believe in goodness for is always here for all of us…His love is so wide that even how sinful we are, it is just a dot compared to His great love for all of us…
  The Lord  promised to uphold us with His righteous right hand. Let us instead find refuge in the arms of the Lord. There is hope and restoration in the arms of the lord We must trust in the Lord for that is what he ask of us, to believe that he is Lord and master. The Lord will do exactly what he has said he will do. Our help cometh from the Lord, we may be helpless on our own, but in love He beckons us to "the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need".

When all hope is gone, call upon the Lord ,  Jesus has promised us that he will not forsake you and I. If  Jesus Christ  is standing up for you and I then pray tell can be against us?

Hide not thy face far from me; put not thy servant away in anger: thou hast been my help; leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation (Psalm 27:9).

While I was yet a sinner playing church I use to read certain Psalm, I would always leave the parts out about my iniquity. I knew that like David I wanted to Lord to fix whatever issue I had as young teenager or young adult had gotten myself into.  Funny back then I only called on God when I was in trouble. Now I love to praise his name there is no sweeter sound than praising his name.

The good new is Christ will not forsake you, He died on the cross that we might be reunited to him. He paid the debtors price for us and because of that He will be with us until we take our final breathe here on earth.  We must rejoice even when  life's little messes cause with out the mess, many pastors would have a message. Without the test there could be on testimony of what God has brought you through. So I say again rejoice brothers/sisters the father has sit us at his right hand side while he makes our enemies our footstool.  Stand still and watch God do what he does best, he will work this out for the good of those that love and serve him. We need not worry about the Father forsaking us, redeemed a sinner like me, not to punish me but to offer me eternal life. The Father does not delight in our suffering, our Father like any Father has great faith in us.  Don't believe me? Let check another scripture if you will:  

 And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil (Job 1:8)?  The Father believe in Job and knew Job's heart, for he searches the hearts of mankind. I've told my 5 kids that no matter how old or how far they go I will still love them and will always be ready and willing to listen to them about whatever their plight might be. How much more so will our Heavenly Father do this for each of us. Since he is love and we know that He loves us who hated him, his love is so great He ask his son to step down from glory and suffer much for our sake to become sin when Christ knew no sin.

As the Psalms can be a source of encouragement let not your hearts be trouble for the Father  holds us in the palm of his hand. He love you and wants only good things for you. 

Lord God I thank for in times of trouble it has been you that got me through, I want to praise you in the good times and bad times. I want praise to your name for you are worthy. I rejoice knowing that love me and will put me away for my sin has been washed away by the blood of the lamb. To him I owe all.

Sin is breaking the Law, missing the mark set by God.

The word "sin" is a translation of the Greek word "hamartia"
which means to miss the mark.
Which is why Christ had to come and do what we were unable to do. Like the LDS they and the Jehovah Witness they believe that salvation is through works. Tell me if you can what works could you or I possible do that would earn us salvation??? When we sin daily. People pay of cops, off judges off elected officials. But what could any of us offer God who the bible tells all that was made is made by God and nothing that was not made by God is not made. Everything you have is his anyway. So you see you couldn't have bought your way out of hell even if you tried. Christ had to pay the price because the debt was to high for you to pay the price. And your credit was no good with God. So Christ stood in and say I will cover his debt. So your debt has been paid in full

For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God's glorious
standard.

Religious tradition labels many things as sin which the Bible
does not. People make up all kinds of rules based on what they
think is right. But God is the judge and only God can decree
what sin is.


And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of
God, that ye may keep your own tradition.

God has not left us to wonder what sin is. The Bible reveals it
to us. We don't have to guess, or make it up as we go.

Just because you do something someone else thinks is wrong does
not mean it is a sin. So don't let people condemn you over
things the Bible does not clearly say are wrong.


Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty
deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the
basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.

Another error is to think being tempted is a sin. Temptation
itself is not sin. You cannot help being tempted. Even Jesus
was tempted -- but He never yielded.

For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with
our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet
without sin.

A common mistake is believing that having bad thoughts is a
sin. It is not a sin to be tempted with bad thoughts. It only
becomes a sin when we embrace those thoughts as our own and
decide to commit them.


These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is
allowed to grow, it gives birth to death.

God is against sin because it is deadly. Sin brings forth
death, not life and blessing. God loves people, so He is
against everything that harms people.

All sin harms people. (Just because you don't see how a sin
would harm anyone, does not mean you know more than God.)

But no human can be right with God by never sinning. We have
all fallen short and need a Savior. It is only by God's grace
and His forgiveness that we can be right with God.


For no one can ever be made right with God by doing what the
law commands. The law simply shows us how sinful we are.

We can be glad because Jesus came to save sinners, and He paid
the price for the forgiveness of all sins by shedding His
blood.


In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness
of sins, according to the riches of His grace

The King James Bible tells us 63 times to "fear not," and 31 times to
"be not afraid" or "not be afraid." Obviously, God is trying to
tell us something!

If it makes no difference whether we fear, or not, then God
wasted a lot of time in Scripture telling us to not be afraid.

Fear is the absence of faith. It can be understood as faith in
the devil. Fear is the opposite of believing and trusting in
God. Fear stops faith from working. You could say that fear is
faith in reverse.

Fear is the cause of all worry, for worry is meditation on
fear.

Some may think some fear is healthy, but no true fear is good.
We don't have to fear something to have a healthy respect for
it, and thus to act wisely. Fear makes people do irrational
things. Reverence for God, sometimes called the "fear of God"
is healthy, but it has nothing to do with actually being afraid
of God.

And when the servant of the man of God arose early and went
out, there was an army, surrounding the city with horses and
chariots. And his servant said to him, "Alas, my master! What
shall we do?"
So he answered, "Do not fear, for those who are with us are
more than those who are with them."
And Elisha prayed, and said, "Lord, I pray, open his eyes
that he may see." Then the Lord opened the eyes of the young
man, and he saw. And behold, the mountain was full of horses
and chariots of fire all around Elisha.

When we look at the world situation, it is easy to cry out like
the servant of Elisha. But when we are tempted to be afraid, it
is only because we are not seeing the reality of the whole
picture. God is for us, so no matter what comes against us, it
can never prevail over us.

We should ask God to open our eyes to the truth. Then keep our
focus on God's Word, not on the temptations, lies, and roarings
of the devil.

Fear is fed by what we look at and listen to. We can resist
fear by choosing to always focus on God and His promises.


"Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of
them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you.
He will not leave you nor forsake you."

When you remember that the Almighty God is ALWAYS with you (and
in you!) why should you be afraid?


"But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not
fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.

One way to understand how valuable you are to God is to
consider the great price He paid to set you free -- the life of
Jesus Christ Himself!

Not even a good earthly parent would allow his child who
trusted in him to be harmed. God loves you more than any
earthly parent ever loved their child -- and God has the power
to fully protect you. So you can trust in Him.

But when we act in fear, we run from the protection of our
wonderful Father God and open the door to our enemy.

We should be free from fear because God is for us and watches
out for us. The worst that can happen to us (from a worldly
perspective) is to die, but even then we will go to be with
Jesus. With God on your side, there is really nothing to fear.

Yes, there will be struggles. There will be trials. But these
are just opportunities to overcome and gain eternal rewards. In
all we face in life, God has promised to be with us, and to
help us. So what is there to fear?

I repeat, be strong and brave! Don't be afraid and don't
panic, for I, the LORD your God, am with you in all you do."

Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to
pray and not lose heart,

Many people give up too easily in prayer. When they don't see
the answer almost immediately, they quit.

God is not pleased with this approach.

You may say, "God knows my need. Why doesn't He just give it to
me, instead of playing games?"


But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint (Isaiah 40:31).

Whether you agree with God's ways, or not: God is still in
charge and makes the rules -- not you. So, it does you no good
to argue or complain. Better to just line up with God instead
of fighting against His plan. Besides, in reality God's ways
are perfect, it is just that we are often too immature and
ignorant to understand all God is doing.

Scripture has many examples of people pressing in and receiving
answers to prayer. We should never be quitters when it comes to
prayer.

It is God's will to answer your prayers. He is the One who told
you to pray. God actually delights in answering your prayers.

(Never forget that God loves you more than you can imagine. God
loves you more than He loves Himself, and proved it by dying in
your place, so you could go free.)

"Then why are there so many delays?" perhaps the delays are happening because your not ready? Or because you keep trying to do God's job for him???

God has not brought you this far to leave you, so wait upon him, for He is never late is an on Time God.

Faith

If we but have the faith of a mustard seed. Funny that it is the smallest of seeds. Yet we are told that just that amount of faith could move mountains in our lives.  So does that mean that we are incapable of having faith?  No it just means that most of us do not muster up enough faith. Perhaps because we allow the Lucifer to tell us that God does not love us, that God will not help us. That it is hopeless, that God want hear our prayers.  All lies from the pit of hell told to us that we might loose faith in God and not trust him.

Hebrews 11

  Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. ² For by it the elders obtained a good testimony.
³ By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.

Faith at the Dawn of History as the Torah describes it.

⁴ By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and through it he being dead still speaks.
⁵ By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, “and was not found, because God had taken him”; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God. ⁶ But without faithit is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
⁷ By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.

Faithful Abraham

⁸ By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. ⁹ By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; ¹⁰ for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
¹¹ By faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and she bore a child when she was past the age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised. ¹² Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born as many as the stars of the sky in multitude—innumerable as the sand which is by the seashore.

The Faith of the Patriarchs

¹⁷ By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, ¹⁸ of whom it was said, “In Isaac your seed shall be called,” ¹⁹ concluding that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead, from which he also received him in a figurative sense.
²⁰ By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.
²¹ By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff.
²² By faith Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the departure of the children of Israel, and gave instructions concerning his bones.

The Faith of Moses

²³ By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the king’s command.
²⁴ By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, ²⁵ choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, ²⁶ esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward.
²⁷ By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured as seeing Him who is invisible. ²⁸ By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, lest he who destroyed the firstborn should touch them.
²⁹ By faith they passed through the Red Sea as by dry land, whereas the Egyptians, attempting to do so, were drowned.

By Faith They Overcame

³⁰ By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they were encircled for seven days. ³¹By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who did not believe, when she had received the spies with peace.
³² And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets: ³³ who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, ³⁴ quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. ³⁵ Women received their dead raised to life again.
Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. ³⁶ Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment. ³⁷ They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted,were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented— ³⁸ of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth.
³⁹ And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise, ⁴⁰ God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us.

 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?
 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,
 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?
 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.
 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?


 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.
 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
 Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?
 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.


You realize that each of us was saved by Faith, someone told you the truth of
your sinful nature and how you need Christ and only he could save you. For without him you would die and enter into hell. A place he never made for you and I.  So even though you have never seen hell nor Christ or God. You believed and by faith you accepted the perfect gift that Christ offers which is eternal life and forgiveness of your sins. The sky does not open and you do not hear angles in heaven singing.
You just know that you are saved and that God is who the Word says he is.  The Faith of a child.  I picked up my little princess (aka Miss Elizabeth) the other day high in the air, I asked her did she trust me to run with her above my head. She smiled and yes Daddy I do, she had faith that I would do nothing to harm her.
How much more so can we count on our Heavenly Father to care for us???  His word tells us that he has plans to prosper us.

"And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh." (Genesis 2:23-24)

When the Pharisees asked for His view on divorce, Jesus replied by quoting our text, giving the Creator's view on marriage and how men and women should approach it, if they are to function as they were designed . He added, "Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder".

In some special way, known fully only to Him, a man and woman in a marriage relationship can truly become one flesh, just as Adam and Eve were one flesh after Eve had been fashioned from Adam's side. Christ's doctrine of marriage has no logical foundation, by the way, nor do we have any reason to marry, if Adam and Eve were not real, specially created people.

Our text was also quoted by Paul as he more fully explained the marriage doctrine, prefacing it with a brief discussion of the relationship between the Lord and His Church . Just as we are inseparably "members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones," He designed each of us to be inseparably "one flesh" with his or her spouse.

Paul uses a forceful word for "leave," meaning to completely leave one's parents and "be joined" to the spouse. This word is equally forceful and leaves no room for a half-hearted commitment.

Marriage partners, in the eyes of the Creator, should be inseparable, just as the bones and flesh of a body cannot be separated, and just as we cannot be separated from the love of God in Christ

Count it all as glory

 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:  A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;  Death is a part of life we cannot escape.  The Bible does not say a certain time has been determined for you to die. It says it has been appointed for us to die once. After death there will be judgment (not reincarnation.)   And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:  There is a time to die.  When you have lived a full life, then it is time to face death.  It is also a good time to die when you can glorify God by your death. Too many people think life is to be grasped at any cost. Whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord's, and we should seek to glorify Him and please Him. Paul said he counted it all glory...    This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me.    For we don't live for ourselves or die for ourselves. If we live, it's to honor the Lord. And if we die, it's to honor the Lord. So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.  When I have lived a full life and am satisfied I have finished my course, my plan is to make sure all my affairs are in order, then tell the Lord I am ready to come home.   Too many so-called "believers" don't really seem to believe in God and Heaven. They act like life on earth is all there is and every effort and expense should be exerted to stay here every second possible.    For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better.  I'm torn between two desires: I long to go and be with Christ, which would be far better for me.  Should believers have to be dragged out of this life in a drugged stupor kicking and screaming to stay here in this sin- infested planet one more day, instead of joyfully giving up the ghost and eagerly going to meet our Lord?  While none of us can claim to be experts on dying, Scripture seems to indicate that an individual has a part to play -- either in hanging on for dear life, or in giving up the ghost (spirit).    And when Christ had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.    Then Abraham gave up the ghost, and died in a good old age, an old man, and full of years; and was gathered to his people.  What kind of testimony will you leave behind? Will your friends and relatives see your life and death, and be inspired to follow you -- and the One you claim to be following, Jesus Christ?  If you don't think it matters to God how you die, consider the hall of fame of faith in (Hebrews 11). Three of those mentioned tell how they left this earth.  The world needs to see that faith in Christ gives us a triumphant passage through death.  So, let us die in faith, just as we have lived in faith. 

Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. (1 Corinthians 13:6-7).

Love we are told that without love we are have nothing. Did you know that God himself is the full characteristic of Love. Christ says that the world shall know you and I by the love we have one for another. Tell me, when is the last time you let the love of Christ shine through you??? If your family and friends described you would love be one of the adjectives they use to describe you?

 The word of God tell me that my Heavenly Father  loved you and I so much that he gave his only begotten son up for a sinner like me. That refused to allow us to remain in the sinful state without giving us a second chance.  That is the love of the Father.

Father I pray that we would be a reflection of you, that we would be a mirror for you to shine through, that the world would come to know you through us showing your perfect love. Whether it be us arriving early to work and setting up the coffee maker, or greeting your fellow co-workers with a smile.

"According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue." (2 Peter 1:3)

In His wisdom and grace, God has seen to it that we have everything we need to produce "life and godliness." "Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust". This all-sufficient tool is, of course, the written Word of God, much of which came through the incarnate Word, Jesus Christ, who in turn claimed it came from God the Father: "For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me".

Furthermore, the written Word is the source of our faith and the only hope of salvation. "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God". This Word in which our faith is grounded is forever alive, "being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever"

  "By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh." (Hebrews 11:4)   Abel, Adam's second son, was a faithful, God-honoring man, but he was murdered by his older brother Cain. From Genesis 4 we know that Cain's bloodless sacrifice was not accepted by God, while Abel's animal sacrifice was accepted. Cain's pride, anger, and rejection of God's offer of restoration resulted in the murder of obedient Abel. Our text tells us that Abel "being dead yet speaketh." What does he say? To whom does he speak?   First of all, he spoke to God. "The voice of thy brother's |Abel's| blood crieth unto me from the ground". Many have followed Abel in martyrdom, and they all cry, "How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?"   Secondly, he spoke to Cain. "And now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother's blood from thy hand". Cain was banished by God: "a fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be in the earth" (v. 12), and every spot of ground on which he placed his foot from then on would be crying out to him, indicting him of

 Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old
he will not depart from it.(Proverbs 22:6)

God's plan is that children be a great blessing in a family.
Sadly, in many homes, the children are holy terrors,
exasperating and exhausting their parents. In every case, it is
the fault of the parent(s).

All young children act exactly as they have been trained by
their parents (or other care givers). As they get older
children have additional influences that may affect their
behavior, such as peers, television, teachers, etc.

Children are smart and train easily. They are much smarter than
a cow or a horse or a dog, who all can be successfully trained
to behave.

Every parent, without exception, trains their children. A few
train them properly -- in the way they should go. But all
parents train.

If you have young children now in your home, they are acting
exactly as you have trained them to act by your past actions.

If you allow your children to disrespect or disobey you, that
is your choice. Don't blame your children. They are just doing
what they have been trained to do.

Most parents tell their children to do right, but few seem to
consistently train their children to actually do right.
Training is much more than teaching, for it requires that the
desired action be done over and over, until acting right
becomes a habit.

Don't be deceived into thinking that letting children have
their own way will promote peace -- yours or theirs. No peace
will be found in a home where the instruction of the Lord is
not followed.

                                                  The Beatitudes
Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil ° against you falsely, for my sake.
Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you (Matthew 5:3-12).


This a good illustration of each of the "blessing" that God  designed to meet a need or fulfill a desire of God's "chosen" . The poor, meek, and persecuted are given ownership in the kingdom. The mournful are given God's special comfort. Those who hunger for righteousness are filled. The merciful will obtain mercy, the pure in heart will see God, and the peacemakers are identified as God's children. The longings of our souls and characters are all met by God.

"The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together." (Romans 8:16-17)

Modern-day humanists and unbelievers take great sport in belittling Christians, but despite their estimate, and even despite whatever humble view Christians may entertain of themselves, the fact remains that the Bible clearly declares believers to possess a position of preeminent standing and blessing.

Consider the wondrous fact that we as believers are "children of God." "As many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name" this was the promise"For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus".We are His offspring, for "according to his abundant  grace and mercy. This standing and privilege is ours, but we must not forget it is ours as a result of His doing, not our own worth, lest we become prideful..  

So when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the labourers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first." (Matthew 20:8)

This parable has long caused perplexity, not only among the workers in the parable, but also among readers ever since. Why would the Lord teach that wages paid for a given type of work should be the same for one hour’s work as for twelve? His only explanation was that it was the owner’s right to do what he wanted with his own money, and that "the last shall be first, and the first last".

He also pointed out to the complaining workmen that he had completely fulfilled his contract with them. Early in the morning, this group of laborers had negotiated their own terms with him, and "he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day". Those he hired later in the day had said nothing at all about pay, being glad merely to work and willing to trust the lord of the vineyard to treat them fairly. This most probably means that the owner had first approached the early morning workers on the same basis, but they were unwilling to work without a contract, negotiated on their own terms.

This is the difference. The first group insisted on a firm contract, and the owner therefore insisted on honoring it. The others worked by faith, trusting in the lord of the vineyard, knowing him to be a man of integrity and justice. Furthermore, they would have been willing to work all day long on this same basis, but they had no opportunity. They needed the job, and the owner, knowing their needs and their willing hearts, decided to pay them on the basis of what they would have done, had they had the opportunity.

In any case, the parable surely teaches us that our heavenly rewards are not based on quantity of services rendered, but on quality,

And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus(1 Timothy 1:14).


Paul confessed that only through the saving grace of Jesus did he receive eternal life. Because Paul was aware of the depth of his sinfulness (he had been a persecutor of Christ's followers), he was especially sensitive to the abundant grace Jesus had "poured out" on his behalf . Through Jesus, God made the supreme sacrifice to deliver this staggering grace to sinners like us and Paul.

Jesus' voluntary sacrifice on our behalf demonstrates a key attribute of God: grace. While mercy refers to what God doesn't give that we do deserve (punishment), grace refers to what God gives that we don't deserve life with him for eternity. Throughout Jewish history, God showed his mercy by giving his people more chances to avoid judgment. Ultimately, he showed the extent of his grace by offering his own Son as a substitute for the sin of all humankind.

Jesus graciously and voluntarily became the substitute that paid the punishment for humankind's unholy rebellion against God. In this way, Jesus' death also shows another key attribute of God: his love for his creation. He gave his only begotten son for you and I. Next time you wake up know it was God's grace and mercy that woke you up not an alarm or your spouse, so take a moment and go down on bent knees but if you can't bend then pray just where you are, simply give him thanks for redeeming sinners like us.

"Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life" (John 5:24).

It is most important, first of all, for  the unsaved men/ women to respond to the gospel message, by believing in Christ Jesus as the son of God and confessing his/her sins. Christ was clear there is no other way to heaven except by Him.  I hear and speak with a lot of people during  the week. Please don't tell my wife because I supposing to be focus totally on college :) Just kidding she knows don't you hon???  Okay to be serious again if I must. I hear people say all path must lead to God. If that were the case  why would the son of God have to come down from His throne and become  a man?  There is no other way, either you believe in Christ Jesus to be exactly who he said he was or you do not. No Buddhism, nor New Age, or Islam or Confucius, or Taoism will get you to heaven. Your works will not get you in, for the word of God tells me that my very best is as filthy rages before the Lord. Let no man be deceived Christ Jesus is the son God and he is the way and the life. Without him you are a dead man/woman walking , I believe every man and woman must have their own Damascus moment, where they come face to face with Jesus and realize that we are nothing without and be willing to accept the truth and turn from their sins and accept the forgiveness Christ offers to each of us.

Father God, I pray that we as your child will not be a walking billboard for you, but the words that we would speak not only to the unsaved but the saved as will spring up living waters for them to drink from. Lord God grant each of us a pure heart and the mind of Christ that we would be about your business while it is light. Let us rejoice in the blessing that we have and not worry about those things we do not have but  rejoice in the fact that we are redeemed by the blood of the lamb. Bless my brothers and sisters  that they will be filled with your peace the peace that the world can not understand.

Why did Christ warn His disciples to beware of the Pharisees? What did they do wrong?  

An entire chapter of the Bible (Matthew 23) is Christ teaching against the Pharisees. 

 The Pharisees were conservative, faithful "church" members. They accepted the Torah as the Word of God. They paid tithes. They believed in miracles (at least in days past). They wouldn't dream of stealing, committing adultery, or such things. You would like living next to a Pharisee as they were model citizens.    But instead of having a living relationship with God, the Pharisees took the Word of God and made just another dead religion out of it.  The Pharisee way of thinking is: keep up appearances. "It doesn't matter so much what you are on the inside, as long as you keep the rules (at least publicly)."  Notice that Christ likened their teaching to leaven, or yeast. Why? Yeast spreads easily and rapidly. Humans are very susceptible to approaching God in this manner, "Keep the rules. Just do these 10 things and you are OK."  Different groups may have different rules, but we all accumulate them. It may be how many times each week you must attend church meetings, or what kind of clothes you must wear, or how you must wear your hair. Or, it may be a list of things you cannot do. But, as long as you meet these requirements, you are in good standing with your group (or denomination).  But, good standing with God is based on only one thing according to the New Testament: faith in what Christ did for us. That alone is what makes us right with God. Not our works, but Christ' work.  1 ... He began to say to His disciples first of all, "Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.  The Pharisees were hypocrites. That is, they put on an act. What they pretended to be in public was not really what they were like in private. They claimed to be perfect in keeping God's law, but as humans they were all sinners, just like the rest of the people were. Yet, in public, they insisted that others keep the Law perfectly, or be condemned.  They were quick to pass judgment on others, and slow to extend mercy or help. The Pharisees had a legalistic view of God's Word and did not realize that God was merciful and wanted to help people.    who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.  Using God's Word to "kill" instead of using it to minister life is wrong. God's Word is meant to help people and lift them up, not place such hard demands on them that they cannot ever measure up. When we load people down with heavy loads of rules to keep in order to be right with God, we are ministers of death.    Then Christ said to the crowds and to his disciples,  "The teachers of religious law and the Pharisees are the official interpreters of the law of Moses.  So practice and obey whatever they tell you, but don't follow their example. For they don't practice what they teach.  They crush people with impossible religious demands and never lift a finger to ease the burden.  "Everything they do is for show. . . .  If your "Christianity" is nothing more than a list of "do's and don't's" then you are missing real Christianity, which is a living relationship with Christ. 

Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God." (Ephesians 2:19)

 

Prior to salvation, we are enemies to the Father and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: But now" we are part of the "new man" and the grand partnership that has been made possible between Jew and Gentile, Old and New Covenant saints, and the operative impact and purpose of the "household of God". Therefore, we are "fellow citizens with the saints and of the household of God built upon the foundation of  Jesus Chris our lord and Savior and he used the apostles and prophets to construct the first church but upon whom is the corner stone is the faith built.


I'm so glade about the fact that Jesus paid the price for me, I'm glade about the fact he calls me friend now. He calls you and I children of the Living God, let us rejoice in that fact and start acting like the children of the king.  One day I'm going home to be with my Father as each of you are also so let us rejoice for this is not our home. We are in a strange land endeavoring to get back home to our Father's house.  


Dear Father, grant me the wisdom to daily what you desire of me and daily to confess my short comings to you and draw near to you daily that I might be less of me and more of you.

Are you a Imitator of Christ

Yes it here again, I will be re-posting this message till we all get it!!!!   So this message is not your feel good message but a call to action for each of my pew setting brothers and sisters in Christ.The hour is at hand, Christ is coming back so its time you stop playing around and take a stand for Christ. Attending a Church does not save you, acknowledge Christ and lord and savior of your life and that you and I need his forgiveness and his grace and mercy each and everyday of our lives.  Well at least I know that I do for I'm faltered from birth. There is nothing good in me except for Christ, without him I can do nothing through him I'm able to do all things.

Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. (Ephesians 5:1-2)

 The call to imitate Christ is a call to separate ourselves from the world though we may be in but not of it  (Ephesians 4:17-19) and how we have been made new (Ephesians 4:20-24) and then gave us specific ways to do that (Ephesians4:25-32).

Our call is to live with the same love that Christ has demonstrated.  Jesus laying down his life for us, was first of all an expression of his love for his Father. Jesus did it, not only because of his love for us, but because first of all he loved the Father and this was  the Father’s will. This ‘life of love’ is not to be something we do to make ourselves feel good or appear good, it is to come out of and be an expression of our love for God Himself.  When John says, “We love because he first loved us,” (1 John 4:19). The first thing we need to do in the Christian life is become utterly convinced of God’s love.

On Sunday they raise their hands to heaven and declare that it is Jesus that they serve.

Then why do we look so much like the world?

Did you know that the wheat and the tare, the world can't tell which is which and quite frankly neither can I. So I pose the question again, which Jesus do you serve?

My Savior bleed and suffered and died and rose again for a sinner like me. My Savior, was a friend to friendless, He remembers the forgotten ones among us, Which Jesus do you follow?

 Which Jesus do you serve?

Is it this picture of the American dream that you chase after? Is the prince of this world who you serve or did you miss that part when you decided you want fortune and fame?

If Jesus was here would you walk right by him or cross over to the other side of the street? 

Would you even recognize him or have time to speak to him?

Pretty blue eyes and curly brown hair and a white complexion Michael Angelo version of Jesus ,is that the Jesus you serve? My Savior was battered and bruised for my sins, did you miss that part? Sometimes I ponder do we really understand what the price he paid for us?

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for they understand and they know My Savior. So which Jesus do we serve. is it the one whom we pray to bless us with great wealth? Or the Jesus who said

blessed are they that hunger and thirst for righteousness?

 So who do you serve? The one whose promises are like shifting sand?

Marine says it God , then country and the marine Corp, what comes first for you?

My Jesus would he be accepted in our churches today? All bloody and bruised with no shoes on his feet, would we want him sitting next to us?  He was not rich he didn't have a pillow to lay his head upon. Today my Jesus would look like a homeless man or perhaps we would see him as mentally insane.

He spent His time with criminals and those that are considered the least among us. Did you know he had a heart for the poor, so which place would  He come to eat Sabbath meal at your house or among those that were forgotten by society?

Its time we decide which Jesus do we serve ? I'm not sure we understand what that means to be like Christ,

Jesus said to live like HIM, love like HIM but then does that mean we must be willing to die for HIM?

Can we all be imitators of Christ? Can we all live like our Savior?   I turned on the TV set today and heard a man preaching Jesus wants to make you rich and that he never intended for us to be poor.  Is that the Jesus your seeking??? Heard a pastor say that his Jesus says that we should never be sad. Yet my Jesus wept when heard his good friend was dead. So which Jesus do you serve?  I know that I want to be more like my Savior and less like me.  I want to be an imitator of my Savior what about you????