"This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success." (Joshua 1:8)

 

This well-known verse contains the first use of the Hebrew verb for "meditate" (hagah) in the Bible and, significantly, it is a command to meditate on the Scriptures. Such meditation is not mere quietness or daydreaming, but is thoughtfulness with a purpose--to obey "all that is written therein."

 

Meditation for its own sake, without being centered on God's Word, is often useless or even harmful. Witness the Western proliferation of Eastern "meditation cults"  in recent years, which lead their devotees into pantheism and occultism. Isaiah 8:19 warns against "wizards that peep, and that mutter [same word as 'meditate']." "Why do . . . the people imagine a vain thing?" (Psalm 2:1).

 

The blessed man is the one whose "delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night" (Psalm 1:2). That is, only if we are continually guided by the Holy Scriptures will we be happy and successful.

 

In the New Testament, the Greek word for "meditate" (melatao) is used only twice. Once, it is translated "imagine" (Acts 4:25) and is in a quotation of Psalm 2:1, as above. The last time it is used, however, its emphasis reverts back to the context of its first usage, as in our text above. Paul commands us: "Give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. . . . Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all" (1 Timothy 4:13, 15). Modern meditationists say that the goal of meditation is to clear our minds of "things," but God wants us to meditate on "these things"--the life-giving, life-directing doctrines of His Word, to meditate on him and to know without a doubt that your putting your trust in the one and true God

Its not about titles

The body is composed of many parts, there is a place for everyone. A matter of fact the Word of God tells us that the harvest is plenty but the workers few. So there is always room for one more at the table room for one more in the field. Want you come join us????

Not content

"I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High." (Isaiah 14:14)

These are two of the "I will's" of Satan--or Lucifer--as he aspired to usurp the throne of God as ruler of the universe ( Isaiah 14:12-15);( Ezekiel 28:11-17). Not content to be "the anointed cherub," the highest of the angelic hierarchy (Ezekiel 28:14), he wanted to be God, and this monstrous pride became "the condemnation of the devil" (1 Timothy 3:6), so that he is now "fallen from heaven" and will soon be "brought down to hell" (Isaiah 14:12, 15).

Lucifer, of course, is not the Creator, for he was "created" (Ezekiel 28:15) himself. It would seem therefore that for him to rationalize his ambition to be like the most High, he must somehow persuade himself that he is like the most High--that is, that God is a created being like himself, and thus can be defeated. He only had God's word that he had been created by Him, and he evidently chose not to believe what God said (just as do multitudes of men and women today).

He, like they, chose rather to believe that the eternal cosmos had somehow created them all by its own powers. The great cosmos (call it Mother Nature, perhaps) has "created" spirit beings, as well as men and women, and all the worlds inhabited by them. In this scenario, the true Creator God is viewed as only one of many. Therefore He is vulnerable to defeat--or so Satan evidently believes.

Thus Lucifer became the first evolutionist, and this great lie by which he deceived himself became the basis of his later deception of Eve and then of the founders of all the varied pantheistic religions of the world, as well as modern evolutionism and "New Age" philosophies. Nevertheless, God is still on His throne, and "the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings"

One day the world shall see him for who he is truly is a liar who was not content with God's authority, with all that our Heavenly Father provides for us we are still not content.   He gave us life, he gives us new grace and mercy each day, he promised that he would never leave nor forsake us.  Why is that not enough for many of us?  What about the shedding of blood at Calvary was that enough for you?  Not really because there is still complaining among us in the church to this day. Because Deacon So and So got a new BMW or sister So and So  just got a new home, why can't God do that for me.  Your heavenly Father said he fore-knew you  meaning before you were a twinkle in your mother's eye.  Its time we learned to be content with the blessing that God has given us.

"Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool." (Isaiah 1:18)
 Did you know that your Heavenly Father desires to reason with you because  he is a reasonable God, and our faith is a reasonable faith, based on sound evidence. It is not a credulous faith like that of the evolutionist who blindly believes either in the god of chance or in some sort of cosmic consciousness.
  "Be ready always to give an answer [that is, an apologetic, a reasoned defense of our faith] to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear" (1 Peter 3:15).

But how can it be reasonable that one whose deeds have been crimson with sin could ever be made "white as snow"? That in itself is not humanly possible and that is exactly why only God himself could pay the sinners debt ! .
 "the things which are impossible with men are possible with God" (Luke 18:27). What seems incredible to human wisdom is altogether reasonable to the Almighty, for all things are possible for He who created both the heavens and the earth and all that is upon it.. He is God and God all by Himself so there not is impossible for him. "Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men"
(1 Corinthians 1:25).

This divine wisdom is centered in the sacrificial death and victorious resurrection of Christ, our Redeemer, who "loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood" (Revelation 1:5). As a result, now our "reasonable service" to Him is for each of us to offer ourselves to Him as "a living sacrifice" (Romans 12:1).

A Message to the Homeless in Bremerton (Forgiveness)

FORGIVENESS  is defined as: choosing to pardon, remit, or overlook the mistake, fault, offense, hurt or injury of the offender without demanding, a penalty, punishment or retribution.

Whatever  your monetary status might be,   whatever level your education might be at  each of us needs to  receive  forgiveness from God and from one another. In the Lord's Prayer, Jesus showed his recognition of this by including our request for God's forgiveness, and our offer of it to others.

And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. (Matthew 6:12)

And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;
 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; (Colossians 2:13-14)

The Cost of Forgiveness is "never free," though it can and should be freely given to others. Let me explain. When a person is forgiven, the one who extends the forgiveness chooses to accept the pain of the offense and foregoes the right of retribution or retaliation. The one doing the forgiving PAYS the price. He or she endures the hurt and suffers the sorrow in order to forgive you.

. The blood Jesus Christ shed on the cross pays the payment for your sins. Since Christ paid the price for our sins, God does not demand that the punishment we deserve be carried out, if Christ is our Savior. The work of Christ on the cross is sufficient for the Father to forgive all our sins.  If you accept him as your savior you are Forgiven.

What I want to talk to you about tonight is the problem of you learning and accepting to forgive yourself, for your past mistakes.  So you messed up, big deal, so you went to jail, so to hear that, so you were addicted to drugs or alcohol , is that it?  If my God can forgive you of this sins, it take you let go it and give it to him.  Stop holding your blame for things God  doesn’t not even blame you for.  Or maybe your someone who has not forgotten past pains caused by parents or someone you loved and trusted.  Give it God

 "I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgression unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin." (Psalm 32:5)

Satan Shares His views of the Church

IF

Scripture says we are a Body -- not just that we are "like a body." You ARE connected to everyone who acknowledges Christ as Lord -- whether you like them, or think they are necessary, or not. Whatever happens to ANY member of the Body does have an affect on EVERY member.

Remember this the next time you are tempted to speak ill of another believer, or mistreat them. Even if they don't believe exactly like you, or go to the same church they are still connected to you in Christ. So be nice to your Body!



 The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up
only one body. So it is with the body of Christ. (1 CORINTHIANS 12:12)


 Suppose the whole body were an eye--then how would you hear?
Or if your whole body were just one big ear, how could you
smell anything?
 But God made our bodies with many parts, and he has put each
part just where he wants it. (1 CORINTHIANS 12:17-18)

 The eye can never say to the hand, "I don't need you." The
head can't say to the feet, "I don't need you."
 In fact, some of the parts that seem weakest and least
important are really the most necessary. (1 CORINTHIANS 12:21-22)


 Now all of you together are Christ's body, and each one of
you is a separate and necessary part of it. (1 CORINTHIANS 12:27)

How many of walk around in public saying your stupid your stupid your stupid and are referring to yourself?
How many of you would stand in front of a mirror and repeatedly punch yourself in the face?
How many of you would walk up to a stranger and ask to be kicked repeatedly in the head?
Yet we who are apart of the body hurt others who are also apart of the body, a young man by the name of David told me of how a member of the body hurt him and his family, the scares have pushed him and his father away from their Heavenly Father.  Which is not what the body is supposing to do.  I've never heard the hands plotting with the eyes to get the legs.  We need to not just say brother or sister but really mean it. My brother Don likes to say I want to see my brothers a 1000 years from now in heaven, do you feel that way too?  Cause if we are the body isn't it about time we start doing some healing than continue in the hurting.

The world shall know that you are mine by the love you have one for another,  is that true? Do people at your work place know who are Christians, no not because you say you are a Christian but because of the love of Christ that is reflected from you daily and the other Christians at your work. Do your neighbors know your family are Christians not because you said it, but because you live it?

If we are his Children does that not make him our Father???

 I was ask a question the other day by a scholarly friend of mine, who is a follower of Yeshua (the true name of Jesus) What name is the real  name of God and which one do I use when praying. I had never pondered such things in great detail. Once but simply for a class in the study of the four gospels but not really beyond that.


Yahweh,  Elohim, Adonai, are names the Jews used for God . We English speakers use God, Father, and Jesus are all appropriate names by which to call upon the true and living God. He knows them that are His own, for He called them to Himself, and He knows perfectly our thoughts and to whom we are directing our prayers. He knows for certain that if we are indeed His own, we are praying to Him.

"Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, 'Abba, Father.' For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children." (Romans 8:15-16).

More importantly, He knows our inadequacy to pray the right things to the extent that He knows of what we should be asking. We can be confident that through the Holy Spirit, we can pray in harmony with His will.

"And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will" (Romans 8:26-27).

The burden is not on the Christian to call Him by the right name per se, but to call upon Him and to pray by the leading of the Holy Spirit, who will direct our prayer according to God's will.
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Please note: Jesus did say that if we ask of God anything in His name... but there is no division between asking of God by the leading of the Holy Spirit and using (or not using) Jesus' name. Contrary to popular belief, the speaking or invocation of His name is not a magic formula that makes the prayer valid or effective. If the person is covered in Christ's righteousness  is a (believer) aka Christian, God will honor the prayers as they will be in concert with His will and Spirit.

In short, there is no iron-clad distinction between using any of the divine names to refer to God in prayer. It is His Spirit and His righteousness abiding upon the person asking in prayer that gets His attention.

Father, we come to you with all things ask you to grant us your truth not the ideologies of men, grant us the wisdom to seek you early each day and seek you in the midnight hour to Cry to out our Father for we thirst for knowledge of you, we thirst be close to you.  Send no one a way who comes seeking you Father, grant them understanding of who you are and who we are in you.

Are you a brother or sister in Christ to others???

Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.  (Galatians 6:2)
 Tell me what hour is to late?  which day is a bad day for you? I ask this question because a brother shared with me today that he had received a call from a brother from his church but felt he wanted to watch TV and rest since he had a long day at work and his wife was complaining about something.  The next day he checked the message and brother had asked for him to please call him back that he really need to talk to someone.  Sadly my brother did not know that this brother suffered from major depression. Do you see where this about to go? The brother took his life because depression is a dark place the enemy wants to put people and make them feel like life is not worthy living. Sadly that brother bought the lie and is no more.


I'm far from a saint but I tell my brothers to call me day or night if they need me, but sadly I would not call those same brothers if I were hurting simply because I feel they have enough to deal with.  Or maybe its late or night. Or maybe it would upset their wives.  If you were on Facebook  and you saw I was hurting would you call me?  If I didn't come to church on Sunday would come check on me?  If you saw me walking the street late at night would you stop?  If you saw me coming out of a bar late at night drunk would  inquire about why I was there?


Now when Job’s three friends heard of all the evil which had come upon him, they came, each from his own place: Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuite and Sophar the Naamathite. They agreed to come together, visit him and console him. When they saw him from afar, they did not recognize him and raising their voices; they wept and they rent their robes and sprinkled dust upon their heads heavenward.  And they sat with him on the ground seven days and seven nights, and no one spoke a word to him for they saw that his suffering was very great. (Job 2: 11-13)

 


Lord God help me to love on my brothers, help me to stand with my brothers through their storms, and most of grant me the strength to hold my brother up when he is not able to stand on his own.  Lord grant each of us as men the wisdom to ask for help, grant us the ear to hear those men that have been crying out in silence.  Let treat our brothers as we would treat Christ.