250 Years!!

May God continue to bless the United States of America.

 Psalm 32:12 ...  Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.

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Kingdom of Christ

As the United States celebrates its 250th birthday this week, we reflect on God’s providence and blessing on this nation over the past two and half centuries. And while America has been a blessed country, it is like any other nation that will rise and fall. It is up to the Lord and His sovereignty if the United States will last another 250 years. He makes nations great, and he destroys them; he enlarges nations and leads them away. (Job 12:23)

From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries. (Acts 17:26)

But the good news that we have is that the kingdom of Christ will last forever. We do not have be so concerned about our nation, our government, or even our politicians. They will all let us down at some point or another. And if this great country falls away one day, the Kingdom of Christ will remain.

His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed” (Daniel 7:14)

And one day, all of the kingdoms of world (including America) will eventually be gone forever. I pray that as we celebrate the big 250 this week, that we do not lose focus of our eternal hope!

                                                             christianphotoshops.com

Revelation 11:15 ... And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever. ❤

J.U.L.Y.

 

J. ~ Jesus first in everything.  Matthew 6:33

U. ~ Understand God's will.  Ephesians 5:17

L. ~ Let your light shine. Matthew 5:16

Y. ~ Yield your plans to God. Proverbs 16:3

Choose Jesus!

When it's difficult.

When it's easy.

When it's chaotic.

When it's peaceful.

In Joy and in Sadness.

Keep choosing Him.

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Deuteronomy 30:19 ... I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live: ❤

Could You Be?

 Would you call beloved departed believers back to earth again?

Would you wish them back, back from the presence of the Lamb?

Back from the sweets of glory to the bitterness of time?

Back from those rivers of pure pleasure which flow at God's right hand--to the muddied streams in this valley of sorrow?

After they have reached the haven of rest would you recall them to struggle again with the storms of life?

Could you be so selfish and so cruel?

[G. Whyte]

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Revelation 21:3-4 ... And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

Psalm 36:8 ... They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy house; and thou shalt make them drink of the river of thy pleasures.

Psalm 16:11 ... Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore. ❤

Is Hell Real?

Hell exists, and everyone deserves it. When we understand God for who He is as perfectly holy, we immediately see not only who He is, but who we are utterly sinful. Some speak of hell as the absence of God, but hell is not the absence of God absolutely; indeed, it is the presence of God in wrath. Hell is the presence of God the righteous wrath of God, as unbelievers suffer the torments of their ruinous sin forever. 

The point is this: a penitent murderer goes to heaven; an impenitent orphanage founder goes to hell. All of our badness does not make us harder to save. All of our goodness does not make us easier to save. The world tends to believe that heaven is for the good, and hell is for the bad. The Bible teaches that heaven is for the penitent, and hell is for the impenitent however good or bad anyone has been. Jesus had no hesitation warning the crowds of the horrors of hell, because He, more than anyone, saw the true frightfulness of it. No one who ever lived will receive injustice from God. Some will receive mercy. The rest will receive justice. 

No one is ever treated by God unfairly. (Genesis 18:25) We tend to think that the default destiny of all people is heaven, and that hell is reserved for the particularly wicked. But in truth our default destiny is hell, and heaven is reserved for those who honestly admit their wickedness and look to Christ alone for salvation. More than likely, in the next few days, within a few miles of the spot where you are sitting right now, someone will descend into hell. We are not any further from hell if we've lived a moral life. 

We are not any closer to hell if we've lived an immoral life. Heaven is not for the deserving. It is for the repentant. Hell is not for the undeserving. It is for the unrepentant. Hell is filled with people who think they should be in heaven. Heaven is filled with people who know they should be in hell. The astonishing surprise is not that there is only one way to get to heaven. The astonishing surprise is that there is any way to get to heaven for miserable sinners such as us. 

[Dane Ortlund] 

Ephesians 2:3-5 ... Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.  But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)

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New Beings!!

 Dear friends and cowfolk,

We do not control the Holy Spirit but evidence of His presence within us and the effects of His power are prominent and visible in the changes He brings to our very nature.

No longer do we desire to pursue the sins of our past. No longer are we bound by sin to worldly despair. We are freed from our bonds and walk a narrow path that is distant from our prior dark hearts and broken behavior. We are born again. We are new beings through the Holy Spirit!

Jesus is Lord!

John 3:6-8 ... That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.  Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit. ❤

Hating Sin ...

It is evident that our conversion is sound when we loathe and hate sin from the heart.

A man may know his hatred of evil to be true, first, if it is universal- he that hates sin truly, hates all sin.

Secondly, true hatred of sin is fixed there is no appeasing it but by abolishing the thing hated.

Thirdly, true hatred of sin is a more rooted affection than anger, anger may be appeased, but hatred of sin remains and sets itself against the whole kind.

Fourthly, if our hatred of sin is true, we hate all evil, in ourselves foremost, and secondarily in others he that hates a toad, would hate it most in his own bosom. Many, like Judah, are severe in censuring others (Genesis 38:24), but partial to themselves.

Fifthly, he that hates sin truly, hates the greatest sin in the greatest measure; he hates all evil in a just proportion.

Sixthly, our hatred to sin is right if we can endure admonition and reproof for sin, and not be enraged- therefore, those that swell against reproof do not appear to hate sin.

[Richard Sibbes]

Psalm 97:10 ... Ye that love the Lord, hate evil: he preserveth the souls of his saints; he delivereth them out of the hand of the wicked.

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Certain Distinguishing Marks

The Jewish shepherds had certain marks by which they knew their own sheep. Even in this country, the farmers put "brands" on their sheep their own initial, or an "earmark," or some other particular sign by which they will know them anywhere. Christ knows His people by certain distinguishing marks.

He knows them by their faces. There is something in every true child of God, which shows to whom he belongs some family likeness, some feature of the Divine image shining out. The prodigal's father knew his son when he saw him a long way off. In his rags, in his beggary the eye of love recognized the child. Just so, Christ knows His own people, however dim the likeness by their faces. The crowds do not recognize heaven's princes, in the humble Christians they meet; but Jesus does!

Not only does Christ know His own by their faces but also by their voice. The mother knows her child's voice anywhere, even in the darkness, and can distinguish it among a thousand voices. Christ knows the voices of His own people, wherever He hears them speak or cry.

He knows them also by their character. Even if the outside is rough and uncouth, it does not hide from His eye, the inner life the spirit, the heart. He saw the future Peter with all his grandeur of character in the crude Simon who was brought to Him.

He knows His friends by their obedience. He knows His disciples by their following where He leads. 

He also knows the white garments of righteousness which His redeemed one's wear.

He knows the penitent heart by the fragrance it puts forth. It is an altar of incense. It is a box of ointment broken open. Just as we find out the hiding-places of flowers by their fragrances, so God knows the home of the penitent heart by the sweetness that wafts up from it.

[J.R. Miller]

John 10:14 ... I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.❤

The Sorrow of The World

Just as surely as happiness is the attendant of holiness so misery is the certain result of sin. The sorrow of the world is not occasioned by mourning over sin as sin but over the punishment which sin brings.

The sorrow of the world does not arise from just views of sin, nor does it proceed from any concern that God has been offended. It does not lead the soul to God in true penitence, nor to turn to Him for consolation.

When the worldling's dream of earthly happiness has been dispelled by misfortune, he feeds only on the sour bread of self-pity.

The sorrow of the world debilitates the body, disturbs peace, and brings complaining and despair. There is no contrite seeking of God on the part of the suffering one but only a fretting and murmuring against Him.

[A.W. Pink]

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2 Corinthians 7:10 ... For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.

Revelation 16:10-11 ... And the fifth angel poured out his vial upon the seat of the beast; and his kingdom was full of darkness; and they gnawed their tongues for pain, And blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and repented not of their deeds.❤

Mourning Into Dancing ...

Exhibiting joy in the midst of trouble confounds the enemy. He’s focused on killing, stealing and destroying our faith in Abba-YHWH, so when we respond with His joy when the devil throws his best punch at us, it confuses him. This kind of joy causes him to temporarily retreat from the battlefield (our minds) in order to strategize a better approach. But we must never forget, though, that his only intent is to take us out and, furthermore, just how extremely cunning and patient he is. He prowls around believers like a hungry, roaring lion waiting for a more opportune time to strike again in order to devour our faith in our Heavenly Father. (John 10:10; 1 Peter 5:8; Luke 4:13)

It’s easy to wonder how we can possibly have such joy in times of severe trials and grief. But if we look at this scripture again, we can plainly see it doesn’t say it’s OUR joy that’s our strength but the YHWH’s. HIS joy builds us up and sets us back on course to face the ensuing battle yet again. All we have to do is ask…

Father, I am weakening from the fierce blows of the enemy. I cannot endure another moment unless you supernaturally intervene. Anoint (empower) me with YOUR joy, Father, that I may finish the race you have set before me. Strengthen me that I may declare in the face of my enemy that I am more than a conqueror in Messiah Jesus of Nazareth! Amen.

[Tracie Justice]

2 Chronicles 20:27 ... Then they returned, every man of Judah and Jerusalem, and Jehoshaphat in the forefront of them, to go again to Jerusalem with joy; for the Lord had made them to rejoice over their enemies.

Nehemiah 8:10 ... Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the Lord is your strength.❤