Thought Of The Week

And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever–the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. John 14:16-20 NIV

Today I am giving you the choice between a blessing and a curse! You will be blessed if you obey the commands of the Lord your God that I am giving you today. You will receive a curse if your reject the commands of the Lord your God and turn from his way by worshipping foreign gods.

Deuteronomy 11:26-28 NLT

If you will obey me and keep my covenant, you will be my own special treasure from among all nations of the earth; for all the earth belongs to me.
Exodus 19:5 NLT

“Those who obey my commandments are the ones who love me. And because they love me, my Father will love them, and I will love them.”
John 14:21 NLT

Countercultural Obedience
To speak positively of obedience today is be profoundly countercultural. The valid suspicion of talk about obedience is grounded in the experience of authoritarianisms, both past and present. Obedience is confused with “blind obedience,” which is normally odious. Obedience is confused with conformity, with going along, with asking no questions. But obedience really means responsiveness; it is related to the Latin audire, to hear, to listen, to respond appropriately. Obedience is not the surrender of responsibility but the acceptance of responsibility for what we respond to and how. Richard John Neuhaus

Are we listening for GODS guidance or are just conforming to to societies normal way of doing business? Are we in the Word so GOD can speak to us through it or are we just getting into it at church? Are we meeting regularly with a mentor small group mens group or bible study so steel can sharpen steel or are we just floating along by ourselves? Are we in prayer asking for GODS will in our lives asking for HIS guidance in all we do or is our wants more important?

GOD BLESS
Cliff

Listen, I  tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed–in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: ‘Death has been swallowed up in victory.’ ‘Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?’ The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:51-57 NIV

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those who are crushed in spirit. The righteous face many troubles, but the Lord rescues them from each and every one.

Psalm 34:18-19 NLT

He was despised and rejected—a man of sorrows, acquainted with bitterest grief. We turned our backs on him and looked the other way when he went by. He was despised, and we did not care.

Yet it was our weaknesses he carried; it was our sorrows that weighed him down. And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God for his own sins! But he was wounded and crushed for our sins. He was beaten that we might have peace. He was whipped, and we were healed! All of us have strayed away like sheep. We have left God’s paths to follow our own. Yet the Lord laid on him the guilt and sins of us all.
Isaiah 53:3-6 NLT

Crying ones
Through the pain and sorrow of Christ’s experiences on earth, God has experienced the depths of human grief.

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You that are called born of God, and Christians, if you be not criers, there is no spiritual life in you; if you be born of God, you are crying ones; as soon as He raised you out of the dark dungeon of sin, you cannot but cry to God.

John Bunyan

GOD BLESS
Cliff

Dear Friends:
I am laid low in the dust; preserve my life according to your word. I recounted my ways and you answered me; teach me your decrees. Let me understand the teaching of your precepts; then I will meditate on your wonders. My soul is weary with sorrow; strengthen me according to your word. Keep me from deceitful ways; be gracious to me through your law. I have chosen the way of truth; I have set my heart on your laws. I hold fast to your statutes, O LORD; do not let me be put to shame. I run in the path of your commands, for you have set my heart free. Psalm 119:25-32 NIV

When the king heard what was written in the law, he tore his clothes in despair.
2 Chronicles 34:19 NLT

A rampage of revival
If Josiah, kind of Judah, had kept a journal, we might have noted this first significant entry: “Eight years old today” (2 Chronicles 34:1). At that tender age, Josiah had a scepter thrust into his hand. Yet he didn’t let the super-responsibilities of those years allow him to forget his Creator. Rather, he “did what was pleasing in the Lord’s sight.” (34:2)
Another important entry might have been “Sixteen years old today” (2 Chronicles 34:3). That’s when Josiah began to rid his country of the pagan shrines, idols, and images that had accumulated during the reigns of prior kings. After he purified the land, Josiah ordered the repair and restoration of the temple.
“Twenty-six years old” (2 Chronicles 34:8) was the midpoint of Josiah’s 31-year reign. It was also Back-to-the-Word time. When Hilkiah the high priest stumbled across the “Book of the Law of the Lord as it had been given to Moses” (34:14) and had it read to Josiah, the king was devastated.
Josiah went on a rampage of revival, first making his people covenant to obey the Lord and his laws. Second, he destroyed all idols and required everyone to worship the Lord. And third, he initiated a Passover celebration on a scale that hadn’t been seen since the time of the prophet Samuel.
Josiah did everything he could to bring Judah back to God and the treasury of his Word, but the clock of God’s favor was running out. Sadly, because the people tired of Josiah’s revival, within twenty-five years of Josiah’s death, Jerusalem was destroyed and all it people taken in to captivity.
Adapted from Men of Integrity Devotional Bible

GOD BLESS
Cliff

Dear Friends:
He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire. Psalm 40:2

What pain do you endure? God can meet your need! As Corrie ten Boom, who suffered intensely in a World War II concentration camp, stated, “No matter how deep the pit, God is deeper still.”
GOD BLESS
Cliff

Dear Friends:

Christ died only once as a sacrifice to take away the sins of many people. Hebrews 9:28

Well we have all heard the news our neighbors to the S.E. of us have passed the gay marriage whoop the ding. I am sure as I am writing this there are folks painting placards and readying themselves for a protest rally. Please don’t invite me. I WILL NOT GO, I WILL NOT BE A PART OF IT.

I take this stand not because I believe in Gay marriage. I can’t. The Bible tells me it is wrong. It is a abomination to GODS eyes. The Bible said Sodom and Gomorrah was destroyed for these very practices. I believe every word in the Bible is the truth. There is not one untruth in it. So I can not support Gay marriage.  Along with that I can’t support abortion in any form.

So why would I not want to be a part of this movement.  Gay marriage is wrong, homosexuality is a sin.  This is a emotional issue.  Some of us find it down right repulsive.  Good conservative politicians will use this card and the abortion card to help themselves get elected.  So why would I not want to play a part in the movement to stop this.

Truth is the focus is on the wrong place.  We are looking for the Government to pass moral laws.  It can’t.  We live in a immoral society and our country is made up of immoral people and that is who the government represents.  Why do you think we have had legal abortions since 1972.  We have had them because that is what the majority have wanted.  By the people and for the people.

If you want to change things we need to start with our hearts.  We can’t hate the sinner, we can hate the sin.  GOD hates sin.  We must teach our children right from wrong.  That is not the governments job or the schools. It is ours. You want to work for something that will make a difference, try school prayer.  Prayer works on the heart of the one doing the praying .  You get prayer back in schools you will get GOD back in our schools that will truly make a difference.  It would make a difference in every child’s life.  

If we really want to make a difference in this country now is the time to start building Christian leaders, today’s children.  They need to be raised in the WORD.  They need to taught to be bold for Jesus.  Most of all they need to have a heart as close to HIS as possible.

WANT TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN YOUR CHURCH, BE A PART OF A SMALL GROUP.  Be active, participate, most of all if your going to do it be bold for Jesus, the meek might inherit the earth but the bold will win souls for CHRIST.

Last but not least I can’t participate in any rallies because,

Christ died only once as a sacrifice to take away the sins of many people. Hebrews 9:28

MY sins included, GOD dosen’t grade sins. There sins are no greater then mine.

GOD BLESS

Cliff

In my distress I prayed to the Lord and the Lord answered me and rescued me. The Lord is for me, so I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me? Yes, the Lord is for me; he will help me.
Psalm 118:5-7 NLT

Prayer offers us a way out of our fear. It is all a matter of calling upon Jesus’ name. Only in His name is there help. The more we call upon His name, the more we will experience this truth.

Mother Basilea Schlink (1904-2001)

The Lord is for me
Today’s verses tell us that the psalmist was in a frightening situation. But in his distress, he cried out to God in prayer. Because of God’s presence and strength in response to his plea, the psalmist could look in triumph at those who hated and attacked him. For every difficulty and trial, God has prepared a way. His eyes are on those who trust in him in their distress, and his ears are attentive to their cries. You can know and rest assured that just as God was for David, he is for you! And because the all-powerful Lord who is on your side is your shield and defender, you do not have to be afraid. The Lord is greater than any problem, greater than any fear, greater than any person opposing you. Thank him for his help in past situations when there seemed to be no way out, and trust him and thank him for being “for you” today.

LORD, thank you for answering me and helping me in my distress. Thank you for being for me! That truth is amazing to me and assures me of your concern for me. Help me to resolve not to be afraid because the Lord of the universe is on my side!

Adapted from The One Year® Book
GOD BLESS
Cliff

“You can pick your sin, but you can’t pick your consequence!”

” We awaken in others the same attitude of mind we hold toward them.”
Elbert Hubbard

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