ARMOR OF GOD

What does the bible tell us about the armor of God?

Ephesians 6:10-20
10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
19 And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel,
20 For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

When you look at Verse 10, it tells us to be strong in the Lord and the power of His might. We know how powerful our Savior is and we can rest in that.

Verse 11 tells us to cloth ourselves in the whole armor of God so that we can stand against these principalities!

When you look at Verse 12, it clearly tells me that we are in a spiritual battle with the devil. The Lord has equipped us to fight the battle against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. He has given us the aromor of God. He has given us the full armor of God to battle against these forces and to defeat them in our daily walk here in the foreign world.

Verse 13 tells us that we need the full armor on to protect ourselves against these evils.

Verse 14 tells us to stand therefore, having your loins grit about with truth, and having the breastplate of righteouness; Jesus said to His enemies "Ye are of [your] father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it." Saints are to Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thself, and them that hear thee (Timothy 4;16) Verse 14 also speaks of putting on the breast plate of righteouness. A breastplate shields a Warrior from death, it protects the critical organs. All a saint has to do is cry out to God and He is there. The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and His ears are open unto their cry" Psalm 34:15. The righteous cry, and the Lord hearth, and delivereth them out of their troubles. Is that amazing we have the Lord as our Breastplate shield, He promise us to shield us and protect us, He is always a cry away. Psalm 5:12 5:12 For thou, LORD, wilt bless the righteous; with favour wilt thou compass him as [with] a shield. Praise God!

Verse 15 speaks about how our feet shod with preparation of the gospel in peace. I think what God is telling us to walk with care, satan will do everything to put obstacles in our way and we need to walk carefully bringing the gospel of grace to a dying world.

Verse 16 tells us the shield of faith is that satan can not attack us if we keep in the faith. Trust the Lord in all things.

Verse 17 tells us to keep our minds protected and focused on why we are here. The spirit of sword speaks of the word of God. It is a great spiritual weapon. You can not fight truth! The word of God is all powerful, all Holy!

Verse 18 speaks of Praying always with all the supplication in the Spirit, which is the word of God. Prayer is such a powerful part of the armor, prayer is an intimate time between the Lord and His Saints. He hears are needs, our pain, our joy. Pray at all times in the Spirit. This does not mean every second. But it does mean in all things. True prayer is asking God what He wants.

Verse 19 Pauls epistles tells us that prayer like most essentials are to help bring spiritual victory and maturity. Verse 19 says Whenever I open my mouth, words may be given to me . Here Pauls utter dependance is in Christ, in the sovereign God who called Him as He called all of us.

Verse 20 tells us to be bold and proclain the Gospel . I think prayer is one of the strongest tools because we are putting our faith in God in the battle. We are relying on the word of God when it says the battle has been won.

Truly, we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us; for we can give thanks before the fight is done. Yes, even in the thickest of the battle we can look up to Christ, and cry—Thanks to God! The moment a soul groaning under corruption rests the eye on the Lord Jesus, that moment his groans are changed into songs of praise. In Christ you discover a fountain to wash away the guilt of all your sins. In Christ you discover grace sufficient for you—grace to hold you up to the end—and a sure promise that sin shall soon be rooted out altogether. "Fear not, I have redeemed thee. I have called thee by My name; thou are Mine." Ah, this turns our groans into songs of praise. How often a Psalm begins with groans, and ends with praises! This is the daily experience of all the Lord's people. Is it yours? Try yourselves by this. If you know not the believer's song of praise, you will never cast your crowns with them at the feet of the Lamb. Dear believers, be content to glory in your infirmities that the power of Christ may rest upon you.

Cristina

IT IS WELL WITH MY SOUL

The more and more I am realizing how important our walk is on this earth, until our Lord calls us home. How important it is how we live our lives before a dying world, a world that should not be somewhere we call "home". I want so much to be the reflection of love and humility Jesus was. Through good times, through rough times I want to be thankful for what He did for me. What ever I do I want it to bring glory to Him and Him alone and that is not easy to do at times living in the flesh still. I sometimes wonder if when I do good, is it to bring Glory to God or to myself. God surely knows!

Prov. 16:2 All the ways of a man [are] clean in his own eyes; but the LORD weigheth the spirits.

Being content is sometimes hard, but possible with Christ.

"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!"

"And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
Now to our God and Father be glory forever and ever!"

In our walk what we do, reflects on Christ. The world is watching every step we make forward or backward..mostly backward. The world is watching us, waiting on us to sin and then they point to who we are following, Jesus. What shall we do then, take up our cross and follow in His footsteps. March on and follow His path instead of going off on our own. We owe Him that much.
Let us all be able to sing those wonderful words "It is well with my Soul" and mean it!

I attended a concert this weekend and one of the Hymn that was sung was "It is Well With My Soul". On our way home I kept thinking about the words It is well with my soul. I knew that not all is well with my soul and that I need to get closer to the Lord and His word. This morning as I was typing out this blog, I came across a site that shared a bit about the man that wrote this God honoring song. His name was Horatio G. Spafford. He was born in 1873. The words to this hymn was written after two major traumas in Spafford's life. The first was the Great Chicago Fire of October 1871, which ruined him financially. Shortly after, while crossing the Atlantic, all four of Spafford's daughters died in a collision with another ship. Spafford's wife Anna survived and sent him the now famous telegram: "SAVED ALONE." Several weeks later, as Spafford's own ship passed near the spot where his daughters died, he was inspired to write these words the music was by Philip P. Bliss. Bliss originally named the tune "Ville de Havre" after the ship on which Spafford's four girls perished, the SS Ville de Havre. Ironically, Bliss himself died in a tragic train wreck shortly after writing this music.

Now here was a dear man that lost so much, yet after all that he was inspired to write these words of contentment. Those word can only come from God.

When peace, like a river,
attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot,
Thou has taught me to say,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

Though Satan should buffet,
though trials should come,
Let this blessed assurance control,
That Christ has regarded
my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood
for my soul.
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
Even so, it is well with my soul.
It is well, with my soul,It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

Lord I want to be able to sing "It Is Well With My Soul" and mean it from the bottom of my heart.

I pray this for all my dear brothers and sisters.

Cristina

WHAT ABOUT OUTRAGE WHEN JESUS SCORNED?

When I read things in the paper or hear something on the News that upsets me, I will write to the editor of our local New's Paper. Sometimes they print my letters, other times they don't.

The past week I have been listening to the News and reading the paper concerning Pope Benedict XVI's comments made about the Prophet Muammad and the reaction of the Muslim faith. First, it amazes me how angry Muslims get, when they keep trying to convince the world that they are a faith of Peace, now I have yet to see anything they do that tells me it is a faith of Peace? They burn dummys that look like the Pope or President Bush.

I watch the news and see women and children cheering on these cruel acts. Just this past week a nun was murdered because of what the Pope had quoted,even after an apology was given.

As I have listened and watched all this, I decided to write a letter to our Local News Paper and here it is....

What about outrage when Jesus scorned?

I am writing about how the Muslim faith reacted when Pope Benedict XVI cited the words of a Byzantine emperor who characterized some of the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad, Islam's founder, as "evil and inhuman." They took to the streets in such anger.

Why is it when Jesus Christ's name is lambasted in the most cruel way, the Muslim faith does not react at all? Is Jesus not a prophet to them also?
I wonder how they'll answer this?

Cristina

SERVANT?

God hath work to do in this world; and to desert it because of its difficulties and entanglements, is to cast off His authority. It is not enough that we be just, that we be righteous, and walk with God in holiness; but we must also serve our generation, as David did before he fell asleep. God hath a work to do; and not to help Him is to oppose Him.
- JOHN OWEN

A few years ago my husband had the privilege to preach on the subject of "Humility". He shared a story of a Chinese man that was put in jail because of his faith in Christ. He was put in the hole to work. Every day he would have to shovel the excrements all day long. He did this daily for all the time he spent in prison without complaint. A few years after he was released from this hell hole, he ran into one the guards from the prison. The guard asked him in bewilderment "How is it you spent all that time in that slop and come out of there everyday with a content look on your face and never complained?" The man answered, " Every morning when the machines were turned on, it would be the time I would be able to recite verses from the Bible out loud and sing the hymns I had learned and fellowship with my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." "It was those times while I was in prision I cherished the most!"

What a servant of Christ! He worked in such a lowely job and found joy in it! Jesus was a fine example of Servant hood.

(John 13:3-5 NIV) 3 Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that He had come from God; and that He was returning to God. 4 so He got up from the meal and, and took off His outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5 After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash His disciples' feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around Him.

He got down on His knees to wash the disciple's feet, when in fact they should have been on their knees with thanksgiving. Jesus is our greatest example of servanthood, the One that should have been served, yet was the servant.

Are we willing to wash each others feet? Are we willing to be in Jail and praise the Lord at the same time?

We are to serve God because we want to, not because we have to, not half-heartly but whole heartly. How far are we willing to go, to serve Christ. When we look at Paul and how He suffered in the name of Christ and the many Christian martyrs who have laid down their lives for Christ.

Christians brothers and sisters we have a cross to carry through our lives. Jesus promised us that our burdens will be light. We all will suffer some sort of humility when we stand up for our faith, but we will have the Holy Spirit there assuring us we are doing right. I think as the years go by, it will get harder and harder to be a servant for Christ. As Satan realizes the battle is lost, he will make it tougher for those that are true servants of Christ. The cost will not make a difference compared to the prize because we know the price is paid in full! When you look at the words "It is finished", we already know it is "Paid in Full"

Eph. 6:10 "Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
"Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.
"And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints...."

Onward, Christian soldiers, marching as to war,
with the cross of Jesus going on before.
Christ, the royal Master, leads against the foe;
forward into battle see his banners go!
Onward, Christian soldiers, marching as to war,
with the cross of Jesus going on before.

God bless all the servants of God!
Cristina

HAVE YOU THANKED HIM TODAY?

All He endured for the Elect

John 15:13, "Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends" (NASB). The KJV says, "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends."

It brings me to tears reading what He suffered so that we could be forgiven......

A cross is placed on the ground. The one being crucified is thrown backwards with his shoulders against the wood. His wrists are felt for depressions at the front of the wrists. A heavy square wrought-iron nail is driven through the wrist and deep into the wood. It is repeated on the other wirst, being careful not to pull the arms too tightly, but to allow flexibility and movement. The patibulum is then lifted in place at the top of the stipes and the titulus reading Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews is nailed in place.

The left foot is pressed backward against the right foot, and with both feet extended, toes down, a nail is driven through the arch of each, leaving the knees moderately flexed. The victim is now crucified. As Heslowly sags down with more weight on the nails in the wrists, excruciating, fiery pain shoots along the fingers and up the arms to explode in the brain - the nails in the wrists are putting pressure on themedian nerves. As He pushes Himself upward to avoid this wrenching torment, He places His full weight on the nail through His feet. Again there is the searing agony of the the tearing through the nerves between the metatarsal bones of the feet.At this point, another phenomenon occurs. As the arms fatigue, greatwaves of cramps sweep over the muscles, knotting them in deep, relentless,throbbing pain. With these cramps comes the inability to push Himselfupward. Hanging by His arms, the pectoral muscles are paralyzed and theintercostal muscles are unable to act. Air can be drawn into the lungs,but cannot be exhaled. Jesus fights to raise Himself in order to get evenone short breath. Finally carbon dioxide builds up in the lungs and inthe blood stream and the cramps partially subside. Spasmodically, He isable to push Himself upward to exhale and bring in the life-giving oxygen.

It was undoubtedly during these periods that He uttered the seven shortsentences which are recorded:The first, looking down at the Roman soldiers throwing dice for Hisseamless garment, Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.

The second, to the penitent thief, Today thou shalt be with me inParadise.The fourth cry is from the beginning of the 22nd Psalm, My God, my God,why hast thou forsaken me?Hours of this limitless pain, cycles of twisting joint- rending cramps,intermittent partial asphyxiation, searing pain as tissue is torn from Hislacerated back as He moves up and down against the rough timber. Thenanother agony begins. A deep crushing pain deep in the chest as thepericardium slowly fills with serum and begins to compress the heart.Let us remember again the 22nd Psalm (the 14th verse), I am poured outlike water, and all my bones are out of joint; my heart is like wax, it ismelted in the midst of my bowels. It is now almost over - the loss oftissue fluids has reached a critical level - the compressed heart isstruggling to pump heavy, thick, sluggish blood into the tissue - thetortured lungs are making a frantic effort to draw in small gulps of air.The markedly dehydrated tissues send their flood of stimuli to the brain.Jesus gasps His fifth cry, I thirst.Lut us remember another verse from the prophetic 22nd Psalm: My strengthis dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thouhas brought me into the dust of death.A sponge soaked in Posca, the cheap, sour wine which is the staple drinkof the Roman legionnaires, is lifted to His lips. He apparently does nottake any of the liquid. The body of Jesus is now in extremis and He canfeel the chill of death creeping through His tissues. This realizationbrings out His sixth words - possibly little more than a tortured whisper.It is finished.His mission of atonement has been completed. Finally He can allow hisbody to die.With one last surge of strength, he once again presses His torn feetagainst the nail, straightens His legs, takes a deeper breath, and uttersHis seventh and last cry, Father into thy hands I commit my spirit.

Cristina

CARNAL MIND AND A NEW MIND

I read this piece by a man named Wil Pound and I wanted to share it with others. It clearly shows the depravity of man.

George Whitfield, the eighteenth century evangelist, was correct when he said, “If the unregenerate man could enter heaven, he would be so unhappy in heaven, that he would ask God to let him run down to hell for shelter.”
How could the enemies of God sit down at the banquet of the Lamb of God?
Universalism wants us to bury our heads in the sand.
The carnal mind is enmity against God all the time. So why would such a person ever want to be in God’s holy presence? It is against everything God is for in His universe. It sets the world system and all it teaches in opposition to the LORD God.
The carnal mind is a “depraved spirit that is set on those things which are not proper” (Romans 1:28). How would you know one if you saw it? Romans 1:29-32 says, “Being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, evil; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice; they are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, without understanding, untrustworthy, unloving, unmerciful; and although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them."
It is a dreadful picture of human depravity. The apostle then declared, "Therefore you have no excuse, everyone of you who passes judgment, for in that which you judge another, you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things. And we know that the judgment of God rightly falls upon those who practice such things" (Romans 2:1-2).
There is a day coming when “God will judge the secrets of men through Christ Jesus” (v. 16). It is not because we do not deserve it. The Bible testifies that we are all guilty. “But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, who will render to each person according to his deeds” (Romans 2:5-6).
After a detailed presentation of our sins against us in Romans chapter three, the apostle Paul concludes, "But glory and honor and peace to everyone who does good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For there is no partiality with God" (Romans 2:10-11) "You who boast in the Law, through your breaking the Law, do you dishonor God?" (Romans 2:23).
How many of us have not wished in the depths of our hearts, “Would to God these sins were not forbidden!” Spurgeon asked, “Who among us has not been so foolish as to desire that there were no God?”
But neither solution makes the problem go away. We still stand guilty before God. “Every carnal mind in the world is at enmity against God.”
The carnal mind declares that by our very nature we are the child of evil. What part of man was affected by the fall? The entire man, every part of him – every power, every passion is at enmity with God. You may say, “Oh, Wil, I am not really that bad.” God says, “The heart is deceitful above all things.” It is desperately wicked.
Why would any carnal person want to be in the holy presence of a righteous God? It would mean to be guilty and condemned twenty-four hours a day. We would never be able to escape His holy, hot wrath. Our sense of guilt would always be a state of awareness.
The only solution to the desperate plight of man is to have a new mind and a new heart. If we have not experienced a change of heart, our carnal mind will always be at enmity against God.
Our thoughts, our decisions, our behaviors all testify that we deserve God’s holy wrath. Every person born into this world deserves God’s wrath and damnation.
Because we are guilty sinners, God must provide the solution. Since the carnal mind is at enmity with God, salvation cannot be by any merit on our part. It must be by God’s grace through faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ. If we are at enmity with God, what merit can we have? How can we deserve anything from the person we hate? Therefore, God must step in and rescue us by His grace.
The Spirit of God must lay His hand on you and renew your heart or there is no chance of your entering into heaven.
Jesus Christ can make peace through His blood. If the Spirit of God has convinced you of your sin as you read this, you can become a new creature, a new person, with a new heart if you will ask Jesus Christ to be your Savior.
By our physical birth we are at enmity with God, but by the new birth we are made His friend. Our nature must be changed if we are to enter into God’s holy presence. Here is the most precious promise for every sinner to believe. "As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up; so that whoever believes will in Him have eternal life" (John 3:14-15).
Selah!
Message by Wil Pound

AT LEAST HE TRIED!

I was watching Fox News yesterday afternoon, and David Asman for FOX News happened to be interviewing Rick Warren. Mr. Warren is now promoting his new project of changing the world! He spoke on the AIDS Epidemic and how churches should reach out more to those fighting this disease. It was like no churches were reaching out now or ever and we needed him to tell the churches to do so. The more and more I hear about Mr. Warren, I wonder who he does all this for "The Glory Of God"....or the glory of himself?

I hear too many of his statements starting and ending with "I" or Saddleback. Fox News described him like this "He's an evangelical superstar. His runaway best seller has transformed lives" He is a Superstar? He is transforming lives? Isn't that Gods job? I guess what made me blog on Mr. Warren this morning was a few of his last words. When I die, I just want 4 small words put on my tombstone "At Least He Tried". Now where is the Glory of God in those 4 small words?

Here is a good site to go to concerning Rick Warren and "The Purpose Drive Movement..

http://www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com/

It is an eye opener. We as christians need to be more discerning and listen more closely to what is being preached in the name of Our Risen Savior.

To God Be the Glory,
Cristina

BLENDING ERROR WITH TRUTH

Question: What do you think about this quote?

"... Satan works to blend together his system with God's system, because when you blend error with truth you have destroyed the truth. You no longer have a mixture of truth and error; you have error. Just like when you take poison and put it in a glass of milk -- you not only have a glass of milk and poison, you have a glass of poison, because the poison has corrupted the good milk. So it is with Satan's system when it is mixed-in, even with Biblical things, it becomes a corrupting influence and you no longer have truth and error -- you have error. And the truth is even corrupted by the error.

As I read it, it made me think about how Churches today are watering down the Gospel to reach the lost. They are taking out what is important, so they do not offend. When they do this, are they really leading people down the right path? To me it is just the same as putting a small drop of poison into a glass a milk, you poison it. When you add or take away from God's word, what are you doing? You are poisoning it, right? Are we ready to compomise the truth of God's Word and at the sake of what?

If you can, I would appreciate your thoughts on this?

Cristina

FELLOWSHIP

One hundred worshipers meeting together, each one looking away to Christ, are in heart nearer to each other than they could possibly be were they to become "unity" conscious and turn their eyes away from God to strive for closer fellowship.... A. W. Tozer (1897-1963), The Pursuit of God

Just this past week, on Wednesday Night my husband Jim and I got together with a group of other believers and had true fellowship with one another. My husband joins a group of men once a month for breakfast, and they also get together every few weeks for coffee. They call themselves "The Ole Geezers"

On Wednesday Night the men invited their wives to a Barbecue at Dave and Roma-lynn's home. This dear couple are two of the kindest people Jim and I have ever met. They complement one another. They give so much of their love and time and themselves, they are true servants. They run a Senior's Home, and you know the residents just love them so much.

Any way back to the barbecue, it was such a wonderful time of friendship, love and laughter. We all brought our own meat and then either a salad or a desert. We all filled up on the delicious meal and then sat back for some music and some sharing. I have to say, Baptists know how to eat LOL....and cook.

David loves music, I believe his whole family is musical. I think they have at least 5 pianos throughout their home. David is a very talented Pianist and has a lovely voice! The first part of the music was another couple Cliff and Dawn and David. Cliff on the violin, Dawn on the Organ and David on the Piano and the rest of us had either playing Bells, Tamborine and even Castanets. We sang many old time hymns which were nice to hear. A lot of churches don't play the old time hymns as much and I find them much more biblical then the songs today. We had genuine fun together. Dawn, the dear lady playing the Organ has had health problems in the past year and yet here she was at the front playing for us and her husband Cliff right beside her playing the violin so wonderfully.

After the music was over, My husband shared a few words on the subject of "Fellowship" It was a good message on how fellowship is just not mere friendship it is a relationship based on Unity and Like-mindedness. It is based on a relationship of not just rejoicing together but also mourning together. It is based on acountability, we are accountable to one another. It is a communion that is uncommon to the lost. Who else but Saints can rejoice in life and in death. We can fellowship in Christ alone and be content.

John 15:12-19 "This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you. 13 "Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.

True friendship that leads to true fellowship, is when trials come into ours lives, a friend will walk with you though it. A true friend, will be someone that will look you in the eye and tell you did wrong. A true friend will be with you through good times and bad times.

Proverbs 17:17 17:17 A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity

(Rom 12:15 NRSV) Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.


Prov 27:6 Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.

So as I look back at last Wednesday, and think about David and Roma-lynn, Cliff and Dawn, Ron and Sue, Jack and Velma, Norm and Amelia, Dario and Dolcie, David and Pat, John and Jim I thank the Lord for such wonderful Brothers and Sisters in the Lord. I thank the Lord that my husband has these men that love the Lord with all their hearts, for true fellowship, for accountability and for love for one another. God wants this for us all, He wants the Saints to fellowship and grow together. He wants the world to see the love we have for one another. Our fellowship and Unity should only be based on Christ and Christ alone.

PS We missed Al and Barb, John and Lura and Sarto as they could not attend

Cristina

THE PERSEVERANCE OF THE THE SAINTS

When God calls a man, He does not repent of it. God does not, as many friends do, love one day, and hate another; or as princes, who make their subjects favourites, and afterwards throw them into prison. This is the blessedness of a saint; his condition admits of no alteration. God's call is founded on His decree, and His decree is immutable. Acts of grace cannot be reversed. God blots out his people's sins, but not their names THOMAS WATSON

I hear so many people say that they believe that we can loss our salvation. How can that be when the bible clearly teaches that we are His forever by His Power, He will never abandon one His own. He gives us the grace and perservance to continue on in our walk. It is not to say we will not sin, because we know we will, but the difference is that the Holy Spirit will convict us of our sin and we will repent. God is faithful to keep us till we join Him in Glory. Eternal Security is embedded in the doctrines of Perseverance.

It is a promise of God to keep us and mold us into His image.

Eph.1 13-14 13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession—to the praise of his glory.

When you look at the words “sealed” and “pledge” it is telling us, as believers if we are endwelled with the Holy Spirit that His promise of salvation is that if a believer is indwelt by the Holy Spirit then the promise of salvation is permanant!

Romans 8:3o Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.

The problem some folks have is that if believers believe that they are saved and will never lose their salvation, that gives them the right to continuelly sin, which some see as "Free Grace". Well that is not so! As soon s you become a believer, you are a new creature.

2 Corinthians 5: 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!

I think sometimes some think those that believe in the Perseverance of the Saints don't care about Sanctifaction only Justification, that is so untrue. Perseverance teaches that we are comform to the image of Christ. When we become a christian, the Holy Spirit within us grieves when we sin. Our desire will be to please God. It is not works we are doing but the Holy Spirit guiding our spirit to do good.

John 6:40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.

John 10:27-28 27 "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. 28 "And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.

This my favorite promise verse concerning Perseverance

Romans 8:38-39 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Nothing, I mean nothing is going to take ot of the hands of Jesus, we are sealed and preparing for delivery. His love is eternal as is our life with Him. There is nothing that will seprate us from His love.

Here is another great verse that speaks about how much Jesus loves us.

Matthew 18:12-14 12 "What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine and go to the mountains to seek the one that is straying? 13 "And if he should find it, assuredly, I say to you, he rejoices more over that sheep than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray. 14 "Even so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.

Wow, is that not love. I pray that those that believe you can loose your salvation that they come to the "Saving" knowledge of Christ...I really don't know what to say about their salvation because if they do not believe that Jesus can keep them, how many times are they saved? My bible teaches you are only saved once..once and for all.

John 5:24 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.

Php 1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform until the day of Jesus Christ

And again another wonderful quote by C.S. Spurgeon. Ca you imagine sitting in the "Metropolitan Tabernacle" listening to him preach. What a blessing that must have been to those that were blessed to see the Lord work in Him!!

"Nay, where the Lord begins he will complete; and if he puts his right hand to any work, he will not stay until the work is done, whether it be to smite Pharaoh with plagues, and at last to drown his chivalry in the Red Sea, or to lead his people through the wilderness like sheep, and bring them in the end into the land that floweth with milk and honey. In nothing doth Jehovah turn from his intent. “Hath he said, and shall he not do it? hath he purposed it, and shall it not come to pass?” He is God and changeth not, and therefore the sons of Jacob are not consumed. There is a world of argument in the quiet words Which the apostle uses. He is confident, knowing what he does of the character of God, that he which hath begun a good work in his saints will perform it until the day of Christ."

Keep, keeping on Brothers and Sister, Heavena and Glory awaits us!!

Cristina

A CALLING

A CALLING

"I believe the doctrine of election, because I am quite certain that, if God had not chosen me, I should never have chosen Him; and I am sure He chose me before I was born, or else He never would have chosen me afterwards; and He must have elected me for reasons unknown to me, for I never could find any reason in myself why He should have looked upon me with special love."
C.S. Spurgeon

What truer words spoken ! If God did not reach out to us, we surely would not seek Him out. It's not the thought that He would save the world, but just the thought of the depravity of man that, He would even choose one?
We do not deserve His forgiveness. We deserve hell. We are born with a sin nature, we are astranged from the womb.

Ecc 7:20 For not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.

Ephesians 2:1-3 1 And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, 3 among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.

When I think of the Lord choosing me as one of His children, it humbles me. I look at others that I find more worthy of Salvation then I am. When I look back now at my life before Jesus called me, I am totally amazed that He would choose me. I failed so much, there was so much sin in my life, so much rebellion.Why would He even think I was worthy of Him saving me, calling me, forgiving me? I read in the bible he choose me before the world was created. His plan was for me to be His child, His elect and ask Why Lord, Why me?

(John 6:39 KJV) And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.

(John 17:24 KJV) Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world

Some folks statements are, "well if He chose you for salvation, he chose the others for damnation, what a loving God?" Well that is not true, God did not choose folks for damnation, we are all on our way to hell, only by God's grace and mercy are we saved. Sovereignly, God chose some for salvation, It was His sovereign choice to do so.

"(Rom 9:11-13 KJV) (For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;) {12} It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger. {13} As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated."

"(2 Tim 1:9 KJV) Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,
God is in control, we are not the one that calls Him, He calls us. We have nothing to do with our salvation except responding to His calling.
You have to say to yourself if God did not predestine us unto Election, no one would be saved because the human heart is dead in sin and does not want anything to do with God.

Jer 17:9 The heart [is] deceitful above all [things], and desperately wicked: who can know it?

Eph 2:3 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.
"Christ did not die for any upon the condition, if they do believe; but He died for all God's elect, that they should believe."

C. S Spurgeon once said...
I do not come into this pulpit hoping that perhaps somebody will of his own free will return to Christ. My hope lies in another quarter. I hope that my Master will lay hold of some of them and say, "You are mine, and you shall be mine. I claim you for myself." My hope arises from the freeness of grace, and not from the freedom of the will. Free will carried many a soul to hell, but never a soul to heaven.


Here is a song I heard for the first time at church today and the words are so beautiful.

HE KNOW MY NAME

I have a maker
He formed my heart
Before even time began
My life was in his hand
ChorusHe knows my name
He knows my every thought
He sees each tear that falls
And hears me when I call
I have a Father
He calls me his own
He'll never leave me
No matter where I go
ChorusHe knows my name
He knows my every thought
He sees each tear that falls
And hears me when I call...


He knows my name and if you one of the Elect, He knows your name. He has always known us. WOW. When I heard this song this morning it brought tears to my eyes because it tells us how important we are to Him. Praise God, He knows me by my name. He knew way before I was born that my name would be Cristina without an "H". He knows my every thought...humbling. He sees every tear I cry and when you think about,when we are sad or hurting, who is it we reach out to...God. Oh Lord how can I thank you for what you have done in my life, what you have given me, the joy of a family, the joy of friendships, but mostly the joy of Salvation. I am humbled by the fact that you knew me and all my sin and yet you loved me any way.

I'm so glad that God chose me before the foundation of the world, because he never would have chosen me after I was born!
Charles Haddon Spurgeon

Cristina

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JIM!!

August 24, 2006

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY DEAR HUSBAND!!

I pray you have a wonderful Birthday. I love you with all my heart and I am so glad that the Lord brought you into my life!! I am truly blessed!!

Love Cristina

TOLERANCE

"We are called to peace as God's people. We are called to war as God's people. We are called to peace with those who are like-minded in the gospel of Jesus Christ. We are called to war with those, to contend for the faith against those, who oppose the truth of the Word of God."

I once heard "Religion Tolerance is an act of terrorism on the truth", and I have to agree 100%. How can we compromise the truth for the sake of Tolerance. The problem is truth divides, the bible speaks of it. Doctine should be enbraced instead of being feared. We should want to study it, speak about it and apply it.

ALL Scripture is God breathed and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work (2 Tim. 3.16-17).

When I hear people speak of tolerance, when discussing the Word of God, when people say, "Well we need be tolerant and watch the words we speak, just in case we offend someone." I say, "Phooey!!!" No mater how loving you talk about the truth of God, if the other person is not regenerated, they will be offended! The Truth offends and it divides! Biblical love will never minimize how import Bible Doctrine is.

We should not fear doctrine, we should embrace it, and we should want to discuss it. That's what mature Christians do as they seek to grow up in the faith. A church that is will grow and thrive on doctrinal discussions, and the results will be believers who understand the mind of God better, and who love one another more through the process.

(Revelation 3:15-16) "I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth."

There are too many churches out there that are sacrificing the Word of God in the name of tolerance. The Purpose Driven Life is a good example of that. If you go the Lighthouse Trail site you can read up on it and so much more. I would encourage you to do so...

Getting back to Tolerance, you hear about and see it so much in the churches now a days. People will be first comers and I hear members say to one another, let's take this slow we don't want to scare them away. Phooey again!! This may be the only chance that you may get to share the gospel with that person.

I am amazed at the lack of knowledge folks have concerning the Word of God. (I'm not saying I know it all, because I have so much to learn yet) My husband taught at the last church we we were members of and I was amazed when he taught about the "Doctrine of Grace" how some of the folks were offended by the fact that God elects. They came a couple of times as Jim taught through the Doctrines of Grace and by the time he got to "Limited Atonement" they never returned. Again, because Jim did not give them the answers they wanted and tolerate their unbelief, doctrine divided again, with even christians???

If we truly love a brother or sister,we will not tolerate their ignorance of the Word. We will do our best to help them understand and turn it over to God. God is more than able to open the persons heart to understanding, but then He uses His own also to help. True Unity never come at the expense of Truth. True unity can only happen when we can function together in the truth. (Eph. 4 1-6) The ones that hold back on unity are the ones that do not stand obidient to the Word Of God. When doctrine becomes the problem, truth must prevail!

Good Quote.."... The response to these people? 'Turn away from them' ... We as believers are to pay close attention, to watch out for, those who are causing dissension and hindrances by teaching contrary to the Word of God, and we are to turn away from them. Have nothing to do with them ... Anyone who advocates doctrine contrary to the Word is creating conflict within the body of Christ ... And dissension/division is always the result ... We must carefully, carefully evaluate the content of what is being presented. There is no other way to discern evil.

Tolerance is not something a christian should ever do to go against God's Word. The more we become tolerant the more we are going to see the building and the growth of The ecumenical Church. We are at war with the world and the more we don't water down the Word of God, the stronger the battle will be. Satan is cheering for the tolerance the churches are practicing today. We need to put the full armor of God on and fight the good fight! Get the true Gospel out there!

Cristina

INTEGRITY

As a christian I ask, "Does our integrity matter"? I sometimes wonder if we worry more about the outer man, then the inner man? The outer man is harder to hide. We can't always hide behind makeup or bigger clothes or masks. But the inner man is easier to hide, by phoniness. But what is more important to God?

1 Samuel 13:14, "But now your kingdom shall not endure, 'The Lord has sought out for Himself a man after His own heart.'"

What is more important to God is the heart of man, not how he looks, but by the way he lives his life. We all battle with desires in our life, but integrity is shown when we follow the Lord's leading. We have to decide which prevails, pleasing God or pleasing self? We struggle every day making the right or wrong decisions. If we are a man/woman of itegerty we will do what God would want us to do.

We have to keep remembering that God sees all, sometimes I forget this, God Please forgive me. Psalm 44:21, "Would not God find this out? For He knows the secrets of the heart." He sees everything we do! Now this is very humbling. When I sin, I feel the conviction of the Holy Spirit working in me and I sometimes actually feel like lowering my head in shame, and rightfully so.

Hebrews 4:13, "And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do."

It is just like Adam and Eve felt when they sinned in the Garden, they felt naked before the Lord.We have to remember sin grieves our Lord, yet when we repent He is joyous over it, Wow!! What a Lord we serve, such a love for His own, that He continuelly forgives us and restores us.

Now I look at the description of The Virtuous Woman and think to myself, now there's "Intergerity." http://av1611.com/kjbp/kjv-bible-text/Pr-31.html
To follow what the Word of God says by being "A Virtuous Woman" is something we as women should strive for.

Integrity for the position of Pastor is so important too because without integrity how can you lead a church.

Titus 1:7 For the overseer must be above reproach as God’s steward, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not addicted to wine, not pugnacious, not fond of sordid gain.

So, when you look at that verse, you have to ask yourself, "What should a leader of a church be like?". The leader of a church should be a man of integrity. He should be a husband that loves his wife and is a good leader of his home, because if there are problems at homes, he will surely bring them to the church. He should be a humble man, not self willing. How can you serve two masters and have integrity, it's impossible. We must serve him selflessly, Him and Him alone. Integrity never comes cheap. It also reveals who, or what, you worship.

Prov 29:23 A man's pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit. (KJV)

Christians must seek to behave among men in a way that brings praise to their Father in heaven.J.I. Packer Now that's Integrity!!

You see, we are successful when we are steadily becoming the unique person God intends us to become and when we are doing what he asks us to do.

We are to conform to His likeness, and when we compromise our integrity for sake of pleasing ourselves we are taking the Glory from the one who deserve it. Integrity falls in the same line as Humility, we are to walk with the Lord so that others that are watching see Christ in us. He was fully 100% humble and had 100% integrity. How much of a percentage do you have , how much do I have? Integrity, is what the world sees of you as they look at us under a microscope watching and waiting for us to sin. What a responsibility we have!


Your character is who you are when no one but God is watching you.

Cristina

A WIFE IS TO SUBMIT TO HER HUSBAND

(1 Peter 3:1-3) 1 In the same way, you wives, be submissive to your own husbands so that even if any of them are disobedient to the word, they may be won without a word by the behavior of their wives, 2 as they observe your chaste and respectful behavior. 3 And let not your adornment be merely external—braiding the hair, and wearing gold jewelry, or putting on dresses; 4 but let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God. 5 For in this way in former times the holy women also, who hoped in God, used to adorn themselves, being submissive to their own husbands. 6 Thus Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, and you have become her children if you do what is right without being frightened by any fear .

Submission started at the beginning in Genisis. In the beginning when there was no sin, there was no one that had authority over man or woman to obey except God. When sin entered the world through Adam and Eve disobeying God, Authority was needed and that authority was given to man, Adam. In Genesis, it tells us that Adam is to submit to God as Christ did to God and women are to follow that instruction.

As a wife we are to submit to our husband's leading, it should be a natural response of a christian wife to the leader of the home, her husband. It sure does help when a husband is obeying God in his role as a husband by loving the wife like Christ loved the church. And it helps the husband also when we as women submit. There maybe be times, no there will be times, when submission may be tough, but even in those times we are to sumit if we want to please God.

Ephesians 5:25-33

25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish
28 So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.
29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:
30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.
31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.
32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.
33 Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.

I remember when I first became a christian and we we attending a church in which a couple shared their story of salvation and submission. This couple were married for a few years and the wife Maria, came to know the Lord. Well her husband was in the Navy and was not a saved man. Marie's walk grew in Christ in leaps and bounds. Her husband Rick told us, he loved his wife very much but could not grasp this "Christianty" stuff. Marie, walk the walk of a christian and Rick seen this. She submitted to His authority and he was most amazed by this. She would tell him, God's word tells me that I am to submit to you as a husband. There were times she had a hard time doing it but she knew it was what God wanted her to do. Rick would sometimes ask her not to go to church but stay home with him and she did. He noticed those times that it bothered her not to go church so he stopped asking her to do that. As I said previously, Rick loved Marie very much. Finally one day as Marie was leaving for church, Rick asked if she minded him tagging along and Marie was so thrilled and said yes, it would mean the world to her for him to be sitting beside her at church. Rick attended that Sunday and God drew Him onto Himself and Rick was saved. Rick will tell you today that it was the Lord that drew him onto salvation but it was Marie, He used as the tool to show Him the way. He said it was her submission to him that made a big difference to him because it showed him how much she loved him.

Submission is a continual attiude we should all follow not just as husband and wife but submission to our bosses, our friends, our family but mostly to God. We should be able to yield to one another as husband and wife. I think when we look at where the woman came from, the rib of Adam, I think God meant for us to work side by side with each other, excepting the roles God has bestowed on us, obeying God and submitting to our husbands.

Cristina

ANGER

Charles Spurgeon once quoted that "Anger is temporary insanity" and in some sense I have to agree with him. When we get angry we usually loose control of the situation or someone has gotten us so mad we loose it and blow up.

I think we all vent sometimes and I think that is ok. We should have the freedom to say how we feel but, when that venting crosses the line and turns into anger then I think that is sin. God does bring things into our lives to help us grow in grace and I believe sometimes He allows situations to happen to us to test our walk. I mean how do we grow in grace if life was just plain easy. The grestest growth in a christian's walk is when a trial comes into our life and we deal with it like Christ would. We can learn so much by, like I said in my previous post by "Waiting on the Lord"

Anger never solves anything! What we need to do is focus on Christ and maybe ask Him, "Why He has brought this into my life and what can I do to deal with it without getting angry?"

Now saying all that, I think sometimes we are justified for being angry. I think when we see someone being hurt or abused, we have a right to be angry. But, even then we can use the situation to bring glory to God by the way we react. Seeing someone hurt a little child get's me riled up, I can not understand the abuse of a child that can not deffend themselves, so that would be tough for me.

I know when I have anger on my heart, I find it very hard to sleep. It eats at me, it causes me to not be in full fellowship with the Lord or with the person I am angry at. The bible teaches us not go to sleep until we have resolved our anger.

Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: Neither give place to the devil. (Ephesians 5: 26-27)

He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city. (Proverbs 16: 32)

The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy. He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever. He hath not dealt us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. (Psalm 103:8-10)

A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.--(Proverbs 15:1)

A few good quotes on anger.....

An angry man opens his mouth and shuts up his eyes.


A truly humble man is sensible of his natural distance from God; of his dependence on Him; of the insufficiency of his own power and wisdom; and that it is by God's power that he is upheld and provided for, and that he needs God's wisdom to lead and guide him, and His might to enable him to do what he ought to do for Him.
—Jonathan Edwards

Cristina

PATIENCE

PATIENCE

Do you ever think how much time folks spend on "Waiting"? We wait for supper, we wait for Christmas to come, we wait for birthdays to come. We wait on the New Year to arrive or a baby to be born or for a loved one that are ill to die. While we wait, we either wait patiently or inpatiently. I guess we somtime think the time we have to wait to be a waste of time, when in actuality it could be used in such a prosperous time spent in prayer. God wants us to be patient and wait on Him and so if we are waiting on Him how can it be a waste? A good example I have read in the bible about waiting is in Romans.

Romans5 5:3 We also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. 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.

When I think how patient God is with me, it humbles me. I think even in my walk with Christ, how I have failed him either through sin or not being the example He is to me. How patient and forgiving He is at those times should give me more reason the be patient with others.

2 Peter 3:9.The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance

Philippians 2:5 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus

I have to admit Sometimes I find it hard to be patient with others, mostly when they hurt me, but to see how Jesus suffered just so that I can go to the cross and be forgiven myself, tells me I need to be more patient. Patience takes a lot of prayer and let's admit sometimes we just don't take time enough to pray. Unless we are in dier straights and then we seem to have all the time to pray.

When you think about it when you look at a person that is being patient and how calm they are and then look at a person that is impatient and how they appear, what a difference. I think to myself, do I actually look that way when I worry or are being impatient. I have to remember that and ask the Lord for patience at those moments.

"The times we find ourselves having to wait on others may be the perfect opportunities to train ourselves to wait on the Lord." Joni Eareckson Tada

The New Testament says , the apostle Paul taught the Ephesian Christians to “walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” (Eph.4:1-3)

The strongest of all warriors are these two -- Time and Patience.

We as christians need to remember that time is precious and it should be always used to bring Glory to our Lord Jesus Christ. when impatince is used, it is such a waste of time away from God.

Cristina

HEAVEN

The world rings changes, it is never constant but in its disappointments. The world is but a great inn, where we are to stay a night or two, and be gone; what madness is it so to set our heart upon our inn, as to forget our home? THOMAS WATSON

Heaven, when the believer will hear those, oh so cherished words "Welcome home my child, Welcome Home!"

We as believers, can not even fathom what Heaven will be like. When I hear the words "Glory Land", I know that is what it will entail....Glory, Glory, and Glory! We will be in the presence of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, what more will we need to be content.

We have so much hope because of what Jesus Christ did on the cross. He gave us that hope when He shed His blood for our sins and that when we trust Him, we would have eternal life with Him in Heaven...what hope! Our hope rejoices in the Glory of God. When we have hope, the more we want to please our Lord.

We want to stand before Him and hear those words," Well done my son/daughter well done!"

John 14:2-3 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also (KJV)


At the time of death, the true believers will go to Heaven where Christ reigns! We all are awaiting the time When Jesus has chosen for us to rise up with Him to Heaven. What an awesome time this will be!!

I can not wait until the Lord comes and takes us Home either by death or by taking us up into the air to heaven, our awaiting home. We are but Aliens here on earth, foreigners waiting for our Citizenship papers to be stamped, we are already sealed and ready to go and bow before our dear Lord and sing GLORY, GLORY, GLORY to Him that only deserves GLORY, amen!

(Phil 3:20-21 NRSV) But our citizenship is in heaven, and it is from there that we are expecting a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. 21 He will transform the body of our humiliation that it may be conformed to the body of his glory, by the power that also enables him to make all things subject to himself

The world passes away, and we are passing with it; but there is, doubtless, another world, which will endure for ever. Let us fit ourselves for it. -- Samuel Johnson

(Rev 21:4 NRSV) he will wipe every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more, for the first things have passed away.

(2 Corinthians 5:6-8)
6Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: 7(For we walk by faith, not by sight) 8We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.

A poor man was once reported to have said to his minister that the way to Heaven was short, easy, and simple. It only has three parts, "out of self, unto Christ, into glory."

Remember Eternal life does not begin with death, it begins with faith!

MARRIAGE

In the presence of God, our family and friends, I offer you my solemn vow to be your faithful partner in sickness and in health, in good times and in bad, and in joy as well as in sorrow. I promise to love you unconditionally, to support you in your goals, to honor and respect you, to laugh with you and cry with you, and to cherish you for as long as we both shall live.

These words have to be one of the most beautiful words any man and woman can say to one another. My dear husband reminded me of these words just this past week and it made not the greatest week, seem so much brighter. I think we should remind each other as husband and wife the vows we shared when we decided to spend the rest of our lives together.

It was in the presence of God meaning it was a vow we promised forever.

I, ________, take thee ______, to be my wife/husband,
And before God and these witnesses I promise to be
A faithful and true wife/husband."

In front our family and friends, we are telling the folks closest to us how much we mean to one another.

We solemnly swear to be faithful partners no matter what. In sickness in health, in good times and bad, in joy and in sorrow, if he picked his toenails or I snored...it meant "No Matter What!”

We promised in front of God and family and friends to love one another unconditionally, when we fail each other or disappoint one another, the love we share is a love that will forgive.

I Corinthians 13
Love is patient; love is kind.
Love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude.
It does not insist on its own way: it is not irritable or resentful;
It does not rejoice in wrong doing, but rejoices in truth.
Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things.
And now faith, hope, and love abide,
And the greatest of these is love.

We promised to support each other's goals even if we don't always agree, we stand behind one another. We promise to honor and respect one another and this is so important. If others do not see the respect we have for one another what do they see? If we do not honor one another what must others think about our marriage? We should stand by one another and never let others see disrespect.

We should be able to laugh together and cry together. To me laughter is needed in a marriage. A marriage without laughter would not last. We should be able to cry in each others presences. When you love someone, you feel their pain.

Finally you should cherish one another. No one but God should be the one you cherish the most. When you were married, you were united as one and NO ONE, I mean NO ONE should be able to break the bond!!

Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder" (Matthew 19:6).

I have been blessed with such a dear husband who loves me for being me. He has brought me such joy and laughter into my life. We have brought up three amazing children all with different personalities, all unique in their own ways and all loving and kind individuals whom we both adore. We have two beautiful grand children that we love dearly.

When I first met my husband Jim I was not saved, he was back slidden. When we were married and were expecting our son Matt, Jim realized he needed to be walking with Christ and he recommitted himself to the Lord. I was not saved, so the first part of our marriage was a struggle. I can really understand what the bible says about being unequally yoked with someone that is not a believer because it was a difficult time for us.

2 Corinthians 6:14
Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? And what communion hath light with darkness?" (KJV)

But by the grace of God I was saved....only by the grace of God did our marriage survive because before I was saved I thought I married a bible thumping nut. I could not grasp what Jim was trying to tell me when he would say "Jesus is God". How could how could God and Jesus be the same, and then adding to it the Holy Spirit and saying they were three in one, I really thought he was off the edge.

It was a struggle for the first few years and then New Years Day 1987 the Lord opened my eyes to the truth. At that moment I knew who Jesus was, I knew He was God! I knew the Holy Spirit entered my heart. I knew my life had changed for ever. I knew by the grace of God, I was His child, bought by His blood, that He shed on the cross for all my sins, past, present, and future. I was His forever and ever. Thank you Lord!

John 6:44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.

John 6:65 And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father

When I look back now and think about what I thought about my husband being a nut, I realize now He was the tool that was used to introduce me to Jesus Christ. Thank the Lord for "Nuts" like him!!

If ever two were one, then surely we.
If ever man were lov'd by wife, then thee;
If ever wife was happy in a man,
Compare with me ye women if you can.
I prize thy love more then whole Mines of gold,
Or all the riches that the East doth hold.
My love is such that Rivers cannot quench,
Nor ought but love from thee, give recompense.
Thy love is such I can no way repay,
The heavens reward thee manifold I pray.
Then while we live, in love let's so persevere,
That when we live no more, we may live ever.

-Anne Bradstreet (1612-72)


I love you Jim with all my heart. You have been such a blessing in my life.

Cristina

MY MATT

TODAY IS CANADA'S BIRTHDAY

Today is also the day my only son moved out with some buddies. I am so happy for him, he is 21 and wants to experience independence, but at the same time it is a sad time for Jim and I because our dear son is not going to be here every morning when we wake up or when we go to bed I will not hear every night "Good Night, Mom I Love You."

Let me tell you as I cry here, how wonderful of a son I have. He is a young man any one can be proud of. When ever someone speaks about "My Matt" it is with high regards. Folks have said I have never met such a nice boy or what a well mannered boy you have. Some Parents and Grandparents have said how they would like to introduce their daughters and granddaughters to Matt. The place he works at or has worked before at always comment on well he is liked. When I hear this it just makes me so proud of "My Matt".

I was talking to my mom this morning and she was telling me how she was downtown in the same building Matt works and I guess he has noticed her while he was sitting down eating his lunch. Mom said "He got right up and rushed over to her before she left and gave her a big hug and asked her to sit with him while he had lunch." She was so happy he did that, it lifted her spirits up so much. She said, "You know cris, he had no problem saying when she left, "I love you" in front of his friends," she said that meant so much to her.

You may have noticed I refer Matt as "My Matt", that is because I have called him that since he a little fellow and will continue calling him "My Matt". My son I am so proud to call you "My Son", there is no mom prouder then I am of you.

Through the years you have made me laugh. My son and I use to watch Mr. Bean. There is one time Mr. Bean was singing a hymn that had "Helaluya, Helaluya, Helaluya" sung in it and it made us laugh so much the way he did it, that every time we are in church and hear this sung, we can not look at each other with out laughing. I can feel Matt looking at me every time it is sung and I will do my best not to look his way or if he was beside me I can hear him sing it in a baratone voice and a straight face as Mr. Bean did and I had such a hard time not laughing out loud . I know God has a sense of humor and knows we do not do this out of disrespect. It's good to be able to laugh with your children, it's good to be able to see them off into the world and feel you have done the best you can and know they know that you love them. It's good to know that they love you back just as much.

My son gave me a big hug as he was leaving and I have to tell you it was hard to let go, it is hard to let go...I now am turning My Matt over to the Lord to watch over when we are not there and praying that he will walk strongly with Jesus Christ, that he will not let the world get a hold of him. and that he will stop in when he can and that he will ALWAYS remember His mom loves him dearly and SO, SO proud of him.

Love Mom