Do we really believe?

Do We Really Believe

If I were driving down the road, and someone flagged me down, and told me that the bridge was out.
I said OK, Thanks, I really appreciate the warning.
BUT...
kept on going.
Did i really believe them?
Doesn't my actions ( or no action) show my belief?


Don't get me wrong --we are all human and we all fall short.
But...We shouldn't use this as an excuse to do what we want when we want.
That is cheap grace! This also doesn't mean we shouldn't strive.

The first commandment
Luke10:27 You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind.

This says LOVE GOD with every fiber physical & spiritual

James 4:8 Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world.
The choice is ours

Proverbs 8:17 I love all who love me. Those who search will surely find me.

Psalm 139:23 Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.

Please God humble me!

Matthew 17:20 You don’t have enough faith,” Jesus told them. “I tell you the truth, if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it would move. Nothing would be impossible. ”

God can move the mountains in life, but most of the time He give us the strength to get through it.

Isaiah 29:13 And so the Lord says,“These people say they are mine. They honor me with their lips,but their hearts are far from me. And their worship of me is nothing but man-made rules learned by rote.

God looks at our heart, there is nothing hidden from Him. Do my actions line up with my heart?
Do I follow the Lord 24-7 ?

James 2:26 Just as the body is dead without breath, so also faith is dead without good works.

When we follow the Lord, He flows through us. It is automatic (this is the fruit of the spirit)

Mark 9:24 The father instantly cried out, “I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!”

It's God job to grow us. We have no power to do that. (We can decide on the quality)
We are all a work in progress until we die (we are growing) this is a continual changing

Romans 8:1 So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.


ONLY TWO CHOICES ON THE SHELF
SERVE GOD
OR
SERVE YOURSELF

Pathway to Spiritual Independence

You guys really ought to take the time to listen to this...
Thank You Cindy for the suggestion!

• The Pathway to Spiritual Independence

  
  Learn from Dr. Stanley as he teaches from Luke 15; how you got where you are, and how to get back where you need to be.
  

Scripture Memory Verse

Psalm 139:23-24

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  Search me, O God, and know my heart;
  
  Try me and know my anxious thoughts;
  
  And see if there be any hurtful way in me,
  
  And lead me in the everlasting way.
  
  

God's Promise

James 1:5

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  If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.

Here is the audio teaching

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  mp3

  
  
  

GROW! - By Don Davis

God gave us a free will .

The ability to choose.
We can choose to grow spiritually or not.
The choice is ours,
God isn’t going to force feed us.
God knows what is best for us;
Through His Love letter (the Bible)
He gives directions & warnings.

Romans 12:2 (New Living Translation) Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

James 4:8 (New Living Translation) Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world.

John 8:31 (New Living Translation) Jesus said to the people who believed in him, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. 32 And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

Philippians 4:6-7 (New Living Translation) 6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

RENEWAL OR RELAPSE PT 2

• Dr. Stanley explains some key principles to help believers be on guard against falling back into their old lifestyles.
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  Also Available mp3 Real Media

  
  
  

  
  
  
  

RENEWAL OR RELAPSE

• 
  
  Here is a link to Charles Stanley teaching about
  
• relapse - This is part one:
• Thank You to David & Cindy for the suggestion.
  

  
  
  
  
  

  mp3

  
  

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The Stool

Temptation

A Servant's Heart

Today I was finally getting around to packing the few things we had put out for Christmas. I wondered why I had waited so long. Now I think I know why....
As I was collecting the Christmas cards that were sent to us by friends & family I began to look at the cards that we had saved throughout the years. I was actually just rummaging through them haphazardly. One card drew my attention in a remarkable way.
I picked it up noticing how pretty it was. On the front it just said, "My friend".
Unremarkable.
Yet the remarkable part of the card lied in the words which were handwritten on the inside.
"Sondra, I just want to thank you for being my friend. Thank you for loving me and for caring about me. I know we both have had a rough year. One good thing came with it though, our precious Gabriel. He is a gift from God. I love you, Cheryl"

Cheryl was my friend.
She wrote this card in 2007. We had both been going through cancer. She, for quite a few years. Me, for only a few months.
I began to think of our friendship and of all of the ways she had shown love to me and my family during our relationship. She was the first one to love me at my new church back in 2003. When we met she hugged my husband and I with a bear hug and a grip ( amazing because she was a tiny lady)that felt like she would never let go. She never did.

I am amazed when I think of the way this woman loved:

She loved and served everyone she knew.
She didn't ever complain about it.
She did it from her heart.
She gave each person her all, and made them feel like they were the only ones in the entire world.
Although she was suffering the most, she would reach out to others who didn't have it so bad, and make their burden lighter.

These words don't do justice to the way Cheryl lived her life.
I guess you would have had to know her. Then you would know what I mean.

As I read her card I was filled with love for Cheryl.
I was also filled with a remorse because I know that I did not show, in tangible ways, what she meant to me.
She had loved me with her heart.
Yet...
She thanked me for loving her.

Sounds a lot like her savior.

I can just hear Him say to her, as she saw Him for real that day, "Well done you good and faithful servant! Enter into your rest..."

Cheryl Gold Barcliff did finally meet her Savior for real last year.
January 5th of last year, by the way!
Exactly one year, to this day!
I told you there was a reason that I waited so long to put away the Christmas stuff!


May God make us all into people who love.
Not just with words, and not just in our hearts...
But out of our hearts ...
And into others'

Solitude

Psalm 27 NASB

A Psalm of Fearless Trust in God.
A Psalm of David.

1The LORD is my light and my salvation;
Whom shall I fear?
The LORD is the defense of my life;
Whom shall I dread?
2When evildoers came upon me to devour my flesh,
My adversaries and my enemies, they stumbled and fell.
3Though a host encamp against me,
My heart will not fear;
Though war arise against me,
In spite of this I shall be confident.
4(I)One thing I have asked from the LORD, that I shall seek:
That I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life,
To behold the beauty of the LORD
And to meditate in His temple.
5For in the day of trouble He will conceal me in His tabernacle;
In the secret place of His tent He will hide me;
He will lift me up on a rock.
6And now my head will be lifted up above my enemies around me,
And I will offer in His tent sacrifices with shouts of joy;
I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the LORD.
7Hear, O LORD, when I cry with my voice,
And be gracious to me and answer me.
8When You said, "Seek My face," my heart said to You,
"Your face, O LORD, I shall seek."
9Do not hide Your face from me,
Do not turn Your servant away in anger;
You have been my help;
Do not abandon me nor forsake me,
O God of my salvation!
10For my father and my mother have forsaken me,
But the LORD will take me up.
11Teach me Your way, O LORD,
And lead me in a level path
Because of my foes.
12Do not deliver me over to the desire of my adversaries,
For false witnesses have risen against me,
And such as breathe out violence.
13I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the LORD
In the land of the living.
14Wait for the LORD;
Be strong and let your heart take courage;
Yes, wait for the LORD.


This past week the Lord has been whispering to my heart. He has patiently and consistently tugged and urged me to get away - alone with Him. I must confess that my ears have been dull and my heart has been even slower to comprehend what He has been saying in His unique gentle whisper. I just kept trudging along, getting wearier and wearier by the minute. Not realizing what I needed, I tried to find the strength in myself. Although I didn’t “snap” to what He was saying I could not shake the sweet undertone of His influence – “Come Away With Me”.

You see, life has been hectic lately. There has been the business of studies and ministry. There has been the harried pace of the Christmas Holiday (somehow I see a sad irony in this statement). There has been the financial uneasiness of being self employed during this time of failing economy. And how could I forget the intense underlying concern for loved ones who are far away.

All of this going on in my soul has brought with it fear, unrest, and exhaustion.

Yet, for some reason it has taken me a lot of time to realize that the only one that could restore and rejuvenate my weary self was calling me to be alone with Him. I knew it. I just didn’t bring myself to actually do it! Every time I have finally sought solitude with my Lord He has restored me. Why does it take so long to remember and return?

Today I did take the time. And guess what? God showed up! Actually He was always there - at the door, knocking, waiting to come in and be with me!

I have been able to hang out with Him all morning and what a great morning it has been!
It seems like every thing I’ve read in His Word has been for my restoration and recovery. He knew what I needed!

In Psalm 85:6 the psalmist asks, “Will You not revive us again, that Your people may rejoice in You?” By the way, did you know that the Hebrew word for revive means not only to restore and refresh but also to repair? That’s what I needed …repair.

I am so grateful that I finally got alone, opened the door, and had the most amazing time with my Lord. I felt that I never wanted to leave. Yet, life beckons…sigh…
Even though I must leave the solitude and become involved, once again, with the cares of living, I feel somehow lighter and strengthened. I also know that I don’t go alone.

It is my prayer that you guys won’t put it off…that you will make the time…open the door…trust me (actually-- TRUST HIM) …You won’t be disappointed!

Incidentally, I sooo identify with Elijah in this passage...know what I mean?

I Kings 19:3-12 NIV

3 Elijah was afraid [a] and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, 4 while he himself went a day's journey into the desert. He came to a broom tree, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. "I have had enough, LORD," he said. "Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors." 5 Then he lay down under the tree and fell asleep.
All at once an angel touched him and said, "Get up and eat." 6 He looked around, and there by his head was a cake of bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then lay down again.
7 The angel of the LORD came back a second time and touched him and said, "Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you." 8 So he got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he traveled forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God. 9 There he went into a cave and spent the night.

The LORD Appears to Elijah
And the word of the LORD came to him: "What are you doing here, Elijah?"
10 He replied, "I have been very zealous for the LORD God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, broken down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too."
11 The LORD said, "Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by."
Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. 12 After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper.