May you be covered by His blood.

May your be covered by His blood. 2 Corinthians 5:21, 1 John 1:9, Hebrews 12:1b-2a, Titus 3:4-7, John 14:15-31.

2 Corinthians 5:21

"For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him."
NKJV

Sin... little word, big problem. Think of all the problems in your own life caused by your sin. Think of all the problems in the world caused by the sin of others - wars, violence, stealing, laziness, and envy. On and on and on the list goes and grows. There is a saying, "Sin is the seed, and death is the harvest." The Bible has a lot to say about sin. It tells us that sin is not only the bad things we do, but also the good things we don't do. When we fail to love, give or help, we are engaging in sin. As long as we never do wrong and always do right, we don't and won't have a problem with sin. Thanks... that helped a lot. :-) The Bible tells us how to deal with past sins and how to deal with sin in the present and future. It is easier than you think. "Past sins," you may ask? Ask for forgiveness.

1 John 1:9 "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." NKJV

What about our present sins? Hebrews 12:1b-2a says that we should strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up and that we should run with endurance the race God has set before us.

We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith... Friend don't tell God you have a big sin problem, tell the sin problem you have to a big God. Think about life, think about Jesus, and keep your eyes on Him.

Life Lesson: God has the only cure for sin

Dear God,
Thank You taking my sin upon You. I am sorry for the wrong things I have done and for the right I have failed to do. I confess my sins to You and ask for forgiveness. (Confess your sins, by act and by name to Him). Lord, thank You for helping me with my past and present sins. Help me to keep my eyes not on my sin, but on my Savior, Jesus. Help me to soar by casting off the weights of sin. Help me to live the life You have called me to live. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Living to tell what He died to say, Pastor David McGee

Here are some verses to do with our salvation. I hope you enjoy reading and studying them and may the knowledge of the word fill your hearts and minds (Rebishka):

But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. (Titus 3:4-7) (NKJV)

When we accept Jesus we receive from the Father and are enriched.

1 Corinthians 1:3

"that you were enriched in everything by Him in all utterance and all knowledge,"
(NKJK)

	John 14:15-31 Jesus Promises the Holy Spirit 15 "If you love me, you will keep my commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, 17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you. 18 "I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20 In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. 21 Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him." 22 Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, "Lord, how is it that you will manifest yourself to us, and not to the world?" 23 Jesus answered him, "If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. 24 Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father's who sent me. 25 "These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. 26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. 28 You heard me say to you, 'I am going away, and I will come to you.' If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. 29 And now I have told you before it takes place, so that when it does take place you may believe. 30 I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no claim on me, 31 but I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. Rise, let us go from here. My Comments:We have the promise of the God of the Universe to us who turn to Him through Jesus His Son that we have the peace of God and Salvation. There is no condemnation to those who turn to Jesus. There is only love and joy even in the pain that comes in this life because we know we that one the day our Lord calls us home we will leave this world and be instantly at home with the Lord. We have His promise that He will come again one day and take us home with Him. As long as we remain His we are saved. My hubby is very ill and yet he has joy because he knows when this life is over he will be in Heaven without suffering or pain or illness. Yet he also knows the Lord could heal him here as well as take him home and heal him there. Either way he will be healed and as long as the Lord has him here he has work to do in the name of Jesus. That work is to take the Word of God to those who do not know the Lord. Those who live in darkness and do not know they are lost. To a rejecting world yet he loves them as his Lord loves them and yearns to bring our family and loved ones and the world, to the righteousness of the Lord. When he first found out he was terminal he wanted to go home quickly and then he realized it wasn't up to him. It is all up to the Lord. He also, realized he had a purpose and if the Lord wanted he would be healed miraculously or through medication and how he lived and finished his life here may bring others to the Lord he loves so much and who loved him enough to willingly go to the Cross and die for his sin and the sin of the whole world. I bless God for giving me such a faithful husband who loves the Lord so much and is a very real inspiration to me daily by how he lives his life. How about you? Do you know the Lord Jesus? Have you accepted His sacrifice of the Cross? There is only one way to the Father and that is through the Son Jesus who is one with Him. It is easy. You just have to give your will to God and accept the free sacrifice of Jesus for your sin. He will carry your burdens as soon as you give them to Him. As soon as you let Him cover your sin. Your sin that separates you from the Father who loves you so much. Turn to Jesus now and ask Him to be your Savior, ask Him to cover your sin. To do that in faith and to trust Him makes you His who is the King of Heaven, You become the adopted son or daughter of God the Father and He will fill you with His Holy Spirit. Then read His Word and let Him fill you with His purpose. Trust Him to guide you and fill you with His knowledge as you study His Word (not all versions that claim to be true, are. I recommend reading the New King James Version or American or English Standard Versions. Not all churches that claim to be Christian, are so I recommend you find a good solid Bible studying church that does not profess anything but Jesus Christ as the way to Salvation or to God. Not praying to saints, angels or Mary or Muhammad or any other but Jesus the Christ) and He will if you are careful to search out His Word in a true version of the Word. Abba guide those who accept Your Son Jesus the Christ as You did Your son Jesus when He lived as the Son of Man. Bring true followers into their lives to mentor them and fill them with Your Holy Spirit so as they read Your Word they will know Your truths and find Your peace that passeth understanding. Let them feel Your love and hide them under the wings like eagles and keep them from stumbling. If they fall lift them up and build Your trust within their hearts and lives that others may come to You through their lives lived for You, in You and with You. In Jesus Name. Amen Rebishka

 

Reborn in Christ Jesus

Reborn in Jesus Christ New King James Version (NKJV) Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved. John 3:3 Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” John 3:7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ 1 Peter 1:23 having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever, 1 Corinthians 15:42-43, NKJV "So also is the resurrection of the dead. The body is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption. It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power." Ephesians 1:13-14 "In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory." My Comments: I happen to be one of the seeds that took a long time to germinate and grow. True I was planted in the soil of a church that was deficient in good soil (truth) and like the seed that is blown around by different winds I did the same thing. When I finally heard the truth of the word and accepted Jesus I was like the seed that  thirsted and finally been given a drink of fresh water. I was reborn in Christ Jesus and became a Child of God. Though after I received that drink of fresh water (Born Again) I did not find nourishment or the sunshine only the Lord can provide. Well, I guess I did yet not in abundance because I was not reading from a good version of the word of God (the Bible) and I did not have solid teaching (I was not in a good solid Bible believing/teaching Church that believed in the whole work of God) for many years after I accepted the Lords righteousness. Then the Lord took things in hand and showed me the error of my way and transplanted me to richer soil. Yet at the time it did not seem like that is what was happening. Yet like the Followers of the Way in the beginning of the Church times what happened to us caused us to get closer to the Lord and dig deeper into His word. My husband lost his job, we lost our home, car and kept trying to grow in the unhealthy soil. After two years we finally gave up and eventually went bankrupt (if we had trusted the Lord we would not have had to do go bankrupt). The transplanting came when we went to a home we had purchased for retirement, out at the ocean. It was full of black mold, the roof fell off and we had to do the repairs in hurricane storm wind, while living there yet we were on the right road. We went to school and I received the right training for two or more hours a day to and from town. The soil became an enriching one and as I started to grow stronger I convinced my hubby to listen to the true word of God and eventually we were both strong transplants though he had not accepted Jesus yet. He did later though he understood the truth sooner but he took longer to understand the church he had been brought up in was not truly teaching the word of God  and had changed the word and had traditions that went against the word of God. Now I am (my hubby has since gone home to be with the Lord)  following God and being refreshed by the river of life and fed on the word of God and fellowship with the Lord who is the Son of God and one with God. Now I am a strong plant and because I am nourished by and strengthened by God through His Word, I spread His seeds so others may grow, be nourished, watered and enriched by the Word of God, by the Son of God, with the rivers of living water. Abba Father, Thank You for Your nourishment and for planting us in good soil. Steep us in Your truth, the truth of Your Word. Thank You for blessing us with rivers of living water and You shining Your light on us with love and grace. Keep us in the palm of Your hand and tend the garden of our souls so we become straight and strong and growing only in the light of Your Son Jesus Christ. Grow our roots deep into Your Word of truth and plant our feet solidly on the Rock of our Salvation (Jesus). Thank You for bringing us the Word and filling us with the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of truth, so we may do the work You have planned for us to do from the beginning of time. Keep us from all evil and help us to spread the seed that brings others to the truth of Your Word. In Jesus' Name in union with the Holy Spirit. Amen Rebishka

God is more powerful than fear.

God is more powerful than fear. Psalms 34:8, Deuteronomy 31:6, 8, Luke 12;4/5, Joshua 1:9, Hebrews 13:5/6, 1 John 4:17/18, Psalms 34:9, Joshua 1:6-9, Philippians 4:6/7, 2 Corinthians 1:8/9, 1 Corinthians 13:7, Romans 5:2, Corinthians 4:15, 9:8, 12:9, Ephesians 1:6, 2:8, Hebrews 4:16, 1 Peter 5:10, 1 John 1:9, 1 John 5:21, James 4:1-10.

When we were children we may have feared things in the night or walking alone on a deserted street or our parents being away from home. As we grew up we may have feared the law or our parents anger or failing grades in school. As adults we may have feared losing the person we loved or family or friends. We may have feared losing our job or not even getting one. If we had children we may have feared them being very ill even to death. We may have feared losing our parents or even growing old. All these fears the world calls normal God calls lack of trust.

When we fear as a child we know that when Mommy or Daddy (in a world where everyone has a Mommy and a Daddy) come into the room when we are afraid of the dark or having a scary dream, that everything will be fine because they would never let anything happen to us. So it is with all the other fears. We know when we are little that they will take care of us and protect us. When we get older we understand they are only able to take care of some things and some other things are out of their control.

Not so with our heavenly Daddy. He can take care of all things because He created the universe and He created all living creatures and people. He will take care of things the best way for us and for anyone else involved in the circumstances but we no longer fear the outcome because we know and trust He has all in His control (Psalms 34:8).

 If we trust what God tells us when we become His, that we should fear not, and Jesus says, I am with you (Deuteronomy 31:6, 8) until the end of the age then we are filled with perfect love and that casts out fear (Luke 12:4/5). If we have faith and trust in Him as a child does who reaches for their Mommy or Daddy, then we will know our Heavenly Daddy will take care of everything for us. He will never desert us in our time of need, even if it feels that way ( Joshua 1:9). It does not matter if you have a big river or a small creek to cross a big problem or a little one, if You believe and trust in Him (Hebrews 13:5/6) God will be there with you.  Our God is a God of love and perfect love casts out all fear (1 John 4:17/18).

Now all that being said the Bible tells us to fear the Lord God for there is not want for those who fear Him (Psalms 34:9, Joshua 1:6-9).  "Be anxious for nothing but in prayer and supplication , with thanksgiving,let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus (Philippians 4.6/7)."

My husband is terminal. I have lost my Mother, Father and both of my Step-Parents, a son, a daughter and our oldest Grandson and now my husband is getting set to make his final journey (2 Corinthians 1:8/9, 1 Corinthians 13:7). God fills me with peace even when the times are full of pain. He gives me joy in the midst of suffering or watching my loved ones suffer. What is that peace? It is the peace that comes from my heavenly Daddy who takes care of all things. He will take care of all things for you as well. Not as the world looks at it or has taught us to look at it yet the way that is best for all of us. It is a way that allows us and others to grow in their knowledge and understanding, faith and trust and love of God. He lets each of us come to the point where we realize we cannot do it, solve it, master it. Only God can. And then He does, but first we have to give it all to Him. All the praise, glory, thanksgiving, yielding of control and prayer must be His if we are to experience His power working in and through our situation and us.

We must receive the grace and live for His glory (Romans 5:2, Corinthians 4:15, 9:8, 12:9, Ephesians 1:6, 2:8, Hebrews 4:16, 1 Peter 5:10) than we will be able to go before God and be filled with His strength.

Abba may we only fear not having You in our lives. Only fear You so that we will live our lives as You have commanded so You know how much we love You. Perfect love means doing the best to let the one we love know how much they are loved by not hurting them. Help us to live our lives so we do nothing that will separate us from You. Keep us free from the idolatrous lusts of the heart and keep us humbly in repentance and confession (1 John 1:9, 1 John 5:21, James 4:1-10). Thank You Abba for all You allow in our lives for our growth and to help us to have faith and trust in You. Keep us close to Your heart and cover us with Your wing like eagles. Our trust is in You Lord and our faith is Your to grow and mold. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
Rebishka

God is our strength

 

When we are weak He is strong. 1 Corinthians 2:3, 1Timothy 1:16, PSalms 46:1, Psalm 84:11, 1 Peter 5:7, Isiah 41:13, Ephesians 2:14,Psalms 119:147, Psalms 4:8, Psalms 105:4, Psalms 50:15. 

 

The following portion is from Cross the Bridge Ministries with my comments following as usual.

 

1 Corinthians 2:3

"I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling."
NKJV

Paul is being very honest in this verse. He is not trying to make himself look better than he really is. He isn't covering up his weakness. In fact, in 1 Timothy 1:16, Paul proclaims that he is an example of God's long suffering. He is not a perfect man but a perfect example of God's loving-kindness, grace and mercy.

At times, Christians act like we don't have any problems. The problem with this is that it leaves an impression to those who don't know Jesus. They see Christians pretending they are not messed up and assume that since they still struggle with problems, they don't belong in church. In doing so, are we proclaiming God's goodness or our own?

We need to proclaim God's goodness by being open about our problems and proclaiming that it is the goodness of God that saves! That's being real. It's real life, demonstrating the real love and real hope of the real God. In your weakness, the Good News of Jesus Christ is made strong.

Life Lesson: We should be real with people and not portray some 'False Spirituality'.

Dear Father,
Thank You for loving me. Thank You for the forgiveness of my sins and for giving me the opportunity to experience life more abundantly. Lord, thank You for revealing Yourself to me through Your Word. I want the offer of joy, hope and peace that only You can give. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Living to tell what He died to say, Pastor David McGee   My Comments: It is easy for a Christian to get in the wrong mode of saying things are going well and not confiding in other brothers and sisters for fear of being thought of as not strong enough in our faith or thought of a a complainer. We mistakenly believe that when we accept the Lord and believe on Him we no longer will have and problems in life and if we do we must be doing something wrong or at least people will think that of us. If people think that they are well steeped in the word of the Bible. We are told we will have health, money or even safety issues (to name a few). What we are also told is if we cast our cares on Him, He is strong enough to help us through them.   There is a name it and claim it mentality going around in some "Christian" churches that is not upheld in the Bible and people with that mentality look at other Christians who experience difficulties of hardships lack faith in God and lack faith in their salvation. This is very much against the Word of God as He has set forth in the Bible. I say for shame to those who profess to being a Christian who place this burden on the shoulders of someone already having a hard time.   One time all of my children (had five at that time) and myself were suffering illness and needed help from our church (I know now it was not a true church of God). When the Priest got there he told me the reason we had been experiencing so much sickness; and things like our washer and dryer breaking down and having to be one welfare; was because I must be doing something wrong. My husband had committed adultery, left us (at the time he left I had one new born child a preemie in the hospital), illness (even a broken tail bone), machines breaking down etc and all of this was because of me, according to him. He was of the belief I was not being a good wife, mother or not praying hard enough but he was sure it was me. This brought me to my knees and more prayer. I learned by God's own words that it was not me. God allowed me to go through this time so I would know that people say things and throw stones and God will be there with me and bring me through by His own strength. When I am weak He is strong in me. I have to get out of the way for Him to work in and through me.   My second husband is very ill and is terminal. We do not fear his death as we are assured where he is going when he passes from this world. I know I will see him when I pass on so I am not troubled by his change of residence though there will be sorrow and I will have to learn to live life in a new way yet I know God will be in me and with me continually and He will give me His peace (Ephesians 2:14) that passeth understanding.   Now those who have walked with the Lord and matured in His love know He will help us to go through this life and all that happens here (Psalms 119:147, Psalms 4:8, Psalms 105:4, Psalms 50:15) as we call on Him and trust in Him which I do. I agree with Pastor David that we need to share with other believers (not in depth usually) what is going on in our lives and ask for their prayers and when we are ask to pray for others or others tell us of their problems we need to remember God has all the answers and He does not call us to judge why someone is going through the situations they are allowed to be in. It is however, an opportunity for us to pray for and come along side others in the body as Jesus moves us to do. It is an opportunity to show unbelievers and even new believers the love, strength and body of our Daddy who has made us His children through the Cross of Jesus the Christ (Christ means Messiah).    Abba, You know the things we are going through. Sometimes we bring things into our lives by the choices we make and sometimes You in Your wisdom allow things to happen in us and our lives (as with Job). We trust You Abba to be in us and with us who have accepted Your Son Jesus' gift of righteousness He obtained for us on the Cross. We know You will take care of all who call upon You with sincerity, trust and faith. We call upon You in the days of our troubles and we have trust You will hear us and go with us through the fires and tribulations of life. Help us to reach out to the body for help in times of need. Help us to ask for prayers as well as emotional and physical help with trust in You. Show Your strength through our weakness and though like Christ we ask if this cup can be taken away like Him we also say, "Not our will but Yours be done."   Let us not pretend we are perfect and that life is perfect and let us not suffer in silence but learn to reach out and let others come along side of us and may we go along side of others who are going through situations in their lives. May we laugh with them and cry with them when the time comes. You are our strength. We have none of our own and if we rely on our own we will eventually come to the end of our strength. Your strength never ends nor are You ever weak. Keep us in Your strength.  In Jesus precious and Holy Name, Amen   Rebishka

Death is a certainty, where will you go?

Death is a certainty, where will you go? 2 Corinthians 5:8, Philippians 1:21-23, John 12:26, John 11:25, John 5:21, Romans 10:9/10, 13.

Do you ever think about your own death? George Bernard Shaw said, "The statistics of death are quite impressive. One out of one dies." Death may be a certainty, but the more important question is this: "Am I going to heaven when I die?"

The Bible teaches that not only does God make it possible for you to go to heaven, He wants you to know that heaven is your destination the very instant you die. (See 2 Corinthians 5:8.)

Receive

The apostle Paul looked at death this way: "'For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better. But if I live, I can do more fruitful work for Christ. So I really don't know which is better. I'm torn between two desires: I long to go and be with Christ, which would be far better for me. But for your sakes, it is better that I continue to live'" (Philippians 1:21-23, NLT).

On this earth, the presence of Christ is in us. When a Christian dies, we are immediately in the presence of Christ in heaven. Jesus said, "If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also" (John 12:26).

What do the following verses tell you about life and death, about God and love?

"Jesus told her, 'I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying'" (John 11:25, NLT).

"For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he will" (John 5:21, ESV).

Reflect

The good news is that you and I can choose where we will spend eternity. But we have to make our choice this side of death. Not to choose is to make a choice. I can think of no better time to nail down your eternal destiny than now.

How?

"If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved...For 'Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved'" (Romans 10:9-10, 13 NKJV).

Respond

If you have never prayed and asked Christ to be your Savior, forgive you of your sins and give you a home in heaven, why not do that right now?

If you have done that, why not take a moment and thank the Lord that the greatest tragedy in all of life can never happen to you: standing before God with Jesus not as your Savior.

My Comments: You will hear it said, "I can wait to choose,”  "I'm good enough so why try,” or "I don't believe in heaven and hell" or well ....  There are any number of comments to cover why people do not believe God and accept Jesus as their Savior. I will just address a few of these types of comments.

I have a car and it requires oil changes, tune-ups, new brakes and even new tires now and again. If I said I can just wait and choose to take care of my cars needs until later then sooner or later it will break down on me. If I do not take care of my health or my families health then that is not being responsible with my families, and my health. We can tell ourselves we are healthy enough and just do what we want, "eat, drink and be merry" and everything will just be fine. We can say I don't believe in going to a Doctor or taking medicine or eating properly or even my body knows what it needs and I drink or eat what I feel it needs. Are you laughing yet? Our bodies, cars, homes, and families need to be cared for and even preventive measures taken for the future needs of each.

So it is with our souls and choosing where we want our souls to go after the death of our bodies. We don't wait until our bodies or our cars or families are at the end to finally take care of them do we? Why do some feel they can wait until the end life, or even just take a chance the Bible is wrong, and reject God? None are good enough to stand by themselves before the God of the Universe and claim a place in heaven and standing before Him who created all of us, and trying to get away with, “I did not know.” Will not be what gets one into heaven. Jesus said, He is the way and that to go to the Father we have to go through Him (not Buddha, Mohammad, Joseph Smith, Hari krishna or any other person or other thing nor can we just be good enough) so we have no other mediator with the Father (not Mary His Mother either or any saints). Just Jesus!

A lot of people do not believe in God or that He exists yet do you see the piston in your car or the cells of your body? We do not have to see God to know He exists (yet we can see His works and His glory in the world around us) anymore than we have to see the piston in the engine of our car to know it is there and we see the leaves on the trees move when the wind blows yet we cannot see the air moving. God is and His promises are true and because they are true do you want to stand before Him without His Son Jesus interceding for you?

Imagine yourself in a court of law without a lawyer or even yourself as your lawyer. Imagine now you have a lawyer and he says whatever punishment my client deserves put on me. This is what Jesus did on the Cross. He took on our sin once and for all so we could stand before the Creator of the Universe and not get our just punishment because He already took it for us. We just have to accept it and Him as our Savior and be God’s own adopted child as precious as a new born baby and as pure as the new falling snow. Without accepting His gift of Sacrifice we could do all the “good works” we wanted or the world said were good and still be sinners and not worthy of heaven.

The God who cast out Adam and Eve from Paradise because of sin will not accept us into Heaven with sin. I hope you accept Jesus as your Savior and then you will never have to wonder, “Am I good enough,” You will be because of the righteousness of Jesus the Christ foretold of in the Old Testament. If you have accepted His righteousness then pray for others and do as Jesus instructed and go and make disciples and if you accept Jesus today or when you do then go and tell others the “Good News of the Gospel.”

Abba, we praise You and glorify Your Holy Name and thank You for all You have done for us and in our lives. We thank You for bringing us to the Cross and sending Your Son so we may have His intercession before You. Protect us as Your children and be with us as we go forth in the Name of Your Son Jesus to proclaim You to the world and make disciples who make disciples. In Jesus Name. Amen

Rebishka

Hear the voice of Jesus and be established as His sheep.  John 10:27-30, Romans 8:28, Romans 1:9-13, Romans 9:25/26, Romans 14:11, Romans 15:5-12, John 10:7-9, John 11:25/26, Mark 13:26/27, Luke 10:21/22, Luke 12:8, 22:66-69, John 3:16/17, John 5:19-27.

John 10:27-30 "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father's hand. I and My Father are one." NKJV
 

 How can we know for certain we are God's own child? If we have accepted the grace He obtained for us on the Cross (the Gospel of the Cross) then we can be sure we are established as His own. We can be certain of this because God promised us this and He never breaks His promises to us. Jesus promised us and He being the Son, and as He says He and the Father are one so what one promises will be fulfilled.  

          We are His sheep if we accept Him as our shepard. The Father sent His Son Jesus to fulfill Old
          Testament prophecy. Jesus was born to suffer and die in our place so we could become the
          sons and daughters of God. His sons and daughters had to be perfect as His Son Jesus. We
          could not become pure unless He died in our place as the perfect sacrifice. Jesus did this
          because He loves us and wants all to go to heaven and be with Him and the Father forever.
    
          Those who hear his voice will answer His call by turning to Jesus and accepting Him and His
          gift of salvation. He will do the rest. He will place His purity on those who turn to Him  and
          take on His righteousness. This is a gift from God the Father our Abba or Daddy. I hope you
          will accept His gift and the sacrifice of His Son so you, too, may be filled with the Holy Spirit
          and live forever with Your heavenly Daddy in heaven.
   

Here are some verses you might like to search out as they speak to the diety of Jesus and He and the Father as one (there are many more and I encourage you to search them out for your edification):

Romans 8:28

Romans 1:9-13

Romans 9:25/26

Romans 14:11

Romans 15:5-12

John 10:7-9

John 11:25/26

Mark 13:26/27

Luke 10:21/22

Luke 12:8

Luke 22:66-69

John 3:16/17

John 5:19-27

Abba, we come before You. We are lost sheep. We hear the voice of our Lord, Your Son, Jesus Christ. Open our eyes and unstop our ears and soften our hearts so we will give ourselves to You through Your Son. Help us to open our mouths and accept the gift of the sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross. Forgive us for those things which have caused our souls to become so black. Wash us in the blood of the Lamb that we may be made pure. Plant our roots deep into Your Word that teaches us about You and Your purpose for us. Pour forth Your Holy Spirit through us that we may fulfill our purpose, that Christ the Shepard, set for us to go and make disciples in His name. Seal our hearts for You and protect us, as Jesus once prayed for us, from evil. Keep us as the apple of Your eye and always close to Your heart. Thank You for Your everlasting Love and Your mercy. Fill our heart with Your joy and peace and may we grow to show forth Your Son Jesus to all You bring into our lives. In Jesus' Name. Amen

Rebishka

        

Follow Christ and fear not.

Christs followers have nothing to fear. Romans 6:23, 2 Corinthians 5:8, John 14:1-3, James 414.
The first half is by Back to the Bible Ministries:

The unknown future can often leave us feeling worried and afraid. We're always wondering where we'll be in ten years. If we'll ever find a spouse? If we'll we get that job we really want? If our kids will grow up to serve and love the Lord? However, if we've received Jesus Christ as our Savior, even though we may not know the future, we do know the One who controls it.

Receive

"For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 6:23, NLT).

"Yes, we are fully confident, and we would rather be away from these earthly bodies, for then we will be at home with the Lord" (2 Corinthians 5:8, NLT).

"Don't let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. There is more than enough room in my Father's home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am" (John 14: 1-3, NLT).

• Because we have accepted Jesus Christ, what do we get?
• If we're not in our earthly bodies, where are we?
• Where is the Lord's home?

Reflect

Too many of us spend most of our lives worrying about the future. Ask yourself, in the end, what really matters? Our time here on earth is just a short period when compared to eternity (James 4:14). The most important thing for us to know is where we're spending forever. As a Christian, we know that we're going to heaven; and we don't have to worry about it.

Respond

While we can take comfort in the knowledge that our eternal destination will be heaven, those who aren't saved don't have the knowledge that brings that comfort. Think about the people you know who aren't saved. (If you don't know anyone, pray that God will send someone who doesn't know Him into your life.) Take some time this week to pray that the Holy Spirit will begin to work in that person's heart. Also pray that God will provide you with opportunities to share the Gospel with your new friend.

And while you're praying, thank God that you know you'll spend the rest of your life with Him in heaven. (the end of Back to the Bible Ministries posting).

My Comments: Erroneously many believe because of prejudice that a person who has Jesus in their lives lives in fear. It is so far from the truth. If one has been saved by the righteousness of Jesus Christ they know they have nothing to fear because they know no matter what happens in this world their destination is sealed in eternity with God.

I have a husband whose body is not functioning well, who has to go see the Dr often, who needs a liver transplant and has cancer of the liver. Yet neither of us fear the future as we know whether he lives or dies he will be in the will of God, our generous and loving Father. Our income has been (this was before my hubby went home to be with the Lord) cut considerably because of his illness yet we do not fear as this world is transient and our eternity is sealed so we have joy in everyday we can be here to do the Lord's will. Were we to live on the street we would rejoice because we would be able to reach many with the Love of God as we strive to do even though we live with a roof over our heads. We have complete trust in the God we know and have met many times in our lives.

The first time I remember meeting the Lord I was very young. My Dad was on the boat that delivered mail. His boat iced down (this was in Alaska and it was winter time) and had hit an iceberg and was going down,. The mayday had been sent and the mail was tossed over the side of the boat into the icy very rough seas and my Dad had said his prayers as he felt it would take a miracle for them to be saved as the boat was going down. At the same time Jesus came to me and told me to tell my Mom, "To light the Lampotic (a holy candle one lights and says a prayer)" as she did she noted the time. I went back to bed. My Dad told her the time the other boat picked them up as the boat was sinking into the freezing waters and it was the same time she had lite the candle (really oil with a wick). God heard her prayers and mine. This happened in my life more than once.
Though Jesus was gracious to show Himself to me as a child He does not always let us see Him physically. Some times we hear Him or His Word shows Him and we know what He wants of us yet we must always check out what we think we are hearing or seeing with the written Word of God and prayer.

Well, I only wanted to keep the comments on this posting to do with knowing the Lord and not fearing anything this world throws at you or anything we go through. Yes, there are many things we go through and we can be sure the Lord suffered them as He hung upon the cross to die for our sins so we can live and be the children of the King and our Father God. He suffered them all because He loves us. It is not Him who causes suffering or pain. He brings us the means to be removed from the fear of them because we know where our home is and we go there when we are His after we are done here. Will you be with us when your time is done here? I pray so as God does not want any to perish neither do I.

Abba I pray You will help all who read this to have Your peace that passeth understanding and I pray they accept the Gospel of Jesus as Your truth so they will live with You forever. We thank You Father for Your love and Your Son and His righteousness and Sacrifice on our behalf. We pray You fill our hearts with trust and faith in Your word and ask for Your guidance in whatever we say or do. In the precious name of Jesus. Amen