LET NOT YOUR HEARTS BE TROUBLED

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Let not your heart be troubled: ye

believe in God, believe also in me.
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.
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.

John 14:1-3

GLORIOUS IN HOLINESS

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Who is like unto thee, O LORD,

among the gods? who is like thee,

glorious in holiness, fearful in

praises, doing wonders?  Thou

stretchedst out thy right hand,

the earth swallowed them.  Thou

in thy mercy hast led forth the

people which thou hast redeemed:

thou hast guided them in thy strength

unto thy holy habitation.

exodus 15: 11-13

A TREE IN THE HOUSE OF GOD

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But I am like a green olive tree in the house

of God: I trust in the mercy of God for

ever and ever.  I will praise thee for

ever, because thou hast done it: and I will

wait on thy name; for it is good before

thy saints.

Psalm 52:8-9

HOW TO SUPPORT A MISSIONARY

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For many years I have written in a journal. Nothing
consistent and wrote little stories of things going on in
our lives. When I started blogging that mostly
became my journaling page and I rarely journal
anymore.

Today my son and his family was over and we
were taking about the past and I pulled down
some old boxes looking for a book I had
created in junior high about poems and I found
the following journal.

I feel compelled
to share this with you, as it shows
how God can provide in a mighty
way when we are obedient to his voice.

August 18th 1991, I wrote:
We are in revival with Bro Clay Lewis at his
church. The second night of the Revival, we
had to go by Jack and Dinah's house to pick up a
bottle of antibiotics we had left there for our son
who had begun to run fever and his glands
were swollen.

As we pulled into the driveway
our transmission went out on the car.
The song leader of their church was a mechanic
and loaned us his car.

At the end of the Revival, Steve received an
offering for $300.00. This is what it cost us to have
our car repaired. Steve wanted to pay the guy
something for his labor since he had only charged
for the parts but all we had left was $20.00.

Steve pulled the $20.00 out of his pocket and
handed it to the mechanic. The mechanic stopped
and told Steve, "I prayed last night and ask God
to provide me with $20.00, as I support a missionary
every month and this month I didn't have the $20.00
to send to them."

The Lord had met our financial need through the
offering of the church so we could pay for the parts
for our transmission and in turn we met his need of
$20.00 to support the missionary he had been
supporting each month.

Through his prayers this missionary
was supported.

But my God shall supply all your need
according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:19

SEEK GOOD AND NOT EVIL

Seek good, and not evil, that ye may live:

and so the LORD, the God of hosts, shall

be with you, as ye have spoken.

Amos 5:14

LET US CLEANSE OURSELVES

Having therefore these promises, dearly

beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from

all filthiness of the flesh and spirit,

perfecting holiness in the fear

of God.

II CORINTHIANS 7:1

TRULY THE LIGHT IS SWEET

Truly the light is sweet, and a pleasant thing

it is for the eyes to behold the sun:

Ecclesiastes 11:7

And God made two great lights; the greater light

to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the

night: he made the stars also.

Genesis 1:15

For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the

LORD will give grace and glory: no good

thing will he withhold from them that

walk uprightly. O LORD of hosts,

blessed is the man that trusteth

in thee.

Psalm 84:11

HELD TOGETHER BY THE CROSS

A few months ago I returned to the town of Andrews Texas where I graduated from high school.  As I drove past the church I attended and was married in, I had some fond memories.  One of those memories was of Boyd Neighbors who loved to tease me every chance he got and his beautiful wife Avon who was so kind to everyone.  Then there was our Pastor Dale Dozier who was a person filled with love and excitement and loved to share the gospel of Jesus everywhere he went.  Sometimes he made people mad because of his bluntness but usually by the time he left the conversation he had laughed and teased his way right out of a bad situation. His beautiful wife, June was one who had a large impact on my life as she took me under her wing and had her manager hire me to work beside her at Sears, my very first job. 

While going to church at Second Baptist, we started to notice the front and back of the building pulling away from the sides.  This brought much concern as it looked as if we might have to tear the stucture down and build a brand new one; which there was not enough funds to do so. 

Plans started being discussed, contractors brought in and lots of meetings as to what needed to be done.  

My father was a carpenter who had assisted in building structures in downtown San Antonio and also did underwater construction work off the gulf coast.  He evaluated the situation and decided that three large cables could be run through the walls of the building, through the attic and out the back side of the building and this would pull the walls back into place and secure it for many years.  The good news was, it wasn't going to be an enormous expense to perform the work

When the job was completed, three crosses were added in order to bolt the cables and secure the walls into place.  Giving it a clean nice finish, thus making it look as if the crosses were just added for décor.

20 years later we moved back to Andrews Texas, and was attending church there when I overheard a few of the people discussing taking those old crosses off the building because they had been up for so many years that it was boring to them now. 

I casually moved in a bit closer and as the door opened for me to say something, my comment was; those crosses have held this church together for 20 years and if you remove the crosses from this church then you will not have a building.  They laughed and continued to speak of removing the crosses.  I finally said, "I don't think I am painting a clear enough picture for you.  You see, when you unscrew the crosses from the cables and the cables lose their support, the walls will literally pull away from the other walls and fall, thus leaving you without a place to worship. 

It was quickly decided to abandon the conversation and leave the crosses alone.  After all, they didn't look that bad.  

As I drove by the building on my last trip there to see my family, I stopped to take a photo and wished we all had this so vividly impressed upon our minds; every church, not just the building is held together by the cross of Christ and without it there would be no reason to keep having services.  

It's been the cross that brings us together, it's the cross that holds us together and it's the cross that will carry us through the trials that lies ahead. 

Colossians 1:9-22 

For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;

That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;
Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;
Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:
Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;
And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.
And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled
In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:

Colossians 1:9-22 

FINDING THE WILL OF GOD

And be not conformed to this world: but

be ye transformed by the renewing

of your mind, that ye may prove what

is that good, and acceptable, and perfect,

will of God.  For I say, through the grace

given unto me, to every man that is

among you, not to think of himself more

highly than he ought to think; but to

think soberly, according as God hath dealt

to every man the measure of faith.

For as we have many members in one

body, and all members have not the

same office: So we, being many, are one

body in Christ, and every one members

one of another.

ROMANS 12: 2-5

ALL THINGS BECOME NEW

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And that he died for all, that they which

live should not henceforth live unto

themselves, but unto him which died for

them, and rose again.  Wherefore henceforth

know we no man after the flesh: yea,

though we have known Christ after the

flesh, yet now henceforth know we him

no more.  Therefore if any man be in Christ,

he is a new creature: old things are

passed away; behold, all things are

become new.  And all things are of God,

who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus

Christ,  and hath given to us the ministry of

reconciliation;  To wit, that God was in

Christ, reconciling the world unto himself,

not imputing their trespasses unto them; and

hath committed unto us the word of

reconciliation.  Now then we are ambassadors

for Christ, as though God did beseech you by

us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye

reconciled to God.

II Corinthians 5:13-18 

EVERLASTING LOVE

The LORD hath appeared of old unto

me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an

everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness

have I drawn thee.

Jeremiah 31:3

SHAPING MY LIFE

REMEMBER THY CREATOR IN THE DAYS OF THY YOUTH

Remember now thy Creator in the days

of thy youth, while the evil days come

not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou

shalt say, I have no pleasure in them;

ECCLESIASTES 12:1

THE PERFECT MAN

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Mark the perfect man, and behold the u

pright: for the end of that man is peace.

Psalm 37:37

COMMIT THY WAY UNTO THE LORD

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Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust

also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.

Psalm 37:5

LET MY MOUTH BE FILLED WITH THY PRAISE

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Let my mouth be filled with thy

praise and with thy honour all the day.

Psalm 71:8

SEALED WITH THAT HOLY SPIRIT OF PROMISE

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In whom ye also trusted, after that

ye heard the word of truth, the gospel

of your salvation: in whom also after

that ye believed, ye were sealed with

that holy Spirit of promise, Which is

the earnest of our inheritance until

the redemption of the purchased

possession, unto the praise of his

glory.  Wherefore I also, after I

heard of your faith in the Lord

Jesus, and love unto all the saints,

Cease not to give thanks for you,

making mention of you in my

prayers;  That the God of our Lord

Jesus Christ, the Father of glory,

may give unto you the spirit of

wisdom and revelation in the

knowledge of him: The eyes

of your understanding being

enlightened; that ye may know

what is the hope of his calling,

and what the riches of the glory

of his inheritance in the saints,
And what is the exceeding

greatness of his power to

us-ward who believe, according

to the working of his mighty power,
Which he wrought in Christ, when

he raised him from the dead, and

set him at his own right hand in

the heavenly places,  Far above

all principality, and power, and

might, and dominion, and every

name that is named, not only in

this world, but also in that which

is to come:  And hath put all things

under his feet, and gave him to be

the head over all things to the church,
Which is his body, the fulness of him

that filleth all in all.

Ephesians 1:13-23

IF ANY MAN LACK WISDON

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If any of you lack wisdom, let him

ask of God, that giveth to all men

liberally, and upbraideth not; and

it shall be given him.

I James 1:5

THY LOVINGKINDNESS IS GOOD

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Hear me, O LORD; for thy

lovingkindness is good:

turn unto me according

to the multitude of thy

tender mercies.

Psalm 69:16

BE YE PERFECT

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Be ye therefore perfect,

even as your Father which

is in heaven is perfect.

Matthew 5:28

BLESSED BE THE LORD

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The chariots of God are twenty thousand,

even thousands of angels: the Lord is

among them, as in Sinai, in the holy

place. Thou hast ascended on high,

thou hast led captivity captive: thou

hast received gifts for men; yea, for

the rebellious also, that the LORD

God might dwell among them.

Blessed be the Lord, who daily

loadeth us with benefits, even the

God of our salvation. Selah.

Psalm 68:17-19

BE THOU MY HELPER

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Hear, O LORD, and have mercy upon me: 

LORD, be thou my helper. Thou 

hast turned for me my mourning into 

dancing: thou hast put off my sackcloth, 

and girded me with gladness;

Psalm 30: 10-11

MY WILL VERSES HIS WILL

Do you ever struggle with your will verses God's will?

Well I sure do!  If I am not very careful my 

will takes preeminence over God's will. 

There are some people that would argue

this and say, "if it's God's will he is going

to work it in and through you no matter 

what you do."  To this, I say I must 

disagree.  

Now there are certain times that God 

has a plan that he will work through you 

or he will move you right out of the path 

and work it through another channel.  

When I set my mind on my will. I lose

sight of Godly importance, Godly 

character, Godly patience and

Godly endurance  

Notice the difference in our will and 

God's will.

My desire is to eat all the wonderful foods

our culture and restaurants have to offer.

*******

God's desire is that we feast on the meat of the 

scripture and grow in the grace and knowledge 

of the Lord Jesus Christ

My desire is to have all the cosmetics

I want and beautiful clothing I want

*******

God's desire is that I be clothed in his

righteousness

My desire is to have all the most wonderful

friends in this world.

*******

God's desire is that we become friends of 

the friendless and hope to 

the hopeless.

My desire is to study and become wealthier 

and wealthier each year.

*******

God's desire is that I find the riches of 

the gospel of Christ Jesus so fulfilling that

I cling not to the things of this world 

but that I cling to his promises.

My desire is to have a nice home fully

furnished

*******

God's will would be for us to lead others to

salvation where they will find an eternal home

in Heaven where the streets are made of gold

and there are pearls and jasper and beauty 

beyond a home we could ever imagine.

My desire is to find ultimate fulfillment

and security in my mate and in my children

*******

God's desire is for me to love my family 

dearly, turn them over to him and for 

myself to find security in knowing he

has them and will lead them in the 

right paths.  Therefore, freeing 

me to find the ultimate love

of my life is in Christ.  In 

Christ alone can I love my 

mate and children with a Godly

kind of love that is not over

bearing but with a love that

draws them into the arms of

my dear savior where I have

found His peace and comfort. 

When I stop pursuing my will,

let go and let the Lord lead, I find

true contentment as my body, 

soul and spirit become one and 

join in unison with the heart

and plan of God and that is when

I can watch the Lord bring to 

fruition the perfect plan and my

will becomes lost in his magnificent

glory, grace and strength.

I have heard often to pray Jeremiah 29:11

over my life.  What if we turn that around 

and start praying that verse over the lives

of those around us.  Would it change our 

fleshly desires some and encourage

us to reach out and help those around

us meet up to what God has in store

for their lives?   Would it help

open our heart to their thoughts and 

need? . Would it begin a change in the

Christian communities that could 

reach to the other side of the world?

Would we find our will lost in 

His will and find true contentment?

Jeremiah 29:11

For I know the thoughts that I think

toward you, saith the LORD,

thoughts of peace, and not of

evil, to give you an expected

end.  Then shall ye call upon me,

and ye shall go and pray unto me,

and I will hearken unto you.
And ye shall seek me, and find me,

when ye shall search for me with

all your heart.  And I will be found of

you, saith the LORD: and I will turn away

your captivity, and I will gather you

from all the nations, and from all the places

whither I have driven you, saith the LORD;

and I will bring you again into the place whence

I caused you to be carried away captive.