The Birth of Jesus

The Birth of Jesus Luke 2

 1 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while[a] Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to their own town to register.
 4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

 8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

 13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

 14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
   and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

 15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

 16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

 21 On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived.

Psalm 122:6, Isaiah 60

 

  “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love you.” Psalm 122:6

Many are fasting and praying for the election that will shortly be upon us. Eyes are focused upon this election for many reasons having to do with the economy, jobs, the direction of this nation, and more. But there are also those who as they pray and get ready to vote, are also thinking about the United States support of Israel. As lovers of God and lovers of Israel, we must view, pray for, and cast our vote in these elections with thinking of how the outcome will help aid Israel. No matter what happens in this election, without our nation wholeheartedly supporting Israel, the end result will not be good. Those that love God understand this truth. Our efforts are never wasted! Never!

Isaiah shares foresight helping us see the future result of God’s love and our prayers and efforts for the peace of Jerusalem.

 "Arise, Jerusalem! Let your light shine for all the nations to see! For the glory of the Lord is shining upon you. Darkness as black as night will cover all the nations of the earth, but the glory of the Lord will shine over you. All nations will come to your light. Mighty kings will come to see your radiance…

    "Though you were once despised and hated and rebuffed by all, you will be beautiful forever. You will be a joy to all generations, for I will make you so. Powerful kings and mighty nations will bring the best of their goods to satisfy your every need. You will know at last that I, the Lord, am your Savior and Redeemer, the Mighty One of Israel.
(Isaiah 60:1-3 & 15-16)

Dear Father,
I pray for all the families in this great nation.  Thank You for loving me. Thank You for dying for me. Lord  I pray that every christian get out and vote for moral Jesus centered people. Lord bless the men & women currently fighting to protect our freedom, as well as the freedom of those around the world.  And comfort the families and armed forces that still are serving to protect our freedoms.
In Jesus' name. Amen

Goodbye Friend. A Tribute to Darren.

 

Song in Remembrance of Darren

I was in shock to hear about Darren this morning.  I can't stop the tears.  For everyone that has lost a loved one.  I know it is hard.

I have lost so many friends and family over the past two years.  And the Lord spared my life on March 22, 2008 the day before Easter in a near death Motorcycle accident.  I do believe in miracles.  But I find it so hard to understand Gods bigger plan in people's lives.

I had just talked with Darren Wednesday, before the WBFJ Concert at Dixie Classic Fair.  I was asking him when we were going to play Golf again and that my knee was about healed for my Knee Surgery.  He just smiled and said it was going to be a while before he could play.  He went on how to explain that he had burnt his hand and had very bad burns, and that he wasn't feeling very well.  And then Kurt had told me Darren, had to have emergency surgery for a ruptured appendix Friday of that week.

I have known Darren since he joined us at WBFJ and had the honor of knowing him and even playing Golf with him in the Golf tournaments that WBFJ got invited to. It's hard for us to understand why the Lord allowed the passing of Darren so soon.  But we will know one day when we join him in heaven. I pray for Verne and Tami as they host the morning show.  

Our prayers are with all my friends @ WBFJ & Darren's family. Darren was a special person and will be greatly missed! We as Christians have to support and lift each other up especially during times like this. The Lord is our salvation and strength!  I found a few verses in the Holy Bible that I wanted to share with everyone that new Darren.  In the hope that we might find hope and comfort during this shocking time.

1-11 God Is Our Comfort.  As we look at these passages from Isaiah, I believe our faith will be strengthened as we see how God truly does take care of us.

Comfort, comfort my people, says your God.
God is our comfort when we are worried. The nation of Israel had been in exile. They were unsure of what the future would bring. But God sent this message from his prophet Isaiah to comfort the people. When we are worried or in despair, God sends his comfort. He wants to help his people. As Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 1:3-4, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God."
If you are worried or anxious for anything, know that God is your comfort. He cares about you, and he is by your side to help you through whatever difficulty you may be facing.


Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that her warfare is ended, that her iniquity is pardoned, that she has received from the Lord's hand double for all her sins.
God is our comfort when we are afraid. The people were under foreign oppression living under fear. But God told Isaiah to "speak tenderly to Jerusalem." God speaks tenderly to us when we are afraid. David learned this, as he wrote in Psalm 61:2-4, "From the end of the earth I will cry to You, when my heart is overwhelmed; lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For You have been a shelter for me, a strong tower from the enemy. I will abide in Your tabernacle forever; I will trust in the shelter of Your wings."
When you feel, as David did, that your heart is crying out to God, know that he will shelter you. He will comfort you even in times of fear and distress. Notice this verse promises Israel two things – her warfare was ended, relief from physical problems; and her iniquity was pardoned, relief from spiritual problems. God promises us the same thing today. God comforts us in our physical problems: health, financial, marital, and God comforts us in our spiritual problems. He makes us complete in him.
Barnes comments, "To speak ‘to the heart,’ is to speak in such a way as to remove the troubles of the heart; to furnish consolation and joy. It means that they were not merely to urge such topics as should convince the understanding, but such also as should be adopted to minister consolation to the heart."


A voice cries: "In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God."
God is our comfort when we are overwhelmed. Do you feel like you have been going through a wilderness or a desert? Notice the two promises he makes in this verse. God is preparing a way in the wilderness – what wilderness are you in? Does there seem to be danger on every side? Do you feel lost and dismayed? God is preparing a way for you.
God is also making a highway in the desert – what desert have you gone through? Are you scorched and burned from the heat of your trials? Do you feel thirsty for relief but none appears in sight? God said that he would make a straight highway for you.
Barnes gives us some good background information, "The idea is taken from the practice of Eastern monarchs, who, whenever they entered on a journey or an expedition, especially through a barren and unfrequented or inhospitable country, sent harbingers or heralds before them to prepare the way. To do this, it was necessary for them to provide supplies, and make bridges, or find fording places over the streams; to level hills, and construct causeways over valleys, or fill them up; and to make a way through the forest which might lie in their intended line of march."


Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain.
God is our comfort when things appear bleak. The psalmist is looking ahead and what does he see? He sees deep uncrossable valleys and steep mountains and hills. The terrain is uneven and rough before him. Things look very bad. Do you ever feel that way? Everywhere you look there are obstacles or barriers. It doesn’t seem like there is much hope. But this verse tells us every valley shall be lifted up – every low point in our life will be raised. Every mountain shall be made low – every obstacle in our way will come down. The uneven ground shall become level – the rollercoaster of our life will be calmed. And the rough places a plain – God will smooth out the rough places. God will help us through whatever we have to go through. No matter how bleak things may appear, remember God is our comfort.

Please share this with your friends!  We will miss you Darren!

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1.03.01

These children had their own special interpretation of things?

LOT'S WIFE
The Sunday School teacher was describing how Lot 's wife looked back and turned into a pillar of salt, when little Jason interrupted, 'My Mommy looked back once while she was driving,' he announced triumphantly, 'and she turned into a telephone pole!'
 

GOOD SAMARITAN
A Sunday school teacher was telling her class the story of the Good Samaritan. She asked the class, 'If you saw a person lying on the roadside, all wounded and bleeding, what would you do?' A thoughtful little girl broke the hushed silence, 'I think I'd throw up.'


DID NOAH FISH?
A Sunday school teacher asked, 'Johnny, do you think Noah did a lot of fishing when he was on the Ark ?' 'No,' replied Johnny. 'How could he, with just two worms.'


HIGHER POWER
times. But, there is a Higher Power. Can anybody tell me what it is?'   One child blurted out, 'Aces!'


THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD
A Sunday School teacher decided to have her young class
Memorize one of the most quoted passages in the Bible -
Psalm 23. She gave the youngsters a month to learn the chapter.
Little Rick was excited about the task - but he just couldn't
Remember the Psalm. After much practice, he could barely
Get past the first line.
On the day that the kids were scheduled to recite Psalm 23
In front of the congregation, Ricky was so nervous. When it
Was his turn, he stepped up to the microphone and said proudly,
'The Lord is my Shepherd, and that's all I need to know.'


UNANSWERED PRAYER
The preacher's 5 year-old daughter noticed that her father
Always paused and bowed his head for a moment before
Starting his sermon.  One day, she asked him why.
'Well, Honey,' he began, proud that his daughter was so
Observant of his messages. 'I'm asking the Lord to help me
Preach a good sermon.'   'So, how come He doesn't?' she asked.


BEING THANKFUL
A Rabbi said to a precocious six-year-old boy, 'So your
Mother says your prayers for you each night? That's very
Commendable. What does she say?'
The little boy replied, 'Thank God he's in bed!'


UNTIMELY ANSWERED PRAYER
During the minister's prayer one Sunday, there was a loud
Whistle from one of the back pews.
Tommy's mother was horrified. She pinched him into silence
And, after church, asked, 'Tommy, whatever made you do
Such a thing?'
Tommy answered soberly, 'I asked God to teach me to
Whistle, and He did!'


TIME TO PRAY
A pastor asked a little boy if he said his prayers every night.  'Yes, sir.' the boy replied.
'And, do you always say them in the morning, too?' the pastor   asked.
'No sir,' the boy replied. 'I ain't scared in the daytime.'


ALL GIRLS
When my daughter, Kelli, said her bedtime prayers, she
Would bless every family member, every friend, and every
animal (current and past).   For several weeks, after we had finished the nightly prayer, Kelli would say, 'All girls.'
This soon became part of her nightly routine, to include this
Closing. My curiosity got the best of me and I asked her, 'Kelli, why do you always add the part about all girls?'
Her response, 'Because everybody always finish their prayers by saying, 'All Men'!'


SAY A PRAYER
Little Johnny and his family were having Sunday dinner at his Grandmother's house. Everyone was seated around the table as the food was being served. When Little Johnny received his plate, he started eating right away.
'Johnny! Please wait until we say our prayer.' said his mother.  'I don't need to,' the boy replied.
'Of course, you do.' his mother insisted. 'We always say a
prayer before eating at our house.'  'That's at our house.' Johnny explained.. 'But this is Grandma's house and she knows how to cook!

Personal Salvation vs Collective Salvation

I believe that freedom and democracy are a direct result of Christianity. This is because Christianity was the first religion that encouraged people to be virtuous to themselves and to others in life, and in this way make the world a better place.

People are so worried about President Obama being a Muslim when they need to be concerned about 1st their own salvation.  Some Friends of mine have said.  Scott do you know who you are taking on now? I said, yes, I do. Could it be Satan? I mean, it is a perversion of the gospel.  And I understand that we are dealing with — we're not dealing with — we're not dealing with powers of the Earth. We're just not. This is a perversion of the gospel. And it is such a clear perversion of the gospel, I want to show my friends and foes some collective salvation remarks from our president, that some of you may have voted for.  Sorry it's time as we as Christians stand up and witness for the ONLY true GOD JESUS CHRIST our LORD.

Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion! When the LORD restores the fortunes of his people, let Jacob rejoice and Israel be glad!  Psalm 14:7 NIV

Is not my house right with God? Has he not made with me an everlasting covenant, arranged and secured in every part? Will he not bring to fruition my salvation and grant me my every desire?  2 Samuel 23:5 NIV

 















Here is the president talking about collective salvation.

PRESIDENT OBAMA: You can take your diploma, walk off this stage and chase only after the big house and the nice suits and the other things that our money culture says you should buy, you can choose to narrow your concerns and live life in a way that tries to keep your story separate from America's, but I hope you don't, not because you have an obligation to those who are less fortunate, although I believe you do have that obligation; not because you have a debt to all those who helped you get to where you are today, although I do believe you have that debt to pay. It's because you have an obligation to yourself. Because our individual salvation depends on collective salvation.

PRESIDENT OBAMA: And recognizing that my fate remain tied up with their fates, that my individual salvation is not going to come about without a collective salvation for the country.

Do we understand what that means, that the sacrifice, the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ doesn't do it. It's a collective salvation.  Really Mr. President.  We need to pray for President Obama.

After all he and his family went to the Rev. Wright church for 20 years. It just burn's me up when I hear Barack Obama's pastor who says blacks should not sing "God Bless America" but "God damn America.  My father and many of my friends have fought and some died for us, all America.

What is the Difference between Personal Salvation and Collective Salvation?

Personal Salvation: 
That if a man believes in God, and he follows the virtues set forth by the Lord, then he shall get to Heaven. Likewise, on the part of the man himself there is set forth no condition or requirement for his salvation. Your personal salvation is neither a gift nor a process, but the result of a relationship between each individual person and God. So long as you are faithful, and follow the good works of the Lord, then you shall get to Heaven. They tend to be conservative, and believe that the Government should create an environment for people to prosper, and should allow people to do what they think is best for themselves. That by doing good, people will automatically, as if by default, be doing something to the benefit of society. They may try to convince you as to what is right, yet they will not force you. They believe no one knows what's right, so it's best to encourage personal responsibility rather than to force everyone to believe in your views.

Collective Salvation: 
This is the belief that you have to believe in God to get to Heaven, and if you don't believe in God then it's my job to make force you. If you don't take care of your body, it's my job to force you. An example of this is Michelle Obama saying that kids should be forced to give up dessert. Another example are the people suing McDonald's because toys in Happy Meals encourage kids to eat bad. They tend to be liberal and tend to believe in the Progressive idea that experts, or czars, should decide what's best for man and force man to do what they think is right, or New York Congressmen creating a law telling restaurants they can no longer put salt in foods to force people to no longer eat salt, or lawmakers talking about raising taxes on sodas to discourage its use. They will try to convince you as to what is right, and if you don't follow them they will try to force you. They believe they know what's right for everyone.

I found this comment from Reverend James Robison and who I feel  is one of the biggest evangelical preachers around.  

Anytime you deplete the adequacy sufficiency of the grace of God in Christ and the forgiveness he offers through Christ, when you deplete that by adding to it, by saying we must do this in order to earn it, and you have desecrated the word of God, the death of Christ on the cross, that sacrificial gift of God and then you have placed on man his own responsibility, you really nullify the very act of love that God expressed in the gift of His son on the cross.

The relationship that we have in Christ transforms our lives personally. And by the way, it's the transformation of the individual that leads to the restoration of this nation. We don't need a transformed nation.

 
 We're being told today as the right way, which is nothing but social justice, and the manipulators, including the media and many deceived church leaders are trying to tell people in the church if they don't support this so called social justice that they don't have compassion. And the fact is that when you take and distribute, you have separated people from a compassion connection. And without a compassion connection, which leads to true charity and to an involvement in the difficult circumstances of people who are in trouble, if you separate people from that connection, you are throwing money at an unhittable target, you might as well toss it in the wind and you are actually depleting the possibility of wealth and you don't eliminate poverty by depleting wealth. What you've got to do is get people who have wealth prosperity to be somehow delivered from their own greed and self focused to begin to focus on how we can personally, through compassion, make a difference in other people's lives. And this is what I hear you saying, and much of the church listening to the wrong voices, listening to these deceivers, and they are in the realm of darkness, they are powers and principalities, and they are effective. And right now the church too often is listening to these deceptive manipulative voices and we are missing the opportunity to restore, not transform America but restore America to sanity and restore the principles that our founders, with all their diversity, all their did I distinctive differences, they came together in harmony of heart and understood nature's god and nature's laws and gave us a foundation upon which to build in freedom and liberty, which also implies that we have to be responsible. If you're free, the freedom our founders gave us demands personal accountability and responsibility. And if we don't return to that — I mean, you can mark it down. You can date it. If the church doesn't wake up, stand up, and pierce the darkness, you can literally color America and the freedom we've known and the opportunity we've known, you can color it done. It's over. Now, that's just simply the way it is.

Dear Father,
I pray for all the families in this great nation.  Thank You for loving me. Thank You for dying for me. I want to live as Your vessel to share the Gospel to others.  Lord bless the men & women currently fighting to protect our freedom, as well as the freedom of those around the world.  Father comfort those families of those that gave the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom.  And comfort the families and armed forces that still are serving to protect our freedoms.
In Jesus' name. Amen


Ray Publishing


Please note that the views in my blog expressed are mine and mine alone... not necessarily shared by WBFJ, Mt. Carmel Church, my employer, friends or especially my family.
 

Denying Ourselves

“When He had called the people to Himself, with His disciples also, He said to them, “Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it.” NKJV Mark 8:34-35
Life Lesson: Loving God and loving people – leaves no room for our self.
There is a whole lot of ‘self’ going on in the world today. “What is in it for me” is a question we ask ourselves more often than we realize or would ever probably admit. The world media today would have us believe that to make a real impact on this world; we need to take care of ourselves first. It is selfishness justified with a loss of cabin pressure mentality. What is that you ask? You know how aircraft stewards will announce that in the case of a loss of cabin pressure an oxygen mask will drop from the ceiling. What do they tell you next? They tell you to place the mask on yourself before helping anyone else…including your own children! That is the mentality that we tend to have in life. If I do not help myself first, how can I help others? “I need to win the lottery so that I can give to someone else.” “I would be glad to help except the NCAA Championship is on TV.” “Sorry, that’s my dinner time.” What self-serving excuses do you make to avoid sacrifice? That mentality is so not Jesus.
Jesus says we are to lay down our lives, actually denying ourselves, in order that we may place others first. Jesus told us to take up our cross, knowing full well that His cross was a literal instrument of sacrifice…the means by which He would give His own life for you. I will bet that championship game seems less significant in light of His sacrifice. Loving God and loving people leaves no room for self.

Dear Jesus,
Thank You for loving me. Thank You for dying for me. I want to live as Your vessel to share the Gospel to others. Lord, I have been selfish with my time. Help me to deny myself and place the needs of others first. Allow me the opportunity to make a ‘missional’ impact on the lives of others and the world around me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Prayer for the USA

The following prophecy was given by Dr. Creflo A. Dollar on January 15,
2006:
The Spirit of the Lord says, "This country will be like a stump, like a tree
that's been cut down and the only thing you can see is a stump. Many will
say, 'What happened to the power of that great nation?' Many will say, 'What
happened to what they once had?' The Spirit of the Lord will have you to
know, I will reduce it to a stump. I will cause the tree to fall down, but
it will rise again."

"The Spirit of the Lord would have you to know like an eagle that goes
through a period of time where it flies and hides itself and beats its beak
off and loses its feathers, and yet there comes a time when the beak grows
new again and the feathers grow new again, and it continues to rise high; so
likewise it shall be in this nation. Although it shall be reduced as a stump
  I will cause it to be regenerated. It'll rise high and it'll be greater
than it's ever been before, for I have a covenant with this land," saith the
Lord.

"These things will surely come to pass at last, at last, at last. These
things will surely come to pass at last, at last, at last. Don't fret
because of the mentality of this land. Don't fret because they have turned
their back against My Word and My way. I will not give up on this nation,"
saith the Lord. "Although it will be reduced to a stump and like an eagle
will lose its wings, I will cause it to be regenerated again. The greatness
of this nation shall be seen once again. So I depend on you to go ahead and
pray this nation on through. For these things will surely come to pass and
have even begun now," saith the Lord.

"So continue to be obedient to pray for this government. Continue to be
obedient to pray for this land. I will not forsake it because of its
relationship with Israel. It'll be great and it'll have impact. Great things
will happen like the eagle that's been rejuvenated. So rejoice and be
exceedingly glad, for I am God and I will watch over this land. Do not be
moved by what you see. For I am telling you so you can know it right now.
Just pray. Just pray. Just pray. Just pray and you'll cause things to be My
way," saith the Lord. "I'll honor My Word in these days. For this that I
have spoken through My prophet has begun. It is going on even now, but I
will be faithful to My Word. This nation shall rise again in Jesus' name,"
thus saith the Lord.

Dear Father,

We will not give up on this nation!

We plead the Blood over all of the schools in America!

The plan and presence of God moving though each child!

A greater Holy Ghost influence within each teacher

Thank you for the increase and the overflow

We declare the precious Blood over the President of the United States

Showing him today!

Covering our leaders with the precious Blood of Jesus!

All of Your plans for this nation!

You said we would rise again!

Thank you for the awakening and the outpouring of Your Spirit

For the rain!

Declaring for things to be settled down on the inside

Your glory, presence, and anointing we need!

We plead the Blood over our connection with Israel

We will NOT go in another direction!

It will go up and be brought farther and wider!

God bless America!

Seeing supernatural miracles all over America!

From the mountains all the way to the valley!

In Jesus' name. Amen

Three things in a Christians life.

 As I awoke this morning I had the blessing of seeing the sunrise over the beautiful beach view the Lord provided.  I though to myself " What a blessing that the has given me another day to see the things we take for grated everyday.  Something as simply as a sunrise or a sunset.  And it made me wonder what are three things that I should never take for granted?

Three things in a Christians life that, once gone, never come back
1. Time
2. Words
3. Opportunity

Three things in life that can destroy a Christian-
1. Anger
2. Pride
3. Unforgiveness

Three things in a Christians life that we should never lose-
1. Hope
2. Peace
3. Honesty

Three things in life that are most valuable to a Christian-
1. Love
2. Family & Friends
3. Kindness

Three things in a Christians life that are never certain-
1. Fortune
2. Success
3. Dreams

Three things that make a Christian are-
1. Commitment
2. Sincerity
3. Hard work

Dear Father,

We ask that there are Three things that are Truly constant in our Christian life! – The Father – Son – Holy Spirit.
Let us ask the Lord to Bless us, as We pray for us today; to guide us and protect us, as we go along our way. God’s love is always with us, God’s promises are true. And when we give God all our cares, we know God will see us through.

In Jesus' name. Amen

Oil spills and the responsibility of stewardship

When your family gathers together, are there certain discussion topics that are declared off-limits at the dinner table? I know they are in the Ray Family home, for example, a number of families I know avoid the subject of politics at family gatherings.

It might seem odd, but my large, that some Christian families has added another topic to our list of taboos: Creation theology. Everybody’s got a strong opinion (were the days of creation literal 24-hour days? Could God have used evolution as his means of creating the world? etc.), and we’ve learned over the years that dinner-table debates over that particular article of faith create more heat than light.  Another example is how we as Christians view other religions view Creation theology (example Muslim, Buddhism, Catholic etc.) My brother in-law as a Christian will be faced with some challenges next year with his teaching in theology, and I'm sure the question will arise.
   
I was intrigued by the latest devotional from Wonder of Creation, which offers a fresh perspective on the opening chapters of Genesis and on the mandate it contains for Christians today. It suggests that the most critical component of the Genesis account is not the specific details of the act of Creation, but the call to Christian stewardship over God’s Creation. That call to stewardship assigns us responsibility for taking care of Creation, and also holds us accountable for harm that we allow to befall it:

…we do know, according to Genesis 2:15 that we are to “take care of it,” and we know according to Psalm 145 that it showcases our Creator’s majesty and that He has compassion on it. Hence the Gulf oil spill disaster is not merely a human tragedy taking the lives of creatures made in His image, nor is it merely an economic calamity: it should be a cause of human grief and shame—in that we have once again profaned the handiwork of God and have also needlessly destroyed the lives of non-human creatures upon which He has compassion.

That’s one reason the prophecy of Revelation 11:18 sobers me: “The nations were angry; and your wrath has come. The time has come for judging the dead, and for rewarding your servants the prophets and your saints and those who reverence your name, both small and great—and for destroying those who destroy the earth.” None of us knows all the implications of that passage, but for sure we know that mankind’s destroying of the earth will be severely judged.

It breaks my heart to see what harm that something like this causes, not to mention the loss of jobs this has and will create.  But protesting is not the answer to the problem.  If all the people that are protesting would spend their time helping make a difference by volunteering to help clean up or other service they could provide.  That could make a negative turn into a positive.

Most Christians can agree about this call to creation care, but it’s sobering to consider ecological disasters like the BP oil spill not just as breakdowns of energy policy or private business, but as failures of stewardship. When environmental disaster strikes, are Christians at the forefront of efforts to care for the damaged Creation left behind by the crisis?

Dear Father,

I pray for your grace and peace be given unto us all.  Lord we don't understand why things like this happen, but we do know that you are in control.  Lord so many of your creatures have been killed and continue to suffer.  Lord I ask in Jesus name that you have mercy on everyone that is effected by the worst oil spill in US history.  God I pray for those that are volunteering their time, pray for those that have and will loose their jobs.  Lord I ask that you forgive me a sinner.  And to show us your grace and wisdom.


In Jesus' name. Amen

America pauses to remember its military heroes (OneNewsNow.com)

America pauses to remember its military heroes (OneNewsNow.com)
“Only fools say in their hearts, 'There is no God.' They are corrupt, and their actions are evil; not one of them does good!” Psalm 53:1

Dear Father,

I pray for the families that have lost loved ones that serve this great nation.  On this Memorial Day, when we pause to recognize the courageous service of both veterans and the men and women in uniform who are currently fighting to protect our freedom, as well as the freedom of those around the world.  Father comfort those families of those that gave the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom.  And comfort the families and armed forces that still are serving to protect our freedoms.

In Jesus' name. Amen

Obama to skip Arlington Memorial Day wreath laying

Since Barack Obama took office on January 20, 2009 three hundred American soldiers have given all in service to this nation and more than a dozen were murdered by terrorists on American soil. In March of 2010 the Commander-in-Chief, took a surprise junket to Afghanistan and, while there, told troops that the sacrifice the military makes is "absolutely necessary to both America's safety and world security."

In that spirit, Memorial Day is a national holiday where Americans pause to honor those who sacrificed life and limb to ensure our nation's security and freedom. It is a day that commemorates the sobering truth that liberty and security is won with blood and treasure. This Memorial Day America's air will be thick with patriotic knowledge that beneath the earth rest the bones and ashes of many a mother's child whose sacrifices bear testimony to valiant soldiers lost too young to a cause far greater than life.

Situated in the center of Washington DC's Arlington National Cemetery is the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, engraved with the poignant words: "Beneath this stone rests a soldier of Washington's army who died to give you liberty." Each Memorial Day mental images are conjured up of statue like honor guards standing at attention 24 hours a day, 365 days a year alongside that very tomb.

Formerly known as Decoration Day, the last Monday in May also calls to mind the President of the United States being saluted by the U.S. Military Honor Guard. Then, to symbolize deference to those who lost in service to the nation he leads, the President slowly approaches the Washington Square gravesite and solemnly lays a flowered wreath on the sun-bleached crypt.

Although somber and respectful, this Memorial Day will be different because, one week following the death of five troops in Kabul, Barack Obama has decided to forgo the Arlington Cemetery tradition of commemorating dead soldiers and instead intends to fly to Chicago for an extended weekend.

According to a White House press release,

President Barack Obama and his family will travel to Chicago, where they will spend the weekend. On Monday, the President will participate in a Memorial Day ceremony at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery in Elwood, Illinois.

Also on Monday, the Vice President and Dr. Jill Biden will host a breakfast for Gold Star Families at the White House. Afterwards, the Vice President and Dr. Biden will participate in a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery.

After witnessing two brutal terrorist attacks, one at Fort Hood and another at Little Rock and after six-hundred soldiers killed in Afghanistan grew to nearly 1,000; and as the U.S. military prepares for the biggest battle against the Taliban to date --Obama downsizes his personal Memorial Day observance, skips town and kicks back for a holiday in Chicago.

Unfortunately, the Afghanistan and Iraqi war heroes buried in Section 60 of Arlington National Cemetery, whose ceremony Obama has chosen not to attend, will not be returning home for a barbeque this weekend, or ever, for that matter.

Although absent from DC, there is a good possibility epicurean adventurers Barry and Michelle will honor dead soldiers this Memorial Day by visiting a trendy Chicago eatery or two, trailed by a gaggle of paparazzi.

It's great to know Barack Obama will be relaxing during a "casual" weekend with friends while Operation Hamkari Baraye Kandahar gets underway and as Joe Biden lays a wreath on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier for a vacationing President who seems unwilling to suffer the smallest inconvenience to honor those who sacrificed everything.

Dear Father,

I pray for this nation and for all our leaders, that they may find compassion for those who serve to protect our freedoms. And for those who gave their lives to protect our freedoms we have in this great nation. Father forgive us and our leaders, because you Lord gave the ultimate sacrifice your death on the cross for everyone. Jesus we praise you because by your sacrifice that you were raised from the day so that we may be also, if we believe in you.

In Jesus' name. Amen

Heaven

 I lost a very dear friend of mine David Cruise after his 7 month battle with leukemia.  I wanted to write something to share with everyone about David.  Really didn't know what to tell since it was a shock that he was even sick.  You would never have known it before he was diagnosed with leukemia.  I wanted to share with you some of my thoughts on Heaven since I know that is were he is now, and the fact that he is standing before our Lord with a perfected body for all eternity.


“Heaven: this is the torch before which the vivid appeal of earthly things fades, the light that, by transforming our judgments, makes us cherish poverty, sickness, and the insignificance of our state of life as a good, and makes us regard riches, the glamour of honors, the favor and praise of the world as an evil.  The thought and expectation of heaven impelled Paul to face the most arduous labors and the most formidable perils, giving him a superabundance of joy amidst his sufferings and afflictions…

“Heaven is something that we have not seen.  We travelers, wandering in this valley of darkness and tears, are reduced, like captive Israel on the banks of the Euphrates, to hanging our harps and zithers upon the weeping willows of this wretched, human life.  No human voice, no lyre can ever succeed in producing songs and tunes in unison with the melodies and sweet harmonies with which that indescribable city resounds…
“Even the inspired word itself cannot rise to realities that extend beyond the bounds of reason and surpass all the strength and capacity of our nature.  Let us listen to the great apostle Paul, immersed in the most exalted raptures, conveyed in spirit as far as the third heaven, and into splendors more profound and ineffable than those experienced by the Eagle of Patmos, as he exclaims: Heaven is not as you tell us; it is a thousand leagues above the analogies and descriptions you are offering us. ‘Eye has not seen, ear has not heard, nor has it so much as dawned on man what God has prepared for those who love him…’ [emphasis in the original]
“Heaven is God’s ideal, the repose of His intellect.  Let us add: it is the repose of His heart.  The heart goes further than the mind.  It has aspirations and impulses, unknown to genius, which go beyond all the bounds of inspiration and thought…  The transports that the divine vision will arouse in the elect will make their hearts superabound in the most unutterable joys; it will be a flood of delights and raptures, life in its inexhaustible richness and the very source of all good and all life.  It will be, as St Augustine goes on to say, like a gift from God of His own Heart, so that we may love and rejoice with all the energy of the love and joys of God Himself… The contemplation of God will not mean immobility but, above all, activity, an ever-ascending progression, where movement and repose will be bound together in ineffable harmony… They will go from glory to glory, from joy to joy…
“How sweet it will be to contemplate at a single glance all the marvels of the Most High God in the realm of nature as well as in the order of grace and glory… In heaven we shall see and recognize one another; and in heaven we shall love one another… All the objects and causes that captivate our hearts and arouse love in this world will act with an intensity a thousand times greater, and without encountering any obstacle, on the hearts of the elect…
“In heaven… their awareness of happiness is not distinct from their awareness of God… the effect of this multifarious delight is not to induce them, by reflection, to withdraw into excessive preoccupation with themselves and the perfection of their nature, but rather to inspire them to soar upward with inexhaustible energy and lose themselves in the ever-closer embrace of God, who imbues them with His fullness through all their senses and penetrates every pore of their being.  On their lips the cry of joy blends with the cry of adoration and gratitude… they exclaim, ‘Holy, holy, holy is God Almighty…’
“In heaven, happiness is stable, since the elect, confirmed in glory, are beyond all fear.  The ages will succeed one another without diminishing their happiness, without a single line creasing their brows.  The certainty of eternally possessing the benefits they hold dear multiplies their sweetness a hundredfold.  What a source of jubilation when, after thousands of centuries have elapsed, they reflect upon the day in the distant past when they made their triumphant ascent, and say, ‘Nothing is finished yet; I reign today, today I am in possession of my happiness, and I shall possess it as long as God remains God—forever and ever!’”
Those are just a few snippets of this long chapter, which the author himself admits is just a crude and rough sketch.  But doesn’t it make the furtive and fleeting pleasures of this life—that is, those pleasures that are not part of our life in God—pale into complete insignificance and even wretchedness?  No wonder the Lord said, “What does it profit a man to gain the whole world and suffer the loss of his soul?”  He came from Heaven; He knows what it is like; He has been inviting us there for millennia and warning us how grievous a loss it would be to forsake his Kingdom for the sake of selfish gains in this life.  Heaven will be the super-superlative of every good thing we can imagine or desire, and the experience of joys and wonders we can’t even begin to imagine.  The more we fix our minds on Heaven, the more free we will be in relation to things of this Earth, and we will do whatever it takes to join that blessed company who enjoy the utter fullness of life and blessing, the superabundance of love in the Light of the Face of Him who loved us first, and who awaits us in his heavenly Paradise.

Dear Father,
Thank You for loving me.  And thank you for the time I have got to spend with David and his family.  Today, I realize that I do not have an endless supply of days here on this earth. Help me to use my days well and to make everyday count. Help me to be a blessing to You and others with each day that You give to me.  Thank You that You took the time to die for me so I could be forgiven. May I now take the time to live for you so others may know the joy and purpose I have found. Help me daily to stay focused and live for You.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.

A song for my friend.

Every time I look in the mirror
All these lines on my face getting clearer
The past is gone
It goes by, like dusk to dawn
Isn't that the way
Everybody's got their dues in life to pay

Yeah, I know nobody knows
where it comes and where it goes
I know it's everybody's sin
You got to lose to know how to win

Half my life
is in books' written pages
Lived and learned from fools and
from sages
You know it's true
All the things come back to you

Sing with me, sing for the year
Sing for the laughter, sing for the tears
Sing with me, if it's just for today
Maybe tomorrow, the good lord will take you away

Yeah, sing with me, sing for the year
sing for the laughter, sing for the tear
sing with me, if it's just for today
Maybe tomorrow, the good Lord will take you away

Dream On Dream On Dream On
Dream until your dreams come true
Dream On Dream On Dream On
Dream until your dream comes through
Dream On Dream On Dream On
Dream On Dream On
Dream On Dream On

Sing with me, sing for the year
sing for the laughter, sing for the tear
sing with me, if it's just for today
Maybe tomorrow, the good Lord will take you away
Sing with me, sing for the year
sing for the laughter, sing for the tear
Sing with me, if it's just for today
Maybe tomorrow, the good Lord will take you away......
by Steven Tyler of Aerosmith

Dear Lord,
Teach me not to be sad over my my dear friend who is losing his battle with leukemia.  Lord you know our families have been through so much over the last few years.  The death of my mother in-law, the death of my mother.  Lord I know you saved me.  And I know it by grace that I was spared my live on March 22, 2008, when you saved me from a near death accident on my motorcycle.  Lord I ask that you be with David and all is family through this trying time in their lives.  Give them the peace in knowing that David will be with you in heaven, with a perfect body.  No more sickness, no more sorrows, no more pain.  Lord let me continue to encourage him with the word and the fact that he will soon stand before our Lord with a perfected body for all eternity.  In Jesus' name. Amen 

Lynda Petty Beats Cancer

 

Let your love radiate out to all you meet

On this day, God wants you to know that your love is a gift to the world. Let your love radiate out to all you meet. Let your love touch the hearts of people you don't even know. Let your love reach to the far corners of the earth. Love is what is saving the world.

Dear Father,
Teach me to love, Lord, as You love, Make it unconditional, honest, and kind, To ask nothing back in return, Lord, To encompass the whole of mankind. Show me how to forgive, Lord, as You do, To not burden another with guilt, To not play the role of the martyr, To be a rock on which trust may be built.  Make my love for others be greater by far Than any love that is offered to me, Led by the Spirit, Inspired of God, As forgiving as Jesus...and free. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Prayer for a Friend

On this day, God wants you to know that how bad things may look right now means nothing, - it's how good they can be with God's help that counts. In life you can absolutely count on one thing, - everything can turn around in one day, in one minute sometimes. Don't you dare to give up, - you might be a moment away from a windfall.

 

Dear Father,
Thank You for loving me. Thank You for the opportunity to decide what I am living for. Today, I realize that I do not have an endless supply of days here on this earth. Help me to use my days well and to make everyday count. Help me to be a blessing to You and others with each day that You give to me. I am choosing to commit myself, my life and my time to You once again. Thank You that You took the time to die for me so I could be forgiven. May I now take the time to live for you so others may know the joy and purpose I have found. Help me daily to stay focused and live for You. I join with the community of faith to be a kingdom-builder and a world-changer. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
 

My Favorites playlist by Dot Dude

My Favorites playlist by Dot Dude

Mothers Day Holiday

 

My daughter SARA & My Mother LOTTIE & My daughter JENNIFER.  Mother we miss you! Mother went on to be with the Lord August 2008.

In its present form, Mother's Day was established by Anna Marie Jarvis, following the death of her mother Ann Jarvis on May 9, 1905, with the help of a Philadelphia merchant called John Wanamaker.^[2] A small service was held in May 12, 1907 in the Andrew's Methodist Episcopal Church in Grafton, West Virginia, where Anna's mother had been teaching Sunday school.^[2] But the first "official" service was in May 10, 1908 in the same church, accompanied by a larger ceremony in the Wanamaker Auditorium in the Wanamaker's store on Philadelphia.^[2] She then campaigned to establish Mother's Day as a U.S. national holiday, and later as an international holiday.^[1][2]
The holiday was declared officially by the state of West Virginia in 1910, and the rest of states followed quickly.^[2] On May 8, 1914, the U.S. Congress passed a law designating the second Sunday in May as Mother's Day and requesting a proclamation. On May 9, 1914, President Woodrow Wilson issued a proclamation, declaring the first national Mother's Day,^[9][10] as a day for American citizens to show the flag in honor of those mothers whose sons had died in war.^[9]
In 1934, U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt approved a stamp commemorating the holiday.^[11]
In May 2008, the U.S. House of Representatives voted twice on a resolution commemorating Mother's Day^[12][13], the first one being unanimous so that all congressmen would be on record showing support for Mother's Day.^{[citation needed]}
The Grafton's church, where the first celebration was held, is now the International Mother's Day Shrine and is a National Historic Landmark.<sup>[14]

This article was copied from Wikipedia @http://ow.ly/1ILV2</sup> 

Do we still have a wise government?

"A wise and frugal government, which shall leave men free to regulate their own pursuits of industry and improvement, and shall not take from the mouth of labor the bread it has earned - this is the sum of good government." Thomas Jefferson

A Life Worth Living by Pastor David McGee(original author)

1 Corinthians 7:19 “For it makes no difference whether or not a man has been circumcised. The important thing is to keep God’s commandments.” NLT
Life Lesson: Serving and keeping God’s commandments is not only a commitment but an act of love as well.
Friend, you have unique talents and abilities that God wants to use for His glory.  Your act of love for God is expressed when you serve and keep His commandments. Don’t be dissatisfied with your giftings, but obey God and walk in them.
Serving God with your gifts and obeying his commandments should be a high priority in the life of the believer. This is not to say that you are under the law, but because of His amazing love for you, you can respond in love by serving others with your talents. While you are not trying to earn your righteousness, you should desire to be obedient to Him. Not because you are earning your salvation but because you love Him.

1John 5:2-3 “By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.” NKJV

You are to love God with all of your heart, soul and mind (Matthew 22:37). Serving and obeying God should not be burdensome because He loved you first. There are a lot of things I do not feel like I want to do, but because of my love and commitment to God I do them. When I take flowers to my wife, I do not do so because I am married. I do this out of love. In the same way, show your love and affection for God by being committed to witness, read the Bible, pray and love others.

Do you express your love to God by serving Him and others? Remember how God told us to discover a life worth living? Feel safe and secure in the arms of God’s redeeming power and undeniable love. Step out in obedience to Him and share the hope and love of God to this cold, dark world that does not have anything worth living for and sure does not offer anything worth dying for.

Dear Father,
Thank You for Your love that sets me free when I ask you to forgive me of my sins. Thank You for allowing me to come to You. Lord, I thank You for the talents and abilities You have gifted to me. Forgive me where I have envied someone else’s gifts while neglecting to use and give away my own gifts. Help me to be grateful for the call You have for my life so that I can discover purpose and meaning the way You intended. Lord, thank You for Your patience with me. Help me bring hope to a lost and dying world— to be a kingdom-builder and a world-changer.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.