A city with One King

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aw1Zr64hsmw&feature=related

Tonight’s the night
For the sinners and the saints
Two worlds collide in a beautiful display
It’s all up tonight
When we step across the line
We can sail across the sea
To a city with one king
A city on our knees

Equals

On the Island of Patmos, The Apostle John had a beautiful vision.

In Revelation 5:9 it says, "And they sang a new song: "You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation."

What a glorious Vision. If God was racists, can you imagine what hope we would have? But thank God for this verse in Romans 1:16-"For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile."

Its beautiful to know that When God looks at us, he doesn't see a black person, white person, or even a green person, but he see's the red blood of Jesus! :)
-Tom



.

But One Loaf

When the disciples crossed the lake
With but one loaf on board;
How strangely did their hearts mistake
The caution of their Lord.

The leaven of the Pharisees
Beware, the Saviour said;
They thought, it is because he sees
We have forgotten bread.

It seems they had forgotten too,
What their own eyes had viewed;
How with what scarce sufficed for few,
He fed a multitude.

If five small loaves, by his command,
Could many thousands serve;
Might they not trust his gracious hand,
That they should never starve?

They oft his pow'r and love had known,
And doubtless were to blame;
But we have reason good to own
That we are just the same.

How often has he brought relief,
And every want supplied!
Yet soon, again, our unbelief
Says, Can the Lord provide?

Be thankful for one loaf today,
Though that be all your store;
Tomorrow, if you trust and pray,
Shall timely bring you more.

John Newton

God bless =)

Give

This week I realized that I need to give- give at all times- give like anybody could get it. And I mean ANYBODY COULD GET IT. I'm getting my passion back. I realized I've been compartmentalizing Jesus to one or two venues a week, but not making Him a Vocal reflection when many opportunities pass me by each day. The only way I'm going to intentionally GIVE and get my passion ON for JESUS is if I get with HIM. He gives me a chance to KNOW HIM, not just understand HIM, but to KNOW HIM. I can't try to get with Him throughout the day though, because too many things start getting in the way, that's why I NEED to get to HIM in the morning. When everything is still around me, and people are still snoozing... I have my opportunity to GET WITH HIM. I'm workin on getting that passion back.

One verse that hit me this week was

"This is my personal signature—Paul—and I stand behind it. I don't need to remind you, do I, that you owe your very life to me?" (the message version /Philemon 21)

whoa baby ^

Be like Christ

I google searched these words "desire to be like christ" exact, and our bibletalk website turned up in the first two links that came up =). I encourage us all to keep going with this. God's definitely gonna do big things in the future.

That's my God!

Remember back in the day, when we were in sunday school and we always used to read a story in the bible and think it was just that, a story? Sometimes we still do that today. It's easy for us to forget that the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob is our God too. When we read of these awesome things that God has done for the Israelites, and the awesome things He has done through Jesus, we keep thinking yeah that's a good story. But it's not just a story!! It's all real. Our God is still here, and we need to wake up and realize that the God that we neglect to listen to many times in our lives is the same God that did all those amazing miracles in Egypt and the same God that came down to this earth to die for us. He is here and He is real, praise be to God because we don't worship a dead god, we don't worship a wooden god, our God is alive and is working through us every day. Let's take some time out of our day and thank God for who He is.

Psalm 93:1-2

The LORD reigneth, he is clothed with majesty; the LORD is clothed with strength, [wherewith] he hath girded himself: the world also is stablished, that it cannot be moved. Thy throne [is] established of old: thou [art] from everlasting.

Receive

“A man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven." - John 3:27

receive - Greek: lambanō - to take what is one's own, to take to one's self, to make one's own

given - Greek: didōmi - to give to someone as his own

Boundless

I've been thinking about this song ever since we've sang it this Sunday during our worship meeting.

I will tell the wondrous story

Of my lost estate to save

In his boundless love and mercy

He the ransom freely gave

- "Sing oh Sing of my Redeemer"

Boundless.

I've sang this song hundreds of times, but for some reason or the other that one word really struck my heart this sunday and it's been on my heart ever since.

Even if we attempted to limit his mercy or his love, we wouldn't be able to. Even if we attempted or tried to bound up any of his amazing qualities that he pours out on us day to day we wouldn't be able to.

His love is boundless. His mercy is boundless.

He is boundless

It is Written :)

You are stronger
You are stronger
Sin is broken
You have saved me
It is written
Christ is risen
Jesus you are Lord of all

-Lisa

Keep Your Focus

1 Kings 11:9-10: ⁹ The LORD became angry with Solomon because his heart had turned away from the LORD, the God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice. ¹⁰ Although he had forbidden Solomon to follow other gods, Solomon did not keep the LORD’s command.

There's a lot of things daily, that can easily distract us. A lot of them are just subtle things, that

you don't realize affect you, but they can be things that can plant something in your heart and mind that can be detrimental. Whether it be a relationships with people, or just things in general, there's an effect. They consume our time, our thoughts, our efforts, and they can make us lose focus of what's important. A small example, sometimes I can be praying or something, and my mind wanders off to something else, that has been pressing on my mind. The scale can vary on what these things are, but it's these things, when they are left unidentified or not addressed, they can turn our hearts away from God. It could be a gradual progression, like it was with Solomon, but nonetheless it can happen. Each day, I encourage all of us to be conscious of your surroundings, the people in your life, and the things that dominate your thoughts. Take account of these things, and see if they're are shifting your focus from God.

Forgotten?

Do you feel forgotten?

Like people forgot about you?

As if God forgot about you?

Well it’s not that God forgot about you

It is that you forgot about God

Let me repeat that

It is not that God forgot about you

It is that you forgot about God

When you walk with Lord

He walks with you

Genesis 39:2-3

² The LORD was with Joseph, and he was a successful man

When God walks with you

You will be successful in all you do

So just make that effort to remember who He is to you

Songs........

We've got a lot of song choices to day right? Its pretty amazing how I can just go to google and type in one letter and itll give me a huge list. Technology has advanced pretty fast. About songs, we have to be careful. What do we listen to? They can have an influence on us and what we do in the world. My mom usually says she only listens to Christian music. I dont think its really necessary as long as you make sure what you're listening to is appropriate. We need to be watchful or in this case of what we listen to. Whos your favorite music artist? Id have to say Phil Wickham. -Kevin Mathew

The Promise

12 Though you search for your enemies,
you will not find them.
Those who wage war against you
will be as nothing at all.
13 For I am the LORD your God
who takes hold of your right hand
and says to you, Do not fear;
I will help you.
14 Do not be afraid, you worm Jacob,
little Israel, do not fear,
for I myself will help you,” declares the LORD,
your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.
15 “See, I will make you into a threshing sledge,
new and sharp, with many teeth.
You will thresh the mountains and crush them,
and reduce the hills to chaff.
16 You will winnow them, the wind will pick them up,
and a gale will blow them away.
But you will rejoice in the LORD
and glory in the Holy One of Israel.

17 “The poor and needy search for water,
but there is none;
their tongues are parched with thirst.
But I the LORD will answer them;
I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them.
18 I will make rivers flow on barren heights,
and springs within the valleys.
I will turn the desert into pools of water,
and the parched ground into springs.
19 I will put in the desert
the cedar and the acacia, the myrtle and the olive.
I will set junipers in the wasteland,
the fir and the cypress together,
20 so that people may see and know,
may consider and understand,
that the hand of the LORD has done this,
that the Holy One of Israel has created it.

Isaiah 41
-Alisha

He cares about you

How many times have we relied on others for help or for comfort in this world? Have we forgotten that there is a God that cares about us and loves us with everything? What I wanted to say is that Jesus loves us with all His heart. If He hadn't, then He wouldn't have died for us on that cross. He provides for us, He protects us, and He allowed us to be with Him in His eternal kingdom. When we rely on Him, He will never let us go. Cast your worries on Him because He really cares for you. Realize that perfect love drives out fear. We need to know and rely on the love God has for us. That is one thing that's been on my mind for these past 3 weeks. I've noticed that God has been guiding me throughout my days and that He really hears my prayers. I've also noticed that if we remain in Him and that if His words remain in us, we can ask God for anything and that He will provide for us. One really inspiring verse that I took to heart was,

John 16:33- "These things have I spoken unto you, that in me ye may have peace. In the world ye have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world."

-JU5T1N TH0MA5

I Could Sing of Your Love Forever

"I'm happy to be in the truth"

John 14:6

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life...

I'm happy to be in Jesus = )

- jayson

Amazing Prophecies from Scripture!!!

The Mount of Olives- this is a high hill to the east of Jerusalem, this place is called Mount Olives because in the Ancient Times this place was just covered with delicious Olives lol.

In the Old testament, theirs a prophecy about the second coming of Christ in Zechariah 14:4 it says, "On that day his feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem, and the Mount of Olives will be split in two from east to west, forming a great valley, with half of the mountain moving north and half moving south." So this Prophecy shows that when Jesus Comes again, he will stand on The Mount Of Olives and it will be split in two!

For years Scientist and many people laughed at this prophecy. and they actually planned to build a hotel over this place. After doing a study on the site, SCIENTISTS DISCOVERED THAT ONE OF THE EARTHS BIGGEST TECTONIC PLATES IS UNDER THE MOUNT OF OLIVES!
JESUS IS COMING SOON!!! =D And hes going to return to the same mountain which he ascended from earth (Acts1:10-11).
-Tom

Promises

And Noah builded an altar unto the LORD; and took of every clean beast, and of every clean fowl, and offered burnt offerings on the altar. And the LORD smelled a sweet savour; and the LORD said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man's sake; for the imagination of man's heart [is] evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done. While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease. I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth. And it shall come to pass, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in the cloud: And I will remember my covenant, which [is] between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh.

God has made a promise that He will never destroy the world again. He made a promise to Noah and his sons that He will preserve the Earth and everything in it. Whenever there is a rainbow in the sky, we can take hope in the fact that God is looking at that very rainbow thinking about the promise He made to never destroy the world again with flood water. It's amazing that He would remember us. He could have just killed us all and started all over again without having to kill His only Son. But He remembered us.

Yo Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Your Wrath

You ever find yourself in one of those arguments you just can't get out of . Its like one starts and then it just takes one word or one action to start a whole argument... We stand there screaming at each other for a half an hour and we get so heated literally.. As if some great injustice has been done to us. Sometimes I get so hot I wonder if my face is cherry red! I don't know about you but for me I don't usually get mad but there are certain people in my life that know exactly the "right" buttons to push!!.... and I find myself in a situation where I am not proud of myself. I become the exact opposite of my personality and honestly sometimes it feels good.
Psalms 4:4 and Ephesians 4:26 both state this phrase "be angry and do not sin" but do those verses condone my behavior? Unfortunately NOT! ;)
The word anger used in these verses is completely different than the definition of what we know as anger. Anger has a good twin! The "anger" used here is described as righteous anger, it is unselfish and stirs when an unrighteousness act is being done to person of the Lord. It is an anger of the Lord's people who hate evil.
The anger we usually exhibit is a SIN ... It is selfish, self defensive, and self serving. We should not even have this kind of anger towards one another because it can lead to even more evil.

Matthew 5:21-22
21 “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ 22 But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire.

In Ephesians, Paul says "do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not give the devil an opportunity"
This verse can be applied to good and bad anger. So how can you sin by good anger? Well even dignified anger can be provoked to sin if you sit on it long enough. That's why Paul says to let go of that anger before you go to bed and leave vengeance to God!

So do we deal with it? Romans tells us how we must react in situations I mentioned earlier.

Romans 12:17-21
17 Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. 18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. 19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” 20 To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Hard hitting words, but words to live by...
Do all things with submission, humbleness, always do what is honorable and Live in Peace.

Jin =)

How awesome is this

<sup>Exodus 14

21</sup>And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the LORD caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided.

²²And the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea upon the dry ground: and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left.

²³And the Egyptians pursued, and went in after them to the midst of the sea, even all Pharaoh's horses, his chariots, and his horsemen.

²⁴And it came to pass, that in the morning watch the LORD looked unto the host of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire and of the cloud, and troubled the host of the Egyptians,

²⁵And took off their chariot wheels, that they drave them heavily: so that the Egyptians said, Let us flee from the face of Israel; for the LORD fighteth for them against the Egyptians.

²⁶And the LORD said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand over the sea, that the waters may come again upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots, and upon their horsemen.

²⁷And Moses stretched forth his hand over the sea, and the sea returned to his strength when the morning appeared; and the Egyptians fled against it; and the LORD overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea.

²⁸And the waters returned, and covered the chariots, and the horsemen, and all the host of Pharaoh that came into the sea after them; there remained not so much as one of them.

²⁹But the children of Israel walked upon dry land in the midst of the sea; and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left.

³⁰Thus the LORD saved Israel that day out of the hand of the Egyptians; and Israel saw the Egyptians dead upon the sea shore.

³¹And Israel saw that great work which the LORD did upon the Egyptians: and the people feared the LORD, and believed the LORD, and his servant Moses

GOD FIGHTS OUR BATTLES FOR US!! :)

-Lisa

Courage

Courage doesn't always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, "I will try again tomorrow." ~ Mary Anne Radmacher

Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the belief that something else is more important than fear....

Take the first step and watch your doubts step back. Keep on going, and leave them far behind. When doubts come to your house and knock on the front door, let Faith get up and answer the door...-Mark Evans "Selah"

It takes courage to pray. It takes courage to say at the end of the day, "Father, not my will but Yours be done". Befriend faith and courage this week. Make this week the most it can be. God ties the outcomes of your choices together- The consequences of your decisions will determine your availability for God to use you. Take courage and make each breath glorify your Maker.

Forgiveness

7x70(Matthew 18:22)....there comes a breaking point in how many times you forgive the same person, right? We end up being so frustrated after having to forgive a person time and time again... But Jesus Christ, our Lord, tells us in Mathew 6:14:15 that "if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses."
It's more than forgiving just seven times seventy. He's telling us to genuinely devote ourselves in doing this Christ-like act. There has never been and never will be a person like Jesus Christ who forgave others in such an amazing fashion. His ultimate sign of forgiveness shown by His love for us on the cross.
It's easy for us to just be apathetic toward a person after they've wronged us...we just wanna not care about it anymore or not let it bother us! ...but we as Christians aren't called to make that easy choice, are we now?
I'm sure this past week, someone has done something wrong to you, and you felt annoyed by it, or really frustrated about it. Take time out of the day to truly forgive that person, as Christ forgives our wrongdoings daily...and also pray for that person. A prayer goes a long way. Show your love as Christ showed His =)
God bless.

5 Minutes

I learned in business class yesterday that within the first minute of meeting someone for the first time you classify your feelings towards them as either positive, negative, or neutral.

95% of the time, within the next four minutes you reinforce that initial feeling.

First impressions. Interesting huh?

It made me think about Jesus, and how he always looked deeper than that. He looked at the inside, he didn't see a "homeless" man, he didn't see people by their race, he didn't see people by their occupations or lifestyle choice, he saw people as...

people.

I guess for Jesus there was no such thing as first impressions, because the impression of his fingertips was already seen all over the different people that he met.

- Ben Thomas

God is with me wherever I go!

Joshua 1:9

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and be courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."

This has been a verse that I have known for as long as I could remember, and it's really meant so much to me these days. The first time I read this verse was on the back of a flash card and I thank God that he showed me this verse early on, because it's not easy remembering a lot of the verses I used to memorize, but this verse always sticks out in my mind and heart :)

Ben Geo

Jeremiah 17:7-8

⁷ “But blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD,
whose confidence is in him.
⁸ They will be like a tree planted by the water
that sends out its roots by the stream.
It does not fear when heat comes;
its leaves are always green.
It has no worries in a year of drought
and never fails to bear fruit.”

Mystery

1 Peter 1 :10-12: Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care, ¹¹ trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of the Messiah and the glories that would follow. ¹² It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things.

Recently I heard something that struck me, about the mystery of salvation, and I thought of this verse. Even as I read it again, that last sentence always amazed me. We have something so precious and so valuable, that even the angels look down at earth, and wonder and search in amazement at the mystery of salvation that has been revealed to us. How crazy is that!

Discipline.........

So, just wanted to look at discipline. Discipline is a hard thing to have. I know. I've tried. I'm pretty sure it's hard for you guys too. I've been trying to sleep at a certain time so I could wake up at a certain time. I've still been trying to start my own bible study on a daily basis. Eph 6:5- Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart as unto Christ.

Keep Your Word...

     Something that I've realized a few days ago was that keeping your word is very important, especially for someone who wants to live a pure life in growth with God. Usually, I would say something without realizing that i need to keep my word and realizing that it is important, then breaking the covenant the next day. That is wrong and since I really want to grow in my walk with Christ. There's this verse i wanted to share.


Psalm 119:9- How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word.

     This verse speaks to me in that way and i can really understand it from there because of something that recently happened.Also another verse I wanted to share was this...

Numbers 30:2- If a man vows a vow to the Lord, or swears an oath to bind
himself by a pledge, he shall not break his word. He shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth.

     This verse is talking about keeping your covenant with God. If you promise something to God or give Him something in return for a blessing, you should keep your promise. These are just some things that i wanted to share and also things I've learned this week.

-Justin Thomas

Jeremiah 33:3

Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.

Isaiah 55: 9-10

For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven
   and do not return there but water the earth,
making it bring forth and sprout,
   giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,
so shall my WORD be that goes out from my mouth;
   it shall NOT return to me empty,
but it shall accomplish that which I purpose,
   and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.
                                                              -Jivin

Salt and Light

“You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven."
-Mathew 5:13-16

Don't let what God is doing for you be thrown to the side.. tell people about his GREAT love and be distinctive in this world so that you can add flavor and shine light to bring glory to his name! = ]

-Hannah

Faith Race

We are all on this track and  Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of [our] faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. Heb 12:2
This race will take
Hard work
Determination
Motivation
Preparation
Training
Heb 12:1 Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
The enemy loves to discourage us, especially when we’re being used by the Lord for His Kingdom purposes. 
lets Throw off anything that hinders us including sin that gets us off track.  We are to run with perseverance the race that is marked out for us.
The remedy for persevering in our faith race is to …”fix our eyes on Jesus”.
Tony

True that

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. ( I Peter. 2: 9-10)

Study

Poverty-stricken as the church is today in many things, she is most stricken here, in the place of prayer.We have many organizers, but few agonizers; many players and prayers, few pray–ers; many singers,few clingers; lots of pastors, few wrestlers; many fears, few tears; much fashion, little passion;many interferers, few intercessors; many writers, but few fighters. Failing here, we fail everywhere
-Leonard Ravenhill

L-LISTENS

O-OVERLOOKS

V-VALUES

E- ENCOURAGES

Christ has no hands but our hands to do His work today

He has no feet but our feet to lead men in the way

He has no tongue but our tongue to tell men how He died

He has no help but our help to bring them to His side.

We are the only Bible the careless world will read,

We are the sinner’s gospel; we are the scoffer’s creed;

We are the Lord’s last message, given in word and deed;

What if the type is crooked? What if the print is blurred?

What if our hands are busy with other work than His?

What if our feet are walking where sin’s allurement is?

What if our tongue is speaking of things His lips would spurn?

How can we hope to help Him or welcome His return?

—Annie Johnston Flint

Tame your tongue !

Our Words are SO STRONG. Our words can change a person easily, it can make them sad, mad, happy, go suicidal or whatever, but the fact is OUR WORDS ARE STRONG!!!

But Jesus says "Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh." 

So whatever is in your heart is what you speak. .In James 3:1-12 it talks about TAMING THE TONGUE... something i had problems and something we've all probably had problems with! 

(V.6) "The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell." That's crazy that our tongue is like a fire it can set our whole life on fire!
⁹ With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. ¹⁰ Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. ¹¹ Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? 


We can't be people who praise God, in like Bibletalk and church and then be people who say bad's stuff or say mean things to your parents. Poland spring water, and salty water can't be in the same bottle or your gonna spit that out its gonna taste NASTY. So that's the same thing with God.  


Revelation 3:16 So, because you are lukewarm--neither hot nor cold--I am about to spit you out of my mouth. 

So i just wanted to tell you guys don't be lukewarm in your speech ! In Colossians 3:17 it says 

"And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him."  :)
                                                                                                                                 -JIVIN :]

Light

The people who walked in darkness

Have seen a great light;

Those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death,

Upon them a light has shined.
-Isaiah 9:2

I've been thinking about this verse for the past few days. I love how Isaiah represents light with 2 opposite extremes - 1) Darkness & 2)Shadow of Death. I thought ok, thats cool and all, but then when I was really meditating on it, I realized that light can only shine when in darkness and when in a shadow. I love the fact that Scripture tells us that we have to have gone through darkness or dwelled in the land of the shadow of death, to experience the true essence and power of light. God's light shining in us. Scripture says, that we not only have went through the land of the shadow of death, but we have dwelled there. I have been thinking about my own life these past few weeks, and it has been nothing short of rough. But I have been thinking about the places my heart has dwelled these past few weeks. They have dwelled in the shadow of death. They have dwelled on what could have been, on what was suppossed to happen, and even on expectations. These are all representations of the shadow of death, because they sure did not bring light into aspects of my life. But after dwelling there, and reading this verse, light has shone and must shine.

Chose to embark and set your eyes on the light that has shone and not dwell on the shadow of death.

Don't Waste Your Life

Psalm 90:12-"So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom."

Its humbling to know my life is like grass lol. 1 Peter 1:24-"For, "All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall,but the word of the Lord stands forever."

I was going through the Evidence Bible and I saw this chart , and the truth that my life is like grass really hit me! Here is that chart...

The Average Person dies at 70 years old

IF YOU ARE: YOU HAVE:
20 years old 2,600 weekends left
30 years old 2,080 weekends left
40 years old 1,560 weekends left
50 years old 1,040 weekends left
60 years old 520 weekends left

According to the U.S Census Bureau, 150,000 people die every 24 hours. (WOW! =O)

Live and Die boasting in the Cross of Christ and make the Glory of God your singular passion in Life!
-Tom

What's cracking bibletalk familia

John 3:20-21 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light neither cometh to the light lest his deeds be reproved but he that doeth truth cometh to the light that his deeds may be manifest that they are wrought in God

We see many things that the Bible clearly says is wrong. But the thing is most of the people doing these things have no idea what they're doing or that it's not right. Our lives are always being swarmed with temptation, I face things everyday where I think "it's not really bad if I do this." We can't have that kind of reasoning. The verses show that either we're part of the light or we're in darkness, there's no semidarklight. There's no doubt that these things will keep happening, and maybe a few times we'll end up giving in to the wrong things but remember what the right things are. The Bible is in part a manual to our daily life, and if you don't follow instructions you usually end up messing up. I just encourage all of you guys to really think about this and that's our purpose is to bring others to Christ, the light of the world. ~Alex G.

How He loves

You know that feeling you get when you're listening to a familiar song, and the words come alive to you? How it speaks to your conscience and heart alike? How you're so grateful to God for a wonderful song that's genuine in its words. Nothing can replace the Scriptures in its message to us, but it's no coincidence when a hymn or song complements what we learn from scripture.

Consider the song How He loves by John Mark McMillan...

There's a line in there that's just amazing! It goes "I don't have time to maintain these regrets, when I think about the way that He loves us."

When we move away from God's path because of the sins we've committed, it's so hard for us to go back to Him. He's our SAVIOR, and He LOVES us so much! ...but we feel so guilty that we keep doing the sins that He hates...and we literally drown in our guilt. I'm sure at one point or another, we've all felt so undeserving that we didn't know WHY God still choose to love us.

However, the lyrics posted above just told me to let go, and let God take care of it all. He loves us so much that we need not carry those thoughts in our heart and minds! Don't let it be a hindrance. Throw away those feelings that make us seem not worthy to go to Him in our pitiful state. Christ's work in the cross has placed in us our worth.
Don't shy away from going to God, and if you still don't think you can, ask for help from a genuine Christian friend. They'll definitely put forth the effort to help you get back in a right relationship with Christ.

God bless :)

Greetings

Backround music:WHILE YOUR READING THIS 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5sypIy52dwHello Bibletalk fam! :)
So today i didnt wanna get a red shade in so i just wanted to share a couplee of verses. And well ... you guys know how there was a earthquake in Japan... Well.. this is all pertaining to JESUS RETURN.. ISNT  THAT JUST AWESOME THAT JESUS ( OUR LORD) IS COMING SOON TO SEE US And in Matthew 24
"Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places." So yeah... if you  look at all these years... THE EARTHQUAKES... and wars... and all that is rapidly just alining to what the bible says .... so yes.. AMEN COME LORD JESUS! :)

Pain

ah tennis tryouts...
the very essence of pain...loll
I know some of you are reading this thinking, "Yo Man up Charlie!!!"
But seriously ever since tryouts started I've realized just how weak I am. Simple workouts can really leave you soar. So I was trying to think about this in a more spiritual perspective and here's what I got...
So the point of working out is to build your body up right?
You need to eat right and exercise daily and all that kinda stuff.
Now if we want to be spiritually fit, (I know some of you are connecting the dots already) you need to "eat right" regularly... meaning ... get your daily dose of God's Word. And sure your gonna feel pain, your gonna feel a lot of pain actually. But in the end you get built up and become a better person.

Acts 20:32 And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.

1 Peter 5:10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle [you].

Boldness in Prayer

Would you know the secret of the believer’s boldness in prayer? It is a marvel how a man that feels his sin so deeply as the believer does, can speak with the confidence the believer frequently does. How one that acknowledges he is “wretched, miserable, poor, blind, naked,” ruined, undone—who often does what he ought not to do, and leaves undone what he ought to do, and finds no spiritual health in him—how such a one as this can go before God with confidence, pour out his heart before Him freely, ask from Him what he requires day after day and not feel afraid—this is wonderful indeed. What is the secret of it? It is the intercession of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, whereby the true Christian knows his prayers are made acceptable, and received in the court of heaven.

~ J.C. Ryle

Let's remember to always, no matter what situation or sin we're struggling with to always approach the throne of grace with boldness. We have been made righteous, and sometimes our sin can distance us from God, but always remember God wants us to come to him boldly and pour out our heart to Him.

Justus

I am NOTHING without You

Take these hands
And lift them up
For I have not the strength to praise You near enough
See, I have nothing
I have nothing without You

And take my voice and pour it out
Let it sing the songs of mercy I have found
For I have nothing
I have nothing without You

And all my soul needs is all Your love
To cover me, so all the world will see
That I have nothing without You

Take my body and build it up
May it be broken as an offering of love
For I have nothing
I have nothing without You

And all my soul needs is all Your love
To cover me so all the world will see
That I have nothing
That I love You, yeah
With all my heart
With all my soul
With all my mind
And all the strength I can find

Take my time here on this earth
And let it glorify all that You are worth
For I am nothing
I am nothing without You
-B. N.

I am what I am today because of the grace and mercy of God
-Lisa

Commit

Thought I'd share a song I wrote last night:

I commit to you

the worries that run through my veins

With this song I give

them all to you so none remains

Hold me close,I'm afraid of the dark

Build my trust, heal my heart

Let not Satan tear it down and apart

Let not Satan tear it down and apart

oh lord my God

- Ben Thomas

Speechless

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JFeGgyHp4Yw

I absolutely love this song. It reminded me today to humble myself before God and to be STILL and know that he is God. My favorite verse in this song says, "To all creation I can see a limit but Your commands are boundless and have none, so your Word is my joy and meditation from the rising to the setting of the sun."
Words can't even begin to describe how amazing our God is and how much joy he brings into our lives. Keep living and breathing for Him.

-Hannah

...

God is the only source of peace.

In life we tend to get flustered with cares, worries, fears, anxieties, and a myriad of other confusions. So much so that we forget where the center of peace is.
It was one of those days...
These past few days I've been reluctant to be aware His embrace. I've been fidgeting, struggling--not knowing why there's a sense of uneasiness and unrest inside me.
Today in class I looked back to one of my old notebooks from my first semester in college. Flipping through the pages I found something I doodled during my Anatomy class-- "You give me peace unbounded"
Then it hit me. 
I was reminded of the overwhelming sense of peace and security that my Father offers.
I was reminded that His arms are wide open waiting for me to return to Him.
He knows what I need, I need Him, He makes Himself available to me, always.

And so I opened up to Him. Peace.

-Jayson

The lamb that was slain.

I don't think I've ever had so much on my mind to think about in one weekend. Friday night I was and a couple of friends from IV saw the passion of the christ movie at hofstra. I can definitely say many were touched or affected in some way. I came back and read chapters from the gospels that dealt with Jesus' struggle, the torture and torment he went through.

And this was all for us! He was beaten for us. He was humiliated and spat upon for us. He was mad fun of for us. Yes, the high and majestic King chose to be put into the hands of insignificant, sadistic, cruel, heart-less people such as ourselves because he loves us!

Wow!

"Praise to the lamb that was slain, and praise to the father who gave his son away."

This is the ultimate proof of God's love. Grace and mercy shown at the cross.

Oh what a God we serve.

Worry?

     Why do we worry about every single thing in this world and what it brings to us? Why do we worry about our looks? Man, this is something that I specifically go through no matter what. I know i shouldn't always worry as much of things because I've really realized especially this past week that God provides. Philippians 4:19 This past week I have personally been worrying about everything, even for the first time worrying about school. These are two verses that I have looked into which tells us that there is no use in worrying.

Matthew 6:25-
"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? 

Matthew 6:34-
"So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

     There is also a verse in the bible which states that worrying just wastes more time. Worrying and Faith are related in a way. We can see that True, Strong faith means that we would usually not worry about things of this world and leave it to Our God.

awesome song: reminder of God's love

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PgGUKWiw7Wk

Good Samaritan

Jesus answered, "A certain man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who both stripped him and beat him, and departed, leaving him half dead. By chance a certain priest was going down that way. When he saw him, he passed by on the other side. In the same way a Levite also, when he came to the place, and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a certain Samaritan, as he traveled, came where he was. When he saw him, he was moved with compassion, came to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. He set him on his own animal, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. On the next day, when he departed, he took out two denarii, and gave them to the host, and said to him, 'Take care of him. Whatever you spend beyond that, I will repay you when I return.' Now which of these three do you think seemed to be a neighbour to him who fell among the robbers?"

He said, "He who showed mercy on him."

Then Jesus said to him, "Go and do likewise."

The man gave two denarii (2 days wages), and didn't have anything left. When you love, you have to give.. and give till you feel as if you're in debt..

ouch

i got cut by my ruler(long story) and it hurt
imagine what jesus went through

God Is At Work In the Midst

I want to share a story that touched me and got me thinking.
Angola Prison in Louisiana is one of the largest maximum security instititions in the U.S  The vas inmate population serving life sentence has no hope for there future. serveral years ago, the prison hired a new warden he is the one having care or charge of something  he was also  a christian. as he assumed his new postiion, he had no idea what God intended for that dismal,hopeless place. one day, a prisoner was executed for his crimes. the Holy Spirit convicted the warden that he did not know if the convict had been a christian, but he had assisted in ushering the man into ETERNITY. the warden sensed God wanting to use him to bring hope and salvation to the prison residents. his church had been going through EXPERIENCING GOD, and he decided to make the study available to any inmate who wanted to take the course. It was also offered to all those on DEATH ROW. GOD began to transform lives through the study. many of those awaiting execution became Christians. in face, so many prisoners were becoming Christians that 7 different congregations were begun throughout the prison with inmates serving as pastors. violence and drug use decreased in the prison. some of the men even was called by GOD for ministry. these prisoners were asked to be transferred to other prisons where they begun leading bible studies and leading fellow convicts in faith in CHRIST. these inmates were making such a postive impact on the prison population that warden across the country began asking Angola prison to transfer some of their TRANSFORMED prisoners to them, GOD been working in the Midst. Heb 13:5   I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
Tony

Songs we sing....

Hey guys, just wanted to talk about songs we usually sing in Church, one in particular.
How deep the father's love for us. I just wanted to talk about the first stanza.

How deep the father's love for us, how vast beyond all measure
That he should give his only son, to make a wretch his treasure.

These two lines just talk about God's love and how its so great that we cant even begin too describe it. The second line tells of how he gave Jesus on the cross to save us. How great a God do we worship and serve, that he would give his only son? These 2 line are my favorite in the whole song.
I feel these 2 lines express more meaning than all the others..
- Kevin Mathew

Because..Our God is an AWESOME God

^{1 peter 3:13-16
13} Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? ¹⁴ But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened.” ¹⁵ But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, ¹⁶ keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.

Encouragement

God talking to Joshua
Joshua 1:5 & 9
5 No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”
the some God that is telling Joshua wherever you go i will be there is the same God that is with us
the same God that is saying Isaiah 41:10 Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’
12.Those who war against you .Shall be as nothing, As a nonexistent thing.
13 For I, the LORD your God, will hold your right hand, Saying to you, ‘Fear not, I will help you.’ The God that has the power over all we have and beyond what we can comprehend is with us
us mere dust that was worth nothing but now are due to His blood

the only reason God places us in "troubles" is so that we go to Him
Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
God is not trying to hurt you or make you cry or do anything to harm you all these obstacles are placed there (James 1:2-5) in our lives so that we may prosper
Jeremiah 29:11 call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. 13 And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.
He listens to our cries
Jeremiah 29:14
14 I will be found by you,” says the Lord. “I will end your captivity and restore your fortunes. I will gather you out of the nations where I sent you and will bring you home again to your own land.”God will end all the things that we are wrapped in chains by ...He will end your captivity

everything God said that i put in green letters(that is in bold and/or italics)is because i wanted to remind you He did it for YOU....
in Matthew 14:22-33 Peter said to Jesus “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” (we ask God for things like ...God strengthen me , give me wisdom, the courage to do this) Jesus said Come ... Peter walked to go to Jesus (proof God listens to us and does whatever we ask in His Sons name) and when Peter saw the wind and waves he was afraid and began to sink (He was held captive by fear) Peter cries out “Lord, save me!” 31 And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him (Jesus was diligent, He heard his cry and reached to him) this reminds me if Happy sort of ... when i emailed him saying I'm scared and nervous if something bad would happen to the baby He called me with care and Jivin using His word to encourage me knowing his owns (referring to jivin) words temporary that God could give us the true joy...and Besty, Lisa, Jincy Jason, both Ben's, Tom, Justus, Charlie, Jabin (sorry if i missed anyone) and all you guys saying don't worry were praying for the baby i really really really am grateful and sooo happy that u care soo much ....
referring about back to what i said earlier (we ask God for things like ...God strengthen me , give me wisdom, the courage to do this) God listens to that so he throws obstacles at us so we may learn from it... for us to be strong or wise or be courageous...
and we say (don't worry i did it to) what is going on God? when i asked for strength, wisdom and courage you give me all these rocks and thorns that blocking my road but God said in Jeri.29:10 I don't want to harm... i just want you to have a prosperous life
the same God that said i will hold your right hand ...the same God that came down to die for us .... the one that gave power to Peter to walk on water but being captive by fear started to drown and Peter saying Lord Save me... immediately took out His hand and reached Peters hand and caught him...that Same God is with us ... He is able to break us from our captivity...set us free from the fear, doubt, sorrow and these negatives thoughts all we have to do is pray in His Sons name ....His Sons name is authority and He gave us the right to use it and today like other days i saw the power of prayer from you guys i pray you guys well and that you just talk to God continuously because He is willing to listen to you and me despite all the nonsense we did now or in the past He is willing to stretch His mighty hand to save us ..us mere dust ...sinners ... the ones that hurt God yet He is willing to love you say don't worry I the Lord is with you wherever you go so don't be afraid and even if you are pray that moment because God will break that fear like it never existed ...like it was nothing so i pray that you may do that in Jesus name amen love u all