The life of Amaziah

Amaziah became the king of Judah at the age of 25. He is mentioned in 2 Kings 14:1-6, and then in 2 Chronicles 25:1-2.

Amaziah was born into the royal throne of King David, but he did not love the Lord like David had, but followed after the ways of his father, Joash (2 Ki 14:3)
The verse in 2 Chronicles brought me to my knees, because it says “He did what was right in the sight of the Lord, yet not with a whole heart.”
It's explained here that you could do “right in the eyes of the Lord” but still not with a whole heart. I would not want to be in that category...I wouldn’t want any of my fellow brother/sister in that category. As an illustration pointed out, it would a tragic sight to have that written on our tombstone. "so-and-so did right in the eyes of the Lord, but not with a whole heart."
I'll tell you one thing...I certainly do not want such a statement on my tombstone!!
To not do it with a whole heart, with a loving heart, with a heart that wholly given to God’s will is the same as not doing right in God's eyes at all. Worse, it creates an illusion of faith, worship and adoration where there's not a true heart for it. Let's strive to be men and women who follow God's will with a pure and perfect heart. Wholly given to His will.

God bless

John 4:23-24

But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God [is] a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship [him] in spirit and in truth.

Reevaluate true worship
remember its ok to be completely honest with God
honesty contributes to true worship

Image of the Invisible God

Colossians 1:15- 18

15Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:

16For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:

17And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.

18And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.

Image of the invisible God

Image- (eikon) representation, resemblance, likeness

Invisible- (aoratos)- incapable of being seen

God- (Theos)

Then said they unto him, Where is thy Father? Jesus answered, Ye neither know me, nor my Father: if ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also. John 8:19

When we look at Jesus we see the reflection of the Father’s heart. Jesus Christ is the picture of who God the Father is. Jesus does what the Father wants done, Jesus says what the Father wants said. There is nothing Christ does of His own will, it is all aligned to the Father’s will.

"When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick." Matthew 14:14

"When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled." John 11:33

God sees and knows exactly what His people need. Since He has deep compassion and love for us to the point where His heart is moved to aching due to our situation, He presents the ultimate provision for each and everyone of us. All of who the Father is, it is represented through Christ. His love, His forgiveness, His intimacy, His wisdom, His power, His authority, His passion, and the list goes on.

For in Him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. Colossians 2:9

Jesus Christ is the bodily representation of the Godhead.

And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads. Rev 22:3-4

Jesus sits bodily on the throne of God.. and when we get to Heaven, we will be face to face with Him. Face to face with God himself because Jesus is God, physical, never spirit.

Perspective

Matthew 9:36 :: But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.

God's been speaking to me the last few days, and he's been saying the same thing in different ways

I guess. In short, "How do you view other people?" What I mean by that, when we see other people, wherever we are, the dude at the gas station, or the lady at the grocery store, what's the

first thing that pops into our heads about them? It's our natural reaction to try to size them up,

isn't it? And generally speaking, usually, it's something negative. Jesus saw things with a different perspective. He had a godly perspective. He looked upon them with love and compassion. I encourage you guys, when you encounter people, to consciously have your perspective conformed to that of Jesus. Things tend to look totally different.

yaaaay for more gals at Bible Talk :)

since there are more ladies coming lately, I want to echo an old post from my blog ...guys, read at your own discretion and don't take things the wrong way :P

be encouraged pretty ladies :)

To my sisters ..

Know what?? I am so thankful for you. I love you and the way you love God and others. God does too.

Know this. A man can never love others the way you do. In humility, thank God for this. God knows you and I represent a side of Him that men don't and probably can't even if they tried. And I am not saying this in a prideful, feminazi kind of way. It really is a beautiful thing and I know you know what I'm saying!

God knows how much you hold inside of you, your ability to forgive, to undergo situations, to overcome, to heal. He knows you are strong; maybe not like guys but you are. It's a different kind of strength. He created you the way you are for a reason and thank God we are indeed different.

-Many of Jesus's followers were women and Jesus knew them intimately
-They cared for Him during his ministry (Mark 15:41 - they waited on, ministered unto, provided for, served Him and most of all loved Him)
-The first proclaimers of the gospel were women ..they were the first ones at their Lord's tomb ..how awesome is that! (they went to the disciples to tell them Jesus wasn't in the tomb!)
-I LOVE that Jesus chose to appear first to Mary (John 20) ..this wasn't a coincidence but purposeful. He could have easily chosen to appear to any one of the disciples but he revealed Himself FIRST to Mary! He knew how much she loved Him ...

He knows ..He has always known ..take comfort in that ..and remember that He is your beauty and your joy ..he gives you beauty for ashes (Isaiah 61:3)

Psalm 45:11 "So the King will greatly desire your beauty; Because He is your Lord, worship Him."

-LisaLove

Believe in Prayer

Hebrew 7:25 he is able also to save
he is able - dunamai = possible
save - sozo = deliver, protect , heal, to make whole (including all components without exception)
God is able to deliver you
God is able to protect you
God is able to heal you
God is able to make you whole

God is able to do so much for you
but how do you get this healing, delivering, protection? how do can i be made whole?

Mat 21:22 And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.
By prayer

word-greek=meaning

all things- pas = all or any or every
whatsoever- hosos = how great , as much, all
ye shall ask- aiteo = beg, crave, desire , to call for
in = by
prayer - proseuche = pray earnestly ( in a serious manner or being very sincere)
believing - pisteuo = to have faith or to commit
ye shall receive- lambano = to take or to obtain

Whatever you desire no matter how big or small it is if it is done by prayer in faith you will receive (matt7:7, 1 john 5:14&15, mark 11:24, John 14:13&14 , John 15:7&16, John 16:23&24)

Definition

Protos- chiefly (first) i.e. God should be chief. 

God should be first principally, not on a list of other priorities. 

Go

We're giving it all away away... We're giving it all to go your way... 

In the father, there is hope and there is freedom and there is hope in the name that is Jesus, lay your life down, give it all now, be found in the love of the savior. We come alive in you, You've set free the chosen few. Our live will never be the same

We're giving it all away away... We're giving it all to go your way...

We are souled out, to your calling, we'll give all we are for your glory take our hearts now, have it all now, Shine your light, shine your light now, We come alive to you, your set free the chosen few our live will never be the same....We're giving it all away away... We're giving it all to go your way... We're giving it all away away... We're giving it all to go your way... In the way we're singing

Hillsong United

What A Mighty God We Serve

So the other day I saw a scary movie that really freaked me out. Now normally I don't usually get scared but this one ...the images stayed in my mind. Driving back home, I prayed to the Lord to give me peace and that the images I saw would not stay with me . When I got home I needed a little more confidence so I started to read and the passage I turned to was Acts 9.

This chapter describes the conversion of Saul of Tarsus. Now Saul was known as a persecutor of the Lord's disciples and even more descriptive of his nature is in verse 1 "Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord." - WOW he was BREATHING threats and murder....this was what he was about.
moving on we see here that he was on a mission to bring the believers "bound to Jerusalem." Now what really stuck with me was verses 3-9.

³ As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. ⁴ Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?”
⁵ And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” Then the Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads.”
⁶ So he, trembling and astonished, said, “Lord, what do You want me to do?”
Then the Lord said to him, “Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”
⁷ And the men who journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice but seeing no one. ⁸ Then Saul arose from the ground, and when his eyes were opened he saw no one. But they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. ⁹ And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank.

Couple of Points
-He fell to the ground. - His encounter brought fear
-He was rebuked- Voice called out "Saul, Saul" - Luke points that out in many other occasions
-Saul knew it was the Lord before it was addressed
- Lord reveals to Saul his problem- "It is hard for you to kick against the goads"- It is hard for you to be rebellious....
Goad- an instrument used by ploughmen for guiding their oxen. Sometimes an irritated ox kicks the goad and when it does that the ox ends up getting hurt.
-He was trembling and astonished - He believed fearfully

Main Point
- I LOVE this when Christ says "I am Jesus Christ , Why are You persecuting ME?'' You can say ya well Saul didn't persecute Jesus! But Christ is saying when you persecute the Christians, You persecute me, We are INSEPARABLE.

So you can imagine... my fear melted away and the Word of God strengthened me that night because it proved to me over and over again... The Father we love, The Master we worship, The God we praise is united with us as ONE. He is so mighty, so powerful, and He overcomes ALL.

You know in these scary movies they always show that God's ways never prevail...they always show the darkness winning, but we can confidently say that Our Light always wins. He always wins and when Christ wins, we win. Praise be to Him Always ...

-Jincy

He Humbled Himself

Jesus Humbled Himself
In John 13 we see Jesus humility in his relationship with others when he washed the disciples feet he was showing his Love toward them. John 13:1
Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them to the end. How did he manifest that Love? by washing their feet and he said  "I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to you. Truly, truly, I say to you, a slave is not greater than his master". Jesus even washed Judas feet verse 21 Jesus was troubled in spirit because Judas was going to betray him. It was difficult to love Judas also until the end. But Jesus did it his love is Unconditional, Everlasting,

Tony

A Simple Thought

I've been thinking a lot about the parable of the talents found in Matthew 25

If you notice the servants that took the talents (wealth, sum of the money) from the Master and multiplied it were counted as "good and faithful" servants. (vs 21, vs 23)

the other, that did nothing with the portion allotted to him was counted as "wicked and slothful" (vs 26)

I know that we all have a desire to be good & faithful as opposed to wicked & slothful, but I guess the real question becomes are we multiplying the wealth of knowledge, wisdom, understanding, talents, and gifts that the Lord has allotted to us?

Are we growing in them and actively seeking to receive a return in them that in turn benefits our master?

Just some things for you and myself to think about

Bible Studies

The bible studies have been great so far! Props to Costin, Robin, Jivin and Tony for last week's presentations. I just wanted to give a couple of verses. 1 Samuel 30:1-6 was our presentation. I was just reading it over again. It's amazing how much you can learn from 6 verses.

The Resurrection of Jesus Christ, the Greatest Event of All Time!

What was the Central truth of early apostles preaching?

What was the very stimulus of the growth of the early church?

What was the dynamic energizing force that spread the Gospel across the face of the earth?

The answer to all these questions is none other than the Resurrection of Jesus Christ

"HE IS RISEN" was the victorious cry of the Early Christians and they spread this truth to the ends of the Earth!

Come, receive the light from the unwaning light, and glorify Christ Who is risen from the dead . . trampling death by death, and bestowing life on those in the graves. -Orthodox Resurrection hymn

-Tom

Humbleness, or Pridefulness you choose !

Jesus Christ.
THERE ! If we want to know the definition of Humbleness. There... it's Jesus Christ. 
He was HUMBLE ! 

Judas betrayed Jesus, Jesus' own disciple yet that fact that when Judas came to betray Jesus, Jesus said "Friend" (Matthew 26:50) He could have easily anything like GET AWAY FROM YOU _______. But, yet the simple fact that Jesus said "Friend" is amazing and there you can see the humbleness of Christ.

Wanna hear another example, well fine !

When, Jesus Christ who is the "LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle... King of Glory" (Psalm 24) was on the Cross of CALVARY, the place of the skull, Golgotha. You can't BEGIN to imagine or DESCRIBE the piercings of the Cat o nine nails that went through Jesus' back time and time again.
YOU CANT EVEN BEGIN TO DESCRIBE, the SHARP nails that went through his right and left and hand and through his feet. NO !... it hurt so much they had to make a new word "excruciating" but yet through all the PAIN AND SUFFERING that JESUS went through for me and you, and he said in Luke 23:34 "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do"

That's how we should be like... we should strive to be like that ^ ! When someone takes our cookies in school you should say "FATHER FORGIVE THEM for they know not  what they do " Be humble, don't be prideful, if someone compliments you don't be prideful, self esteem is PRIDE, yeah you heard me Self esteem is PRIDE. There's two things you can either do in a situation either be prideful or humble it's your decision...

 Let me remind you. Satan got KICKED out OF HEAVEN for pride. Don't be prideful, yet be like Jesus. BE HUMBLE.
                                                                  
                                                                                                                                 - Jivin

Praying

Been reading Nehemiah lately, I'm still workin on the first chapter, it's been a week so far. Nehemiah means "comforted by God" and the first thing Nehemiah does in the book when he hears about Jerusalem's broken walls, is he prays. I'm trying to pray more recently, any chance I get. We're not praying so that God gets what He wants, we pray so that we get what we need. Prayer is power, prayer is comfort, and prayer brings so many other things as well. We go through so much trouble and worry just because we won't pray. As I'm preparing to teach on counseling for a session this weekend, I've been able to put together a few principles related to relationships, particularly one with the Lord. Most of the principles revolve around the interactions that take place within the relationship... which means there must be a mutual exchange for anything to grow..that's why it's important to pray. Also, one thing I heard at the men's conference this weekend was that you'll know passages in the bible if you live in them. It's like knowing your address, because that's where you live. So if a particular passage from God's word is one you've studied and applied to your life, you'll be more prone to remember it and repeat it. talk to you later.

Happy

Be Thankful That God Speaks

Amos 8:11,12 : ¹¹Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD: ¹²And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the LORD, and shall not find it.

This is just a prophecy talking about the 430 years between the OT and NT, when God didn't communicate with the people. We are so lucky, that we have an opportunity where God speaks to us, not only through the Word, through his Spirit, through nature, and in so many ways.

It's our job to listen. When was the last time God spoke to you, and you just sat still to listen to what he was saying. It's incredible the ways he communicates to us, but we just have to listen.

God wants us to talk to him, but he also wants us to listen, and subsequently obey.

Psalm 32:8

Loyalty

Esther 2:11 - And Mordecai walked every day before the court of the women's house, to know how Esther did, and what should become of her.

I've made it a commitment to start reading books that I've either never read before, or just haven't spent enough time reading. I'm up to chapter, but I'm already learning a great amount from these first three chapters. Here's an example of the character of Mordecai. He commits himself to Esther, even when she's made queen of Persia, he makes it an effort to see her everyday, not because she is queen, but because he wants to know how she's doing. Mordecai was a MAN.

Ben George

...

"In our best attempts to consider God, wrote Augustine, we are essentially asking the everlasting Light to "lighten our darkness." Perhaps the miracle of sight is less like a light switch and more like a series of lights God strings together until we can finally see."

Made vs. Meant

Adam was what God made, Jesus was what God meant

Powerful words coming from one of the speakers at the men's conference this past weekend. It's so true isn't it? It must have been devastating as God to see something that was intended, fall apart and miss the mark in regards to it's purpose.

Let's not miss the mark guys, We are called to do so much more, We are called to lead extraordinary lives

Let us be people that God meant and not just made.

Paul's exhortation

Philippians 2:2, 5, 13
"Fulfill ye my joy, that ye be like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind ...Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus ...For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure"

We are a like-minded people. Our vision should be the same. To look more like Jesus every day. Do you look more like Christ than when you first started out? Look back to last June ..do you look more like Jesus since then?? Do we have the same love? Are we of one accord? or is there discord among us? are we of one mind? Is the mind of Christ in us? Remember that it is God who works in us for His purposes and to His glory. Be encouraged

-Lisa

Elpizo- Trust

Definition on Trust -Firm belief in the reliability, truth, ability, or strength of someone or something
Few verses on Trust

Psalm 13:5 But I Trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation.
Psalm 31:14 But I Trust in you, O LORD; I say, "You are my God."
Psalm 56:3 When I am afraid, I will Trust in you.
Psalm 62:8 Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.
Proverbs 3:5
Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;
John 14:1"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me
Revelation 21:55 He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!" Then he said,
"Write this down, for these words are Trustworthy and true

To trust Him means, of course, trying to do all that He says. There would be no sense in saying you trusted a person if you would not take his advice. Thus if you have really handed yourself over to Him, it must follow that you are trying to obey Him. But trying in a new way, a less worried way.
C. S. Lewis

Tony

Break..

So break is finally here! Just a thought. Ive been thinking of how lazy i was gonna be over the break. I realized I shouldn't be thinking that way. I have to try and discipline myself. We all do. We should try to wake up early and read the bible. This way, our relationship with Christ will be strengthened. -Kevin Mathew

David

Imagine this a young lad small and frail (like me; David). On his way to fight a 9 foot monster with 300 pounds of armor  and his armor on his head is about 19 pounds !(Goliath)

Imagine how much faith that takes... to step out of your comfort zone to the realm of the unknown that's what DAVID DID !

Imagine how much soldiers and people were there telling David "Boy your not gonna win just fall back !" imagine that discouragement that David might feel. But David wasn't afraid

"In God I trust and am not afraid. What can man do to me?"- Psalm 56:11

NO WONDER DAVID SAYS
"Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou [art] with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me." -Pslams 23:4

Guess who won that battle that day ? DAVID
That small little frail who had nothing but stones and a puny slingshot beat a GREAT soldier who was at least 9-15 feet tall ! :D
- Jivin

Food for thought

Who He is:

Holy
Pure
Just
Merciful
Compassionate
Loving
The Way
The Truth
The Life
etc.

Who He is to the world:

Light of the world
Redeemer
Savior
etc.

Who He is to me:

Personal Savior
Best Friend
Teacher
(Fill in the blank)


God is so amazing. As your reading this think of who God is to you personally. Remember all the things He has done for you. The paths He has brought you through. When it says etc. it doesn't mean just etc. like another expression we use. It means that the list goes on. God is awesome. Amen?

Psalm 36:6

Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains, your justice like the great deep. O LORD, you preserve both man and beast.

Psalm 62:7

My salvation and my honor depend on God; he is my mighty rock, my refuge.

Psalm 22

First of all, this chapter is a messianic chapter which corresponds to (Matthew 27)

So Verses 1-21... is Humilation---> Suffering ---> Cross

And Verses 22-31... is Exaltation---> Glory---> Crown 
 - Jivin :D
  

Art of Sharing Your Testimony

John 4:39-"Many Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me all that I ever did.”

1.Be Brief
2 Be Humble
3.Be Honest
4.Be Discreet
5.Be Eager
6.Be Sensitive

-Tom

Just let it happen =)

Don't mind the title... 

Matthew 5:39- But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also.

 Yeah, you guys are probably wondering why I'm posting this, especially me of all people. Well I'm here to tell you that i want to take this verse to heart. I'm probably known for retaliation haha. To me, this verse really spoke because of how clear it was telling me what I was doing wrong. From this verse, Jesus explains it pretty clearly. He wants us to surrender. Jesus isn't talking about the army or government services that require retaliation, but on a normal daily human life.When we are wronged, usually our first reaction is to get even. Instead Jesus said we should do good to those who wrong us. Instead of planning revenge, pray for those who hurt you. Your life will be better and the person who harmed you will see a different side to you and mainly to Jesus. Love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you. We shouldn't resist or fight back physically but fight for the Word.We need to defend our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and what He stands for. I was wrong for most of my life saying "I was only using self-defense". This is something I myself need to work on and will work on. 

P.S- Charlie you don't have to worry about me anymore, just let Ben and Jayson slap you a couple of times.

-Justin Thomas

Take the promises of God and write them down. Get down and wrestle with them all the days of your life- if you ask of those promises, you will receive, and if you seek those promises, you will find and if you knock on the door of those promises, it will be opened to you- but the problem is we want other things than the promises. We want a comfortable life, we want to be able to minister, we want all sorts of things. God has other plans-higher plans, greater plans to make you conform to the image of son.

(A community of believers who desire to be like Christ..are you willing to be like Christ? Are you being broken and broken time and time again by god? Are His hands peeling and peeling away at those mundane desires until all that is left is a bare, trembling soul that cannot stand in its own strength? Are you weak enough for God's promises to be fulfilled?)

He has such good plans for you while you have such meager pitiful plans for yourself. You give me one person who will take the promises of God and fight through them on his knees in the darkness when no one else is around and everything else will fall into place. Persevere, wrestle with a holy boldness. Such timid men- how easily we forget, those of us who know...

~Paul Washer's messages: Believe the Promises of God & God Always Provides

-Alisha

Ask Not What You Can Do...

But what God Can Do Through You!!

I know many of us have gone through or probably going through a time where we want to do something for Gods work, Yet we're afraid.. or we think to ourselves we're not good enough. Sometimes we say "God I can't to do what you're burdening me to do ...its too hard, no one wants me to do it..I'm not smart or talented..I can't, I can't, I can't"
Who said you can't! What more do you need other than the FAITH you have in Christ? My friends don't be discouraged when you feel like giving up. God created You with a purpose and He had you in mind when He placed you where you are. It's true.. God never said it would be easy... But He never said you would do it alone!
What about Abraham, David, Esther, or Mary? If God can use a roaming Bedouin, a shepherd boy with a slingshot as his weapon, a Jewish girl in a foreign land, and a pregnant teenage girl to carry out His purposes.. then Why can't He use You too?? Think about the situations they were in! They all had to work hard and face ridicule, alienation, judgment, and even death at times. But God made all things possible.
Don't ignore God when He calls you.. Don't give up when others discourage you..don't be afraid of those who defy you, for they defy God when they do.. But my brothers and sisters, be very afraid of the One who called you.

Joshua 1:9
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.”

Yo

"We desire to get to a place where we spend our time praying for others instead of ourselves, assured that others are already praying for us and our individual needs."

I got that from panel 4 above this post. It's a beautiful thought, but only realistic if regularly practiced. I encourage that we reevaluate how important this community is to us this week. That we realign our focus for prayer. Scroll through the above panels and read through what our original intention was for each aspect of our community.

The week has just begun, lets make it a week our Father can be proud of.

- Jayson Baby

Your Shepherd's staff 

Comforts me

You are my feast

In the presence of enemies 

Surely goodness 

Will follow me, follow me

                                                                                                                                       

Remember

Isaiah 62:11-12

(11)Behold, the LORD hath proclaimed unto the end of the world, Say ye to the daughter of Zion, Behold, thy salvation cometh; behold, his reward [is] with him, and his work before him. (12)And they shall call them, The holy people, The redeemed of the LORD: and thou shalt be called, Sought out, A city not forsaken.

Mark 15:34

And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?

WE shall be called, sought out, and not forsaken.
In this chapter, God tells us that though we have fallen away from Him, He will remember us and bring us back. He forsook His own Son to remember us. We owe Him our lives.

Guess the song =)

The song below has been playing over and over this past week...hope you search and find out what it is =)

"The thing I find most amazing
In amazing grace
Is the chance to give it out
Maybe that's what love is all about"

It was especially on my mind this past weekend, because I realized how friends of mine can come to see other friends from school as Christians, not on the basis of what they claim to be, but because of the simple fact that they can see it in their actions and words. I guess what I'm trying to say is we should be like that. We should spend less of our time saying "we're Christians," and more of our time "showing Christ's love."
Challenge for me for the coming week = Shine the light on God's love

God bless.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GE6l5KMOWck

The Greatest commandment!

Matthew 22:35-40
"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the law?" - Pharisee who was an expert in the law. " Jesus replies, " Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. THIS IS THE FIRST AND GREATEST COMMANDMENT. Notice Jesus doesn't answer this Pharisee's question based on the answer he wanted. These pharisees (haters) were only looking make Jesus say something wrong, at this point they really didn't like him. Jesus goes on to say the second is "Love your neighbor as yourself', and that ALL THE LAW and prophets hang on to these two commandments". These pharisees thought they were wiser than God himself, confining him under the law. He made the law! The problem is we treat love like it's something we feel compelled to do sometimes, but Jesus goes further than that. He's telling us to love him with everything, our ALL. The cross is such a beautiful example of how much he loves me and you.

Ben G.

Psalm 86:11

Teach me thy way, O LORD; I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy name.

- Psalm 86:11

Hebrew for unite - yachad - to join

for heart - lebab - the inner parts, the inner man, soul

In my Bible, at the top of this Psalm it says a Psalm of supplication and trust. So not only is David asking in this Psalm but he is definitly trusting that the words he is praying are being heard. What amazes me even more is the honesty that David shows here. He has a very raw heart. He asks God to teach Him, and not for the desire of teaching others, not for the desire of gaining more knowledge, but as it says in this verse, so that He would walk in the the truth. But it doesn't stop there. David knew that just asking God to teach Him wasn't going to be enough. That's the case for most of us, it's not just about us being taught, it's not just about us gaining knowledge and reading to know more, but David explains it best in the last part of this verse, it's about our hearts, our inner most parts, our souls uniting with our Savior's to fear His name.

Take your time with the Lord, not just to read or to learn or to speak, but take your time with the Lord as David did, to unite- to join, your inner most parts, your inner man, your soul, your everything with the One who matters the most; God.

$

Money will buy:

A bed BUT NOT sleep

Books BUT NOT brains

Food BUT NOT appetite

Finery BUT NOT beauty

A house BUT NOT a home

Medicine BUT NOT health

Luxuries BUT NOT culture

Amusement BUT NOT happiness

A crucifix BUT NOT a Saviour

A church pew BUT NOT heaven

I know that even though a lot of you guys at bibletalk may not be working, this is a good reminder to not be driven by the idea of making money. It's really easy to get into that mindset, especially when you start making a few bucks at a minimum wage type job.

Don't be driven by money, because at the end of the day there is so much more to our lives than that.

If Only This Worked On My Math Tests

How He Loves

He is jealous for me,
Loves like a hurricane, I am a tree,
Bending beneath the weight of his wind and mercy.
When all of a sudden,
I am unaware of these afflictions eclipsed by glory,
And I realize just how beautiful You are,
And how great Your affections are for me.

And oh, how He loves us so,
Oh how He loves us,
How He loves us all

We are His portion and He is our prize,

Drawn to redemption by the grace in His eyes,
If grace is an ocean, we’re all sinking.
So Heaven meets earth like a sloppy wet kiss,
And my heart turns violently inside of my chest,
I don’t have time to maintain these regrets,
When I think about, the way…

He loves us.

I wonder..what it must feel like to nail a man's hands to shame, to crime, to evil; what it must feel like to bind a man to his fate- while he so willingly allows you to do so. Not a whisper. Not a sound in defiance.

" Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”

-Here is the man... Here, we find the Christ.

Oh, how he loves us.

-Alisha

How He Loves

He is jealous for me,
Loves like a hurricane, I am a tree,
Bending beneath the weight of his wind and mercy.
When all of a sudden,
I am unaware of these afflictions eclipsed by glory,
And I realize just how beautiful You are,
And how great Your affections are for me.

And oh, how He loves us so,
Oh how He loves us,
How He loves us all

We are His portion and He is our prize,

Drawn to redemption by the grace in His eyes,
If grace is an ocean, we’re all sinking.
So Heaven meets earth like a sloppy wet kiss,
And my heart turns violently inside of my chest,
I don’t have time to maintain these regrets,
When I think about, the way…

He loves us.

I wonder..what it must feel like to nail a man's hands to shame, to crime, to evil; what it must feel like to bind a man to his fate- while he so willingly allows you to do so. Not a whisper. Not a sound in defiance.

" Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”

-Here is the man... Here, we find the Christ.

Oh, how he loves us.

Lord, I feel....

Beaten...yet
You have made me more than a conqueror (Rom 8:37).
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us

Bound....yet
You are my deliverer (Rom 11:26).
And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: "The deliverer will come from Zion; he will turn godlessness away from Jacob.

Confused....yet
You are my counselor (Isa 9:6).
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, [a] Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

A failure....yet
You have made me an overcomer (1 Jn 5:4).
For everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith

Fearful....yet
You did not give me a spirit of fear, but of power, of love, andof a sound mind (2 Tim 1:7).
For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.

Friendless....yet
You are a friend who sticks closer to me than a brother (Prov 18:24).
A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

In darkness....yet
You are a light unto my path and a lamp unto my feet (Ps 119:105).
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.

Lonely.....yet
You promised never to leave me nor forsake me (Heb 13:5).
Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you;never will I forsake you."

Misjudged....yet
I'm accepted and approved by You (Eph 1:4).
For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love

Poor....yet
You supply all my need according to Your riches in glory (Phil 4:19).
And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.

Sick....yet
You are the Lord who heals all my diseases (Ps 103:3).
…who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases,

Troubled....yet
You are my peace (Jn 14:27).
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you asthe world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

Unclean....yet
You are the purifier and refiner of my life (Mal 3:3).
He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; he will purify theLevites and refine them like gold and silver. Then the LORD will havemen who will bring offerings in righteousness,

Vulnerable....yet
You are my strength and my strong tower (Ps 18:2).
The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn [a] of my salvation, my stronghold.

Worthless....yet
You see me as a pearl of great price (Matt 13:46).
When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.

I didn't write this.. i wish i did but anyway i found it on a website and figured i should put it here to show how great God is in all kinds of situations! : )

-Hannah

Fairest Lord Jesus, ruler of all nature,  

O thou of God and man the Son

Thee will I cherish, Thee will I honor,

 thou, my soul's glory, joy, and crown. 

Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

This verse been on my Heart this week  Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ask  people what love is they will say diffrent things, but where did this word love start from at the CROSS. Jesus laid down his life for us he was sinless jesus he was despised afflicted, rejected my man but he still loved. AT the Cross Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing. . His sinless life was what enabled him to become the spotless sacrifice, able to atone for the sins of all who believe on his name.  Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends

Tony

Dont Stop

Recently I've noticed that I have been lacking in some personal time with God. I made a commitment to keep up and to be changed in my life style. It takes commitment to be able to keep on going and to follow through on what you started. Personally, I need to get back on track with my walk with Christ. There's only one path. With intimate prayer and deep reading of the scriptures, we can be closer with God then ever before. One thing that also separates us from His words are lust of this world. Those temptations that Satan throws at us.(Verse in bottom) We need to persevere through our lives. We cannot lack in what we are committed to. This is just something i wanted to share today.

(1 John 2:15-17- Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.)

~Justin Thomas

lisa hates my pictures
but thats okay

Night of The Livin'

" The Biggest Difference between Jesus Christ and Ethical and Moral Teachers who have been deified by man is that these moralists came to make bad people good, JESUS came to make DEAD people LIVE

Man is not just Unethical, he is LOST and DEAD. If man is only lost in guilt what I have given to you is bad news, but he's lost in SIN and our GREAT privilege is to tell him we have a SAVIOR"
                                                                                                                          - Ravi Zacharias

                                                                                                                         - Jivin ! :D
                                                  
                                                             

Short on minutes?

On the phone we say im short on minutes
im short on my minutes too
but with my life...
for English 101 we have to do a journal entry about 9/11
and when i think about 9/11, i remember seeing in video clips
of people dying one after another, in a matter of minutes!!
Babies are dying now, old people are dying now and people my age are dying now!!!
We never know whats going to happen to us within the next minute
so have you used at least one minute for God within the 1440 minutes you have daily
and as you slowly build up your minutes with God
You will have unlimited minutes, text and face time with Jesus in heaven all you want

New Season...

So, were finally in Spring, and its finally showing it with the weather. Today was a good day for the Echo group. Hope the women's seminar was good too. Genesis 1:2. Finally, more light outside in the evening too!

Amen? Amen!

“The human voice can never reach the distance that is covered by the still small voice of conscience.”

-Mahatma Gandhi

I love this quote. I heard it yesterday on Criminal Minds, one of my favorite TV shows that always starts off and ends with a quote. Conscience is a wonderful thing. Our conscience pushes us to do what is right, what is honorable, what is proper. The Holy Spirit similarly pushes us to live right and act right. He resides in us and tugs at our mind and our heart when we sin. He moves us to repentance. If and when we wrong God, He is faithful enough to forgive. We have only to ask of Him and He will be merciful enough to forgive and give us a second chance. Praise be to our God, a God of numerous "second chances."

-Lisa

Psalm 19

¹ The heavens declare the glory of God;
And the firmament shows His handiwork.
² Day unto day utters speech,
And night unto night reveals knowledge.
³ There is no speech nor language
Where their voice is not heard.
⁴ Their line has gone out through all the earth,
And their words to the end of the world.

In them He has set a tabernacle for the sun,
⁵ Which is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber,
And rejoices like a strong man to run its race.
⁶ Its rising is from one end of heaven,
And its circuit to the other end;
And there is nothing hidden from its heat.

⁷ The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul;
The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple;
⁸ The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart;
The commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes;
⁹ The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever;
The judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.
¹⁰ More to be desired are they than gold,
Yea, than much fine gold;
Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.
¹¹ Moreover by them Your servant is warned,
And in keeping them there is great reward.

¹² Who can understand his errors?
Cleanse me from secret faults.
¹³ Keep back Your servant also from presumptuous sins;

Let them not have dominion over me.

Then I shall be blameless,
And I shall be innocent of great transgression.

¹⁴ Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
Be acceptable in Your sight,
O LORD, my strength and my Redeemer.

Keep On

Why must the mountains grow?

Why must the way grow ever more narrow?

Pulse racing

Running.

The shadows may overwhelm you

The bridges will swing to and fro

threatening to throw you off

But don't give up.

Keep running.

Finish the race.

-Alisha