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preacher31
DO YOU HAVE FAITH? - Subscribe
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On God's Authority 1 Kings 19:9, 11-13; Psalms 85:9-14; Romans 9:1-5; Matthew 14:22-33 "Man of little faith, why did you doubt?" (Matthew. 14:31). At the age of four, I knew that God was everywhere. I spoke to Him...But as I grew toward manhood, the more I learned, the less I believed in God...When I was twenty-one, my superior intellect told me that God was a fake. Heaven could not be "up" and Hell could not be "down" because in space there is no up or down. And I knew that everything in creation dies, including the smallest insect and the biggest star. These words were written by Jim Bishop, the author of many best-selling biographies and histories. "Then one day," he said, I felt a new experience. I saw the miracle of birth -- Virginia Lee, a child of my own -- and it turned my wandering mind around. I began to doubt my doubts. Gradually I lost faith in my intellect. It was not supplying the needed answers. I could not see the air, but without it I would die. Thus it is, I decided, with the spirit of man. I needed something to breathe life into a soul that had been crushed by the dominance of the human mind. What Jim Bishop needed was faith. "I was a slow learner," he said, But, somehow, somewhere, as I groped my painful way, I found my soul...I knew it was there -- wounded, bleeding perhaps, but alive. I began to pray, and as faith returned to me, I feared that it might dissolve again. So I prayed for continuing faith. It was only when I gave up -- when I let go and allowed myself to be carried by God -- that I began to really feel His Presence. He was there, and I knew it! I had wanted proof -- something for my eyes or ears or hands. He wanted me to believe without it. Faith and trust are what He required of me! And He never rested till I found them.1 What is faith? Faith means acknowledging that God can tell us truths beyond our human power of reasoning. Faith means accepting truth on God's authority. John Greenleaf Whittier wrote... He walked by faith and not by sight, By love and not by law. The presence of the wrong or right He rather felt than saw. DO YOU WALK BY FAITH? (From the editors of Sunday Sermons Online) |
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preacher31
SPEAKING FROM THE HEART 8/09/2011 06:19 - Subscribe
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Reflection: One of the most difficult times in my life is when I went through a divorce. This was never ever suppose to happen to me. This only happened to other people, people who did not have "Christian" values. I was brought up better. Divorce was morally wrong and contrary to the teachings of Jesus Christ. People like me, who had my kind of background, just never got divorced. It was not ever spoken of in my family. But here I was facing the most difficult and heart wrenching period of my life. My wife was asking me for a divorce. In one brief moment. on my 5th anniversary. the person that I loved was telling me that she no longer loved me and wanted to end our relationship. I felt angry, hurt and abandoned by my wife and my God. As I speak of it now, I feel the pain in my heart. My eyes well up with tears as I remember the hurt I felt and the loneliness that I was about to experience was overwhelming. I felt that this pain and emptiness would never go away. That my life was over and there was no longer any reason to keep going. I found myself begging my wife to stay with me and promising I would do anything to keep her in my life. But this was not enough and she left me. I know what your thinking, "Here comes the sermon, here comes the life changing experience that brought meaning back into my life". Well that's not what happened. IT WAS A LONG HEALING PROCESS NOT AND OVERNIGHT REVELATION. It was a process of discovery that yes indeed eventually changed my life. The discovery in my life was this, that even though my wife left me, MY GOD DID NOT. I know, to some, this sounds like some kind of platitude that never happens. Many people say, without meaning, that God is there for you. But I'm telling you and asking you to believe me when I say, "GOD NEVER ABANDONED ME". And I know, from personal experience that HE WILL NEVER ABANDONED YOU! GOD LOVES YOU AND HE LOVES ME AND I PROMISE YOU "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God". THROUGH HIS LOVE HE WILL ALWAYS BE WITH YOU AMEN |
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preacher31
ARE YOU GOING TOO? 8/13/2011 04:30 - Subscribe
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Scripture: Then Jesus turned to the Twelve and asked, "Are you also going to leave?" Simon Peter replied, "Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words that give eternal life. John 6:67-68, NLT Reflection: After many of Jesus' followers had deserted him, he asked the 12 disciples if they were also going to leave. Peter replied, "To whom shall we go?" In his straightforward way, Peter answered for all of us--there is no other way. Though there are many philosophies and self-styled authorities, Jesus alone has the words of eternal life. People look everywhere for eternal life and miss Christ, the only source. Stay with him, especially when you are confused or feel alone. (Life Application Daily Devotion) |
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preacher31
I LIKE IT BEST WHEN I'M WITH YOU 8/16/2011 04:47 - Subscribe
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A college student spent a year living with a group of Navajo Indians as part of his doctoral studies program. As he did his research, he lived with the members of a Navajo family, sleeping in their hut, eating their food, working with them, and living as a 20th century Indian. The old grandmother of the family spoke no English, and the student knew no Navajo, but a close friendship developed between the two. They spent a great deal of time together. Despite the language problems, they shared a common understanding of love and friendship. Over the months they learned a few phrases from each other. Finally, the time arrived for the student to return to the college and write his thesis, so the tribe held a going-away celebration. The next day as he prepared to get into his pickup truck and leave, the grandmother came to tell him good-bye. With tears in her eyes, she said, "I like me best when I'm with you." You are with the Lord when you are doing His Will; following His example; living according to His teachings; devoting yourself to His ministry of loving service. This is what brings genuine joy into your life. This is what makes it possible for you to say, "Lord Jesus, I like me best when I'm with You." And when you are with Jesus in this way, you may even hear your spouse or your child or your parent or your friend say to you, "I like me best when I'm with you!" (from Sermons on Line) |
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preacher31
MY SPOT IN LIFE 8/22/2011 07:16 - Subscribe
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Whenever I'm disappointed with my spot in life, I stop and think about little Jamie Scott. Jamie was trying out for a part in the school play. His mother told me that he'd set his heart on being in it, though she feared he would not be chosen. On the day the parts were awarded, I went with her to collect him after school. Jamie rushed up to her, eyes shining with pride and excitement.. 'Guess what, Mom ,' he shouted, and then said those words that will remain a lesson to me....'I've been chosen to clap and cheer.' PRAISE GOD AND CHOOSE TO CLAP AND CHEER! |