Jesus, the Shepherd

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me beside still waters.
He restoreth my soul: He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake.
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.
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: Thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. ~ Psalm 23

Teaching the Truth in Love

60 Facts: Sabbath

Keep Your Feet from Breaking the Sabbath

Isaiah 58:11-14

"The Lord will guide you always; He will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail. Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age-old foundations; you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.

If you keep your feet from breaking the Sabbath and from doing as you please on my holy day, if you call the Sabbath a delight and the Lord's day honorable, and if you honor it by not going your own way and not doing as you please or speaking idle words, then you will find your joy in the Lord, and I will cause you to ride on the heights of the land and to feast on the inheritance of your father Jacob.

The mouth of the Lord has spoken.

Jesus Saves Sinners . . . and Changes Lives

God Cares for Everything

"God cares for everything and sustains everything that He has created. No tears are shed that He does not notice. There is no smile that He does not mark. If we would but fully believe this, all undue anxieties would be dismissed. Our lives would not be so filled with disappointment as now, for everything, whether great or small, would be left in the hands of God, who is not perplexed by the multiplicity of cares or overwhelmed by their weight. We should then enjoy a rest of soul to which many have long been strangers." ~ E.G. White

God is . . . Mighty to Save

What is Symbolic Babylon

A Quote by Charles L. Newbold
"Symbolic Babylon is that attitude of heart that makes us think we can solve all of our problems and meet all our needs without God. We look to government, politics, science, technology, psychology, sociology, economics, entertainment, and religion for help --things mankind has invented. Therefore we look to ourselves to save ourselves. Self-centered living is making ourselves out to be god; therefore, it is idolatry, which is spiritual harlotry...We become spiritual prostitutes when we create something and give our hearts to it rather than the Lord Jesus Christ. Whatever appeals to Self is not of God. Self is love in love with Self. It seeks its own. It is vain, prideful, arrogant, self-exalting, self-indulging, self-absorbed, power-hungry, and lustful. It strives for independence, self-reliance, and self-management. It uses and abuses others, if necessary, to achieve its own ambitions. It lies, steals, cheats, murders, covets, blames, justifies, and does whatever seems necessary to save itself. It goes to any end to protect itself. It is addicted to more. It can never be satisfied...Because the Self is centered upon itself...Self consumes itself, is self-destructive, and has death as its final reward. Self lives and dies for Self."

To the Glory of God the Father

"Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made Himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.

And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death--even death on a cross!

Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

Philippians 2:5-11 NIV

Before the Throne of God Above

Daily Confession of Faith

My husband, Jason, and I went to Beaumont to visit with a friend of ours. He's a pastor and his church is involved with prison ministry. While we visited, we volunteered to help with the correspondence to the prisoners who had requested Bible studies. One of the volunteers--actually the volunteer coordinator of the prison ministry at the church --had a beautiful statement printed up to add into each envelope we were preparing to send to the prisoners. Her name was Faith, and this is her own "Daily Confession of Faith" . . . Maybe you will receive as much of a blessing from reading it as I did, and I'm sure hundreds of prisoners will as well.

In Christ I am anointed and a powerful person of God.

I am a joint-heir with Jesus and more than a conqueror.

I am a doer of the Word of God and a channel for His blessings.

If God be for me, who can be against me?

I am blessed coming in, and I am blessed going out.

My enemies are fleeing before me. God has commanded His blessing on my storehouses.

He has opened His good treasures and I shall lend and not borrow.

I am the head and not the tail.

He has given me power to make wealth.

I dwell in the secret place--I have his protection and provision.

God is my refuge, my fortress. I am not afraid of the snare of the fowler.

No evil shall befall me and no plague shall come nigh my dwelling.

God has give His angels charge over me and they are bearing me up in their hands lest I dash my foot against a stone as declared in Psalm 91.

1 Peter 2:9 establishes that I am a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation.

I am a peculiar person--called out of darkness into His marvelous Light.

1 Peter 2:24 states that I have been healed by the stripes of Jesus.

Cancer, sugar diabetes, heart disease, sickness, afflictions, infections, or any other disease can not enter my body.

I am without spot or blemish.

An intercessor, the righteousness of God, saved, and washed in the Blood of Jesus.

"No weapon formed against me shall prosper, and every tongue which rises against me in judgment You shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is from Me," says the Lord. I am saved from wrath by Him and justified by the Blood of the Lamb.

Lord, I pray that they may prosper that love Jerusalem and that peace will be with them and prosperity in their houses according to Psalm 122:6-9.

Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah!

The 30 Days to Live Challenge

My favorite radio station, KSBJ has been following a local church's "30 Days to Live" challenge. The challenge is meant to give us all a reality check. It's the type of concept that brings priorities into focus, reminds us to be thankful for each breath we take, and pin points our daily decisions--which we know add up to the sum of our life.

I heard about this challenge, and decided I wanted to find out more about it. They sent me a packet of information. It contained a letter and a green rubber "message bracelet" --the type that became popular through Lance Armstrong's "Live Strong" campaign. I was almost disappointed by the simplicity of the packet. I expected worksheets, a brochure, maybe even a small journal to record my 30 day journey. What I found was simply a letter that could best be summarized by one statement it contained.
Every day, ask yourself what you would do if you had one month to live --then live that way.

Dreams From Above

When you surrender your own dreams to God, and ask Him to lead you, guide you, and direct your life, then He will reveal His dreams for your life. Dreams are, for some people, the achievements they most want to complete in this life.

Dreams Through Time
A common dream for elementary school students, is to be able to drive, date, stay out late, and be like the celebrities and sports stars. High school students dream of a faster car, a modeling career, going to college, and being the most popular girl or guy in school. Once the college years begin, many begin to dream of marriage, a lucrative career, a large home, and luxury vehicle. Newly weds begin to live many of their dreams, only to find more dreams to chase. They long for more time to spend together, less work, and more vacations. They birth the dream of having children, and soon embark on the path to parenthood. Once they become parents, a new multi-faceted dream scheme emerges, as they dream of family adventures, and the lives they hope their children will live. They dream about how to provide better for their families, and dream of when to expand their family and to what extend. They dream of weddings, grandchildren, and the pride of watching their offspring succeed. Grandparents dream of spending time with their family most of all. They dream of the days gone by, and dream with hope for the days ahead.

Dreams From Within
Dreams, for others, may be messages that bring healing or change to their lives. Depression sufferers dream of finding joy again. The lonely dream of fellowship, comfort, care, love, and comrade re. The barren dream of new life. Grief breaths dreams of memories, mostly good, and chases them. Those with cancer dream of cures. Addicts dream of the next buzz, and freedom from their chains. Employees dream of raises, promotions, and recognition-some dream of a different job. Dreams change who we are, and who we are becoming.

Dreams Come True
God is part of who we are today, and who we will be tomorrow. He wants to be our everything. He wants to make life run smoothly by carrying us through the rough spots. He dreams of us.
Your dreams for this life and eternal life come from God when you ask Him to give you His greatest blessings. When you surrender all of yourself to Him, then He will reveal His dreams for your life. If deep down in your heart you have genuinely asked Him to take all of your hopes, dreams, plans, and goals, then whatever the thoughts and dreams that come into your mind after that will be from Him! -If you continuously seek Him on a daily basis, and maybe even more than daily --maybe hourly if you have a lot of distractions around you...maybe even moment by moment.

Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit speaks to us all the time. When we listen and follow His directions, then we can hear Him more and more distinctly. However, if multiple times in a row we hear Him, but do not follow through on His message to us, then the voice of the Holy Spirit within us will grow softer and softer, until we don't hear it anymore. This is when life begins to take turns towards pain, and recklessness. We lose our direction and begin to wander around with no purpose in life. We begin to lose sight of our goal of being Christians (Christ-like), and lose sight of our destination of eternal life. Eternal life is not earned --it is the gift of God when He gave Jesus as the payment of our debt of sin. However, as Christians we are called to live a certain way, and are only able to live this way by the leading of the Holy Spirit. If you do not feel like your life is following the plans God has for you, it's OK. --Stop what you are doing now, and pray to God to help you. Tell Him that you want to follow His plan for your life, and you want Him to bless your life. He wants you! Nothing you have ever done or will do is too much to keep Him from loving you. NOTHING!

Follow the dreams God give you. Seek Him, surrender to Him, ask Him for help, guidance and direction today. Then continue to spend time reading the Bible and praying, knowing that God has promised to draw near to us when we draw near to Him.

"Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up!" James 4:8

Faith, Hope and Love

What is the abundant life?

. . . to have faith in God, hope for heaven and love for others. (I Corinthians 13:13)

Seven Words For Your Christian Journey

Our church was blessed by an interim pastor a little more than a year ago. He shared many life-changing spiritual lessons with us, and we were all inspired by his temporary leadership. One day he gave us a paper called "Seven Words For Your Christian Journey." I share his God-given wisdom here... May the thoughts written here, be as much of a blessing to you as they have been to me.

OMIT: If we are really to be reconciled to God, the Spirit will show us plainly the things which must go out of the life. "O God, according to Your loving kindness; according to the multitude of Your tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Purge me with the hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow." Psalm 51:1, 7

ADMIT: The Savior often stands outside the heart's door, knocking. He brings with Him a feast of good things. He will not force open the door. He waits for you to open it. "Behold, I stand at the door and knock: if any one hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with Me." Revelation 3:20 RSV

REMIT: Here we settle up old accounts: we get right with our fellow man. One way to do this is to humbly kneel at another's feet as Jesus did - and has asked us to do - and act of serving one another in love. Zacchaeus recognized that if he was to have the approval of Jesus, he must make wrongs right. He said to the Lord, "If I have swindled anybody out of anything I will pay him back four times as much. Jesus said to him; 'Salvation has come to this house today!'" Luke 19:8, 9.

SUBMIT: This is total dedication. "Be submissive then to God. Stand up to the devil and he will turn and run. Come close to God, and He will come close to you. Sinners make your hands clean; you who are double-minded, see that your motives are pure." James 4:7, 8 NEB

PERMIT: When I think of the word permit I think of the word let. Let is a permissive word. It does not imply a struggle nor does it allow striving - it is merely permit, allow or let. "Let the mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus." Philippians 2:5

COMMIT: I like to think of this as a daily experience. "Commit your way to the Lord; trust also in Him; and He will bring it to pass. And He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your judgement as the noonday. Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him." Psalm 37:5-7.

TRANSMIT: It is almost paradoxical that when we commit all, then we are able to transmit. Jesus said, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in me, as the Scripture says, 'Out of his heart shall flow rivers of living water." John 37:38.

Christian Ways to Reduce Stress

1. Pray
2. Go to bed on time.
3. Get up on time so you can start the day unrushed.
4. Say No to projects that won't fit into your time schedule, or that will compromise your mental health.


5. Delegate tasks to capable others.
6. Simplify and un-clutter your life.
7. Less is more. (Although one is often not enough, two are often too many.)
8. Allow extra time to do things and to get to places.
9. Pace yourself. Spread out big changes and difficult projects over time; don't lump the hard things all together.
10. Take one day at a time.
11. Separate worries from concerns. If a situation is a concern, find out what God would have you do and let go of the anxiety. If you can't do anything about a situation, forget it!
12. Live within your budget; don't use credit cards for ordinary purchases.
13. Have backups; an extra car key in your wallet, an extra house key buried in the garden, extra stamps, etc.

14. K.M.S. (Keep Mouth Shut). This single piece of advice can prevent an enormous amount of trouble.
15. Do something for the Kid in You everyday.
16. Carry a Bible with you to read while waiting in line.
17. Get enough rest.
18. Eat right.
19. Get organized so everything has its place.
20. Listen to a tape while driving that can help improve your quality of life.
21. Write down thoughts and inspirations.
22. Every day, find time to be alone.
23. Having problems? Talk to God on the spot. Try to nip small problems in the bud. Don't wait until it's time to go to bed to try and pray.
24. Make friends with Godly people.
25. Keep a folder of favorite scriptures on hand.
26. Remember that the shortest bridge between despair and hope is often a good "Thank you Jesus."
27. Laugh.
28. Laugh some more!
29. Take your work seriously, but not yourself at all.
30. Develop a forgiving attitude (most people are doing the best they can).
31. Be kind to unkind people (they probably need it the most).
32. Sit on your ego.
33. Talk less; listen more.
34. Slow down.
35. Remind yourself that you are not the general manager of the universe.
36. Every night before bed, think of one thing you're grateful for that you've never been grateful for before.

• "Never borrow from the future. If you worry about what may happen tomorrow and it doesn't happen, you have worried in vain. Even if it does happen, you have to worry twice."
  
• GOD HAS A WAY OF TURNING THINGS AROUND FOR YOU. "If God is for us, who can be against us?" (Romans 8:31)
  

Life and Life More Abundant

John 10:10 " I have come that you may have life, and that you may have it more abundantly." - Jesus Christ

What is abundant life?
Webster says the word abundant is an adjective derived from a Latin word meaning to abound. Abundance is a great plenty of resources. Abundant also describes someone or something which is amply supplied.
Can you describe your life as abundant? Do you feel amply supplied?

Giving you an abundant life is a big part of Jesus plan. But let's not skip over the first part of that verse too quickly. First it says, "I have come that you may have life," We know this already, because when we were very little in church, we learned John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him, will not perish, but have everlasting life." LIFE!

More Abundant LIFE!

Now that we have established Jesus number one mission, we need to zoom in closer to the second part of John 10:10, "and that they may have it more abundantly." Jesus has made abundant living clear for us, by the example of His life and by the words He spoke.

If your life is anything less than abundant, that is not God's plan for you! - And that is not just my opinion, it is right there in John 10 - Jesus came to give us abundant life.

Take a look with me at 2 Timothy 1:7, "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind." Fear to me is a word that describes not only terror, nervousness, paranoia or the feeling of being afraid of someone or something. I define fear as anything that is on our mind or in our life that is causing us to be unfaithful, doubtful, unhappy, negative, worried or disconnected from Christ.

These negatives were not give from God, but are only from Satan. He wants us to be weak and fearful, distracted and without faith. God wants us to have the power, through Him, to give and receive love and to develop a sound mind. A sound mind comes when we study the Bible, realizing that the truth found on its pages is real, and this world is under the curse of sin. We find answers in the Bible to every problem we face in life and real-life examples of how to live through whatever circumstances we find ourselves in. Through the wisdom and understanding we gain from reading the Bible, we can find the power to love. We discover meaning in life, we become happy, we sense peace in our innermost being, and we grasp ahold of faith.

Abundant life is yours, just ask.

Do you want to know peace and joy, even when life gives you pain and hard times. Happiness and peace come from God alone. Jesus came to give you all you need to be happy and blessed. Turn to your eyes to Him now and ask Him for abundant life. He's waiting for you to ask.

My prayer for you: Heavenly Father, please show us how to live, teach us how to trust in You. Guide us and direct us in this life, don't let us go through life without experiencing Your abundance. Bless us greatly, bless us beyond our wildest imagination. Keep us in Your care. Grant us peace, knowing that You are our Father, our Friend and our Saviour. Amen.