bdamage Loc: My Bunker

Good morning fellow early-riser.
May your day be FULL of Blessings my friend!

BearK Loc: TN

The same to you, and ALL our fellow believers.
May we open the eyes of the misinformed.
:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

bdamage Loc: My Bunker

And the latter will be are greatest challenge! :thumbup:

bahmer

AMEN

no propaganda please Loc: moon orbiting the third rock from the sun

Amen

and along the same lines

Wednesday, November 11, 2015

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Crosswalk.com - The Devotional

Crosswalk the Devotional


Rotten Fruit
by Ryan Duncan, Crosswalk.com Culture Editor

Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. – Matthew 7:1-2

During my time in college, I met another student who considered himself a very devout Christian. In terms of practice, this student couldn’t be criticized for his dedication. He read the Bible each morning, attended chapel like clockwork, and never broke a rule during his time at the university. In terms of spirit though, he represented the worst Christianity had to offer. He was proud and judgmental, always calling out others on what he considered to be “sins”.

When guys got together to play a game of Halo, he accused them of putting videogames before God. Once, when a guy kissed his girlfriend goodbye on the cheek, he railed for an hour about sexual immorality. When one girl stood up to him and told him to mind his own business, he called her “deaf to the Holy Spirit.” Things finally hit a major low one night at a Bible Study where, after being ignored by some of the other members, he declared that a prophet like himself was wasting his time with these reprobates. He left the university shortly after, and no one was sad to see him go.

Now, the reason I’m writing this isn’t to shame him, God knows I’ve done plenty of stupid things in my time too. What bothered me though was the fact that, despite much evidence to the contrary, this student was certain he was doing the right thing. In fact, there are many so-called Christians who do and say terrible things, all in the name of God. In cases like these, it’s vital to remember what Matthew wrote about bearing fruit.

“By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them. "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'” – Matthew 7:15-23

At some point, every Christian needs to look at their life and examine the fruit they’ve been harvesting. Are there bushels full of harsh words, proud actions, and vindictive thoughts, or does their bounty include selfless gestures and a gracious heart? Remember, God will judge us by what we sow in the hearts of others, be careful you’re fruit isn’t rotten.

Intersecting Faith and Life: Take a moment to examine how you have been treating others. Are you truly approaching them as Christ would?

Further Reading

Luke 6:31

bdamage Loc: My Bunker

Verse of the Day for Thursday November 12th, 2015:

In all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. — Romans 8:37

Thoughts on Today's Verse....

Are we really conquerors despite "trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword"? Yes! That is the ultimate Christian assurance. Nothing can separate us from God's love in Christ. The Evil One and his allies can k**l our bodies, ruin our finances, wrack our bodies with pain, and seek to destroy our relationships. However, the Evil One cannot have our hearts when they are surrendered to Jesus. And when our hearts belong to Jesus, so does our future! The empty tomb of Jesus assures us that our future with him is glorious, victorious, and unending.

My Prayer...

Give me eyes to see, O God, and a heart to believe that Jesus' victory over death is my victory, too! I don't want to be derailed from my hope, faith, and love by the difficulties of life. Instead, I want to be a living testimony to your power, victory, and grace. In Jesus' name, and for his glory, I live and pray. Amen.

The Thoughts and Prayer on Today's Verse are written by Phil Ware.

BearK Loc: TN

Make me walk tall in You, O Lord. Amen

no propaganda please Loc: moon orbiting the third rock from the sun

Amen


Thursday, November 12, 2015


Thanksgiving: For Richer or Poorer
by Shawn McEvoy, Managing Editor, Crosswalk.com

"Christians who are poor should be glad, for God has honored them." James 1:9

The rich eat ham,
The poor eat tuna.
Doesn't take as long to cook,
So we eat soona.
--Jay Henze

The words of that heretofore unknown poem were uttered by my lifelong best friend sometime around our senior year of high school. He conjured it out of thin air while I was spending the night at his house. It was the result of one of those "I'm so tired I'm laughing at anything" sessions you'd often experience with close friends around midnight.

It was also the result of Jay's enduring awareness of the socio-economic differences between himself and many of his friends, like me, from the affluent north side of town. So whenever I think of ham, tuna, or Jay, I often think of richness and poorness as well.

Recently, thanks to a fantastic tour around the Missionary Learning Center, I was thinking about missions and outreach. It struck me as interesting that whenever a mission of mercy or evangelism is commissioned, it tends to be to an area where there is a high concentration of poverty, whether it's to India, Mexico, or inner-city Philadelphia. Well, yes, as it should be.

After all, Christ commanded us, if we loved Him, to tend to His lambs (John 21:15-17). James 2:15-16 admonishes us not to ignore those in need of food or clothing. Paul and the Apostles started churches among those who were poor (Acts 9:36; 10:4). Poverty was crippling in the time of Christ and so it continues to be now. The very fact that Jay had a roof over his head and the fish he despised came in a can rather than him having to catch it made him one of the wealthiest persons on the planet. So the holidays are certainly a time to think about - nay, physically assist - those less fortunate than ourselves (2 Corinthians 9:9).

Then again, are we missing something?

Consider James 1:9 - "Christians who are poor should be glad, for God has honored them." There are lots of ways to be poor, and Jesus told us they brought about blessing in the long run (Matthew 5:3-12). Those poor in spirit will inherit the kingdom of heaven. Those mourning loved ones will be comforted. Those who make peace rather than seeking their own profit will be called sons of God, Who chose the poor of this world to be rich in faith (James 2:5). 2 Corinthians 6:10 states: "Our hearts ache, but we always have joy. We are poor, but we give spiritual riches to others. We own nothing, and yet we have everything."

And what about the rich?

That's the hard part, literally. Jesus said it's very difficult for the wealthy to enter the kingdom of heaven. Those who love their life too much find it hard to lose it. James reminds us it's the rich who "oppress us and d**g us into court, blaspheming the fair name by which we've been called (James 2:6-7)." The word "miserable" has at its root the word "miser." The love of money isn't just the source of evil, but also of depression and dissatisfaction.

So… doesn't that mean that the rich have just as many spiritual needs, if not more, than the poor? Who will go to them? Who will train them in the joy of giving their money away and not living by comparison to others? What mission trips are planned?

I contend that untold legions of us are making such a trip this very month, back home to our families and friends, where a big ham might fill the center of the table, people will put on their fineries, and a lot of the talk will focus on the daily drudgeries of keeping our precious lives in working order to cover up the hole that's getting bigger in the soul.

We might spend a few minutes at the table saying how we're thankful we're not like others, or that we have our health, or that our family is with us - before we stuff ourselves, stare blankly at the Dallas Cowboys or Detroit Lions to avoid looking at each other, or fall asleep. Of course, you probably know someone for whom Thanksgiving is an unwelcome chore, a painful experience of dodging rejection, annoyance, questions of future or romance, and Uncle Jimbo.

Or, if you're truly rich, as I am for marrying into a godly family, there will be genuine thanks, true giving, heartfelt prayers, and corporate worship.

Wh**ever the case in your gathering, let me encourage you to take the love of Christ with you and accept the difficult challenge of bringing it to the wealthy this Thanksgiving. Jesus said a camel fitting through a needle's-eye was difficult, not impossible (thank goodness for most of us).

Intersecting Faith & Life: While you're together, try to figure out a way your clan can come together to do something for the impoverished among us. Without that outpouring, the warm comfort of wealth can grow stale and dry. Meanwhile, the next time you think on the cloud of poverty and those who suffer at its chill, remember that, at least in the biblical view, it carries a silver lining of comfort, inheritance, peace, and, I suppose, eating soona. And if those elements are present at your table, then you have a cornucopia indeed.

Further Reading

1 Timothy 6:6-11
Matthew 5


Being one of the blessed ones who married into a Godly family, I can appreciate this greatly.

BearK Loc: TN

He is the Lamp unto our feet. Amen, and Amen

slatten49 Loc: Lake Whitney, Texas

Wonderful post, NPP! I will be sending it to some I know. :wink:

BearK Loc: TN

Prayer for 11/13/15

The early morning breezes sway through the treetops telling them secrets that they have seen. We hear their whispered voices, but cannot discern what they are saying. They speak to us though, but in a different language, sometimes soft, sometimes sharp, but always bringing us some message. The wind is a magical thing, it can blow from any direction, but usually continues in a westerly flow. How uplifting to walk in an open field and have the wind blow through your hair. I believe that it is the Lord's gentle touch, letting you know He is near.

As the day grows into afternoon, the wind picks up strength, sending the cotton ball clouds scudding across the sky. It blows the dry leaves over the grass like a group of children playing tag. Here and there still lie a colorful leaf that appears left out of the play. The murmur of the wind reverberates through the bare branches as it speeds across the sky, carrying its tune, how far we never know. The crispness, in the air, makes us zip up our jackets. Fall is here, we hope an Indian Summer day will follow. In due time, the Lord will let us know.

Fall is a bright colorful time, the color of the remaining leaves that flutter on the trees, fanciful yellow mums, contrast with the serious red poinsettias, with their dark green leaves. We look around and also see the dry and dying plants that have been taken away by the wind, and morning frosts. There is a warmth in the air with an edge of chill - what a contrast. Life and death in the same picture. For us, there is always life as long as we have Jesus in our hearts. This we pray in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. Amen

no propaganda please Loc: moon orbiting the third rock from the sun

here are so many things to be thankful for aren't there
I found this devotional that was inspiring to me. Hopefully others with be inspired as well




Crosswalk the Devotional


Abounding in Thanksgiving in a World of Grumbling
by Mike Pohlman

Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.
Colossians 2:6-7

My family and I just completed our first full week in our new home in Richmond, Virginia after leaving Los Angeles to begin my new job. And if I’m honest I cannot say I’ve been “abounding in thanksgiving” over the last several days. No. In fact, “abounding in grumbling” may be the more accurate phrase to describe my disposition of late. I’ve grumbled about the weather, traffic, leaves, the movers and a myriad of other things petty and not-so-petty. None of this grumbling, however, has been constructive or justified. And, most importantly, it’s been sinful.

To help combat this steady bombardment of grumbling I corralled our children the other night for a family time of thanksgiving. You’ve probably practiced this exercise many times as well: go from person-to-person and highlight things you’re thankful for (it’s tough to grumble when you pause to consider the many blessings in your life).

It took my nine-year-old Samuel some time to get warmed up, but eventually he offered a short list of things he’s thankful for, including our new church. Anna was next. What would our seven-year-old daughter express gratitude for? Her new neighbor friends across the street and the Bible. Good stuff. Finally it was John’s turn. He echoed his big brother on some things and agreed with Anna that the neighbors are great, and then with the zeal of most six-year-old boys who love sports, Johnny thanked God for his new basketball hoop out front (and proceeded to remind me of how he beat me in “21” over the weekend, 21 to 17). As Julia left to put our newborn down for the night, I shared with the kids several things I was thankful for. But it wasn't until the next day that I realized the inadequacy of my list.

While I voiced gratitude for God generally, I failed to highlight specific attributes of God that, when I consider them, cause me to “abound in thanksgiving.” Driving to work the next morning I found myself asking, “What is it about God that I am most grateful for?”

The one attribute of God that flooded my heart and mind was His providence—the fact that He orchestrates everything in my life for His glory and my good. It’s the promise of Romans 8:28: “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.”

In his helpful book, Respectable Sins: Confronting the Sins We Tolerate, Jerry Bridges applies Romans 8:28 to the sin of ingratitude. He counsels: “The meaning is that God causes all things to work together for good; for ‘things’—that is, circumstances—do not work together for good themselves. Rather, God directs the outcome of those circumstances for our good.” And what is the “good” God is working? Christlikeness. Indeed, all of our circumstances God uses as a means of our sanctification. I began to abound in thanksgiving as I visualized God as the great conductor over my circumstances, using them as an instrument for my growth in grace.

This Thanksgiving holiday I want me and my family to be “abounding in thanksgiving.” And for this to happen I know being thankful for God in a merely general sense will not suffice. We need to meditate on some particular glories of our great God—not least of which is His sweet providence over our lives. For this I am most grateful.

Intersecting Faith & Life: Take a moment this Thanksgiving and ask yourself, “What specific attribute of God am I grateful for?” Perhaps you’ll recall His love or mercy or grace or forgiveness or patience or wrath or providence. Challenge your mind to meditate on, and prayerfully consider, some particular glory of God as a means of abounding in thanksgiving

Further Reading

Respectable Sins: Confronting the Sins We Tolerate, Jerry Bridges
Knowing God, J.I. Packer
“But God,” Katherine Britton
Psalm 63:3
Lamentations 3:22
Colossians 2:13-15
Ephesians 5:20
1 Thessalonians 5:18

bdamage Loc: My Bunker

In Jesus' name....Amen

BearK Loc: TN

FIRST ANGEL - Revelation 14:6-7 ...'And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.'

Are we seeing the first Angel? Too many today, are from the church of Laodicea, not hot nor cold, but just lukewarm. I have been saying we will see blood in the streets, thanks to Obumer and his importing of Syrian (supposedly) REFUGEES. I question how many are with ISIS? Along with those, and the ones that sneak across the border, and the Somalis who are already here. Lock and load your guns, the time has come for neighborhoods to be proactive in protecting one and other.

Nursing mothers, the elderly and infirmed, will suffer. Let us be in prayer, daily, asking for His mercy and guidance. We ask O Lord, set a fire in the hearts of Christians, awaken them. In Jesus name I ask. Amen

I must add this, as we have to be strong in our faith:

Joshua 1:9

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

bahmer

Amen and Amen