Remembering the loss and the heroes of 911

1) "Do not let your hearts be troubled.  Trust in God, trust also in me.  John 14:1 - It has been years  that mark the dark anniversary of Tuesday, September 11th, 2001.  It is like yesterday in our memories.  Who can forget that tragic day as the Twin Towers came crashing down from mid air, in a sea of smoke as thousands lost their life.  Jesus tells His disciples to not let their hearts worry.  He explains to them that His Father's house has plenty of room for them.  I sometimes think, how many of those who died knew Jesus as their Savior?  Surely they were not all Christians.  At 7:58 a.m. United Airlines, flight 175 departs from Boston for Los Angeles, carrying 56 passengers.  At 7:59 a.m. American Airlines, flight 11 departs from Boston for Los Angeles.  At 8:01 flight 93, United Airlines left Newark, N.J. and heads to Los Angeles, carrying 38 passengers on  board.  At 8:10, flight 77 departs from Washington's Dulles International Airport for Los Angelas.  It carried 58 passengers.  Daniel 9:26 tells us that war will continue until the end.  Destruction is all around us!  Jesus tells us not to let our heart be worried for he has prepared a place for us.  Heartaches that could be heard a resounding cry all over the world found little comfort on 911.  And though over 3,000 innocent people parish on that day, which included 300 fire fighters and 40 police enforcement officers, families torn apart, never to be the same, we are shown the compassion of Jesus in Matthew 9:35-38, as we are to show compassion to those who are spiritually lost.  There are others who want to kill and torture Christians and Jews for the sake of their beliefs.  We witnessed this on 911.  The wars against the faithful followers of Christ, doing the Fathers will, goes on until the end, and we are not to worry, because the truth in love that we have in us is Jesus.  He is the truth, the Light, the Way, the Only Way.  No one comes to the Father, if not through the Son first.  It is the faith that these people who are left behind have to hold on to.  Our Father has prepared a place for us as He did the disciples and as He did the fallen victims of that tragic day we call 911.  Remember them in all blessings this month and always through Jesus Christ our Savior and Lord. 

                                                                                       God bless, Deaconess Barb

ARE WE TO WORSHIP ANGELS?

The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified.  He is not here; He has risen, just as He said." Matthew 28:5  Recently I had a conversation with a person that literally blasted God in the worst possible language.  As I tried to explain Father, Son, Holy Spirit and creation, she came up in conversation about angels saying, "The angels are from God, just like Jesus, same thing."  No!  That is not true!  As we see in this verse, "The angel said to the women."  Angels are not from God.  Not from within like Jesus.  He created them, just as He did you and me!  They are messengers.  They are not as significant as the Lord.  First, we must not create or reshape angels to be something they are not.  Angels do not dwell inside the human body.  They are not animals such as birds or dogs.  Man paints angels their way, which does not necessarily represent their true form.  We must never allow angels to replace God in our lives or to hold them as high as He, in His omnipotent presence.  Even something as holy as an angel is never to be used as an idol.  You shall not have any other gods before me.  Exodus 20:3-5.  Angels must receive worship.  Romans 1:15  There are good and bad angels.  The fallen angels are called "demons" and even Satan can disguise himself as an "angel of light."  Remember, angels are one way messengers from God to us.  They are not a mediator, only Christ.  2Timothy 2:5.  In the first two chapters of Hebrews you will find the most extensive treatment of angels in the bible.  I hope that this person will one day realize the role of God in her life.  I hope she comes to understand that angels are there only for the usage of God as messengers for Him.  Most importantly, using God in profanity is a sure ticket to hell!  As we enjoy Valentine and the stuffed animals in angel wings, let us remember never to use angels as idols or to hold them to a higher stance than God tells us to.  They are holy, created, and messengers from God.  There are no earthly angels only heavenly ones, appointed by God.  Most importantly remember that even angels worship God.  Rev. 4, They lay their crowns before the throne and say: "You are worth, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being." Rev. 4:10,11  God bless, Deaconess Barb

WHO ARE YOU PLEASING?

4) For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. 8) Therefore, anyone who rejects this instruction does not reject a human being but God, the very God who gives you His Holy Spirit. 1 Thessalonians 4: 7,8.  What Paul's is telling each of us here, is to live to please God.  It is the will of God that we be sanctified.  What does this mean?  It is setting oneself apart from all immoral acts of life that this world will and does entice each of us with.  It is setting claim to your physical and spiritual body, right from wrong, good from evil, blamelessness from all sinful behavior.  It is staying in the Word of God and always growing in wisdom and in understanding, that brings you knowledge that truly pleases God.  This does not come easy.  It is learning to control your thoughts, language and most importantly your body in such a manner that does not take away from your focus on the Lord.  It is using this life as a place for building a sacred part of you, that you can share with others in a compassionate and holy forum.  Some people spend a life time trying to figure out "why" they  are put on this earth?  The answer is right here; TO PLEASE GOD, and for no other reason.  It sounds simple, but like anything great; the crown at the end of the race, takes hard work and determination.  It takes the same passion and commitment that we put into something we really enjoy.  The only difference is, that the reward is not temporary, it is eternal; eternity!  Basically we should mind our own business, do our work, love our neighbor and worship the Lord.  This includes services in all glory to Him.  God gives to us the Holy Spirit to help guide us in our daily living, because He knows we struggle and are constantly besieged in a world of sin.  Paul tells us to honor our body in a way that is holy.  Our body is our temple and until we start to think of it as such, we will continue to be lured into things that do not please God.  If you are not pleasing God with the life style you are living, then who are  you pleasing...................................?

In the Light

Devotional... 1) If I speak in human or angelic tongues, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a changing cymbal.  2) If I have the gift of prophecy and can  fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.  3) If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship, that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.  1 Corinthians `3:1-3,   Love!  A simple, four letter word with such an enormous impact on life.  How many times have we thought about the meaning of the word, "love?"  Love is indispensable!  It can be purposeful or fallacious, depending on ones situation.  Yet, it is eternal and has been since the beginning of time.  John 3:16, for God so loved the world = he loved us first.  All love comes from the Father.  That He gave His one and only Son- Jesus, a propitiation for mans sin; yours and mine.  Whoever believes in Him shall not perish - He not only gives us faith, but surrounds it in the love blood of Jesus.  God does not want for any of His children to perish, this is not intent.  But have eternal life - a promise from the Father who loves us.  He has provided and prepared a place for us with a new spiritual body, upon our death.  Without God sending a Savior, without His eternal love, we have nothing, and are nothing as everything we do becomes redundant and complacent without love, for God Himself is Love!  The Father gives us all a very specific command to "love one another."  This may place you out of your comfort zone, but the power of love can overcome all worries, anxieties, dislikes, dissension and hatred, we, as flawed people carry inside us daily,  Perhaps we do this in defense, or because of our inadequacies, or we tend to be on the offensive,  There is a number of reason love is difficult for individuals to obtain.  Love....it sounds like it is a hard thing to attain than first thought?  It is a devotion that is constantly challenged.  True love isn't easy for the average person.  Sometimes it's a work in progress.  It surely is not easy without the Lord God.  But once we understand His love for us, through His eye's eye's of love for the world He created, and in His heart for all of human kinds, then it becomes easier to love.  More importantly, it helps us to give love easier and more generously, with compassion and kindness in thought; a reverent spirit of giving.  Love is what God is all about.  Love is why He sent his Son.  It is not singing in perfect harmony.  It is not preaching in just the right tone.  It is the perfection you gain from faith in Jesus, a perfect heart.  Everything that is love will follow suit.  Love can move mountains.  Without love the whole world would wither and die.  Think about it.  We can scholar all knowledge about God, but without really understanding the omnipotent love that abounds Him, what do we learn in life?  After all, how priceless is your unfailing love?  Jesus gave us that priceless love because He knew, what we are just beginning to learn.........God bless, Deaconess Barb.

Is Lust Okay Once in a Whitle? What does the Bible say?

We live in a natural body, which means we live in a corruptible, physical body.  We can say the same applies to our conscious thoughts.  Only God's divine spiritual body is without flaw, for He is sovereign among all creation.  We deal with the irrational as well as the rational in everyday life.  And sometimes the irrational behavior can make an individual, who has fallen away from Christ do things that are sinful, hurtful and dangerous to others and to the individual temple God has given to humankind.  So let us explore God's word on lust, and this particular type of infidelity, as well as self indulgent behavior, greed, hunger and sin, as well at selfishness.  You see, they all appear in one's lust, no matter what venue it appears in; sin is sin.  It is responsible for breaking up many marriages and relationships.  Most importantly it tears at the spiritual bond one should have with the Father by destroying the morality of life itself.
Colossians 3: 1-14   -     1) Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts o things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.  2) Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.  3) For you died, and your life is now hidden with the Christ in God.  4( When Christ who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.  5) Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature; sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.  6) Because of these, the wrath of God is coming.  7) You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived.  8) But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these;  anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.  9) Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices 10)and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.
In the beginning as God created Adam and made woman from his rib, they became equal partners that were to compliment each other and help one another. (Genesis, chapters. 1 & 2)  God gave to them a world on earth, and paradise if you may.  They need for nothing because the Fathers provision sustained them by His hand of grace.  They visualized neither lies nor lust, though not clothed, because the body was in a state of love and righteousness, not corruptible at the beginning of time.  We know how the rest of the of it goes.  Eve listened to the serpent, which was Satan and gave Adam the fruit.  He was there with Eve, he could of said no, but they chose to disobey the will of God.  Once they obtained knowledge they realized they were naked and covered themselves with fig leaves.  Now, they have just established a corruptible body.  Paradise became short lived.  From that point on, man has continually destroyed everything good that God has provided for him.
   The story of Adam and Eve tells about creation from the book of Genesis to the fall of Adam and Eve to salvation through Christ crucifixion and the reconciliation we have with the Father through the Son..  The bible is our road map to righteousness and all that is good.  God the Father wants a relationship with each and everyone of us, but we have turned our backs on Him and have given into a world perception of lurid enticements, fun, pleasure, excitement, that is contrary to the very reason of our existence before God.
   Sexual temptation is everywhere!  You see it in the media, hear it on the radio, and witness it in public, as well as the countless billboards and those one-eight hundred numbers that appeal to the people who are vulnerable and weak of heart.  You know what I'm talking about, those displaying sexually explicit girls that are scantly clothed.  These are outrages, outcries, but definitely not from God.  It is often this very hunger that weakens the heart and allows Satan to filter into ones life, piercing their world into the darkness of evil.  This type of behavior prevents one from a right relationship with the Father, because He is holy and will not allow this behavior to touch Him.  He cannot allow this behavior too, which is why Christ Jesus intercedes for our sin.  Remember one thing, it is ultimately up to the Father, knowing the sincerity of ones heart, whether they will be forgiven when ones judgement day arrives.
Proverbs 6:25   -  Do not lust in your heart after her beauty or let her captivate you with her eyes.
    It is said that your eyes are the window to the soul.  Our eyes are highly functional part of everyday life.  Yet, they have a two fold purpose, when using them to do things not appropriate with spiritual living.  We use them to work, clean house, do chores, drive the children to their games etc.   We look, we see.  It is a marvelous part of the human body!  What would we do without them?  We  have a choice to see with them for the right reasons or for dispictable reasons.  Woman put on make up and fix their eye's in such a way they are able to speak to others.  She may use her eyes to flirt.  She is using her eyes for sexual immorality.  Man also finds ways to use his body or language that compounds a situation for his self satisfactions.  It may be calling a women  by the word  "love" or by  giving one a little pat on the deariere, perhaps a dirty little joke.  Wake up!  This is committing adultery!  If one is in a right place with Christ one will not lust for the things Satan wants us to lust for.  Listen!  You are not right with the Father if you are lusting after the things of the world!

    Both men and women are accountable for their actions.  Within the confines of immorality you will have jealousy, rage, anger, hatred, waywardness, revenge and self destruction, because you somewhere in your life have lost the purpose of love and admiration for the holiness of life.  This sin is beyond original sin, which we were forgiven for.  It is a wicked sin that only causes destruction in it's path.  Jesus shows us that connection between lust and adultery in Matthew 5:28   -  But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.  This is not just a passing glance, but one who will lust at the opposite sex with a stare that arouses sexual desires.  This can be in person, at a distance, from magazines, pornography on the Internet.  This willing desire is the sinful ways one walks away from God the Father and into a world of darkness.  If we glorify ourselves and not God, then we tend to think in ungodly ways such as the body provoking unthinkable sin.  One must control these urges because you are controlled by the Spirit and not by the sinful nature; that is the Spirit of God lives in you (Romans 8:9)
    As Paul is speaking, he tells us that the cross is to separate us from all that is sensually enticing, sinful, selfish and lusting, for these things are the pride in ones life, his desires and not of Christ dwelling in ones heart.  You need to look to the Lord as your Savior to help you get back on track.  These passages in Colossians are telling all of us how we should be living and what we are to believe in.  Many times we act out because we do not fully understand who we are.  We reap what we sow.  Some people do not have a spiritual foundation to claim.  Understand this;  Christ came and He died and He was raised.  We all belong to Him.  This is who we are before God.  This is the spiritual foundation that is in us all.  This is a new way of life and a position we are to live as Christians in Christ.   Understand this; as we put off our old self with those old sinful ways we put on a new self before Christ.  So, the question, is it okay to lust once in a while.  Absolutely not!  God gave us love and sexuality, not for man to pervert the way he has. Even our sexual nature is to glorify God the Father.  Don't allow yourself to be one more fool in a world of fools.   A new Christian will put on a new heart of compassion and humility in love and not in fantasy.  Allow Christ to richly dwell inside you and thank Him every day of every moment for showing you who you really are.  There is no good time to lust or to be self indulging.  There is no right time be consciously hidden in the lust of world deviation.  It is wrong!  It is from mans perverted pleasures and not of God.  Give yourself to the Lord today and ask Him to change your path in life, so your not the one who's going to break up that next marriage or relationship for a few moments of fantasy pleasure.  It's just not worth it.  More importantly, it's not worth God turning His face away from you.  He wants all to come to Him, so that He can show you what a "right:" and "loving" relationship is made of, and it's not lust.
                                                                         God bless, Deaconess Barb

JESUS PRAYS FOR ALL PEOPLE

Jesus Prays For All People

How often do you pray?  Do you find yourself praying in time of need and hardship, in grieve and turmoil?  How often should we pray?  Prayer is one way we can have personal time with God.  Jesus tells us that when we pray to go somewhere where we can be alone, perhaps in a closet.  This will give one a real sense of solitude and quietness, that is needed at times to pray, praise and worship the Father.  Beside time we set aside for Him, we should practice praying all day long.  One does not have to pray out loud all the time, or just at a particular time of day or week.  We can pray in our conscious thoughts, in silence, underneath ones breath.  No need for a grand display of praying, only to make yourself seen and heard.  You should want to pray.  Do not pray reluctantly, that is not the Fathers will for you.  He wants you to choose with a glad, open heart to pray, talk to Him.

Do not worry if you hear someone pray, who sounds divine in tone, voice, words.  Jesus is our bridge between humanity and God.  He will take our prayers and make them just right before the Holiest One.  If you stutter, slur, speak a different language, it's all okay as long as you are honoring the Father as you speak.  God tells us not to babble.  Get to the point!  With all the prayers He hears during the day and throughout the night, He makes it clear not to mumble.  Laugh, cry to Him, this is acceptable, because He knows our heart.

Jesus prayed a lot!  Let us look at some of the times and ways in which Jesus prays;