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Showing posts from June, 2020

Look But Don't Touch

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Look But Don't Touch As children, my parents often took us to museums and places where you were only to look and not touch. Today we will speak about seeing with the natural eye and with the eyes of the Spirit.   God has some amazing things he desires to reveal to us, but at times we are afraid to reach out and touch Him. His will is that we enjoy a relationship with him where he touches us and changes us daily. In the book of Genesis chapter 3; We find Moses tending his father-in-laws sheep - when he saw a bush that appeared to be on fire but did not burn up. He was very curious and wanted to come closer. And the voice of God called to him out of the bush, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.”    Then God said, “Do not come near; and only “ Look, don't touch,” and take the sandals off your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.” And God said,  “ I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the

I've Got a Bone to Pick With You!

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I've Got a Bone to Pick With You! The expression  I've Got a Bone to Pick With You!   means that there is something we need to clear up so we can come to a mutual understanding of what is going on. Often a quiet conversation is necessary. Have you ever gone to God and told him that there is something we need to discuss because I am not happy the way things are going? God sits back, smiles and says “Have at it, just go for it.”  After we vent for awhile and let it all out, God reminds us that he has everything in control, and for us not to worry. Today I wanted to speak a bit about bones. Did you know when you bake a chicken, or get one of those roasted ones from the grocery story, that you should take the carcass and put all the bones in a pot and boil them. Remove as much of any meat left and there you have the makings for a hearty soup - - just add some noodles or veggies. Today I want us to take a look in the Bible and discover several

Who is Jesus? Chapter 16 from Mark chapter 6 (Jesus is the Messiah)

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Who is Jesus? Chapter 16 from Mark chapter 6 (Jesus is the Messiah) Today we will notice in three stories in Marks gospel chapter 6 that each person acknowledged that Jesus was and IS the Son of God and the Messiah.  With words, with worship and with Faith in action. Jesus and his disciples in the boat had crossed to the other side, arriving safely at the country of the Gerasenes.    And when Jesus had stepped out of the boat, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit. And no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain, for he had often been bound with shackles and chains, but he wrenched the chains apart, and he broke the shackles in pieces.  And when he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and fell down before him.    And crying out with a loud voice, he said,  “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God?  I adjure you by God, do not torment me.”    For Jesus was saying to him, “Come out of the man, you unc

Who is Jesus? Chapter 15 Jesus quiets the storms in our Lives.

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Who is Jesus? Chapter 15 Jesus quiets the storms in our Lives. Jesus had been teaching parables and stories while sitting in a boat. At the end of the day he ended his teaching by likening a small mustard seed as to the Kingdom of God. At first to us it seems small, but God's kingdom for us becomes a place of solace where we can find comfort, peace, safety and rest. Reading from Matthew 13:31-32 Jesus presented another parable to them, saying, "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field; and this is smaller than all other seeds, but when it is full grown, it is larger than the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that The Birds of the air come and find safety in It's Branches." Jesus had been teaching for a long while, and he was tired. The crowds were not going home, so the best solution was to ask the boat owners to take him to a quiet place across the sea to the other side. Jesus words

Your Rod and Your Staff; They Comfort Me

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Your Rod and Your Staff; They Comfort Me Today I want us to consider the Biblical Rod that is used in many of the Bible Stories. Psalms 23:4   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. Jeremiah 50:6 reminds us:    My people have been as  lost sheep : - - they have gone from mountain to hill, they have forgotten their resting place.  Jesus leads His sheep to a place of rest in Him.   In biblical times, a shepherd consistently used both a rod and a staff to tend the flock. Both were used to protect the sheep, each in a very specific way. The rod was like a short club and it was often used to fight off wild animals and to count the sheep and direct them. The rod prodded them during the day in the fields and at night into the sheepfold.  A willing sheep would respond to the prodding, but a stubborn, strong-willed sheep would not yield. The staff w

Hearing God Speak

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Hearing from God comes in a variety of ways. The inward witness is the most usual, but God can and does speak in an audible voice at times. He also speaks to us in dreams, visions, and by circumstances that cause us to know we must make new decisions. Many times God speaks to us as we read and search scriptures from our Bible. Understand that as we read scripture, the life giving words from the pages of our Bible often can be related to us personally. As we read this portion from Jeremiah chapter one; please consider how these words can be applied to you. The word of the LORD came to Jeremiah, saying: Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I set you apart and appointed you a prophet to the nations.” “ Ah, Lord GOD,” Jeremiah said, “I surely do not know how to speak, for I am only a child!” But the LORD told him:  “ Do not say,  ‘ I am only a child.’ For to everyone I send you, you must go, and all that I command you, you must speak

Who is Jesus? chapter 14 Jesus Teaches about various Soil and different Hearers.

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Who is Jesus? chapter 14  Jesus Heals - - and Teaches about various Soil and different Hearers. Today's message is from; Matthew chapter 8.    Jesus had been teaching on the mountain, and when he came down from the mountain, great crowds followed him. And behold, a leper came to him and knelt before him, saying, "Lord, if you will, you can make me clean." And Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, "I will; be clean."  And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.  And Jesus said to him,  "See that you say nothing to anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a proof to them that you are now healed." That evening they brought to Jesus many who were oppressed by demons, and he cast out the spirits with a word and healed all who were sick.  This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah: "He took our sickness and bore our diseases." The next day as the

HEALING HURTS

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HEALING HURTS Reading from Romans 15: 1-3 We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let every one of us please his neighbor for his good to edification. For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written; The reproaches of them that reproached you fell on me.” Now think about this word “Reproaches” - - - (Understand the reproaches were a retaliation that was first given by the person receiving them. No one willingly enjoys admitting that they were a party to the first encounter. Jesus offended the religious leaders by declaring that He was equal with the Father, and that He was God. Their retaliation was severe in that they planned to kill him. These words are not meant to be personal, because they apply to many in various situations, as this is the way the enemy works. It happens every day to someone and often to you and me. Words can hurt or words can heal. Life and death is in the power of th