I have not done this before....may not again....but felt I should share what I did for our church service yesterday. (which means anyone from Victory may have already seen this)
The format is different from my usual blog....as it is usually written, with some music links added on occasion.
This is music, and a power point with a voice over. God seemed to touch a few people through it ...so thought maybe it might speak to your heart as well!
My prayer is that you are blessed in a time of worship today.
Can We See Beyond the Pit?
Monday, April 27, 2020
Monday, April 20, 2020
In the Presence
Luke 24:27
And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in the Scriptures concerning himself.
Jesus told the men walking on the road to Emmaus all things concerning Himself!
Have you ever had the thought...
wouldn't that be great to hear from His lips....the horses mouth ...so to speak?
To have Him explain about each prophecy fulfilled? how each scripture pertained to Him!?
Wouldn't it be wonderful!?
No wondering, no searching or trying to pull it all together... to have it all spelled out by the Man Himself!
We don't need to wish or hope....because we HAVE!
We open up the bible and start to read...from Genesis straight through....to Luke Chapter 24 verse 27 (and beyond) and you have it
📖 Moses was there with the Lord forty days and forty nights without eating bread or drinking water. And he wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant—the Ten Commandments. Exodus 34:28
📖 The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me,
because the Lord has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness for the prisoners,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor
and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn,
and provide for those who grieve in Zion Isaiah 61:1-3
It was His life's mission, His life's work to know the scriptures just as it was His life's purpose to fulfill them!
It should be ours to know Him through the scriptures, both Old and New Testaments, because our purpose is
to know Him,
📖 Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. John 17:3
to be known by Him
📖 But whoever loves God is known by God. 1 Corinthians 8:3
and to be in His presence.
📖 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. Revelation 21:3
Be on your knees in prayer...meditate on His word...be still and KNOW He is God...
And you will be in His presence!
🎵 He lives (He lives), He lives (He lives), Christ Jesus lives today
He walks with me and talks with me
Along life's narrow way
He lives (He lives), He lives (He lives), Salvation to impart
You ask me how I know He lives?
He lives within my heart
🙏 My prayer today is you know Him and that He lives in your heart!❤
And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in the Scriptures concerning himself.
Jesus told the men walking on the road to Emmaus all things concerning Himself!
Have you ever had the thought...
wouldn't that be great to hear from His lips....the horses mouth ...so to speak?
To have Him explain about each prophecy fulfilled? how each scripture pertained to Him!?
Wouldn't it be wonderful!?
No wondering, no searching or trying to pull it all together... to have it all spelled out by the Man Himself!
We don't need to wish or hope....because we HAVE!
We open up the bible and start to read...from Genesis straight through....to Luke Chapter 24 verse 27 (and beyond) and you have it
📖 Moses was there with the Lord forty days and forty nights without eating bread or drinking water. And he wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant—the Ten Commandments. Exodus 34:28
📖 The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me,
because the Lord has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness for the prisoners,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor
and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn,
and provide for those who grieve in Zion Isaiah 61:1-3
📖 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel. Isaiah 7:14
AND much much more...you can read the scriptures of the Old Testament yourself and see how they pertain to Christ!
He knew what He was talking about because He not only knew the scriptures...He WAS the fulfillment of them!
It was His life's mission, His life's work to know the scriptures just as it was His life's purpose to fulfill them!
It should be ours to know Him through the scriptures, both Old and New Testaments, because our purpose is
to know Him,
📖 Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. John 17:3
to be known by Him
📖 But whoever loves God is known by God. 1 Corinthians 8:3
and to be in His presence.
📖 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. Revelation 21:3
Be on your knees in prayer...meditate on His word...be still and KNOW He is God...
And you will be in His presence!
🎵 He lives (He lives), He lives (He lives), Christ Jesus lives today
He walks with me and talks with me
Along life's narrow way
He lives (He lives), He lives (He lives), Salvation to impart
You ask me how I know He lives?
He lives within my heart
Source: LyricFind /Songwriters: Alfred H. Ackley / He Lives lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc, Songtrust Ave
🙏 My prayer today is you know Him and that He lives in your heart!❤
Monday, April 13, 2020
A Message of Hope
In this time when we can lose all sense of hope, feel isolated, all alone...and not just because of the world wide pandemic...for some the struggle that was already in their life has made the isolation, wearing masks, social distancing ...just something to add to their already difficult time of feeling utterly hopeless.
If FAITH is our Victory,
JESUS is our HOPE!
And we can claim that today because He is a risen Savior!
That is what Easter Weekend was all about!
He had Victory over death...He didn't just rise from the dead and quickly go be with His Father...
He came back for 40 days!
📖 After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. Acts 1:3
He came to His disciples to bring them HOPE...to spread the message of HOPE to all...including us!
He visited with them, comforted them, touched them, ate with them, He taught them;
and He finally commanded them;
📖 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:16-20
He was real when with them...
He is real today as well!
You can visit with Him in prayer and He can teach you through scripture,
you can reach out to others...(and right now that may be who is in your home with you) taking a hand, giving a hug.
For now with 6 feet social distancing...smiles, waves and kind words have to be our form of "hugging", how we can give comfort.
He is REAL today! His victory over death gives us the Hope to carry on..to move ahead even if we can't see the path ahead.
📖 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. Romans 5:1-5
📖 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13:13
We have HOPE because we have been filled with God's love through the gift of the Holy Spirit.
The command is for us too;
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
...to go and share Christ's love to others and help them build their faith and show them where to find HOPE!
I listened to this song several times yesterday (Easter Sunday) I felt it to be full of HOPE!
We are ONE in the Spirit!
We WILL stand hand in hand!
We WILL work side by side!
by OUR LOVE!
By Our Love King and Country
If FAITH is our Victory,
JESUS is our HOPE!
And we can claim that today because He is a risen Savior!
That is what Easter Weekend was all about!
He had Victory over death...He didn't just rise from the dead and quickly go be with His Father...
He came back for 40 days!
📖 After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. Acts 1:3
He came to His disciples to bring them HOPE...to spread the message of HOPE to all...including us!
He visited with them, comforted them, touched them, ate with them, He taught them;
📖 While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet. And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate it in their presence. He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.” Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. Luke 24:37-45
📖 He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself. Luke 24:25-27
📖 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:16-20
He was real when with them...
He is real today as well!
You can visit with Him in prayer and He can teach you through scripture,
you can reach out to others...(and right now that may be who is in your home with you) taking a hand, giving a hug.
For now with 6 feet social distancing...smiles, waves and kind words have to be our form of "hugging", how we can give comfort.
He is REAL today! His victory over death gives us the Hope to carry on..to move ahead even if we can't see the path ahead.
📖 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. Romans 5:1-5
📖 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13:13
We have HOPE because we have been filled with God's love through the gift of the Holy Spirit.
The command is for us too;
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
...to go and share Christ's love to others and help them build their faith and show them where to find HOPE!
I listened to this song several times yesterday (Easter Sunday) I felt it to be full of HOPE!
We are ONE in the Spirit!
We WILL stand hand in hand!
We WILL work side by side!
by OUR LOVE!
By Our Love King and Country
Sunday, April 5, 2020
Faith is the Victory
📖 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. Indeed, by faith our ancestors received approval. By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was made from things that are not visible. Hebrews 11:1-3
Hebrews Chapter 11
Faith for today.
Faith that God is in control.
Faith that this terrible, scary time will come to an end and our world will recover.
Faith that no matter how awful the situation we find ourselves in, God is in it.
Faith that even in death...there is Victory; This life has just been "a dress rehearsal" for that...for our eternal Glory...to be with Him.
Faith that we have lived in such a way as to point to Him!
Faith is the Victory that overcomes!
When we feel we have lost faith what can we pray?
What Jesus Himself taught us;
Our Father....Holy God, Creator, Sustainer, Provider, Shield, Defender, Protector
in Heaven...where He sits on His Throne with Jesus at His side
Holy ….Most High, sacred, eternal
is Your Name....Name above all Names, "I Am", Alpha, Omega
Your kingdom come....eternity, heaven, paradise
Your will be done...His good, pleasing and perfect will. (Romans 12:2)
on earth as it is in heaven...who has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand—with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him. (1 Peter 3:22)
Give us today our daily bread...My God shall supply all my need, today. Philippians 4:19) No need to worry about tomorrow (Matthew 6:34)
And forgive us our debts...He forgives all our sins and heals all our diseases (Psalm 103:3)
as we also have forgiven our debtors....we are called to forgive others who have wronged us as He has forgiven us (Ephesians 4:32)
And lead us not into temptation...He promises we will not be tempted more than we can bear and we will be provided a way out so that we will not be overcome. (1 Corinthians 10:13)
but deliver us from the evil one...we are to be vigilant and stand firm with our armor of God so we stand against the devil (Ephesians 6:10-16)
for Yours is the kingdom
and the power
and the glory
forever. Amen
I decided to post a day early. Being Palm Sunday, and in light of all that is going on in the world, our celebration of the Easter Season is looking different.
BUT it shouldn't FEEL different....there is JOY, HOPE, PEACE in a resurrected Savior!
Jesus had VICTORY over death! A death He suffered for you and for me, to cleanse us of our sins so we may have the VICTORY of eternal life!
As some of you may know I have a manger and a cross in my front yard from Christmas thru Easter; two symbols of the center of Christianity; the humble birth of Christ (the manger), and His death and resurrection (the empty cross)
This year the cross is taking on more meaning for me....it is a symbol of VICTORY!
Jesus VICTORY over SIN and DEATH!
and HOPE for us in this time.....we will NOT be overcome because JESUS already secured the VICTORY for us, regardless of ANY circumstances we face!
Our community has been decorating windows with teddy bears and rainbows for people to see and be encouraged as they drive around.
How about for this Easter week, (or until this health crisis ends!) we have a cross, the cross of Christ (however you choose to create one) in our yards to show we have faith in WHO has the VICTORY!
(I would love to see pictures if you want to send me one of your cross)
Hebrews Chapter 11
Faith for today.
Faith that God is in control.
Faith that this terrible, scary time will come to an end and our world will recover.
Faith that no matter how awful the situation we find ourselves in, God is in it.
Faith that even in death...there is Victory; This life has just been "a dress rehearsal" for that...for our eternal Glory...to be with Him.
Faith that we have lived in such a way as to point to Him!
Faith is the Victory that overcomes!
🎵 Faith is the Victory Sung by Fountain View Student Choir (YouTube Video)
What Jesus Himself taught us;
Our Father....Holy God, Creator, Sustainer, Provider, Shield, Defender, Protector
in Heaven...where He sits on His Throne with Jesus at His side
Holy ….Most High, sacred, eternal
is Your Name....Name above all Names, "I Am", Alpha, Omega
Your kingdom come....eternity, heaven, paradise
Your will be done...His good, pleasing and perfect will. (Romans 12:2)
on earth as it is in heaven...who has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand—with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him. (1 Peter 3:22)
Give us today our daily bread...My God shall supply all my need, today. Philippians 4:19) No need to worry about tomorrow (Matthew 6:34)
And forgive us our debts...He forgives all our sins and heals all our diseases (Psalm 103:3)
as we also have forgiven our debtors....we are called to forgive others who have wronged us as He has forgiven us (Ephesians 4:32)
And lead us not into temptation...He promises we will not be tempted more than we can bear and we will be provided a way out so that we will not be overcome. (1 Corinthians 10:13)
but deliver us from the evil one...we are to be vigilant and stand firm with our armor of God so we stand against the devil (Ephesians 6:10-16)
for Yours is the kingdom
and the power
and the glory
forever. Amen
I decided to post a day early. Being Palm Sunday, and in light of all that is going on in the world, our celebration of the Easter Season is looking different.
BUT it shouldn't FEEL different....there is JOY, HOPE, PEACE in a resurrected Savior!
Jesus had VICTORY over death! A death He suffered for you and for me, to cleanse us of our sins so we may have the VICTORY of eternal life!
As some of you may know I have a manger and a cross in my front yard from Christmas thru Easter; two symbols of the center of Christianity; the humble birth of Christ (the manger), and His death and resurrection (the empty cross)
This year the cross is taking on more meaning for me....it is a symbol of VICTORY!
Jesus VICTORY over SIN and DEATH!
and HOPE for us in this time.....we will NOT be overcome because JESUS already secured the VICTORY for us, regardless of ANY circumstances we face!
Our community has been decorating windows with teddy bears and rainbows for people to see and be encouraged as they drive around.
How about for this Easter week, (or until this health crisis ends!) we have a cross, the cross of Christ (however you choose to create one) in our yards to show we have faith in WHO has the VICTORY!
(I would love to see pictures if you want to send me one of your cross)
Wednesday, April 1, 2020
A Sidebar
As I was writing last week's blog many things spoke to my heart...as I hope it did your's.
But there was a couple of things I noticed, but I didn't want to do any more sidebars and distract from the main points.
So here are some of those thoughts from last week I wanted to expound on.
The parallels between Moses's experience with the 10 commandments and Jesus's fasting and temptation in the desert.
📖 Moses was there with the Lord forty days and forty nights without eating bread or drinking water. And he wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant—the Ten Commandments. Exodus 34:28
📖 When Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the covenant law in his hands, he was not aware that his face was radiant because he had spoken with the Lord. Exodus 34:29
📖 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. Matthew 4:1-2
So begins the spiritual battle where Satan tries to tempt Jesus, who battles against each temptation with God's word, nothing more.
📖 Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him. Matthew 4:11
📖 From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” Matthew 4:17
See what I got so excited about?!...Moses was spending time in communion with God on Mt Sinai and fasted for 40 days. When he was done he brought down God's law for His people.
Jesus was lead into the wilderness by The Spirit (of God)
where He fasted for 40 days (and as I said, I believe He prayed). When He was done angels came and took care of Him and after moving to Capernaum, which fulfilled prophecy, He then began to preach and bring God's law to His people! A "New Law"!
📖 "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them Matthew 5
He didn't come to get rid of the old law but to use it as a foundation for something better, for example;
The Old Law
📖 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. Deuteronomy 6:5
The Improved
📖 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” Mark 12:30-31
Jesus didn't abolish the old laws...He made them more succinct... He came to live them out.
In Matthew 5 (click on link to read ) Jesus is giving what is called The Sermon on the Mount and beginning in verse 17 He begins to go through much of the "old law" with
"you have heard it said..." and then goes on to say "but I tell you..." and builds something more on it.
Both fasted and spent time with God, and came from it prepared to show the people who God is;
Moses by bringing God's law to the people.
Jesus by being God's law to the people.
Moses was so changed by his time with God his face literally radiated...shone from the presence of God.
Jesus was God in the flesh and came to shine His light on all.
📖 When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12
Moses was an example Jesus would have learned about in His religious education growing up, and he is an example for us as well.
Jesus is more than an example... He lived His life as a perfect reflection of His Father.
My prayer for you today is that you choose to live as Jesus taught us. 🙏❤
But there was a couple of things I noticed, but I didn't want to do any more sidebars and distract from the main points.
So here are some of those thoughts from last week I wanted to expound on.
The parallels between Moses's experience with the 10 commandments and Jesus's fasting and temptation in the desert.
📖 Moses was there with the Lord forty days and forty nights without eating bread or drinking water. And he wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant—the Ten Commandments. Exodus 34:28
📖 When Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the covenant law in his hands, he was not aware that his face was radiant because he had spoken with the Lord. Exodus 34:29
📖 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. Matthew 4:1-2
So begins the spiritual battle where Satan tries to tempt Jesus, who battles against each temptation with God's word, nothing more.
📖 Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him. Matthew 4:11
📖 From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” Matthew 4:17
See what I got so excited about?!...Moses was spending time in communion with God on Mt Sinai and fasted for 40 days. When he was done he brought down God's law for His people.
Jesus was lead into the wilderness by The Spirit (of God)
where He fasted for 40 days (and as I said, I believe He prayed). When He was done angels came and took care of Him and after moving to Capernaum, which fulfilled prophecy, He then began to preach and bring God's law to His people! A "New Law"!
📖 "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them Matthew 5
He didn't come to get rid of the old law but to use it as a foundation for something better, for example;
The Old Law
📖 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. Deuteronomy 6:5
The Improved
📖 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” Mark 12:30-31
Jesus didn't abolish the old laws...He made them more succinct... He came to live them out.
In Matthew 5 (click on link to read ) Jesus is giving what is called The Sermon on the Mount and beginning in verse 17 He begins to go through much of the "old law" with
"you have heard it said..." and then goes on to say "but I tell you..." and builds something more on it.
Both fasted and spent time with God, and came from it prepared to show the people who God is;
Moses by bringing God's law to the people.
Jesus by being God's law to the people.
Moses was so changed by his time with God his face literally radiated...shone from the presence of God.
Jesus was God in the flesh and came to shine His light on all.
📖 When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12
Moses was an example Jesus would have learned about in His religious education growing up, and he is an example for us as well.
Jesus is more than an example... He lived His life as a perfect reflection of His Father.
My prayer for you today is that you choose to live as Jesus taught us. 🙏❤
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