Grace And Love Intertwined

                              Spiritual Disciplines                               Fasting  “Moreover,  when you fast, do not be like the  hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.But you, when you fast,  anoint your head and wash your face,so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you  openly. - Matthew 6:16-18 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew6:16-18&version=NKJV Don't fast to seek attention. But to draw closer to God and please Him.  ‘Why have we fasted,’ they say, ‘and You have not seen? Why have we afflicted our souls, and You take no notice?’ “In fact, in the day of...

                                              Spiritual Disciplines                                              Solitude and Prayer “And when you pray, you shall not be like the  hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.But you, when you pray,  go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you  openly.And when you pray,  do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do.  For they think that they will be heard for their many words.“Therefore do not be like them. For your Father  knows the things you have...

                          Giving and Serving  “Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven.Therefore,  when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret  will Himself reward you  openly. - Matthew 6:1-4 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew6:1-4&version=NKJV If we seek praise from men, then that's all the reward we'll get for our giving. But if we give in secret, God will reward us. Seeking praise from men leads to spiritual demise. Giving in secret leads to God's pl...

                            God's Word is Calling You And after some days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, he sent for Paul and heard him concerning the faith in Christ.Now as he reasoned about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and answered, “Go away for now; when I have a convenient time I will call for you.”Meanwhile he also hoped that money would be given him by Paul, that he might release him. Therefore he sent for him more often and conversed with him.But after two years Porcius Festus succeeded Felix; and Felix, wanting to do the Jews a favor, left Paul bound. - Acts 24:24-27 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts24:24-27&version=NKJV Read His Word with an open mind. Don't waste numerous second chances as Felix did. Let His Word transform and change our lives. It has power to do so (2 Timothy 3:16-17). God's Word is Calling You

                                                            Loving Our Enemies “You have heard that it was said,  ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’But I tell you not to resist an evil person.  But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also.And whoever  compels you to go one mile, go with him two.Give to him who asks you, and  from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away.“You have heard that it was said,  ‘You shall love your neighbor  and hate your enemy.’But I say to you,  love your enemies, bless those who curse you,  do good to those who hate you, and pray  for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for  He ma...

“You have heard that it was said  to those of old,  ‘You shall not commit adultery.’But I say to you that whoever  looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.If your right eye causes you to  sin,  pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.And if your right hand causes you to  sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. - Matthew 5:27-30 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew5:27-30&version=NKJV For me this is hard hitting. Everytme I look at a man with lust I committ adultery in my heart.  “Furthermore it has been said,  ‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’But I say to you that  whoever divorces his wife for any reason except  sexual ...

“Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. - Matthew 5:17 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew5:17&version=NKJV Jesus fulfilled all the Law and the Prophets. He obeyed God in full even upon the cross (Philippians 2:8).  For assuredly, I say to you,  till heaven and earth pass away, one  jot or one  tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. - Matthew 5:18 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew5:18&version=NKJV God's Word is sure and steadfast. Accomplished it's purpose of faith in Jesus.  Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. - Matthew 5:19 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew5:19&version=NKJV We are to obey God and teach others to do so as Jesus di...

Embracing Our Mission “You are the salt of the earth;  but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.“You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.Nor do they  light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.Let your light so shine before men,  that they may see your good works and  glorify your Father in heaven. - Matthew 5:13-16 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew5:13-16&version=NKJV We are to be a blessing to others, to make this world a better place. Our light should shine so bright people are drawn to Jesus. As we walk in good works God has prepared for us (Ephesians 2:10) we will be a blessing and a light in this dark world. 

What Tomorrow Will Bring Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit”;whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.”But now you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil.Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin. - James 4:13-17 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James4:13-17&version=NKJV As much as we love to plan, tomorrow is not guaranteed. I have a planner and love planing out my day and evening meals. But things don't always go according to plan. Life is fragile. I might not even wake up tomorrow. So I must humble myself and say "If the Lord wills I'll do this or that".  To borrow a phrase from this sermon: "Tomorrow belongs to t...

Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience,in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them.But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth.Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds,and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him,where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all.Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering;bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.But above all these thing...

If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God.Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.When Christ who is  our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. - Colossians 3:1-4 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Colossians3:1-4&version=NKJV Let's all focus on Christ and heavenly things not earthly things. I've been guilty of focusing on the earthly. May God help me to shift my focus to the eternal. I died to sin, and my life is hidden in Christ. I will appear with Him in glory when He appears. A Resurrected Focus

For I want you to know what a great conflict I have for you and those in Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh,that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ,in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.Now this I say lest anyone should deceive you with persuasive words.For though I am absent in the flesh, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ.As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him,rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.For in Him dwells al...

Again the anger of the Lord was aroused against Israel, and He moved David against them to say, “Go, number Israel and Judah.”So the king said to Joab the commander of the army who was with him, “Now go throughout all the tribes of Israel, from Dan to Beersheba, and count the people, that I may know the number of the people.”And Joab said to the king, “Now may the Lord your God add to the people a hundred times more than there are, and may the eyes of my lord the king see it. But why does my lord the king desire this thing?”Nevertheless the king’s word prevailed against Joab and against the captains of the army. Therefore Joab and the captains of the army went out from the presence of the king to count the people of Israel.And they crossed over the Jordan and camped in Aroer, on the right side of the town which is in the midst of the ravine of Gad, and toward Jazer.Then they came to Gilead and to the land of Tahtim Hodshi; they came to Dan Jaan and around to Sidon;and they came to the ...

Lord, how they have increased who trouble me! Many are they who rise up against me.Many are they who say of me, “ There is no help for him in God.” SelahBut You, O Lord, are  a shield for me, My glory and the One who lifts up my head.I cried to the Lord with my voice, And He heard me from His holy hill. SelahI lay down and slept; I awoke, for the Lord sustained me.I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people Who have set themselves against me all around.Arise, O Lord; Save me, O my God! For You have struck all my enemies on the cheekbone; You have broken the teeth of the ungodly.Salvation belongs to the Lord. Your blessing is upon Your people. Selah - Psalm 3:1-8 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm3:1-8&version=NKJV We can turn to God in hard times. When betrayed and hurt by others we can turn to God. Experiencing Betrayal and Rejection

13  Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow  [ h ] we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit”;  14  whereas you do not know what  will happen  tomorrow. For what  is  your life?  It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.  15  Instead you  ought  to say,  “If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.”  16  But now you boast in your arrogance.  All such boasting is evil. 17  Therefore,  to him who knows to do good and does not do  it,  to him it is sin. Coronavirus is here. For us, this is a time of uncertainty. In the midst of all this, let's be reminded of this fact: tomorrow is not guaranteed. Ultimately we must trust God no matter come what may. Trust Him with all our all. Don't lean on our own understanding but in times of distress lean upon God (Proverbs 3:3-5). Remember God knows our ...

Restoring a Banished Son So Joab the son of Zeruiah perceived that the king’s heart was concerned about Absalom.And Joab sent to Tekoa and brought from there a wise woman, and said to her, “Please pretend to be a mourner, and put on mourning apparel; do not anoint yourself with oil, but act like a woman who has been mourning a long time for the dead.Go to the king and speak to him in this manner.” So Joab put the words in her mouth.And when the woman of Tekoa spoke to the king, she fell on her face to the ground and prostrated herself, and said, “Help, O king!”Then the king said to her, “What troubles you?” And she answered, “Indeed I am a widow, my husband is dead.Now your maidservant had two sons; and the two fought with each other in the field, and there was no one to part them, but the one struck the other and killed him.And now the whole family has risen up against your maidservant, and they said, ‘Deliver him who struck his brother, that we may execute him for the life of his b...

Confronted With Sin When confronted with sin, we shouldn't down play it or despair. Instead confess to God, repent and make restitution with others we may have hurt. Have mercy upon me, O God, According to Your lovingkindness; According to the multitude of Your tender mercies, Blot out my transgressions.Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, And cleanse me from my sin.For I acknowledge my transgressions, And my sin is always before me.Against You, You only, have I sinned, And done this evil in Your sight— That You may be found just when You speak, And blameless when You judge.Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, And in sin my mother conceived me.Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts, And in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom.Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.Make me hear joy and gladness, That the bones You have broken may rejoice.Hide Your face from my sins, And blot out all my iniquities.Create in me a c...

Uniting God's People

Motivated by the Grace of God

Motivated by the Mind of Christ