EMERGENCY PHONE NUMBERS
When in sorrow, ........................................... call John 14.
When men fail you, ....................................... call Psalm 27.
If you want to be fruitful, ............................... call John 15.
When you have sinned, .................................. call Psalm 51.
When you worry, ........................................... call Matthew 6:19-34.
When you are in danger, ................................ call Psalm 91.
When God seems far away, ........................... call Psalm 139.
When your faith needs stirring, .................... call Hebrews 11.
When you are lonely and fearful, ................... call Psalm 23.
When you grow bitter and critical, ............... call I Corinthians 13.
For Paul's secret to happiness, ....................... call Colossians 3:12-17.
For understanding of Christianity, ............... call II Corinthians 5:15-19.
When you feel down and out, ......................... call Romans 8:31.
When you want peace and rest, ................... call Matthew 11:25-30.
When the world seems bigger than God,....... call Psalm 90.
When you want Christian assurance, ........... call Romans 8:1-30.
When you leave home for labor or travel,...... call Psalm 121.
When your prayers grow narrow or selfish, ... call Psalm 67.
For a great invention/opportunity, ............... call Isaiah 55.
When you want courage for a task, .................. call Joshua 1.
For how to get along with fellow men, .......... call Romans 12.
When you think of investments and returns, ..... call Mark 10.
If you are depressed, ........................................ call Psalm 27.
If your pocketbook is empty, ............................ call Psalm 37.
If you are losing confidence in people, .......... call I Corinthians 13.
If people seem unkind, ..................................... call John 15.
If discouraged about your work, ....................... call Psalm 126.
If you find the world growing small & yourself great, .. call Psalm 19.
ALTERNATE NUMBERS
For dealing with fear, ............. call Psalm 34:7.
For security, ........................... call Psalm 121:3.
For assurance, ........................ call Mark 8:35.
For reassurance, ..................... call Psalm 145:18.
Friday, April 14, 2006
Friday, April 07, 2006
Prayer that Changes Lives
My Father, I acknowledge that You are the Lord Almighty. You are the first and You are the last, and apart from You there is no other God. Make me witness to the fact that there is no other Rock but You. Enable me to say with full assurance, "I know not one." (Isa. 44:6, 8)
My Father, You are my Lord, my Holy One, my Creator, my King. You are the One who made a way through the sea, a path through mighty waters. (Isa. 43:15-16)
My Father, You are the Lord my God. I desire to love You, listen to Your voice, and hold fast to You, for You, Lord, are my life. (Deut. 30:20)
You alone are the Lord. You made the heavens, even the highest heavens, and all their starry host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. You give life to everything, and the multitudes of heaven worship You. (Neh. 9:6)
My Father, how I thank You that it is unthinkable that You would do wrong, that the Almighty would pervert justice. Who appointed You over the earth? Who put You in charge of the whole world? If it were Your intention and You withdrew Your Spirit and breath, all mankind would perish together and man would return to the dust. (Job 34:12-15)
You have promised that Your plans for Your people are plans to prosper and not to harm, plans to give us hope and a future. (Jer. 29:11)
Yours, my Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is Yours. Yours, my own heavenly Father, is the kingdom and You are exalted as head above all. (1 Chron. 29:11)
My mighty God, in Your hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind. (Job 12:10)
You, my God, open Your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing. (Ps. 145:16)
The earth is Yours, O Lord, and everything in it, the world and all who live in it. (Ps. 24:1)
For You, my Lord, are a great God, the great King above all gods. In Your hand are the depths of the earth, and the mountain peaks belong to You. The sea is Yours, for You made it, and Your hands formed the dry land. (Ps. 95:3-5)
Lord, I know that You are great—greater than all gods. You do whatever pleases You, in the heavens and on the earth, in the seas and all their depths. (Ps. 135:5)
Although You are sovereign and You do what You please, You are righteous in all Your ways and loving toward all You have made. (Ps. 145:17)
My Father, Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and Your dominion endures throughout all generations. You, my Lord, are faithful to all Your promises and loving toward all You have made. (Ps. 145:13)
You, my God, made the world and everything in it. You are the Lord of heaven and earth, and You do not live in temples built by hands. And You are not served by human hands, as if You needed anything, because You Yourself give all men life and breath and everything else. From one man You made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and You determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. You, my Father, did this so that men would seek You and perhaps reach out for You and find You, though You are not far from each one of us. For in You we live and move and have our being! (Acts 17:24-28)
Many, O Lord my God, are the wonders You have done. The things You planned for us no one can recount to You; were I to speak and tell of them, they would be too many to declare. (Ps. 40:5)
How great You are, My God! You are beyond my understanding! The number of Your years is past finding out. You draw up the drops of water, which distill as rain to the streams; the clouds pour down their moisture and abundant showers fall on mankind. Who can understand how You spread out the clouds, how You thunder from Your pavilion? (Job 36:26-29)
Lord, You have been our dwelling place throughout all generations. Before the mountains were born or You brought forth the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting You are God. (Ps. 90:1-2)
O Lord my God, You are very great; You are clothed with splendor and majesty. You wrap Yourself in light as with a garment; You stretch out the heavens like a tent and lay the beams of Your upper chambers on their waters. You make the clouds Your chariot and ride on the wings of the wind. You make winds Your messengers, flames of fire Your servants. (Ps. 104:1-4)
My Father, great are Your works! They are pondered by all who delight in them. Glorious and majestic are Your deeds, and Your righteousness endures forever. You have caused Your wonders to be remembered; You, Lord, are gracious and compassionate. (Ps. 111:2-4)
The works of Your hands are faithful and just; all Your precepts are trustworthy. They are steadfast for ever and ever, done in faithfulness and uprightness. (Ps. 111:7-8)
Who is like You, the Lord my God, the One who sits enthroned on high, who stoops down to look on the heavens and the earth? (Ps. 113:5-6)
Oh, Father, how I thank You that my help comes from You, the Maker of heaven and earth. (Ps. 121:2)
My Lord and my God, it is You who measured the waters in the hollow of Your hand and with the breadth of Your hand marked off the heavens. (Isa. 40:12)
You sit enthroned above the circle of the earth, and its people are like grasshoppers. You stretch out the heavens like a canopy, and spread them out like a tent to live in. (Isa. 40:22)
O, Lord, help me to lift my eyes and look to the heavens and acknowledge who created all these. You bring out the starry host one by one, and call each of them by name. Because of Your great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing. (Isa. 40:26)
You, my Lord, are the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. You will not grow tired or weary, and Your understanding no one can fathom. You give strength to the weary and increase the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but when I hope in You, O, Lord, my strength will be renewed. I will soar on wings like eagles; I will run and not grow weary, I will walk and not faint. (Isa. 40:28-31)
Ah, Sovereign Lord, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for You! (Jer. 32:17)
My God, since the creation of the world Your invisible qualities—Your eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. (Rom. 1:20) O, merciful God, help us not exchange the truth of God for a lie, and worship and serve created things rather than You, our Creator—who is forever praised. Amen. (Rom. 1:25)
For me, there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom I live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live. (1 Cor. 8:6)
You, my Christ, are the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by You all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by You and for You. You are before all things, and in You all things hold together. (Col. 1:15-17)
Your love, O Lord, reaches to the heavens, Your faithfulness to the skies. Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains, Your justice like the great deep. O Lord, You preserve both man and beast. How priceless is Your unfailing love! Both high and low among men find refuge in the shadow of Your wings. I want to feast on the abundance of Your house; I want to drink from Your river of delights. For with You is the fountain of life; in Your light I want to see light. (Ps. 36:5-9)
Great are You, my Lord, and most worthy of praise. Your greatness no one can fathom. One generation will commend Your works to another; they will tell of Your mighty acts. They will speak of the glorious splendor of Your majesty, and I will meditate on Your wonderful works. They will tell of the power of Your awesome works, and I will proclaim Your great deeds. They will celebrate Your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of Your righteousness. (Ps. 145:3-7)
You, my God, have put Your words in my mouth and covered me with the shadow of Your hand You who set the heavens in place, who laid the foundations of the earth, and who say to Zion, "You are my people." (Isa. 51:16)
You, my Father, are the One who forms the mountain, creates the wind, and reveals His thoughts to man. You are the One who turns dawn to darkness, and treads the high places of the earth—the Lord God Almighty is Your Name! (Amos 4:13)
This is what You, the Lord my God, say—You who created the heavens, You are God; You who fashioned and made the earth, You founded it; You did not create it to be empty, but formed it to be inhabited—You say: "I am the Lord, and there is no other." (Isa. 45:18)
O, Lord, You rule forever by Your power, Your eyes watch the nations—let not the rebellious rise up against You. (Ps. 66:7) The fool says in his heart, "There is no God." (Ps. 14:1)
Lord, I acknowledge that You are the "I AM." This is Your name forever, the name by which You are to be remembered from generation to generation. (Exod. 3:14-15)
O, Lord my God, help me never to worship any other god, for You, my Lord, are a jealous God. (Exod. 20:4-5)
You, my Lord, are a warrior; the Lord is Your name. (Exod. 15:3)
My Father, You are the Lord; that is Your name! You will not give Your glory to another or Your praise to idols. (Isa. 42:8)
My Father, help me to know that the Lord my God is God; You are the faithful God, keeping Your covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love You and keep Your commands. (Deut. 7:9)
You, my God, are the Rock. Your works are perfect, and all Your ways are just. You are a faithful God who does no wrong. You are upright and just. (Deut. 32:4)
The Lord my God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome. You show no partiality and accept no bribes. (Deut. 10:17)
Psalm 31:19 reads, "How great is Your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you, ... those who take refuge in you...." That is what God does for those who fear Him. He sets aside and stores up goodness for His children, to be given at appropriate times in the future. What this goodness is, and when it will be bestowed, is unique to each individual according to God's plan and purpose for that person.
You, my Father, are my loving God and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer, my shield, in whom I take refuge, who subdues people under me. (Ps. 144:2)
You alone are my rock and my salvation; You are my fortress, I will not be shaken. My salvation and my honor depend on You; You are my mighty rock, my refuge. (Ps. 62:6-7)
Lord, please help me to revere Your name. You have promised that, if I do, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings and that I will go out and leap like a calf released from the stall. (Mai. 4:2)
My Father, heaven is Your throne, and the earth is Your footstool. (Isa. 66:1)
My Lord, You are slow to anger and great in power; You will not leave the guilty unpunished. Your way is in the whirlwind and the storm, and clouds are the dust of Your feet. (Nab. 1:3)
Father, those who oppose You will be shattered. You will thunder against them from heaven; You will judge the ends of the earth. (1 Sam. 2:10)
My God, whom have I in heaven but You? And earth has nothing I desire besides You. (Ps. 73:25)
Lord, to the Israelites Your glory looked like a consuming fire on top of the mountain. (Exod. 24:17)
Help me to be thankful and to worship You acceptably with reverence and awe, because You, my God, are a consuming fire. (Heb. 12:28-29)
O, Father, I confess that I cannot fathom Your mysteries. I cannot probe Your limits, Almighty One. They are higher than the heavens. They are deeper than the depths of the grave. Their measure is longer than the earth and wider than the sea. (Job 11:7-9)
O, Lord, You have made everything beautiful in Your time. You have also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet we cannot fathom what You have done from beginning to end. (Eccles. 3:11)
My God, I acknowledge that Your thoughts are not my thoughts, neither are Your ways my ways. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are Your ways higher than my ways and Your thoughts than my thoughts. (Isa. 55:8-9)
My Father and my God, You are seated on a throne, high and exalted. The train of Your robe fills the temple. Above You are seraphs, calling to one another, "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory." (Isa. 6:1-3)
My Father, You are my Lord, my Holy One, my Creator, my King. You are the One who made a way through the sea, a path through mighty waters. (Isa. 43:15-16)
My Father, You are the Lord my God. I desire to love You, listen to Your voice, and hold fast to You, for You, Lord, are my life. (Deut. 30:20)
You alone are the Lord. You made the heavens, even the highest heavens, and all their starry host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. You give life to everything, and the multitudes of heaven worship You. (Neh. 9:6)
My Father, how I thank You that it is unthinkable that You would do wrong, that the Almighty would pervert justice. Who appointed You over the earth? Who put You in charge of the whole world? If it were Your intention and You withdrew Your Spirit and breath, all mankind would perish together and man would return to the dust. (Job 34:12-15)
You have promised that Your plans for Your people are plans to prosper and not to harm, plans to give us hope and a future. (Jer. 29:11)
Yours, my Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is Yours. Yours, my own heavenly Father, is the kingdom and You are exalted as head above all. (1 Chron. 29:11)
My mighty God, in Your hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind. (Job 12:10)
You, my God, open Your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing. (Ps. 145:16)
The earth is Yours, O Lord, and everything in it, the world and all who live in it. (Ps. 24:1)
For You, my Lord, are a great God, the great King above all gods. In Your hand are the depths of the earth, and the mountain peaks belong to You. The sea is Yours, for You made it, and Your hands formed the dry land. (Ps. 95:3-5)
Lord, I know that You are great—greater than all gods. You do whatever pleases You, in the heavens and on the earth, in the seas and all their depths. (Ps. 135:5)
Although You are sovereign and You do what You please, You are righteous in all Your ways and loving toward all You have made. (Ps. 145:17)
My Father, Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and Your dominion endures throughout all generations. You, my Lord, are faithful to all Your promises and loving toward all You have made. (Ps. 145:13)
You, my God, made the world and everything in it. You are the Lord of heaven and earth, and You do not live in temples built by hands. And You are not served by human hands, as if You needed anything, because You Yourself give all men life and breath and everything else. From one man You made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and You determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. You, my Father, did this so that men would seek You and perhaps reach out for You and find You, though You are not far from each one of us. For in You we live and move and have our being! (Acts 17:24-28)
Many, O Lord my God, are the wonders You have done. The things You planned for us no one can recount to You; were I to speak and tell of them, they would be too many to declare. (Ps. 40:5)
How great You are, My God! You are beyond my understanding! The number of Your years is past finding out. You draw up the drops of water, which distill as rain to the streams; the clouds pour down their moisture and abundant showers fall on mankind. Who can understand how You spread out the clouds, how You thunder from Your pavilion? (Job 36:26-29)
Lord, You have been our dwelling place throughout all generations. Before the mountains were born or You brought forth the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting You are God. (Ps. 90:1-2)
O Lord my God, You are very great; You are clothed with splendor and majesty. You wrap Yourself in light as with a garment; You stretch out the heavens like a tent and lay the beams of Your upper chambers on their waters. You make the clouds Your chariot and ride on the wings of the wind. You make winds Your messengers, flames of fire Your servants. (Ps. 104:1-4)
My Father, great are Your works! They are pondered by all who delight in them. Glorious and majestic are Your deeds, and Your righteousness endures forever. You have caused Your wonders to be remembered; You, Lord, are gracious and compassionate. (Ps. 111:2-4)
The works of Your hands are faithful and just; all Your precepts are trustworthy. They are steadfast for ever and ever, done in faithfulness and uprightness. (Ps. 111:7-8)
Who is like You, the Lord my God, the One who sits enthroned on high, who stoops down to look on the heavens and the earth? (Ps. 113:5-6)
Oh, Father, how I thank You that my help comes from You, the Maker of heaven and earth. (Ps. 121:2)
My Lord and my God, it is You who measured the waters in the hollow of Your hand and with the breadth of Your hand marked off the heavens. (Isa. 40:12)
You sit enthroned above the circle of the earth, and its people are like grasshoppers. You stretch out the heavens like a canopy, and spread them out like a tent to live in. (Isa. 40:22)
O, Lord, help me to lift my eyes and look to the heavens and acknowledge who created all these. You bring out the starry host one by one, and call each of them by name. Because of Your great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing. (Isa. 40:26)
You, my Lord, are the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. You will not grow tired or weary, and Your understanding no one can fathom. You give strength to the weary and increase the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but when I hope in You, O, Lord, my strength will be renewed. I will soar on wings like eagles; I will run and not grow weary, I will walk and not faint. (Isa. 40:28-31)
Ah, Sovereign Lord, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for You! (Jer. 32:17)
My God, since the creation of the world Your invisible qualities—Your eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. (Rom. 1:20) O, merciful God, help us not exchange the truth of God for a lie, and worship and serve created things rather than You, our Creator—who is forever praised. Amen. (Rom. 1:25)
For me, there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom I live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live. (1 Cor. 8:6)
You, my Christ, are the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by You all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by You and for You. You are before all things, and in You all things hold together. (Col. 1:15-17)
Your love, O Lord, reaches to the heavens, Your faithfulness to the skies. Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains, Your justice like the great deep. O Lord, You preserve both man and beast. How priceless is Your unfailing love! Both high and low among men find refuge in the shadow of Your wings. I want to feast on the abundance of Your house; I want to drink from Your river of delights. For with You is the fountain of life; in Your light I want to see light. (Ps. 36:5-9)
Great are You, my Lord, and most worthy of praise. Your greatness no one can fathom. One generation will commend Your works to another; they will tell of Your mighty acts. They will speak of the glorious splendor of Your majesty, and I will meditate on Your wonderful works. They will tell of the power of Your awesome works, and I will proclaim Your great deeds. They will celebrate Your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of Your righteousness. (Ps. 145:3-7)
You, my God, have put Your words in my mouth and covered me with the shadow of Your hand You who set the heavens in place, who laid the foundations of the earth, and who say to Zion, "You are my people." (Isa. 51:16)
You, my Father, are the One who forms the mountain, creates the wind, and reveals His thoughts to man. You are the One who turns dawn to darkness, and treads the high places of the earth—the Lord God Almighty is Your Name! (Amos 4:13)
This is what You, the Lord my God, say—You who created the heavens, You are God; You who fashioned and made the earth, You founded it; You did not create it to be empty, but formed it to be inhabited—You say: "I am the Lord, and there is no other." (Isa. 45:18)
O, Lord, You rule forever by Your power, Your eyes watch the nations—let not the rebellious rise up against You. (Ps. 66:7) The fool says in his heart, "There is no God." (Ps. 14:1)
Lord, I acknowledge that You are the "I AM." This is Your name forever, the name by which You are to be remembered from generation to generation. (Exod. 3:14-15)
O, Lord my God, help me never to worship any other god, for You, my Lord, are a jealous God. (Exod. 20:4-5)
You, my Lord, are a warrior; the Lord is Your name. (Exod. 15:3)
My Father, You are the Lord; that is Your name! You will not give Your glory to another or Your praise to idols. (Isa. 42:8)
My Father, help me to know that the Lord my God is God; You are the faithful God, keeping Your covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love You and keep Your commands. (Deut. 7:9)
You, my God, are the Rock. Your works are perfect, and all Your ways are just. You are a faithful God who does no wrong. You are upright and just. (Deut. 32:4)
The Lord my God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome. You show no partiality and accept no bribes. (Deut. 10:17)
Psalm 31:19 reads, "How great is Your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you, ... those who take refuge in you...." That is what God does for those who fear Him. He sets aside and stores up goodness for His children, to be given at appropriate times in the future. What this goodness is, and when it will be bestowed, is unique to each individual according to God's plan and purpose for that person.
You, my Father, are my loving God and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer, my shield, in whom I take refuge, who subdues people under me. (Ps. 144:2)
You alone are my rock and my salvation; You are my fortress, I will not be shaken. My salvation and my honor depend on You; You are my mighty rock, my refuge. (Ps. 62:6-7)
Lord, please help me to revere Your name. You have promised that, if I do, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings and that I will go out and leap like a calf released from the stall. (Mai. 4:2)
My Father, heaven is Your throne, and the earth is Your footstool. (Isa. 66:1)
My Lord, You are slow to anger and great in power; You will not leave the guilty unpunished. Your way is in the whirlwind and the storm, and clouds are the dust of Your feet. (Nab. 1:3)
Father, those who oppose You will be shattered. You will thunder against them from heaven; You will judge the ends of the earth. (1 Sam. 2:10)
My God, whom have I in heaven but You? And earth has nothing I desire besides You. (Ps. 73:25)
Lord, to the Israelites Your glory looked like a consuming fire on top of the mountain. (Exod. 24:17)
Help me to be thankful and to worship You acceptably with reverence and awe, because You, my God, are a consuming fire. (Heb. 12:28-29)
O, Father, I confess that I cannot fathom Your mysteries. I cannot probe Your limits, Almighty One. They are higher than the heavens. They are deeper than the depths of the grave. Their measure is longer than the earth and wider than the sea. (Job 11:7-9)
O, Lord, You have made everything beautiful in Your time. You have also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet we cannot fathom what You have done from beginning to end. (Eccles. 3:11)
My God, I acknowledge that Your thoughts are not my thoughts, neither are Your ways my ways. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are Your ways higher than my ways and Your thoughts than my thoughts. (Isa. 55:8-9)
My Father and my God, You are seated on a throne, high and exalted. The train of Your robe fills the temple. Above You are seraphs, calling to one another, "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory." (Isa. 6:1-3)
Tuesday, April 04, 2006
Hillary Clinton the Brain Surgeon
"Many of you are well enough off that...The tax cuts may have helped you. We're saying that for America to get back on track, we're probably going to cut that short and not give it to you. We're going to take things away from you on behalf of the common good." -- Hillary Clinton
Life Quote
"From this arises an argument: whether it is better to be loved than feared. I reply that one should like to be both one and the other; but since it is difficult to join them together, it is much safer to be feared than to be loved when one of the two must be lacking." -- Niccolo Machiavelli
Monday, March 20, 2006
PREGAME HOT WINGS
Me and Lil' Jr before the AFC Championship GamePS ... The Steelers kicked our Butts!!!
12 Steps To Spiritual Freedom
12 Steps to Freedom
1. We admit we were powerless over our situation- that our lives had become unmanageable. "I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out." (Romans 7:18)
2. Come to believe that Jesus can restore us. "... my grace is sufficient for you, for my POWER is made perfect in weakness." (2 Corinthians 12:9)
3. Make a decision to turn our will and our life over to the care of Jesus. "... If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me." (Luke 9:23)
4. Make a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves. "Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the Lord." (Lamentations 3:40)
5. Admit to God our Father, to ourselves and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs. "Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed." (James 5:16)
6. We are entirely ready to have Jesus remove all these defects of character. "If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the best from the land." (Isaiah 1:19)
7. Humbly asked God to remove our shortcomings. "Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up." (James 4:10)
8. Make a list of all persons we had harmed, and become willing to make amends to them all. "Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the alter and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the alter. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift." (Matthew 5:23, 24)
9. Make direct amend to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others. "Give and it shall be given you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." (Luke 6:38)
10. Continue to take personal inventories and when we were wrong promptly admit it. "For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith GOD has given you." (Romans 12:3)
11. Seek through prayer and meditation improving our relationship with God praying only for knowledge of God's will for us and power to carry that out. "May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer." (Psalm 19:14)
12. Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these Steps, we tried to carry this message to others and to practice these principles in all our affairs. "Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ." (Galatians 6:1-2)
1. We admit we were powerless over our situation- that our lives had become unmanageable. "I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out." (Romans 7:18)
2. Come to believe that Jesus can restore us. "... my grace is sufficient for you, for my POWER is made perfect in weakness." (2 Corinthians 12:9)
3. Make a decision to turn our will and our life over to the care of Jesus. "... If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me." (Luke 9:23)
4. Make a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves. "Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the Lord." (Lamentations 3:40)
5. Admit to God our Father, to ourselves and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs. "Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed." (James 5:16)
6. We are entirely ready to have Jesus remove all these defects of character. "If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the best from the land." (Isaiah 1:19)
7. Humbly asked God to remove our shortcomings. "Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up." (James 4:10)
8. Make a list of all persons we had harmed, and become willing to make amends to them all. "Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the alter and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the alter. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift." (Matthew 5:23, 24)
9. Make direct amend to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others. "Give and it shall be given you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." (Luke 6:38)
10. Continue to take personal inventories and when we were wrong promptly admit it. "For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith GOD has given you." (Romans 12:3)
11. Seek through prayer and meditation improving our relationship with God praying only for knowledge of God's will for us and power to carry that out. "May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer." (Psalm 19:14)
12. Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these Steps, we tried to carry this message to others and to practice these principles in all our affairs. "Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ." (Galatians 6:1-2)
Who You Are In Christ
I am ...
John 1:12 I am God's child.
John 15:15 As a disciple, I am a friend of Jesus Christ.
Romans 5:1 I have been justified.
1 Corinthians 6:17 I am united with the Lord, and I am one with Him in spirit.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 I have been bought with a price and I belong to God.
1 Corinthians 12:27 I am a member of Christ's body.
Ephesians 1:3-8 I have been chosen by God and adopted as His child.
Colossians 1:13-14 I have been redeemed and forgiven of all my sins.
Colossians 2:9-10 I am complete in Christ.
Hebrews 4:14-16 I have direct access to the throne of grace through Jesus Christ.
I am secure...
Romans 8:1-2 I am free from condemnation.
Romans 8:28 I am assured that God works for my good in all circumstances.
Romans 8:31-39 I am free from any condemnation brought against me and I cannot be separated from the love of God.
2 Corinthians 1:21-22 I have been established, anointed and sealed by God.
Colossians 3:1-4 I am hidden with Christ in God.
Philippians 1:6 I am confident that God will complete the good work He started in me.
Philippians 3:20 I am a citizen of heaven.
2 Timothy 1:7 I have not been given a spirit of fear but of power, love and a sound mind.
1 John 5:18 I am born of God and the evil one cannot touch me.
I am significant...
John 15:5 I am a branch of Jesus Christ, the true vine, and a channel of His life.
John 15:16 I have been chosen and appointed to bear fruit.
1 Corinthians 3:16 I am God's temple.
2 Corinthians 5:17-21 I am a minister of reconciliation for God.
Ephesians 2:6 I am seated with Jesus Christ in the heavenly realm.
Ephesians 2:10 I am God's workmanship.
Ephesians 3:12 I may approach God with freedom and confidence.
Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me.
John 1:12 I am God's child.
John 15:15 As a disciple, I am a friend of Jesus Christ.
Romans 5:1 I have been justified.
1 Corinthians 6:17 I am united with the Lord, and I am one with Him in spirit.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 I have been bought with a price and I belong to God.
1 Corinthians 12:27 I am a member of Christ's body.
Ephesians 1:3-8 I have been chosen by God and adopted as His child.
Colossians 1:13-14 I have been redeemed and forgiven of all my sins.
Colossians 2:9-10 I am complete in Christ.
Hebrews 4:14-16 I have direct access to the throne of grace through Jesus Christ.
I am secure...
Romans 8:1-2 I am free from condemnation.
Romans 8:28 I am assured that God works for my good in all circumstances.
Romans 8:31-39 I am free from any condemnation brought against me and I cannot be separated from the love of God.
2 Corinthians 1:21-22 I have been established, anointed and sealed by God.
Colossians 3:1-4 I am hidden with Christ in God.
Philippians 1:6 I am confident that God will complete the good work He started in me.
Philippians 3:20 I am a citizen of heaven.
2 Timothy 1:7 I have not been given a spirit of fear but of power, love and a sound mind.
1 John 5:18 I am born of God and the evil one cannot touch me.
I am significant...
John 15:5 I am a branch of Jesus Christ, the true vine, and a channel of His life.
John 15:16 I have been chosen and appointed to bear fruit.
1 Corinthians 3:16 I am God's temple.
2 Corinthians 5:17-21 I am a minister of reconciliation for God.
Ephesians 2:6 I am seated with Jesus Christ in the heavenly realm.
Ephesians 2:10 I am God's workmanship.
Ephesians 3:12 I may approach God with freedom and confidence.
Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me.
Saturday, March 18, 2006
My Testimony
I was saved at the age of 20. Walked the Aisle ... Said the Prayer ... Was Baptized.
My life changed for a few months. I soon went back to living the wild life.
Fast Cars, Fast Women, Drinking and Drugs, the whole enchilada.
Molly and I were Married in Arizona at age 29.
Even though I was saved, I never allowed God to begin the process of Santification. Didn't really
know what it was.
Key: My "Spiritual Character" had not developed to match God's vision and plan for me.
Character is an internal quality that is fed by Good or Bad external sources. I was led by the world and its "attractions" (Feed the Good Dog or Feed the Bad Dog)
My character was in constant need of checks and balances.
It requires stimulus from the Holy Spirit, so it won’t fail in development.
Character deteriorates over time unless it is fed from the Word, the Holy Spirit, and Godly accountability from a mentor.
The purity of the external source determines the strength of our character.
Good Character is the proper alignment of foundational truth, my beliefs and behavior.
My foundation--that which defines truth for me--determines what I believe.
What I believe ultimately determined how I would live my life--my behavior--what others see.
I said I loved God but my friends, my lifestyle, my discipline said something else. Good fruit is never going to come from a corrupt source.
My DUI/Jail was the bottom, the Pit, that caused me to take an inventory.
New Life Change:
I realized I would never become the man God wants until I line up my Bible and my Beliefs with my Behavior.
Real change in my life was the result of my submitting to a healthy process which developed good character.
A good mentor, the Church, and the Power of the Holy Spirit changed my life.
Major fact which was ignored: 1 Cor. 15:33 Do not be misled: "Bad company corrupts good character."
I had to ask:
1. How would I rate my current state of of my marriage?
2. Did I have a Godly/Healthy foundation?
3. Was I willing to make a commitment to stick to a process for change?
Real growth could only take place when I was willing to commit to a life changing process through the Power of the Holy Spirit.
Commitment/Transformation to the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit was the bridge I must cross in order to transform my "old man" into the "new man".
My life changed for a few months. I soon went back to living the wild life.
Fast Cars, Fast Women, Drinking and Drugs, the whole enchilada.
Molly and I were Married in Arizona at age 29.
Even though I was saved, I never allowed God to begin the process of Santification. Didn't really
know what it was.
Key: My "Spiritual Character" had not developed to match God's vision and plan for me.
Character is an internal quality that is fed by Good or Bad external sources. I was led by the world and its "attractions" (Feed the Good Dog or Feed the Bad Dog)
My character was in constant need of checks and balances.
It requires stimulus from the Holy Spirit, so it won’t fail in development.
Character deteriorates over time unless it is fed from the Word, the Holy Spirit, and Godly accountability from a mentor.
The purity of the external source determines the strength of our character.
Good Character is the proper alignment of foundational truth, my beliefs and behavior.
My foundation--that which defines truth for me--determines what I believe.
What I believe ultimately determined how I would live my life--my behavior--what others see.
I said I loved God but my friends, my lifestyle, my discipline said something else. Good fruit is never going to come from a corrupt source.
My DUI/Jail was the bottom, the Pit, that caused me to take an inventory.
New Life Change:
I realized I would never become the man God wants until I line up my Bible and my Beliefs with my Behavior.
Real change in my life was the result of my submitting to a healthy process which developed good character.
A good mentor, the Church, and the Power of the Holy Spirit changed my life.
Major fact which was ignored: 1 Cor. 15:33 Do not be misled: "Bad company corrupts good character."
I had to ask:
1. How would I rate my current state of of my marriage?
2. Did I have a Godly/Healthy foundation?
3. Was I willing to make a commitment to stick to a process for change?
Real growth could only take place when I was willing to commit to a life changing process through the Power of the Holy Spirit.
Commitment/Transformation to the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit was the bridge I must cross in order to transform my "old man" into the "new man".
The Father’s Love and the Fortunate Son
Jesus tells this parable to illustrate how people can be restored to a right relationship with God.
We all tend to drift or depart from a healthy and joyous relationship with Father God and His love.
1. This parable certainly applies to those Non-Christians by showing them how to have a right relationship with God.
2. This parable also applies to Christians whose relationship with God is not what it should be.
In either case, this story shows us how we can be restored to right relationship with God. This parable serves as an analogy of our Heavenly Father’s love and relationship with His children.
How can a person be restored to a healthy relationship with the Father’s Love?
Read Luke 15:11-24
How did this young man end up so far from the abundance of the father’s home?
Why was he so distant from the joy and fulfillment of a right relationship with God?
Was he kicked out of the house because he was unwelcome? No. Did he just have a string of bad luck? No. Was he never given a fair chance in life? No.
Our relationship with God, and the consequences of an unhealthy relationship with God, is the result of our own choices. There are two decisions in particular that brought this man to his condition.
First he decided he wanted to be independent of his father. He said to his father, "Give me my share of the estate." He wanted to take control by owning the property. This way he would be able to make his own decisions, independent of his father. The first step toward ruin in our lives is to decide to run our own lives, independent of God. When we make the rules we come to ruin.
The second foolish decision this young man made was to seek fulfillment in sin. Verse 13 tells us that he took everything he had and "squandered his wealth in wild living." He sought to indulge his wildest desires. He went to the wildest parties. He drank the best liquor. He slept with the prettiest women, but in the end it was not fulfilling.
Johnny Cash was once asked by a reporter, "Do you believe in hell?" He answered in the affirmative and was then asked, "How do you know?" He replied, "Because I’ve been there!"
This man’s relationship with his father was restored, so your relationship with God can be restored.
No matter how distant you are from God today, no matter what foolish choices you may have made, you can be restored to a healthy, joyous, and loving relationship with God the Father.
How?
There are three things necessary to restoring your relationship with God the first thing is found in verse 17.Read Luke 15:17 What is the first step towards restored relationship with God?
1. The first step to a restored relationship with God is to admit the stupidity of staying where you are. It amazes me how many people are not willing to come to this conclusion. Life is falling apart all around them; they are figuratively speaking reduced to feeding the pigs, and yet they try and convince themselves that life is good. The amazing thing is how many of them, even though their life is a mess, are still trying to hold on to their old life.
Dan Stauffer Story ... Who I am in Christ
Ephesians 1:3 Every Spiritual Blessing in Heavenly Places
Satan is out there filling people’s minds with lies. He is trying to keep them from coming to their senses by convincing them to life is not that bad or that their life is completely hopeless.
Read Luke 15:18-20a 2.
The second step to a restored relationship with God is:
2. to return to God with the repentant, humble attitude. Some people admit the mess their life is in but never do anything about it. Some people even say, "I need to get my life right with God" but never actually return to God. Not only did this man plan to get right with his father, he actually took steps to do so. He did not stay where he was at write a letter to his father asking for money, but rather he returned with a repentant, humble attitude.
He knew that his father could not bless him where he was at. Some people simply want God to bless them where they are at, but to have of restored relationship with God and experience His love, you must leave the old life behind and return to God.
Humble Yourself "I have sinned against heaven and against you." He took full personal responsibility for his decisions and actions. No one else was blamed and neither did he ignore his own sinfulness. He was humble and unassuming in his return to his father as we must be in our return to God when we have blown it.
Finally ...3. The third step to a restored relationship with God is to recognize that God will lovingly welcome you home. Do not do like I did for many years. I really blew it by committing the same sins again and again, despite many promises and vows to never do that again.
After messing up so repeatedly and seriously, I would hesitate to go to God because deep in my heart I was unsure how God felt towards me and how he would receive me.
Today I do not hesitate to return to my Father no matter how badly I may have strayed from his will in ways. I now recognize that no matter what, God will lovingly welcome me.
We all tend to drift or depart from a healthy and joyous relationship with Father God and His love.
1. This parable certainly applies to those Non-Christians by showing them how to have a right relationship with God.
2. This parable also applies to Christians whose relationship with God is not what it should be.
In either case, this story shows us how we can be restored to right relationship with God. This parable serves as an analogy of our Heavenly Father’s love and relationship with His children.
How can a person be restored to a healthy relationship with the Father’s Love?
Read Luke 15:11-24
How did this young man end up so far from the abundance of the father’s home?
Why was he so distant from the joy and fulfillment of a right relationship with God?
Was he kicked out of the house because he was unwelcome? No. Did he just have a string of bad luck? No. Was he never given a fair chance in life? No.
Our relationship with God, and the consequences of an unhealthy relationship with God, is the result of our own choices. There are two decisions in particular that brought this man to his condition.
First he decided he wanted to be independent of his father. He said to his father, "Give me my share of the estate." He wanted to take control by owning the property. This way he would be able to make his own decisions, independent of his father. The first step toward ruin in our lives is to decide to run our own lives, independent of God. When we make the rules we come to ruin.
The second foolish decision this young man made was to seek fulfillment in sin. Verse 13 tells us that he took everything he had and "squandered his wealth in wild living." He sought to indulge his wildest desires. He went to the wildest parties. He drank the best liquor. He slept with the prettiest women, but in the end it was not fulfilling.
Johnny Cash was once asked by a reporter, "Do you believe in hell?" He answered in the affirmative and was then asked, "How do you know?" He replied, "Because I’ve been there!"
This man’s relationship with his father was restored, so your relationship with God can be restored.
No matter how distant you are from God today, no matter what foolish choices you may have made, you can be restored to a healthy, joyous, and loving relationship with God the Father.
How?
There are three things necessary to restoring your relationship with God the first thing is found in verse 17.Read Luke 15:17 What is the first step towards restored relationship with God?
1. The first step to a restored relationship with God is to admit the stupidity of staying where you are. It amazes me how many people are not willing to come to this conclusion. Life is falling apart all around them; they are figuratively speaking reduced to feeding the pigs, and yet they try and convince themselves that life is good. The amazing thing is how many of them, even though their life is a mess, are still trying to hold on to their old life.
Dan Stauffer Story ... Who I am in Christ
Ephesians 1:3 Every Spiritual Blessing in Heavenly Places
Satan is out there filling people’s minds with lies. He is trying to keep them from coming to their senses by convincing them to life is not that bad or that their life is completely hopeless.
Read Luke 15:18-20a 2.
The second step to a restored relationship with God is:
2. to return to God with the repentant, humble attitude. Some people admit the mess their life is in but never do anything about it. Some people even say, "I need to get my life right with God" but never actually return to God. Not only did this man plan to get right with his father, he actually took steps to do so. He did not stay where he was at write a letter to his father asking for money, but rather he returned with a repentant, humble attitude.
He knew that his father could not bless him where he was at. Some people simply want God to bless them where they are at, but to have of restored relationship with God and experience His love, you must leave the old life behind and return to God.
Humble Yourself "I have sinned against heaven and against you." He took full personal responsibility for his decisions and actions. No one else was blamed and neither did he ignore his own sinfulness. He was humble and unassuming in his return to his father as we must be in our return to God when we have blown it.
Finally ...3. The third step to a restored relationship with God is to recognize that God will lovingly welcome you home. Do not do like I did for many years. I really blew it by committing the same sins again and again, despite many promises and vows to never do that again.
After messing up so repeatedly and seriously, I would hesitate to go to God because deep in my heart I was unsure how God felt towards me and how he would receive me.
Today I do not hesitate to return to my Father no matter how badly I may have strayed from his will in ways. I now recognize that no matter what, God will lovingly welcome me.
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