tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-46714293758042476832024-03-13T08:38:40.399-05:00God's Daily WordThis blog has dual purposes: To present the gospel message in such a way that people will be drawn by God's love into a saving relationship with Jesus Christ; and to encourage and strengthen Christians in their journey toward spiritual maturity. -- You can search this blog by topic using the search box above; or you can scroll through the ten most recent posts or monthly archives on the right side of this page.Jerry and Dotse http://www.blogger.com/profile/01066586043634505303noreply@blogger.comBlogger957125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4671429375804247683.post-78091959065366757712019-12-21T21:49:00.002-06:002019-12-21T21:49:27.234-06:00Merry Christmas<div>
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<span style="font-size: large; size: 6;">My dear friends and brothers and sisters in Christ, Dotse
and I wish for you and your family the most wonderful Christmas Season ever,
followed by a fantastic New Year. Please, let’s focus on Jesus Christ as the
center of all our Christmas celebrations this year.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large; size: 6;">I will be taking a few days off starting
December 23 and will resume the daily devotionals on January 6th. I look forward
to being back with you next year.</span></div>
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<span style="size: 6;"><span style="font-size: large;">Love, Jerry & Dotse</span>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I’m sorry about the “Merry Christmas” e-mail I attempted to
send a little while ago. Above are the words from that e-mail.</span></div>
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<a href="https://www.bing.com/images/search?q=christmas+religious+clip+art&id=DB329D26E5D5C1920B0D9F043A7082B7D4893575&FORM=IQFRBA"><img alt="Image result for christmas religious clip art" height="97" src="https://tse1.mm.bing.net/th?id=OIP.ChmB2HfspBvp5H1TagRupAEsCn&w=174&h=100&c=8&rs=1&qlt=90&pid=3.1&rm=2" width="338" /></a></div>
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Jerry and Dotse http://www.blogger.com/profile/01066586043634505303noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4671429375804247683.post-30021946464663926872019-12-19T20:50:00.000-06:002019-12-19T20:50:14.468-06:00Christmas, Jesus' Birth<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 5pt 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Chuckle:
<i><span><span style="color: navy;">An Army recruit was on guard duty
at 2 A.M. He did his best, but fell asleep about 4 A.M. He awoke to find the
officer of the day standing before him. Remembering the heavy penalty for being
asleep on guard duty, this smart young man kept his head bowed for another
moment. Then he looked upward and reverently said, "A-a-men!"</span></span></i>
</span></span></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Good Quote:
<i><span><span style="color: navy;">"Yesterday is gone; forget it!
Tomorrow never comes; don't wait for it. Today is here; use
it!"</span></span><span><span style="color: green;">
</span></span></i><span>--Unknown Author</span>
</span></span></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">THE BIRTH
OF JESUS! </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><i><span><span style="color: maroon;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">"And while they were there (in Bethlehem), the time came
for her baby to be born. She gave birth to her first child, a son. She wrapped
him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no
room for them in the village inn" </span></span></span></i><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span>(Luke 2:6-7
NLT).</span></span><span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">
</span></span></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">For many
years, when you walked in our front door at Christmas time, You would see a
beautiful Hummel nativity scene that I purchased 30 years ago while stationed in
Germany. It is precious to us not only because of its artistry, but because it
visually captures the essence of the Christmas story for us like nothing else.
Yes, we do other decorations, but the nativity brings us the most joy.
</span></span></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">In our
passage, we see a beautifully worded but simple account of the most miraculous
and world-changing birth in all of human history. It doesn't matter that I have
heard and read this story of the nativity hundreds of times, it never fails to
touch my heart in a fresh and unique way. Although our first picture of Jesus is
as a baby in a manger (animal feed trough), it should never be our last. The
Christ child in a manger is a beautiful and lasting Christmas scene, but we
cannot let the picture end there. </span></span></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">This tiny
and helpless Jewish baby lived an amazing sinless life, died for your sins and
mine, rose again on the third day, ascended to heaven, and will come to earth
again as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. He will rule the world and will sit in
judgment of all people according to their decisions about him. Please don't let
your mental picture of Jesus end with the nativity, but let Him be not only your
personal Savior but the Lord of your life. </span></span></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Notice how
Mary wrapped the baby Jesus in strips of cloth (swaddling clothes). This
wrapping of newborns was a common practice in Jesus' day and is still practiced
in many Mideastern cultures. Obviously, such cloths were for warmth, but they
also were used to give the infant a sense of security and safety. The cloths
were also thought to protect the infant's internal organs.
</span></span></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Since he
was laid in a manger, it's safe to assume Jesus was born in a dark and dirty
animal stable -- not the atmosphere the Jews expected as the birthplace of the
Messiah King. Stables were often caves with feeding troughs carved into rock
walls. In my mind, it is only fitting that Jesus, as an humble servant, would
enter this world in the most humble and unexpected way. Later in his life, Jesus
said he <i><span><span style="color: red;">"came here not to be
served, but to serve others, and to give his life as a ransom for
many"</span></span></i> (Matthew 20:28). </span></span></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">A Christmas
prayer: <i>"Dear Lord, please restore the joy of Your salvation to us; let us
experience the joy of Your presence in a refreshing new way this Christmas!"
Amen.</i> </span></span></span></div>
Jerry and Dotse http://www.blogger.com/profile/01066586043634505303noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4671429375804247683.post-78227958186347021902019-12-18T20:09:00.003-06:002019-12-18T20:09:58.817-06:00Christmas, The Birth of John<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 5pt 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">Chuckle: <i><span><span style="color: blue;">"I got called back to a church which I
didn't expect. I asked one of the deacons why. He said, 'We didn't want no
preacher no how and you were the nearest no preacher we could get.'
"</span></span></i> </span></span><span></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">Quote: <i><span><span style="color: blue;">"The less I pray, the harder it gets; the
more I pray, the better it goes."</span></span><span><span style="color: green;"> </span></span></i>--Martin Luther </span></span><span></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">THE BIRTH OF JOHN
</span></span><span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><i><span><span style="color: maroon;">"Now it was time for Elizabeth's baby to be born, and it was a
boy. The word spread quickly to her neighbors and relatives that the Lord had
been very kind to her, and everyone rejoiced with her" </span></span></i><span>(Luke 1:57-58 NLT). </span></span><span></span></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">John, the Baptist, was to be God's
voice to prepare the hearts of the people for the coming of the long-awaited
Messiah. Elizabeth was well past the child-bearing age, but God, through the
angel Gabriel, had promised her and Zechariah a son. And, of course, Mary had
been told by the angel Gabriel that she would conceive by the Holy Spirit and
bear a Son who would save the people from their sins. <i><span><span style="color: maroon;">"When the baby was eight days old, all the
relatives and friends came for the circumcision ceremony. They wanted to name
him Zechariah, after his father. But Elizabeth said, 'No! His name is John!' "
</span></span></i>(vv. 59-60). </span></span><span></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">At the time of John's and Jesus'
birth, the circumcision ceremony was an important event in the life of every
Jewish baby boy. During the ceremony, the people rejoiced with friends and
family as the baby became part of God's covenant with his people. Passing family
names down from one generation to the next was also extremely important in
Jewish families. Thus everyone expected his name to be Zechariah, and were
surprised by his being named John. But you may recall that the angel Gabriel had
told Zechariah that the baby's name would be John (Luke 1:13).
</span></span><span></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">In answer to their prayers,
Gabriel had appeared to Zechariah to inform him that he and Elizabeth would have
a son, even in their old age. He also told him the son's name would be John.
Zechariah was skeptical that such a thing would happen. Because of his unbelief,
the angel told him he would be unable to speak until after the baby was born
(Luke 1:19-20). After months of silence, Zechariah praised God with his first
words once his speech was restored. <i><span><span style="color: maroon;">"So they asked the baby's father (Zechariah), communicating to him
by making gestures. He motioned for a writing tablet, and to everyone's surprise
he wrote, 'His name is John!' Instantly Zechariah could speak again, and he
began praising God" </span></span></i>(vv. 61-64). </span></span><span></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">Zechariah understood the mission
of his son, John because Gabriel had explained to him that <i><span><span style="color: maroon;">"He will be a man with the spirit and power
of Elijah, the prophet of old. He will precede the coming of the Lord, preparing
the people for his arrival" </span></span></i>(Luke 1:17). What an absolutely
amazing sequence of events unfolded as the time approached for the birth of our
Lord. One cannot read the story of John's birth, and that of Jesus, without
doing as Zechariah did -- praising God from the very core of our being. As we
focus on the Christmas story in 2016, rejoicing should be the reaction of all of
us whose lives have been transformed by faith in the "King of Kings and Lord of
Lords" -- the Babe of Bethlehem.</span></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">Love, Jerry & Dotse
</span></span></div>
Jerry and Dotse http://www.blogger.com/profile/01066586043634505303noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4671429375804247683.post-44434085722618894402019-12-17T19:50:00.002-06:002019-12-17T19:50:42.146-06:00A Virgin Will Conceive<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 5pt 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Chuckle:
<i><span><span style="color: navy;">(church bulletin blooper): "The
pastor will preach his farewell message, after which the choir will sing, 'Break
Forth Into Joy.'"</span></span></i> </span></span></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Quote:
<i><span><span style="color: navy;">"Jesus Christ was born <u>into</u>
this world, not <u>from</u> (within) it. He did not evolve out of history; He
came into history from the outside."</span></span><span><span style="color: green;"> </span></span></i><span>--Oswald Chambers</span>
</span></span></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">A VIRGIN
WILL CONCEIVE </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><i><span><span style="color: maroon;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">"Look! A virgin will conceive a child! She will give
birth to a son and will call him 'Immanuel,' (which means) God is with us"
</span></span></span></i><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span>(Isaiah 7:14b NLT). </span><i><span><span style="color: maroon;">"For a child is born to us, a
son is given to us. And the government will rest on his shoulders. These will be
his royal titles: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of
Peace" </span></span></i><span>(Isaiah 9:6
NLT).</span></span><span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">
</span></span></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">It's important for believers to have an appreciation for
God's plan to send his Son into the world to live among us and to pay the price
for our sins through his shed blood. Our passage was written some 800 years
before Jesus' birth. This gives great credence to the fact that all Scripture is
inspired of God and written under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
</span></span></span><span></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Belief in
the virgin birth of Jesus is a cornerstone of our Christian faith. The term
"virgin" in our text is the translation of a Hebrew word which describes a young
woman who is unmarried even though she is sexually mature and of the age to be
married. This young woman was destined to bear a son to be named Immanuel which
means "God with us." Matthew 1:23 quotes Isaiah 7:14 to show fulfillment of this
prophecy and identifies the virgin as Mary who bore a son, Immanuel the Christ.
</span></span></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">God's
people were experiencing dark and difficult times when Isaiah foretold Jesus'
birth, as they were at the time of his actual birth. The coming Messiah would be
the light of the world even in the darkest of times. The Holy Spirit being his
Father, and the titles given him in Isaiah 9:6 allude to the deity of the Son to
be born of a virgin. With Jesus birth came a message of hope foretold by Isaiah,
and the establishment of his eternal kingdom in the hearts of people. He came as
the redeemer of all people to deliver them out of the bondage of sin and the
consequences thereof. </span></span></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">It is
absolutely mind-boggling when we try to fully grasp the magnitude of God's love,
mercy, and grace revealed in the Christmas story -- the story of the birth and
ministry of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords! <i><span><span style="color: maroon;">"God gave him a name that is above every name, that at the name of
Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and
every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father"
</span></span></i><span>(Philippians 2:9b-11 NIV).</span>
</span></span></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">God made
one of the most complex and mind-boggling events in history so simple that even
the common man could have enough understanding to stand amazed and rejoice in
them. Let's take the time this Christmas to thank God for the gift of his love
and the gift of his Son. And let's do so with great rejoicing!
</span></span></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Love, Jerry
& Dotse</span></span></span></div>
Jerry and Dotse http://www.blogger.com/profile/01066586043634505303noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4671429375804247683.post-85672950180754473572019-12-16T19:53:00.003-06:002019-12-16T19:53:49.931-06:00Showing Kindness<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 5pt 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Chuckle: <span style="color: blue;"><i><span>"What do reindeer have that no other
animals on earth have? Baby reindeer."</span></i>
</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">Good Quote: <i><span><span style="color: green;"><span style="color: blue;">"Twas a thief who said
the last word to Christ: Christ took the kindness and forgave the theft."</span>
</span></span></i><span>--Robert Browning</span>
</span></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">SHOWING KINDNESS
</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><span><span style="color: maroon;">"Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try
to <u>be kind to each other and to everyone else</u>" </span></span></i><span>(1 Thessalonians 5:15 NIV).</span><span> </span></span></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">I wrote this ten years ago to the
day. As you read, please think about the urgent need for kindness toward all
those with whom we interact, and compare the level of kindness in people today
with the way I described it ten years ago. </span></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">A few days ago, Dotse and I were
riding in the car and thinking about the approach of Christmas. I mentioned to
her how kind everyone seems to be lately. We discussed it at length and wondered
about it. My heart has been warmed in recent days by extraordinary kindness from
people around me. I have always heard that Christmas tends to bring out the best
in people, but this year something unusual is going on -- at least from my
perspective. </span></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">I have recently had encounters
with servers in restaurants, medical personnel, insurance advisors, financial
specialists, and sales personnel, and everyone has been extraordinarily kind,
courteous, and helpful. It's as if people have suddenly been inoculated against
unkindness. Maybe the kindness serum has been mixed in with the new H1N1 flu
vaccine!!. Not likely, you say. I agree. But maybe it's not from a vaccine but
something even more powerful and effective. </span></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">Could it be that God is getting
the attention of people who are becoming fed up with hateful, discourteous,
dishonest, and hurtful attitudes that have been prevalent in our society in
recent years. Selfishness, greed, and lust have made many of us disgusting
people to be around. What's in it for me has replaced concern for the welfare of
others. I wonder, also, if the severe economic downturn has prompted people to
reexamine their values with the intent to discover the really important things
in life -- relationships. </span></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Notice in our passage that
we, as believers, are first to be kind to one another. Then we are to show
kindness to everyone else as well. <i><span><span style="color: maroon;">"The Lord's servants must not quarrel but must <u>be kind to
everyone</u>. They must be able to teach effectively and be patient with
difficult people. They should gently teach those who oppose the truth. Then they
will come to their senses and escape the Devil's trap. . ."
</span></span></i><span>(2 Timothy 2:24-26 NLT). If you and I
are living under the control of the Holy Spirit who resides in us, we will
practice kindness because kindness is a supernatural fruit of the Spirit, along
with </span><i><span><span style="color: maroon;">love, joy, peace,
patience, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self
control</span></span></i><span> (Galatians 5:22).
</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span>The unusual
kindnesses that have been shown to me in recent days, have made me examine my
own heart and prompted me to show more kindness in return. Treating people with
kindness is such a simple solution to so many relationship problems. It's
amazing that we aren't more faithful in its application. </span><i><span><span style="color: maroon;">"A kind man benefits himself,
but a cruel man brings trouble to himself" </span></span></i><span>(Proverbs 11:17 NIV). </span></span><span></span></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">Love, Jerry & Dotse
</span></span></div>
Jerry and Dotse http://www.blogger.com/profile/01066586043634505303noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4671429375804247683.post-68978035363672589812019-12-15T20:52:00.000-06:002019-12-15T20:52:15.162-06:00When Crises Come<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 5pt 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span><span style="font-family: Arial;">Chuckle: <i><span><span style="color: navy;">"I'd really like to die in my sleep like my
grandfather. Not kicking and screaming like those others riding in the car with
him."</span></span><span><span style="color: green;">
</span></span></i></span></span><span></span></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">Quote: <i><span><span style="color: navy;">"It is motive alone that gives character to
the actions of men." </span></span></i>--Jean De La Bruyere </span></span><span></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">WHEN CRISES
COME</span></span><span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><i><span><span style="color: maroon;">"Then one of the synagogue rulers, named Jairus, came there.
Seeing Jesus, he fell at his feet and pleaded earnestly with him, 'My little
daughter is dying. Please come and put your hands on her so that she will be
healed and live.' So Jesus went with him" </span></span></i><span>(Mark 5:22-24 NIV). </span></span><span></span></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">As a pastor, my heart has often
been deeply moved as I stood in the pulpit and looked out over a congregation, I
saw people who were suffering through severe crises in their lives. Here are
some examples of the pain and heartache that people suffer. There's the wife of
an abusive husband. There's the grieving family who recently lost a loved one.
There's a husband and father who has just lost his job. There are the parents in
extreme emotional pain because of a rebellious child. Each of these situations
represents a serious need for a loving, caring, ministering hand.
</span></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">More than likely you have been the
recipient of a ministry of kindness and love in your own life in a time of
crisis. If so, you are keenly aware of the comfort you felt from just knowing
someone cared. Knowing that someone loves you enough to share your burden or
hurt gives added strength to see you through even the most difficult of times.
Jairus' heart was broken at the plight of his beloved daughter, and because of
his sorrow, he set aside his pride and threw himself at the feet of Jesus. He
was desperate for help and recognized both his need and his helplessness.
</span></span><span></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">If you are suffering through a
crises, the lesson for you here is that you must seek help if you are to make it
through. Likewise, if you are aware of a crisis in someone else's life, Jesus
would have you be sensitive to that need, as He was, and be willing to do what
ever it takes to help that person endure the crisis and be strengthened by it.
Because of his love and compassion, Jesus went with the man and restored life to
his little girl who had died even as Jairus was searching for Jesus.
</span></span><span></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">In Matthew 25, Jesus describes
what our reaction should be to those in crises and need. We are to visit the
sick, feed the hungry, clothe the naked, satisfy the thirsty, etc. Jesus saw
such actions as indicative of our relationship with him, and he had harsh words
for those who choose to ignore the needs in people's lives around them. We are
taught to imitate Jesus in our ministry to others, and do so with the same love
and compassion he has shown us. </span></span><span></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">So, if you are in a crisis, first
draw close to your Lord, then swallow your pride, and seek help. If you know
someone in crisis, make the time to minister to that need in the name of Jesus
as you would want someone to minister to you. It is a struggle for each of us as
Christians to find the right words or action that will help alleviate the pain.
But the important thing is for us to be willing to help. Then God will show us
the best way to minister to a given need. God will bless you as you bless
others!</span></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">Love, Jerry & Dotse
</span></span></div>
Jerry and Dotse http://www.blogger.com/profile/01066586043634505303noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4671429375804247683.post-31263393755464338132019-12-12T20:21:00.001-06:002019-12-12T20:21:53.798-06:00Why Do I Exist?<div style="color: black; font-family: 'Calibri'; font-size: 12pt;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 5pt 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><u><span>Chuckle</span></u><span>:<span style="color: blue;"> <i><span>At Sunday
School, they were teaching how God created everything, including human beings.
Little Johnny seemed especially intent when they told him how Eve was created
out of one of Adam's ribs. Later in the week his mother noticed him lying down
as though he were ill, and she said, "Johnny, what is the matter?" Little Johnny
responded, "I have pain in my side. I think I'm going to have a
wife!"</span></i></span> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><u><span>Ponder
This</span></u><span>:<span style="color: blue;"> <i><span>“Mankind's role is to fulfill his heaven-sent purpose through a
sincere heart that is in harmony with all creation and loves all
things.”</span></i></span> <b>--</b>Morihei Ueshiba </span></span></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">WHY DO I EXIST? </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 5pt 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><span><span style="color: maroon;">"For everything, absolutely everything, above and below, visible
and invisible. . . <u>everything got started in God and finds its purpose in
him</u>"</span></span></i><i><span> </span></i><span>(Colossians 1:16 MSG). </span></span></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">Do you ever think about and wonder
how much value you are to God and to others around you? I suppose it is a common
human trait to want our lives to amount to something -- to have value -- to make
a difference. We like to think the world is a better place because we are alive.
However, sometimes we become convinced that we are relatively insignificant and
really aren't very important in God's grand scheme of things. Many people suffer
from feelings of low self-worth which can bring on depression, anxiety, and
hopelessness. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 5pt 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">The truth is that you were made by
God and for God. Until you understand this, life will never make sense. You have
heard the old saying, "necessity is the mother of invention." In other words,
the purpose of an invention/creation of anything is preceded by a need or
purpose to be fulfilled by that creation. In the same way that you may have made
something to fulfill a purpose, God has a purpose for your life to fulfill a
need/desire in his heart. You and I are here on earth because God has a purpose
for our lives. </span></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">Some time ago, I preached a
message on this subject. I began by holding up a strange looking and ancient
contraption and asked the congregation if anyone could tell me the purpose of
the gadget. Some tried, but most were not sure. I made the point -- if you
really want to know the purpose of a gadget, or your life, ask the one who made
it. . . . God made you, so look to his Word for the answer to the question,
"what is my purpose in life?" </span></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">It doesn't matter what your age
is, if you have not come to terms with your purpose in life, it's not too late
to discover God's plan for your life. Through prayer, study of God's Word, and
input from others you can find purpose. Once you have a sense of purpose, it
will surprise you how God will speak to you about how you can fulfill that
purpose. He will provide you opportunity to accomplish his purpose for your
life. You are unique, one-of-a-kind, and God has a purpose for you uniquely
suited to your spiritual gifts, other abilities, and personality. A sense of
purpose will add to your peace and contentment, and bring clarity of God's call
on your life. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><span><span style="color: blue;">"A man (or woman) without a purpose is like a ship without a
rudder--a waif, a nothing, a no man. Have a purpose in life, and, having it,
throw such strength of mind and muscle into your work as God has given
you."</span></span></i><span> --Thomas Carlyle
</span></span></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">Have a great weekend as you
reflect on your purpose in life! </span></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">Love, Jerry &
Dotse</span></span></div>
</div>
Jerry and Dotse http://www.blogger.com/profile/01066586043634505303noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4671429375804247683.post-66786505815350085212019-12-11T20:38:00.002-06:002019-12-11T20:38:33.978-06:00Words From the Cross (7), Trusting God<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 5pt 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Chuckle:
<i><span><span style="color: blue;">"You are beautifully mature when
you reach down to smooth the wrinkles out of your socks and realize the wrinkles
aren't in your socks!"</span></span></i> </span></span></span><span></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Quote:
<i><span><span style="color: blue;">“The Cross is a picture of
violence, yet the key to peace, a picture of suffering, yet the key to healing,
a picture of death, yet the key to life.” </span></span></i>--David Watson
</span></span></span><span></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">WORDS FROM
THE CROSS -- TRUSTING GOD </span></span></span><span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b><i><span><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Then Jesus shouted,</span></span></span></i></b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><b><span> <i><span><span style="color: red;">"Father, I entrust my spirit into your
hands!"</span></span></i> <i><span><span style="color: red;">And with
these words he breathed his last</span></span></i></span></b></span><span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> (Luke 23:46 NLT).
</span></span></span><span></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Never has
there been a more ghastly scene than when the one and only Son of God, the
Sinless One, was brutally put to death by crucifixion. To the world, his death
meant defeat, but the event along with Christ's resurrection brought the
greatest victory the world has ever known. Jesus last words were not only a
prayer of relief at the mercy offered by death, but also a cry of joyful victory
that He had endured and completed his redemptive mission. "It is finished!"
(John 19:30) </span></span></span><span></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Today, we
conclude our lessons on the Words of Jesus From the Cross with the most trusting
prayer ever prayed at death. Like a tired child sinks into the arms of his
loving father, Jesus sank into the waiting arms of his Father. What a difference
it would make in our lives if we could trust our Heavenly Father as Jesus did.
</span></span></span><span></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">The last
words people speak on this earth are special, and Jesus' last words were
especially significant. As he was about to commit himself to the Father, he
quoted the Psalmist (31:5) in which David recognized God's mercy, faithfulness,
and ability to protect and deliver. The Psalmist was asking for deliverance from
death while Jesus asked for deliverance through death unto everlasting life. He
made the words of an ancient prayer his own. He had lived the perfect life; and
now he was dying the perfect death. He could call God Father in a way that was
impossible for any other. </span></span></span><span></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Genuine
peace and security are the things only God can give us. The illusion that
security can be found in worldly pursuit drives people to do foolish things.
True security can be found only in God by authentic faith in his only Son, Jesus
Christ of Calvary. God gives eternal security as well as peace and security in
this life. A child's existence does not begin at birth. The child has already
existed for nine months. At the point of birth, only the conditions of that
existence change. So the believer can also view death in this way. At the point
of death, the conditions of our eternal life change -- but not the fact that we
do indeed already have eternal life if we know Christ as Savior.
</span></span></span><span></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">If we want
to know the joy that Jesus knew in His victorious cry at death, we must make the
complete commitment He made. We must literally give our lives to the God that
not only loves us, but has provided for our salvation in the death of Christ and
will remove the guilt of our sin when we surrender ourselves to Him. Nothing
else is sufficient or necessary! How beautiful it is to see someone possess
quiet peace and confidence from their relationship with the Savior! I pray you
have already trusted in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. If you have not, to do
so would be the wisest, safest, and most needed thing you could ever
do.</span></span></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-family: Arial;">Love, Jerry & Dotse</span></span></div>
Jerry and Dotse http://www.blogger.com/profile/01066586043634505303noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4671429375804247683.post-39680639098334596262019-12-10T19:52:00.003-06:002019-12-10T19:52:37.670-06:00Words From the Cross (6), Finished<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 5pt 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">Chuckle: <i><span><span style="color: blue;">"You are wonderfully mature when you and
your teeth no longer sleep together!"</span></span></i> </span></span><span></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">Quote: <i><span><span style="color: blue;">“The Cross is a tree set on fire with
invisible flame, that illumines all the world. The flame is love.”
</span></span></i>--Thomas Traherne </span></span><span></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">WORDS FROM THE CROSS -- "IT IS
FINISHED" </span></span><span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 5pt 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><b><i><span><span style="color: red;">A jar of wine (vinegar) was setting there, so they soaked a sponge
in it, put it on a hyssop branch, and held it up to his lips. When Jesus had
tasted it, he said, "It is finished"</span></span></i></b><span> (John 19:29-30 NLT). </span></span><span></span></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">Today, we see the completion of
God's redemptive plan. Until this time, a complicated system of sacrifices had
atoned for sins. From the time of Adam and Eve, people have been separated from
God by sin, and only blood sacrifices could bring forgiveness. Jesus, however,
became the ultimate, final, and once for all sacrifice by his shed blood on the
cross. The word "finished' means "paid in full." God's purpose for sending His
one and only Son, was to finish God's work of redemption and salvation -- to pay
the penalty for your sins and mine. </span></span><span></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">At least twice in Jesus' ministry,
he proclaimed victory. One was at the beginning of his ministry and the other at
the close. You will recall when he finished Satan's third temptation in the
wilderness, he shouted, <b><span><span style="color: red;">"Get thee
behind me, Satan!"</span></span></b> (Matthew 4:10 KJV), declaring victory over
Satan's temptations. Now at the close of his ministry, he cried out in final
victory, <span><span style="color: red;">"It is
finished!</span></span>" </span></span><span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 5pt 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">The first shout of victory
followed forty days of hunger and temptation. The last followed many hours of
anguish and excruciating suffering. No pressure was great enough to cause Jesus
to divert from being God's suffering servant and sin bearer for the world. Even
at our best, we are weaklings and often lose our resolve and direction, but
Jesus was different! He never wavered from his course and never grumbled. He
kept His eye on the Father and His purpose. He would not turn back. He was
determined to finish His task which the Father had given Him. His cry of
victory, "It is finished!" reveals three truths worth taking to heart.
</span></span><span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><u><span>First, Jesus has
completed his suffering on our behalf</span></u><span>.
The suffering of Jesus was in full accordance with God's eternal plan and
purpose. He bore on His body all that you and I deserve to suffer for our sins
throughout eternity. This truth is too profound for us to fully comprehend!
Jesus' suffering did not begin on Calvary; he was dogged by the Pharisees and
Sadducees who made His life miserable by finding fault with everything He did.
He was persecuted at ever stage in his ministry. But His greatest suffering came
in Gethsemane and on the Cross: (1) He was beaten with thongs laced with pieces
of bone or lead; (2) A crown of thorns was placed on His head and a purple robe
put on Him; (3) He was nailed to the wooden cross. The price was paid.
</span></span><span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><u><span>Second, the prophecies of
Jesus' life and death have been fulfilled</span></u><span>. From the Garden of Eden through the last chapter of the
last book of the OT, we have the "Messianic Strain." Every book makes Jesus
known and presents a "drama of redemption." Every one has something to say about
God's eternal purpose in the world. They predict the coming of Jesus and His
death, burial, and resurrection. God's purpose was not to be thwarted. Every
prophecy, every ceremony, and every ritual concerning the Savior's death for our
sin were fulfilled. </span></span><span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 5pt 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><u><span>Third, God's plan for our
salvation has been finished</span></u><span>. All that was
necessary to atone for humankind's sin has now been accomplished. Of course, the
glorious resurrection had to follow, but the price had been paid. The Father
raised up the Son -- the Son paid the price. Jesus had completed the work God
sent Him to do. It was finished! Praise!! </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 5pt 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>Love, Jerry &
Dotse</span></span></span></div>
Jerry and Dotse http://www.blogger.com/profile/01066586043634505303noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4671429375804247683.post-2484979507017007522019-12-09T20:37:00.002-06:002019-12-09T20:37:45.611-06:00Words From the Cross (5), Thirst<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 5pt 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Chuckle:</span><i><span><span style="color: blue; font-size: 14pt;"> A wise old farmer's advice: "A bumble bee
is considerably faster than a John Deere tractor."
</span></span></i></span></span><span></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Quote:
<i><span><span style="color: blue;">“The cry of thirst which Jesus gave
on the Cross was a statement of need. He spoke of a world in need; for the
myriads who would hunger and thirst down the ages of history.”
</span></span></i>--Norman Goodacre </span></span></span><span></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">WORDS FROM
THE CROSS -- THIRST </span></span></span><span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b><i><span><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Later, knowing that all was now completed, and so that
the Scripture would be fulfilled (Psalm 69:21), Jesus said, "I am
thirsty"</span></span></span></i></b><span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> (John 19:28 NIV) </span></span></span><span></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">I have read
that in the Swedish language the same word is used for thirst and fire. It
describes the terrible agony that extreme thirst can bring to a person. Death
producing thirst can burn like fire in one's mouth and throat as the
all-consuming need for water intensifies. A person can live for weeks without
food, but only a few days without water. It was inevitable that Jesus would have
a terrible thirst as he was being tortured unto death on the cross.
</span></span></span><span></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">When we
consider Jesus' horrible thirst on the cross, it reminds us of other Biblical
uses of thirst to teach spiritual truths. Early in his ministry, Jesus asked the
Samaritan woman for a drink of water(John 4:7). He used the occasion to
introduce her to the kingdom of God and "living water." Those who drink this
eternal water will never thirst again spiritually. Jesus began and ended his
ministry on earth by asking for a drink of water. He often used thirst as a
theme -- spiritual water for the soul and physical water for the body.
</span></span></span><span></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Jesus’ cry,
"I am thirsty," seems relatively insignificant when compared to other
brutalities Jesus suffered, in reality, it may have been the most severe torture
of all. Dying of thirst is one of the most cruel and painful deaths. Have you
ever been really thirsty -- so thirsty that water was all you could think about?
I’m sure It is a hopeless excruciating feeling. </span></span></span><span></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">In answer
to Jesus' plea, the soldiers gave him vinegar to drink. When we first read this,
we are tempted to suppose that the soldiers intended to insult Jesus. A closer
look at customs of that day, however, shows that vinegar was the common drink of
the Roman army and likely to be readily available. Elsewhere, we read that Jesus
was offered a medicated potion, wine mingled with myrrh, to deaden his pain. But
He refused to meet death in a stupefied state. I can’t help believing that if He
had escaped the pain and suffering through some sort of medication, he would not
have born our sins completely. The vinegar, or sour wine, was refreshing but did
nothing to deaden His pain. </span></span></span><span></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Calvary was
not a pretty place. Have you ever grasped how truly ugly Jesus' sufferings were
and how we should shudder every time we read the story? Because he suffered,
millions have been blessed with forgiveness of sin, personal eternal salvation,
and strength for everyday living. Even in his cry of thirst we see him bearing
our sins in his own body on that “old rugged cross.” </span></span></span><span></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">When we
have met the Jesus and surrendered our lives to him, we will no longer thirst,
for our needs have been met and God's Spirit will have taken up residence in our
hearts. <b><i><span><span style="color: red;">"But whosoever drinks
the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become
in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life"</span></span></i></b> (John
4:14 NIV). The message from the cross is that Christ can quench our spiritual
thirst because he once thirsted. He can make us alive because he conquered
death. </span></span></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-family: Arial;">Love, Jerry & Dotse</span></span></div>
Jerry and Dotse http://www.blogger.com/profile/01066586043634505303noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4671429375804247683.post-968197285462479212019-12-08T20:20:00.000-06:002019-12-08T20:20:10.603-06:00Words From the Cross (4), Loneliness<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 5pt 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">Chuckle:<i><span><span style="color: blue;"> Somebody asked me if I always wake up
grouchy? I said, "No, sometimes I just let her sleep."</span></span></i>
</span></span><span></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">Quote: <i><span><span style="color: blue;">"He knows not his own strength who has not
met adversity. Heaven prepares good people with crosses."</span></span></i>
–Unknown source </span></span><span></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">WORDS FROM THE CROSS -- LONELINESS
</span></span><span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span>At about three
o'clock, Jesus called out with a loud voice,</span><span>
<b><i><span><span style="color: red;">"Eloi, Eloi, lama
sabachthani,"</span></span></i></b> <b><i><span><span style="color: grey;">which means,</span></span><span><span style="color: red;"> "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me"</span></span></i></b>
(Matthew 27:46 NIV). </span></span><span></span></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">When our pain threshold is
exceeded, we go into a state of semi-conscious delirium where normal stimuli
cannot reach us. We wonder how far Jesus, as a human, had gone toward his pain
threshold when He cried out these words. But He was still conscious enough to
reach back to Psalm 22:1 to express what He was feeling. By quoting this Psalm
that pertained to God's purpose of redemption, He was giving witness that He was
the Messiah. No doubt Jesus' physical agony was horrible beyond words, but even
worse was the feeling of spiritual separation from his Father. Jesus suffered
this double death to insure that you and I will never have to experience
spiritual death with its eternal separation from God. </span></span><span></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">At Calvary, Jesus was traveling a
lonely road in order to bring forgiveness to mankind. In our lives, there are
also some duties we can share with others, but some must be faced alone. In
Gethsemane Jesus had suffered just such an experience. There he prayed
alone,<i><span><span style="color: red;"> <b>"My Father, if it is
possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will,
not mine"</b></span></span></i> (Matthew 26:39 NLT). Now He was facing an even
worse experience alone. </span></span><span></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">Of all the words Jesus spoke from
the cross, these are the hardest to fully understand. Martin Luther said,<span><span style="color: blue;"> "God forsaking God? No man can understand
that."</span></span> He was right, yet not completely right. For while<i><span><span style="color: grey;"> </span><span style="color: #c0504d;"><b>"God was in
Christ, reconciling the world unto himself"</b></span></span></i><span style="color: #c0504d;"> (2 Corinthians</span> 5:19); and even though He<b><i><span><span style="color: #c0504d;"> "was come from God, and went to
God"</span></span></i></b> (John 13:3); He still died as a man. The early
followers of Jesus were so touched by his cry of pain and loneliness, that they
recorded it in Aramaic, the language in which Jesus spoke it.
</span></span><span></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">Another difficulty in
understanding Jesus' cry that God had forsaken him comes when we read his
subsequent words from the cross as he entrusted (committed) his spirit into his
Father's hands (Luke 23:46). It appears God did not totally forsake him;
however, there is no doubt that as a man Jesus felt forsaken in his agony.
Scripture teaches us that God is always watching over his own. Even in our
darkest hours we have his promise of his presence with us. We all can remember
experiences when we felt as if everyone had abandoned us -- maybe even God. But,
one of the greatest heresies possible is to believe God forsakes his own. If you
belong to God, he will be with you to the end! And we don't have to wait until
we die to be in God's presence. </span></span><span></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">As a human being, Jesus suffered;
a fact we must never forget. Although his Father was with him in times of
loneliness and heartache, there came a time when Jesus had to pay the supreme
sacrifice for human sin. No theologian can fully explain why it was necessary
for Jesus to die in order for humans to live. But God willed that humans could
only be saved from their sins by a divine sacrificial substitute -- and he had
to do it alone as the once for all perfect sacrifice. Yet, Christ could have
called on his Father<i><span><span style="color: red;"> <b>"who will
at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of
angels"</b></span></span></i> (Matthew 26:53). "Nails Held Him there, but love
made Him stay!" Jesus endured the agony, loneliness, and abandonment because of
his love for you and me. What are we willing to endure because of our gratitude
and love for Him? </span></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">Love, Jerry &
Dotse</span></span></div>
Jerry and Dotse http://www.blogger.com/profile/01066586043634505303noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4671429375804247683.post-8245050368452554872019-12-05T20:10:00.002-06:002019-12-05T20:10:43.407-06:00Words From the Cross (3), Duty <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 5pt 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Chuckle:<i><span><span style="color: blue;">
"When you become dissatisfied and wish you were young again, think about
algebra!"</span></span></i> --Will Rogers </span></span></span><span></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Great Hymn:
<i><span><span style="color: blue;">“When I survey the wondrous cross
On which the prince of glory died, My richest gain I count but loss, And pour
contempt on all my pride.”</span></span></i> –Isaac Watts
</span></span></span><span></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">WORDS FROM
THE CROSS -- DUTY TO FAMILY </span></span></span><span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b><i><span><span style="color: #c0504d; font-size: 14pt;">When Jesus saw his mother there, and the
disciple (John) whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his
mother,</span></span></i></b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><b><i><span><span style="color: red;"> "Dear woman, here is your
son," and to the disciple, "Here is your mother." From that time on, the
disciple took her into his home</span></span></i></b></span><span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> (John 19:26-27 NIV).
</span></span></span><span></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Much about
the relationship of Jesus with his mother remains a mystery, however, there must
have been a deep love between them. Mary was the only person that knew by
experience that Jesus was virgin born. Everyone else, including Joseph, had to
accept that truth by faith. After all the events leading up to Jesus' birth,
Mary<span style="color: #990000;"> <span>"treasured all these things and
pondered them in her heart"</span> </span>(Luke 2:19 NIV). Mary suffered great
grief and heartache as she watched her firstborn Son condemned and hanging on a
cruel cross. However, she received some kind and loving words from Jesus when he
said to John,<i><span><span style="color: red;"> "here is your
mother." </span></span></i>In his dying hours, he was mindful of her and made
provision for her by entrusting her care into the hands of a trusted disciple
and friend. </span></span></span><span></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Even though
Jesus' third utterance from the cross may seem to have a less profound and
important message for our spiritual lives than the others, it may, in reality,
have the most. Our love and concern for our families and the weakest around us
exemplifies the attitude of Jesus when he reached out to those many others would
have shunned as less important and not worthy of their attention. Have you
observed that quite often, we treat those closest to us with less courtesy,
compassion, and kindness than we do for casual acquaintances?
</span></span></span><span></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Even as He
died, Jesus, as the eldest son, considered it his duty to provide for the
welfare of His mother. His earthly father, Joseph, must have been dead by then,
and Jesus asked John to care for his mother. In his time of agony, Jesus saw not
only the weak men but the weeping women, especially His mother. With tenderness
and love, he made certain she would be properly cared for and respected. He
fulfilled his duty as her son and set an example for us in how we should relate
to our mothers and fathers. Other than salvation, our families are our most
precious gifts from God, and we should value them and care for them no matter
the circumstances. This means putting their welfare ahead of our own. We should
never neglect our loved ones. </span></span></span><span></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Today,
let's think of ways we can show exceptional love and kindness to those who are
most precious to us -- our spouses, our parents, our children, and other family
members. By doing so, you will bring them great joy and comfort, and God will
bless you with joy of your own. </span></span></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-family: Arial;">Love, Jerry & Dotse</span></span></div>
Jerry and Dotse http://www.blogger.com/profile/01066586043634505303noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4671429375804247683.post-51096086668945088402019-12-04T20:19:00.000-06:002019-12-04T20:19:00.442-06:00Words From the Cross (2), Salvation<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 5pt 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Chuckle:
<i><span><span style="color: blue;">Alex: “Weren’t you afraid when the
robber pulled a knife on you?” Will: “No, I knew he wasn’t a professional. The
knife still had peanut butter on it.”</span></span></i>
</span></span></span><span></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Quote<i><span><span style="color: blue;">: “The
Cross is where history and life, legend and reality, time and eternity,
intersect. There, Jesus is nailed forever to show us how God would become a man
and a man become God.” </span></span></i>--Malcolm Muggeridge
</span></span></span><span></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">WORDS FROM
THE CROSS -- SALVATION </span></span></span><span></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Jesus
said:<b><i><span><span style="color: red;"> "I tell you the truth,
today you will be with me in paradise"</span></span></i></b> (Luke 23:43 NIV).
</span></span></span><span></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">As Jesus
died on the cross, God used the anger of human beings to glorify himself. It
also offered Jesus an opportunity to display his great love, grace, and mercy
even as his own life slipped away. Today, let's look at the interaction between
the repentant criminal and Jesus as they hung there on their respective crosses.
</span></span></span><span></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">We often
hear the phrase, "his/her last words were. . ." Some of the most enduring quotes
are the final words of people before their deaths. The last words of the two
criminals crucified with Jesus show the great contrast between them and revealed
the type people they were. One continued to reject and mock Jesus with a sneer
to the very end. The other must have understood the spiritual nature of Jesus'
message and requested to be a part of Christ's kingdom. Our passage is the
loving response of our Savior to the man's "deathbed" confession of his sins.
Jesus said the man would share a life with him beyond the grave.
</span></span></span><span></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">It doesn't
matter how old you are or how many years you have lived a life of sin and
rebellion against God, you can repent of your sins and be saved by God's grace
through faith -- anyone can. A wise pastor once said: "I believe in deathbed
confessions. I believe one can be saved in his last moments. I've seen several,
and I know deathbed confessions are valid and accepted by God."
</span></span></span><span></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">There can
be no doubt about the authenticity and sincerity of the thief's confession
because Jesus validated it with his response. It seems the dying criminal had
greater faith than the rest of Jesus' followers put together. The thief was
saying, "I'm sorry for my sins. I accept you for who you say you are. Please let
me share with you wherever you go." This is all any of us can do, regardless of
our age or circumstance. No one is saved by being good, but by throwing oneself
on the mercy of God through repentance and faith. When we approach God in this
way, we have his promise that our sins will be forgiven and that we will spend
eternity in His presence. <b><i><span><span style="color: #c0504d;">"If
you confess with your mouth that Jesus Christ is Lord, and believe in your heart
that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved"</span></span></i></b><i>
(Romans</i> 10:9-10 NIV). </span></span></span><span></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">A certain
atheistic barber was talking with a minister as they rode through the slums of a
large city. The unbelieving barber said, "If there is a loving God, how can he
permit all this poverty, suffering, and violence among his people? Why doesn't
he save them from all this?" Just then an unshaved and filthy man crossed the
street. He had long scraggly hair hanging down his neck. The minister pointed to
him and said, "You are a barber and claim to be a good one, so why do you allow
that man to go unkept and unshaven?" "Why, why . . ." the barber stammered, "He
never gave me a chance to fix him up." "Exactly," said the minister. "Men are
what they are because they reject God's help!" </span></span></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">Love, Jerry &
Dotse</span></span></div>
Jerry and Dotse http://www.blogger.com/profile/01066586043634505303noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4671429375804247683.post-52475975104793187882019-12-03T20:02:00.000-06:002019-12-03T20:02:25.735-06:00Words From the Cross (1), Forgiveness<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 5pt 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Chuckle:
<i><span><span style="color: blue;">"Be careful about reading health
books. You may die of a misprint."</span></span></i> --Mark Twain
</span></span></span><span></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Quote:
<i><span><span style="color: blue;">"There he hangs, nailed to the
Cross in the darkness and He loves us still."</span></span></i> --Fr Andrew SDC
</span></span></span><span></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">WORDS FROM
THE CROSS -- FORGIVENESS: </span></span></span><span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b><i><span><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">"Father, forgive these people, because they don't know
what they are doing"</span></span></span></i></b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><b><span> </span></b></span><span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">(Luke 23:34 NLT).
</span></span></span><span></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Here, Luke
records the first of Jesus’ seven utterances while he was hanging in agony on
the cross, and His words give us insight into why He died. Three of the sayings
were directed to His Father, and four to the people witnessing his crucifixion.
The first laid the foundation for the ones to follow. If Jesus had not had a
forgiving spirit toward his tormentors, he never could have been the world's
Savior. Even in the face of human hatred and injustice, Jesus revealed the
extent of His divine love and forgiveness. </span></span></span><span></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">At Calvary,
three people died, Jesus and the two criminals/thieves, and there were three
different approaches to the deaths that occurred. One died without hope because
he was stubbornly unrepentant and rejected God's love. One died pardoned from
sin because he repented and pled for mercy: <i><span><span style="color: #d16349;"><span style="color: purple;">"Jesus, remember me when you come into your
kingdom</span>"</span></span></i></span><span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> (Luke 23:42 NIV). The One on the center cross died for
the sins of mankind because He was the only one who could. Jesus' death came as
a beam of eternal light in a dark world. </span></span></span></span><span></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">We must
understand that Jesus' prayer for forgiveness (Father, forgive them) was not a
universal request, but referred to those who were putting Him to death. The
gospel teaches that for people to be forgiven and saved, they must repent of
their sins, individually, and place their faith in Jesus Christ as Savior. What
then was Jesus asking his Father to do? As it relates to salvation, forgiveness
releases us from the guilt and consequences of our sinful acts and attitudes.
This forgiveness requires repentance on the part of those seeking forgiveness.
Paul uses the word justification to describe those who have been saved and have
begun the Christian life. </span></span></span><span></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Forgiveness
can also mean giving of one's self to restore a relationship (soul-union)
between the one who was wronged and the one who did the wrong. God's forgiveness
restores us to a personal relationship with him. This is why we must forgive to
fully understand God's forgiveness. Those who have never forgiven cannot fully
understand what takes place when God, for Jesus' sake, forgives them. Jesus
said<i><span><span style="color: red;">, "Love your enemies . . . and
pray for those who persecute you"</span></span> (</i>Matthew 5:44 NIV). Implicit
in Jesus' prayer on the cross was the request that God gives his enemies
opportunity to be sorry for their terrible sin, repent of their sins, and turn
to the Savior. </span></span></span><span></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">A person
becomes a Christian by experiencing God's forgiveness through what Christ did on
the cross as atonement for sin that was perfected in his resurrection. I believe
Jesus was asking His Father to withhold condemnation of those who crucified Him
until they became aware of what they had done and repented of their sins. God
has done that for you and gives you opportunity to receive Christ as Saviour and
Lord. A beautiful poem: <i><span><span style="color: blue;">"The sandal
tree perfumes, when riven, The axe that laid it low; Let man who hopes to be
forgiven Forgive and bless his foe."</span></span></i> --Source Unknown
</span></span></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-family: Arial;">Love, Jerry & Dotse</span></span></div>
Jerry and Dotse http://www.blogger.com/profile/01066586043634505303noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4671429375804247683.post-20002692608927479102019-12-02T20:17:00.002-06:002019-12-02T20:17:25.584-06:00Why Jesus Died, Part 3<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 5pt 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span><span style="font-family: Arial;">Chuckle: <i><span><span style="color: navy;">"Being a husband is like any other job -- it
helps if you like the boss!!!"</span></span></i></span></span><span></span></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">Quote: <i><span><span style="color: navy;">"When Christ commanded us to be lights of
the world, He had in mind brilliant beacons, not spiritual lightning
bugs."</span></span><span><span style="color: green;">
</span></span></i>--William Arthur Ward</span></span><span></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">JESUS DIED TO BRING YOU TO
GOD</span></span><span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: maroon;"><i><span>"For Christ died for sins once for all, the
righteous for the unrighteous, <b><u>to bring you to
God</u>"</b></span></i><span> </span></span><span>(1 Peter 3:18 NIV). </span></span><span></span></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">Picture with me a giant chasm with
you on one side and God on the other. The chasm is too wide and deep for you to
jump across or build a bridge of your own making. From a human standpoint, there
is no way for you to reach God. This giant chasm represents your sin that
separates you from God, and there is no way for you to get to God on your own.
But then the miracle of miracles happened -- God sent His one and only Son to
bridge that chasm and allow you and me into God's presence forever.
</span></span><span></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">Jesus said, <i><span><span style="color: red;">"I am the way and the truth and the life. No
one comes to the Father except through me" </span></span></i>(John 14:6 NIV ).
Jesus Christ is the bridge from sinful mankind to a holy and righteous God.
There is no other way. Jesus said He is "<b>the</b> way," not one among many
ways of coming to the Father. He is "<b>the</b> truth" that affirms the reality
of all God's promises. </span></span><span></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">As "<b>the</b> life," Jesus joins
His divine life to ours and only through Him can we receive eternal life as a
child of God. When we are saved by God's grace through faith in Christ, we not
only come to God but we become related to Him as His child. <i><span><span style="color: maroon;">"Yet to all who received him, to those who
believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God"</span></span>
</i>(John 1:12 NIV). </span></span><span></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">So, we see in our passage that
Jesus died to <u>pay the penalty</u> for your sins and to <u>clothe you</u> in
His righteousness, but He also died to <u>bring you to God</u> and into loving
relationship with God Himself. Not only does God want you to become His child,
He also wants an intimate daily fellowship with you. He wants you to love Him
and relate to Him in every aspect of your life. </span></span><span></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">God wants to be your heavenly
Father with whom you walk closely every day. He desires for you to relate to Him
in prayer, Bible study, and worship (adoration and service). When we Christians
reflect on the truth that Christ died to span the chasm of our sin and bring us
to God, it doesn't make much sense for us to keep God at a distance in our daily
lives. We should want to get up close and personal with Him. It's this intimate
personal loving relationship with your Lord that brings unspeakable joy into
your life. </span></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">Love, Jerry &
Dotse</span></span></div>
Jerry and Dotse http://www.blogger.com/profile/01066586043634505303noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4671429375804247683.post-54022736867686524462019-12-01T20:01:00.002-06:002019-12-01T20:01:30.876-06:00Why Jesus Died, Part 2<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 5pt 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">Chuckle: <i><span><span style="color: navy;">"Middle age is when you've met so many
people that every new person you meet reminds you of someone
else."</span></span><span><span style="color: green;">
</span></span></i>--Ogden Nash </span></span><span></span></div>
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<span><span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">Good
Quote: <i><span><span style="color: navy;">“Faith is a gift of God
bestowed as a reward for personal righteousness.”</span></span><span><span style="color: green;"> </span></span></i>--Bruce R. McConkie
</span></span><span></span></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">JESUS DIED TO MAKE YOU
RIGHTEOUS</span></span><span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: maroon;"><i><span>"For Christ died for sins once for all, the
<b><u>righteous for the unrighteous</u></b>, to bring you to God</span></i><span>." </span></span><span>(1
Peter 3:18 NIV).</span></span><span></span></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">This passage reminds us that we
have no righteousness in and of ourselves. <i><span><span style="color: maroon;">"There is no one righteous, not even one"
</span></span></i>(Romans 3:10 NIV). When Paul penned these words, his meaning
was that "no one is innocent" -- no one is without sin. The term,
"righteousness," simply means "rightness" before God. As proclaimed by Jesus, it
is a gift to those who are granted the kingdom of God. By faith in Jesus Christ
and his work of atonement a person receives God's righteousness. This truth
should take away any thoughts we might have that we can somehow be good enough
to become acceptable to God without divine assistance. </span></span><span></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">Some other truths are: God created
us in his image, we are valuable to Him, and He loves us as only He can love.
Sadly, even though we are of extreme value to God, we all have fallen into sin.
But glory be to God, He will forgive us if we turn to Him. By His grace He has
redeemed us through the atoning sacrifice of His Son. According to God's Word,
we cannot deny our sinful condition and our desperate need of a Savior. When we
come to this realization, it should motivate us to turn toward Christ.
</span></span><span></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">Perhaps this passage will sharpen
our understanding that it is only through Christ that we can have the
"rightness" before God necessary for our eternal salvation. <i><span><span style="color: maroon;">"God made Him who had no sin to be sin for
us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God"
</span></span></i>(2 Corinthians 5:21 NIV). When we become Christians, the
righteousness of Christ becomes our righteousness. Then when God looks at us, He
does not see our sin, but sees the righteousness of Christ with which we have
been clothed. We have become righteous in His sight. </span></span><span></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">The following reminds us that when
we become clothed in righteousness we can resist the temptations of the
world.<span><span style="color: maroon;"> <i>". . . clothe yourselves
with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of
the sinful nature</i>"</span></span> (Romans 13:13-14 NIV). As Christians, we
can do this in the power of God's Holy Spirit who lives within
us.</span></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">Love, Jerry &
Dotse</span></span><span></span></div>
Jerry and Dotse http://www.blogger.com/profile/01066586043634505303noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4671429375804247683.post-2296958832845848642019-11-28T20:28:00.002-06:002019-11-28T20:28:38.799-06:00Why Jesus Died, Part 1<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 5pt 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span><span style="font-family: Arial;">Chuckle: <i><span><span style="color: navy;">After reading Romans 3:23 NIV, one pastor
said to his audience, Let's all bow our heads and pray for our falling shorts."
</span></span></i></span></span><span></span></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">Great Quote: <i><span><span style="color: navy;">"Man's way leads to a hopeless end . . .
God's way leads to endless hope." </span></span></i>--Unknown Source
</span></span><span></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">JESUS DIED FOR OUR SINS
</span></span><span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><i><span><span style="color: maroon;">"For <b><u>Christ died for sins</u></b><u> <b>once for
all</b></u>, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put
to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit..."</span></span></i><span> (1 Peter 3:18 NIV). </span></span><span></span></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">The answer to the question, "why
did Jesus die"?, seems incomprehensible to those who have never heard and
understood the gospel message. Someone who has never been led to understand the
dimensions of God's love for each and every person has a hard time accepting the
reason Christ died such an agonizing death on a cruel wooden cross two millennia
ago on a hill outside Jerusalem known as Golgotha. </span></span><span></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">But because of God's unfathomable
love, we learn from Scripture that God sent his Son, Jesus, to the earth for
this specific divine purpose. <i><span><span style="color: red;">"For
God so loved the world that he gave (sacrificed) his one and only Son, that
whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life"
</span></span></i>(John 3:16 NIV). </span></span><span></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">Since Adam and Eve, every man,
woman, and child who has ever lived, was born under the burden and penalty of
sin. <i><span><span style="color: maroon;">"All have sinned and fall
short of the glory of God"</span></span></i> (Romans 3-23 NIV). <i><span><span style="color: maroon;">"There is no one righteous, not even one"
</span></span></i>(Romans 3:10 NIV). The penalty of our sins is death. <i><span><span style="color: maroon;">"The wages of sin is death, but the gift of
God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord"</span></span></i> (Romans 6:23
NIV). But God's love reigns supreme. <i><span><span style="color: maroon;">"God demonstrates his love for us in this: While we were still
sinners, Christ died for us"</span></span></i> (Romans 5:8 NIV).
</span></span><span></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">The fact that Jesus died to pay
our sin debt once and for all is a simple truth that we learned prior to
beginning our Christian experience, but it is also a profound truth that rings
in the hearts of believers and fills us with deep gratitude and amazement all
the days of our lives. An old chorus proclaims, </span></span><span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><i><span><span style="color: navy;">"He paid a debt He did not
owe,</span></span></i><span> </span></span><span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><i><span><span style="color: navy;">I owed a debt I could not
pay,</span></span></i><span> </span></span><span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><i><span><span style="color: navy;">I needed someone to wash my
sins away,</span></span></i><span> </span></span><span></span></span></div>
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<i><span><span style="color: navy; font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">And now I sing a brand new song </span></span></i><span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><i><span><span style="color: navy;">'Amazing Grace' all day
long</span></span></i><span> </span></span><span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><i><span><span style="color: navy;">Christ Jesus paid the debt
that I could never pay."</span></span></i><span>
</span></span><span></span></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">Love, Jerry &
Dotse</span></span></div>
Jerry and Dotse http://www.blogger.com/profile/01066586043634505303noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4671429375804247683.post-63639012395313839392019-11-27T19:13:00.002-06:002019-11-27T19:17:02.306-06:00Have a Great Thanksgiving<div dir="ltr" style="color: black; font-family: 'Calibri'; font-size: 12pt;">
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial";"><i><span style="color: maroon;"><b>"Come, let us sing to
the Lord! Let us give a joyous shout to the rock of our salvation! <u>Let us
come before Him with thanksgiving</u>. Let us sing Him psalms of
praise"</b> </span></i>(Psalm 95:2 NLT).
<span style="color: #c0504d;"><b><i><span style="color: #804000;">"<u>Give thanks to the Lord</u>, call on His name; make known
among the nations what He has done."</span></i> </b></span>(1
Chronicles 16:8 NIV) </span></span></div>
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<img alt="Image result for christian thanksgiving clipart" height="300" src="https://www.fg-a.com/thanksgiving-clipart/2019-great-thanksgiving-image.jpg" width="503" /> </div>
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<div align="left" dir="ltr" style="color: black; font-family: 'Calibri'; font-size: 12pt;">
<span style="font-family: "americana bt";"> <b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Love, Jerry &
Dotse</span></b></span></div>
</div>
</div>
Jerry and Dotse http://www.blogger.com/profile/01066586043634505303noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4671429375804247683.post-81369029578286387112019-11-26T20:15:00.003-06:002019-11-26T20:24:34.733-06:00Reasons to be Thankful, (3)<div style="color: black; font-family: 'Calibri'; font-size: 12pt;">
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<img alt="Image result for christian thanksgiving clipart" 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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: medium;">Good
Morning: Click <a href="http://jerry-godsdailyword.blogspot.com/">here</a> for my
blog</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">Chuckle: <span style="color: navy;"><i>"Inside some of us is a thin person
struggling to get out, but he or she can usually be sedated with a few pieces of
chocolate cake!"</i>
</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: medium;">Quote: <span style="color: navy;"><i>"But the thing that awakens the deepest
well of <u>gratitude</u> in a human being is that God has forgiven sin. . . When
you realize all that it cost God to forgive you, you will be held as in a vice,
constrained by the love of God."</i>
</span>--Oswald Chambers </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: medium;">MORE REASONS TO BE
THANKFUL</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial";"><i><span style="color: maroon;">"It is good to give thanks to the Lord"</span></i><i> </i>(Psalm 90:2).
</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial";"><i><u>We should be thankful
for the kindnesses shown </u></i><u>us</u> -- as we show
kindness to others. Please reflect on all the kindnesses that others have shown
you. Few people go through life without major setbacks: divorce; a rebellious
child; abusive spouse; untimely death; or career failure, etc. When we go
through such difficult times, we should be thankful for those who are there for
us with kindness and understanding. Likewise, we should always throw ropes of
kindness, not rocks of criticism, to those around us who are experiencing hard
times. Jeff Ray, a long-time seminary professor was heard to say, <i><span style="color: green;">"</span><span style="color: navy;">Young men, be kind to everyone, because everyone is having a hard
time."</span><span style="color: green;">
</span></i>Prayer of young girl: <span style="color: navy;"><i>"God, please make all the bad people good, and all the good
people kind."</i><b>
</b></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial";"><u>Finally, and most
important, we should be thankful for our salvation</u>. God has provided what we need most in life -- a Savior.
<i><span style="color: navy;">"If our greatest need had been
information . . God would have sent us an educator. If our greatest need had
been technology . . . God would have sent us a scientist. If our greatest need
had been money . . . God would have sent us an economist. If our greatest need
had been pleasure . . . God would have sent us an entertainer. But our greatest
need was forgiveness . . . So God sent us a
Savior."</span></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: medium;">When we think of what Christ did
for us, we should fall on our knees in gratitude. All He has done was by His
love and grace, not by our merit. Our righteousness is as filthy rags to God
(Isaiah 64:6) -- like those worn by the lepers. But God claimed us, cleansed us,
and clothed us in his righteousness. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: medium;">Is Jesus perplexed by our lack of
gratitude -- like He was with the nine lepers? We must never be so enamored with
the gift that we forget the giver. As Israel approached the Promised Land, Moses
warned, <i><span style="color: maroon;">"When you have eaten and
are satisfied, be careful that you do not forget the Lord, who brought you out
of Egypt, out of the land of slavery"</span></i> (Deuteronomy 6:12
NIV).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: medium;">This Thanksgiving, <i><span style="color: maroon;">"Let us come before him with thanksgiving
and extol him with music and song" </span></i>(Psalm 95:2 NIV)<i><span style="color: maroon;">. </span></i>Have a wonderful
Thanksgiving!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: medium;">Love, Jerry &
Dotse</span></div>
</div>
Jerry and Dotse http://www.blogger.com/profile/01066586043634505303noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4671429375804247683.post-25662553679547807322019-11-25T21:07:00.001-06:002019-11-25T21:07:12.035-06:00Reasons to be Thankful (2)
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" 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<span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Chuckle:
<i><span><span style="color: navy;">A woman wrote on an accident
report: "I had to back out of the driveway and by the time I had backed out far
enough to see if anything was coming, it already had."</span></span></i>
</span></span></span><span></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Quote:
<i><span><span style="color: navy;">"Do not take God's gifts for
granted. When you receive an unexpected blessing, thank God for his continuing
love and be alert to recognize the next time his blessing overtakes you!"
</span></span></i>--Henry Blackaby </span></span></span><span></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">MORE
REASONS TO BE THANKFUL </span></span></span><span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><i><span><span style="color: maroon;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by
prayer and petition, <u>with thanksgiving</u>, present your requests to God"
</span></span></span></i><span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">(Philippians 4:6 NIV). </span></span></span><span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><u><span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Give
thanks for all those who help you</span></span></u><span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">. Just pause for a moment
and think of the people in your life who are always there when you need them.
They lovingly place your welfare above their own. We should thank God for them
and pray every day for them: wife, husband, mother, father, friend, neighbor,
brothers and sisters in Christ, etc. They all help us every day in thousands of
ways -- through prayers, encouragement, gifts, kind words, calls, e-mails, etc.
</span></span></span><span></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">The
Christians in Corinth helped Paul by their prayers. <i><span><span style="color: maroon;">". . . as you help us by your prayers"
</span></span></i>(2 Corinthians 1:11). The kindnesses and prayers of our
Christian friends and family help us in more ways than we can enumerate. The
Lord has convicted me that I don't say "thank you" nearly enough to all those
who help make my life more enjoyable. </span></span></span><span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><u><span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Be
thankful for adversity</span></span></u><span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">. It has been said: <i><span><span style="color: green;">"</span></span><span><span style="color: navy;">Travel
broadens you and trouble deepens you."</span></span></i> As unpleasant as it
seems, adversity is good for us. As we saw in previous lessons, God often uses
adversity to test, strengthen, and mature us in our faith. J. C. Penny once was
asked about the greatest motivators in his life. He said, <i><span><span style="color: navy;">"I can tell you in four words, Jesus Christ
and adversity."</span></span></i> Adversity taught him never to give up.
</span></span></span><span></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Adversity
is to our lives what temper (heat) is to metal -- it makes us stronger and more
resilient. Even our Lord had to suffer many adversities during his life here on
earth. Like Job, we don't understand all the Lord's ways, but we should always
trust him to see us through difficult times. There is no way around adversity
and no way over it -- the only way is through it. By God's grace, it builds
Christian character.</span><b><span style="font-size: 14pt;">
</span></b></span></span><span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><u><span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Be
thankful for the time you have</span></span></u><span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">. We should relish the
moment and never live our lives anchored in the past or in apprehension about
the future -- be thankful and enjoy the here and now. Life is precious and
extremely brief.<i><span><span style="color: maroon;"> "Your life is a
mist (vapor) that appears for a little while and then vanishes"
</span></span></i>(James 4:14b NIV). We have no guarantee of tomorrow, next
week, or next year, and should be thankful for the time God has given us -- time
to prepare to meet him when this life is ended. And we should be thankful for
the time he has given us to serve him, to show kindnesses, to love, to worship,
and to serve
others.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Love, Jerry & Dotse </span></span></span></div>
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Jerry and Dotse http://www.blogger.com/profile/01066586043634505303noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4671429375804247683.post-24946992422017434952019-11-24T20:09:00.003-06:002019-11-24T20:09:43.712-06:00Reasons to be Thankful (1)<div style="color: black; font-family: 'Calibri'; font-size: 12pt;">
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<span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">Quote: <i><span><span style="color: navy;">"Thankfulness is a conscious response that
comes from looking beyond our blessings to their source."</span></span><span><span style="color: green;"> </span></span></i>--Henry Blackaby
</span></span><span></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">REASONS TO BE THANKFUL
</span></span><span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><i><span><span style="color: maroon;">"Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His love endures
forever" </span></span></i><span>(Psalm 136:1 NIV).
</span></span><span></span></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">Our passage begins a beautiful
expression of praise and thanksgiving to God as the Creator and as Deliverer.
God's everlasting love is the basis for everything for which we should give
thanks. In the next three lessons, we will be reminded of several reasons we
should be thankful this Thanksgiving season and all year long. As simple as this
exercise will be, I think it important to consider what God has done, and
continues to do, for us.</span></span><span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><u><span>Give thanks for the
freedoms we enjoy</span></u><span>. Today, I am reminded
that Christians are being persecuted all around the world. They are being
imprisoned, tortured, and killed. Their Bibles and other Christian literature
are being confiscated. They gather for worship under the constant threat of
being rounded up as criminals. </span></span><span></span></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">We live in a wonderful country,
even with all its flaws. God continues to bless us with freedoms that many never
experience. Please take the time to thank God for his blessing of freedom. Also,
remember that freedom isn't free. Many have sacrificed their lives to protect
these freedoms we enjoy. Please pray for those who put their lives on the line
every day to guard our freedoms. </span></span><span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><u><span>Give thanks for material
blessings</span></u><span>. God does not choose to bless
all of us with the same abundance of material things. You may have little or
much of this world's goods, but God wants all of us to be equally thankful for
what we have. I'm reminded of the words of an astronaut years ago when he
described the planet earth, as seen from space, as "an oasis in space." If the
earth is an oasis in space, the USA must be a paradise in a barren wasteland
compared with much of the world. In this country, our dogs and cats eat better
than most people of the world. Our garbage cans tell the tale. I've read that we
throw away 10 times our body weight per year. In many countries, people throw
away nothing.</span></span><span></span></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: medium;">John Steinbeck once wrote
these words to Adlai Stephenson, <i><span><span style="color: green;">"</span></span><span><span style="color: navy;">If I
wanted to destroy a nation I would give it too much and I would have it on its
knees, miserable, greedy, and sick."</span></span></i> Do you think America may
have reached this point?"<b> </b></span></span></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">Love, Jerry &
Dotse</span></span></div>
</div>
Jerry and Dotse http://www.blogger.com/profile/01066586043634505303noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4671429375804247683.post-77490298080130977692019-11-07T20:45:00.000-06:002019-11-07T20:45:09.884-06:00Things That Last<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 5pt 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;"><span><span style="color: #9b00d3;">Note: I’m
taking a break for a few days. I plan to be back on Nov
20th</span>.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><span><span style="font-family: Arial;">Chuckle: <i><span><span style="color: navy;">A patient said to his dentist, "Doctor, I
have yellow teeth, what do I do?" The dentist replied, "Wear a brown tie!"
</span></span></i></span></span><span></span></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">Quote: <i><span><span style="color: navy;">"Materialism has nothing to do with amount,
it has everything to do with attitude" </span></span></i>–Unknown author
</span></span><span></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">THINGS THAT LAST
</span></span><span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><i><span><span style="color: maroon;">"Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, <u>set your
sights on the realities of heaven</u>, where Christ sits at God's right hand in
the place of honor and power"</span></span></i><span> </span><span>(Colossians
3:1 NLT). <i><span style="color: #c0504d;">"</span><span style="color: red;">But store up for
yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where
thieves do not break in and steal"</span> </i>(Matthew 6:20 NIV).
</span></span><span></span></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">I'm always getting solicitations
in the mail wanting me to purchase extended warranties on everything from our
cars to household appliances. Such warranties are designed to protect us from
the inevitable failures of the things we buy. They help give us peace of mind
about the "what ifs" in life. Material things cannot be expected to last
forever, although many seem to think they will. Without faith, it's much easier
to focus on the things we can see and touch here on earth rather than the unseen
things above. </span></span><span></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">No extended warranty is needed in
your relationship with your Lord. The salvation we enjoy in Christ is complete
and will never fail us or need repair or overhaul. Nothing in addition to what
Christ did on the cross is ever needed. <i><span><span style="color: maroon;">". . . nor anything in all creation, will be able to separate us
from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus" </span></span></i>(Romans 8:19
NIV). When God designed our salvation, He intended it to last forever and to
give us peace of mind that comes from our faith that our eternal destiny is
secure in Him. </span></span><span></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">Our challenge is to think about
things above and not be enamored with material things on earth. This is
extremely difficult unless our focus remains on the eternal rather than the
temporary. Setting our sights on heaven will help us put heavenly priorities
into daily practice here and now. We do this by concentrating on acts of
obedience to God. It includes <i><span><span style="color: red;">". .
. seeking first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these (material)
things will be given to you as well" </span></span></i>(Matthew :33 NIV).
</span></span><span></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">What is most important to you? Is
it the material things you have and the need for extended warranties to make
them last? Our material things can easily push God out of our lives and cause
our concern for the eternal to fade into the background. If we seek things of
eternal value, we will continually look forward to the day when we will meet
Christ face-to-face. </span></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">Love, Jerry &
Dotse</span></span></div>
Jerry and Dotse http://www.blogger.com/profile/01066586043634505303noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4671429375804247683.post-40450330402690439462019-11-06T20:07:00.002-06:002019-11-06T20:07:09.211-06:00Testing and Disciplining<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 5pt 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">Chuckle: <i><span><span style="color: navy;">"If the best things in life are free . . .
why are the next best things so expensive?"</span></span></i>
</span></span><span></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">Quote: <i><span><span style="color: navy;">Virtue isn't virtue unless it slams up
against vice so, consequently, your virtue is not real virtue until it's been
tested ... and tempted.”</span></span></i><span> –</span>Unknown
source </span></span><span></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">TESTING AND DISCIPLINING
</span></span><span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><i><span><span style="color: maroon;">"But He knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will
come forth as gold" </span></span></i><span>(Job 23:10
NIV). </span></span><span></span></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">According to the Scriptures, God
tests us and disciplines us as his Children. Sometimes, it's difficult to
discern the difference. Generally speaking, God's punishment comes as a result
of sin; while testing comes to determine the dimensions of our faith. When God
allows difficult and challenging situations to enter your life, the first
question you should ask yourself is: Do I have unconfessed and unforgiven sin in
my life? If the answer is "yes," then you should consider the possibility that
God is disciplining you for your sins -- to draw you back to himself through
your confession and repentance. Otherwise, it may be that God is testing you to
strengthen and prepare you for a special service he desires you to perform. In
either case, an appropriate question is: "Lord, what are you trying to teach me
in this situation?" </span></span><span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><u><span>Testing</span></u><span>. God tested Abraham's faith and obedience (Genesis 22:1
NIV) by commanding him to sacrifice his son, Isaac. This was to determine if
Abraham would obey God unconditionally regardless of what God asked of him. You
may recall that after Abraham had proven his willingness to obey God by
sacrificing his own son, God said to him: <i><span><span style="color: red;">"Do not lay a hand on the boy . . . do not do anything to him. Now
I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your
only son" </span></span></i>(Genesis 22:12 NIV). Because of his faith, God
promised to bless Abraham and the whole world through his descendants. Through
this testing, God was preparing Abraham for greater tasks for his kingdom.
Testing burns off the dross of faithlessness, indifference, and disobedience in
our lives in the same way that fire purifies gold. It is designed to make us
instruments that God can use for His purposes. </span></span><span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><u><span>Discipline</span></u><span>: God
punishes us for the same reasons you punish your children -- because you love
them and want the best for them.<i><span><span style="color: maroon;">
"My child, don't ignore it when the Lord disciplines you, and don't be
discouraged when he corrects you. For the Lord disciplines those he loves, and
he punishes those he accepts as his children"</span></span></i><span> </span>(Hebrews 12:5b-6 NLT). Who do you think loves his child
more -- the parent who allows the child to do what will harm him, or the one who
corrects, trains, and even punishes the child to help him learn what is right?
<i><span><span style="color: maroon;">"Don't make your children angry by
the way you treat them. Rather, bring them up with the discipline and
instruction approved by the Lord" </span></span></i>(Ephesians 6:4 NLT).
</span></span><span></span></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">God's discipline may not be
pleasant, but it's a wonderful sign of his deep and unconditional love for us.
<i><span><span style="color: maroon;">"No discipline seems pleasant at
the time, but painful. Later on</span></span></i>, <i><span><span style="color: maroon;">however, it produces a harvest of
righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it"</span></span></i>
(Hebrews<span><span style="color: maroon;"> </span></span>12:11 NIV).
When you sense God's correction, it's wise to see it as proof of his love, and
ask him this most important question: "Lord, what do you want me to learn
through this experience?" </span></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">Love, Jerry &
Dotse</span></span></div>
Jerry and Dotse http://www.blogger.com/profile/01066586043634505303noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4671429375804247683.post-8469302737877801292019-11-05T20:11:00.002-06:002019-11-05T20:11:42.475-06:00Thirst for Living Water<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; font-family: 'Calibri'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 5pt 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><i><span>Chuckle:</span></i><span> <i><span><span style="color: #004dbb;">A man sat in
the pew, scratching and scratching. Finally, the minister stopped his sermon and
asked, "Why are you scratching like that?" The man replied, "Cause I'm the only
one who knows where I itch!"</span></span></i></span></span><span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><i><span>Quote: <span><span style="color: blue;">“The inward stirring and touching of God
makes us hungry and yearning; for the Spirit of God hurts our spirit; and the
more he touches it, the greater our hunger and
craving.”</span></span></span></i><span><span style="color: blue;"> </span></span><span>--Jan van
Ruysbroeck</span></span><span></span></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">THIRST FOR LIVING
WATER</span></span><span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><i><span><span style="color: maroon;">"On the last day, the climax of the festival, Jesus stood and
shouted to the crowds</span></span></i><i><span>, <span><span style="color: red;">'If you are thirsty, come to me! If you
believe in me, come and drink! For the Scriptures declare that rivers of living
water will flow out from within.' </span></span><span style="color: maroon;"><u><span>When he said, 'living water,' he was speaking of the
Spirit</span></u><span>, who would be given to everyone
believing in him" </span></span></span></i><span>(John
7:37-39a NLT). <i>"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled"</i><span> </span>(Matthew 5:6 NIV).
</span></span><span></span></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">Do you have a deep and sincere
craving/thirst for the Holy Spirit to fill your life? The Spirit-filled life
begins with a thirst that nothing else can quench -- a desire growing out of
discontentment with our current spiritual condition. This discontentment grows
into a deep longing for a life filled with the Spirit. This is the first step
toward experiencing the abundant flow and overflow of the "streams of living
water."</span></span><span></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">When Jesus used the words "come
and drink," he was alluding to the theme of many Bible passages that make
reference to the Messiah's life-giving blessings. By promising to give the Holy
Spirit to all who believed, Jesus was putting forth his claim that he was the
promised Messiah. No one except the Messiah could make good on such an
offer.</span></span><span></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">In John 4:10, Jesus spoke of
"living water" to indicate eternal life. But, here, he uses it to refer to the
Holy Spirit. Of course, this double usage makes sense because for whomever
accepts the Holy Spirit, the Spirit brings eternal life. Jesus taught us much
about the Holy Spirit and then the Spirit empowered Jesus' followers at
Pentecost. Down through the ages, since that time, the Spirit has been available
and resident in everyone who believes in Jesus as Savior.</span></span><span></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">When your thirst allows the Spirit
to fill your life, you are taught, convicted, comforted, and led by Him in every
aspect of your life. In other words, you are filled with the Spirit each day.
Your thirst is quenched and you experience the power and peace of God in every
thing you do. How about you -- do you have that thirst about which Jesus was
teaching? If so, you will not be disappointed. These words by J. S. Baxter
describe God's plan for his Holy Spirit in your life.</span></span><span></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">"What God
chooses, He cleanses. </span></span><span></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">What God
cleanses, He molds.</span></span><span></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">What God molds,
He fills.</span></span><span></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">What God fills,
He uses."</span></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">Love, Jerry &
Dotse</span></span></div>
Jerry and Dotse http://www.blogger.com/profile/01066586043634505303noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4671429375804247683.post-5608235377992715422019-11-04T20:57:00.002-06:002019-11-04T20:57:54.174-06:00The Open Door<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 5pt 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span><span style="font-family: Arial;">Chuckle: <i><span><span style="color: navy;">My Mother-in Law is a master of the mixed
metaphor. One day in Sunday school she outdid herself when she warned her
students' parents that if they didn't teach their children properly, "their
roosters would come home to croak."</span></span><span><span style="color: green;"> </span></span><span><span style="color: navy;">--Tod
Smith </span></span></i></span></span><span></span></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">Quote: <i><span><span style="color: navy;">"In His love He clothes us, enfolds and
embraces us; that tender love completely surrounds us, never to leave us."
</span></span></i>--Julian of Norwich </span></span><span></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">THE OPEN DOOR </span></span><span></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">Jesus to the church at
Philadelphia: <i><span><span style="color: red;">"I know all the
things you do, and I have opened a door for you that no one can shut. You have
little strength, yet you obeyed my word and did not deny me"
</span></span></i>(Revelation 3:8 NLT). </span></span><span></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">Think with me for a moment about
this amazing truth. As a devoted follower of Christ, God has provided a door for
you into His very presence, in the name of Jesus, which no power can ever close.
No one can exclude you from God's kingdom; you can never be shut out. An open
door into our homes and the presence of our families who love us gives us a
sense of peace, comfort, and acceptance. A door into God's presence is far and
away more significant and reassuring because it has eternal implications.
</span></span><span></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">I remember, some years ago, that a
motel chain made famous the comforting phrase, "We'll leave the light on for
you." The voice of Tom Bodett had a slow folksy down home quality that assured
weary travelers that the door to a clean and comfortable room would always be
open for them any time of day or night. Incidentally, on its 50th anniversary,
the motel chain began using the phrase: "50 years - the light is still on."
</span></span><span></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">In this life, God fully
understands that we are weak and weary travelers, but He encourages us by
assuring us of the availability of His strength and protection when we obey His
Word and are faithful in proclaiming His name. God opens the door into His
presence and future kingdom, and after the door is opened, it will never be
closed. No one can ever close it -- our salvation is certain.
</span></span><span></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">The comforting words of Jesus, in
our passage, assure us that our places in God's kingdom and presence has been
eternally reserved and sealed. Jesus is now preparing a place for us in His
eternal heaven -- a place of complete joy and peace. This is all because of
God's never ending love for us.<span><span style="color: maroon;">
<i>"For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels or demons,
neither the present or the future, not any powers, neither height nor depth, nor
anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God
that is in Christ Jesus our Lord"</i> </span></span>(Romans 8:38-39
NIV).</span></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">Love, Jerry & Dotse
</span></span></div>
Jerry and Dotse http://www.blogger.com/profile/01066586043634505303noreply@blogger.com0