John's 1st reason

That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. 1 John 1:3

John shared his experiences in order for us to have fellowship with him and with God. In Christ, we are able to enter into a relationship with our fellow believers and with our Heavenly Father.

Our shared fellowship is centered on Christ. As we focus our thoughts and conversations around Him, we are brought into fellowship with each other and with God. I pray you will enjoy Christian fellowship today.

Rev. DB

John's 2nd reason - DB

And these write we unto you, that your joy may be full. 1John 1:4

The second reason John gives for writing this epistle is that your joy may be full. As a first century Christian, John had experienced great persecution.

While we may not face exile or physical harm for our faith, Satan stills opposes a Christian. John had found joy even in the midst of persecution. He wants us to experience that same joy in whatever circumstances we may face.

Rev DB

John's 3rd reason

My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 1 John 2:1

The third reason John gives for writing his epistle is that we might sin not. As a child of God, we are not to live in sin. Our heart’s desire should be to live a life pleasing unto God.

But John knew we still live in a fallen world and we have a fallen nature. So he closes this verse with the assurance that if we sin we can confess our sins and find forgiveness. Thank God we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Rev DB

John 4th reason - DB

These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life. 1John 5:13

The fourth reason John gives for writing this epistle is that we might know we have eternal life. There is nothing more important than knowing beyond a doubt we are saved.

My salvation is not secured by my feelings although there is a good feeling to being saved. It is not secured by my works although we are called to do the works of God. My salvation is secured by His Word. His Word says I am saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ.

Rev DB

Blessed because she Believed - AG

Blessed because she Believed

Luke 1:45 And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.

Mary was blessed because she had believed the promise of the Lord through the angel. What she was told would be coming true.

Please focus on the fact that she was blessed. She is the recipient, not the source. God gave her blessings. It was her faith. She believed. Too often we idolize people that have been blessed. We even begin to consider them to be the source of blessings for us. Mary was being given benefits by God.

Always look to God, the only One, that can indeed bless. He will keep His Word not due to our goodness or merit because of His character and kindness. He is God, and there is no other. No one else is worthy of our praise or prayers.

Rev AG

Destroy all vestiges of sin - AG

Destroy all vestiges of sin

Numbers 33:52 Then ye shall drive out all the inhabitants of the land from before you, and destroy all their pictures, and destroy all their molten images, and quite pluck down all their high places:

When God gave His people the promised land, He wanted them to get rid of every last hint of wicked worship. They were not to go after other gods. They were to drive out those idol worshippers. They were to destroy all their articles of religion. They were to tear down their temples and places of worship. God wanted to be their only God and their sole focus.

How is it that we think God is harsh when He wants to be the only God in our lives. How come we continually defend our sinful love lives with others. God only wanted what any person wants. He wanted to be the One. He wanted them to not look at, think about, or discuss a false god.

How is your worship? How is your love life towards God? How much do you allow the coexist idea in your heart when God was so adamant against it.

Rev AG

God Blessed - AG

God blessed

Deuteronomy 4:4 But ye that did cleave unto the LORD your God are alive every one of you this day.

Those that chose to honor and serve God had been blessed. They had stuck with God when idols and false gods were offered and available. They had decided to love God. Now they find themselves alive and hearing more promises. God is in effect saying, now you see how I bless and keep. Well, keep trusting me.

I know that serving God is worth it. Don’t you. I know that He is the one that has blessed me and brought me to this point in my life. He is worthy of all praise. Never forget what God has done in your life.

Rev AG

Healing - DB

Is any sick among you? Let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. James 5:14

When we or our love ones are sick, we should ask our fellow Christians to pray. We should also seek the best medical care available.

The Lord has the power to heal but He often works through the medical professionals He places in our life. If you are sick today I am praying for your healing. Our God is able.

Rev DB

#sick
#healing
#Godisable

Our Christian fellowship - DB

That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. 1 John 1:3

John shared his experiences in order for us to have fellowship with him and with God. In Christ, we are able to enter into a relationship with our fellow believers and with our Heavenly Father.

Our shared fellowship is centered on Christ. As we focus our thoughts and conversations around Him, we are brought into fellowship with each other and with God. I pray you will enjoy Christian fellowship today.

Rev DB

What a Gift - AG

What a gift

I Samuel 1:28 Therefore also I have lent him to the LORD; as long as he liveth he shall be lent to the LORD. And he worshipped the LORD there.

Samuel’s mom wanted to be a mother more than she wanted to live. She had dreamed of having a baby. Her sister-wife mocked her relentlessly because she had no children. Hannah prays to God and promises to give her baby to the Lord if He will only allow her to have a baby.

When her baby is born and gets old enough to be weaned, she sends him to work in the ministry. She lends him to the Lord. She is willing to worship God by giving God what she most wanted, her baby.

I read this and wonder how often I want God to do things for me, but then I refuse to honor Him. I think of how selfish I am with the God who has power over everything. Hannah honored God by giving her son, Samuel, to the Lord.

Eli can’t believe the sacrifice and commitment. Hannah’s love and obedience causes Eli to worship God even more.

Rev AG

Choose you this day - DB

Choose you this day whom ye will serve . . . as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. Jos. 24:15

Joshua gathers the children of Israel together and lays before them the choice they have. They can choose to serve the gods of this world or they can choose to serve the Lord. We have the same choice today.

Joshua knew the choice he made would effect not only himself but his whole family. The choice a parent makes will impact their children. When a parent chooses to serve the Lord the entire household is blessed.

Rev DB

#choose
#servethelord
#thisday

Trusting money - AG

Trusting money

Mark 10:24 And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God!

It is so easy to focus on money. The world lives for money. Money makes the world go round. Dollars give us all the things we need and want. If you can get enough cash saved, you can live comfortably and without fear. If you choose to save and invest, you will be able to deal with rainy days.

There is nothing wrong with money. There is no sin in having money. The problem comes when we trust money. Cash has many benefits. It can get you the best medical care. Money can get you a comfortable life. Money can help you live in a place where you feel secure. There is nothing wrong with money but money is so powerful that we often begin to trust in money.

We look at money as a god. We think that money will protect and provide all of our needs. We believe that money may not buy happiness, but it buys us all that makes us happy.

God warns us about the danger of loving money. Money is never enough. Money takes wings and flies away. Trust God or else.

The truth is that you must keep your focus on the Lord Jesus and not on money. When you have everything and need nothing, you feel little need for God and His salvation. After all, you do not need rescuing at all, do you?

Rev AG

Be salty - AG

Be salty

Mark 9:50 Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his saltness, wherewith will ye season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace one with another.

Jesus compared being salty to having a good testimony. It meant that the believer would affect the community around him. Salt would give flavor. So every believer should desire to have salt in themselves. We do not want to dilute our testimony. We do not want to weaken our walk with the Lord. Do not change the gospel to fit into the world you live in. Don’t allow sin to contaminate you.

Are you living out who you are? Are you sharing the truth with those around you? Are you making a difference?

So often we prefer not to be an influence. We prefer to blend into the world. If no one knows that we are believers, we will not be mocked.

So here is our lesson. Be salty. Be who you were meant to be.

Rev AG

Forgive - DN

Matthew 6:12
And forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors.
In studying the life of the Lord and prayer, it needs to be said, prayer and forgiveness go hand in hand. 
It's been said, The Christian isn't just forgiven, they are forgiving!
CS Lewis stated, To be a Christian means to forgive the inexcusable, because God has forgiven the inexcusable in you. 
Two provoking thoughts I find in this simple passage before us.
1.If your forgiveness is based on the FATHER'S forgiveness, ( We must have his forgiveness ) and it's based on your forgiveness, how forgiven are you?
The second thought, 
In the Bible we are often challenge to imitate Christ. He said Follow me, mimic me. 
Could he mimic us, imitate us, in relation to our forgiveness. Can you pray, Father forgive like I forgive?

Life is too short to go through it refusing to forgive..junk that grudge, it ain't worth it!

FORGIVE

Rev DN

Outside and inside - DB

The heavens declare the glory of God. Ps. 19:1

God has revealed himself to us through His creation. The voice of nature speaks a language everyone can understand.

What majesty and power He displays through His creation. Spend some time outside and allow Him to speak inside your heart.

Rev DB

the enemy we fight - JA

In Deuteronomy 25:18-19– you will find a vivid description of the enemy we fight today

- A RUTHLESS Enemy- Who he attacks- weary leaders-weak followers.

- A REPROBATE -He feared not God.

- A REMOVED - God will blot them out.

VICTORY AND VINDICATION WILL COME

Rev JA