r L n -- really LOVE now! : January 2015

Tuesday, January 27, 2015

REALLY Loving NOW is our ms Pat

Our ms Pat chose the One she will worship forevermore -- the LORD JESUS...

Our ms Pat has the ALLmighty GREAT Shepherd -- CHRIST JESUS -- to lead her ALLways beside still waters to restore her soul...

Our ms Pat has the JOY of the LORD JESUS as her strength -- she is ALLways glad for each day the LORD has made...

Our ms Pat has the Light of the Holy SPIRIT and His WORD to guide her way ALLways...

Our ms Pat has a heart that can love ALL peoples -- just like JESUS' heart of AGAPE-love...

Our ms Pat has a funny bone -- a gift from our ALLmighty FatherGOD...

Our ms Pat -- the little child in her bubbles forth -- and we enJOY her!

Our ms Pat -- with her daughter in "the funny" zone...

Our ms Pat -- open-handed giver...

Our ms Pat -- quite a hugger -- a comforter...

Our ms Pat's other half -- yep...they're a team for the LORD JESUS -- two peas in a pod -- united together IN-CHRIST...

Our ms Pat -- a lifetime with the Pastor -- for GOD's glory...

Our ms Pat -- helping another one get on his feet...

Our ms Pat -- who follows after Mary (not like her sister Martha, who got so busy with her good works that she stressed herself out) -- and sits daily at JESUS' feet, humble and teachable, hungry for His WORD...

As JESUS and the disciples continued on their way to Jerusalem, they came to a certain village where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. Her sister, Mary, sat at the LORD’s feet, listening to what He taught. But Martha was distracted by the big dinner she was preparing. She came to JESUS and said, “LORD, doesn’t it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work? Tell her to come and help me.”

But the LORD said to her, “My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:38-42, NLT)

Sunday, January 11, 2015

Claiming GOD's Promises -- a Zac Poonen Exhortation for 2015

I AM in them and You are in Me.

May they be made completely one,

so the world may know You have sent Me

and have loved them as You have loved Me.

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. For I will be merciful to their wrongdoing,

and I will never again remember their sins.

If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy SPIRIT to those who ask Him?

From one man He has made every nationality to live over the whole earth and has determined their appointed times and the boundaries of where they live. Your life should be free from the love of money. Be satisfied with what you have, for He Himself has said, "I will never leave you or forsake you."

For this is what love for GOD is: to keep His commands. Now His commands are not a burden...Keep the LORD’s commands and statutes I am giving you today, for your own good.

We know that all things work together for the good of those who love GOD: those who are called according to His purpose...Give thanks in everything, for this is GOD’s will for you in CHRIST JESUS.

Now since the children have flesh and blood in common, JESUS also shared in these, so that through His death He might destroy the one holding the power of death — that is, the devil — and free those who were held in slavery all their lives by the fear of death. Therefore, we may boldly say: The LORD is my helper; i will not be afraid. What can man do to me?

I will make you into a great nation, I will bless you, I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. The purpose was that the blessing of Abraham would come to the Gentiles by CHRIST JESUS, do that we could receive the promised SPIRIT through faith.

The above exhortation is a list of promises we can rightfully claim as genuine children of our ALL-mighty Father in heaven -- the One True Living GOD -- through our union with CHRIST JESUS, our LORD and Savior. Brother Zac Poonen (pastor of CHRISTian Fellowship Church in Bangalore, India) compiled this list of truths so that we may be encouraged to continue running this race of our calling to CHRISTlikeness, as empowered by the indwelling Holy SPIRIT.

The complete article -- "Look Forward to a Wonderful Year in CHRIST" -- is from brother Zac's Word for the Week ministry, specifically written for New Year 2015. May the Holy SPIRIT also grace you with these Bible truths.

my Prayer For You

When i think of the wisdom and scope of GOD's plan, i fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. i pray that from His glorious, unlimited resources He will give you mighty inner strength through His Holy SPIRIT. i pray that CHRIST will be more and more at home in your heart as you trust in Him. May your roots go down deep into the soil of GOD's marvelous love.

And may you have the power to understand, as all GOD's people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep His love really is. May you experience the love of CHRIST, though it is so great you will never fully understand it. Then you will be filled with the fullness of life and power that comes from GOD.

Now to Him Who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by CHRIST JESUS to all generations, forever and ever. AMEN!

(Ephesians 3:14-21)

The Great I AM

I AM the Bread of life. He who comes to Me will never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.
(John 6:35)

I AM the Light of the world. He who follows me shall not walk in darkness, but have the Light of life.
(John 8:12)

I AM the Door of the sheep. All who ever came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. I AM the Door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.
(John 10:7, 9)

I AM the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd gives His life for the sheep. I AM the Good Shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own.
(John 10:11, 14)

I AM the True Vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. I AM the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.
(John 15:1, 5)

I AM the Resurrection and the Life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.
(John 11:25)

I AM the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
(John 14:6)

Pilate therefore said to Him, "Are You a king then?" JESUS answered, You say rightly that I AM a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the Truth hears My voice.
(John 18:37)

LOVE is...

Though i speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, i have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.

And though i have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though i have all faith, so that i could remove mountains, but have not love, i am nothing.

And though i bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though i give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.

Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up;

does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil;

does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth;

bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away.

For we know in part and we prophesy in part.

But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.

When i was a child, i spoke as a child, i understood as a child, i thought as a child; but when i became a man, i put away childish things.

For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now i know in part, but then i shall know just as i also am known.

And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

(I Corinthians 13)

Rejoice!

Rejoice in the LORD always. i will say it again: Rejoice!

Let your gentleness be evident to all. The LORD is near.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to GOD. And the peace of GOD, which transcends all understanding, will guard your heart and your mind in CHRIST JESUS.

Finally, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or praiseworthy–think about such things.

(Philippians 4:4-8)

How Great Thou Art!

O LORD, my GOD! When i in awesome wonder consider all the works thy hands have made.
i see the stars, i hear the rolling thunder, Thy power throughout the universe displayed.

Then sings my soul, my Savior GOD to Thee: how great Thou art! How great Thou art!
Then sings my soul, my Savior GOD to Thee: how great Thou art! How great Thou art!

And when i think that GOD, His Son not sparing, sent Him to die, i scarce can take it in;
That on the cross, my burden gladly bearing, He bled and died to take away my sin.

Then sings my soul, my Savior GOD to Thee: how great Thou art! How great Thou art!
Then sings my soul, my Savior GOD to Thee: how great Thou art! How great Thou art!

When CHRIST shall come with shout of acclamation and take me home, what joy shall fill my heart!
Then i shall bow in humble adoration and there proclaim, my GOD, how great Thou art!

Then sings my soul, my Savior GOD to Thee: how great Thou art! How great Thou art!
Then sings my soul, my Savior GOD to Thee: how great Thou art! How great Thou art!

Amazing Grace

Amazing grace! How sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me! i once was lost, but now am found; was blind, but now i see.

'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear, and grace my fears relieved; how precious did that grace appear the hour i first believed.

Through many dangers, toils and snares, i have already come; 'tis grace hath brought me safe thus far, and grace will lead me home.

The LORD has promised good to me, His word my hope secures; He will my shield and portion be, as long as life endures.

Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail, and mortal life shall cease, i shall possess, within the veil, a life of joy and peace.

The world shall soon dissolve like snow, the sun refuse to shine; but GOD, who called me here below, shall be forever mine.

When we've been there ten thousand years, bright shining as the sun; we've no less days to sing GOD's praise than when we'd first begun.

The Holy BIBLE -- The Word of GOD

The BIBLE contains the mind of GOD, the state of man, the way of salvation, the doom of sinners, and the happiness of believers. Its doctrines are holy, its precepts are binding, its histories are true, and its decisions are immutable. Read it to be wise, believe it to be safe, and practice it to be holy. It contains light to direct you, food to support you, and comfort to cheer you.

It is the traveler's map, the pilgrim's staff, the pilot's compass, the soldier's sword, and the CHRISTian's charter. Here is Paradise restored, Heaven opened, and the gates of hell disclosed.

CHRIST is its grand subject, our good the design, and the glory of GOD its end.

It should fill the memory, rule the heart, and guide the feet. Read it slowly, frequently, and prayerfully. It is a mine of wealth, a paradise of glory, and a river of pleasure. It is given you in life, will be opened at the judgment, and be remembered forever. It involves the highest responsibility, will reward the greatest labor, and will condemn all who trifle with its sacred contents.

(Foreword from The Gideons International)