tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30535635722461856022024-03-17T23:12:51.538-07:00Pauls PonderingsCCChurchSBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08183281464290993073noreply@blogger.comBlogger25125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3053563572246185602.post-23076372310680691892024-03-10T20:14:00.000-07:002024-03-11T14:43:35.064-07:00God's Got This<p><span style="background-color: white;"> <span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">Just thinking, I was remembering back early in my relationship with the Lord. How I had this thought of God saying, "We are going to do this the easy way or the hard way". I still believe that, there are lessons in life we have to learn to grow in Him, (and we never stop growing). If we choose not to learn, then God will allow stuff in our life, (usually by bad decisions we make without Him). Those things He will use to grow or teach us. </span></span></p><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"> Romans 8:28-29 "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters."</span><br /><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"> See Gods purpose for us is to make us like Jesus, same way Jesus was just like His Father, He said, "If you have seen me, you have seen the Father, The Father and I are One". He will use all those things to grow us into the reflection of Jesus He has called us to.</span><br /><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"> So in my early thinking, I thought that if I spend more time with Him in the Word, prayer, and being with other believers, that I could avoid a lot of "The Hard ways". But there are some lessons we have to go through, to experience them and through them see Gods hand and become our faith. </span><br /><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"> Its one thing to think how you would react to a situation, but its totally another thing to go through it and put your faith to work. We would all like to think we would do this or that, the right thing, but in truth we don't know until the rubber meets the road, our faith gets put to the test. Its necessary for our growth. It may not be easy, but we don't go it alone. He has said, I will never leave you nor forsake you. In that we know we can do it. He doesn't usually put out the fire, but is in there with us. </span><br /><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"> Just because we give our life to Him doesn't give us an easy road, in fact it usually gets harder, because we are going against the grain of the world. Jesus said Take heart, I have overcome the world!</span><br /><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"> We can do it with Him walking with us, sometimes carrying us. Always remember, Gods Got This!</span><br /><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">Stay Blessed, PJ</span></span>CCChurchSBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08183281464290993073noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3053563572246185602.post-84557846531462215172021-08-02T11:38:00.002-07:002021-08-03T00:08:18.319-07:00Melt Down<p><i style="background-color: white;"> Ephesians 4:22-24 "You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness."</i></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"> This was for me.... I had a melt down on Saturday, which should not have happened. Yes I am human, still a sinner and sooo not perfect. But it doesn't make it OK. I have got to try and do better. I shouldn't let my mind go down that path, I need to stop it in its tracks before it gets out of control. Because when it does it only hurts those I love, they are usually the ones who receive the blast in the first place.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"> Jesus said,<i> "With man its impossible, but with God all things are possible."</i> The bible also says, <i>"I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength."</i> So yes I'm human, but God has made a way for us to get past these things. Its not OK and being human is not an excuse. </span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"> What if it goes too far and something really bad happens, can I tell the judge, "I'm human its ok." Will he say, "well he has been a pretty decent person and his good deeds outweigh the bad." No that's not the way it works. So do we even think we can tell God, "well you made me human so you know what's going to happen." It doesn't make it OK.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"> We have been called, chosen to do better, to put off the old ways, the former life, and clothe ourselves with Christ. We become a new creation in Christ, put to death the old way of dealing with things.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"> Mine came as a result of a busy week, some lack of sleep, then I slept in on Saturday. When I got up I didn't spend the time with Him in my word, so my day was basically handed to the world saying here you go, you have the reigns today. </span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"> So I would urge all who read this to get up and spend the time with Him first, before heading out to face the day. Putting on the Full Armor of Christ! Prepare your Heart, Mind and Soul for the day. So that when the enemy strikes you are prepared to respond in a Godly, Christ-Like manner. Not falling back to the old way of dealing with it all. He died to save us from that old life. Why would we ever want to go back! I sure don't, I hate when I do, but God has a way of kicking me in the pants to wake me up to it. His way of saying, "Your not all that, and you still need me no matter how far you think you've come." We will never out grow our need for Him, so lets not even try 1 day without Him in it. Stay Blessed, PJ</span></p>CCChurchSBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08183281464290993073noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3053563572246185602.post-71539593414008605412019-01-23T10:21:00.000-08:002019-01-23T10:21:38.076-08:00From The Inside Out<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">I read our daily bread today (1-23-19) and it got me to thinking how we spend all this time and effort on our struggle to stop doing, saying and even thinking things we shouldn't. Even effort on trying to control our anger as well as other emotions. But isn't that like painting a water stain in the house without fixing the roof leak. Or constantly cleaning oil spots on the driveway without fixing the drip on the car. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Jesus said in Matthew 23:25-26 "“Woe</span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; display: inline; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"> to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean."<br />The solution is simple, spend all our time and effort getting to know Jesus better. Spend more time praying, and reading His word, that starts changing us on the inside, the source of our issues then we see all those things we were fighting start dropping out of our lives. It's like the line in How He Loves, "all of a sudden I am unaware of these afflictions eclipsed by glory". When we stay focused on Him, everything else takes care of itself! Stay Blessed PJ</span>CCChurchSBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08183281464290993073noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3053563572246185602.post-7357314935365497432018-09-12T22:14:00.000-07:002024-02-05T14:18:32.461-08:00All In<span style="background-color: white;"><br />
I was talking with a new co-worker recently, and I was trying to find out were he was in his beliefs, (its what I do, lol). I didnt really get an opening, so I just asked, "So were are you at with religion, what do you believe?" He responded, "I believe and all that, I just aint all in." He was meaning like I aint all into it. Then He asked me, "How about you?" To which I quickly replied, "Oh I'm all in."<br />
This got me to thinking about how many people these days say they believe in God, yet there really seems to be no dedication in their life to Him. Then even further there are people who go to church Sunday, but thats the extent of their walk. The rest of the week you couldnt tell the difference between the believer and the non-believer. Believe me I know all about this because I was one of those people for many years, I didnt start out that way, but just gradually started missing church here and there. I started making compromises in my life, before you know it there wasnt much difference between me and a non-believer. I still said I was, but there wasnt anything in my life to speak it.<br />
Jesus had a lot to say about this.<br />
Matthew 7:21-23<span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span class="text Matt-7-21" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="woj" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-23338Q" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-23338Q" title="See cross-reference Q">Q</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> will enter the kingdom of heaven,<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-23338R" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-23338R" title="See cross-reference R">R</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-23338S" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-23338S" title="See cross-reference S">S</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span></span></span><span> </span><span class="text Matt-7-22" id="en-NIV-23339" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="woj" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">Many will say to me on that day,<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-23339T" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-23339T" title="See cross-reference T">T</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’</span></span><span class="text Matt-7-23" id="en-NIV-23340" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="woj" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!"</span></span></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="text Matt-7-23" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="woj" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><i> </i>If thats not enough, what Jesus said to the church of Laodicea </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="text Matt-7-23" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="woj" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"> Revelation 3:15-16 </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="text Matt-7-23" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="woj" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>"</i></span></span></span><i><span class="text Rev-3-15" id="en-NIV-30762" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="woj" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">I know your deeds,<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-30762AQ" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-30762AQ" title="See cross-reference AQ">AQ</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> that you are neither cold nor hot.<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-30762AR" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-30762AR" title="See cross-reference AR">AR</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> I wish you were either one or the other!</span></span><span> </span><span class="text Rev-3-16" id="en-NIV-30763" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="woj" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth."</span></span></i></span><br />
<span class="text Rev-3-16" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="woj" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> In both cases He was speaking about people who profess to be believers, but they arent "All In." This would really be a sad wake up call in the end when there isnt anything that could be done to change it. I am not suggesting that they arent saved, its not for me to judge. However it is very plain to see who is an "All In" follower and who is not. The Holy Spirit changes a person as they spend time reading and seeking, spending time in prayer and hearing from Him. It becomes very easy to see the life the Spirit changes. From what Jesus said here, is He respects the hot or cold, the one who is All In or the one who says he doesnt believe, more than the lukewarm follower. The reason is that the one who says he believes and doesnt do what Jesus said does more damage to the church than the one who denies. </span></span></span><br />
<span class="text Rev-3-16" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="woj" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> One of the biggest </span>responses you hear when talking to non-believer is that the church is full of hypocrites. This mostly comes from people who talk the talk, but dont walk the walk. Your life needs to speak Christ. Its not enough to know Him, but to be known by Him. When I call out Lord Lord in that day I would hope to hear Him say, "This ones Mine." There is so much more to this life in Him, and we will fall far short of its full potential in our lives. Just think, the Fullness of God dwells in Christ and He in us. The same power that raised Jesus from the dead lives in us. So if we have that kind of potential why do we not jump All In. Jesus has so much more just waiting for us to take hold of. He died to give us life, His life. Let us get into His word daily, get plugged into a study. You wont be sorry, and the change that the Spirit does in your life is amazing. You will never be the same if you just give Him an All In dedication and determination to follow through. The lives around you start to change as they see the change in you. Thats what speaks life.Taste and see that the Lord is Good. Stay Blessed, PJ</span></span></span>CCChurchSBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08183281464290993073noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3053563572246185602.post-36877842839105456152018-02-04T21:17:00.000-08:002024-02-05T14:18:41.719-08:00Jars of Clay<span style="background-color: white;"><br />
<br />
2 Corinthians 4:6-10<br />
<i> "For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness", made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.</i><br />
<i> But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body."</i><br />
<i> </i>For the believer,<i> </i>He made His Light shine in our hearts, our life is to shine Christ. We learn this early on, I recall the song, "This Little Light of Mine" and that's what it is about letting Christ be seen. Fact is our life is supposed to speak the gospel. The old saying of "Preach the Gospel at all times and if necessary use words", comes to mind. Our life is to speak Christ.<br />
Proverbs 3:5-6<br />
<i> "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;<br />in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight"</i></span><div><span style="background-color: white;">
A beautiful promise that He will make your path straight, but the key is to acknowledge Him in all your ways. What we do, say, wear, how we act, what we get involved in, with our whole life!</span></div>
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It doesn't seem so hard when things are going good, but when trouble comes its a different story. One of the challenges we face is we cant see the storms in our life coming, a lot of times they take us by surprise. However God is not surprised, although He doesn't cause it, He does allow it. If He has our best interest at heart, then we do need to trust that He knows what He is doing. That this trial will strengthen us, grow us and mature us in Him. It is where we start to become our faith.</span></div>
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So we have this treasure in jars of clay..., we are a jar of clay, fragile. I see in my life as I age, this jar doesn't age so well. Sometimes dread moving when I wake up knowing I'm going to find an ache or pain which I didn't feel motionless. Even more so the storms and trials we go through cause this jar to chip, crack, break and become so weathered it can hardly hold water anymore.</span></div>
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In the trials one of two things happen, we either turn from God, or draw near to Him. It is sad when people turn from Him and blame Him for the problems that He didn't cause, I guess they would blame Him because even though He has the power, He didn't stop it. I choose to look at it more like a Father saying, "This may hurt a bit", its part of our growth. When you turn to God in those times, you grow closer to Him. You end up finding He is right there, even though you know "He will never leave you". You end up growing into, becoming your faith. </span></div>
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Thus this broken, cracked, chipped, jar starts shining light through the cracks. The bigger the trial and the more we trust and draw near to Him, the more light that shines through. People start seeing Him because we are shining His life through the dark places in our life. That's when Christ can be seen, that's when we "<i>show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body."</i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><i> </i>We get bent, chipped, broken, worn out, etc..., but these things don't have the victory in our life when we cling to Him. We come out shining and stronger than ever. Paul ends the chapter with my favorite verses for the past year or so. </span></div>
<div><span style="background-color: white;">
2 Corinthians 4: 16-18</span></div>
<i style="background-color: white;"> "Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal."</i><div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><i> </i>Look, life dumps on us, Jesus said <i>in this life we will have troubles, but take heart I have overcome the world.</i> John 16:33. It doesn't have to beat us though. We have a savoir who overcame and He lives in us. We all fall short of realizing the potential of what we have living in us. The Maker, Creator lives in us, the power that overcame death in us. He already won over the very worst that can happen. How much more will He carry us through the other things. </span></div>
<div><span style="background-color: white;">
Isaiah 43:2 </span></div>
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<i style="background-color: white;"> "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze."</i></div>
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I heard a pastor say; "Although He can, God almost never stops the storm, He does however give us an umbrella." </span></div>
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Whatever you are going through, use it to draw closer to Him. It will not only change your life, but also change the lives of those around you. Seeing His light shine through your troubled, cracked and broken jar of life. Stay Blessed, PJ</span></div>
CCChurchSBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08183281464290993073noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3053563572246185602.post-68361898502333697622017-12-01T15:45:00.000-08:002017-12-01T15:45:12.821-08:00Calm the storm<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px;">
Mark 4:35-41<br />That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?”<br />He got up, rebuked the wind <span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline; font-family: inherit;">and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.<br />He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”<br />They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”</span></div>
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Don't we all do this sometimes, when the storms in our life hit. We at times get all caught up in it, panic, anxiety, fear anger, depression, sorrow..., you name it, we get stuck in it. The disciples did and they had the Creator of Life in the boat! Fact is we look at the things we see and get driven by them, then we loose sight of the unseen which are the eternal things. The very things that can give or peace in our storms. They had Him in the boat, which we have Him in our heart, (even closer than the boat). We have to train ourselves where to turn when it hits.<br />Romans 15:4 For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us that through the endurance and the encouragement taught in the Scriptures we might have hope.<br />Turn to the Scripture, same as turning to Jesus, as John 1:14 says "The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us." Look if Jesus conquered the biggest enemy in our lives, death, he can and will most certainly take care of the small stuff, (which at the time we are in it seems bigger than life). His way is rarely to fix the problem, but to calm the storm in our hearts and minds to give us peace even while it is storming on the outside. Doesn't He tell us not to fear, don't be anxious, don't worry, etc...? He tells us to give it to Him and carry His load, for His yoke is easy and burden is light. Giving it to Him, is calling out to Him every time it starts to pop up in your head, and do not dwell on it. It take endurance and dedication to keep on doing it, but in time, (His time) you will find yourself in the midst of His peace. Trust Him, He came to give us His life! Stay Blessed, PJ</div>
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CCChurchSBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08183281464290993073noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3053563572246185602.post-41088033991936113412017-10-02T17:51:00.001-07:002017-10-02T17:51:11.260-07:00A New NormalIt was 1 year ago today <a class="profileLink" data-hovercard-prefer-more-content-show="1" data-hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/user.php?id=1847466537&extragetparams=%7B%22fref%22%3A%22mentions%22%7D" href="https://www.facebook.com/kajansen1?fref=mentions">Kathy Jansen</a> took <a class="profileLink" data-hovercard-prefer-more-content-show="1" data-hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/user.php?id=100000863704341&extragetparams=%7B%22fref%22%3A%22mentions%22%7D" href="https://www.facebook.com/MaxPKjj?fref=mentions">Jacob Jansen</a> to the ER and we found out at 3 am the next morning he had a tumor. A couple days later on the 5th after the biopsy the Dr's were pretty sure it was cancer. Hard to believe its been a year, it has gone by so fast. But here we are a year later and almost finished, but nothing is back to normal. Actually its a new normal, our lives have been changed for the better. We are all closer together, and more importantly closer to God. Cancer is a whole new world and I've been around lots of people going through it, but you dont even know until it hits home. We all have a whole new empathy for people going through it, and the nurses/doctors who care for them. It takes a special kind of person to do the work they do day after day caring for cancer patients. God put a bunch of them in care of Jacob and we are blessed because of it.<br /> In these troubled times we are living in God is still in control. <br /> 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 "Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." <br /> We just have to stop focusing on the bad, and look to the maker and author of our salvation. Focus on the eternal life we have and start living it now. We dont have to fear any of the stuff happening all around us. Even the cancer and all the other afflictions. The bible says "perfect love drives out all fear."<br /> If you dont have a certainty of an eternal life with Him, why not make today the day. Again in 2 Corinthians verse 2:6 <br /> For he says,<br /> “In the time of my favor I heard you,<br /> and in the day of salvation I helped you.”<br /> I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation. <br /> Romans 10:9 "If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved."<br /> All it takes is a wholehearted desire. Say this simple prayer;<br /> Lord Jesus, I know I'm a sinner, and i'm asking you to forgive me of all of my sins. Come into my heart, be my Lord, my Savior and my friend and I will follow you all of my days. In Jesus name Amen.<br /> If you said that prayer and meant it, its done. It is really that easy, its living thats hard. But in Christ I can do all things. To rob a friends' saying, this life in Christ "Is a life worth living."<br /> Stay Blessed, PJ<br />
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />CCChurchSBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08183281464290993073noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3053563572246185602.post-10268492011982262192017-09-26T15:59:00.004-07:002021-09-06T14:28:09.457-07:00Too Late<span style="background-color: white;">As I waited patiently for a little over 8 months for my first pineapple to be ready, the day came that I cut it off. It might have been a bit late as it was, but I wanted to be certain it was ready. After it sat a few days, I popped the top off and prepared the top for replanting. I looked at the pineapple sitting there and almost cut into it a few times. I didn’t because I wanted to share it, so continued to wait for the right moment. Finally the day came which I thought to be right day to cut it up and eat it. My Pastor was over and he shares in my fondness for pineapple. So I cut it and started to trim it, and bit into a piece and all the air was let outta my balloon. He says to me, “seems a bit fermented.” Hoping maybe it was just because it was close to the end, I took a deeper piece. It was worse and I promptly spit it out, it was completely spoiled, I had waited too long.<br /> We tend to do that a lot in our lives, we wait for the right time and find we missed it. Not speaking up, or rectifying a situation right away. Thinking and sometimes even praying, “Thank you God for taking care of this,” when it all actuality to find out it didn’t correct itself, instead it became a mountain, when it could have been dealt with easy, (although maybe uncomfortable). Causing sometimes very long lasting damage in peoples lives. It’s important to act on things when God reveals them us, but doing so seeking Him in it. If done in love, in a Godly manner it can be a beautiful thing. While letting it be, it can become a nasty, rotten pineapple, good for nothing but fertilizer.<br /> Even in our daily activities we are receiving promptings, talk to that person, help this person, share a verse with him/her over there, opportunities that we miss for one reason or another. I don’t have time right now, they might ask for money, I’m just not that confident in the word yet, etc. the reasons go on and on. Even Moses tried that one saying “I’m not an eloquent speaker.” God still used Him despite his reluctance. Have you ever tried going back after the prompting? I have and most every time the person was no longer there. Once the moment is passed it’s usually too late, we’ve missed a moment to experience God through obedience to Him tugging at your heart<br /> Same way with our eternity, we gotta act when the prompting comes, not waiting because I still have a lot of life to live, or things to do that don’t agree with a Christian lifestyle. Too many things to do or try before I start following God. Just remind yourself, He didn’t wait until you were ready to die for your sins. The bible says, “God demonstrated His love for us in this, “While we were yet sinners Christ died for us” Romans 5:8. Fact is nobody is promised tomorrow. As Greg Laurie said about this life, “nobody gets out alive”. Call on Him while it is still “today”, cause tomorrow may not come. Even if tomorrow does come, wouldn’t you want to live it in the freedom that only comes from Christ? You may say, “Well now I am free to do the things that the bible says not to do.” Truth is we become in bondage to whatever we get caught up in. Whether it be computer games, social media, drugs, alcohol, pornography, smoking, eating, tv, (the list goes on), we keep an eye out for our next opportunity to dive back into those things we are held captive to. Christ died to give us a freedom from all of it. “Now the Lord is Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is there is freedom” 2 Corinthians 3:17. Truth be told, my life in Christ is way better, not even comparable, to my BC days. I think one of the biggest regrets for the believer, (at least for me anyway), is that I didn’t say yes to Him sooner.<br /> Don’t wait until it’s too late, God is calling us all to something, and once we become “fertilizer” it’s too late. “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.” 2 Corinthians 5:10. I know I have missed a lot of opportunities to serve Him and others, and I don’t want to add to that list. I’m certain that when we are before Him, we will all want to hear those words, “Well done my good and faithful servant”. Stay Blessed, PJ</span><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>CCChurchSBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08183281464290993073noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3053563572246185602.post-86485806363443223152017-09-18T18:19:00.002-07:002017-09-18T21:03:26.777-07:00Trials of Testing<div>
<b>James 1:12 </b><br />
<b>Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, </b><br />
<b>having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life </b><br />
<b>that the Lord has promised to those who love him.</b><br />
Consider that our trials are merely tests for those who believe. While I don't believe that God brings things on us, I do believe that He allows them. So we can look at them as allowed testing. Those things are molding us and making us into something that God can better use for His purpose. So ins<span class="text_exposed_show">tead of asking "Why Me Lord?" Why not better seek Him and what purpose is this is going to accomplish in my life and for the lives of the people around me that He places in my path. I don't believe in chance or luck, I believe in an omnipotent God who is in control of all things. When we asked Him to be our Lord, we gave Him the authority to do His will in our lives. The bible says "You are not your own; you were bought at a price." So when you go through it, Thank God for it, though He didn't cause it He allowed it for a reason. Stand up and say "I've got this, or better yet God has got this" The reason is He isnt finished with you! Stay Blessed, PJ</span><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike></div>
CCChurchSBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08183281464290993073noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3053563572246185602.post-41715958294726964712017-09-07T11:00:00.002-07:002017-09-07T11:32:02.029-07:00Seek Him in His Temple<div>
<b>One thing I ask from the Lord,<br /> this only do I seek:<br /> that I may dwell in the house of the Lord<br /> all the days of my life,<br /> to gaze on the beauty of the Lord<span class="text_exposed_hide">...</span><span class="text_exposed_show"><br /> and to seek him in his temple. </span></b><br />
<b><span class="text_exposed_show"> Psalm 27:4 </span></b><br />
<b><span class="text_exposed_show"> First we gotta ask ourselves, Is this only what we seek?</span></b><br />
<b><span class="text_exposed_show">Is it our hearts desire to draw closer to Him? I love Proverbs 3:5-6 </span></b><br />
<b><span class="text_exposed_show">Trust in the Lord with all your heart<br /> and lean not on your own understanding;<br /> in all your ways submit to him,<br /> and he will make your paths straight. </span></b><br />
<b><span class="text_exposed_show"> When He is our hearts desire and first in our lives then we dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of our lives. This isn't a promise just for after we leave this life here, its for the here and now. We can and should be living in the house of the Lord all of our days, gazing on the beauty of the Lord, this life He has given and the beauty of His creation around us. Looking at life through new glasses, ones that are able to see through all of the crap around us, and embrace what really matters. This world is falling apart all around us, but that doesn't mean we have to! Seek Him in His temple. Do you know that when you accept Jesus as your Lord and Savoiur, when you repent and ask Him in, that He comes and lives in your heart. He is in you and that's were you seek Him in His temple, your heart. Paul said "don't you know that your bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit which lives in you". Look life isn't easy and nobody said it would be, but we have a "burden bearer" who wants to carry those things for us. Especially when it gets really tough and hard to walk through, He is there. Seek Him with all your heart and look to His beauty. Spend time with Him, its all about the relationship!. Stay Blessed, PJ</span></b></div>
CCChurchSBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08183281464290993073noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3053563572246185602.post-79598610844438495472016-09-17T22:30:00.001-07:002016-09-17T22:37:29.051-07:00Grow Up<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial narrow"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> With my birthday coming up I
started reflecting about my age and where it all went and all that stuff. I
thought about a post I seen recently and I found it kinda amusing so I changed
the number to fit me. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial narrow"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">“I’m not 53; I’m on my 35<sup>th</sup> year of 18”, actually been saying
it, lol. My wife seems to agree with the 18 part as she tells me a lot to “Grow
Up”, Ive had co-workers tell me this. In fact in a conversation with my pastor
he said, “do ya think we should act a little more mature?” I got to thinking
while we don’t really have to grow up or act our age, we cant stop getting
older, even if we try to make ourselves look younger our bodies are still the
age they are and nothing in this life can change that.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial narrow"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> Although I don’t act my age there
is one area I always want to grow in, that’s my relationship with Jesus. As my
pastor says, “I don’t want to be the same person next year”. I couldn’t agree
more, I don’t want to be struggling with the same things, dealing with the same
issues next year. In fact I like to look back and remind myself of the things I
have given to Him, the things that I am no longer bound by, because of Jesus
taking them away. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial narrow"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 <span class="text2cor-4-16"><span style="background: white;">Therefore we do
not lose heart.</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white;"> </span></span><span class="text2cor-4-16"><span style="background: white;">Though outwardly
we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white;"> </span></span><span class="text2cor-4-16"><span style="background: white;">day by day.</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white;"> </span></span><span class="text2cor-4-17"><span style="background: white;">For our light
and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs
them all.</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white;"> </span></span><span class="text2cor-4-18"><span style="background: white;">So we fix our
eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen,</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white;"> </span></span><span class="text2cor-4-18"><span style="background: white;">since what is
seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="text2cor-4-18"><span style="background: white; font-family: "arial narrow";"> I love this even though these bodies we
inhabit are aging and decaying, inwardly our spirit is growing, that’s growing
in Christ.</span></span><span style="font-family: "arial narrow"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> <span class="text2cor-4-18"><span style="background: white;">He
doesn’t even promise that we will get through this life with our body intact,
but it doesn’t matter. The spirit matters, the spirit is eternal.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="text2cor-4-18"><span style="background: white; font-family: "arial narrow";"> 1John 3:2 “</span></span><span style="background: white; font-family: "arial narrow";">Dear friends, now we are children of God,</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> and
what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears,</span>
we shall be like him,<span class="apple-converted-space"> for we shall see him as he is”. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "arial narrow";"> That’s
really cool when you think about it, because the bible also tells us that
nobody has ever seen God, nor could we and live. So our bodies cant handle
seeing His Glory. But we get new enhanced ones, which are not going to be
flawed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "arial narrow";"> I
kinda got off subject a bit, (happens a lot, squirrel). I told my pastor I don’t
think we need to act more mature. But growing in Christ is essential for the
believer. I don’t even think that we take a rest and maintain a level of
relationship. We are either growing or sinking. The enemy doesn’t rest, he doesn’t
stop, so we need to keep seeking Him, spending time with Him, to even stay at a
level.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "arial narrow";"> At
first it sometimes takes some effort to dedicate yourself to Him, but doesn’t everything?
If you want to lose weight you have to dedicate yourself to a diet. To get in
shape takes dedication to exercise. So does a relationship with Him, in fact
the enemy will throw every excuse possible your way to get you to not grow in
Him. He doesn’t stop there if you get past personal excuses, then he throws in
people around you to distract you. Just remember the he only has the power that
you give him over your life. Greater is He that is in you than he that is in the
world. Then there’s the awesome promise
in Philippians </span><st1:time hour="16" minute="13"><span style="background: white; font-family: "arial narrow";">4:13</span></st1:time><span style="background: white; font-family: "arial narrow";">, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "arial narrow";"> Then
before you know it He replaces that effort with love, and you look forward to
the time spent together. You go to Him knowing He will share Himself with you.
You may have started with a set time, but then it becomes more. You start
noticing Him acting in your life more and more, talking to Him constantly. Then
it becomes more clear what Paul was saying about “praying without ceasing”.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "arial narrow";"> Growing in Him, we all know that He is with
us, but you start realizing that He is there and talking like He is actually
next to you. That’s the way He wants to be with us. It becomes an instant
reaction to thank Him with something good, or instantly pray with some need,
not waiting until prayer time. He wants to be close to us, in fact when we feel
He is distant its because we have pushed Him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'arial narrow';"> Draw
near to God and He will draw near to you, it’s a promise, and His desire, that’s
how He rolls. Stay Blessed, PJ</span>CCChurchSBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08183281464290993073noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3053563572246185602.post-84344787656534828762016-08-31T22:51:00.000-07:002016-08-31T22:51:56.851-07:00Fruit in Drought<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="textjer-17-7"><span style="background: white;">Jeremiah 17:7-8<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="textjer-17-7"><span style="background: white;">“But blessed</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white;"> </span></span><span class="textjer-17-7"><span style="background: white;">is the one who trusts</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white;"> </span></span><span class="textjer-17-7"><span style="background: white;">in the</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white;"> </span></span><span class="small-caps"><span style="background: white; font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span></span><span class="textjer-17-7"><span style="background: white;">,</span></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
<span class="indent-1-breaks"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background: white; font-size: 5pt;"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"> </span></span><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"></span><span class="textjer-17-7"><span style="background: white;">whose confidence is in him.</span></span></span></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
<span class="textjer-17-8"><span style="background: white;"><span id="en-NIV-19366" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">They will be
like a tree planted by the water</span></span></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
<span class="indent-1-breaks"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background: white; font-size: 5pt;"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"> </span></span><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"></span><span class="textjer-17-8"><span style="background: white;">that sends out its roots by the stream.</span></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
</span><span class="textjer-17-8"><span style="background: white;"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">It
does not fear when heat comes;</span></span></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
</span><span class="indent-1-breaks"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background: white; font-size: 5pt;"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"> </span></span><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"></span><span class="textjer-17-8"><span style="background: white;">its leaves are always green.</span></span></span></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
<span class="textjer-17-8"><span style="background: white;"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">It has no worries in a year of
drought</span></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
</span><span class="indent-1-breaks"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background: white; font-size: 5pt;"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"> </span></span><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"></span><span class="textjer-17-8"><span style="background: white;">and never fails to bear fruit.”</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="textjer-17-8"><span style="background: white;">Thinking about this awesome verse, its one of the many
promises of God. If we trust in Him, He will meet our needs<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="textjer-17-8"><span style="background: white;"> What this doesn’t say
is that we won’t feel the heat. We will and do feel it, just that there is power
to sustain us through it. The wind and storms still beat on this tree, but yet
it never fails to bear fruit<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="textjer-17-8"><span style="background: white;">Jesus said it John 16:33 </span></span><span style="background: white;">“I have told you these things, so that<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>in<span class="apple-converted-space"> me
you may have peace. In this<span class="apple-converted-space"> world<span class="apple-converted-space"> you
will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>world.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We don’t have to fret
or worry when we see stuff happening all around us and even to us. I like the
saying “don’t tell God how big your problems are, tell your problems how big
your God is” Even in the year of drought, He will take us through it.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Like Kari Jobe sings,
“I am not alone, You will go before me, You will never leave me”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: #1d2129;">Hebrews 13:5
"...because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake
you.”</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In fact we are told to count it all joy when we go through
stuff! </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
James 1:2-4 “<span class="textjas-1-2"><span style="background: white;">Consider it pure
joy, my brothers and sisters,<sup data-fn="#fen-NIV-30269a" data-link="[<a href="#fen-NIV-30269a" title="See footnote a">a</a>]" style="box-sizing: border-box;"> </sup>whenever you face trials of many kinds,</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"></span><span style="background: white;"> </span><span class="textjas-1-3"><span style="background: white;"><span id="en-NIV-30270" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">because you know that the testing of your faith</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white;"> </span></span><span class="textjas-1-3"><span style="background: white;">produces
perseverance.</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"></span><span style="background: white;"> </span></span><span class="textjas-1-4"><span style="background: white;"><span id="en-NIV-30271" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white;"> </span></span><span class="textjas-1-4"><span style="background: white;">and complete, not
lacking anything.</span>”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="textjas-1-4"><span style="background: white;"> Huh…, yup praise Him through the
storm. Because we will be much better on the other side. It’s easier to praise
Him in it knowing He is with us. And when you stand on the promises of always
being green even in the heat and bearing fruit in the drought. That’s why Paul
said “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength”. </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129;">“Oh how He Loves us”, that’s how he rolls!
Stay Blessed, PJ</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
CCChurchSBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08183281464290993073noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3053563572246185602.post-50521429198394017912016-08-27T23:02:00.000-07:002016-08-27T23:29:58.213-07:00Something Stinks<div style="background: white; line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10.5pt;">Today I began my
search for that smell in the refrigerator. My wife had gone through and tossed
out any possible source, thought we had it, but no. So as I start digging and
searching I am reminded of our lives. We at times find ourselves struggling to
spend time with God and when we do we find that we are not hearing Him so well,
or the words in the Bible dont seem to be turning on that "light
bulb". Its in those time we may want to take an inventory of our lives. Is
there something thats starting to stink? Maybe we have a thing we like that we
are putting before God, causing Him to be put in the back seat in our life. Unlike
the fridge, we cant really use our nose to find the source. But we can seek out
God and His word.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10.5pt;">We tend to give up or
be distracted pretty easily, truth is thats when we should be looking all the
harder. Thats when we dig deeper into His word and meditate on it. Thats when
we should be spending more time in prayer. One of the biggest things we will end
up finding is that our heart wasnt in it all the way.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10.5pt;">Jeremiah 29:13
"You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10.5pt;">Thats a promise! One
of the things we can stand on is God never goes back on a promise, unlike man,
He will always keep His word. So we should be seeking His word to see what
these promises really are, and standing on them!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10.5pt;">The truth is God is
never far from us, it is we who distance ourselves from Him. Another promise
found in Hebrews 13:5 "...because God has said, “Never will I leave you;
never will I forsake you.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10.5pt;">So when we find
ourselves a little dry in our walk, when our light isnt shining quite as
bright, just know that it is us and not God. He wants to be right there, He
wants to share Himself with us. Jesus gave His life on cross, conquering death
to bring us closer to the Father. That we could experience Him more. James 4:8
Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10.5pt;">We can stand on His
word and it will always be there for us to pull from.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10.5pt;">Jesus said in Matthew
24:35 "Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass
away."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10.5pt;">God wants to give us a
better life, a life free from the grip of sin and decay. To be near us. So let
us recognize when things get a bit stinky, to dig our heels in, go against the
pull of the world. To get past all the stuff. In my fridge I found it by
digging deeper, we too can find it in our life if we dont give up. God wont
leave us hanging, even when we stink a bit, He wants to help us through it.
Thats how He rolls. Stay Blessed, PJ<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
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CCChurchSBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08183281464290993073noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3053563572246185602.post-65925349998056044132016-08-10T21:31:00.001-07:002016-08-11T10:07:56.711-07:00Knowing Him and Being Known by Him<span style="font-family: inherit;">I reckon its time I get back to this, in my last post, (Who is Reading?) I had said that "I dont really want to focus this on the religious, church stuff at the moment." Well I guess its now the moment.<br /> I sincerely hope that I am not taking shots at anybody, just speaking what I feel is really important, in fact it has Life or Death implications. So while there may be some conviction that happens, just know that this is not directed at anybody, but if the Holy Spirit convicts your heart then you may want to give some serious consideration, and dig deeper. So ends my disclaimer.<br /> It seems to be pretty common as of late that I hear and see a lot of people that do say I believe in God, but just not into church and that stuff. Its one thing to believe He exists, and another to actually know Him, and still even deeper to be known by Him. Lets start with I know Him,<br /> James 2:19 "You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder." When you think about that for a minute, the demons believe but where is their destiny? So he was saying yea its a good thing that you believe in Him, but that isn't going to save you, that wont get your ticket into heaven. While it is a first step that many people in this world haven't taken, its just a step. The demons didnt have a belief, they knew for certain, there are many accounts of them knowing who Jesus was also. When the demon possessed man seen Jesus coming Mark 5:6-7 "When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees in front of him. He shouted at the top of his voice, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? In God’s name don’t torture me!” They know for certain who he is, but where is it getting them. So for that matter where does it get anybody that says they believe in God. Romans 1:21 "For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened." This is what the Bible means when it says, "they have eyes but cannot see, and ears but cannot hear."<br /> From the original sin we were separated from God, thats what sin does, God is perfect, pure and holy. He cannot defile Himself with sin. Romans 3:23 "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,"<br /> So how can we know Him, when we are separated by our sins The key is here because even though we are separated sinners, God still loves us. Romans 5:8 "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 6:23 "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." Just because He loves us He is not going to force Himself on us. It requires something from us, if we desire to have the separation removed, our sins washed away, if we desire to know Him and be forgiven our sins. Then a wholehearted decision/action is all that is necessary. Romans 10:9 puts it like this " If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." Acts 2:38 "Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." So knowing Him starts with repenting and asking Jesus to come into your heart.<br /> Being known by Him starts with our being saved, but its a seed thats planted in us, it is the beginning of a new life that will grow into something beautiful. It must be cultivated, fertilized, watered, and receive sunlight, (or Sons light) to grow. This is unfortunately where a lot of people stop, taking salvation and running with it. Taking the "Saviour" part but leaving out the "Lord" part. We ask Him to be Lord and Savoiur, Lord of our life, and Saviour of our souls. The 2 should not be separated, we were washed and cleansed of our sins. Why would we like a clean pig go back to the mud, or like Peter says, "a dog returns to its vomit." Look its not easy starting new when we have developed soo many bad habits. Thats were this "relationship" with Him comes in. Its spending time with Him, reading His word, talking to Him in prayer. Spending time with fellow believers. The bible tells us to Not forsake the assembling of yourselves. It can be tough if we try it alone, and He knows it, thats why He left a manual! Getting to know our redeemer. After all He paid a pretty high price to give you a clean slate, fresh start. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 "Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies." Give Him a chance to wash you, cleanse you, He says when you seek me you will find me when you seek me with all your heart!<br /> He has some pretty sobering words in Matthew 7:21-23 "“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!" I dont know about you but thats definitely something I dont want to hear.<br /> Lastly, Jesus words in Revelation 3:14-16 "“To the angel of the church in Laodicea write:These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth."<br /> He actually has more respect for a person who denies Him than one who "honors me with their mouth but their hearts are far from me". You cant fool God, He knows your heart, God cannot be mocked. So I ask you, Do you Know Him, and are you Known by Him? He didnt come to take away life, but to give it, a freedom that comes from shedding off all of the corruption this world can bring on us. Being made new, alive in Christ."The Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is there is freedom." He doesnt make mistakes, and He made you the way He meant you to be. We made a mess of us, but it can be undone. Clothed with Christ, He sees us again the way He made us! Thats how He Rolls! Give Him a Wholehearted chance, Taste and see the Lord is Good! Stay Blessed, PJ</span>CCChurchSBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08183281464290993073noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3053563572246185602.post-4338071610655563952016-07-29T21:35:00.000-07:002016-08-06T13:54:22.488-07:00Who is Reading?<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px;">I reckon its time to write whats been bouncing around my head the past few days. Funny thing I hear my thoughts with a southern accent now, lol. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px;">While we were in Arkansas I had a relative tell me that something I wrote had helped them with something they were going through, and while they were not religious, they believe in God, just are not all into church and stuff. I dont really want to focus this on the religious, church stuff at the moment. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px;">I want to focus on the fact that we never know what an impact what we say and do will have on others. We have been given the keys to eternal life, its not just to give us a warm/cozy feeling about where we will spend eternity, but to share that warm/cozy with those around us. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px;">Jesus said in Matthew 5:14-16 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px;">I write to share what He gives me, and I pray that its not my words but His, although it may have a Paul flavor to it, I want it to bring Glory and point to Him, not me.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px;">I write not to single anybody out or point fingers at anybody. Only to share what He shows me.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px;">So God never ceases to amaze me where He is going to show up. I dont care who you are, we all go through times where we reflect and wonder if our life is making a difference in others we have contact with. God has a way of revealing things, and when we have our eyes and hearts on Him, we get to see it for what it is. God is with us. I dont recall this person clicking "Like" and didnt even know they had read anything I had put in writing, and to find out that God used me again in another manner is truly cause for me to tell Him, Thank-You Father.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px;">Its funny how you can say the something to your own household only to have people get angry or put up a wall, getting defensive. When the same words put in writing can impact somebody you almost never speak to. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px;">Jesus certainly knew this Matthew 13:54-57 "Coming to his hometown, he began teaching the people in their synagogue, and they were amazed. “Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers?” they asked. “Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t his mother’s name Mary, and aren’t his brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas? Aren’t all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?” And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own town and in his own home.”</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px;">We cant give up just because those around us dont receive what we share, in fact if it happened to Him it will happen to us, He said that the student is not greater than the Master. Sooner or later those around us will know that we love them and only have their best interest at heart. I used to think a prophet was a person who spoke the future, while that is part of it. The definition of prophet "is a person regarded as an inspired teacher or proclaimer of the will of God."</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px;">So by definition is not everybody who receives Christ as their saviour called to proclaim the "Good News" thereby are not we all prophets?</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px;">We all have a testimony which we all need to share, we dont have to be good speakers, (Lord knows I aint), but we all have our own story. We also all have people who God has placed in our path that need to hear what God has done for us, or how he is working in our life. It was once said, ""All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing", and how true. We have been given His word, His instruction, and for the most part we remain content to keep it for ourselves a without sharing.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px;">God has made it clear to me that these words He places in my head must be sought out in His word and shared for whoever would read, and not to worry at all how many "likes" it gets, but simply with His assurance of Isaiah 55:11 "so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what desire</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px;">and achieve the purpose for which I sent it." Paul tells us that we will reap a harvest if we dont give up. We dont change people, God does, we just need to make Him seen by what we say and do!</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px;">Seek Him and you will find Him when you seek Him with all your heart. Search His word, speak His word and life will come from it.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px;">I can assure you that when you step out with His purpose in mind and not your own, you will find God in it. Thats how He rolls, after all the bible tells us that Jesus is the Word and the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us! Even now He dwells in those that have asked Him in! Stay Blessed, PJ</span>CCChurchSBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08183281464290993073noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3053563572246185602.post-91796786077771285712016-07-20T22:18:00.000-07:002016-08-06T13:45:53.699-07:00Turn Away?<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "ariel" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px;">I wanted to share this, not to toot my own horn or anything like that, but to glorify God. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "ariel" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px;">While getting gas last night a man approaches asking for gas, as he is walking up my wife tells me this same guy was there the other night saying he doesnt normally do this. So i kinda dont look in hopes that he would walk away, but he didnt so i just say I cant. As I am pumping gas i see him walking around and as he passes me again I start talking to him. I started with a confrontation about being truthful, but as I get into it God was pressing on my heart. The man is talking about all of his hardships in his life, (with some of the "normal" cursing that is soo prevalent these days). The thought comes like yea yea, ive heard this before. God still pressing me to talk about Him. So as he is telling his troubles, I ask him, "Have you tried giving this to God?" </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "ariel" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px;">He responds with, I go to church, but with all that is happened i've kinda given up on Him. He tells me, "I know that He doesnt give us more than we can handle, but I certainly feel it is too much". I tell him, firstly God didnt do this, secondly there is no promises of "more than we can handle". The verse often quoted talks about temptations more than we can bear. I explained that Paul went through stuff which he plainly says was more than he could bear, to the point of death!. I talked to him about Jesus's words about being lukewarm, and how he respects a person who denies him more than one who says he is a follower but still goes about his life not following. This misleads people and what are you showing them about Christ in your life.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "ariel" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px;">I suggest to him about giving God a wholehearted chance, and not giving up, but trusting in Him, with all your heart. That life does shake us up, throw curve balls at us, but its what we do with it that will make a difference. Dont give up on Him, its usually when we are at the end of our rope, that God shows up kinda asking "What are you doing here?" Through it all proving that faith in Him will get us through. I tell him about a recent time where before i could even ask "why God", God answered with, "My ways are not your ways Paul, and my thoughts are not your. How can you even possibly with your limited view of things even question Me when you know that I am in control, and I have this"</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "ariel" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px;">I went on for a bit, (as you know I never seem to be short on words, lol), He thanks me for the talk and is very grateful hat it happened as it was just what he needed. I prayed with him, then offered gas, and he turned it down as somebody else had just paid for some. I got his name, (Jeff), so that I could lift him and his daughter, (who wasnt there, but he had mentioned her), up in my prayers. Ended with a hug. I got back in the car overwhelmed by God, thanking Him for this opportunity. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "ariel" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px;">I am reminded of Peter saying, "silver and gold have i none, but what I have I give you." Its hardly ever about the money, its about the word that God has planted in your heart. God checked my heart to see if there was a willingness to give some money, (in the form of gas), but knowing I wouldnt need to. He just wanted me to share Him! This encounter affected me probably as much or more than Jeff. Dont be afraid of sharing your faith, God has placed His Word in your heart to tell the people the "Good News". Who knows, you may even up hugging that guy asking for gas!</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "ariel" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px;">Food for thought, God has called us to be something different. Ask yourself,Are you different, does your life display Christ? It was a check up for me, but you never know where God is going to show up, Its How He Rolls, Stay Blessed, PJ</span>CCChurchSBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08183281464290993073noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3053563572246185602.post-3933014441283714822016-07-17T22:26:00.000-07:002016-08-06T13:47:21.240-07:00We Can do Better<span style="font-family: "ariel" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129;">Food for thought, a good and convicting </span><a href="http://jackwellman.blogspot.com/2016/06/what-does-bible-say-about-christians.html"><span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: blue;">article</span><span style="background-color: white;">.</span></span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129;"> Hearing believers recently exclaim the name of Jesus Christ as a reaction to something, just wrenches my heart. Even when I think deeper, I have a habit of redirecting someones words with "cheese and rice" which really isnt right either. It come in under euphemisms which is just another way of saying the same thing, in essence I am still saying the name of Jesus. Guess I / we should take a closer look at what we are saying in o</span></span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; display: inline; font-family: "ariel" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px;">ur exclamations, OMG, Jeeze, etc...<br />We are fortunate that we are saved by His grace, and not of our own actions, because we all fall short, but it doesnt mean we cant do better. There is a better example to be set, and its by following His example. For God so loved the world He sent His only begotten son, that whosoever believes in Him would not perish, but have everlasting life. His sent His son to be an example of how we sould be. He could have just came and made the sacrifice, but He did more. He lived and walked among us, putting Himself beneath us to be an example of how we should be to others<br />He holds us to a higher standard, but doesnt hold it against us. We can and should do better, and the Holy Spirit in us convicts us so that we do do better. Anyhow just putting it out there because it convicted my heart. Conviction isnt to tear us down, but to help us do better. Thats how He rolls, Stay Blessed, PJ</span>CCChurchSBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08183281464290993073noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3053563572246185602.post-83391376694512136302016-07-16T22:33:00.000-07:002016-08-06T13:47:44.502-07:00No Excuse<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px;">I dont believe there is a person out there that this doesnt relate to. Even those that havent had a relationship with Him, no matter how much denial is there, the Bible says that all know.</span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px;">Romans 1:18-20 "The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world Go</span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; display: inline; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px;">d’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse."<br />No excuses! The same way if we get pulled over, can we tell the officer "Sorry I didnt know I was breaking the law" We all know ignorance of the law is no excuse.<br />This verse tells us something much deeper, its that we all know. Jesus is tugging at every heart, but we get so caught up in the junk this world throws at us, that we dont seem to even have the time to give Him a thought before it gets swiftly stolen away. We must purpose in our heads and hearts to spend time with Him while we still have time.<br />Jesus conquered everything the enemy threw at Him, even his biggest weapon, death.<br />Romans 8:35-39 "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written:<br />“For your sake we face death all day long;<br />we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”<br />No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor 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."<br />We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us, we can get through all this junk.<br />Do you experience His freedom? 2Corinthians 3:17 "Now the Lord is Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is there is freedom. We can be free from all of it, we just gotta keep our eyes on Him. Dont let the enemy lure you away with all the care and worries of this life. Let us store up the eternal things, since the biggest part of our existence is hgoing to be on the other side. Where everything we have built up here will be subject to moths, rust, decay and thieves. We cant take it with us, so why would we let it consume us. There is freedom in Christ, when te Lord sets you free, you are free indeed. Give your heart to Him, or rededicate it to Him. Its all He wants from us, (and frankly its all we have to give that He doesnt already have).The rewards are outta this world, it how He rolls! Stay Blessed, PJ</span><br />
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<br />CCChurchSBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08183281464290993073noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3053563572246185602.post-53635467236830400112016-07-02T22:29:00.000-07:002016-08-06T13:49:21.112-07:00Feet Like A Deer<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Ariel, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px; margin-bottom: 6px;">
Habakkuk 3:19 The Sovereign Lord is my strength;<br />
he makes my feet like the feet of a deer,<br />
he enables me to tread on the heights.</div>
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Habakkuk starts out with a plea (V 2-3)<br />
How long, Lord, must I call for help, but you do not listen?<br />
Or cry out to you, “Violence!” but you do not save?<br />
Why do you make me look at injustice?<br />
Why do you tolerate wrongdoing?<br />
Destruction and violence are before me;<br />
there is strife, and conflict abounds.<br />
The Lords answer wasnt what he wanted to hear, the Lord was raising up the Babylonians to punish the Israelites for disobedience, (this lead to the destruction of their land and 70 years of captivity). By the end of the book (chapter 3)Habakkuk was praising God even though the situation hadnt changed at all. Knowing / realizing that God is in control was really all he needed despite all the troubles around him.<br />
Isnt that true for us today? Despite all of the things going on in our lives and all around us, things hitting from all sides, we need to remind ourselves, (or be reminded), that God is in CONTROL. He has a plan, even when things seem to be in such chaos, even when the wicked / evil of this day and age seems to triumph. When good people struggle, and bad people live high on the hog. We gotta remember that this whole world around us and everything in it will perish. It is in His Word to us, this world has nothing eternal to offer. Our life is in Him, and the more we seek Him the more the cares and worries of this life just seem to fall off of us. "He makes my feet like feet of a deer, He enables me to tread the heights". This is a picture of Him lifting us outta the junk around us, our step being lighter. To have a skip, a joy in your step as we walk through or over our problems. Thats giving it to Him, letting Jesus, Our Lord, carry our burdens.<br />
Isaiah 40:31 "but those who hope in the Lord<br />
will renew their strength.<br />
They will soar on wings like eagles;<br />
they will run and not grow weary,<br />
they will walk and not be faint".<br />
Like Peter walking on the water when his eyes were on the Lord, we too can walk through this life unburdened / joyfully, with our eyes on Him. We dont have to wait until we die to experience heaven. He has given us a deposit of heaven already. We can live in it now if we choose. Spend time with Him. Make Him the Lord you called upon when you asked for salvation.<br />
If you havent asked Jesus into your heart, what are you waiting for? Repent of your sins, ask for forgiveness, make Him your Lord and Saviour. Romans 10:9 "If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." Its that simple. Its Gods will that none would perish, but all would come to repentance. So He made it easy, simply ask, ask with your whole heart, holding nothing back. You will be saved! Walk in His joy, joy eternal, with feet like a deer, skipping over all the burdens, letting Jesus carry them. Its not a promise of an easy / trouble free life. Its a promise of not letting those troubles drag you down. Praising Him even when the situation hasnt changed. God is Good, Stay Blessed, PJ</div>
CCChurchSBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08183281464290993073noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3053563572246185602.post-4232221391012471242016-06-28T22:32:00.000-07:002016-08-06T13:50:45.246-07:00Walking Dead?<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Ariel, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px; margin-bottom: 6px;">
Genesis 6:11-13 "Now the earth was corrupt in God’s sight and was full of violence. God saw how corrupt the earth had become, for all the people on earth had corrupted their ways. So God said to Noah, “I am going to put an end to all people, for the earth is filled with violence because of them. I am surely going to destroy both them and the earth".</div>
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It had to be gut wrenching for Noah. It took like 100 years to build the ark. All the time knowing that every person he seen wa<span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;">s going to perish. SO I guess we gotta ask daily, hourly…, are we content with seeing people around us, knowing where they are going, are we content to just stand on the sidelines thinking, “glad that’s not me, I know where im going”. “Well this is an evil generation and they deserve what they got coming”. I could see myself like Jonah so easily, “forget those people, I don’t even want to be around them, much less endure them in church”. “They are evil and they got it coming, if they repent they wont pay the price.” We gotta see WE WERE THOSE PEOPLE TOO, and God certainly didn’t give us what we deserve. God is not fair! And for that I am thankful, because fairness would be giving me what I really deserve, instead of DYING TO GIVE ME HIS LIFE, the life I don’t deserve<br />I think in reality we all kinda pick and choose who we witness to, and rightfully so to some extent. We do need to test the waters, and not shove the gospel down an unwilling throat. That being said, Its ALL waters that need to be tested, because we don’t know which heart is ready and which isn’t, even aside from that, which seeds we are dropping on the path and which are being planted, all are His seeds. Sometimes its just to give that person, who will never accept Him, another chance. God is just and its His will that none would perish, so everyone will get a chance to turn to Him and accept the gift of Life, JESUS CHRIST our Savoiur. Jesus paid the price so we don’t have to.<br />One of the shows I watch is the Walking Dead, my Pastor says, “If I want to see the Walking Dead, all I have to do is go outside”. How very true, The Day of the Lord is coming, it will soon be upon us, what are we doing with the knowing? Are we just sitting around watching the news saying, “yup the bible says it will be like this, it says that would happen, gonna be soon, I cant wait to get out”. I don’t believe that’s why Jesus told us the future, or lack of one for this earth. We are to be telling the world, Romans 10:9 “That if you confess with your mouth Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart God raised Him from the dead YOU WILL BE SAVED”. His parting words were to go out and make disciples! There were 120,000 people in Ninevah that repented when Jonah told them Gods message.<br />Then ya gotta ask yourself, What do you see when you look around? And What are you called to do about it? Just food for thought, I want to hear Him say "Well done". Stay Blessed, PJ</span></div>
CCChurchSBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08183281464290993073noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3053563572246185602.post-83428594259254123962016-05-28T21:07:00.000-07:002016-08-31T21:08:47.208-07:00Cutting Back?<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Ariel, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px;">Just so that people know, I havent been on much lately. I am limiting how much time I spend on here. I didnt want to say Im cutting back and only to not follow through with it, so I just did it. I found FB to be consuming way too much of my time, and it can be better spent. As a result I have found myself a bit more focused and spending more time in His word. Which ultimately is my goal, to grow more in my walk with Him. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Ariel, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Ariel, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px;">We should never be satisfied with our relationship with Him. We should always be seeking more. There really is no maintaining our spiritual status, we are either growing or sliding back. The enemy never takes a break, so we have to be always on the look out, with our spiritual armor intact. Thank God that "greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world". Let us grow in Him so that we may be wise to the schemes of the world around us. Thats the reason I want to cut down on the time I waste, watching TV, trolling facebook pages, etc... things that really produce nothing except a loss of time that could have been much better spent growing in my knowledge of Him, sharing with my family all that God reveals to me, etc... After all like James 14:14 says, "Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes." </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Ariel, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Ariel, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px;">None of us are promised tomorrow, and the life in this body is ebbing away. 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Ariel, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Ariel, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px;">God has something so much better for us, than just a high score on a game or whos doing/saying what on FB, He holds out life, abundant life for us if we would just reach out and spend the time on Him. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Ariel, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Ariel, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px;">James 1:5-7 "If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord". Like Jesus said, Matthew 7:7-12 "“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone?" </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Ariel, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Ariel, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px;">Its all about the new life in Him, seeking Him, not doubting, and most importantly not giving up, but patiently waiting on the Lord. He knows how to give good gifts! Give Him a chance, He is worth it and the benefits are outta this world!! Stay Blessed PJ </span>CCChurchSBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08183281464290993073noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3053563572246185602.post-1305398305093795942016-03-21T21:18:00.000-07:002016-08-31T21:19:12.997-07:00You'll Find Jesus There<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Ariel, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px; margin-bottom: 6px;">
"Tomorrow morning," the surgeon began,” I’ll open up your Heart..." "You'll find Jesus there," The boy interrupted. The surgeon looked up, annoyed. "I’ll cut your heart open," he continued, to see how much damage has been done..."<br />The surgeon looked to the parents, who sat quietly. "When I see how much damage has been done, I’ll sew your heart and chest back up, and I’ll plan what to do next."<br />"But, you'll find Jesus in my heart. The Bible says He live<span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;">s there. You’ll find Him in my heart.”<br />The surgeon had had enough. "I’ll tell you what I’ll find in your Heart. I will find damaged muscle, low blood supply, and weakened vessels. And I’ll find out if I can make you well."<br />"You'll find Jesus there too. He lives there." The surgeon left.<br />The surgeon sat in his office, recording his notes from the surgery,"...damaged aorta, damaged pulmonary vein, and widespread muscle degeneration. No hope for transplant, no hope<br />for cure. Therapy: Painkillers and bed rest. Prognosis: Here he paused, "death within one year.”<br />He stopped the recorder, but there was more to be said. "Why?" he asked aloud. "Why did you do this? You put him here; you put him in this pain; and you cursed him to an early death. Why?" The Lord answered and said, "The boy, my lamb, was not meant for your flock for long, for he is a part of my flock, and will forever be. Here, in my flock, he will feel no pain, and will be comforted as you cannot imagine. His parents will one day join him here, and they<br />will know peace, and my flock will continue to grow. "<br />The surgeon's tears were hot, but his anger was hotter.”You created that boy, and you created that heart. He will be dead in a few months. Why?" The Lord answered, "The boy, my lamb, shall return to my flock, for he has done his duty: I did not put my lamb with your flock to lose him, but to retrieve another lost lamb." The surgeon wept... The surgeon sat beside the boy's bed; the boy's parents sat across from him. The boy awoke and whispered; "Did you cut open my heart?”<br />“Yes," said the surgeon. “What did you find?" asked the boy. "I found Jesus there," said the surgeon.<br />Author—Unknown</span></div>
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I love this story, whether its true or not doesnt matter. What does matter is we never know what God is doing or how He is working, only that He is in control of all things. We may not have all the answers, (actually not many), but we gotta trust in the One who does. He made everything, is in everything, and has all knowledge, so why is it that we have a hard time giving Him control of it all. He know our future, He has our best interests at heart and will not steer us wrong. Yet we trust in all these temporary things around us that will only perish in the end. Give God a chance, He is the one sure thing you can count on and you wont be sorry. The bonus plan is outta this world!!! Stay Blessed, PJ</div>
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CCChurchSBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08183281464290993073noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3053563572246185602.post-85808726040050479942016-03-18T21:26:00.000-07:002016-08-31T21:26:50.957-07:00Fool<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Ariel, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px;">Good read with many scripture references doing the talking! One scripture I have seen so many times in life but havent given much thought to is “Doing wrong is like a joke to a fool, but wisdom is pleasure to a man of understanding” (Prov 10:23). Im reminded of the old why worry narrative which ends with "...if i go to hell i will be so busy shaking hands with my friend I wont have time to worry" I wonder if anybody who ever said this actually believed it. I know that I didnt</span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; display: inline; font-family: Ariel, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px;"> when I had said this for a laugh in the past. Truth is its no laughing matter. God takes our sins pretty serious, so much so that He gave His son to die for them. If He takes forgiveness that serious then the same is true for the unforgiven sinner. God doesnt chose who spends eternity in hell, thats a choice we make by not acting on what we know to be true. Romans 6:23 "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." 1Corinthians 1:18 "For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God."<br />I personally love to laugh and joke, but not in sinful foolishness anymore. My eternity or the eternity of those I care for is no laughing matter to me. If fact it causes me much pain to watch someone I love racing down the wrong road. Let us step up to the plate and be the examples of life, the wisdom of God that brings life! Eternity is at stake!! Stay Blessed, PJ</span><br />
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; display: inline; font-family: Ariel, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px;">Article Link; <a href="http://www.whatchristianswanttoknow.com/who-does-the-bible-call-a-fool/#ixzz43Gjanxxq">http://www.whatchristianswanttoknow.com/who-does-the-bible-call-a-fool/#ixzz43Gjanxxq</a></span>CCChurchSBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08183281464290993073noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3053563572246185602.post-17284592242478427882016-03-01T22:43:00.000-08:002016-08-06T13:52:42.603-07:00Is He Listening, Are We?<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Ariel, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px; margin-bottom: 6px;">
If anyone turns a deaf ear to my instruction,<br />
even their prayers are detestable. Proverbs 28:9</div>
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Wow, you mean there is actually a problem with not obeying God and His laws! There is a big difference between making an effort, but yet slipping, and not trying at all. You may be able to fool people around you, but you cannot fool God. He alone knows what is in a mans heart, in fact He knows us better than we know ourselves. Its where Paul was going in Romans 8:26-27 In the s<span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;">ame way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.<br />We make a mockery of God when we make excuses, or try to justify our actions. The bible says in Galatians 6:7<br />Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.<br />What are we sowing, what is our life planting in others lives when we still go about saying, doing, listening to the same old stuff that Christ died to set us free from. What is it saying when we call ourselves a follower of Christ by bearing His name, calling ourselves a Christian but not obeying the truth.<br />1 John 2:3-6 We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands. Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person. But if anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did.</span></div>
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If we claim it we need to walk it, God sees our intention, He sees our heart. We make it soo much harder than it needs to be. Jesus words in Matthew 11:28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." He wants to take our burdens, He wants to make it easier. If its His will that none would perish but all would have eternal life, then why would He make it hard?<br />
We make it hard by resisting and hanging onto the old ways and old life. Give Him the only thing you have to offer, Your Heart. You will find rest for your souls! Let God do the work, working in you and through you, but He can only work in a heart thats been surrendered to Him.<br />
There is one prayer that God will always hear, thats the prayer of a heart surrendering to Him, a repentant heart. A heart that knows that there is nothing he can to save himself, but to accept the gift of salvation thats there waiting to be received. The work has been done, the price for sins has been paid. Accept Him, receive His gift and start walking in the new life He died to give you! Stay Blessed, PJ</div>
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CCChurchSBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08183281464290993073noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3053563572246185602.post-26836199768040713772016-02-28T21:34:00.000-08:002016-12-14T11:13:27.746-08:00Are ya ready to be Judged?<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Ariel, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px; margin-bottom: 6px;">
2 Corinthians 5:10 "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad."<br />
Romans 14:10-12 "You, then, why do you judge your brother or sister? Or why do you treat them with contempt? For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat. It is written:<br />
“‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord,<br />
‘every knee will bow before me;<span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;"><br />every tongue will acknowledge God.’”<br />So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God."</span></div>
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We are all going to stand before Him one day. Thankfully we have an advocate standing before us, to intervene for us. He paid the price for us.<br />
1 Peter 4:17-18 says "For it is time for judgment to begin with God’s household; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God? And,<br />
“If it is hard for the righteous to be saved,<br />
what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?”<br />
John 14:6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.</div>
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Jesus is the only way to God, the only way to eternal life. He gave His life to give us the opportunity. Are ya ready to be Judged? If you have repented, asked Him for forgiveness, and made Him Lord of your life, then Yes you are ready, ready to stand in judgment before our Maker for all of the sins done in your lifetime. Only to hear our Savoiur say, "This ones Mine" If you havent, what are you waiting for? Life isnt getting any longer, in fact nobody is promised tomorrow. We dont even know if we will wake up tomorrow, so why wait, why risk and roll the dice hoping for another day. Now is the time, today is the day. Dont put it off another day, ask Him into your heart and start experiencing a new life, the life He died to give you. Let Him stand in your defense and say, "This ones Mine". Stay Blessed. PJ</div>
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CCChurchSBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08183281464290993073noreply@blogger.com0