Righteousness

And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness. Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead;
Romans 4:22-24 King James Version

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY’S VERSES…
Righteousness was for us also! Righteousness – “Right Standing before God!”
Paul is talking here about Abraham, the father of faith. Because Abraham believed that what God promised him He was fully able to do (faith in God), God accounted his faith unto him for righteousness. But the Word of God goes on to say that not only was righteousness accounted unto Abraham for his faith but also to those of us who believe on Him who raised Jesus from the dead. It’s so simple people. All we have to do to be righteous (to be Just) in the sight of God is believe in Jesus and God who raised Him from the dead. To come to Him in Faith, we don’t have to do anything else to obtain righteousness, our righteousness is from and through Christ Jesus. We don’t have to get our act together or clean up our lives first, we can’t without His help anyway. Jesus has washed us with His Blood and made us clean (righteous) before God. It is soooo easy, yet religion has made it so hard to grasp. All we have to do is Believe – no proof needed!

MY PRAYER…
Precious Father, thank You for making it soooo easy for me! So easy that many will not believe it is so easy. Father, thank You for providing for my righteousness through Your Son and my Lord Jesus. Thanks Abba Daddy for giving me that which I was not worthy to receive. That which I could in no way earn You lovingly gave to me as a free gift, if only I would receive it. Father, I exercise my faith and I accept that which I was not worthy to have, but that which You have freely given. Thank You Lord for sending me Jesus to show me the way, the only way! In Jesus’ name I pray.
Amen

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God loves ALL people

Give thanks to the Lord, call on His Name; make known among the nations what He has done and proclaim that His Name is exalted.
Isaiah 12:4 New International Version

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY’S VERSE…

Did you now that God loves ALL people, everywhere in the World? That’s right I said ALL because that’s what the Bible says!

It is wrong to think God’s love for the nations began only with Jesus and the Great Commission. Remember Jonah’s preaching to save Israel’s great enemy, Nineveh and the whale? Remember the precious story of Ruth? How about how He used the harlot Rahab to protect his people. God loves all people (not just Christians!) and wants them to come to share in the truth of the knowledge in Him and in His grace. As Christians, we are His salt and His light. We are here as His great workmen, to touch all the peoples of the world and to share with them The Truth that will set them free. We are to convince them to listen to and believe The Truth of His Word and to repent and turn from their worldly ways unto the Father through Jesus who gave His life for them.

MY PRAYER…
Most Holy God, I give You praise and glory and thanks giving forever. Father I thank You for Your covenant promises made through Jesus for us. Holy Father, stir within our hearts a greater passion to share Your love with the world. May our lives, our money, and our concerns be used to do more of Your work throughout the world. Father I thank You for Your protection and care of all those who share the Gospel of Jesus especially in a culture other than their own. I know that You are not a man that should lie and that what You have promised in Your Word must be true. In Jesus mighty name, I give You praise and glory forever.
Amen

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Today’s Message:

Imitation

Be imitators of God as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
Ephesians 5:1-2 New International Version

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY’S VERSE…

Imitation is the most sincere form of flattery known to mankind. We are to sincerely flatter God by being as much like Him as we can be. But imitation may also be the most costly form of flattery as well. You see, love for God is never something that occurs just in our minds or our hearts. Love is something we do for another, it is an action. John said in 1 John 4 that we must love in both our deeds and our words. Love means to give ourselves up, what we want, our rights, our desires, to honor God and serve others. To lay down our lives if need be, even as far as to death for another. This is a kind of love that can change the world, or a marriage, or a family, or the lost. It is known as ‘AGAPE’ Love, it’s unconditional love, it’s the God kind of love. It is not a physical, sexual based love. We need to live, walk, and talk the God kind of Love for others, just as He loves us.

MY PRAYER…
Abba Father, I will never fully understand how You could love me so much that You would allow Your only begotten Son to die for me as my sacrifice. To pay the price for my sin. Please help me to love others sacrificially as Christ loves me. I know the power to do this is not within me or of myself, so please pour Your love into my heart, that I may share that love with others. Father, let Your Holy Spirit continually fill me and overflow me with Your love. Through Jesus, my Lord, my brother and my saviour, I pray.
Amen

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In His Service
Pastors Duane & Laura

Yes, You -Do you want to see this ministry’s mailings to continue? Then please help support it by giving a donation/love offering .
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Now for today’s message:

Spiritual Growth

“Unto what is the kingdom of God like? and whereunto shall I resemble it? It is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and cast into his garden; and it grew, and waxed a great tree; and the fowls of the air lodged in the branches of it.”
Luke 13:18-19 King James Version

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY’S VERSE…
Grow A Little Spiritually Every Day!

If you’re going to grow in the kingdom of God, you’re going to do it just like a seed that’s been planted in the ground. How does a seed grow? All at once? No, it grows constantly– 24 hours a day–a little at a time until it accomplishes what it was created to do. Many of us don’t operate that way spiritually. We study and pray very hard for a few days and then quit or slack way off. We want it all right now, microwave Christianity! Then, when some emergency or sickness or some other disaster comes, we make a mad desperate attempt to pray and stand on the Word, calling all our brothers and sisters to be in agreement with us! While all the while realizing that, for some reason, we’re just not as strong as we ought to be spiritually. Why not? God’s Kingdom works on the principal of “Seed time and Harvest”, you don’t get a harvest without first sowing seed. And seed takes time to grow. There’s no such thing as an overnight success in the kingdom of God! There’s no over night ‘super Christian’! Real strength, real growth comes as you consistently and constantly keep the Word before your eyes, in your ears, and in the midst of your heart. Not just when you want to or when you feel like it, but constantly, like the seed, a little at a time. Make up your mind to begin that daily process of constant growth today. Determine to start putting the Word in your heart consistently. Every day a line here, a line there–a CD here, a CD there, maybe a video here, and video there, line upon line, precept upon precept as your spirit man grows and becomes strong in the things of God! Eventually, your faith will be bigger than you ever dreamed it could be. Remember to tithe of your time to the Lord also. A tithe of 24 hours is 2.4 hours a day that you should be giving totally to God!

MY PRAYER…
Almighty God, I thank You for giving me a measure of faith that I can plant in my heart and cause to grow. Thank You Lord, for Your steadfast love and enduring faithfulness even when I falter. I thank You for Your grace and mercy. I thank You for Your might and power. I thank You for Your awesome holiness. I thank You… for being You and choosing to reveal Yourself to mortals like me. I Thank You Father for loving me so much that You sent Your Holy Son Jesus to bear my sin, my punishment, my sickness, my disease, my poverty, my depression, and my lack of fulfillment in the law, that through His sacrifice I might have life and life more abundantly. Father help me to develop a steadfastness in spending time with You and in Your Word. In Jesus’ name, your Word made flesh, I pray.
Amen

Forever!

The Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.
1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 New International Version

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY’S VERSE…

What do you have in your life now that will last forever? Nothing, unless it is spiritual. Most everything we have falls apart, breaks, grows old, rusts away, conks out, or runs down in a short time, and if that doesn’t finish it then the purifying fire of the Lord on the day of judgment will. Nothing material will leave this earth with us when we go. Nothing, not even a piece of clothing. But we have three things that will last forever: God (Triune – in all three persons), our Christian brothers and sisters, and our praise for God. These are eternal. We must protect these through our daily spiritual maintenance with God, be sure and give Him the time that’s His. Remember, the tithe belongs to the Lord, that’s a tenth! Not just a tenth of our first fruits and money, but a tenth of our daily time is also His. Only what you store up now in heaven will last forever.

MY PRAYER…
God, I look forward to the day of Your next great surprise. I join the angels in standing on tiptoe as I look into the clouds to see my Lord, Your Son, return in all glory and splendor and watch as He receives the exaltation, the honor, and the praise He deserves. I’ll stand in awe as every knee bows to the King of Kings and every tongue speaks forth nothing but praises. I praise You for that day now, even though I see it only by faith. Until I see You on that day, know that my heart’s desire is to serve You, even when my weakness gets in the way of showing it as fully as I should. But, I know that when I am weak then I am made strong through you. My thanks and praise to You in Jesus’ name.
Amen

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“Seated In Heavenly Places “

If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
Colossians 3:1-3 New King James Version

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY’S VERSE…

Do you know that you are seated in Heavenly places with Jesus?
Scripture says that if you believe in Jesus and have been baptized into His death that you are also raised up with Him and made to sit in heavenly places with Him (Eph 2:6). This is known as a positional truth because it is what God says about us. We need to see ourselves as God does in His positional truths. We should seek those things that are of heaven, those things which will last with us through all eternity. We should lay up treasures for ourselves in heaven, where they can not be destroyed or taken by thieves. We need to get our eyes off of ourselves and the things of this world, the things that distract us from heavenly things, and get them unto Jesus…the Author and the Finisher of our faith. Only He can change our circumstances.

MY PRAYER…
Eternal Father, who was before creation and who is the Great “I AM”, help me to sow seeds in my life that will bear eternal fruit. Help me to see where You have raised me to be seated. Let Your Spirit guide and teach me to sow to the spirit and to avoid those things that are carnal and lead to death and destruction. Help me to keep my eyes on Jesus, my Author and my Finisher for I know that I can not accomplish anything on my own, but I need You and Your Holy Spirit to help and to guide me every step of the way. So Father, I ask You to fill me afresh each day with Your precious Holy Spirit, that indeed I may be endued with power from on High to accomplish that which I can not myself do for Your Kingdom. In Jesus’ mighty name, I pray.
Amen

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God’s Divine Nature

Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
2 Peter 1:4 King James Version

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY’S VERSE…

Did you know, we are called to participate in the divine nature of God by God Himself?
God made us in His Image, His Character and His Holiness, because He wanted us to be as much like Him as we could be. We were made not just to look like God, but also have His nature and character. We are called to participate in the divine nature of God Himself according to His Word. He has promised that if we have died with Christ in baptism, that we have then been seated in heavenly places with Christ. That we have then been made more than conquerors. We are assured that we will escape the corruption and destruction destined for the world. His promises are sure, they are eternal, and His Word will never change. He does not lie nor change His mind, if we will hearken unto His Word and follow it wholeheartedly we shall reap His precious promises!

MY PRAYER…
Almighty God, my Everlasting Fortress, thank You for giving me Your great and precious promises. Help me Lord to understand them and to walk them out in my life. Lord, I long to know You more fully and to be able to see Your face today, just as I believe I will one day in heaven. Thank You for giving me the means to protect myself and my heart from this world’s corruption. Lord, help me through Your Holy Spirit to walk in the spirit and not in the flesh. In all love and appreciation of what You have given me, I pray, in the name of Jesus.
Amen

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Do you want to see this ministry’s mailings to continue? Then please help support it by giving a donation/love offering. No support No mailings.
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Trust in God!

[The Lord says,] “Even to your old age and gray hairs, I am He, I am He who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you.
Isaiah 46:4 NIV

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY’S VERSE…
Trust in God!

Trust in God to sustain you in life!
How many times has God carried you, or rescued you, or just kept you from harm? I guarantee you don’t really know how many times!
Do you want an awesome promise from God? Hear the Words of the “Great God Jehovah” to the remnant of the house of Israel. To the children of Abraham who by Faith have become children of the Most High God with the same rights and privileges as the house of Israel. (That’s us Christians folks! We who have made Jesus our Lord!) He is telling them; “put your trust in Me, believe in Me, have faith in Me, for it is I who will keep you and carry you, it is I who will rescue you, and it is I who will sustain you, not those graven idols you have been worshiping.” Then in verses 9 & 10 (of Isaiah 46) He tells them this; “Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:” He is telling the remnant of the house of Israel to return to Him and He will show them His salvation (the Hebrew word translated here as salvation means: liberty, deliverance, prosperity, saving and salvation: it means all of these). By the time it got down to the “New Testament”, the Great Jehovah had extended that offer to all the rest of the people on Earth (the unbelieving heathen and gentiles of the world, if they would believe in Him and His Son Jesus) as well as just Israel. Now, Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8), He is telling us this same thing today, trust in me and I will deliver you and keep you! Is your source the Lord? Or do you trust in the world, worse yet do you trust in SELF instead of God?

MY PRAYER…
Almighty God, I give You all praise and glory forever. Lord I thank You that You carry me when I am in times of trouble, that You are always there to rescue me, and that it is You who sustain me when I can no longer continue. Lord, now I understand why at times I see two sets of footprints behind me and yet at other times I see only one set. I used to think that You had left my side, but now I know that when there was only one set, that was when You were carrying me in Your arms and in Your grace. I thank You Lord that You have never and never will leave me nor forsake me. I put all my trust in You Lord and in Jesus name, I pray.
Amen

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Spiritual Growth

“Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate you; reprove a wise man, and he will love you. Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser; teach a righteous man…and he will increase in learning.”
Proverbs 9:8-9 The Amplified Bible

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY’S VERSE…
Spiritual Growth!
Do you want to accelerate your spiritual growth in the fastest way? Then you need to learn to take correction, both from the Spirit of God and through His people when He sends them. You need to perform routine daily Spiritual Maintenance by spending at least a tenth of your day alone with God in prayer, praise, and pondering His Word. Also you need to spend just some quiet time listening to what He is saying to you. Most of us love it when our pastor preaches about something we already know, or about some aspect of life we’ve already submitted to the Lord in. We think he’s a great pastor. We like him because he makes us feel good. But let that same pastor stand up and begin to preach about something we’re doing wrong, or some area that we need to change in or turn over to the Lord for His help and we immediately put up a wall and take offense. There will even be some who will get up and leave! We have got to get over that and learn to esteem the gift of the pastor that has been given to us by the Lord God and learn to accept the Lord’s chastening through him. Or for that matter through any of the elders or leaders the Lord has placed over us. I’d rather be chastened (corrected) by the Lord than to be broken, crushed, or rejected by Him! We need to learn to receive that word of correction or guidance and begin to examine ourselves and ask the Lord; “Is that right? Does that agree with Your Word? Do I need to make some adjustments or changes in this area Lord?” If any of the answers are yes, then make them and watch your spiritual life begin to flourish even more. A very wise spiritual man once said, “If you think you’ve already arrived, you really aren’t going anywhere anyway!” Remember correction is not rejection, it is direction given unto perfection!

MY PRAYER…
Thank you, Father, for loving me and sending me Jesus to be my example. I ask, that by Your Holy Spirit, You help me to live the life that Jesus would have me to live. Father help me to allow the ‘Teacher’ to teach me Your ways and help me Lord to receive correction when correction is due. Lord I want nothing more than to grow and mature in You more each day. In Jesus’ mighty name I pray.
Amen

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Stand and praise God!

Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song.
Psalm 95:1-2 New International Version

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY’S VERSE…
Stand and praise God?
Can you stand and praise God anywhere? You stand and shout and cheer and carry on wildly at sports events.
What better way to express our joy than with laughter and song to God. We sing to the Lord because we are joyful and thankful for all He has done for us! Not what is going on in our lives and in the world around us. Our music is not inhibited or held back, but exuberant and as full of heart as it is of sound. We praise Him with our whole being, with all that we are. Just like David danced in the streets before the Lord. You can do it at sports events and concerts and no one cares, try being that exuberant when you praise God and see what happens. Thanksgiving and praise to Him is what brings us into the Father’s presence and it is our joy at the knowledge of what He has done for us that leads us to praise Him. Don’t hide that praise from the world, display it proudly! Even if we are not musically inclined it’s okay. He said in His Word we could make a joyful noise unto the Lord. It’s our hearts that matter, not what we sound like. Remember He said, He would inhabit the praises of His people.

MY PRAYER…
Most wonderful and glorious Father, thank you so much for sending Your Son and saving me from sin, death, and the law. Thank you for saving me and giving me the assurance, through your Holy Spirit, that I can come before you with exuberant and overflowing joy. Your love and grace have not only given me hope but have made me your child, a son and an heir. Hear my heart and be blessed by my sounds of praise. Through the mighty name of Jesus I pray and because of Jesus I will shout your praise forever and ever.
Amen

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