Why Worry? God’s in Charge!

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Why Worry?  God's in Charge

When the windscreens of our lives ice up, we need to have prepared by knowing that God has prepared us with a methodology to deal with the worst of the worst.  

By using the 'solvent' of God's Word in our lives ... and in this way we will be prepared to share the hope that is in our life.

Never pretend to be free from worry.  Life does impact every Christian.

Key, helpful 'solvent' verses to keep in your heart:

" ... but He has said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, My lovingkindness and My mercy are more than enough -- always available regardless of the situation; for My power is being perfected and is completed and shows itself most effectively in your weakness.'  

"Therefore, I will all the more gladly boast in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may completely enfold me and may dwell in me.  So I am well pleased with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, and with difficulties, for the sake of Christ; for when I am weak in human strength, then I am strong, truly able, truly powerful, truly drawing from God's strength." 

II Corinthians 12:9-10

"So will My word be which goes out of My mouth; it will not return to Me void, useless, without result, without accomplishing what I desire, and without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it." Isaiah 55:11

Romans 14

Romans 8

"I am convinced and confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will continue to perfect and complete it until the day of Christ Jesus -- the time of His return." 

Philippians 1:6

"Do not be afraid and anxious, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom." 

Luke 12:32

A Failed Solution

Scripture: 2 Samuel 11:6-13

Hard lesson that should touch us all.  Prepare your heart! 

Just say 'No!'  

The faithfulness of God overcomes the arrogant unfaithfulness of David, made king by His very hand.  How sad and sinful we are!  

Help us tremble at the door to sin!

Thank the Lord for His gracious forgiveness and hope in our development and understanding of His Word and will for us.

Justified by Faith Alone in Christ Alone

 

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Ligonier Ministries 

  "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad and easy to travel is the path that leads the way to destruction and eternal loss, and there are many who enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow and difficult to travel is the path that leads the way to everlasting life, and there are few who find it." Matthew 7:13-14

"Therefore, since we have been justified, that is acquitted of sin, declared blameless before God by faith, let us grasp the fact that we have peace with God and the joy of reconciliation with Him through our Lord Jesus Christ, the Messiah, the Anointed.  

"Through Him we also have access by faith into this remarkable state of grace in which we firmly and safely and securely stand.  

"Let us rejoice in our hope and the confident assurance of experiencing and enjoying the glory of our great God, the manifestation of His excellence and power.

"And not only this, but with joy let us exult in our sufferings and rejoice in our hardships, knowing that hardship, distress, pressure and trouble produces patient endurance; and endurance, proven character, spiritual maturity; and proven character, hope and confident assurance of eternal salvation.  

"Such hope in God's promises never disappoints us, because God's love has been abundantly poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.  

"While we were still helpless, powerless to provide for our salvation, at the right time Christ died as a substitute for the ungodly.  

"Now it is an extraordinary thing for one to willingly give his life even for an upright man, though perhaps for a good man, one who is noble and selfless and worthy someone might even dare to die.  

"But God clearly shows and proves His own love for us, by the fact that while we were still sinners Christ died for us.  

"Therefore, since we have now been justified and declared free of the guilt of sin by His blood, how much more certain is it that we will be saved from the wrath of God through Him."  Romans 5:1-9

"For it is by grace, God's remarkable compassion and favour drawing you to Christ that you have been saved, actually delivered from judgment and given eternal life through faith.  

"And this salvation is not of yourselves, not through your own effort, but it is the undeserved, gracious gift of God; not as a result of your works, nor your attempts to keep the Law, so that no one will be able to boast or take credit in any way for his salvation.  

"For we are His workmanship, His own masterwork, a work of art, created in Christ Jesus, reborn from above -- spiritually transformed, renewed, ready to be used for good works, which God prepared for us beforehand taking paths which He set so that we would walk in them living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us."  Ephesians 2:9-10

(Bible Quotes from The Ampliflied Bible(TM), the Lockman Foundation

‘A Greater Revival Will Come to This Nation’—Interview With Pastor Brian...

As we watch the nation of America fall, our hearts weep with those who are our brothers and sisters of Christ.  A time to be reading your Bibles before they come to take them away.  

This is a 38-minute interview with Pastor Brian, pastor of 'His Church' in an interview with Joshua Philipp of Crossroads.  

5 False Teachings That Every Christian MUST Run From !!!

Clarifying some key issues.  This young man points to the One who provides the grace as the propitiation [full and perfect payment] for our sins - past, present and future.  It is our choice to trust Him!

Enjoy Reading Your Bible

I want to give you a path into the Bible, to help you enjoy it for your first reading.  This will be especially helpful for you if English is not your first language. 

The Bible, as you may know, is not one book even thought it appears to be one.  It is not written like a novel.  It is instead sixty-six separate books.

• 39 books in what is called the Old Testament,
• 27 in what is called the New Testament 

It was written to share the Good News to the world from the beginning of all things.  It was also written by a variety of individuals and over vast amounts of time.

So where should you begin to read!?

When I got my first Bible, I just thought it was a book; I started reading it from the beginning.  It was a long and difficult slog for a nine-year-old.  Much of it did not make much sense and by the time I finished, the Old Testament, I was thoroughly mad at God for killing so many animals!

Should you ever manage to read all the Old Testament you will understand.  It is quite an important observation, but more about that another day.

You can start reading anywhere.  For someone just beginning to read it, I would recommend you begin in Mark. This is the second book in the New Testament section.  It is short, energetic and provides a good understanding of the reason and the way Jesus came to minister to this world.

Here is an overview of the Book of Mark 

by 'The Bible Project' to get you started

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To begin, you may want to read only one chapter a day, so you have time to think about what you have read.  Mark has only 16 chapters.

Progress Tool

A. Get an index card, a piece of paper or start a Bible reading notebook (more on this in another segment).  
B. Draw a table (see below) with 16 squares.  
C. Write the numbers 1 through 16 in each block.  
D. Cross off each chapter as you complete reading it.  

This is a great tool you can use to encourage you to keep reading.   

1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8
9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16

What Bible Version Is Helpful to Start With?

If you do not have a Bible, consider buying or borrowing a copy of The Life Application Bible (LAB).  It comes with many notes, illustrations and maps that make the geography, individuals and customs make sense, plus it offers some ideas of ways you can apply what you learn to your everyday life. 

Each book of the Bible in this annotated version comes with an introduction and various important features of each book.  These help you grasp what you are reading, such as key thoughts, keywords, characters and verses, etc.  

You can either read the introduction or simply dive right into the story.

What Translation? 

A good translation to begin with (especially if English is not your first language) is the New Living Translation.  There are many different translations (and I'm happy to explain them someday). 

This translation is easy to read.  It does not use old-fashioned, Elizabethan English (‘thee’ and ‘thou’, ‘didst’, ‘knowest’, etc.).  Finally, the NEW Living Translation is a true translation, accurate to the original manuscripts – so trustworthy to study.

Enough for now.  Please email me anytime with questions (darlenerichard@gmail.com ) and I will happily respond.

The Refreshing Humour of Jesus

"For if the word spoken through angels proved unalterable, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense, how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation?  

"After it was at the first spoken through the Lord, it was confirmed to us by those who heard.  God also bearing witness with them both by signs and wonders and by various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit according to His own will.

"For He did not subject to angels the world to come, concerning which we are speaking.  But one has testified somewhere, saying, 'What is man, that Thou rememberest him?  Or the son of man, that Thou art concerned about him?  Thou hast made Him for a little while lower than the angels;  Thou hast crowned Him with glory and honour, and hast appointed Him over the works of Thy hands; Thou hast put all things in subjection under His feet.'

"For in subjecting all things to Him, He left nothing that is not subject to Him.  But now we do not yet see all things subjected to Him.  But we do see Him who has been made for a little while lower than the angels, namely, Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honour, that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone.

"For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to perfect the author of their salvation through sufferings.  For both He who sanctifies and those who are sanctified are all from one Father for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren, saying, 

'"I will proclaim Thy name to My brethren, in the midst of the congregation I will sing Thy praise.'  

"And again, 'I will put My trust in Him.'  

And again, 'Behold, I and the children whom God has given Me.

"Since then the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil; and might deliver those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives.  For assuredly He does not give help to angels, but He gives help to the descendant of Abraham.  

"Therefore, He had to be made like His brethren in all things, that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation [full, complete and perfect payment] for the sins of the people.  For since He Himself was tempted in that which He has suffered, He is able to come to and aid of those who are tempted."  Hebrew 2:2-18

"For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathise with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.  Let us therefore draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and may find grace to help in time of need." Hebrews 4:14-16

Consider the humanity of Jesus

If you have not found time to watch the eight episodes of Season 1 of The Chosen, I encourage you.

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'Is it okay to make Jesus jokes?'

I remember as a child, before I had a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ, a patient Bible teacher mentioned that Jesus even had blisters!  It was a powerful paradigm shift for me as I considered what the Bible meant about Jesus being 'fully human'.  

Had Jesus not lived a 'fully human' life, He would not be able to understand and be compassionate with our lives today!  Think about how much LOVE He had for us to give up His divinity to be able to relate to the lives we live on earth.  Just AMAZING!!