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Unconditional Love |
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1 CORINTIANS 13:4-8
Love is patient, love is kind. it does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. it is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. it always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
....loveneverfails
Do everything with love!
NO GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN THAN THIS, THAT A MAN GIVES HIS LIFE FOR A FRIEND.
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AS CHILDREN BRING THERE BROKEN TOYS WITH TEARS FOR US TO MEND I BROUGHT MY BROKEN DREAMS TO HIM BECAUSE HE WAS MY FRIEND BUT THEN INSTEAD OF LEAVING HIM IN PEACE TO WORK ALONE I HUNG AROUND AND TRIED TO HELP WITH WAYS THAT WERE MY OWN AT LAST I SNATCHED THEM BACK AND CRIED, "HOW CAN YOU BE SO SLOW?" "MY CHILD", HE SAID, "WHAT COULD I DO, YOU NEVER DID LET GO."
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TO LET GO DOESN'T MEAN TO STOP CARING, IT MEANS I CANT DO IT FOR SOMEONE ELSE. TO LET GO IS NOT TO CUT MYSELF OFF, IT IS THE REALIZATION THAT I CANT CONTROL ANOTHER. TO LET GO IS NOT TO ENABLE, BUT TO ALLOW LEARNING FROM NATURAL CONSEQUENCES. TO LET GO IS TO ADMIT POWERLESSNESS, WHICH MEANS THE OUTCOME IS NOT IN MY HANDS. TO LET GO IS NOT TO TRY TO CHANGE OR BLAME ANOTHER, I CAN ONLY CHANGE MYSELF. TO LET GO IS NOT TO CARE FOR, BUT TO CARE ABOUT. TO LET GO IS NOT TO FIX, BUT TO BE SUPPORTIVE. TO LET GO IS NOT TO JUDGE, BUT TO ALLOW ANOTHER TO BE A HUMAN BEING. TO LET GO IS NOT TO BE IN THE MIDDLE ARRANGING OUTCOMES, BUT TO ALLOW OTHERS TO EFFECT THEIR OWN OUTCOMES. TO LET GO IS NOT TO BE PROTECTIVE; IT IS TO PERMIT ANOTHER TO FACE REALITY. TO LET GO IS NOT TO DENY, BUT TO ACCEPT. TO LET GO IS NOT TO NAG, SCOLD, OR ARGUE, BUT TO SEARCH OUT MY OWN SHORTCOMINGS AND TO CORRECT THEM. TO LET GO IS NOT TO ADJUST EVERYTHING TO MY DESIRES, BUT TO TAKE EACH DAY AS IT COMES AND TO CHERISH THE MOMENT. TO LET GO IS NOT TO CRITICIZE AND REGULATE ANYONE, BUT TO TRY TO BECOME WHAT I DREAM I CAN BE. TO LET GO IS NOT TO REGRET THE PAST, BUT TO GROW AND LIVE FOR THE FUTURE.
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WHY? |
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SO MANY NIGHTS I'VE RUN CRAZY AND WILD I'D GIVE MY LIFE TO FEEL A REAL SMILE
I'VE TRIED THE STRAIGHT LIFE ONLY TO RETURN TO THE OLD STREET BEHAVIOR THAT MY LIFE HAS LEARNED
I KNOW THAT'S WRONG TO CONTINUE THIS WAY TO BEAT THIS DEAD HORSE EVERY NIGHT AND EVERY DAY
STILL I REMAIN AN OUTCAST FROM WHAT I COULD BE GOD PLEASE LEAD ME PLEASE TEACH ME TO SEE
HELP ME UNDERSTAND THAT THIS ISN'T THE WAY CHANGE THE WAY THAT I FEEL AND THE WORDS THAT I SAY
I'M DENYING MY POTENTIAL I SAY "I'LL CHANGE BEFORE I DIE" I'VE BEEN RUNNING FROM MY FUTURE THAT LEAVES ME NOW ASKING WHY?
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LORD, HELP ME TO SEE WHAT MY HEART TRULY FEELS. FOR IT IS SOMETIMES SO HARD FOR ME TO DO THIS JESUS DEAL!
THIS BATTLE RAGES INSIDE OF ME AND KEEPS MY HEART SOMETIMES UNTRUE, I DON'T ALWAYS DO RIGHT, LORD, IN ALL I SAY AND DO.
I WATCH THE BIRDS EACH MORNING AND SEE HOW COMPASSIONATE YOU ARE TO ME. THEY SING ME BEAUTIFUL SONGS OF LOVE AND SHOW ME THAT I AM NOT WHERE I WANT TO BE.
THEY DON'T HAVE A CARE IN THE WORLD, THEY TRUST IN YOU FOR ALL THEIR NEEDS. OH, HELP ME SWEET JESUS TO GET RID OF ALL THESE THORNS AND WEEDS.
I THINK MY HEART IS ALL FOR YOU, AND THEN I FIND MYSELF SUCH A SINNER. I DON'T WANT TO LOSE THIS FIGHT, OH LORD! HELP ME OVERCOME, TO BE A WINNER!
WHEN MY THOUGHTS BEGAN TO WANDER, I HAVE TO FORCE THEM OUT OF MY MIND. I WANT YOUR THOUGHTS TO ENTER LORD, BUT SOMETIMES THEY ARE SO HARD TO FIND.
A CONSTANT WAR I FEEL INSIDE THAT SEEMS TO NEVER END. I WANT TO DO THINGS AND THINK THINGS AND THE TRUTH I SEEM TO BEND.
TO FIT WHAT I WANT THAT MOMENT, TO ALLOW MY FLESH TO ENJOY IN CERTAIN PLEASURES AM I OR AM I NOT CHRISTIAN? OH LORD, HOW DO YOU MEASURE?
I'M IN A PLACE IN MY WALK WITH YOU THAT I SOMETIMES DON'T UNDERSTAND. PLEASE SHOW ME THE WAY TO GO, LORD, AND DON'T LET GO OF MY HAND.
LORD, TAKE FROM THOSE EVIL THOUGHTS AND REPLACE THEM ALL WITH YOURS, FOR ONLY THEN CAN I FIGHT THIS BATTLE AND BE A CHRISTIAN FOR SURE.
LORD, THANK YOU FOR HEARING MY HEARTS PRAYER TODAY. FILL ME WITH YOUR HOLY SPIRIT, YOUR THOUGHTS AND ALL YOUR WAYS. IN JESUS NAME I PRAY, I LOVE YOU JESUS.
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FORGIVE ME OH LORD THIS DAY I PRAY FOR THE SINS IN MY LIFE I COMMIT EACH DAY I'M STILL IN THE FLESH LORD; I'M STILL A MAN AND I DON'T ALWAYS ACT ACCORDING TO YOUR PLAN.
SOMEHOW I SEEM TO THINK I'VE GOT CONTROL AND I FIND OUT RATHER QUICK THAT'S NOT SO. JUST WHEN I THINK I'VE GOT IT HANDLED, WHATEVER I'M DOING SEEMS TO GET MANGLED.
SO LORD TEACH ME TO RELY UPON YOU AND DEPEND UPON YOUR GRACE TO CARRY ME THROUGH HAVE ME DO THINGS ACCORDING TO YOUR PLAN MAKE ME TO STAND APART FROM THE WORLD A DIFFERENT MAN
USE ME OH LORD TO BRING GLORY TO YOUR NAME AND REMOVE FROM ME THESE FEELINGS OF SHAME. GIVE ME THE KNOWLEDGE LORD TO UNDERSTAND YOUR WORD, AND THE COURAGE OH LORD TO DO AS I'VE HEARD.
MOLD ME OH LORD TO BE A CHILD IN WHICH YOU HAVE PRIDE AND TO ALL YOUR COMMANDMENTS HAVE ME ABIDE, SO AS DOWN LIFE'S HIGHWAY I AGAIN STROLL TO PROVIDE FOR ME OH LORD AN EVERLASTING GOAL.
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A True Story
Tess was a precious eight year old when she heard her Mom and Dad talking
about her little brother, Andrew. All she knew was that he was very sick
and they were completely out of money. They were moving to an apartment
complex next month because Daddy didn't have the money for the doctor's
bills and our house. Only a very costly surgery could save him now
and it was looking like there was noone to loan them the money. She heard
Daddy say to her tearful Mother with whispered desperation, "Only a
miracle can save him now."
Tess went to her bedroom and pulled a glass jelly jar from its hiding place in the closet. She poured all the change out on the floor and counted it carefully. Three times, even. The total had to be exactly perfect. No chance here for mistakes. Carefully placing the coins back in the jar and twisting on the cap, she slipped out the back door and made her way 6 blocks to Rexall's Drug Store with the big red Indian Chief sign above the door.
She waited patiently for the pharmacist to give her some attention but he was too busy at this moment. Tess twisted her feet to make a scuffing noise. Nothing. She cleared her throat with the most disgusting sound she could muster. No good. Finally she took a quarter from her jar and banged it on the glass counter. That did it! "And what do you want?", the pharmacist asked in an annoyed tone of voice, "I'm talking to my brother from Chicago whom I haven't seen in ages.", he said without waiting for a reply to his question. "Well, I want to talk to you about my brother.", Tess answered back in the same annoyed tone. "He's really, really sick and I want to buy a miracle." "I beg your pardon?" said the pharmacist. "His name is Andrew and he has something bad growing inside his head and my Daddy says only a miracle can save him now. So how much does a miracle cost?" "We don't sell miracles here, little girl. I'm sorry but I can't help you, the pharmacist said, softening a little. "Listen, I have the money to pay for it. If it isn't enough, I will get the rest. Just tell me how much it costs.
The
pharmacist's brother was a well dressed man. He stooped down and asked the
little girl, "What kind of a miracle does your brother need?" "I don't
know," Tess replied with her eyes welling up. "I just know he's really
sick and Mommy says he needs an operation. But my Daddy can't pay for it,
so I w". "How much do you have?" asked the man from Chicago. "One dollar
and eleven cents", Tess answered barely audibly, "and it's all the money I
have, but I can get some more if I need to." "Well, what a coincidence,"
smiled the man. "a dollar and eleven cents-the exact price of a miracle
for little brothers." He took her money in one hand and with the other
hand he grasped her mitten and said, "Take me to where you live. I want to
see your brother and meet your parents. Let's see if I have the kind of
miracle you need." That well dressed man was Dr. Carlton Armstrong, a
surgeon, specializing in neuro-surgery. The operation was completed
without charge and it wasn't long until Andrew was home again and doing
well. Mom and Dad were happily talking about the chain of events that had
led them to this place. "That surgery", her Mom whispered, "was a real
miracle. I wonder how much it would have cost?" Tess smiled. She
knew exactly how much a miracle cost ... one dollar and eleven cents plus
the faith of a little child.
A Miracle is not the suspension of Natural Law, but the operation of a Higher Law!
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I ASK GOD TO SEND ME HIS
FRIENDS...HE
SENT ME YOU. |
| (2) |
I ASKED GOD TO TAKE
AWAY MY SORROW.
GOD SAID, NO.
IT'S NOT FOR
ME TO TAKE |
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| (4) |
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| (5) |
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| (6) |
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| (7) |
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| (8) |
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| (9) |
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hinderances to hearing god |
how god gets our attention |
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| (1) | WE DON'T KNOW GOD | (1) | A RESTLESS SPIRIT |
| (2) | BUSINESS/BUSYNESS | (2) | A WORD FROM OTHERS |
| (3) | HARBORING SIN | (3) | FINANCIAL COLLAPSE |
| (4) | UNTRAINED TO LISTEN | (4) | UNANSWERED PRAYER |
| (5) |
UNBELIEF |
(5) | UNUSUAL CIRCUMSTANCES |
| (6) | A POOR SELF IMAGE | (6) | DISAPPOINTMENT |
| (7) |
REJECT GODS MESSENGERS |
(7) | BLESSING |
| (8) |
GOD-DIRECTED
ANGER |
(8) | FAILURES |
| (9) |
A
FALSE SENSE OF GUILT |
(9) | SICK & AFFLICTION |
| (10) | A REBELLIOUS SPIRIT | (10) | TRAGEDY |
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In .... |
WHEREFORE GOD ALSO HATH HIGHLY EXALTED HIM A NAME WHICH IS ABOVE EVERY NAME. PHILIPPIANS 2:9 Jesus Christ Is ....... |
| genesis | seed of the woman |
| exodus | passover lamb |
| leviticus | high priest |
| numbers | pillar of cloud by day & pillar of fire by night |
| deuteronomy | prophet like unto moses |
| joshua | captain of salvation |
| judges | judge and lawgiver |
| ruth | kinsman-redeemer |
| 1& 2 samuel | trusted prophet |
| kings & chro. | reigning king |
| ezra | faithful scribe |
| nehemiah | rebuilder of broken down walls of human life |
| esther | mordecai |
| job | ever-living redeemer |
| psalms | shepherd |
| prov. & eccl. | wisdom |
| song of songs | lover & bridegroom |
| isaiah | prince of peace |
| jeremiah | righteous branch |
| lamentations | weeping prophet |
| ezekiel | wonderful four-faced man |
| daniel | fourth man in lifes fiery furnaces |
| hosea | faithful husband-forever married to the backslider |
| joel | former and latter rain |
| amos | burden-bearer |
| obadiah | mighty to save |
| jonah | foreign missionary |
| micah | messenger of beautiful feet |
| nahum | avenger of gods elect |
| habakkuk | gods evangelist |
| zephaniah | fountain opened in the house of david for sin |
| haggai | restorer of the lost heritage of israel |
| zechariah | fountain opened in the house of isreal for sin & uncleanness |
| malachi | son of righteousness-healing in his wings |
| matthew | messiah |
| mark | wonder-worker |
| luke | son of man |
| john | son of god |
| acts | holy ghost |
| romans | justifier |
| 1 & 2 corin. | sanctifier |
| galatians | redeemer from curse of the law |
| ephesians | christ of unsearchable riches |
| philippians | god who supplies all our needs |
| colossians | fullness of godhead bodily |
| 1 & 2 thess | soon coming king |
| 1 & 2 timothy | mediator between god and man |
| titus | faithful pastor |
| philemon | friend who sticketh closer than a brother |
| hebrews | blood of everlasting covenant |
| james | great physician |
| 1 & 2 peter | chief shepherd |
| 1, 2, & 3 john | love |
| jude | lord coming with ten thousand of saints |
| revelations | king of kings & lord of lords |
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2 CORINTHIANS 6:3-10
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We put no stumbling block in anyone's path, so that our ministry will not be discredited. Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way:
in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left; through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; sorrowfully, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything. |
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MEDITATION IS THE ACTIVITY OF CALLING TO MIND, AND THINKING OVER, AND DWELLING ON, AND APPLYING TO ONESELF, THE VARIOUS THINGS THAT ONE KNOWS ABOUT THE WORKS AND WAYS AND PURPOSES AND PROMISES OF GOD. IT IS AN ACTIVITY OF HOLY THOUGHT, CONSCIOUSLY PERFORMED IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD, UNDER THE EYE OF GOD, BY THE HELP OF GOD AS A MEANS OF COMMUNION WITH GOD. ITS PURPOSE IS TO CLEAR ONE'S MENTAL AND SPIRITUAL VISION OF GOD, AND TO LET HIS TRUTH MAKE ITS FULL AND PROPER IMPACT ON ONE'S MIND AND HEART. IT IS A MATTER OF TALKING TO ONESELF ABOUT GOD AND ONESELF; IT IS, INDEED, OFTEN A MATTER OF ARGUING WITH ONESELF, REASONING ONESELF OUT OF MOODS OF DOUBT AND UNBELIEF INTO A CLEAR APPREHENSION OF GOD'S POWER AND GRACE. ITS EFFECT IS TO EVER HUMBLE US AS WE CONTEMPLATE GOD'S GREATNESS AND GLORY, AND OUR OWN LITTLENESS AND SINFULNESS AND TO ENCOURAGE AND REASSURE US. |
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THE LONGER I LIVE, THE MORE I REALIZE THE IMPACT OF ATTITUDE ON LIFE. ATTITUDE, TO ME, IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN FACTS. IT IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE PAST, THAN EDUCATION, THAN MONEY, THAN CIRCUMSTANCES, THAN FAILURES, THAN SUCCESSES, THAN WHAT OTHER PEOPLE THINK OR SAY OR DO. IT IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN APPEARANCE, GIFTEDNESS OR SKILL. IT WILL MAKE OR BREAK A COMPANY ....A CHURCH ....A HOME. THE REMARKABLE THING IS WE HAVE A CHOICE EVERY DAY REGARDING THE ATTITUDE WE WILL EMBRACE FOR THAT DAY. WE CANNOT CHANGE OUR PAST...WE CANNOT CHANGE THE FACT THAT PEOPLE WILL ACT IN A CERTAIN WAY. WE CANNOT CHANGE THE INEVITABLE. THE ONLY THING WE CAN DO IS PLAY ON THE ONE STRING WE HAVE, AND THAT IS OUR ATTITUDE....I AM CONVINCED THAT LIFE IS 10% WHAT HAPPENS TO ME AND 90% HOW I REACT TO IT. AND SO IT IS WITH YOU....WE ARE IN CHARGE OF OUR ATTITUDES. |
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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 1 corinthians 1:18 |
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EVERYONE LONGS TO GIVE THEMSELVES COMPLETELY TO SOMEONE. TO HAVE A
DEEP SOUL RELATIONSHIP WITH ANOTHER. TO BE LOVED THOROUGHLY AND
EXCLUSIVELY.
YOU WILL NEVER BE UNITED WITH ANOTHER UNTIL YOU ARE UNITED WITH ME.
EXCLUSIVE OF ANYONE OR ANYTHING ELSE. EXCLUSIVE OF ANY OTHER DESIRES
OR LONGINGS. I WANT YOU TO STOP PLANNING, STOP WISHING AND ALLOW ME
TO GIVE YOU THE MOST THRILLING PLAN EXISTING. ONE THAT YOU CANNOT IMAGINE.
I WANT YOU TO HAVE THE BEST. PLEASE ALLOW ME TO BRING IT TO YOU.
YOU JUST KEEP WATCHING ME, EXPECTING THE GREATEST THINGS. KEEP
EXPERIENCING THE SATISFACTION THAT I AM. KEEP LISTENING AND LEARNING
THE THINGS I TELL YOU. YOU JUST WAIT. THAT'S ALL. DON'T
BE ANXIOUS. DON'T WORRY. DON'T LOOK AROUND AT THE THING OTHERS
HAVE GOTTEN OR THAT I'VE GIVEN THEM. DON'T LOOK AT THINGS YOU
THINK YOU WANT. YOU JUST KEEP LOOKING OFF AND AWAY UP TO ME, OR
YOU'LL MISS WHAT I WANT TO SHOW YOU. AND THEN, WHEN YOU'RE READY,
I'LL SURPRISE YOU WITH A LOVE FAR MORE WONDERFUL THAN ANY YOU WOULD HAVE
DREAM OF. DEAR ONE, I WANT YOU TO HAVE THIS MOST WONDERFUL LOVE. I WANT YOU TO SEE IN THE FLESH A PICTURE OF YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH ME, AND TO ENJOY MATERIALLY AND CONCRETELY THE EVERLASTING UNION OF BEAUTY, PERFECTION, AND LOVE THAT I OFFER YOU WITH MYSELF. I am God,
Know that I Do Love you!
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".....unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains one grain: it never becomes more, but lives by itself alone, But if it dies, it produces many others, and yields a rich harvest.
