tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-58233539062169831932024-03-12T22:39:36.009-04:00Pastor Mike's ThoughtsPastor Mike Groverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15447162605495404446noreply@blogger.comBlogger76125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5823353906216983193.post-92088145254896034482012-01-16T08:33:00.011-05:002012-01-16T12:11:43.047-05:00Forgotten, But Not Forsaken<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc6hk-ydZz-t23SKaCc2LO8xFc4TGdy1hQXiKKO2gSDX1ImuziS0Vsrd20k8L9WU_gJ1KWNqy69HpB1XKXHaJy9gZyqzB45Ug2QfsuiF9IVEvwpbaydChpvbTzFVvXFfOLGJJSIbATbg/s1600/new+diamond+logo.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc6hk-ydZz-t23SKaCc2LO8xFc4TGdy1hQXiKKO2gSDX1ImuziS0Vsrd20k8L9WU_gJ1KWNqy69HpB1XKXHaJy9gZyqzB45Ug2QfsuiF9IVEvwpbaydChpvbTzFVvXFfOLGJJSIbATbg/s200/new+diamond+logo.png" width="200" /></a><br />
<div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: 900;">Thought for the Day</span><br />
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<b style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">Genesis 40:13-23</b><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 19px;">Yet within three days shall Pharaoh lift up your</span><span style="line-height: 19px;"> head, and restore thee unto thy place: and thou shalt deliver Pharaoh's cup into his hand, after the former manner when thou was his butler. (14) <b>But think on me when it shall be well with thee, and shew kindness</b>, I pray thee, unto me, and make mention of me unto Pharaoh, and bring me out of this house... (23) Yet did <b>not</b> the chief butler remember Joseph, but forgot him.</span></span><br />
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</span></div></div></div><div><span style="line-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Joseph served Pharaoh's butler with a sincere heart and with pure motives. His only request was that when things turned around for him that he would "remember" Joseph; in other words, that he would mention him and try to help him out of his difficult situation of being a prisoner for unjust reasons. Well, the day came as Joseph predicted and the butler was freed and restored to his position of prominence, but he "forgot" Joseph.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 19px;">How many times do we reach out to help others, to show them some kindness and it is re-payed with ingratitude or even dismissed as not that big of a deal? Most of us have experienced this at one time or another. As parents, we experience it regularly with our kids. It seems that they can easily dismiss as ordinary or expected the tremendous sacrifices that we make for them daily. How about when it comes to our jobs; we put in the extra time and go the second mile to benefit our employers and yet these acts of sacrifice are overlooked. </span></span><br />
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I<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">f we are not careful, we can allow these "slights" to create in us an</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;"> "I don't care attitude" and push us into a lifestyle of mediocrity. We must, as Joseph take these oversights in stride and realize that ultimately we may be forgotten by man, but we are not forsaken by God. Joseph spent several more years in that prison, but in God's perfect timing his consistency and service was noticed and appreciated. He was finally rewarded for his devotion and elevated to a position of great prominence.</span><br />
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</span></div></div></div></div></div></div><div><div style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: normal;"><b><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=5823353906216983193"></a></b></span></div><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important;"><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Application</span></b><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In this life, we may not be elevated to a position of prominence because of the sacrifices of service we make, but we are not overlooked by our Lord and we must realize that in Christ, "our labor is not in vain". It is seen; it is appreciated; and it is rewarded by God in His time. Even if that means in eternity. Go the second mile today. Re-dedicate yourself to a standard of quality and excellence that is pleasing to the Lord and serve others not for man's recognition, but for God's.</span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">If you are uncertain of your relationship with God check out the link at </span></span></span><a href="http://savedbygracebiblestudy.blogspot.com/p/how-can-we-know-god-exists-and-how-can.html">http://savedbygracebiblestudy.blogspot.com/p/how-can-we-know-god-exists-and-how-can.html</a></span></div></div></div></div>Pastor Mike Groverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15447162605495404446noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5823353906216983193.post-31763283664387487892012-01-11T07:00:00.027-05:002012-01-11T07:00:12.445-05:00Vision from the Valley<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK-jQhff8iVPj-1bpu3hRQdunKxY1ARMBFqPSWEaY1P1S-eBoMuVsW7sX1_edQdQkPrA1ueiFPeLBt8QloqqaYSnjRL9DXoPDTnA7pWVAYNLMYkQSPZg1NRa612gK2i4ax-ZzPjYiBGA/s1600/FBC.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK-jQhff8iVPj-1bpu3hRQdunKxY1ARMBFqPSWEaY1P1S-eBoMuVsW7sX1_edQdQkPrA1ueiFPeLBt8QloqqaYSnjRL9DXoPDTnA7pWVAYNLMYkQSPZg1NRa612gK2i4ax-ZzPjYiBGA/s320/FBC.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Photo</b>: Vision Night prep for this coming Sunday.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: 900;">Thought for the Day</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
<span style="line-height: 19px;"><span lang="EN"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Genesis 28:10-17 </strong><br />
And Jacob went out from Beersheba, and went toward Haran. (11) And he lighted upon a certain place, and tarried there all night, because the sun was set; and he took of the stones of that place, and put them for his pillows, and lay down in that place to sleep. (12) And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it. (13) And, behold, the LORD stood above it, and said, I am the LORD God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed; (14) And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed. (15) And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of. (16) And Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and he said, Surely the LORD is in this place; and I knew it not. (17) And he was afraid, and said, How dreadful is this place! this is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">Have you ever experienced the restlessness of God in your life? If you have then you full well understand the concept of your pillow being "a stone". No physical event or object can satisfy or bring solitude, even those things that are so typically depended upon. I think it is the mercy of God that brings us to the place of these restless times. They are not something we would seek or in any way desire. Jacob called it a "dreadful place"; but nonetheless, it was the "house of God". It was the place of God's choosing to meet with Him. </span><br />
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<div style="display: inline !important; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: normal;">It is in these kind of times that God releases His vision for us, for our lives, for our future. Jacob was blessed with seeing the reality of the eternal, and God's plan to give Him a possession. And the best part of all was that the Lord would be with him every step of the way!</span><br />
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</div></div></div><div style="display: inline !important; margin: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important;"><div style="display: inline !important; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">God has brought my life through many restless places, but during each one His presence has become clearer to me and more certain. Don't fight the restless times, don't try to assuage them with temporal comforts. Look to the Lord for expalnation and purpose as He unfolds His eternal vision for you.</span></span></div><br />
</div></div></div><div style="display: inline !important; margin: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important;"><div style="display: inline !important; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Application</span></b><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you are experiencing unexplained restlessness in your life right now, consider for a moment that it may simply be God speaking. It may be His attempt to bring you to a point of desperation where only "He" makes sense. Seek Him today. Open your life up to Him completely and allow Him to reveal to you His chosen vision for your life. If you are uncertain of your relationship with God check out the link "How to Know God" at </span><span id="goog_1106449079"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="http://fbc301.org/#/Outreach/How to Know God" style="text-align: left;">http://fbc301.org/#/Outreach/How to Know God</a>.</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Pastor Mike Groverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15447162605495404446noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5823353906216983193.post-18040323220675647772012-01-09T09:10:00.002-05:002012-01-09T09:14:05.897-05:00The Way Leads to Worship<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhETHJ4kL_RnBCMLa6JXxDOHCRMrv42Vr6Es1BYro8uRDI7nBDGRniVGnra0ALQ3LVNOOoCXc8hz6T99nvmJMcfmamspoURhs7oJAMxjgMmZNOVCFjPszw3yx_mYQLNotsasGC1p6PdBQ/s1600/web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="259" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhETHJ4kL_RnBCMLa6JXxDOHCRMrv42Vr6Es1BYro8uRDI7nBDGRniVGnra0ALQ3LVNOOoCXc8hz6T99nvmJMcfmamspoURhs7oJAMxjgMmZNOVCFjPszw3yx_mYQLNotsasGC1p6PdBQ/s320/web.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a><b>Photo</b>: New www.fbc301.org web site launches this week.<br />
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</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: 900;">Thought for the Day</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
<span style="line-height: 19px;"><b>Genesis 24:26-27 </b></span><br />
<span style="line-height: 19px;">And the man bowed down his head, and <b>worshipped</b> <b>the LORD</b>. (27) And he said, Blessed be the LORD God of my master Abraham, who has not left destitute my master of his mercy and his truth: <b>I being in the way, the LORD led me</b> to the house of my master's brethren.</span><br />
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</div></div></div><div><span style="line-height: 19px;">"Being in the way, the Lord led Him." What a great thought that God's leadership in our lives is found by simply getting up each day and determining to do the right thing by Him. We speak of living for the glory of God; in practical terms this is just living to put a smile on His face. The servant of Abraham was "in the way"; he was in the path of pleasing his master when things fell in place for him. But don't ever think for a moment that God's purpose in leading us is to fulfill our willful bents. When the servant saw that his desires had been realized what did he do? He worshiped! Putting a smile on the face of God, worshiping Him, is our chief aim; it is our delight.</span></div></div></div><div style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=5823353906216983193"></a></span><br />
<div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important;"><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=5823353906216983193"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></a></span></div></div></div></div><div><div style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><b><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=5823353906216983193"></a></b></span></div><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important;"><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b>Application</b><br />
<b><br />
</b></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">Stop right now and commit your way to the Lord. Determine to put a smile on His face and then by faith, worship Him. Express your love for Him as inadequate as it may feel because he delights in the humble recognition of His lordship in our lives. If you are uncertain of your relationship with God check out the link "How to Know God" at <a href="http://www.fbc301.org/">www.fbc301.org</a>.</span></span></span></span></span></span></div></div></div></div>Pastor Mike Groverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15447162605495404446noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5823353906216983193.post-11140350699006598072011-05-06T08:09:00.002-04:002011-05-06T09:00:27.680-04:00Happy are... the Poor in Spirit<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYLa6zy7e0vlrRYxe354bZP7nnA92i1qEXsBpIhQPuzn1gcSgX9rDhMLh-tE1G_NxZ97PZRmAzTSdTxUPrKp8t9A3wQlmqZ75e4U647YVK7LoV-NxCnjReaMMEls4E8prJkkWXaeM1pw/s1600/poor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYLa6zy7e0vlrRYxe354bZP7nnA92i1qEXsBpIhQPuzn1gcSgX9rDhMLh-tE1G_NxZ97PZRmAzTSdTxUPrKp8t9A3wQlmqZ75e4U647YVK7LoV-NxCnjReaMMEls4E8prJkkWXaeM1pw/s200/poor.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: 900;">Thought for the Day</span><br />
<div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><b>Matthew 5:3</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.</span><br />
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</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">What? Being poor will make me happy? Not necessarily; the Lord is not saying here that there is happiness in physical poverty. As a matter of fact, I grew up pretty poor and would not say that it brought a whole lot of happiness to me. The arena of poverty to which the Lord is speaking is in <i>the spirit</i>. Poverty is defined as a </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="background-color: transparent; cursor: default; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: static;">deficiency</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="background-color: transparent; cursor: default; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: static;">of</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="background-color: transparent; cursor: default; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: static;">necessary</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="background-color: transparent; cursor: default; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: static;">or</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="background-color: transparent; cursor: default; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: static;">desirable</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="background-color: transparent; cursor: default; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: static;">ingredients to adequately sustain life. Jesus is telling us that it is only when we recognize the complete and utter </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;">deficiency of our heart apart from God's grace that we can truly experience the kingdom of God. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;">One person put it this way, <i>"When we realize that Jesus is all we have, we discover that He is all we truly need."</i> I think John the Baptist gave us the mission statement for being poor in spirit when he said of Jesus, <i>"He must increase, but I must decrease."</i> Right there lies the secret to the blessedness of being poor in spirit; it is only when we see that the answers and resources necessary for a blessed life are not in us, that we discover the true riches of God's wisdom and grace in Christ. Jesus said in John 15:5, <i>"Without me you can do nothing."</i> This is poorness in spirit - <i>the recognition of Jesus as my all in all!</i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"> </span></span></span></div><div style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 19px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><br />
</span></span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: normal;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=5823353906216983193"></a></span><br />
<div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important;"><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Application</span></b></span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Do you see yourself as nothing without Christ? If not, the happiness and peace of mind that you seek will continue to allude you until you take the burden off yourself that was never designed for you to carry, that of sustaining your own spirit. That is a Creator sized burden and we must relinquish it to His good hand.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you are uncertain of your relationship with God check out the link "How to Know God" at <a href="http://www.fbc301.org/">www.fbc301.org</a>.</span></span></div></div></div></div></div>Pastor Mike Groverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15447162605495404446noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5823353906216983193.post-16354844298186293582011-05-02T08:59:00.002-04:002011-05-02T09:01:43.700-04:00Happy Are...<div style="text-align: right;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS_3SP8NwGuDtwzLVmAUZR2DeAc0-kjHKJ9xVRnV0XjrfR7mfMgA6MOmmaghVi9l9lIT8DAxoJxTmwarbdnqTDgRsZUcGA0mCLIS6dmf8j18zFzHow5WIh8A37nzDZkXysec0TTdV54Q/s1600/happiness-hands.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS_3SP8NwGuDtwzLVmAUZR2DeAc0-kjHKJ9xVRnV0XjrfR7mfMgA6MOmmaghVi9l9lIT8DAxoJxTmwarbdnqTDgRsZUcGA0mCLIS6dmf8j18zFzHow5WIh8A37nzDZkXysec0TTdV54Q/s200/happiness-hands.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thought for the Day</span></b><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: bold; line-height: 19px;">Matthew 5:1-3</span><br />
<div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">(1) And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him: </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">(2) And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">(3) <i><b>Blessed are</b> ...</i></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><i><br />
</i></span></span><br />
<div style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">Happiness is a commodity that is desired by all, but obtained by seemingly few. Today we have our views on what will bring happiness, and herein lies the problem in our hearts- <i>God has a version of happiness and we have our own version of happiness and they are at odds with each other.</i> Our own pursuit of happiness often leads to frustration and turmoil because we seek it on our own terms rather than our Lord's. </span></div></div></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br />
</span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">In the beatitudes Jesus lays out for all the true definition and path of happiness. The word </span><i style="line-height: 19px;">blessed </i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">that Jesus used has the idea of inner happiness that comes from a self-emptying, God seeking, and others serving course of life. It can be found only in a personal relationship with Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.</span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br />
</span></span></span></div></div></div></div></div><div style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: normal;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=5823353906216983193"></a></span><br />
<div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="display: inline !important;"><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: normal;"><b>Application</b></span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We must come to the end of ourselves and yield to the all-wise plan of our God today to truly experience the life altering happiness that can come from Christ alone.</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you are uncertain of your relationship with God check out the link "How to Know God" at <a href="http://www.fbc301.org/">www.fbc301.org</a>.</span></span></span></div></div></div></div>Pastor Mike Groverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15447162605495404446noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5823353906216983193.post-3444181964069019982011-01-07T09:09:00.001-05:002011-01-07T10:39:27.801-05:00Christian Perfection<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGNET5R6QbiAwIaIOm9t0R2JHav2vskvyv4o4ctSjGOnuG04IilKyEwaaLaQoaL7gGnURvEOc2lSVxgkyEKeDgbHg2oismeE9pLX66rFEPBLst-bFCr7vV-2pZEM5u9axQ7gV7ZTvU-A/s1600/WeLove...--Christian+Graphics.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGNET5R6QbiAwIaIOm9t0R2JHav2vskvyv4o4ctSjGOnuG04IilKyEwaaLaQoaL7gGnURvEOc2lSVxgkyEKeDgbHg2oismeE9pLX66rFEPBLst-bFCr7vV-2pZEM5u9axQ7gV7ZTvU-A/s320/WeLove...--Christian+Graphics.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5559463843655482498" /></a><div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><b>Thought for the Day</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left; "><div style="text-align: left; "><div style="text-align: left; "><div style="text-align: left; "><div style="text-align: left; "><div style="text-align: left; "><div style="text-align: left; "><div style="text-align: left; "><div style="text-align: left; "><div style="text-align: left; "><div style="text-align: left; "><div style="text-align: left; "><div style="text-align: left; "><div style="text-align: left; "><span class="Apple-style-span" ><div style="text-align: left; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><b>Matthew 5:43-48 </b><span class="Apple-style-span" >You have heard that it has been said, You shall love your neighbor, and hate your enemy. (44) But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them who despitefully use you, and persecute you; (45) That you may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he makes his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. (46) For if you love them which love you, what reward have you? do not even the publicans the same? (47) And if you salute your brethren only, what do you more than others? do not even the publicans so? (48) Be therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.</span></span></div><div style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 19px; "><br /></div></span></div><div style="line-height: 19px; font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" >When we think of defining perfection or even someone trying to be perfect, we come away with a much different view of the subject than our Lord does. Most people view perfection in light of not making mistakes or elevating ourselves to a high level of appearance or performance. God places perfection here in the context of how we demonstrate His love to others including our enemies. We are to "be perfect" as "our Father in heaven is perfect". He does this by allowing His sun to shine and His rain to fall on the good and the bad. (v.45) Of course this does not mean that He overlooks sin and allows just anyone into Heaven, but it shows that His compassionate acts as the Creator toward His creation is not limited to just those who treat Him with the honor He is due. If our Father is willing to demonstrate such unbounded compassion, why not us? Why not me? Be perfect; treat others with the kindness the Lord has shown to you!</span></span></div></div></div></div></div><div style="line-height: 19px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal; "><a><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; "><div style="display: inline !important; "><div style="text-align: justify; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; display: inline !important; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></span></span></span></div></div></div></a></span></div><div style="line-height: 19px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal; "><a><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; "><div style="display: inline !important; "><div style="text-align: justify; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; display: inline !important; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><b>Application</b></span></span></span></span></div></div></div></a></span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left; "><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" >Find that person who is getting on your last nerve today and show them kindness, not because they deserve it, but because this is what your Father does. This is true perfection!</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" >If you are uncertain of your relationship with God check out the link "How to Know God" at <a href="http://www.fbc301.org/">www.fbc301.org</a>.</span></span></span></div></div></div></div>Pastor Mike Groverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15447162605495404446noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5823353906216983193.post-34835678790515575142011-01-05T07:42:00.006-05:002011-01-05T07:59:13.503-05:00Praying For Persecuted Christians In Iran<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg40D2XBnEyugZdeMhWVix76HZlaFVcy43nE_MpjdO13l3P-0x-F82oPRGd3TXNxbeYlQJ_n8Lu9QbT3lvzyvtECE1KJcIQNwLqwtdFMNSKTkFOQkeeJ75-dpmgN_QfeWaNvDE4mwW8A/s1600/Iran.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 60px; height: 800px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg40D2XBnEyugZdeMhWVix76HZlaFVcy43nE_MpjdO13l3P-0x-F82oPRGd3TXNxbeYlQJ_n8Lu9QbT3lvzyvtECE1KJcIQNwLqwtdFMNSKTkFOQkeeJ75-dpmgN_QfeWaNvDE4mwW8A/s400/Iran.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558685332795303810" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(32, 32, 32); line-height: 16px; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 18px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify; "><span class="Apple-style-span">TEHRAN (AFP) - Iran has arrested a number of Christian missionaries in Tehran province and vowed to detain more of them, the provincial governor was quoted as saying by state news agency IRNA on Tuesday.</span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 18px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify; "><span class="Apple-style-span">Morteza Tamaddon said "the leaders of this movement have been arrested in Tehran province and more will be arrested in the near future."</span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 18px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify; "><span class="Apple-style-span">He did not give their identities, so it was unclear whether they are foreigners, Iranians or a combination of both.</span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 18px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify; "><span class="Apple-style-span">Nor did he explain what he meant by their belonging to a movement, which he called "deviated" and "corrupt."</span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 18px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify; "><span class="Apple-style-span">He referred to them as "tabshiri," or missionaries, and likened them to the Taliban.</span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 18px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify; "><span class="Apple-style-span">"Just like the Taliban... who have inserted themselves into Islam like a parasite, they have crafted a movement with Britain's backing in the name of Christianity," Tamaddon said.</span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 18px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify; "><span class="Apple-style-span">"But their conspiracy was unveiled quickly and the first blows were delivered to them," he added, without saying what they were allegedly conspiring to do.</span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 18px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify; "><span class="Apple-style-span">"Various kinds of fake, deviated and corrupt cults have sharpened their teeth for our beliefs and one can see their activities among the youth," he said, branding Christian missionaries as an example of "cultural onslaught" against Iran.</span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 18px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify; "><span class="Apple-style-span">Christianity is among the recognised religions in Iran but, under the country's Sharia-based law, renouncing Islam, or apostasy, is punishable by death.</span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 18px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify; "><span class="Apple-style-span">However, some Christian converts have been jailed in recent years and media have reported several crackdowns on "home churches" in predominantly Shiite Muslim Iran.</span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 18px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify; "><span class="Apple-style-span">Christians, Jews and Zoroastrian minorities are free to practise their religion but they are not allowed to proselytise, and their women have to observe the mandatory Islamic dress code in public.</span></p><div style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; "><br /></div><div class="dd_post_share" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; "><div class="dd_buttons" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "></div></div></span>Pastor Mike Groverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15447162605495404446noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5823353906216983193.post-74905552647147582422011-01-04T07:28:00.003-05:002011-01-04T07:51:15.907-05:00The Lighted Path<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwi9StFSpmz78L8vluZonXveC4dVpXo_WbElWUkRw45WV6XjpWMCuAI4jMK9ZsYuoPtg7RTogIaHkEQHkMkNDHuFXAJIWnlfMoogxH4r-W7NFhv6O3-VUTMDqnRNntEtkGDuaADsKYIQ/s1600/headlights.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwi9StFSpmz78L8vluZonXveC4dVpXo_WbElWUkRw45WV6XjpWMCuAI4jMK9ZsYuoPtg7RTogIaHkEQHkMkNDHuFXAJIWnlfMoogxH4r-W7NFhv6O3-VUTMDqnRNntEtkGDuaADsKYIQ/s320/headlights.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558309458764552610" /></a><div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: 900; "><span class="Apple-style-span" >Thought for the Day</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left; "><div style="text-align: left; "><div style="text-align: left; "><div style="text-align: left; "><div style="text-align: left; "><div style="text-align: left; "><div style="text-align: left; "><div style="text-align: left; "><div style="text-align: left; "><div style="text-align: left; "><div style="text-align: left; "><div style="text-align: left; "><div style="text-align: left; "><div style="text-align: left; font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;" >Proverbs 4:18</span></div><div style="text-align: left; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px; " >(18) But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth <b>more and more</b> unto the perfect day.</span></div><div style="line-height: 19px; font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px; ">Several weeks ago Annabeth asked me why God makes us wait until we die to see Heaven. This is a very common thought for us humans. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px; ">I often wish that the Lord would show me all the details of his plan for me all </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">at once, but this is not the way He works. His plan is reveled gradually, like the way the lights on a car only illuminate what is immediately in front of me. It is as I move into the light that I have that more light is revealed. It shines "<b>more and more</b>" as I move closer to Him. Even when Israel was sent in to conquer the promised land, they were told that God would drive out their enemies from the land "<b>little by little</b>" (Ex 23:29, 30). He does not show us His plan all at once or we would probably become completely overwhelmed. </span></span></div></div></div></div></div><div style="line-height: 19px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal; "><a><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; "><div style="display: inline !important; "><div style="text-align: justify; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; display: inline !important; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></span></span></span></div></div></div></a></span></div><div style="line-height: 19px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal; "><a><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; "><div style="display: inline !important; "><div style="text-align: justify; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; display: inline !important; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><b>Application</b></span></span></span></span></div></div></div></a></span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left; "><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" >Walk in the light that God has given you today. Find one thing in His Word to act on today and the next step will become increasingly apparent.</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" >If you are uncertain of your relationship with God check out the link "How to Know God" at <a href="http://www.fbc301.org/">www.fbc301.org</a>.</span></span></span></div></div></div></div>Pastor Mike Groverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15447162605495404446noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5823353906216983193.post-67772105461882128752010-12-17T08:02:00.008-05:002010-12-17T11:14:22.562-05:00Tis the Season to NOT Grow Weary<span class="Apple-style-span"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDf9zHY1XS7G68i2D0KQVD-aWH087Ci8IXKof2p9u0qvVc78SzRQ6l3flBCsQuPKLqcTEfOsdUV1UuzJD9fE5sjyTv_SA7tDJPRa_adISNmvPrB6iZ_XKMHTiuxviwlr-_8Cz68d_FKQ/s1600/UCH.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDf9zHY1XS7G68i2D0KQVD-aWH087Ci8IXKof2p9u0qvVc78SzRQ6l3flBCsQuPKLqcTEfOsdUV1UuzJD9fE5sjyTv_SA7tDJPRa_adISNmvPrB6iZ_XKMHTiuxviwlr-_8Cz68d_FKQ/s320/UCH.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5551673136016374338" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidiK48OruN2CzuHwGfPO9UABdiat9Jaok8v2cuPmSc6xrltN_ALTflCGU3kQcTBycim2OSEcRuCcpD0GzIr4All7-ttdStrVgf-hLZfZxPZPHNh7AFI9nLrZf3EBLXV927AzMyTJtvbA/s1600/UCH+Interview.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidiK48OruN2CzuHwGfPO9UABdiat9Jaok8v2cuPmSc6xrltN_ALTflCGU3kQcTBycim2OSEcRuCcpD0GzIr4All7-ttdStrVgf-hLZfZxPZPHNh7AFI9nLrZf3EBLXV927AzMyTJtvbA/s320/UCH+Interview.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5551668117242024466" /><span class="Apple-style-span"></span></a></span><div><div><div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: 900; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; "><span class="apple-style-span"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;color:black">Photos:</span></b></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;color:blue"> </span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;color:black">The Fellowship Carolers work tirelessly during the Christmas season ministering at several </span></span><st1:place><st1:placename><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;color:black">Tampa</span></span></st1:placename><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;color:black"> </span></span><st1:placetype><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;color:black">Bay</span></span></st1:placetype></st1:place><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial; color:black"> area hospitals and cancer centers. A beautiful bear is given to every patient. This year over 500 bears were distributed. This is a great testimony of the selfless love of Jesus.</span></span></span></span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: 900; "><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: 900;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: 900; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; "><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial; color:black"></span></span></span>Thought for the Day</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left; "><div style="text-align: left; "><div style="text-align: left; "><div style="text-align: left; "><div style="text-align: left; "><div style="text-align: left; "><div style="text-align: left; "><div style="text-align: left; "><div style="text-align: left; "><div style="text-align: left; "><div style="text-align: left; "><div style="text-align: left; "><div style="text-align: left; "><div style="text-align: left; font-weight: bold; "><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Galatians 6:9-10</span></span></b></div><div style="text-align: left; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px; "><span class="Apple-style-span">(9) And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px; "><span class="Apple-style-span">(10) As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.</span></span></div><div style="line-height: 19px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div></div></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px; ">Does doing good ever wear you out? I know that in my life there are times when I feel so depleted that I just want to hide from people. Of course this is just an indication that my spiritual battery is running low and is in desperate need of a recharge. This is what the Apostle Paul is conveying to us in this passage. The Christian life is not a wind sprint; it is a marathon! The answer to fatigue is not to quit running the race, but to live with balance and regular times of drinking deeply from the well of God's Word that His grace may sustain us. Serving others is a basic tenet of our Christian Faith. It is not optional for a believer; it is the essence of being a believer! As my old pastor used to say, "I don't want to retire, I want to re-fire." Let's re-fire for Jesus this Christmas season!</span></span></div></div></div><div style="line-height: 19px; "><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal; "><a><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; "><div style="display: inline !important; "><div style="text-align: justify; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; display: inline !important; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b><br /></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div></div></div></a></span></b></div><div style="line-height: 19px; "><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal; "><a><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; "><div style="display: inline !important; "><div style="text-align: justify; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; display: inline !important; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b>Application</b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div></div></div></a></span></b></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left; "><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">Be sure to take time today to come apart for some personal reflection with the Lord. The time spent in doing this will multiply the rest of your tim</span>e today. God will be no man's debtor. Give to Him His due and He will repay you in abundance!</span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">If you are uncertain of your relationship with God check out the link "How You Can Know God" at <a href="http://www.fbc301.org/">www.fbc301.org</a>.</span></span></span></span></span></span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Pastor Mike Groverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15447162605495404446noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5823353906216983193.post-60372245796888007222010-12-16T08:27:00.002-05:002010-12-16T09:49:11.745-05:00A Dwelling Place for God<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJIpbbivjnA0HPknP3D7NkXq3qYFI5XVmRCS5pttZer-KdiB7EIHsSeGzwiYzCiIKF1y-f52OI0nQJM_cTJb4fO0s1U-y-0vEN5JNskOM1ZF2i5dOvovmx6V6ciFfSsQo7Y0arebWqVg/s1600/DSC05248.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJIpbbivjnA0HPknP3D7NkXq3qYFI5XVmRCS5pttZer-KdiB7EIHsSeGzwiYzCiIKF1y-f52OI0nQJM_cTJb4fO0s1U-y-0vEN5JNskOM1ZF2i5dOvovmx6V6ciFfSsQo7Y0arebWqVg/s320/DSC05248.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5551287185222815522" /></a><div><b>Photo</b>: Cheryl and C.J. on the back property at the church.</div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: 900; "><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: 900; ">Thought for the Day</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left; "><div style="text-align: left; "><div style="text-align: left; "><div style="text-align: left; "><div style="text-align: left; "><div style="text-align: left; "><div style="text-align: left; "><div style="text-align: left; "><div style="text-align: left; "><div style="text-align: left; "><div style="text-align: left; "><div style="text-align: left; "><div style="text-align: left; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><b>Ephesians 2:19-22</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">(19) Now therefore you are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;</span></div><div style="text-align: left; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">(20) And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;</span></div><div style="text-align: left; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">(21) In whom all the building fitly framed together grows unto an holy temple in the Lord:</span></div><div style="text-align: left; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">(22) In whom you also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.</span></div><div style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 19px; "><br /></div></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Its amazing to me how the Lord has assembled together so many different types of materials in order to build His church. As I look at our local church I see the diversity of age, styles, preferences, economic status, culture, and on and on, yet we are built together by God in order to be an appropriate dwelling place for Him. There is truly a bond in Christ that defies human wisdom. It is a shame that many churches do not reflect the unity of spirit that is perhaps the greatest witness of who Christ truly is. Our God delights in the unity of His people because it is a reflection of His essential character.</span></div></div></div><div style="line-height: 19px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal; "><a><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; "><div style="display: inline !important; "><div style="text-align: justify; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; display: inline !important; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div></div></div></a></span></div><div style="line-height: 19px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal; "><a><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; "><div style="display: inline !important; "><div style="text-align: justify; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; display: inline !important; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b>Application</b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div></div></div></a></span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left; "><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">Are you living in unity with those that you call your church family? Do all in your power today to resolve any conflict you may possess with others. Life is short, don't waste it! There is really no excuse for a divided church; this is a great tragedy because it portrays a distorted image of our God. </span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">If you are uncertain of your relationship with God check out the link "How to Know God" at <a href="http://www.fbc301.org/">www.fbc301.org</a>.</span></span></span></span></span></span></div></div></div></div>Pastor Mike Groverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15447162605495404446noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5823353906216983193.post-31016202665719164542010-12-07T09:24:00.004-05:002010-12-07T09:51:28.862-05:00He Came For Me and You!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLJsUkhzMgw2Mu7coGsRNIZPUE7GhMQFFBv4mqS1I1ZdOj66C1VdIZ_hYTDcL0eRUfdMkAJU99hACk6elhIyDvZv1UAXdLNjAFW6gzvGvtbWgMKaSV-fwXTpUgam_Z25Ad9xt0w-a4kw/s1600/cj+and+girls+singing.jpeg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLJsUkhzMgw2Mu7coGsRNIZPUE7GhMQFFBv4mqS1I1ZdOj66C1VdIZ_hYTDcL0eRUfdMkAJU99hACk6elhIyDvZv1UAXdLNjAFW6gzvGvtbWgMKaSV-fwXTpUgam_Z25Ad9xt0w-a4kw/s320/cj+and+girls+singing.jpeg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547946913934194386" /></a><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><b>Photo</b>: C.J. playing for teen girls worship special at Fellowship.</span></div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: 900; " ><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: 900; " >Thought for the Day</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left; "><div style="text-align: left; "><div style="text-align: left; "><div style="text-align: left; "><div style="text-align: left; "><div style="text-align: left; "><div style="text-align: left; "><div style="text-align: left; "><div style="text-align: left; "><div style="text-align: left; "><div style="text-align: left; "><div style="text-align: left; font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" >Luke 2:11</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" >For <b><span class="Apple-style-span" >unto you</span></b> is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.</span></span></div><div style="line-height: 19px; font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" >So many times I hear people downplay the human side of the salvation experience. Of course we understand that ultimately all that God does is for His own glory, but if we are not careful we frame God as an austere impersonal God who has no emotional attachment to His will or the people he came to save. Jesus' coming was <b>for us! </b>It is "unto you" or "for you" that a Savior was born. God delights in doing things for us, not simply in a theological sense that tries to reconcile His sovereign glory with our human necessity, but in a very real, caring, and feeling way. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; ">Jesus came for us: </span><span class="Apple-style-span">Hallelujah, what a Savior!</span></span></span></div></div></div><div style="line-height: 19px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal; "><a><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; "><div style="display: inline !important; "><div style="text-align: justify; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; display: inline !important; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div></div></div></a></span></div><div style="line-height: 19px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal; "><a><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; "><div style="display: inline !important; "><div style="text-align: justify; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; display: inline !important; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><b>Application</b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div></div></div></a></span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left; "><div style="text-align: left; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" >Has your view of God left Him distant and remote from your innermost needs and feelings. The Bible tells us otherwise. Come to Him today in childlike faith and humility and experience afresh the wonders of His love for <b><span class="Apple-style-span" >you!</span></b> If you are uncertain of your relationship with God check out the link "How to Know God" at <a href="http://www.fbc301.org/">www.fbc301.org</a>.</span></span></span></span></span></span></div></div></div></div>Pastor Mike Groverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15447162605495404446noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5823353906216983193.post-24625970176940315022010-12-06T07:31:00.004-05:002010-12-06T07:47:37.941-05:00Abba Father!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5YWMmiuUGDl7GsKFMV_inC17DlBTSGzXzDOF54r0ySxilxehbUumbRTxupZLQjC1xqEou47vz6dVd-Chg0BOBoxZJicNqD6i4j0cXGJwWywodOTz0-O21Qbq-QVblNdKdCou-lyGdWQ/s1600/Levi.jpeg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5YWMmiuUGDl7GsKFMV_inC17DlBTSGzXzDOF54r0ySxilxehbUumbRTxupZLQjC1xqEou47vz6dVd-Chg0BOBoxZJicNqD6i4j0cXGJwWywodOTz0-O21Qbq-QVblNdKdCou-lyGdWQ/s320/Levi.jpeg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547546427140402114" /></a><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><b>Photo</b>: Cheryl and I with baby Levi Kidwell. He is out of PICU and was in church worship service Sunday with a happy mom and dad.<br /></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: 900; " ><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: 900; " >Thought for the Day</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left; "><div style="text-align: left; "><div style="text-align: left; "><div style="text-align: left; "><div style="text-align: left; "><div style="text-align: left; "><div style="text-align: left; "><div style="text-align: left; "><div style="text-align: left; "><div style="text-align: left; "><div style="text-align: left; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" >Galatians 4:4-6</span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" >(4) But when the fulness of the time was come, <b><span class="Apple-style-span" >God sent forth his Son</span></b>, made of a woman, made under the law,</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" >(5) To redeem them that were under the law, <b><span class="Apple-style-span" >that we might receive the adoption of sons</span></b>.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" >(6) And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, <b><span class="Apple-style-span" >Abba, Father</span></b>.</span></span></div><div style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 19px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div></div></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Christmas becomes so personal to me when I meditate on the truth that it was the coming of Jesus into this world in "the fullness of time" or at just the right moment that allows me to enjoy the Father- son relationship that I have with God. He is not a God that is far off or impersonal, but He is "Abba" or literally "Daddy". What a blessed privilege to know this great being in such a comfortable and personal way!</span></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 19px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal; "><a><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; "><div style="display: inline !important; "><div style="text-align: justify; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; display: inline !important; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div></div></div></a></span></div><div style="line-height: 19px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal; "><a><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; "><div style="display: inline !important; "><div style="text-align: justify; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; display: inline !important; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><b>Application</b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div></div></div></a></span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left; "><div style="text-align: left; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" >Cry out to "Abba" today with boldness and confidence that He desires to hear from you. If you are uncertain of your relationship with God check out the link "How to Know God" at <a href="http://www.fbc301.org">www.fbc301.org</a>.</span></span></span></span></span></span></div></div></div></div>Pastor Mike Groverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15447162605495404446noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5823353906216983193.post-85049444608002713742010-12-03T09:07:00.000-05:002010-12-03T11:35:17.564-05:00Thankful Enough to Give<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIlw5-4Mp9wg9K_JvflQz7rV6_fsj5aJ8HIAgOEcsalnbZ0HTLeLODtai4v5ZyDAtKenGJeM5GjfCnRivENnDewu-dY6FeP56SStY7WGXx-Zo8Ca8TwI8tIaXBnoq49WlROOEdY90Ckg/s1600/Seffner+Christmas+Concert+septia+.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 247px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIlw5-4Mp9wg9K_JvflQz7rV6_fsj5aJ8HIAgOEcsalnbZ0HTLeLODtai4v5ZyDAtKenGJeM5GjfCnRivENnDewu-dY6FeP56SStY7WGXx-Zo8Ca8TwI8tIaXBnoq49WlROOEdY90Ckg/s320/Seffner+Christmas+Concert+septia+.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546489949007095698" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHTUHGqUAxXIkTqFx8xfc2aGOZgxXcb0vtlDXg8Ea2yTgaXIHTLTyLWWNYYBWSPhcAaqsouLNCYFptakvuaxyCHaAgdpvW1mX34mQ5IMjZbls5PaqDBnVKXaJ8tdyla5ZXK93FVA0rPQ/s1600/Girls.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 238px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHTUHGqUAxXIkTqFx8xfc2aGOZgxXcb0vtlDXg8Ea2yTgaXIHTLTyLWWNYYBWSPhcAaqsouLNCYFptakvuaxyCHaAgdpvW1mX34mQ5IMjZbls5PaqDBnVKXaJ8tdyla5ZXK93FVA0rPQ/s320/Girls.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546485932332387634" /></a><div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><b style="font-size: medium; "><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><b style="font-size: medium; ">Photos: </b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; ">Cheryl, her mom, and the girls at Julianna's Chorus Christmas Concert at Seffner Christian.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large; font-weight: 900; " ><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large; font-weight: 900; " >Thought for the Day</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left; "><div style="text-align: left; "><div style="text-align: left; "><div style="text-align: left; "><div style="text-align: left; "><div style="text-align: left; "><div style="text-align: left; "><div style="text-align: left; "><div style="text-align: left; "><span class="Apple-style-span" ><div style="text-align: left; font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">2 Chronicles 29:31</span></div><div style="text-align: left; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px; ">Then Hezekiah answered and said, Now ye have consecrated yourselves unto the LORD, come near and <b><span class="Apple-style-span" >bring sacrifices and thank offerings</span></b> into the house of the LORD. And the congregation brought in sacrifices and thank offerings; and <b><span class="Apple-style-span" >as many as were of a free heart</span></b> burnt offerings.</span></div><div style="line-height: 19px; "><br /></div></span></div><div style="line-height: 19px; font-size: medium; "><span class="Apple-style-span" >It seems fitting that the Christmas season follows right on the heels of Thanksgiving. When we get our focus right and begin to see the blessings in all that God has done for us and our heart is filled with gratitude, it generates a spirit of generosity. "For God so loved the world that He gave...." As thanksgiving is the season of praise and gratitude, Christmas is the season of generosity and giving.</span></div><div style="line-height: 19px; font-size: medium; "><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: 19px; font-size: medium; "><b><span class="Apple-style-span" >The heart that has been freed through thankfulness will naturally give generously!</span></b></div></div></div></div><div style="line-height: 19px; font-size: medium; "><span class="Apple-style-span" ><b></b></span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left; "><div style="text-align: left; line-height: 19px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><i><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal; " ><p></p></span></span></span></div></div></span></div></i></span></div><div style="line-height: 19px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal; "><a><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; "><div style="display: inline !important; "><div style="text-align: justify; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; display: inline !important; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" >Application</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div></div></div></a></span></div><div style="text-align: left; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; " >Are you free to offer generously? Look for an opportunity today and throughout this Christmas season to give generously to a specific need.</span></span></span></span></span></span></div></div></div></div>Pastor Mike Groverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15447162605495404446noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5823353906216983193.post-16068875494815469862010-11-29T08:00:00.000-05:002010-11-29T08:19:06.029-05:00The Privilege of Parenting<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWlYTf4HE9leTaeG0DFc5acIu_iPWX94S2kkgFk9DF2bXWU7Gy93GMTodqQVqLMYdCGE9YzhSg9_mFNMrkAg2cGUtuRCVlyDh3hljwVF7xzbIJgleBzXZ356CukHDVyBucMzw7mqShjw/s1600/Stowel+Baby+Dedication+touched.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWlYTf4HE9leTaeG0DFc5acIu_iPWX94S2kkgFk9DF2bXWU7Gy93GMTodqQVqLMYdCGE9YzhSg9_mFNMrkAg2cGUtuRCVlyDh3hljwVF7xzbIJgleBzXZ356CukHDVyBucMzw7mqShjw/s320/Stowel+Baby+Dedication+touched.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544957571548291026" /></a><div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b style="font-size: medium; ">Photos: </b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Sent to me by the Stowell Family of the dedication day of Joshua!</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large; font-weight: 900; "><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large; font-weight: 900; ">Thought for the Day</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left; "><div style="text-align: left; "><div style="text-align: left; "><div style="text-align: left; "><div style="text-align: left; "><div style="text-align: left; "><div style="text-align: left; "><div style="text-align: left; "><div style="text-align: left; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px; font-size: medium;"><b>Psalms 127:3-5</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px; font-size: medium;">(3) Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.</span></div><div style="text-align: left; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px; font-size: medium;">(4) As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth.</span></div><div style="text-align: left; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px; font-size: medium;">(5) Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.</span></div><div style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 19px; font-size: medium; "><br /></div></div><div style="line-height: 19px; font-size: medium; font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; ">Children get an awful bad rap in our society today. They are viewed as a burden and something that can be easily disposed of if the timing is just not right for us to be parents yet. We find all kinds of excuses to justify our selfishness, but the truth is that God views our children as gifts. He views them as His own heritage and something that we should highly value and treasure.</span></div></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px; font-size: medium;">I am so blessed by the 15 babies that have been born to families in our church body over the past 12 months and there is one more on the way in March. What a privilege to be honored by God with such treasure. Along with the joys of parenthood also comes the challenges and burdens as well, but all for His glory and their good!</span></div></div><div style="line-height: 19px; font-size: medium; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><b></b></span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><div style="text-align: left; "><div style="text-align: left; line-height: 19px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><i><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal; "><p></p></span></span></span></div></div></span></div></i></span></div><div style="line-height: 19px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal; "><a><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; "><div style="display: inline !important; "><div style="text-align: justify; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; display: inline !important; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">Application</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div></div></div></a></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Ask the Lord to give you the right perspective of the children in your life and see your opportunity to influence them as a sacred obligation to the Lord Himself. After all, they are His heritage!</span></span></span></span></span></span></div></div></span></div></div>Pastor Mike Groverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15447162605495404446noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5823353906216983193.post-23143326105490747952010-11-27T07:24:00.006-05:002010-11-27T07:46:00.604-05:00Thanking Our Way To Peace Of Mind<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPJC6Die9IxJEmk1KwKVo8GqNcbnajfSWxQa9Z3INOwgdqasaoIoyijmEjbtnl-eg4c5mct-8ACLd89PHS1GLk-U192rAYIT0ShK3vTwC7jPJz1zU7cf995TZh3MKDkZ-Og0M-cGpOPg/s1600/CJ+and+angel.jpeg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPJC6Die9IxJEmk1KwKVo8GqNcbnajfSWxQa9Z3INOwgdqasaoIoyijmEjbtnl-eg4c5mct-8ACLd89PHS1GLk-U192rAYIT0ShK3vTwC7jPJz1zU7cf995TZh3MKDkZ-Og0M-cGpOPg/s320/CJ+and+angel.jpeg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544205068484309442" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioYxd3i__S8BLhRjpEkXUhm4Dps8kZitvlUWx85qU91MR273VDCdzDqnexpofnu_Wz0EHrCiWK6NqoMkc4uBaWrSUACGcV_g09iMUv8nUEhQUYE8P4AesA_9ufhvCOITEuQVAFgkRnYw/s1600/ABeth+and+Christmas+angel.jpeg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioYxd3i__S8BLhRjpEkXUhm4Dps8kZitvlUWx85qU91MR273VDCdzDqnexpofnu_Wz0EHrCiWK6NqoMkc4uBaWrSUACGcV_g09iMUv8nUEhQUYE8P4AesA_9ufhvCOITEuQVAFgkRnYw/s320/ABeth+and+Christmas+angel.jpeg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544204975241491554" /></a><br /><div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; "><b><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; "><b><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; "><b><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; "><b><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; "><b><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; "><b><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; "><b><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; "><b><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; "><b><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; "><b><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; "><b><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; "><b><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; "><b>Photos: Decorating the tree with the kids (CJ never got to put the angel on before, so this was his chance.)</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large; font-weight: 900; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large; font-weight: 900; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">Thought for the Day</span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left; "><div style="text-align: left; "><div style="text-align: left; "><div style="text-align: left; "><div style="text-align: left; "><div style="text-align: left; "><div style="text-align: left; "><div style="text-align: left; font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px; font-size: medium;">Psalms 119:62</span></div><div style="text-align: left; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px; font-size: medium; ">At midnight I will rise to give thanks unto thee because of thy righteous judgments.</span></div><div style="line-height: 19px; font-size: medium; font-weight: bold; "><br /></div></div><div style="line-height: 19px; font-size: medium; ">We often hear of people staying up late because of worry or fear of uncertainties on the horizon of life, but for someone to get up simply to "give thanks" to the Lord is highly unusual. This is not something we commonly associate with late night activity. What would be the motive behind this?</div><div style="line-height: 19px; font-size: medium; "><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px; font-size: medium;">There are several assumptions we could make, but to me what is clear is that giving thanks to God is simply good medicine. Perhaps it was the worries and fears that brought the initial wakefulness, but the care filled moment was turned into an opportunity for praise. "Giving Thanks" will settle the anxieties of our hearts by putting the Lord back into the center of our universe where He belongs!</span></div></div><div style="line-height: 19px; font-size: medium; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><b></b></span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><div style="text-align: left; "><div style="text-align: left; line-height: 19px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><i><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal; "><p></p></span></span></span></div></div></span></div></i></span></div><div style="line-height: 19px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal; "><a><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; "><div style="display: inline !important; "><div style="text-align: justify; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; display: inline !important; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">Application</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div></div></div></a></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">If there are worries or stresses in your life today, turn them over to the Lord by giving Him thanks.</span></span></span></span></span></div></div></span></div></div>Pastor Mike Groverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15447162605495404446noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5823353906216983193.post-37903190492119576292010-11-25T08:50:00.006-05:002010-11-25T11:50:46.282-05:00Happy Thanksgiving!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK0dPhu4PHY8GO0Dy5ANU_jBY9Fwy5YvaZfU0Tvpst0q_oz5XrCKLEbkFRHDKnS9CDzv1PYAy3IeFFg9ffJjk9atPAl9bQ7Xp89w8yJbN8v0kvqJiaeTxv_laOc0NY0eBGDu1dZ4aoZQ/s1600/list+2.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK0dPhu4PHY8GO0Dy5ANU_jBY9Fwy5YvaZfU0Tvpst0q_oz5XrCKLEbkFRHDKnS9CDzv1PYAy3IeFFg9ffJjk9atPAl9bQ7Xp89w8yJbN8v0kvqJiaeTxv_laOc0NY0eBGDu1dZ4aoZQ/s320/list+2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5543527156692996818" /></a><div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; "><b><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" >My "Thankfulness List"</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" >- Making a written list of 100 things for which I am thankful has been used greatly of God in my heart this month. I can truly say He has given me an "attitude of gratitude!"</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large; font-weight: 900; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large; font-weight: 900; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" >Thought for the Day</span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left; "><div style="text-align: left; "><div style="text-align: left; "><div style="text-align: left; "><div style="text-align: left; "><div style="text-align: left; "><div style="text-align: left; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px; font-size: medium;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" >Psalms 100:1-5 </span></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><b></b></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 19px; "><b><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" >A Psalm of praise</span></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" >(1) Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands.</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" >(2) Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing.</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" >(3) Know ye that <b><span class="Apple-style-span" >the LORD he is God</span></b>: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" >(4) Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" >(5) For <b><span class="Apple-style-span" >the LORD is good</span></b>; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.</span></span></span></div><div style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 19px; font-size: medium; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></span></div></div><div style="line-height: 19px; font-size: medium; "><span class="Apple-style-span" >As I sit here on Thanksgiving morning, I am filled with gratitude for my life. I am fully aware though that the blessings I enjoy are only because of my Lord Jesus Christ. He has enabled me to know God and serve Him. I am convinced that there are two things about God that I must be aware of and rest in if I can fully experience His presence and blessing. </span></div><div style="line-height: 19px; font-size: medium; "><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" >These two things are that </span></span><b style="line-height: 19px; font-size: medium; "><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" >1.</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px; font-size: medium;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" >God is Great</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" >, and </span></span><b style="line-height: 19px; font-size: medium; "><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" >2.</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px; font-size: medium;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" > God is Good</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" >! If God were not great, He would be incapable of bringing His good will for me to pass. If God were not good, His immense power could not be trusted to do that which is best for me. <i>Power without goodness is corrupting, and goodness without power is incapable of fully expressing itself</i>. I am grateful that my Lord is both Great and Good as the earliest childhood prayer that I was taught reminded me each night. Praise Him this Thanksgiving for He alone is worthy!</span></span></div><div style="line-height: 19px; font-size: medium; "><span class="Apple-style-span" ><b></b></span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><div style="text-align: left; "><div style="text-align: left; line-height: 19px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><i><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal; "><p></p></span></span></span></div></div></span></div></i></span></div><div style="line-height: 19px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal; "><a><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; "><div style="display: inline !important; "><div style="text-align: justify; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; display: inline !important; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" >Application</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div></div></div></a></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" >"God is great, God is good let us thank Him for this food, amen!"</span></span></span></span></span></div></div></span></div></div>Pastor Mike Groverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15447162605495404446noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5823353906216983193.post-78934525118729919192010-11-20T07:30:00.000-05:002010-11-20T10:10:58.692-05:00Magnify God Through Thankfulness<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYrQCdB1HrtDnBqfW0NUKiJkt-ukP21ZdIpWMYHygNj8PC_RQI5EvHi-lvjXAn-5Kdn0WPNo_XaNmVDwod32uLL1pan_kWeKDESC9Ow6-fTpf5nmqJLorMUHr9V5NR-bRkWnKVdHmyJA/s1600/Thanks+Living+Title+Slide.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYrQCdB1HrtDnBqfW0NUKiJkt-ukP21ZdIpWMYHygNj8PC_RQI5EvHi-lvjXAn-5Kdn0WPNo_XaNmVDwod32uLL1pan_kWeKDESC9Ow6-fTpf5nmqJLorMUHr9V5NR-bRkWnKVdHmyJA/s320/Thanks+Living+Title+Slide.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541640994086295874" /></a><div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" >ThanksLiving</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" >. </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" >Sunday morning sermon series for the month of November. Thankfulness is the key to contentment!</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large; font-weight: 900; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large; font-weight: 900; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" >Thought for the Day</span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left; "><div style="text-align: left; "><div style="text-align: left; "><div style="text-align: left; "><div style="text-align: left; "><div style="text-align: left; font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" >Psalms 69:30-31</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px; font-size: medium; "><span class="Apple-style-span" >(30) I will praise the name of God with a song, and will <b><span class="Apple-style-span" >magnify</span></b> him with thanksgiving.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px; font-size: medium; "><span class="Apple-style-span" >(31) This also shall <b><span class="Apple-style-span" >please</span></b> the LORD better than an ox or bullock that hath horns and hoofs.</span></span></div><div style="line-height: 19px; font-size: medium; font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" >Once again we see the importance of thankfulness to our relationship with God. David describes thanksgiving here as </span></span><b style="line-height: 19px; font-size: medium; "><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" >"magnifying"</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" > the Lord and </span></span><b style="line-height: 19px; font-size: medium; "><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" >"pleasing"</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" > Him more than many sacrifices. We can not overestimate the importance of gratitude to as successful Christian life. I believe if we would focus on this one grace and determine to grow in this area through concentration and focus that we would experience a great burst of enthusiasm in our walk with Christ. Thanksgiving magnifies Him; it makes Him big to everyone around us, and this is exactly what He deserves. He is worthy!</span></span></div></div></div></div></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><div style="text-align: left; "><div style="text-align: left; font-weight: 900; line-height: 19px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><i><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><b><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; line-height: 19px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><p></p></span></b></span></span></div></div></b></span></div></i></span></div><div style="font-weight: 900; line-height: 19px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><a><b><b><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; "><div style="display: inline !important; "><div style="text-align: justify; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; display: inline !important; "><b><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" >Application</span></span></span></span></span></span></b></div></div></div></b></b></a></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" >Magnify the Lord today through thanksgiving. Let everyone know that you appreciate all the good that He has allowed to come your way today.</span></span></span></div></div></span></div></div>Pastor Mike Groverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15447162605495404446noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5823353906216983193.post-61001231658235858122010-11-19T07:11:00.004-05:002010-11-19T07:26:01.108-05:00The Debt of Gratitude<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-ytjUC6UNIhGQbSzBcH8F3vyTXUgs43GfavKy4St6UG9cTG7O00Zx7vlgaDv0nmK4b7yvL0lnn_Fx2uayFm0J_r7kkT7TKqz3WmKnlH3HsZy_CgvJQ09-8J2Up2UAfz0mQgSBO_V52Q/s1600/scan0006.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 229px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-ytjUC6UNIhGQbSzBcH8F3vyTXUgs43GfavKy4St6UG9cTG7O00Zx7vlgaDv0nmK4b7yvL0lnn_Fx2uayFm0J_r7kkT7TKqz3WmKnlH3HsZy_CgvJQ09-8J2Up2UAfz0mQgSBO_V52Q/s320/scan0006.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541232467979160834" /></a><div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" >Photo:</span></span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" > I am thankful for health and strength to enjoy the things that are important in life. Julianna's volleyball photo.</span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large; font-weight: 900; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large; font-weight: 900; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" >Thought for the Day</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left; "><div style="text-align: left; "><div style="text-align: left; "><div style="text-align: left; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px; font-size: medium; "><b><span class="Apple-style-span" >Psalms 50:14 </span></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px; font-size: medium; "><span class="Apple-style-span" >Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the most High:</span></span></div><div style="line-height: 19px; font-size: medium; font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div></div><div style="line-height: 19px; font-size: medium; "><span class="Apple-style-span" >We tend to want to offer God our money, or time, or songs, or whatever; but what He is truly desirous of is our heart. The "vows" God wants "paid" from us is simply that we would offer Him thanks from the heart. I will continue to "pay my vows" to the Lord this month as I compile my list of 100 things for which I am thankful. I am surrounded by two things each day: things that can cause me to grumble, and things that can cause me to give thanks. The amazing thing that I am discovering is that they are both the same things; it is simply my perspective that determines their worth.</span></div></div></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><div style="text-align: left; "><div style="text-align: left; font-weight: 900; line-height: 19px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><i><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><b><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; line-height: 19px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><p></p></span></b></span></span></div></div></b></span></div></i></span></div><div style="font-weight: 900; line-height: 19px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><a><b><b><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; "><div style="display: inline !important; "><div style="text-align: justify; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; display: inline !important; "><b><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" >Application</span></span></span></span></span></b></div></div></div></b></b></a></span></div><div style="text-align: justify; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" >As you thank the Lord for the things in your life today, remember that you are paying to Him a great debt of gratitude!</span></span></div></div></span></div></div>Pastor Mike Groverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15447162605495404446noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5823353906216983193.post-40677718337378736852010-11-17T07:46:00.003-05:002010-11-17T08:04:52.301-05:00The Testimony of Praise<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFCk9f8h5vDy0c_tqgdHToMzOUAw2R8KQjf7jyjwQ1IPGTqrG25wt405zUq87y-2mPLZ8OYbvK52Oft02mWiM_kPyJANx61hN9OTT4NuL333O1drpd_JVbQ6GHE-f6qpwVOB8VEERBsw/s1600/J+Girl.jpeg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFCk9f8h5vDy0c_tqgdHToMzOUAw2R8KQjf7jyjwQ1IPGTqrG25wt405zUq87y-2mPLZ8OYbvK52Oft02mWiM_kPyJANx61hN9OTT4NuL333O1drpd_JVbQ6GHE-f6qpwVOB8VEERBsw/s320/J+Girl.jpeg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5540500021228150290" /></a><div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" >Photo:</span></span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" > "J-girl", Julianna, heading to school this morning.</span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large; font-weight: 900; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large; font-weight: 900; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" >Thought for the Day</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left; "><div style="text-align: left; "><div style="text-align: left; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px; font-size: medium; "><b><span class="Apple-style-span" >Psalms 18:49 </span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" >Therefore will I give thanks unto thee, O LORD, among the heathen, and sing praises unto thy name.</span></span></div><div style="line-height: 19px; font-size: medium; font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div></div><div style="line-height: 19px; font-size: medium; "><span class="Apple-style-span" >Before I was a Christian one of the things that most impressed me about the few people I knew who professed to follow Christ was their positive and inspiring attitudes. There is just something attractive about a good spirit. In this psalm, David shows that the source of his blessings was God. He publicly gives thanks so that everyone would see that he served a God who was worthy of praise. I believe if people would see in us more thankfulness and praise rather than complaining and negativism that they would be attracted to our great Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!</span></div></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><div style="text-align: left; "><div style="text-align: left; font-weight: 900; line-height: 19px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><i><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><b><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; line-height: 19px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><p></p></span></b></span></span></div></div></b></span></div></i></span></div><div style="font-weight: 900; line-height: 19px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><a><b><b><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; "><div style="display: inline !important; "><div style="text-align: justify; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; display: inline !important; "><b><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" >Application</span></span></span></span></span></b></div></div></div></b></b></a></span></div><div style="text-align: justify; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" >Give thanks to the Lord today, not just in private, but publicly where all can see His greatness. A simple bowing of the head in prayer over a meal in a restaurant is a great way of demonstarting our love for the Lord and showing forth His praise.</span></span></span></span></span></div></div></span></div></div>Pastor Mike Groverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15447162605495404446noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5823353906216983193.post-59415249171832477812010-11-16T07:30:00.001-05:002010-11-16T08:23:59.815-05:00Be Specific<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWrb9p-axu9BgPE2tZ4tawb9YK2BthfpwBUivQJEl8b-3Qa-xrdimaBSTbZ2irmuU8mbD2ONYqisWuE9PzwsAMU7IJcoAg_NTGPlQzoYobwRRxtAkbCjb6CejMPtzSRlpb3aZ8mdIkzQ/s1600/right.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWrb9p-axu9BgPE2tZ4tawb9YK2BthfpwBUivQJEl8b-3Qa-xrdimaBSTbZ2irmuU8mbD2ONYqisWuE9PzwsAMU7IJcoAg_NTGPlQzoYobwRRxtAkbCjb6CejMPtzSRlpb3aZ8mdIkzQ/s320/right.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5540134073139185986" /></a><div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; "><span class="Apple-style-span">Photo:</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; "><span class="Apple-style-span"> I am thankful for my family. Cheryl and Annabeth getting ready for the day.</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large; font-weight: 900; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large; font-weight: 900; "><span class="Apple-style-span">Thought for the Day</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left; "><div style="text-align: left; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px; font-size: medium;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span">Philippians 1:3</span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span">I thank my God upon every remembrance of you...</span></span></div><div style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 19px; font-size: medium; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div></div><div style="line-height: 19px; font-size: medium; "><span class="Apple-style-span">I am well on my way to completing my list of 100 things for which I am thankful. One thing that has become clear to me through this process is that the more specific I become, the more gratitude I feel. For example, initially I wrote that I am thankful for "friends", but it was not until I began to write down the names of specific friends that my heart became full of memories of past events that made me truly grateful. This must be what Paul had in mind when he wrote that he thanked the Lord <span class="Apple-style-span"><b>"upon every remembrance"</b></span>. Specific details seem to arouse a much greater sense of gratitude than generalities.</span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><div style="text-align: left; "><div style="text-align: left; font-weight: 900; line-height: 19px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><i><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><b><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; line-height: 19px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><p></p></span></b></span></span></div></div></b></span></div></i></span></div><div style="font-weight: 900; line-height: 19px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><a><b><b><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; "><div style="display: inline !important; "><div style="text-align: justify; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; display: inline !important; "><b><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">Application</span></span></span></span></b></div></div></div></b></b></a></span></div><div style="text-align: justify; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Begin your own thanksgiving list today if you haven't already and continue to get specific. A good dose of gratitude is needed today in our world about as much as anything else we could have.</span></span></span></span></div></div></span></div></div>Pastor Mike Groverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15447162605495404446noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5823353906216983193.post-80089726887306743282010-11-13T08:53:00.002-05:002010-11-13T09:14:17.106-05:00ThanksLiving<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhnRUBKUogFeEq7J0247NyrSjk9NYbFArOL6BMRptajRxGWYmFKIA3TXQ-gzwC87-xJbWoT7thECcytXCHsSUFrTQJ-x12EC5XF_VhX7FVTxge7uFhtOkhhricYcGW-ojXwrP6uQuqyA/s1600/thanksliving_t.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhnRUBKUogFeEq7J0247NyrSjk9NYbFArOL6BMRptajRxGWYmFKIA3TXQ-gzwC87-xJbWoT7thECcytXCHsSUFrTQJ-x12EC5XF_VhX7FVTxge7uFhtOkhhricYcGW-ojXwrP6uQuqyA/s320/thanksliving_t.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539034468007158690" /></a><div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">(I have not written in several weeks due initially to computer problems and then inattention. Good to be back.)</span></span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large; font-weight: 900; "><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large; font-weight: 900; "><span class="Apple-style-span" >Thought for the Day</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px; font-size: medium; "><b><span class="Apple-style-span" >1 Thessalonians 5:18 </span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" >In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px; "><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></span></span></div></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" >Last week I began a series of Sunday morning messages aimed at reviving the spirit of thankfulness in my life and our church. I believe the root cause of most of our problems as individuals and as a nation is due to the loss of gratitude. We see in Romans 1:21 that ingratitude has led to entire cultures turning away from God. When we fail to acknowledge the blessings in our lives and come completely wrapped up in our problems or misfortunes, we are well on the road to many greater pains and anguish.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px; font-size: medium; "><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" >I have challenged our church to make a list of at least 100 things for which they are thankful. I believe the simple act of "counting our blessings" will result in a great awakening of joy and gladness!</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><div style="text-align: left; "><div style="text-align: left; font-weight: 900; line-height: 19px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><i><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><b><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; line-height: 19px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><p></p></span></b></span></span></div></div></b></span></div></i></span></div><div style="font-weight: 900; line-height: 19px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><a><b><b><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; "><div style="display: inline !important; "><div style="text-align: justify; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; display: inline !important; "><b><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" >Application</span></span></span></b></div></div></div></b></b></a></span></div><div style="text-align: justify; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" >Begin your own thanksgiving list today. Keep it close by and when you are tempted to murmur write a couple of things down that you have to be thankful for. It will amaze you how gratitude will redirect your thoughts and emotions.</span></span></div></div></span></div></div>Pastor Mike Groverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15447162605495404446noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5823353906216983193.post-90301644074717860092010-10-18T10:34:00.000-04:002010-10-18T10:34:44.161-04:00I will lift my eyes<span style="font-weight:bold;">Beautiful song during worship Sunday morning.</span><br /><br /><object style="background-image:url(http://i3.ytimg.com/vi/RGI8Kymnaks/hqdefault.jpg)" width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/RGI8Kymnaks?fs=1&hl=en_US"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/RGI8Kymnaks?fs=1&hl=en_US" width="425" height="344" allowscriptaccess="never" allowfullscreen="true" wmode="transparent" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object>Pastor Mike Groverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15447162605495404446noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5823353906216983193.post-2799300713680189932010-10-18T10:09:00.003-04:002010-10-18T10:43:21.780-04:00Rejoice in the Lord!<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/t900j3Wz-OY?fs=1&hl=en_US"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/t900j3Wz-OY?fs=1&hl=en_US" width="425" height="344" allowscriptaccess="never" allowfullscreen="true" wmode="transparent" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object><br /><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><b>Clip: </b>Fellowship choir singing "Through the Fire"</span></span></div><br /><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><b>Thought for the Day</b></span></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px; font-size: medium;"><b><div style="text-align: left;">Philippians 4:4-5 <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><i> Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice. (5) Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.</i></span></div><div><br /></div></b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px; "><b><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; font-weight: normal; font-size: medium; ">What a wonderful day of rejoicing yesterday at Fellowship. It was a great joy to witness two new believers follow Christ in baptism. But our rejoicing must extend beyond the walls of our corporate place of worship. Paul said we are to "rejoice always", this means at all times and in all places. Sunday is simply the "huddle" and plays are not run in the huddle. It is when a team breaks the huddle and steps up to the line that the real action takes place. This is true in our Christian lives as well. <b><span class="Apple-style-span">"Let your moderation be known"</span></b> today! <b><span class="Apple-style-span">"The Lord is at hand"</span></b> He is available to all who will come to Him and receive His offer of mercy.</span></div></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: 900; line-height: 19px;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><i><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><b><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; line-height: 19px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><p></p></span></b></span></span></div></div></b></span></div></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><a><b><b><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; "><div style="display: inline !important; "><div style="text-align: justify; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; display: inline !important; "><b><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; ">Application</span></span></span></b></div></div></div></b></b></a></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size: medium;">Rejoice today!</span></span></div></div></span></div>Pastor Mike Groverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15447162605495404446noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5823353906216983193.post-45953970632828109042010-10-16T07:30:00.001-04:002010-10-16T08:16:17.318-04:00Confessing God's Greatness<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmFGU9fD3JHVT1RD0YoKaVJ5MxpUO9cwrr_IezkGcVAv68rPFvJ-1KB2L3dqm0wi7fvan62iJ6zHcP1bkO6OUJ9j67ea0cf1eM8pKt7noVa0LPwJeIuWT187LC0ENStEsAiZlLqmgCOg/s1600/CJ+worship.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmFGU9fD3JHVT1RD0YoKaVJ5MxpUO9cwrr_IezkGcVAv68rPFvJ-1KB2L3dqm0wi7fvan62iJ6zHcP1bkO6OUJ9j67ea0cf1eM8pKt7noVa0LPwJeIuWT187LC0ENStEsAiZlLqmgCOg/s320/CJ+worship.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528610867532421426" /></a><b><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Photo: </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">C.J. leading the worship song "Our God is Greater" with several other teens. I am thankful for our teens that are willing to step forward for Christ.</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></b><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: 900; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: 900; "><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Thought for the Day</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px; "><b><div style="text-align: left; display: inline !important; "><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Nehemiah 9:3, 6 </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">And they stood up in their place, and read in the book of the law of the LORD their God one fourth part of the day; and another fourth part </span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">they confessed, and worshipped the LORD their God...</span></span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> (6) Thou, even thou, art LORD alone; thou hast made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth, and all things that are therein, the seas, and all that is therein, and thou preservest them all; and the host of heaven worshippeth thee.</span></span></i></span></div></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px; "><b><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">It is wonderful how the people of Israel in Nehemiah chapter nine attribute confession to worship. We typically think of confession as having to do with admitting sin, and although it can have to do with sin, it is much broader. Literally "to confess" means "to tell the truth". When we confess our sin, we are telling the truth about our sin. When we make confession of our God, we are telling the truth about Him.</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Worship then is telling the truth about </span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">who God is,</span></span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> what </span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">He has done,</span></span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> and what </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" ><b><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">He is capable of doing</span></span></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">!</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: 900; line-height: 19px;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><i><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><b><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; line-height: 19px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><p></p></span></b></span></span></div></div></b></span></div></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><a><b><b><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; "><div style="display: inline !important; "><div style="text-align: justify; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; display: inline !important; "><b><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Application</span></span></b></div></div></div></b></b></a></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><a><b><b></b></b></a><b><b><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; "><a></a><div style="display: inline !important; "><a></a><div style="text-align: justify; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; display: inline !important; "><a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Make a confession today! Think about Who God is, what He has done, and what He is capable of doing. Write it down and then confess it with your mouth to Him and to others. As the Psalmist said, "My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad." (</span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; "></span></a><a><b><b><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; "><div style="display: inline !important; "><div style="text-align: justify; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; display: inline !important; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Psalm 34:2)</span></span></span></span></div></div></div></b></b></a></div></div></div></b></b></span></div></div></span></div>Pastor Mike Groverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15447162605495404446noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5823353906216983193.post-4459692265251694532010-10-15T07:57:00.004-04:002010-10-15T08:15:31.688-04:00The LORD Is My Shepherd<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbuJQsEmXCHDOZrxAiQr_5pVB0Hi3Ys3wuyFiIDABgcKIKwOmoKJPcqe21AEIDNsErYKN1LrCPR4v1fivfzCMDw2-UPPGzaM869DBIsFVyFx3h_f0bzhpMR_h6WI1-G_ojErEe6P0EFQ/s1600/Abeth+wounded.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbuJQsEmXCHDOZrxAiQr_5pVB0Hi3Ys3wuyFiIDABgcKIKwOmoKJPcqe21AEIDNsErYKN1LrCPR4v1fivfzCMDw2-UPPGzaM869DBIsFVyFx3h_f0bzhpMR_h6WI1-G_ojErEe6P0EFQ/s320/Abeth+wounded.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528241040393790754" /></a><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" >Photo:</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" > Annabeth bearing the wounds of AWANA game time on Wednesday night.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: 900; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: 900; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" >Thought for the Day</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" >Psalm 23:1</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" > </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" >The LORD is m</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" >y shepherd; I shall not want.</span></span></i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></span></i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" >So often we allow other people or things to become our satisfaction in life. This is not how we were wired by God to possess happiness. It is only when He is our all that we experience complete satisfaction.</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" >This thought was brought out wonderfully by Ray Steadman,</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: 900; line-height: 19px;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><i><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><b><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; line-height: 19px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><p style="font-weight: normal; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.2em; text-align: left; "></p><blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" >"Because the Lord is my shepherd, I do not lack anything. He satisfies my needs. That is the place where God wants to bring us. He wants us to be</span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" > </span></span></span></i><i><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" >independently dependent</span></span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" > upon Him, to need Him alone. It struck me as I was studying this psalm that there are really only two options in life. </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" ><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" >If the Lord is my shepherd, then I shall not want; but if I am in want, then it is obvious that the Lord is not my shepherd.</span></span></b></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" > It is that simple. If emptiness, loneliness, despair, and frustration exist in our lives, then the Lord is not our shepherd. Or if anyone or anything else is shepherding us, we are never satisfied. If our vocation shepherds us, then there is restlessness and feverish activity and frustration. If education is our shepherd, then we are constantly being disillusioned. If another person is our shepherd, we are always disappointed, and ultimately we are left empty. If drug abuse is our shepherd, then 'we are wasted' as one rock artist said recently. But if the Lord is our shepherd, David says, we shall not want."</span></span></blockquote><p></p></span></b></span></span></div></div></b></span></div></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><a><b><b><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; "><div style="display: inline !important; "><div style="text-align: justify; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; display: inline !important; "><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" >Application</span></span></b></div></div></div></b></b></a></span></div></div></span></div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><a><b><b><div style="display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; "><div style="display: inline !important; "><div style="text-align: justify;margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" >Where are you dissatisfied in your life today? This is an indication of your need for shepherding in this area by the Lord Jesus. Bow your head and surrender that burden to Him right now.</span></span></span></div></div></div></b></b></a></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Pastor Mike Groverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15447162605495404446noreply@blogger.com