Good Morning, today is Thursday 1.6.2011

We are looking in to marriage, the relationship between Husband and Wife. It is so very important to realize that a good marriage does not just happen it takes work. Some would say 50%-50% but more over it's like 100%-100%. Some time we feel we are always the one giving but the truth be told the other spouse most likely feels the same way. Look at what 1 Corinthians 7 (The Message) has to say about marriage.

 

1 Corinthians 7

To Be Married, to Be Single . . .

1 Now, getting down to the questions you asked in your letter to me. First, Is it a good thing to have sexual relations? 2-6 Certainly—but only within a certain context. It's good for a man to have a wife, and for a woman to have a husband. Sexual drives are strong, but marriage is strong enough to contain them and provide for a balanced and fulfilling sexual life in a world of sexual disorder. The marriage bed must be a place of mutuality—the husband seeking to satisfy his wife, the wife seeking to satisfy her husband. Marriage is not a place to "stand up for your rights." Marriage is a decision to serve the other, whether in bed or out. Abstaining from sex is permissible for a period of time if you both agree to it, and if it's for the purposes of prayer and fasting—but only for such times. Then come back together again. Satan has an ingenious way of tempting us when we least expect it. I'm not, understand, commanding these periods of abstinence—only providing my best counsel if you should choose them. 7Sometimes I wish everyone were single like me—a simpler life in many ways! But celibacy is not for everyone any more than marriage is. God gives the gift of the single life to some, the gift of the married life to others.

8-9 I do, though, tell the unmarried and widows that singleness might well be the best thing for them, as it has been for me. But if they can't manage their desires and emotions, they should by all means go ahead and get married. The difficulties of marriage are preferable by far to a sexually tortured life as a single.

10-11 And if you are married, stay married. This is the Master's command, not mine. If a wife should leave her husband, she must either remain single or else come back and make things right with him. And a husband has no right to get rid of his wife.

12-14 For the rest of you who are in mixed marriages—Christian married to non-Christian—we have no explicit command from the Master. So this is what you must do. If you are a man with a wife who is not a believer but who still wants to live with you, hold on to her. If you are a woman with a husband who is not a believer but he wants to live with you, hold on to him. The unbelieving husband shares to an extent in the holiness of his wife, and the unbelieving wife is likewise touched by the holiness of her husband. Otherwise, your children would be left out; as it is, they also are included in the spiritual purposes of God.

15-16 On the other hand, if the unbelieving spouse walks out, you've got to let him or her go. You don't have to hold on desperately. God has called us to make the best of it, as peacefully as we can. You never know, wife: The way you handle this might bring your husband not only back to you but to God. You never know, husband: The way you handle this might bring your wife not only back to you but to God.

17 And don't be wishing you were someplace else or with someone else. Where you are right now is God's place for you. Live and obey and love and believe right there. God, not your marital status, defines your life. Don't think I'm being harder on you than on the others. I give this same counsel in all the churches.

Psalm 11 (with text - press on more info.)

Lincoln Brewster - Love the Lord

Your Love Oh Lord - Third Day

1 Peter 3:1-7

1 Peter 3 (The Message)

Cultivate Inner Beauty

 ^1-4The same goes for you wives: Be good wives to your husbands, responsive to their needs. There are husbands who, indifferent as they are to any words about God, will be captivated by your life of holy beauty. What matters is not your outer appearance—the styling of your hair, the jewelry you wear, the cut of your clothes—but your inner disposition.  ^4-6Cultivate inner beauty, the gentle, gracious kind that God delights in. The holy women of old were beautiful before God that way, and were good, loyal wives to their husbands. Sarah, for instance, taking care of Abraham, would address him as "my dear husband." You'll be true daughters of Sarah if you do the same, unanxious and unintimidated.
 ⁷The same goes for you husbands: Be good husbands to your wives. Honor them, delight in them. As women they lack some of your advantages. But in the new life of God's grace, you're equals. Treat your wives, then, as equals so your prayers don't run aground.

Gospel Reggae 4

Stand Up! Stand Up for Jesus!

Onward christian soldiers

Proverbs 6 The New International Version

Jim Reeves - This World is not my home

I Go To The Rock - Whitney Houston

I Want To Know You - by Sonicflood

1 Peter 2

1 Peter 2 (The Message)

1 Peter 2

 ^1-3So clean house! Make a clean sweep of malice and pretense, envy and hurtful talk. You've had a taste of God. Now, like infants at the breast, drink deep of God's pure kindness. Then you'll grow up mature and whole in God.

The Stone

 ^4-8Welcome to the living Stone, the source of life. The workmen took one look and threw it out; God set it in the place of honor. Present yourselves as building stones for the construction of a sanctuary vibrant with life, in which you'll serve as holy priests offering Christ-approved lives up to God. The Scriptures provide precedent:

   Look! I'm setting a stone in Zion,
      a cornerstone in the place of honor.
   Whoever trusts in this stone as a foundation
       will never have cause to regret it.
To you who trust him, he's a Stone to be proud of, but to those who refuse to trust him,

   The stone the workmen threw out
       is now the chief foundation stone.
For the untrusting it's
   .. . a stone to trip over,
       a boulder blocking the way.
They trip and fall because they refuse to obey, just as predicted.  ^9-10But you are the ones chosen by God, chosen for the high calling of priestly work, chosen to be a holy people, God's instruments to do his work and speak out for him, to tell others of the night-and-day difference he made for you—from nothing to something, from rejected to accepted.
 ^11-12Friends, this world is not your home, so don't make yourselves cozy in it. Don't indulge your ego at the expense of your soul. Live an exemplary life among the natives so that your actions will refute their prejudices. Then they'll be won over to God's side and be there to join in the celebration when he arrives.
 ^13-17Make the Master proud of you by being good citizens. Respect the authorities, whatever their level; they are God's emissaries for keeping order. It is God's will that by doing good, you might cure the ignorance of the fools who think you're a danger to society. Exercise your freedom by serving God, not by breaking the rules. Treat everyone you meet with dignity. Love your spiritual family. Revere God. Respect the government.

The Kind of Life He Lived

 ^18-20You who are servants, be good servants to your masters—not just to good masters, but also to bad ones. What counts is that you put up with it for God's sake when you're treated badly for no good reason. There's no particular virtue in accepting punishment that you well deserve. But if you're treated badly for good behavior and continue in spite of it to be a good servant, that is what counts with God.  ^21-25This is the kind of life you've been invited into, the kind of life Christ lived. He suffered everything that came his way so you would know that it could be done, and also know how to do it, step-by-step.

   He never did one thing wrong,
   Not once said anything amiss.
They called him every name in the book and he said nothing back. He suffered in silence, content to let God set things right. He used his servant body to carry our sins to the Cross so we could be rid of sin, free to live the right way. His wounds became your healing. You were lost sheep with no idea who you were or where you were going. Now you're named and kept for good by the Shepherd of your souls.

1 Peter 2 (with text - press on more info.)

Let You Light Shine on Me.wmv

Proverbs 5 (with text - press on more info.)

Good Morning Today is Tuesday 01.04.2011

Today we are looking into Peters writings.

 

1 Peter 1 (The Message)

 

1-2 I, Peter, am an apostle on assignment by Jesus, the Messiah, writing to exiles scattered to the four winds. Not one is missing, not one forgotten. God the Father has his eye on each of you, and has determined by the work of the Spirit to keep you obedient through the sacrifice of Jesus. May everything good from God be yours!

A New Life

 

In 1st Peter 1 we see Peter introduces himself, and we see he is speaking to everyone taking time to ensure that everyone feels included, cared for and blessed.

 

3-5 What a God we have! And how fortunate we are to have him, this Father of our Master Jesus! Because Jesus was raised from the dead, we've been given a brand-new life and have everything to live for, including a future in heaven—and the future starts now! God is keeping careful watch over us and the future. The Day is coming when you'll have it all—life healed and whole.

 

Peter goes on in verse 3-5 to tell us we do not need to wait till we go to heaven to see the advantages of our salvation. "The future starts now!"

 

6-7 I know how great this makes you feel, even though you have to put up with every kind of aggravation in the meantime. Pure gold put in the fire comes out of it proved pure; genuine faith put through this suffering comes out proved genuine. When Jesus wraps this all up, it's your faith, not your gold, that God will have on display as evidence of his victory.

 

8-9 You never saw him, yet you love him. You still don't see him, yet you trust him—with laughter and singing. Because you kept on believing, you'll get what you're looking forward to: total salvation.

 

In verse 6-9 Peter explains to us that we do need to live in this world and we will go through hard times. This is just like the refining process of fine Gold. You see it take out the stuff that hold us back from being pure and of great value. (See clip about how gold is refined) By going through the refining process we develop the Faith God is looking for. This Faith leads us to salvation.

 

10-12 The prophets who told us this was coming asked a lot of questions about this gift of life God was preparing. The Messiah's Spirit let them in on some of it—that the Messiah would experience suffering, followed by glory. They clamored to know who and when. All they were told was that they were serving you, you who by orders from heaven have now heard for yourselves—through the Holy Spirit—the Message of those prophecies fulfilled. Do you realize how fortunate you are? Angels would have given anything to be in on this!

 

In verse 10-12 The Holy Spirit "let them in on some of it—that the Messiah would experience suffering, followed by glory. They clamored to know who and when. All they were told was that they were serving you, you who by orders from heaven have now heard for yourselves—through the Holy Spirit—the Message of those prophecies fulfilled. Do you realize how fortunate you are? Angels would have given anything to be in on this!"

 

 

A Future in God

 

13-16 So roll up your sleeves, put your mind in gear, be totally ready to receive the gift that's coming when Jesus arrives. Don't lazily slip back into those old grooves of evil, doing just what you feel like doing. You didn't know any better then; you do now. As obedient children, let yourselves be pulled into a way of life shaped by God's life, a life energetic and blazing with holiness. God said, "I am holy; you be holy."

 

In 13-16 we are reminded that we are to get to work and not to be lazy and slip back in to sin. But allow yourself to be transformed in to the mature refined Christ like person emulating the actions of God.

 

17 You call out to God for help and he helps—he's a good Father that way. But don't forget, he's also a responsible Father, and won't let you get by with sloppy living.

 

Verse 17 shows us the Fathers Love willing to help as needed but he wants us to grow and not be careless. Some times as a father we need to teach our children why we don't want them to do certain things. It's better for us if we don't put our hand on the burner. It's Hot and will harm us.

 

18-21Your life is a journey you must travel with a deep consciousness of God. It cost God plenty to get you out of that dead-end, empty-headed life you grew up in. He paid with Christ's sacred blood, you know. He died like an unblemished, sacrificial lamb. And this was no afterthought. Even though it has only lately—at the end of the ages—become public knowledge, God always knew he was going to do this for you. It's because of this sacrificed Messiah, whom God then raised from the dead and glorified, that you trust God, that you know you have a future in God.

 

22-25Now that you've cleaned up your lives by following the truth, love one another as if your lives depended on it. Your new life is not like your old life. Your old birth came from mortal sperm; your new birth comes from God's living Word. Just think: a life conceived by God himself! That's why the prophet said,

 

The old life is a grass life,

its beauty as short-lived as wildflowers;

Grass dries up, flowers droop,

God's Word goes on and on forever.

This is the Word that conceived the new life in you.

 

What else is there to say?

 

If you want to add to this please feel free to do so in the comments section or send me an email at info@afreshwordinseason.org.

 

~ Gary

Consuming Fire - Hillsong United/Tim Hughes

Refiner's Fire - Hillsong

1 Peter

1 Peter 1 (The Message)

1 Peter 1

 ^1-2I, Peter, am an apostle on assignment by Jesus, the Messiah, writing to exiles scattered to the four winds. Not one is missing, not one forgotten. God the Father has his eye on each of you, and has determined by the work of the Spirit to keep you obedient through the sacrifice of Jesus. May everything good from God be yours!

A New Life

 ^3-5What a God we have! And how fortunate we are to have him, this Father of our Master Jesus! Because Jesus was raised from the dead, we've been given a brand-new life and have everything to live for, including a future in heaven—and the future starts now! God is keeping careful watch over us and the future. The Day is coming when you'll have it all—life healed and whole.  ^6-7I know how great this makes you feel, even though you have to put up with every kind of aggravation in the meantime. Pure gold put in the fire comes out of it proved pure; genuine faith put through this suffering comes out proved genuine. When Jesus wraps this all up, it's your faith, not your gold, that God will have on display as evidence of his victory.
 ^8-9You never saw him, yet you love him. You still don't see him, yet you trust him—with laughter and singing. Because you kept on believing, you'll get what you're looking forward to: total salvation.
 ^10-12The prophets who told us this was coming asked a lot of questions about this gift of life God was preparing. The Messiah's Spirit let them in on some of it—that the Messiah would experience suffering, followed by glory. They clamored to know who and when. All they were told was that they were serving you, you who by orders from heaven have now heard for yourselves—through the Holy Spirit—the Message of those prophecies fulfilled. Do you realize how fortunate you are? Angels would have given anything to be in on this!

A Future in God

 ^13-16So roll up your sleeves, put your mind in gear, be totally ready to receive the gift that's coming when Jesus arrives. Don't lazily slip back into those old grooves of evil, doing just what you feel like doing. You didn't know any better then; you do now. As obedient children, let yourselves be pulled into a way of life shaped by God's life, a life energetic and blazing with holiness. God said, "I am holy; you be holy."  ¹⁷You call out to God for help and he helps—he's a good Father that way. But don't forget, he's also a responsible Father, and won't let you get by with sloppy living.
 ^18-21Your life is a journey you must travel with a deep consciousness of God. It cost God plenty to get you out of that dead-end, empty-headed life you grew up in. He paid with Christ's sacred blood, you know. He died like an unblemished, sacrificial lamb. And this was no afterthought. Even though it has only lately—at the end of the ages—become public knowledge, God always knew he was going to do this for you. It's because of this sacrificed Messiah, whom God then raised from the dead and glorified, that you trust God, that you know you have a future in God.
 ^22-25Now that you've cleaned up your lives by following the truth, love one another as if your lives depended on it. Your new life is not like your old life. Your old birth came from mortal sperm; your new birth comes from God's living Word. Just think: a life conceived by God himself! That's why the prophet said,

   The old life is a grass life,
      its beauty as short-lived as wildflowers;
   Grass dries up, flowers droop,
      God's Word goes on and on forever.
This is the Word that conceived the new life in you.

Gold - How its made

Psalm 10 (with text - press on more info.)

Proverbs 4 (with text - press on more info.)

Gospel Reggae 4

HIS EYE IS ON THE SPARROW

Kirk Franklin - Why We Sing

"Sing Because I'm Happy " based on Kirk Franklin's "Why We Sing"

Psalm 16

Psalm 16 (The Message)

Psalm 16

A David Song

 ^1-2 Keep me safe, O God, I've run for dear life to you.
   I say to God, "Be my Lord!"
      Without you, nothing makes sense.

 ³ And these God-chosen lives all around—
      what splendid friends they make!

 ⁴ Don't just go shopping for a god.
      Gods are not for sale.
   I swear I'll never treat god-names
      like brand-names.

 ^5-6 My choice is you, God, first and only.
      And now I find I'm your choice!
   You set me up with a house and yard.
      And then you made me your heir!

 ^7-8 The wise counsel God gives when I'm awake
      is confirmed by my sleeping heart.
   Day and night I'll stick with God;
      I've got a good thing going and I'm not letting go.

 ^9-10 I'm happy from the inside out,
      and from the outside in, I'm firmly formed.
   You canceled my ticket to hell—
      that's not my destination!

 ¹¹ Now you've got my feet on the life path,
      all radiant from the shining of your face.
   Ever since you took my hand,
      I'm on the right way.

Proverbs 3 (with text - press on more info.)

Cry Out to Jesus - Third Day

When we are in truble and or pain we can always Cry ou to JESUS!

3 John 1 (The Message)

3 John 1

 ^1-4The Pastor, to my good friend Gaius: How truly I love you! We're the best of friends, and I pray for good fortune in everything you do, and for your good health—that your everyday affairs prosper, as well as your soul! I was most happy when some friends arrived and brought the news that you persist in following the way of Truth. Nothing could make me happier than getting reports that my children continue diligently in the way of Truth!

Model the Good

 ^5-8Dear friend, when you extend hospitality to Christian brothers and sisters, even when they are strangers, you make the faith visible. They've made a full report back to the church here, a message about your love. It's good work you're doing, helping these travelers on their way, hospitality worthy of God himself! They set out under the banner of the Name, and get no help from unbelievers. So they deserve any support we can give them. In providing meals and a bed, we become their companions in spreading the Truth.

 ^9-10Earlier I wrote something along this line to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves being in charge, denigrates my counsel. If I come, you can be sure I'll hold him to account for spreading vicious rumors about us.

   As if that weren't bad enough, he not only refuses hospitality to traveling Christians but tries to stop others from welcoming them. Worse yet, instead of inviting them in he throws them out.

 ¹¹Friend, don't go along with evil. Model the good. The person who does good does God's work. The person who does evil falsifies God, doesn't know the first thing about God.

 ¹²Everyone has a good word for Demetrius—the Truth itself stands up for Demetrius! We concur, and you know we don't hand out endorsements lightly.

 ^13-14I have a lot more things to tell you, but I'd rather not use pen and ink. I hope to be there soon in person and have a heart-to-heart talk.

   Peace to you. The friends here say hello. Greet our friends there by name.

Hospitality & The Poor,and Our Duty Toward Them

3 John 1 (with text - press on more info.)

2 John 1 (with text - press on more info.)

2 John

2 John 1 (The Message)

 ^1-2My dear congregation, I, your pastor, love you in very truth. And I'm not alone—everyone who knows the Truth that has taken up permanent residence in us loves you.  ³Let grace, mercy, and peace be with us in truth and love from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, Son of the Father!
 ^4-6I can't tell you how happy I am to learn that many members of your congregation are diligent in living out the Truth, exactly as commanded by the Father. But permit me a reminder, friends, and this is not a new commandment but simply a repetition of our original and basic charter: that we love each other. Love means following his commandments, and his unifying commandment is that you conduct your lives in love. This is the first thing you heard, and nothing has changed.

Don't Walk Out on God

 ⁷There are a lot of smooth-talking charlatans loose in the world who refuse to believe that Jesus Christ was truly human, a flesh-and-blood human being. Give them their true title: Deceiver! Antichrist!  ^8-9And be very careful around them so you don't lose out on what we've worked so diligently in together; I want you to get every reward you have coming to you. Anyone who gets so progressive in his thinking that he walks out on the teaching of Christ, walks out on God. But whoever stays with the teaching, stays faithful to both the Father and the Son.
 ^10-11If anyone shows up who doesn't hold to this teaching, don't invite him in and give him the run of the place. That would just give him a platform to perpetuate his evil ways, making you his partner.
 ^12-13I have a lot more things to tell you, but I'd rather not use paper and ink. I hope to be there soon in person and have a heart-to-heart talk. That will be far more satisfying to both you and me. Everyone here in your sister congregation sends greetings.

Proverbs 1 (with text - press on more info.)

Bible Countdown

2011 New Years Countdown!

Holy, Holy, Holy Hymn (with lyrics)

Let us us this Song to Praise God as the new year ring in.

To God be the Glory Hymn (with lyrics)

Great Is Thy Faithfulness Hymn (with lyrics)

Blessed Assurance (with lyrics)

Shall We Gather at the River Hymn (with lyrics)

Onward Christian Soliders Hymn (with lyrics)

In the Sweet By and By Hymn (with lyrics)

Old Time Hymn Sing Along

Join us on the Blog for our New Year's Eve "Old Time Hymn Sing Along" with a twist.

 

The twist is that all the songs will be on the Blog and when you want to count down with the songs just go for it.

 

This Blog is now going to over 20 countries and has hat over 900 hits.

 

I praise God for each one of you and we are praying for every one of you and your families.

 

We ask God to Save souls, Heal bodies, Bless financially and be filled with the Holy Spirit.

 

With all the date line and time lines all over the place it would be very hard to sing together, so songs will be posted no later than 7:00 pm central time USA.

 

Enjoy and tell you friends about Jesus.

 

He does Love you.

 

Happy New Year

 

AFWINS

1 John 5 (with text - press on more info.)

1 John 5

1 John 5 (The Message)

1 John 5

 ^1-3Every person who believes that Jesus is, in fact, the Messiah, is God-begotten. If we love the One who conceives the child, we'll surely love the child who was conceived. The reality test on whether or not we love God's children is this: Do we love God? Do we keep his commands? The proof that we love God comes when we keep his commandments and they are not at all troublesome.

The Power That Brings the World to Its Knees

 ^4-5Every God-begotten person conquers the world's ways. The conquering power that brings the world to its knees is our faith. The person who wins out over the world's ways is simply the one who believes Jesus is the Son of God.  ^6-8Jesus—the Divine Christ! He experienced a life-giving birth and a death-killing death. Not only birth from the womb, but baptismal birth of his ministry and sacrificial death. And all the while the Spirit is confirming the truth, the reality of God's presence at Jesus' baptism and crucifixion, bringing those occasions alive for us. A triple testimony: the Spirit, the Baptism, the Crucifixion. And the three in perfect agreement.
 ^9-10If we take human testimony at face value, how much more should we be reassured when God gives testimony as he does here, testifying concerning his Son. Whoever believes in the Son of God inwardly confirms God's testimony. Whoever refuses to believe in effect calls God a liar, refusing to believe God's own testimony regarding his Son.
 ^11-12This is the testimony in essence: God gave us eternal life; the life is in his Son. So, whoever has the Son, has life; whoever rejects the Son, rejects life.

The Reality, Not the Illusion

 ^13-15My purpose in writing is simply this: that you who believe in God's Son will know beyond the shadow of a doubt that you have eternal life, the reality and not the illusion. And how bold and free we then become in his presence, freely asking according to his will, sure that he's listening. And if we're confident that he's listening, we know that what we've asked for is as good as ours.
 ^16-17For instance, if we see a Christian believer sinning (clearly I'm not talking about those who make a practice of sin in a way that is "fatal," leading to eternal death), we ask for God's help and he gladly gives it, gives life to the sinner whose sin is not fatal. There is such a thing as a fatal sin, and I'm not urging you to pray about that. Everything we do wrong is sin, but not all sin is fatal.
 ^18-21We know that none of the God-begotten makes a practice of sin—fatal sin. The God-begotten are also the God-protected. The Evil One can't lay a hand on them. We know that we are held firm by God; it's only the people of the world who continue in the grip of the Evil One. And we know that the Son of God came so we could recognize and understand the truth of God—what a gift!—and we are living in the Truth itself, in God's Son, Jesus Christ. This Jesus is both True God and Real Life. Dear children, be on guard against all clever facsimiles.

Proverbs 31 (with text - press on more info.)

Just As I Am-Brian Doerksen

1 John 4 (with text - press on more info.)

1 John 4:17-21

To Love, to Be Loved

 ^17-18God is love. When we take up permanent residence in a life of love, we live in God and God lives in us. This way, love has the run of the house, becomes at home and mature in us, so that we're free of worry on Judgment Day—our standing in the world is identical with Christ's. There is no room in love for fear. Well-formed love banishes fear. Since fear is crippling, a fearful life—fear of death, fear of judgment—is one not yet fully formed in love.
 ¹⁹We, though, are going to love—love and be loved. First we were loved, now we love. He loved us first.
 ^20-21If anyone boasts, "I love God," and goes right on hating his brother or sister, thinking nothing of it, he is a liar. If he won't love the person he can see, how can he love the God he can't see? The command we have from Christ is blunt: Loving God includes loving people. You've got to love both.

Proverbs 30 (with text - press on more info.)

Join us on the Blog for our New Year’s Eve “Old Time Hymn Sing Along” with a twist.

The twist is that all the songs will be on the Blog and when you want to count down with the songs just go for it.

This Blog is now going to over 20 countries and has hat over 900 hits.

I praise God for each one of you and we are praying for every one of you and your families.

We ask God to Save souls, Heal bodies, Bless financially and be filled with the Holy Spirit.

With all the date line and time lines all over the place it would be very hard to sing together, so songs will be posted no later than 7:00 pm central time USA.

Enjoy and tell you friends about Jesus.

He does Love you.

Happy New Year

AFWINS

With all I AM......The best christian song ever---- By Hillsong

1 John 4 (with text - press on more info.)

1 John 4:7-16

God Is Love

 ^7-10My beloved friends, let us continue to love each other since love comes from God. Everyone who loves is born of God and experiences a relationship with God. The person who refuses to love doesn't know the first thing about God, because God is love—so you can't know him if you don't love. This is how God showed his love for us: God sent his only Son into the world so we might live through him. This is the kind of love we are talking about—not that we once upon a time loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to clear away our sins and the damage they've done to our relationship with God.
 ^11-12My dear, dear friends, if God loved us like this, we certainly ought to love each other. No one has seen God, ever. But if we love one another, God dwells deeply within us, and his love becomes complete in us—perfect love!
 ^13-16This is how we know we're living steadily and deeply in him, and he in us: He's given us life from his life, from his very own Spirit. Also, we've seen for ourselves and continue to state openly that the Father sent his Son as Savior of the world. Everyone who confesses that Jesus is God's Son participates continuously in an intimate relationship with God. We know it so well, we've embraced it heart and soul, this love that comes from God.

Proverbs 29 (with text - press on more info.)

Your Love Oh Lord - Third Day

1 John 4 (with text - press on more info.)

1 John 4:1-6

1 John 4 (The Message)

1 John 4

Don't Believe Everything You Hear

 ¹ My dear friends, don't believe everything you hear. Carefully weigh and examine what people tell you. Not everyone who talks about God comes from God. There are a lot of lying preachers loose in the world.  ^2-3Here's how you test for the genuine Spirit of God. Everyone who confesses openly his faith in Jesus Christ—the Son of God, who came as an actual flesh-and-blood person—comes from God and belongs to God. And everyone who refuses to confess faith in Jesus has nothing in common with God. This is the spirit of antichrist that you heard was coming. Well, here it is, sooner than we thought!
 ^4-6My dear children, you come from God and belong to God. You have already won a big victory over those false teachers, for the Spirit in you is far stronger than anything in the world. These people belong to the Christ-denying world. They talk the world's language and the world eats it up. But we come from God and belong to God. Anyone who knows God understands us and listens. The person who has nothing to do with God will, of course, not listen to us. This is another test for telling the Spirit of Truth from the spirit of deception.

Proverbs 28 (with text - press on more info.)

All to Jesus I Surrender

1 John 3 (with text - press on more info.)

1 John 3:18-24 ~ When We Practice Real Love

When We Practice Real Love

 ^18-20My dear children, let's not just talk about love; let's practice real love. This is the only way we'll know we're living truly, living in God's reality. It's also the way to shut down debilitating self-criticism, even when there is something to it. For God is greater than our worried hearts and knows more about us than we do ourselves.
 ^21-24And friends, once that's taken care of and we're no longer accusing or condemning ourselves, we're bold and free before God! We're able to stretch our hands out and receive what we asked for because we're doing what he said, doing what pleases him. Again, this is God's command: to believe in his personally named Son, Jesus Christ. He told us to love each other, in line with the original command. As we keep his commands, we live deeply and surely in him, and he lives in us. And this is how we experience his deep and abiding presence in us: by the Spirit he gave us.

Proverbs 27 (with text - press on more info.)

1 John 3 (with text - press on more info.)

Come, Now is the Time to Worship

1 John 3:1-17

1 John 3 (The Message)

1 John 3

 ¹ What marvelous love the Father has extended to us! Just look at it—we're called children of God! That's who we really are. But that's also why the world doesn't recognize us or take us seriously, because it has no idea who he is or what he's up to.  ^2-3But friends, that's exactly who we are: children of God. And that's only the beginning. Who knows how we'll end up! What we know is that when Christ is openly revealed, we'll see him—and in seeing him, become like him. All of us who look forward to his Coming stay ready, with the glistening purity of Jesus' life as a model for our own.
 ^4-6All who indulge in a sinful life are dangerously lawless, for sin is a major disruption of God's order. Surely you know that Christ showed up in order to get rid of sin. There is no sin in him, and sin is not part of his program. No one who lives deeply in Christ makes a practice of sin. None of those who do practice sin have taken a good look at Christ. They've got him all backward.
 ^7-8So, my dear children, don't let anyone divert you from the truth. It's the person who acts right who is right, just as we see it lived out in our righteous Messiah. Those who make a practice of sin are straight from the Devil, the pioneer in the practice of sin. The Son of God entered the scene to abolish the Devil's ways.
 ^9-10People conceived and brought into life by God don't make a practice of sin. How could they? God's seed is deep within them, making them who they are. It's not in the nature of the God-begotten to practice and parade sin. Here's how you tell the difference between God's children and the Devil's children: The one who won't practice righteous ways isn't from God, nor is the one who won't love brother or sister. A simple test.
 ¹¹For this is the original message we heard: We should love each other.
 ^12-13We must not be like Cain, who joined the Evil One and then killed his brother. And why did he kill him? Because he was deep in the practice of evil, while the acts of his brother were righteous. So don't be surprised, friends, when the world hates you. This has been going on a long time.
 ^14-15The way we know we've been transferred from death to life is that we love our brothers and sisters. Anyone who doesn't love is as good as dead. Anyone who hates a brother or sister is a murderer, and you know very well that eternal life and murder don't go together.
 ^16-17This is how we've come to understand and experience love: Christ sacrificed his life for us. This is why we ought to live sacrificially for our fellow believers, and not just be out for ourselves. If you see some brother or sister in need and have the means to do something about it but turn a cold shoulder and do nothing, what happens to God's love? It disappears. And you made it disappear.

I Love You Lord

Emmanuel

Happy Birthday Jesus

Andrea Bocelli-God bless everyone"My Christmas"2009

Mary Did You Know - Mark Lowery

Bing Crosby - Christmas Dinner Country Style

Luke 2:10-12

Luke 2:10-12 (English Standard Version)

¹⁰And the angel said to them, "Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all^(A) the people. ¹¹For^(B) unto you is born this day in^(C) the city of David^(D) a Savior, who is^(E) Christ^(F) the Lord. ¹²And^(G) this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby^(H) wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger."

Cross references:

1. Luke 2:10 : Luke 2:32; John 11:50; Zech 9:9
2. Luke 2:11 : Isa 9:6
3. Luke 2:11 : Luke 2:4
4. Luke 2:11 : Matt 1:21; John 4:42
5. Luke 2:11 : Acts 2:36; 10:36; Luke 23:2; Matt 1:17
6. Luke 2:11 : Luke 1:43
7. Luke 2:12 : 1 Sam 2:34; 2 Kgs 19:29; 20:8, 9; Isa 7:11, 14
8. Luke 2:12 : Luke 2:7

Isaiah 7:14

Isaiah 7:14

Listen to this passage

¹⁴Therefore the^(A) Lord himself will give you a sign.^(B) Behold, the^(C) virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name^(D) Immanuel.^[a]

Footnotes:

1. Isaiah 7:14 Immanuel means God is with us

Cross references:

1. Isaiah 7:14 : Isaiah 37:30; 38:7, 8
2. Isaiah 7:14 : Isaiah 9:6; Cited Matt 1:23; Luke 1:31, 34
3. Isaiah 7:14 : Gen 24:43 (Heb); Exodus 2:8 (Heb); Psalm 68:25 (Heb); Prov 30:19 (Heb)
4. Isaiah 7:14 : Isaiah 8:8, 10

Luke 1:5-56

Birth of John the Baptist Foretold

 ^5(M) In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah,^[a](N) of^(O) the division of Abijah. And he had a wife from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. ⁶And they were both^(P) righteous before God, walking^(Q) blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord. ⁷But they had no child, because^(R) Elizabeth was barren, and^(S) both were advanced in years.
 ⁸Now^(T) while he was serving as priest before God when^(U) his division was on duty, ⁹according to the custom of the priesthood, he was chosen by lot^(V) to enter^(W) the temple of the Lord and burn incense. ¹⁰And the whole multitude of the people^(X) were praying^(Y) outside at the hour of incense. ¹¹And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of^(Z) the altar of incense. ¹²And Zechariah was troubled when he saw him, and^(AA) fear fell upon him. ¹³But the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for^(AB) your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and^(AC) you shall call his name John. ¹⁴And you will have joy and gladness, and many will^(AD) rejoice at his birth, ¹⁵for he will be^(AE) great before the Lord. And^(AF) he must not drink wine or strong^(AG) drink, and^(AH) he will be^(AI) filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb. ¹⁶And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God, ¹⁷and^(AJ) he will go before him^(AK) in the spirit and power of Elijah,^(AL) to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and^(AM) the disobedient to the wisdom of the just,^(AN) to make ready for the Lord a people prepared."
 ¹⁸And Zechariah said to the angel,^(AO) "How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years." ¹⁹And the angel answered him, "I am^(AP) Gabriel.^(AQ) I stand in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. ²⁰And behold,^(AR) you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time." ²¹And the people were waiting for Zechariah, and they were wondering at his delay in^(AS) the temple. ²²And when he came out, he was unable to speak to them, and they realized that he had seen a vision in^(AT) the temple. And^(AU) he kept making signs to them and remained mute. ²³And^(AV) when his time of^(AW) service was ended, he went to his home.
 ²⁴After these days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and for five months she kept herself hidden, saying, ²⁵"Thus the Lord has done for me in the days when he looked on me,^(AX) to take away my reproach among people."

Birth of Jesus Foretold

 ²⁶In the sixth month the angel^(AY) Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named^(AZ) Nazareth, ^27(BA) to a virgin betrothed^[b] to a man whose name was Joseph,^(BB) of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary. ²⁸And he came to her and said, "Greetings,^(BC) O favored one,^(BD) the Lord is with you!"^{[c] 29}But^(BE) she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. ³⁰And the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for^(BF) you have found favor with God. ³¹And behold,^(BG) you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and^(BH) you shall call his name Jesus. ³²He will be great and will be called the Son of^(BI) the Most High. And the Lord God^(BJ) will give to him the throne of^(BK) his father David, ³³and he will reign over the house of Jacob^(BL) forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end."
 ³⁴And Mary said to the angel, "How will this be, since I am a virgin?"^[d]
 35And the angel answered her,^(BM) "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of^(BN) the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born^[e] will be called^(BO) holy—^(BP) the Son of God. ³⁶And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her^(BQ) who was called barren. ³⁷For^(BR) nothing will be impossible with God." ³⁸And Mary said, "Behold, I am the servant^[f] of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word." And^(BS) the angel departed from her.

Mary Visits Elizabeth

 ³⁹In those days Mary arose and went with haste into^(BT) the hill country, to a town in Judah, ⁴⁰and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. ⁴¹And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth^(BU) was filled with the Holy Spirit, ⁴²and she exclaimed with a loud cry,^(BV) "Blessed are you among women, and^(BW) blessed is^(BX) the fruit of your womb! ⁴³And why is this granted to me that the mother of^(BY) my Lord should come to me? ⁴⁴For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. ⁴⁵And^(BZ) blessed is she who believed that there would be^[g] a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord."

Mary’s Song of Praise: The Magnificat

 ⁴⁶And Mary said,

   ^(CA) "My^(CB) soul^(CC) magnifies the Lord,
 ^47(CD) and my^(CE) spirit rejoices in^(CF) God my Savior,
⁴⁸for^(CG) he has looked on the humble estate of his servant.
   For behold, from now on all generations^(CH) will call me blessed;
⁴⁹for^(CI) he who is mighty^(CJ) has done great things for me,
   and^(CK) holy is his name.
⁵⁰And^(CL) his mercy is for those who fear him
   from generation to generation.
^51(CM) He has shown strength with his arm;
   ^(CN) he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts;
^52(CO) he has brought down the mighty from their thrones
   ^(CP) and exalted those of humble estate;
⁵³he has filled^(CQ) the hungry with good things,
   and the rich^(CR) he has sent away empty.
⁵⁴He has^(CS) helped^(CT) his servant Israel,
   ^(CU) in remembrance of his mercy,
^55(CV) as he spoke to our fathers,
   ^(CW) to Abraham and to his offspring forever."
 ⁵⁶And Mary remained with her about three months and returned to her home.

Amy Grant - Breath Of Heaven (Mary's Song) - Christmas

Matthew 1:18-25 and 2:1-12

Matthew 1-2 (New International Version, ©2010)

Matthew 1

Joseph Accepts Jesus as His Son

 ¹⁸ This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about^[d]: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. ¹⁹ Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet^[e] did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.  ²⁰ But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. ²¹ She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus,^[f] because he will save his people from their sins.”
 ²² All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: ²³ “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel”^[g] (which means “God with us”).
 ²⁴ When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. ²⁵ But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.

Matthew 2

The Magi Visit the Messiah

 ¹ After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi^[h] from the east came to Jerusalem ² and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”  ³ When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. ⁴ When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. ⁵ “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written:
 ⁶ “‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
   are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for out of you will come a ruler
   who will shepherd my people Israel.’^[i]”
 ⁷ Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. ⁸ He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.”
 ⁹ After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. ¹⁰ When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. ¹¹ On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. ¹² And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.

Proverbs 25 (with text - press on more info.)

Andrea Bocelli - Angels We Have Heard On High

Rejoice Jesus is the CHRIST!