ASK, SEEK, KNOCK

ASK and it shall be given to you!

Luke 11:13
If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall [your] heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?

Revelation 2:17
He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth [it].

John 14:27
Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

John 4:14
But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

John 6:51
I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.

SEEK and ye shall find!

Jeremiah 29:13
And ye shall seek me, and find [me], when ye shall search for me with all your heart.

Proverbs 8:17
I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.

Zephaniah 2:3
Seek ye the LORD, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the LORD'S anger.

Matthew 22:9
Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage.

KNOCK and the door shall be opened to you!!

Revelation 3:20
Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

Matthew 7:7
Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:

John 8:12
Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

Is the Lord Jesus Christ knocking on your heart today? Take up your cross and follow HIM! Have a great LIFE in the LORD JESUS CHRIST! Except Jesus into your heart!

Walk in truth and sin no more!

What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?

Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also [in the likeness] of [his] resurrection:

Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with [him], that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin.

Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.

Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members [as] instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members [as] instruments of righteousness unto God. For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.

What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?

But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.

I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.20 For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness.

What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things [is] death. But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.

For the wages of sin [is] death; but the gift of God [is] eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

-Romans Chpt. 6 Original King James Bible

What is your spirituale mirror reflecting?

The Holy Bible, the Word of God has many references to how we are to bear good fruit once we are saved. It doesn't have to be a mystery to us on whether or not we are bearing good fruit. All we have to do is look at the scripture and then look at our life and measure our life to the scripture. When we do this it is like putting a spiritual mirror in front of us. We are spiritually looking in a mirror and saying I like what I see and I bear the image of a Holy life through Christ or we look in that spiritual mirror and see that we have some blemishes that need to be brought to God and worked on so that when others see us they see only His (Jesus) image. Here are just a few scriptures to look at to help us see our own image more clearly!


This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.

Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

-Galatians 5: 16-25

Amen!

Deny Thyself and Follow Him!

And when he (JESUS) had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it.

For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.

-Mark 8:34-38 Original KJV

deny oneself- to refrain from satisfying one's desires or needs; practice self-denial.

Take up your cross today and follow Jesus. You will never regret it!

A Song in the Storm

Legend has it that a long-ago German baron formed an aeolian harp by stretching wires from one castle tower to another. After finishing it, he listened eagerly for its music. But it was summertime and the warm, gentle breezes and sunshine produced only faint whispers of song. Then one day-BOOM, a thunderstorm swept over the hills. The wind blew fiercely at the wires, and the harp responded with the most majestic music.

It's in the storms that we too should have a song. Life is not always easy. Troubles will burst like thunderstorms on our horizons. And if you are in a storm right now, I have a message for you. Isaiah 43:1,2 "Fear not:for I (GOD) have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. "

Did you hear that? "I will be with thee." God will never leave us. No matter how dark the valley, He is right there. He's not saying we won't have trials. We will. He's not saying the way is easy. It's not. But He's promising that He will be with us-and He's also saying, "Look ahead!" There are better days coming. We're not home yet. Will we stay faithful and keep our eyes on the goal? Faith, after all, is not believing when we see, it's believing and trusting when we don't see; when we don't understand.

So when the waves are high and the sky is dark, keep trusting. And don't forget.

"Yet the Lord will command his loving kindness in the daytime, and in the night his song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life" (Psalm 42:8).

Keep singing. Victory is ahead, for the battle is His!

-Amy Diane Keepers at Home

The Just Shall Live By Faith

"The just shall live by faith." (Heb. 10:38).

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
For by it the elders obtained a good report.

Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.

By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.

By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.

But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.

By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.

By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as [in] a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:

For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker [is] God.

Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.

Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable.

These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.

By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called: Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.

By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.

By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff.

By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones.

By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw [he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king's commandment.

By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter;

Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;

Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.

By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.

Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them.

By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned.

By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days.

By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace.

And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets:
Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;(Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.

And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:
God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.
- Hebrews Chpt. 11 Original King James Version-

Distinguish between the fact of God's presence, and the emotion of the fact. It is a happy thing when the soul seems desolate and deserted, if our faith can say, "I see Thee not. I feel Thee not, but Thou art certainly and graciously here, where I am as I am." Say it again and again: "Thou art here: though the bush does not seem to burn with fire, it does burn. I will take the shoes from off my feet, for the place on which I stand is holy ground." --London Christian

SIGNS OF THE NEW BIRTH

"Ye must be born again." John 3:7

The answer to the question "How can a man be born when he is old?" is - When he is old enough to die - to die right out to his "rag rights," to his virtues, to his religion, to everything, and to receive into himself the life which never was there before. The new life manifests itself in conscious repentance and unconscious holiness.

"As many as received Him." (John 1:12.) Is my knowledge of Jesus born of internal spiritual perception, or is it only what I have learned by listening to others? Have I something in my life that connects me with the Lord Jesus as my personal Saviour? All spiritual history must have a personal knowledge for its bedrock. To be born again means that I see Jesus.

"Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." (John 3:3.) Do I seek for signs of the Kingdom, or do I perceive God's rule? The new birth gives a new power of vision whereby I begin to discern God's rule. His rule was there all the time, but true to His nature; now that I have received His nature I can see His rule.

"Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin." (1 John 3:9.) Do I seek to stop sinning or have I stopped sinning? To be born of God means that I have the supernatural power of God to stop sinning. In the Bible it is never - Should a Christian sin? The Bible puts it emphatically - A Christian must not sin. The effective working of the new birth life in us is that we do not commit sin, not merely that we have the power not to sin, but that we have stopped sinning. 1 John 3:9 does not mean that we cannot sin; it means that if we obey the life of God in us, we need not sin.

- Oswald Chambers, My Utmost For His Highest

TRUST with ALL THINE HEART...

Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Proverbs 3:5,6

To trust in the Lord with all your heart is sometimes easier said then done. Sometimes we think we are trusting and then God allows us to go through something very difficult and we start to question God. We start asking 'Lord are you sure this is the right thing? Are you sure that you want me to go this way?' Why would the Lord allow this or that? We begin to doubt- I don't know if God really cares. If God cared why would he let this happen?

When we begin to question then God comes in and shows us in a very tender way- you are not trusting me. And then He begins to ask the questions back. Do you believe I love you? Do you believe I would only do what is best for you? Do you really TRUST me? Do you trust that I know whats best? Do you trust me with your trial? Do you trust me with that thing you treasure most? Are you willing to give it ALL to me and leave it knowing that I know whats best? Do you trust my judgement? Do you trust my love?

How is it with you?

Are you trusting the Lord with ALL your heart or are you holding back a part?

Let us do our best to give everything to God and TRUST HIM with ALL OF OUR HEART!

HOLD ON and HOPE in the LORD

Psalms 43:5
Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? HOPE in God: for I shall yet praise him, [who is] the health of my countenance, and my God.

Psalms 31:24
Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that HOPE in the LORD.

There is HOPE, so hold on there is HOPE!
God has sent me here to tell you there is HOPE!
And He knows just what your going through
and what your future holds.
As long as JESUS LIVES there is HOPE!

Psalms 146:5 Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose HOPE is in the LORD his God:

Early in the morning...

Psalms 5:3
My voice shalt thou hear in the MORNING, O LORD; in the MORNING will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.

Psalms 55:17
Evening, and MORNING, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.

One of the first things I learned after I got saved was the importance of starting my day off right and ending my day right in prayer and devotions. I believe this is one of the most vital things you can do in your Christian walk. Prayer is our time and personal connection with the Lord. It's the way we communicate with our saviour; so, to begin and end our day with Him shows God that He is the most important thing to us. He is first. Our first thought when we wake and our last thought when we lay our head on our pillow to sleep.

Another reason to start our day with the Lord is to not face others without first giving and trusting our day to God. If we neglect to do this then we are more vulnerable to the enemy and His traps. We need to remember that our strength does not lie in ourselves, but rather our strength is in the Lord Jesus Christ, and if we neglect to start and end our day with Him it is like going to war without any weapons or armour.

Let us not forget to start and end the day with our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

Begin the day with God!
He is thy Sun and Day!
His is the radiance of thy dawn;
To Him address thy lay.

Sing a new song at morn!
Join the glad woods and hills;
Join the fresh winds and seas and plains,
Join the bright flowers and rills.

Sing thy first song to God!
Not to thy fellow men;
Not to the creatures of His hand,
But to the glorious One.

Take thy first walk with God!
Let Him go forth with thee;
By stream, or sea, or mountain path,
Seek still His company.

Thy first transaction be
With God Himself above;
So shall thy business prosper well,
And all the day be love.
--Horatius Bonar

Cast down but not destroyed

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God; and not of us. We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed: we are perplexed, but not in despair: Persecuted, but not forsaken: cast down but not destroyed: Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. 2 Corinthians 4:7-10


I have been through the valley of weeping,
the valley of sorrow and pain;
But the "God of all comfort" was with me,
At hand to uphold and sustain.

As the earth needs the clouds and sunshine,
Our souls need both sorrow and joy;
So He places us oft in the furnace,
The dross from the gold to destroy.

When he leads thro' some valley of trouble,
His omnipotent hand we trace;
For the trials and sorrows He sends us,
Are part of His lessons in grace.

Oft we shrink form the purging and pruning,
Forgetting the Husbandman knows
That the deeper the cutting and paring,
The richer the cluster that grows.

Well He knows that affliction is needed;
He has a wise purpose in view,
And in the dark valley He whispers,
"Hearafter Thou'lt know what I do."

As we travel thro' life's shadow'd valley,
Fresh springs of His love ever rise;
And we learn that our sorrows and losses,
Are blessings just sent in disguise.

So we'll follow wherever He leadeth,
Let the path be dreary or bright;
For we've proved that our God can give comfort;
Our God can give songs in the night.
- Streams in the Desert-

Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, [which is] new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and [I will write upon him] my new name. Revelation 3:12

Let us not be weary in well doing and in our trials.

Have a great day in the Lord!