God is moving in CR

It was the blunder heard 'round the world. Campaigning yesterday, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown told aides that a lady who asked him hard questions about immigration was a "bigoted woman." He didn't know his microphone was live, or that today's New York Times and other news outlets would give his mistake global coverage. Now the woman he insulted may hold his political career in her hands. What should she do? What should you do when someone hurts you today? Yesterday we explored Jesus' warning, "I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment" (Matthew 5:22). We learned that the anger Jesus teaches us to reject is not angry emotion (thumos in the Greek) but the decision to continue being angry (orge in the Greek), to choose vengeance rather than forgiveness. Biblical forgiveness is the decision to pardon. It is not pretending that you were not hurt, or excusing the behavior which hurt you, or trying to ...

Do you like a good mystery? A book that is so captivating that you can’t put it down or a movie that is so intense, when the unexpected happens it causes you to jump? I think everyone likes a good mystery. As I walk on this journey called life, it seems that I know what I know about God and my personal relationship with Him, yet He still is a great mystery to me. He is God Almighty, and is far beyond my human understanding. I Corn. 13:12 - Now we see through a glass darkly - face to face ,know in part, but then I shall be known even as I am known. He is able to answer my questions and give me a full explanation of all the whys in my life. He knows already what I am going to say and do. Yet He is not obligated to offer explanations to me on why He does the things He does or why He does not make things work out the way I want them to be. He is Sovereign and Providential. He is Infinite and Almighty. His thinking and ways are perfect. It is a mystery to me. Yet, He make...

In His word, God promises that He will never leave us or forsake us and that He is always near to the ones that He loves. A friend and I have been meeting and doing a Bible study and we were discussing the nearness of God. What about the presence of God? What things were we doing to experience the presence of God in our lives? Praying, spending time in the word, quiet time at the feet of Jesus ? The question came up --” How badly do we want to experience the presence of God continually in our lives? Not in just the quiet times?” How much do we desire being in the presence of God all the time? I am talking about continually experiencing the presence of God every second of each and every day. Not only mentally knowing that He is present but physically and spiritually knowing it also. I thought about Matthew 7:7 and Revelation 3:20. Both scriptures use the word “ Ask”. Ask -- how simple is that! Why does the obvious escape me sometimes? “ Father, I know that you are near...

Therefore, let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another. Romans 14:9. Encouragement. Have you ever had someone that you knew who just encouraged you? How did it make you feel? Encouragement is one of those gifts that you can give away often -- you do not have to go to the store and look for the right shade, something different or unique, it is a gift that is always in fashion, a gift that everyone would love to receive and you could give it with or without a card or fancy wrappings. It is a perfect gift to give anyone. Sometimes you will be the giver and sometimes you will be the receiver. It could come in the form of someone listening to things that are going on in your world, a warm shoulder, a helping hand, someone to lean on and a understanding heart to help with the challenges of life. Being an encourager is like being an extension of God’s hand of support. Some one who will inspire courage, hope and reassure you in the mi...

He is God, yet He was the Son. Majestic, Holy, King of King and Lord of Lords. He created us and promised to love us forever. There was just one thing, a glich -- sin. Something that had to be dealt with, if not all of His creation would perish. That ugly mark, that kept us separated from the Father. It was out of His precious love for us -- He did not want to see us die. He knew what had to be done to cover and protect His beloved ones. He could not bear to see them all die. Yet, He knew that we would never be perfect, there would always be some sin that would blemish us. But yet His love for us was so great --that there had to be a way for us to be covered for our sins. Something that would last forever He watches us struggle, fall down, and sees us exactly like we are -- all is laid bare before Him and not hidden. He knew that it would take someone who could be able to bear the weight of all the sin in the world --someone who could cover us completely for all our sins f...

Alas! and Did My Savior Bleed Text: Isaac Watts, 1674-1748 ________________________________________ 1. Alas! and did my Savior bleed, and did my Sovereign die! Would he devote that sacred head for sinners such as I? 2. Was it for crimes that I have done, he groaned upon the tree? Amazing pity! Grace unknown! And love beyond degree! 3. Well might the sun in darkness hide, and shut its glories in, when God, the mighty maker, died for his own creature's sin. 4. Thus might I hide my blushing face while his dear cross appears; dissolve my heart in thankfulness, and melt mine eyes to tears. 5. But drops of tears can ne'er repay the debt of love I owe. Here, Lord, I give myself away; 'tis all that I can do. From Bob and Cheryl Moeller "Marriage Minutes"