How do you worship God?

Psalms96:9 Worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness; Tremble [in
submissive wonder] before Him, all the earth. John4:24 God is spirit [the
Source of life, yet invisible to mankind], and those who worship Him must
worship in spirit and truth.”

Worship is to honor with extravagant love and extreme submission (Webster's

Dictionary,1828). These days are not much different from biblical times and

there are many different things that people worship. I have seen and

participated in the worship of people, money, lust, popularity, etc. When

it comes to worshiping God, people often bring the worldly thoughts of

worship into the church. They believe that if they give, offer time in

service, go out and attempt big things in Jesus name, that is worship. We

are to worship simply in the splendor of His holiness and in spirit and

truth. Worship is not a show on stage but a matter of the heart that is

submissive and obedient to God. Sometimes the most powerful way to worship

is laying face down, broken before the Lord, knowing that He is God and you

are not.

Douglas 

2 Corinthians 9 prayer on your behalf

12For the ministry of this service is not only fully supplying the needs of the saints, but is also overflowing through many thanksgivings to God. 13Because of the proof given by this ministry, they will glorify God for your obedience to your confession of the gospel of Christ and for the liberality of your contribution to them and to all, 14while they also, by prayer on your behalf, yearn for you because of the surpassing grace of God in you. 15Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!

Are you involved in a ministry? Can these verses be said of the ministry you are involved in?

I recall being involved as a chaplain at the Arizona State Veterans Home. We performed visitations on Fridays. I would have residents waiting for me at the main door, in the hall or outside their room. We would listen, pray, anoint with oil and provide communion. On one visit I was leaving the room and the retired veteran minister prayed for me when I left the room. I stopped in my tracks and bowed my head. He asked the Lord to bless my feet where ever I walked!

He is now with the Lord now and I look forward to seeing him again!

"14while they also, by prayer on your behalf, yearn for you because of the surpassing grace of God in you."

May you also be blessed by those who you serve in Jesus' name!

Blessings, David 

Scripture blog; http://stanfordsancutaryscripturestudies.blogspot.com

Next time Satan reminds you of your past, remind him of his future!

Matt25:41 “Then He will say to those on His left, ‘Leave Me, you cursed
ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his
angels (demons) Lam3:22  *Through* the Lord’s mercies we are not
consumed, Because
His compassions fail not. 23 *They are* new every morning; Great *is* Your
faithfulness. Ps103:12 As far as the east is from the west, So far has He
removed our transgressions from us.

"The next time Satan reminds you of your past, remind him of his future" -

Unknown. There are many times in our lives that we look over our past and

tend to live in what we've done and who we were. Sometimes they are distant

memories and other times, maybe not so distant, maybe it was yesterday. Our

God is a God of compassion and forgiveness. By the power of Jesus' death

upon the cross, our sins, our transgressions against God have been cast as

far as the East is from the West. Going North and South have end points,

not East to West. We all sin, yet we are not to practice it. Brethren, may

God give us strength by Holy Spirit to overcome the enemy, stand in the

battle and be victorious. In Jesus name, amen.

Douglas 

Powerful Words

I heard this story years ago and have always loved it. 

From "The Story Museum" Crown copyright 

Feathers in the wind

Once upon a time there was a woman who loved to gossip. Every day she would sit with her friends gossiping about the bad things others may have done. "Can you believe he did that?" "Can you believe she said that?" "And did you see what he was wearing? A man of his age..." On and on and on she would gossip. 

One day the Rabbi asked to see her. "There's something I want you to do for me," he told her. He gave her a cushion and told her to go outside, cut it open and release all the feathers to the wind. "But why?" she pleaded. "Just do as I ask," he told her. 

The woman went outside, slit the cushion open and released all the feathers to the wind where they were quickly blown far and wide and out of sight. 

'Now," said the Rabbi, "I would like you to go out and bring back all the feathers." 

"But I can't," she pleaded. "They've been blown from pillar to post, down the street, over the hill. I'll never be able to bring them all back." 

The Rabbi looked at her sternly. "And so it is with words and idle gossip," he told her. "Words once spoken can never be taken back. There is no telling how far they will travel and what harm they could do. From now on, I want you to think before you speak." And she did.

James 3 (NASB) The Tongue Is a Fire 3 Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we will incur a stricter judgment. 2 For we all stumble in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body as well. 3 Now if we put the bits into the horses’ mouths so that they will obey us, we direct their entire body as well. 4 Look at the ships also, though they are so great and are driven by strong winds, are still directed by a very small rudder wherever the inclination of the pilot desires. 5 So also the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it boasts of great things. See how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire! 6 And the tongue is a fire, the very world of iniquity; the tongue is set among our members as that which defiles the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our life, and is set on fire by hell. 7 For every species of beasts and birds, of reptiles and creatures of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by the human race. 8 But no one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God; 10 from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be this way. 11 Does a fountain send out from the same opening both fresh and bitter water? 12 Can a fig tree, my brethren, produce olives, or a vine produce figs? Nor can salt water produce fresh. Blessings, Cecilia

2 Corinthians 9 seek Him with all diligence!

10Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness; 11you will be enriched in everything for all liberality, which through us is producing thanksgiving to God.

Hosea 10:12 Sow with a view to righteousness, Reap in accordance with kindness; Break up your fallow ground, For it is time to seek the LORD Until He comes to rain righteousness on you.

1 Corinthians 1:5

that in everything you were enriched in Him, in all speech and all knowledge,

How do you interpret the Bible? In context and cross references. 

Some use these verses to get rich, but we clearly see it is faith and righteousness producing thanksgiving to God. And when you give thanksgiving to God will He not provide you bread for your table? Does He not provide and care for a sparrow of the sky?

What then for a child of God whom He sent His Son to cleanse your sin?

Child of God, seek Him with all diligence and "you will be enriched in everything for all liberality, which through us is producing thanksgiving to God."

Blessings, David 

Scripture blog; http://stanfordsancutaryscripturestudies.blogspot.com

Jesus is coming back.

John14:1 “Do not let your heart be troubled (afraid, cowardly). Believe
[confidently] in God and trust in Him, [have faith, hold on to it, rely on
it, keep going and] believe also in Me. 2 In My Father’s house are many
dwelling places. If it were not so, I would have told you, because I am
going there to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place
for you, I will come back again and I will take you to Myself, so that
where I am you may be also.

The greatest Christian desire in my opinion is to be with Jesus. I look

forward to going to heaven everyday. Sometimes it is because of the pain of

my past that I deal with, sometimes because of the worlds sin, and then

there are times that I am just tired and worn. There is a purpose for every

believer to accomplish before we go. Not sure what others think there's is,

to me, it is to know Jesus and make Him known. I wait expectantly for His

return in some ways and sad to say, in the flesh I get distracted. The

busyness of life, family, work, friends, ministry, being A.D.D. all cause

me to get troubled and lose faith at times. Brethren, Jesus is coming back,

we must be confident, stay on task, and trust what He has said. The best

part is, Jesus has been preparing a place for each of us for 2000 years, I

am sure it will be amazing.

Douglas 

Do something. James 2:14-26

James 2 NASB Faith and Works 14 What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can that faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,” and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that? 17 Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself. 18 But someone may well say, “You have faith and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works.” 19 You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder. 20 But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up Isaac his son on the altar? 22 You see that faith was working with his works, and as a result of the works, faith was perfected; 23 and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “And Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness,” and he was called the friend of God. 24 You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone. 25 In the same way, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? 26 For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead. Let's start with verse 19. "You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder". Do you believe in God? So does Satan and the demons. Does believing in God make you a Christian? Satan and the demons believe yet they are not Christians. Being a Christian must be more then just believing in God.  Jesus said in John 13: 35 "Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” So how do we show that love? In our actions. Not just being kind and nice to people but giving of ourselves. Jesus wants us to sacrifice our time, our talents, and our resources. He sacrificed His life for us and wants us to make sacrifices in His name. That's works, that's the fruit we bare when we have a relationship with Jesus. When we are filled with His love it naturally overflows from us and is shared with others.  What will you do for Him today? If you call yourself a Christian, if you have faith, isn't it time to do something? Blessings, Cecilia