Lord, it’s not about us, it’s all about you. May what we do,not draw attention to us, but point them to Jesus. Our identity is not about what we do, but who JESUS is.

May Our Worship and Walk reflect the one We Worship…….

Taken from the Devotion: Formed by the Game, in the YouVersion Bible App.

Psalm 150 calls us to let “everything that has breath praise the Lord.” The energy, joy, and intentionality of cheering are not wasted—they are echoes of a greater reality. God designed us to cheer, to celebrate, and to lift our voices in unity. When directed toward Him, cheering becomes worship. Just as fans rally behind athletes, believers are called to cheer one another on in faith, encouraging perseverance, gratitude, and joy. Cheering at a game, clapping for effort, or shouting encouragement can be infused with spiritual meaning when we remember who ultimately deserves the praise.

Lord, may our praise and Worship, Lift you up, and lift up others as we walk through this life together. Jesus, gives us hope, may our lives reflect everyday, and when we fail, may we run to you in your forgiving arms.

Can I get an Amen!

We are never too Old to Worship our King!

A Prayer/Thought for the Day.

Father, help us to remember, when our thoughts go to, “they” don’t deserve it! Even though, there are consequences for our actions, you have generously provided an abundance to those of us who didn’t deserve it either. Help us to Always be Looking through Your eyes, and not our own. Amen

Jesus says………Pray, Ask & Believe you can move Mountains…..What does this mean?

22. And Jesus *answered saying to them, Have faith in God.  23. “Truly I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says is going to happen, it will be granted him.  24. “Therefore I say to you, aall things for which you pray and ask, believe that you have received them, and they will be granted you.

Mark 11:22-24

  1. Have faith in God. A gentle rebuke for the disciples’ lack of faith in the power of His word. Such faith believes in God’s revealed truth, His power, and seeks to do His will (cf. 1Jn 5:14; see note on Mt 21:21). † 11:23 this mountain … into the sea. This expression was related to a common metaphor of that day, “rooter up of mountains,” which was used in Jewish literature of great rabbis and spiritual leaders who could solve difficult problems and seemingly do the impossible. Obviously, Jesus did not literally uproot mountains; in fact, He refused to do such spectacular miracles for the unbelieving Jewish leaders (see note on Mt 12:38). Jesus’ point is that if believers sincerely trust in God and truly realize the unlimited power that is available through such faith in Him, they will see His mighty powers at work (cf. Jn 14:13, 14; see note on Mt 21:21). † 11:24 all things for which you pray. This places no limits on a believer’s prayers, as long as they are according to God’s will and purpose (see note on Mt 17:20). This therefore means that man’s faith and prayer are not inconsistent with God’s sovereignty. And it is not the believer’s responsibility to figure out how that can be true, but simply to be faithful and obedient to the clear teaching on prayer, as Jesus gives it in this passage. God’s will is being unfolded through all of redemptive history, by means of the prayers of His people—as His saving purpose is coming to pass through the faith of those who hear the gospel and repent. Cf. Jas 5:16.
  1. this mountain … into the sea. This expression was related to a common metaphor of that day, “rooter up of mountains,” which was used in Jewish literature of great rabbis and spiritual leaders who could solve difficult problems and seemingly do the impossible. Obviously, Jesus did not literally uproot mountains; in fact, He refused to do such spectacular miracles for the unbelieving Jewish leaders (see note on Mt 12:38). Jesus’ point is that if believers sincerely trust in God and truly realize the unlimited power that is available through such faith in Him, they will see His mighty powers at work (cf. Jn 14:13, 14; see note on Mt 21:21).
  1. all things for which you pray. This places no limits on a believer’s prayers, as long as they are according to God’s will and purpose (see note on Mt 17:20). This therefore means that man’s faith and prayer are not inconsistent with God’s sovereignty. And it is not the believer’s responsibility to figure out how that can be true, but simply to be faithful and obedient to the clear teaching on prayer, as Jesus gives it in this passage. God’s will is being unfolded through all of redemptive history, by means of the prayers of His people—as His saving purpose is coming to pass through the faith of those who hear the gospel and repent. Cf. Jas 5:16.

www.bible.com/moments/5059327434051698168

A REVIEW OF 1 JOHN’S TESTS

A REVIEW OF 1 JOHN’S TESTS

Tests of Salvation

  1. Affirmation of the proper view of Christ (1:3)
  2. Affirmatrion of Sin’s reality (1:5-2:2)
  3. Obedience to God’s commands (2:3-6)
  4. Love of the “bretheren” (2:7-11)

Tests  & Characteristics of Antichrists

  1. Depart from the faithful (2:19)
  2. Deny the faith (2:22,23)
  3. They deceive the faithful (2:2:26) (1 Tim 4:1-3)

Tests & Characteristics of Genuine Christians

  1. Anointing of the Holy Spirit (2:27)
  2. Holy Spirit guides the believer into knowing all things (2:20-21) (John 14:26, 16:13)

Tests of a Believers Hope (The return of Christ)

  1. Abiding in Christ, ie persevering in the faith of salvation (2:27-3:3) (John 15:1-6)
  2. Practicing Righteousness (Holiness; purity; uprightness, the state of being right with God) (2:29) (1 Pet 1:3, 13-16)
  3. A sense of wonder in God’s love in what he did for us (3:1)
  4. When Christ returns, he will conform every believer to his image (3:2)
  5. Living in the reality of Christ’s return makes a difference in a Christian’s behavior (3:3)

Tests Why Christians Can’t Practice Sin

  1. Sin is incompatable with the law of God which they love (3:4, Ps 119:34, 77,97, Rom 7:12,22)
  2. Becauise it is incompatable with the work of Christ.  Christ died to sanctify (make holy) the believer (3:5,2 Cor 5:21, Eph 5::25-27, Rom 6:1-15) 
  3. Because Christ came to destroy the works of the arch-sinner, Satan (3:8)
  4. Because it is incompatible with the ministry of the Holy Spirit, who has imparted a new nature to the believer (3:9, John 3:5-8)

Tests For Behaviors Of The Devil’s Children

  1. Murder (3:15, Gen 4:5)
  2. Hatred (3:15)
  3. Indifference toward other’s needs

Tests of  a True Teacher

  1. Acknowledge and proclaim that Jesus is God incarnate in human flesh (4:2)
  2. They speak God’s word following apostolic doctrine (4:5-6)  The OT and NT are the only

A difficult thing to do in these troubled times!

A difficult thing to do, in these troubled times. Lord, may we seek a quiet place, that we might hear your voice clearly, to discern what is right. May whatever we do, help to advance your kingdom, through your Gospel Word.

Amen

A Summary of the Gospel of Mark. What do you think?

www.bible.com/reading-plans/22273/day/250

We are no longer a SLAVES to SIN.

As a follower of Jesus we are sons and daughters of the King. We are adopted sons. We are blessed beyond all measure!

Lord remind us continually, from your word, the precious identity we have, that out of LOVE, we were bought with a price, for our sakes.

“For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭8‬:‭14‬-‭17‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬

In a dusty village in Nepal near the shadows of Mount Everest, close to 80 percent of the girls are destined to be sold into brothels because they are the lowest subgroup of the lowest caste in the country, the Badi people. Their religion teaches in a past life they must have racked up a serious number of sins for Karma to punish them and send them back to earth in their caste. People do not even help them, because they do not want to prevent Karma from punishing them. As a result, Badi girls are some of the most trafficked people per capita on the planet. The caste they are born into means they are doomed to be treated lower than a dog—used, sold, and abused. 

It was here my friend Ryan met Landana, the most beautiful ten-year-old girl. Her father had agreed to sell her to an Indian brothel. Her mother couldn’t bear the thought and tried to prevent her husband from selling her precious girl. But he would not have it. He started beating his wife because she did not want to sell their girl. 

When they found this out, they acted quickly with local social workers and law enforcement. They got Landana to a safe house where girls like her are kept safe, warm, fed, and loved. Landana heard the Gospel. She heard how through Jesus we are adopted into God’s family. This is the most powerful part of the Gospel for many in this area of the world.

When sharing the Gospel with another Badi girl, my friend Ryan told her, “The Gospel teaches your last name is no longer Badi. It’s like your name is no longer Jarla Badi; it is Jarla ‘Christ’ because you are in His family, you are in His caste now.” She lit up and looked at him with eyes of possibility and hope. “Can this be true?” she asked. “Yes, it is the truest truth in all the world!”
 

Taken from Devotion….Chosen: Remind Yourself Of The Gospel Everyday – Day 6 of 7

Landana gladly joined the family of God, leaving behind the shame of her family, her caste, her bloodline. God became her father, and His love is the opposite of a father willing to sell his little girl. It is a God who was willing to sell Himself for thirty pieces of silver to save His little girl. 

The modern mind looks at Christianity and wonders, “Why blood? How can you sing about the blood of Jesus?” But those who have been bought with the blood of Christ know that we now share a bond that goes much deeper than our bloodlines here on earth. Jesus is inviting us into a new family and a new destiny. This is why Christians love to think about the blood of Christ. 

This Gospel goes beyond purging our past of its sin; it purges our entire ancestry, lineage, extended family of its shame. You are not primarily a part of an earthly family anymore; you have joined a heavenly family. The blood of Jesus marks you as family for all eternity. We have a new family identity, a new family crest, a new estate, new brothers and sisters, a new last name.