Works of Faith

This morning I was reminded of a statement by Dr. Edwin Cole. He went on to be with the Lord in 2002 and before passing on said, "tell them the only scripture they believe is the one they obey". What a simple phrase but what profound meaning! I was immediately reminded of James 2:26. Here it is in context:

14 What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith obut does not have works? Can that faith save him? 15 pIf a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, 16 qand one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good2 is that? 17 So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. 18 But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith rapart from your works, and I will show you my faith sby my works. 19 tYou believe that God is one; you do well. Even uthe demons believe—and shudder! 20 Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless? 21 vWas not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that wfaith was active along with his works, and faith was completed xby his works; 23 and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, y “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”— and he was called a zfriend of God. 24 You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. 25 And in the same way was not also aRahab the prostitute justified by works bwhen she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? 26 For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.
o [ch. 1:22]
p [Job 31:19, 20]; See Luke 3:11
q 1 John 3:17, 18
2 Or benefit
r [Rom. 3:28; 4:6; Heb. 11:33]
s Matt. 7:16, 17; Gal. 5:6
t Deut. 6:4; [Rom. 2:17-25]
u Matt. 8:29; Mark 1:24; 5:7; Luke 4:33, 34; Acts 16:17; 19:15
v Gen. 22:9, 12, 16-18
w Heb. 11:17
x See 1 Thess. 1:3
y Rom. 4:3; Gal. 3:6; Cited from Gen. 15:6
z 2 Chr. 20:7; Isai. 41:8
a Heb. 11:31
b Josh. 2:1-22; 6:23
The Holy Bible : English standard version. 2001 (Jas 2:14-26). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

So then we are reminded that Faith comes to enable Obedience to God's word in our life and experience which is the highest form of worship. True faith will empower a life of consecration to the call and purpose of God in our lives. That's why Hebrews 11:6 says, " Without Faith it is impossible to please God, for He that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those that dilligently seek Him".

So then disobedience to the revealed word of God in our life is a symptom of a lack on our part to activate the Faith of the Son of God that is already within us. We must choose each day to activate our faith to move the mountains in our life. "And Jesus said unto them, verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.

2Peter1:1-4, "Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ: Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

Let's pray together Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.

Grace and Peace,

Ed

http://www.urcwc.com/

The Day of the LORD Is Near!

Zeph. 1:7
Be silent before the Lord God!
For the day of the Lord is near;
the Lord has prepared a sacrifice (Jesus!)
and consecrated his guests. (Us!)

James 5:7 Be patient, therefore, brothers,1 until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives kthe early and the late rains. 8 You also, be patient. lEstablish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord mis at hand. 9 Do not grumble against one another, brothers, nso that you may not be judged; behold, othe Judge is standing pat the door. 10 As an example of suffering and patience, brothers, take qthe prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. 11 Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of rthe steadfastness of Job, and you have seen sthe purpose of the Lord, how tthe Lord is compassionate and merciful.[1]

Rev.22:20 He who testifies to these things says, “Surely sI am coming soon.” Amen. tCome, Lord Jesus![3]

1 Or brothers and sisters; also verses 9, 10, 12, 19
k See Deut. 11:14
l 1 Thess. 3:13
m 1 Pet. 4:7; [Rom. 13:11, 12; Phil. 4:5; Heb. 10:25, 37]
n Matt. 7:1
o [1 Pet. 4:5; Rev. 22:12]
p Matt. 24:33; Mark 13:29; [1 Cor. 4:5]
q Matt. 5:12; 23:34; Acts 7:52; Heb. 11:32-38
r Job 1:21, 22; 2:10
s Job 42:10, 12
t See Ex. 34:6
[1]The Holy Bible : English standard version. 2001 (Jas 5:7-11).
s ver. 7, 12
t [2 Tim. 4:8]
[3]The Holy Bible : English standard version. 2001 (Re 22:20).

Grace and Peace,

Ed

http://www.urcs.blogspot.com/

Conviction vs Condemnation

Many Christians confuse these two very different experiences. Conviction comes from God through the ministry of the Holy Spirit. Jesus said,

I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for hif I do not go away, ithe Helper will not come to you. But jif kI go, lI will send him to you. 8 mAnd when he comes, he will nconvict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 concerning sin, obecause they do not believe in me; 10 pconcerning righteousness, qbecause I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; 11 rconcerning judgment, because the ruler of this world sis judged.
h ch. 7:39
i ch. 15:26; [ch. 14:16]
j [Acts 2:33]
k ch. 14:2
l See ch. 14:26
m [ch. 8:28]
n [ch. 8:46]
o ch. 8:24; [Acts 2:36, 37; 1 Cor. 12:3]
p [Acts 17:31]
q ver. 16, 17, 19
r See ch. 12:31
s [Col. 2:15; Heb. 2:14]
The Holy Bible : English standard version. 2001 (Jn 16:7-11).

Conviction is a good thing. It exposes the sin in our hearts so that we can deal with it. It inspires and leads us to repentance and Godly change. It draws us to God to receive mercy in the time of need and grace for the ensuing battle with our carnal nature.

Condemnation can come from the Devil (the accuser of the brethren) and sometimes out of our own heart. The apostle Paul wrote,

8 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.1 2 For the law of hthe Spirit of life ihas set you2 free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. 3 For jGod has done what the law, kweakened by the flesh, lcould not do. mBy sending his own Son nin the likeness of sinful flesh and ofor sin,3 he condemned sin in the flesh, 4 in order that pthe righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, qwho walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 5 For rthose who live according to the flesh set their minds on sthe things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on tthe things of the Spirit. 6 To set uthe mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.
1 Some manuscripts add who walk not according to the flesh (but according to the Spirit)
h 1 Cor. 15:45; 2Cor. 3:6
i ver. 12; See ch. 6:14, 18; 7:4ff
2 Some manuscripts me
j Heb. 10:1, 2, 10, 14; See Acts 13:39
k Gal. 4:9; Heb. 7:18
l Heb. 10:6, 8
m 2 Cor. 5:21
n Phil. 2:7; See John 1:14
o Lev. 16:5; Heb. 10:6, 8; 13:11
3 Or and as a sin offering
p ch. 1:32; 2:26
q Gal. 5:16, 25
r [Gal. 6:8]
s Gal. 5:19-21
t Gal. 5:22, 23, 25
u ver. 13; [Col. 2:18]; See ch. 6:21
The Holy Bible : English standard version. 2001 (Ro 8:1-6).

And John the apostle wrote,

20 for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything.
The Holy Bible : English standard version. 2001 (1 Jn 3:20).

Condemnation will encourage you to give up. To quit. It has a ring of finality to it. Conviction on the other hand inspires us to pray and commune with God. To continue to war with our carnal nature.

31 What then shall we say to these things? pIf God is for us, who can be3 against us? 32 qHe who did not spare his own Son but rgave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 33 Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? sIt is God who justifies. 34 tWho is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—uwho is at the right hand of God, vwho indeed is interceding for us.4 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written, w “ For your sake xwe are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”
37 No, in all these things we are more than yconquerors through zhim who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
p Num. 14:9; 2 Kin. 6:16; Ps. 118:6; 1 John 4:4
3 Or who is
q John 3:16
r See ch. 4:25
s Isai. 50:8, 9; [Rev. 12:10, 11]
t ver. 1
u See Mark 16:19
v Heb. 7:25; 1 John 2:1; [ver. 27]
4 Or Is it Christ Jesus who died … for us?
w Cited from Ps. 44:22
x 1 Cor. 4:9; 15:30, 31; 2 Cor. 4:10, 11; See Acts 20:24ff
y 1 Cor. 15:57; See John 16:33
z Gal. 2:20; Eph. 5:2; Rev. 1:5; 3:9
The Holy Bible : English standard version. 2001 (Ro 8:31-39).

Grace and Peace,

Ed

http://www.urcwc.org/

How to Get What You Want!

Catchy tittle! But it's true. Face it. You want to get something don't you? There are a lot of folks out there telling us how to "attract" the things we want to ourselves. Some say to use visualization, others mantras and some use both. Let's look to the Bible to see what the scriptures have to say.

12 Then Isaac sowed in that land, and receiveda in the same year an hundredfold: and the LORD blessed him.

13 And the man waxed great, and wentb forward, and grew until he became very great:

14 For he had possession of flocks, and possession of herds, and great store of servantsc: and the Philistines envied him.

15 For all the wells which his father’s servants had digged in the days of Abraham his father, the Philistines had stopped them, and filled them with earth.

16 And Abimelech said unto Isaac, Go from us; for thou art much mightier than we.

17 And Isaac departed thence, and pitched his tent in the valley of Gerar, and dwelt there.

18 And Isaac digged again the wells of water, which they had digged in the days of Abraham his father; for the Philistines had stopped them after the death of Abraham: and he called their names after the names by which his father had called them.

19 And Isaac’s servants digged in the valley, and found there a well of springingd water.

20 And the herdmen of Gerar did strive with Isaac’s herdmen, saying, The water is ours: and he called the name of the well Eseke; because they strove with him.

21 And they digged another well, and strove for that also: and he called the name of it Sitnahf.

22 And he removed from thence, and digged another well; and for that they strove not: and he called the name of it Rehobothg; and he said, For now the LORD hath made room for us, and we shall be fruitful in the land.

23 And he went up from thence to Beersheba.

24 And the LORD appeared unto him the same night, and said, I am the God of Abraham thy father: fear not, for I am with thee, and will bless thee, and multiply thy seed for my servant Abraham’s sake.

25 And he builded an altar there, and called upon the name of the LORD, and pitched his tent there: and there Isaac’s servants digged a well.
a received: Heb. found
b went...: Heb. went going
c servants: or, husbandry
d springing: Heb. living
e Esek: that is, Contention
f Sitnah: that is, Hatred
g Rehoboth: that is Room
The Holy Bible : King James Version. electronic ed. of the 1769 edition of the 1611 Authorized Version. Bellingham WA : Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1995, S. Ge 26:12-25

6 Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounteda to him for righteousness.

7 Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.

8 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.

9 So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.

10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.

11 But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.

12 And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.

13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:

14 That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

15 Brethren, I speak after the manner of men; Though it be but a man’s covenantb, yet if it be confirmed, no man disannulleth, or addeth thereto.

16 Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.

17 And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect.

18 For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise.
19 Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator. 20 Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one.

21 Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.

22 But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.

23 But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.

24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

25 But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.

26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.

27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.

29 And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.
a accounted: or, imputed
b covenant: or, testament
The Holy Bible : King James Version. electronic ed. of the 1769 edition of the 1611 Authorized Version. Bellingham WA : Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1995, S. Ga 3:6-29

When you come to Christ you become an heir to all of the promises of God that were in Abraham. You see, in Gen. 26:1-12 we see that Issac wasn't exactly doing or saying the right thing. Even though he didn't yet fully realize who he was, God caused his situation to turn around for the good.

Put your trust in Christ today! Make him the Lord of your life by faith and allow His divine love and grace to transform and empower you to receive all that God has for you in Jesus Christ. Sow in the land God has given you and receive you're hundredfold blessing.

Grace and Peace,

Ed

http://www.realfoodforlife.blogspot.com/

Criticism That Counts

This is a reprint from John Maxwell's leadership wired. I thought it was timely and well presented so I wanted to re-post it here.

Americans have a warped view of criticism. Unfortunately, most of us see criticism almost exclusively in a negative light. We dish it out tactlessly, use it to tear down rivals, and attack others with it even when we have no authority to do so.

It certainly doesn't help that we are inundated with poor examples of criticism in the media. For starters, consider American Idol's British judge, Simon Cowell. It's not uncommon for Simon's scathing criticisms to elicit tears from contestants. His words are given sincerely, but heartlessly. Watching Simon, it's as if he relishes finding faults in another's imperfections.

Election season paints another ugly picture of criticism. Politicians wield it like an ax to cut down their opponents. Instead of debating ideas in a civil forum, too often politicians lower themselves into a mudslinging contest.

Another media avenue, the blogosphere, has become criticism central in America. Bloggers attack the character of leaders they don't know and rail against decisions made in circumstances they could never understand. Far too frequently, their inflammatory tone escalates conflict without adding any substantial value to the interplay of ideas.

CRITICISM DEFINED
Given the less than stellar models of criticism prevailing in society, we need a healthy definition of criticism along with practical guidance for giving and receiving it. In an April 1st article for BusinessWeek, Dr. Bruce Weinstein gives us exactly that. Here's how he describes the value of criticism:

"The goal of true criticism is to help someone be the best they can be…When criticism is done appropriately, the person who has been criticized will understand what he or she has done wrong and will feel inspired to make a change for the better. Not only should we not avoid being criticized, we should embrace criticism because it is the only way we can continue to grow professionally and personally."

The following practical tips are intended to flesh out the ways we can begin to embrace and wisely employ criticism as leaders.

WHEN GIVING CRITICISM
Encouragement helps criticism to land.
Before a pilot lands an aircraft, she goes through a series of procedures to make the plane touch down as smoothly as possible. The pilot gently drops altitude, gradually cuts back on speed, and lowers landing gear at just the right moment. If these steps are handled incorrectly, the ride is certain to be turbulent and may end up in disaster.

For criticism to "land" well, it must be preceded by encouragement. Leaders deafen their people to criticism when they neglect to encourage them regularly. If leaders are silent after victory but outspoken during defeat, then team morale plummets. It's difficult to stay open to suggestions for improvement under what feels like a constant barrage of negativity.

Criticism should avoid being personal.
Criticism should avoid being personal, but it should have the support of a personal relationship. To prevent personal insult, leaders should carefully pinpoint specific actions or ideas to criticize. People can accept negative feedback of their performance, but they bristle when they feel their personhood is under attack.

Leaders effectively deliver constructive criticism when they have taken the time to acquaint themselves with those they lead. Without relational connection, the person receiving criticism may feel their leader has a personal vendetta against them. However, if they are convinced their leader respects their efforts and values their growth, they are more likely to be receptive to tough words.

WHEN RECEIVING CRITICISM
Selectively filter criticism
The higher up a person goes in leadership, the more criticism he or she will receive—guaranteed. While some criticism builds up, other criticism tears down. Leaders must learn to distinguish between the two.
The acid test of criticism is made up of three questions:
Does the criticism have basis in fact?
Is the criticism offered constructively (in an effort to help)?
Does the critic have the insight and perspective to speak credibly?
When all three questions can be answered, "yes," then a leader should take the criticism seriously and weigh its meaning. If any question can be answered, "no," then a leader is best served to let the criticism go in one ear and out the other.

Avoid Extremes
A leader who routinely dismisses criticism chokes off vital feedback. When leaders ignore or suppress opposing views, they miss the opportunity to sharpen their ideas. Wise leaders want to be challenged, not coddled. They surround themselves with voices that speak what they need to hear instead of saying only what they want to hear.
On the other extreme, leaders with thin skin are rattled by all manner of criticism. They agonize over the opinions of people whose input is uninformed and unintended to be helpful. They allow second-guessing to cut into their confidence. Ultimately, such a leaders cede authority by subjecting their decision-making to the approval of outsiders.

Listen, Listen, Listen
Sincere criticism rarely comes without a morsel of truth. For a leader, the trick is to stay open when confronted with negative feedback. When criticized, people are tempted to react defensively, angrily, or from a place of hurt. With emotions swirling about inside, it can be difficult to keep listening and to absorb critical comments.
Those who gain the most out of criticism hold their tongue and control their emotions in order to gain access to hard truths. By listening and remaining objective, they grow increasingly self-aware and improve their leadership.
For more advice on addressing criticism, you can read Dr. Bruce Weinstein's BusinessWeek article, "How to Give and Receive Criticism."

"The only man who behaves sensibly is my tailor; he takes my measurements anew every time he sees me, while all the rest go on with their old measurements and expect me to fit them." ~ George Bernard Shaw

"This article is used by permission from Dr. John C. Maxwell's free monthly e-newsletter, "Leadership Wired," available at www.injoy.com."

Grace and Peace,
Ed
http://www.realfoodforlife.blogspot.com/

Forgiving Ourselves

This article needs wide distribution!

TGIF Today God Is First Volume 1

by Os Hillman

Sunday, June 08 2008

"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." - 1 John 1:9

The apostle Peter was one of three disciples who walked with Jesus closer than the other nine. He was the most enthusiastic and the one man who was willing to step into territories where others would not dare. He was the first to step out of the boat and walk on water. He wanted to protect Jesus at times when Jesus rebuked him for having a demon influence him. He cut off the ear of the guard who wanted to arrest Jesus in the garden. As Peter matured, the Holy Spirit harnessed his many extreme emotions.

The greatest trial for Peter was when he denied the Lord just before Jesus was crucified. Three times he denied knowing Jesus. Jesus predicted that the cock would crow after the third time just to reinforce the prophecy to Peter. Peter was crushed when he realized he had failed His Lord so badly.

The Lord forgave Peter for his denial. However, gaining forgiveness from Jesus was not the most difficult part for Peter. The hard part was forgiving himself. As we mature in the faith, we begin moving in victory after victory with our Lord. Then out of nowhere, an event happens that reveals our true sin nature, and we are confronted face to face with this reality. We cannot believe that we are capable of such sin. There is no good thing in us save the grace of Jesus Christ and His blood that cleanses us. When God looks at us, He looks at the blood of Christ that has covered our sin. He does not look at our sin once we confess it.

When we have difficulty forgiving ourselves, this is pride at its deepest level. We are making an assumption that we should never have sinned and that we are too mature to sin. This is a trap from the enemy of our souls. People who cannot forgive do not recognize from what they have been forgiven. That includes us.

Thank you brother Hillman! TodayGodIsFirst.com by Os Hillman

Grace and Peace,

Ed

http://www.urcwc.org/

The Mind

While being closely related the Mind, Soul and Heart are not the same.

The Mind is the Hardware…the Brain…. It stores memory both Ram and Rom….it has the circuits and wiring. The mind is our experience storage cabinet. Webster defines it like this:

1mind \ˈmīnd\ n
[ME, fr. OE gemynd; akin to OHG gimunt memory, L ment-, mens mind, monēre to remind, warn, Gk menos spirit, mnasthai, mimnēskesthai to remember] bef. 12c
recollection, memory 〈keep that in mind〉 〈time out of mind〉

Our Creator has a lot to say about our minds!

Here are just a few informative scriptures that deal with the mind.

Isa 26:3
You keep him in perfect peace * whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.

Prov 19:21
Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord • that will stand.

1 Kings 4:29
And God gave • Solomon wisdom and understanding • • beyond measure, and breadth of mind like the sand • on the seashore,

Ps 7:9
Oh, let the evil of the wicked come to an end, and may you establish the righteous— • you who test the minds and hearts, O righteous God!

Isa 65:17
For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth, and the former things shall not be remembered or • come into mind.

Exod 36:2
And Moses called • Bezalel and • Oholiab and • every craftsman * in whose • mind the Lord had put skill, everyone whose • heart stirred him up to come to do • the work.

1 Kings 10:24
And the whole • earth sought • the presence of Solomon to hear • his wisdom, which God had put into his mind.

Neh 6:8
Then I sent to him, saying, “No such • • • things as you say have been done, for you are inventing them out of your own mind.”

Ps 26:2

Prove me, O Lord, and try me; test my heart and my mind.

Prov 28:26
Whoever trusts in his own mind is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom will be delivered.

Exod 14:5
When • the king of Egypt was told that the people had fled, • the mind of Pharaoh and his servants was changed toward the people, and they said, “What is this we have done, that we have let • Israel go from serving us?”

1 Chron 22:19
Now set your mind and • heart to seek • the Lord your God. • Arise and build • the sanctuary of the Lord • God, so that • the ark of the covenant of the Lord and the holy vessels of • God may be brought into a • house built for the name of the Lord.”

Dan 8:25
• By his cunning • he shall make deceit prosper under his hand, and in his own mind he shall become great. Without warning * he shall destroy many. And he shall even rise up against the Prince of princes, and he shall be broken— but by no human hand.

Dan 5:21
• He was driven from among the children of mankind, and his mind was made like that * of a beast, and his dwelling was with the wild donkeys. He was fed grass like an ox, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, until • he knew that the Most High God rules • the kingdom of mankind and sets over it • whom he will

1 Chron 28:9
“And you, Solomon my son, know • the God of your father and serve him with a whole heart and with a willing mind, for the Lord searches all hearts and understands every plan and thought. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will cast you off forever.

1 Sam 2:35
And I will raise up for myself a faithful priest, who shall do according to what is in my heart and in my mind. And I will build • him a sure house, and he shall go in and out before my anointed forever. *

Ezek 11:5
And the Spirit of the Lord fell upon me, and he said to me, “Say, Thus says the Lord: So you think, O house of Israel. • For I know • the things that come into * your mind.

Mark 8:33
But turning and seeing his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan! For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.”

Rom 8:5
For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.

1 Pet 1:13
Therefore, • preparing * your minds for action, * and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

Heb 8:10
For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my laws into their minds, and write them on their hearts, and I will be their • God, and they shall be my • people.

Matt 22:37
And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.

Heb 8:10
For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my laws into their minds, and write them on their hearts, and I will be their • God, and they shall be my • people.

Heb 10:16
This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my laws on their hearts, and write them on their minds,”

Eph 2:3
among whom • we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.

James 1:8
he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

James 4:8
Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

2 Cor 4:4
In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

Phil 4:7
And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Luke 24:45
Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures,

Rom 11:34
For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?

2 Tim 3:8
• Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men corrupted in mind and disqualified regarding the faith.

1 Cor 14:15 (2)
• What am I to do? * I will pray with my spirit, but I will pray with my mind also; I will sing praise with my spirit, but I will sing with my mind also.

Rom 7:23
but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members.

Rom 12:2
• Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

2 Thess 2:2
not • to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by a spirit or • a spoken word, or • a letter seeming to be from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come.

Phil 3:19
Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things.

Phil 2:5
Have this mind among yourselves, which • is yours in Christ Jesus,

Col 3:2
Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.

Grace and Peace,

Ed

http://www.urcwc.org/

Testing

Our human tendency is to avoid pain, suffering, and trials. However, if we face the tests of faith by relying on God’s grace, He will strengthen us through them, and we will experience a greater measure of His power in our lives. Therefore, by looking at difficulties from God’s perspective, we can see that they are not intended to destroy us, but they are actually opportunities to have more of His power flowing through our lives!

James revealed his understanding of this perspective when he wrote:

“My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers [various] temptations; knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing” (James 1:2–4).

Remember, when going through various trials and testing that:

1 - God is! When Moses needed a name for God, God said I am. When they asked Jesus who He was He said I am. God is. He is supreme, all knowing and all powerful. Nothing is impossible for Him. And He knows the end from the beginning.

2- God is a rewarder of those that diligently seek Him! God is always looking to reward and bless you. He cares for you as He does His own son Jesus. While The Father allowed Jesus to suffer many things and be tempted and tested in all areas even as we are, Scriputure says that Jesus endured the cross for the joy set before Him. He knew the Father is faithful, loving and compassionate and that He would not allow Him to endure such hostility for no reason.

James 1:12
Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.

Grace and Peace,

Ed

http://www.urcs.blogspot.com/

God's Authority

YEAH SURE! READ THE STORY AGAIN!

God has placed a system of authority in our world that requires faith to operate under its boundaries: fathers responsible for sons and daughters, employers responsible for employees, government leaders responsible for the people, church leaders responsible for church members. These are authority structures God has placed in our lives to protect and guide us to His will. Some confuse position with worthiness or qualifications of that position. It is the position that God works through. The fact that an authority may not be a Christian may have no bearing on whether God can work through him as your authority. It is only when that authority counsels against a biblical mandate that we should not follow that person's guidance. The hand of the king is in the hand of God.

Prov 21:1
The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord; he turns it wherever he will.

Today, we find few who understand this system of authority God has ordained. It requires great faith to operate in this realm. Yet Jesus said that when we understand this, we demonstrate the kind of faith that He rarely sees. Be a person of rare faith! See the authorities placed in your life as those God is using to protect you.

13 Let every person pbe subject to the governing authorities. For qthere is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you rwill receive his approval, 4 for she is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, tan avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer. 5 Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God’s wrath but also ufor the sake of conscience. p Tit. 3:1; 1 Pet. 2:13 q [John 19:11]; See Dan. 2:21 r 1 Pet. 2:14 s 2 Chr. 19:6 t 1 Thess. 4:6 u 1 Pet. 2:19; [Eccles. 8:2] The Holy Bible : English standard version. 2001 (Ro 13:1-5).

God help us to see and understand this great truth through the perspective of faith, hope and love.

Grace and Peace,

Ed

http://www.urcwc.org/

Those who Sow in Tears

Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy." - Psalm 126:5

The most difficult place to keep moving in faith is the place of extreme pain. Extreme pain, especially emotional pain, can become immobilizing to the human spirit if it is allowed to overcome us. The psalmist tells us there is only one remedy for overcoming painful circumstances that will result in joy. We are to sow in the midst of these times. You cannot do this if you live by feelings alone. It is an act of the will. This act requires that we go outside ourselves in pure faith.

"He who goes out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with him" (Ps. 126:6). Pain can become a source of joy if we take the first step by planting seed. There is a harvest that will come if we sow in the midst of tears.

Ps 27:6
And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me, and I will offer in his tent sacrifices with shouts of joy; I will sing and make melody to the Lord.

Ps 30:5
For his anger is but for a moment, and his favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning.

Grace and Peace,

Ed

http://www.urcwc.org/

Opponents to Fight Gay Marriage Ruling

"It's about human dignity. It's about human rights. It's about time in California," San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom told a roaring crowd at City Hall after the ruling was issued. "As California goes, so goes the rest of the nation. It's inevitable. This door's wide open now. It's going to happen, whether you like it or not."

I agree! It is about human dignity! There is no dignity in same sex marriage. It's obviously ridiculous to equate this decision made by four judges that even over ruled what the people of California voted for!

The last time the state's voters were asked to express their views on same-sex marriage at the ballot box was in 2000, the year after the Legislature enacted the first of a series of laws awarding spousal rights to domestic partners. Proposition 22, which strengthened the state's 1978 one-man, one-woman marriage law with the words "Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California," passed with 61 percent of the vote.

The institution of marriage finds it's roots in Genesis where Moses wrote, "Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh." Gen.2:24

Gen 34:9
Make marriages with us. Give your daughters to us, and take our daughters for yourselves.

23 The same day sSadducees came to him, twho say that there is no resurrection, and they asked him a question, 24 saying, “Teacher, Moses said, u ‘If a man dies having no children, his brother must marry the widow and raise up children for his brother.’ 25 Now there were seven brothers among us. The first married and died, and having no children left his wife to his brother. 26 So too the second and third, down to the seventh. 27 After them all, the woman died. 28 In the resurrection, therefore, of the seven, whose wife will she be? For they all had her.” 29 But Jesus answered them, “You are wrong, vbecause you know neither the Scriptures nor wthe power of God. 30 For in the resurrection they neither xmarry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. 31 And as for the resurrection of the dead, yhave you not read what was said to you by God: 32 z ‘I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? He is not God of the dead, but of the living.” 33 And when the crowd heard it, athey were astonished at his teaching.
s ver. 34; ch. 3:7; 16:1; Acts 4:1; 5:17; 23:6 t Acts 23:8; [Acts 4:2] u [Deut. 25:5] v John 20:9
w 1 Cor. 6:14 x ch. 24:38; Luke 17:27 y See ch. 21:16 z Acts 7:32; Cited from Ex. 3:6 a See ch. 7:28 The Holy Bible : English standard version. 2001 (Mt 22:23-33). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

We see that marriage was not just meant as a covenant between two lovers but also a union designed for reproduction. It is the basis and foundation of the family. The reason the government provides benefits to those who are married is to protect the family and especially the children not the individual.

13 Now the men of Sodom nwere wicked, great sinners against the Lord.
n ch. 18:20; Ezek. 16:49; 2 Pet. 2:7, 8
The Holy Bible : English standard version. 2001 (Ge 13:13). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

Gen 18:20
Then the Lord said, “Because the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great and their sin is very grave, Well, what was their sin?

4 But before they lay down, the men of the city, the men of Sodom, both young and old, all the people to the last man, surrounded the house. 5 uAnd they called to Lot, “Where are the men who came to you tonight? vBring them out to us, that we wmay know them.”
u Isai. 3:9; [ch. 13:13] v Judg. 19:22 w Rom. 1:24, 27; Jude 7
The Holy Bible : English standard version. 2001 (Ge 19:4-5). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

5 Now I want mto remind you, although you once fully knew it, that nJesus, who saved3 a people out of the land of Egypt, oafterward destroyed those who did not believe. 6 And pthe angels who did not stay within their own position of authority, but left their proper dwelling, he has kept in eternal chains under gloomy darkness until the judgment of the great day— 7 just as qSodom and Gomorrah and rthe surrounding cities, which likewise indulged in sexual immorality and spursued unnatural desire,4 serve as an example by undergoing a punishment of eternal fire.
m 2 Pet. 1:12; 3:17 n [1 Cor. 10:4, 5, 9] 3 Some manuscripts although you fully knew it, that the Lord who once saved o Num. 14:29, 37; 26:64, 65; Ps. 106:26; Heb. 3:17-19 p 2 Pet. 2:4; [Rev. 20:2] q See Gen. 19:24 r Deut. 29:23; Hos. 11:8 s 2 Pet. 2:10 4 Greek other flesh
The Holy Bible : English standard version. 2001 (Jud 5-7). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

By a close vote of 4-3, the California Supreme Court struck down the state's ban on same-sex marriage - a ban overwhelmingly approved by the citizens of California. Frankly, there's much at stake in this flawed move. I know you are as disappointed as I am that California's high court failed to uphold what a majority of their voters clearly understand - that the institution of marriage is limited to one man and one woman. However, more disturbing still is the glaring misstep of an activist judiciary overreaching its power. Judges interpret law. They do not - they should not - rewrite law. By taking this issue out of the hands of the citizens - where it belongs - the high court ruled by their own conscience, led by their own social policies.

My goal here is not to judge anyones lifestyle, that is between them and God! I feel that the God given institution of marriage should stand as it has for thousands of years as the backbone to families and the backbone of society. And laws should be upheld for the majority not the minority.

This is my favorite scripture reference on marriage.

22 zWives, asubmit to your own husbands, bas to the Lord. 23 For cthe husband is the head of the wife even as dChrist is the head of the church, his body, and is ehimself its Savior. 24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit fin everything to their husbands.
25 gHusbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and hgave himself up for her, 26 that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by ithe washing of water jwith the word, 27 so kthat he might present the church to himself in splendor, lwithout spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.1 28 In the same way mhusbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, 30 because nwe are members of his body. 31 o “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and pthe two shall become one flesh.” 32 This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. 33 However, qlet each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she rrespects her husband.
z For ver. 22–ch. 6:9, see Col. 3:18–4:1 a See Gen. 3:16 b [ch. 6:5] c 1 Cor. 11:3 d See ch. 1:22, 23 e [1 Cor. 6:13] f [Col. 3:20, 22; Tit. 2:9] g ver. 28, 33; [1 Pet. 3:7] h ver. 2 i Tit. 3:5; [Rev. 7:14] j ch. 6:17; Heb. 6:5; See John 15:3 k 2 Cor. 11:2; See ch. 1:4 l S. of S. 4:7 1 Or holy and blameless m ver. 25, 33 n [Gen. 2:23]; See 1 Cor. 6:15 o Matt. 19:5; Mark 16:7, 8; Cited from Gen. 2:24 p 1 Cor. 6:16 q ver. 25, 28 r 1 Pet. 3:2, 6 The Holy Bible : English standard version. 2001 (Eph 5:22-33). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

As I write, the ACLJ http://www.aclj.org/News/Read.aspx?ID=2961 is at work as a result of this troubling decision. They are supporting a California ballot initiative for this fall that would amend the state constitution to prohibit same-sex marriage. The court should issue a stay of its same-sex ruling. The ruling would not go into effect until after the November vote takes place - giving the citizens of California their say.

There is no guarantee that the stay will be issued. This bold maneuver by the California Supreme Court has profound implications coast-to-coast, including your state. California has no residency requirement to get a marriage license. In other words, out-of-state same-sex couples can marry in California and then return to their home state and demand recognition. Obviously, this is a critically damaging decision indeed. Please support the true institution of marriage and it's role in the family with prayer and donations to pay the legal costs of fighting this ridiculus ruling.

Grace and Peace,

Ed

http://www.urcs.blogspot.com/