“Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. You are My friends if you do whatever I command you.” John 15:13-14
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:34-35
“He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.” John 14:21
Jesus said, “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and the great commandment. And the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” Matthew 22:37-40
Heavenly Father; thank You for all You’ve done for me - how You’ve loved me and thought of me before I even knew You – How You’ve blessed me and given me life – You’ve given me Your Holy Spirit – You call me Your own – You hear me when I pray – You put Your love within my heart – You make my life complete - Thank You Lord Jesus for saving me - Thank You for giving Your life so I may live
Michael Joe Jackson, we remember you today on Aug. 29th, you would have been 53, but you’re now where one day is as a thousand years and a thousand years as one day; with all eternity before you in the presence of the KING of kings and LORD of lords. Heaven is a wonderful place, it’s filled with God’s Brilliant Glory and because of His Amazing Grace through the sacrificed blood of Christ, you are there with Jesus now! There’s no better place to be than to be with JESUS!
The Edify Conference is a gathering of college age adults from the San Francisco Bay Area. The conference exists to build up people in their lives with Jesus, and to build friendship and fellowship among college age adults in the greater Bay Area.
The conference will be at the Ponderosa Lodge, located at Mt. Hermon in the Santa Cruz Mountains. The dates are August 26-28, 2011 and the cost is $125.
Worship leader, Evan Wickam, with background support from his sons, Gavin and Jayden, shares this creative and inspirational song off his CD ‘ABOVE THE SKY’ which came out in 2009. This is one of my favorites due to the creativitiy and family support shown in this video. *****
Lyrics by Shai Linne ~ “Alright check it: lets go back in time, brethren. Divine lessons always keep your mind guessing. The glory of the Triune God is what Im stressing. The origin of humankind was fine. Blessings were plenteous. God is amazingly generous. Crazy benefits in a state of innocence. God told the man what he could taste was limited. Not long after came our nemesis in Genesis. He scammed well, man fell, damned to hell. The whole human race—he represented it. Fooled by the serpent, man through his work, woman through birth—even the earth ruled by the curses. But instead of a wake immediately. God said her Seed would be the One to crush the head of the snake. Yo, wait what is this? Whoa, a gracious gift! In Jehovahs faithfulness He clothed their nakedness. This was so they would know their Saviors kiss and bliss. But first, many growing pains exist suffering in the worst form, ugly deeds. Eves firstborn seed made his brother bleed. Indeed things got progressively worse. Every section of the earth is been affected by the curse. And though Gods judgments against sin were gory, praise the Lord! Its not the end of the story. Next scene: mans sin was extreme. God gets steamed, man gets creamed. The Lord is so Holy that He drowned them in the water. Fire in the valley of slaughter Sodom and Gomorrah. But at the same time, Hes so gracious and patient that from one man He created a whole nation. Eventually enslaved by the mentally depraved, they cried out to the only One with the strength that He could save. He brought them out with signs and wonders satisfied their hunger. Then He appeared on Mount Sinai in thunder. Where He laid down the law for God-ruled government. Commonly referred to as the Mosaic covenant. Sin was imputed. So for man to know hes unrighteous, God instituted animal sacrifices. This was to show our constant need for atonement. And when it came to sin, the Lord would never condone it. And when His people disobeyed and went astray, He raised up prophets and kings to lead them in the way. But they would get foul with their idolatry—wet and wild prophecy—send them into exile. To take their punishment like a grown man. Then with His own hand He placed them back in their homeland. And while in their forefathers land they dwelt, they awaited the arrival of Emmanuel. After 400 silent years filled with sighs and tears. In Bethlehem the Messiah appears. God in the flesh—Second Person of the Trinity. At thirty begins His earthly ministry. Baffling cats with accurate, exact facts and back-to-back miraculous acts. A stumbling block to the self righteous. But the humbled—His flock, said Theres no one else like this. He came from heaven to awake the numb. Demonstrated His power over nature, son. A foretaste of the Kingdom and the age to come. But the reason He came was to pay the sum for the depths of our wickedness, our wretched sinfulness. Bless His magnificence! He is perfect and innocent. Yet He was wrecked and His death. He predicted it. Next He was stretched, paid a debt that was infinite. He said that He finished it. Resurrected so the elect would be the recipients of its benefits. Through faith and penitence we get to be intimate. His grace is heaven sent, it never diminishes. Now the Holy Spirit indwelling is the evidence for heavens future residents who truly represent Jesus, the Author, Producer, Director, and Star of a story that will never, ever end! Its the greatest story ever told. A God pursues foes whose hearts turned cold. The greatest story ever told. Restoring all that the enemy stole. The greatest story ever told. The glory of Christ is the goal, behold. The greatest story ever told. Its the greatest.”
The story of Christ’s birth has been passed down from generation to generation. As time has passed, in efforts to relay the story to others, man has perhaps taken some creative license with the events of the Nativity. Though we are unsure of many elements surrounding Jesus’ birth, we do know this: Two thousand years ago, a Savior was born of a virgin in the town of Bethlehem.
When you walk through a storm hold your head up high
And don’t be afraid of the dark.
At the end of a storm is a golden sky
And the sweet silver song of a lark.
Walk on through the wind,
Walk on through the rain,
Tho’ your dreams be tossed and blown.
Walk on, walk on with hope in your heart
And you’ll never walk alone,
You’ll never, ever walk alone.
Walk on, walk on with hope in your heart
And you’ll never walk alone,
You’ll never, ever walk alone.
For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
So we may boldly say:
“The LORD is my Helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?”
