To My Sons

These two scriptures the Lord directed to me for you today (August 15, 2011).

Ecclesiastes 11 ¹CAST YOUR bread upon the waters, for you will find it after many days.    ²Give a portion to seven, yes, even [divide it] to eight, for you know not what evil may come upon the earth.    ³If the clouds are full of rain, they empty themselves upon the earth; and if a tree falls toward the south or toward the north, in the place where the tree falls, there it will lie.
    ⁴He who observes the wind [and waits for all conditions to be favorable] will not sow, and he who regards the clouds will not reap.
    ⁵As you know not what is the way of the wind, or how the spirit comes to the bones in the womb of a pregnant woman, even so you know not the work of God, Who does all.
    ⁶In the morning sow your seed, and in the evening withhold not your hands, for you know not which shall prosper, whether this or that, or whether both alike will be good.
    ⁷Truly the light is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to behold the sun.
    ⁸Yes, if a man should live many years, let him rejoice in them all; yet let him [seriously] remember the days of darkness, for they will be many. All that comes is vanity (emptiness, falsity, vainglory, and futility)!
    ⁹Rejoice, O young man, in your adolescence, and let your heart cheer you in the days of your [full-grown] youth. And walk in the ways of your heart and in the sight of your eyes, but know that for all these things God will bring you into judgment.
    ¹⁰Therefore remove [the lusts that end in] sorrow and vexation from your heart and mind and put away evil from your body, for youth and the dawn of life are vanity [transitory, idle, empty, and devoid of truth].^(A)   Meditate on the Word of God,

Proverbs 3 ¹MY SON, forget not my law or teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments;    ²For length of days and years of a life [worth living] and tranquility [inward and outward and continuing through old age till death], these shall they add to you.    ³Let not mercy and kindness [shutting out all hatred and selfishness] and truth [shutting out all deliberate hypocrisy or falsehood] forsake you; bind them about your neck, write them upon the tablet of your heart.^(A)    4So shall you find favor, good understanding, and high esteem in the sight [or judgment] of God and man.^(B)    5Lean on, trust in, and be confident in the Lord with all your heart and mind and do not rely on your own insight or understanding.
    ⁶In all your ways know, recognize, and acknowledge Him, and He will direct and make straight and plain your paths.
    ⁷Be not wise in your own eyes; reverently fear and worship the Lord and turn [entirely] away from evil.^(C)    8It shall be health to your nerves and sinews, and marrow and moistening to your bones.
    ⁹Honor the Lord with your capital and sufficiency [from righteous labors] and with the firstfruits of all your income;^{(D)    10}So shall your storage places be filled with plenty, and your vats shall be overflowing with new wine.^{(E)    11}My son, do not despise or shrink from the chastening of the Lord [His correction by punishment or by subjection to suffering or trial]; neither be weary of or impatient about or loathe or abhor His reproof,^{(F)    12}For whom the Lord loves He corrects, even as a father corrects the son in whom he delights.
    ¹³Happy (blessed, fortunate, enviable) is the man who finds skillful and godly Wisdom, and the man who gets understanding [drawing it forth from God's Word and life's experiences],
    ¹⁴For the gaining of it is better than the gaining of silver, and the profit of it better than fine gold.
    ¹⁵Skillful and godly ^[a]Wisdom is more precious than rubies; and nothing you can wish for is to be compared to her.^{(G)    16}Length of days is in her right hand, and in her left hand are riches and honor.^{(H)    17}Her ways are highways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.
    ¹⁸She is a tree of life to those who lay hold on her; and happy (blessed, fortunate, to be envied) is everyone who holds her fast.
    ¹⁹The Lord by skillful and godly Wisdom has founded the earth; by understanding He has established the heavens.^{(I)    20}By His knowledge the deeps were broken up, and the skies distill the dew.
    ²¹My son, let them not escape from your sight, but keep sound and godly Wisdom and discretion,
    ²²And they will be life to your inner self, and a gracious ornament to your neck (your outer self).
    ²³Then you will walk in your way securely and in confident trust, and you shall not dash your foot or stumble.^{(J)    24}When you lie down, you shall not be afraid; yes, you shall lie down, and your sleep shall be sweet.
    ²⁵Be not afraid of sudden terror and panic, nor of the stormy blast or the storm and ruin of the wicked when it comes [for you will be guiltless],
    ²⁶For the Lord shall be your confidence, firm and strong, and shall keep your foot from being caught [in a trap or some hidden danger].
    ²⁷Withhold not good from those to whom it is due [its rightful owners], when it is in the power of your hand to do it.^{(K)    28}Do not say to your neighbor, Go, and come again; and tomorrow I will give it--when you have it with you.^{(L)    29}Do not contrive or dig up or cultivate evil against your neighbor, who dwells trustingly and confidently beside you.
    ³⁰Contend not with a man for no reason--when he has done you no wrong.^{(M)    31}Do not resentfully envy and be jealous of an unscrupulous, grasping man, and choose none of his ways.^{(N)    32}For the perverse are an abomination [extremely disgusting and detestable] to the Lord; but His confidential communion and secret counsel are with the [uncompromisingly] righteous (those who are upright and in right standing with Him).^{(O)    33}The curse of the Lord is in and on the house of the wicked, but He declares blessed (joyful and favored with blessings) the home of the just and consistently righteous.^{(P)    34}Though He scoffs at the scoffers and scorns the scorners, yet He gives His undeserved favor to the low [in rank], the humble, and the afflicted.^{(Q)    35}The wise shall inherit glory (all honor and good) but shame is the highest rank conferred on [self-confident] fools.^(R)

   You have been blessed to have come from very wise heritage, your great grandfather Burden Douglas Baggs and at least 12 generations before him were farmers all the way back from Ireland and England.They sowed seed and had to wait patiently and faithfully for it to sprout.  When I was taking care of PaPa, there wasn't anything that brought him more joy than to ride down to your Uncle Keith's farm, or one of the other farmer's farms and look at the growth that occurred each day.  It was amazing even with poor eyesight how PaPa knew exactly what was growing!  I learned how PaPa Baggs had learned how to wait patiently and trust God to believe all was well with the crops.  He knew the danger signs, and what to do to give the plants the best start and how to take care of them throughout each step of the growing process.  It takes great patience and faith to be a farmer.  Your great grandmother and grandfather moved from Georgia (near Savanna where Colt and I visited your great great grandfather’s grave site (Archibald Baggs) and the cemetery he founded) after slavery was abolished and they couldn’t afford to keep their plantation going just just before the Great Depression; they moved to Miami Florida.  In 1926 there was a great hurricane.

Great Miami Hurricane 1926
The "Great Miami" Hurricane was first spotted as a tropical wave located 1,000 miles east of the Lesser Antilles on September 11th. The system moved quickly westward and intensified to hurricane strength as it moved to the north of Puerto Rico on the 15th. Winds were reported to be nearly 150 mph as the hurricane passed over the Turks Islands on the 16th and through the Bahamas on the 17th. Little in the way of meteorological information on the approaching hurricane was available to the Weather Bureau in Miami. As a result, hurricane warnings were not issued until midnight on September 18th, which gave the booming population of South Florida little notice of the impending disaster.
The Category 4 hurricane's eye moved directly over Miami Beach and downtown Miami during the morning hours of the 18th. This cyclone produced the highest sustained winds ever recorded in the United States at the time, and the barometric pressure fell to 27.61 inches as the eye passed over Miami. A storm surge of nearly 15 feet was reported in Coconut Grove. Many casualties resulted as people ventured outdoors during the half-hour lull in the storm as the eye passed overhead. Most residents, having not experienced a hurricane, believed that the storm had passed during the lull. They were suddenly trapped and exposed to the eastern half of the hurricane shortly thereafter. Every building in the downtown district of Miami was damaged or destroyed. The town of Moore Haven on the south side of Lake Okeechobee was completely flooded by lake surge from the hurricane. Hundreds of people in Moore Haven alone were killed by this surge, which left behind floodwaters in the town for weeks afterward.
The hurricane continued northwestward across the Gulf of Mexico and approached Pensacola on September 20th. The storm nearly stalled to the south of Pensacola later that day and buffeted the central Gulf Coast with 24 hours of heavy rainfall, hurricane force winds, and storm surge. The hurricane weakened as it moved inland over Louisiana later on the 21st. Nearly every pier, warehouse, and vessel on Pensacola Bay was destroyed.
The great hurricane of 1926 ended the economic boom in South Florida and would be a $90 billion disaster had it occurred in recent times. With a highly transient population across southeastern Florida during the 1920s, the death toll is uncertain since more than 800 people were missing in the aftermath of the cyclone. A Red Cross report lists 373 deaths and 6,381 injuries as a result of the hurricane.
This is when Burden, Rosa (your great great grandmother), your great Aunt Esther (Pa Pa’s sister), your grandfather Elmer Gordon Baggs, moved to Montverde, Florida.  Your great grandfather and great grandmother did not give up, they got a home on Lake Florence, bought a farm we called “The Muck Farm” and an orange grove.  Together by fishing, farming and working together they had two more children, your great Aunt Melva and great uncle B.D.
I have tapes of your Pa Pa and Aunt Esther talking about growing up and some of the experiences.  Pa Pa said his daddy was like the town mayor, preacher and doctor.  If anyone died he would preach the funeral, if anyone was sick or in need, he was right there to help them.  Pa Pa said he was a very wise man and people would always come to him for advice.  When daddy grew up he joined the airforce and this is when he met my mom Addie Odie Collier.  This is a tremendous story of romance, love and intestinal fortitude.  They built the stand, once called Baggs Drive In where people would drive up and my mom would actually pick out people’s produce and bring it to their cars.  New mothers would bring their babies to be weighed in between doctor’s visits and my mom would record the growth of the babies.  This was in the 50’s.
On your daddy’s side, your Grandmother and Grandfather Glenn and Helen Hoenig, were also two individuals to be proud of in spite of your grandfather’s mental problems which I believe was a result of him being tortured as a Japanese prisoner of war.  He received medals and recognition from the U.S. government.  He could play the piano and also cooked dinner for Princess Grace of Monaco and a dinner party they had for some guests.  I am researching and recording information about the Hoenig family as I am able to find out information.
There is no doubt that there is a great calling on both of you, and I believe Gary Jr., Christopher and even your father.  He was a very talented gymnast in high school and became a father very young and gave up pursuing college.  There is no doubt he could have received not only an athletic scholarship but an academic scholarship as well.  Instead he took on two or three jobs at times to support and raise Gary and Christopher.  Unfortunately the three of them did not have the stability and security that both of you had when they were young.  There upbringing is a sad story, because Helen (your grandmother died) and things fell apart quickly for your dad’s dad.  He was lost without her integrity and support.  I think this led to a lot of the problems in their family on top of your grandfather Glenn’s mental problems.  They didn’t have the understanding about bi-polar disorder that they do today.  I pray that Christopher will receive the help and support he needs and that the Lord will heal his mind and deliver him from this dreaded disease of the mind.
I am so proud of both of you boys and I know the Lord loves you and is leading and guiding you both into all truth.  You both have been given many talents, but more than this, He has given you the Holy Spirit and He will comfort you and give you strength when you need it, if you will rely on Him.  He has also given many angels charge to watch over you.  You have so much to be thankful for and the Lord wants you to love Him with all your hearts, minds, bodies and soul.  If you can’t do that at times, or it seems that He is not there, don’t believe it.  He will NEVER leave or forsake you.  This is an eternal promise.  This life is just a vapor and is temporary and God has plans, positions and purposes for all of us, beyond this life.  He is recording all that we do that is of eternal value and is preparing a great place for us all to be together throughout eternity. 
I know as a young person, you have many questions about the Lord, I still have questions at my age, but I know one thing, and it is that Jesus is alive, He was raised from the dead after suffering a horrific death on the cross.  There is a song that the grave couldn’t hold Him down and this is true in spite of what the skeptics or those that doubt there is a God.  He will make himself known if you will make an attempt to get to know Him.  At times, I’ve had to ask God to help me have faith because even faith is something that is difficult to have.
These past few years have been very difficult.  There have been times of joy, hope, excitement and also times of great despair.  God tells us to think on things that are good, things that are lovely, things that are true.  Philippians Chapter 4 tells us best.
  ⁴Rejoice in the Lord always [delight, gladden yourselves in Him]; again I say, Rejoice!^{(A)
    5}Let all men know and perceive and recognize your unselfishness (your considerateness, your forbearing spirit). The Lord is near [He is ^[a]coming soon].
    ⁶Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition (^[b]definite requests), with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God.
    ⁷And God's peace [shall be yours, that ^[c]tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and being content with its earthly lot of whatever sort that is, that peace] which transcends all understanding shall ^[d]garrison and mount guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
    ⁸For the rest, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is worthy of reverence and is honorable and seemly, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely and lovable, whatever is kind and winsome and gracious, if there is any virtue and excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think on and weigh and take account of these things [fix your minds on them].
    ⁹Practice what you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and model your way of living on it, and the God of peace (of ^[e]untroubled, undisturbed well-being) will be with you.
    ¹⁰I was made very happy in the Lord that now you have revived your interest in my welfare after so long a time; you were indeed thinking of me, but you had no opportunity to show it.
    ¹¹Not that I am implying that I was in any personal want, for I have learned how to be ^[f]content (satisfied to the point where I am not disturbed or disquieted) in whatever state I am.
    ¹²I know how to be abased and live humbly in straitened circumstances, and I know also how to enjoy plenty and live in abundance. I have learned in any and all circumstances the secret of facing every situation, whether well-fed or going hungry, having a sufficiency and enough to spare or going without and being in want.
    ¹³I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who ^[g]infuses inner strength into me; I am ^[h]self-sufficient in Christ's sufficiency].
    ¹⁴But it was right and commendable and noble of you to contribute for my needs and to share my difficulties with me.
    ¹⁵And you Philippians yourselves well know that in the early days of the Gospel ministry, when I left Macedonia, no church (assembly) entered into partnership with me and opened up [a debit and credit] account in giving and receiving except you only.
    ¹⁶For even in Thessalonica you sent [me contributions] for my needs, not only once but a second time.
    ¹⁷Not that I seek or am eager for [your] gift, but I do seek and am eager for the fruit which increases to your credit [the harvest of blessing that is accumulating to your account].
    ¹⁸But I have [your full payment] and more; I have everything I need and am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent me. [They are the] fragrant odor of an offering and sacrifice which God welcomes and in which He delights.
    ¹⁹And my God will liberally supply (^[i]fill to the full) your every need according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
    ²⁰To our God and Father be glory forever and ever (through the endless eternities of the eternities). Amen (so be it).
    ²¹Remember me to every saint (every born-again believer) in Christ Jesus. The brethren (my ^[j]associates) who are with me greet you.
    ²²All the saints (God's consecrated ones here) wish to be remembered to you, especially those of Caesar's household.
    ²³The grace (spiritual favor and blessing) of the Lord Jesus Christ (the Anointed One) be with your spirit. Amen (so be it).
This chapter is my prayer for you two wonderful men.  Again, there is not another mother that has ever been born that has been blessed more than I have.  I have no regrets and would not exchange one moment for the opportunity to fulfill the greatest occupation and calling on the planet which is being your mom.  Truly, God has blessed me abundantly and above anything I could ever hope or imagine, and my prayer is for you to know and understand how much God truly loves you, it is a wonderful feeling knowing the trials of this world are simply what the word means, trials, temporary tests of our faith, leading us and guiding us into the knowledge that God has a glorious plan and future for us.  I know He has lots of adventures, romance, love and exciting things in store for both of you.
As things grow darker in this world, and the signs of the times remind us that the whole world is quaking in the desire for Christ to come again and bring us into the time when He will create a new heaven and new earth for us to enjoy in total peace and total love together.
Please use your time wisely.  The years pass quickly.  I am ALWAYS here for you both and you have so many friends and family that love you so much.


Loving you both always,
MOM

Five Smooth Stones - Five the Number of Grace

This word came to me today and thought I would share it with those I love...
The Lord has a major plan for our lives in spite of the Goliaths and his brothers!


Primary Verse(1 Sam 17:40 KJV) And he took his staff in his hand, and chose him five smooth stones out of the brook, and put them in a shepherd’s bag which he had, even in a scrip; and his sling was in his hand: and he drew near to the Philistine. 

 “Five Smooth Stones”

Introduction:
What David did not choose?
David was to do battle with the giant. He was not a soldier, he was a shepherd boy. How was a “shepherd boy” going to be victorious over a Goliath?

Every day we face a new Goliath in our own lives. Fortunately, God has equipped his saints with the “whole armor of God!” (Read Ephesians 6) 

David did not have a fancy sword in this battle. He did not even have a shield to deflect a sword. He used what he had. He had his sling shot and he choose five smooth stones. And that is the outline for today’s message: “Five Smooth Stones!”

Why “Five?”

Here is our meditation and our speculation. 

First of all, we are to have “no confidence in the flesh." 

(Phil 3:3 KJV) For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.

What if he should miss? David must have thought, I had better have a back up plan. My flesh may fail me!

Secondly, David had no confidence in man. What if Goliath’s four brethren enter into the fray? The Devil never keeps his promise. He took an extra four stones to ensure the victory.

Thirdly, perhaps these five stones symbolized the first five books of the Bible, there were only five books of the Bible that the nation of Israel had available for them to read at this time! David certainly had placed his confidence in God! Stone one: Genesis, Stone Two: Exodus, Stone Three... etc.

2. Why “Smooth?”

David was careful in his selection of the stones. His life, and the life of the nation of Israel was on the line. He did not choose just any piece of rock from the river. They had to be smooth stones. Why smooth? Here is a powerful truth!

1.) A jagged crooked rock wouldn’t go in the right direction.
2.) A jagged crooked rock wouldn’t go the distance.
3.) A jagged crooked rock wouldn’t hit the mark.

As a Pastor, I have to dip into the brook. As a Church, how are we going to overcome the Goliath’s that face us? The answer: with SMOOTH stones. Not just any old stone in the river will do. Our Church life, and the eternal souls of men are on the line!

How does a jagged rock become a smooth stone? It has got to be hewn out of the greater rock and rolled down the river of life. The harsh elements of nature come against it. It becomes smooth as the water (Word) flows over it… over and over again!

Many times people will “volunteer” to do a work in the Church. They have not yet become “smooth” stones. Often they go in the wrong direction, they fall short, and they miss the mark. Why? THEY ARE NOT SMOOTH!

Here is a good verse for us to consider:

(2 Tim 2:21 KJV) If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work. 

Are you “sanctified” yet? How “smooth” are you? Are you a yield ed vessel in the hands of the Potter?

3. Why “Stones?”

God does not want you to be a vacillating Christian. He wants you to be a stone! 

(1 Pet 2:5 KJV) Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy

priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

It only took one stone to bring down Goliath. Christ is that chief corner stone. We are the lively stones. God can only use us if we are smooth.

Are you a smooth stone?

Jerry DePoy  169 Jerry DePoy Sermons

Topic: #233 of 953 for Sermons on Love of the Disciples

Soaring with the Eagle

Soaring Eagle
Messenger of good news, shout to Zion from the mountaintops! Shout louder to Jerusalem -- do not be afraid. Tell the towns of Judah, "Your God is coming!" 10 Yes, the Sovereign LORD is coming in all his glorious power. He will rule with awesome strength. See, he brings his reward with him as he comes. 11 He will feed his flock like a shepherd. He will carry the lambs in his arms, holding them close to his heart. He will gently lead the mother sheep with their young. 12 Who else has held the oceans in his hand? Who has measured off the heavens with his fingers? Who else knows the weight of the earth or has weighed out the mountains and the hills? 13 Who is able to advise the Spirit of the LORD? Who knows enough to be his teacher or counselor? 14 Has the LORD ever needed anyone's advice? Does he need instruction about what is good or what is best? 15 No, for all the nations of the world are nothing in comparison with him. They are but a drop in the bucket, dust on the scales. He picks up the islands as though they had no weight at all.16 All Lebanon's forests do not contain sufficient fuel to consume a sacrifice large enough to honor him. All Lebanon's sacrificial animals would not make an offering worthy of our God. 17 The nations of the world are as nothing to him. In his eyes they are less than nothing -- mere emptiness and froth. 18 To whom, then, can we compare God? What image might we find to resemble him? 19 Can he be compared to an idol formed in a mold, overlaid with gold, and decorated with silver chains? 20 Or is a poor person's wooden idol better? Can God be compared to an idol that must be placed on a stand so it won't fall down? 21 Have you never heard or understood? Are you deaf to the words of God -- the words he gave before the world began? Are you so ignorant? 22 It is God who sits above the circle of the earth. The people below must seem to him like grasshoppers! He is the one who spreads out the heavens like a curtain and makes his tent from them. 23 He judges the great people of the world and brings them all to nothing. 24They hardly get started, barely taking root, when he blows on them and their work withers. The wind carries them off like straw. 25 "To whom will you compare me? Who is my equal?" asks the Holy One. 26 Look up into the heavens. Who created all the stars? He brings them out one after another, calling each by its name. And he counts them to see that none are lost or have strayed away. 27 O Israel, how can you say the LORD does not see your troubles? How can you say God refuses to hear your case? 28 Have you never heard or understood? Don't you know that the LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth? He never grows faint or weary. No one can measure the depths of his understanding. 29 He gives power to those who are tired and worn out; he offers strength to the weak. 30 Even youths will become exhausted, and young men will give up. 31 But those who wait on the LORD will find new strength. They will fly high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.

<< Isaiah 40:8Isaiah 40:9-31Isaiah 41:1 >>

There is Joy in Forgiveness - Live Your Life in Forgiveness

"Then his master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. 'Should you not also have had mercy on your fellow slave, in the same way that I had mercy on you? "And his lord, moved with anger, handed him over to the torturers until he should repay all that was owed him. "My heavenly Father will also do the same to you, if each of you does not forgive his brother from your heart."

"People are like rattlesnakes they strike out at the warmest and closest things to them." 

Doug Baggs

If you forgive anyone, I also forgive him.  And what I have forgiven if there was anything to forgive -- I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your sake, in order that Satan might not out wit us.  For we are not unaware of his schemes. 2 Corinthians 2:10-11

I love this verse, notice the part  "if there was anything to forgive."  Could this mean forgiveness should be an automatic response in us because Christ lives in us?  Most likely it means that perhaps the person who did something against us didn't really mean to hurt or offend us and we just allowed Satan to outwit us.  In the Journey of You it is important to remember that God loves  us and the person who has hurt us.  It is also important to remember when someone really does something to us we didn't deserve that if we don't forgive them, they are held in bondage as well as us.  Release them and yourselves through praying and asking God to forgive them.

Hebrews 12:15 says, "See to it that no one misses the grace of God and no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many." 

 Bitter roots run deep and sometimes grow for years.  They crop up sometimes when we least expect them and we strike out because something stirs it up and it raises its' ugly head.  Ask God to deliver you from any bitter root that has taken hold from past hurts, sins and traumas.  Resentment and anger is a good sign that you have a bitter root.

One way for me to deal with my resentment is to acknowledge the suffering of the other person.  Whenever I am hurt, I perceive the other person as strong, and myself as weak.  But when I am willing to consider the other person's individual history with struggle and agony, I can prevent myself from judging too harshly or making a final angry statement about their behavior.  Henri Noumen

Significant acts of forgiveness entail letting go of a precious story we tell about ourselves, risking the awareness of a larger less-justifying truth...owning up means getting past one's defensiveness.  It means stepping out of the blaming system, in which one person has to be not only wrong but also the bad one. Robert Karen, O Magazine, February 2001

In closing, let us look today to the precious story about Jesus.  He is coming back soon for His bride.  Will you be ready and is He a top priority in the Journey of You?  I have to ask myself this question daily.  I am ashamed to say, that some days I do fail to be rightly adorned and ready for His coming.  The good news is Christ is ALWAYS ready for us to repent and come back to Him and wait eagerly for His return for us!

Please Join me and my family...

Please join me and my family  in a releasing of a Yellow Balloon on Tuesday, August 9, 2011 at 7 pm where ever you are in memory of our dear loved one's birthday -
Kara Sue Lury.  Her life with us was
short, but she will always be remembered with much love.

Follow Jesus Christ's Example to become Spiritually Mature

• Our standard of spiritual maturity is Jesus Christ, and our biblical reference for this standard is found in I John 2:6, “The one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked” (NASB).  Anyone who claims to be born again must emulate and imitate the character of Christ in lifestyle, thoughts, and attitude.  How did Christ walk?

1.      Prayer – Luke 5:15; 6:12; 11:1; 22:31-32; John 11:41; 17:9, 15-17, 20-22

2.      Compassion – Matthew 20:34; Mark 6:34; 8:2-3; Luke 19:41-42

3.      Purpose – Matthew 5:17; 15:24; 18:11; 20:28; Mark 1:38; 2:15-22; Luke 1:79; 2:49; 4:18-19, 43

4.      Servanthood – Matthew 20:28; Mark 10:43; John 13:3-10

5.      Understanding/knowing Scripture – Matthew 7:29; 22:16’

6.      Disciple making – Matthew 10:1

7.      Unconditional Love – Matthew 8:17; 18:11-13; John 10:3-4, 11, 14-16; 13:1

8.      Pure motives – John 5:30; 8:48-50

9.      Holiness – Luke 1:35; 23:47; John 7:18; 14:30

10.  An example for others to follow – Matthew 11:29; John 10:4; 13:5, 13-15

11.  Meekness – Matthew 11:29; 27:12-14; Luke 22:27

12.  Unity among the body – John 17:14-23

13.  Intercession – Matthew 6:9-13; Mark 4:35-41

14.  Wisdom – Matthew 4:1-11; Mark 12:13-17; Luke 6:20ff.

15.  Obedience – Matthew 26:39; John 4:34; 5:30; 6:38; 8:29

16.  Proper Zeal – Luke 8:1; 12:50;John 2:17