BE OF GOOD COURAGE.....

BE OF GOOD COURAGE, AND HE SHALL STRENGTHEN 
      YOUR HEART, ALL YOU WHO HOPE IN THE LORD.
                            ( PSALM 31:24 *NKJV )

      Brethren, our hope is in the Lord, because it flows to
  those who put their faith in Him, and trust Him with all 
  of their heart.  For; FAITH IS THE SUBSTANCE OF
  THINGS HOPED FOR, THE EVIDENCE OF THINGS 
  NOT SEEN.  ( HEBREWS 11:1 )  Thus the more faith
  we have the more hope we will have as well. 

      We also gain hope and faith through reading the 
  Scriptures, for it is written; FOR WHATEVER THINGS 
  WERE WRITTEN BEFORE WERE WRITTEN FOR OUR
  LEARNING, THAT WE THROUGH THE PATIENCE AND
  COMFORT OF THE SCRIPTURES MIGHT HAVE HOPE. 
  ( ROMANS 15:4 )

      So if you are running a little low on hope right now,
  have faith in your Heavenly Father and trust in Him
  with all of your heart.  Ask Him to bless you with it, for it
  is written; BLESSED IS THE MAN WHO TRUSTS IN
  THE LORD, AND WHOSE HOPE IS IN THE LORD. 
  ( JEREMIAH 17:7 )

      Now, my prayer for you is; MAY THE GOD 
  OF HOPE FILL YOU WITH ALL JOY AND PEACE IN 
  BELIEVING, THAT YOU MAY ABOUND IN HOPE BY THE 
  POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.  Amen.
  ( ROMANS 15:13 )

  With My Love & Prayers,
        your servant Allen

Always Give Thanks!

  THE LORD BLESS YOU AND KEEP YOU; THE LORD
  MAKE HIS FACE SHINE UPON YOU, AND BE
  GRACIOUS TO YOU; THE LORD LIFT UP HIS 
  COUNTENANCE UPON YOU, AND GIVE YOU PEACE.
                  ( NUMBERS 6:24-26 *NKJV )

  Dear Brethren,
      Often we hear someone speaking of "good luck" when 
  something good happens to them. They even think that
  they are creating their own blessings in their lives as well.
  How very wrong they are indeed!

      As Christians we know better, for it is written; DO NOT
  BE DECEIVED, MY BELOVED BRETHREN. EVERY 
  GOOD GIFT AND EVERY PERFECT GIFT IS FROM 
  ABOVE, AND COMES DOWN FROM THE FATHER OF 
  LIGHTS, WITH WHOM THERE IS NO VARIATION OR
  SHADOW OF TURNING.  (JAMES 1:17)

      Also God's Blessings are not only given to us in this life,
  but in the life to come as well!  Therefore, never
  forget the greatest blessing of them all, that being Eternal
  Life with God in Heaven!  A blessing that we will receive
  through our Lord, Jesus Christ! 

      So, always give thanks and praise to your
  Heavenly Father, and when you pray make sure you are;
  GIVING THANKS ALWAYS FOR ALL THINGS TO GOD THE 
  FATHER IN THE NAME OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST. 
  Amen.                                          ( EPHESIANS 5:20 )

  With My Love & Prayers,
      your servant Allen

Right From The Heart: The Daily Battle

"Fight the good fight of faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. I charge you in the presence of God, who gives to life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who testified the good confession before Pontius Pilate, that you keep the commandment without stain or reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ." - 1 Timothy 6:12
Life is a battle - a daily battle. It never quits. That's why God calls us to "fight the good fight." Why is life so hard? We might say, "because I have lots of difficult people and demands in my life." But there is a bigger demon - ME! I love what Pat Riley, former NBA basketball coach, says about the difficulty of building a good team. And if ever there has been a coach that knew how to mold guys together as a team - it's Pat Riley. But he says,"Selfish stars focus on themselves. They resent others getting any glory. The most difficult thing for individuals to do when they become part of a team is to sacrifice, because it's much easier to be selfish. He calls it "the disease of ME."

The Bible calls this sin. We are all natural born sinners. We are far more interested in ourselves than in anyone else. If you don't believe it, ask yourself, "Who do I think about most?" We try to be in control of our lives, rather than trusting God to be in charge. So the reason life is such a battle is because of our sin.

Jesus came to save us from our sin...to forgive us and cleanse and transform us. He came to set us free from "the disease of me," to where we want to please God more than ourselves. Don't you want to find victory in the battle of life? Following Jesus can give you that victory.

Photos Of Yikes! My Girlfriend's Jealous Cat Has Gone To War To Get Me Out Of Her Life!

[dailymail.com]

HE Comforts Us And Guides Us Through Any Adversity...

 HE TENDS HIS FLOCK LIKE A SHEPHERD:  HE GATHERS
  THE LAMBS IN HIS ARMS AND CARRIES THEM CLOSE TO
  HIS HEART; HE GENTLY LEADS THOSE WHO HAVE 
  YOUNG.                    ( ISAIAH 40:11*NIV )

  Dear Brethren,
      There is no other love that compares to the love of our
  Lord, for His Children. FOR AS HIGH AS THE HEAVENS 
  ARE ABOVE THE EARTH, SO GREAT IS HIS LOVE FOR
  THOSE WHO FEAR* HIM.  ( PSALM 103:11 )
                      [ *Fear should read Revere ]

      He is our strength in time of need, and just as King David 
  said; "THE LORD IS THE STRENGTH OF HIS PEOPLE,
  A FORTRESS OF SALVATION FOR HIS ANOINTED ONES." 
  ( PSALM 28:8 )

      He comforts us and guides us through any adversity.  For 
  HE HEALS THE BROKEN HEARTED AND BINDS UP THEIR
  WOUNDS.  ( PSALM 147:3 )
  
      He offers us forgiveness for all of our sins, for it is written, 
  ALL THE PROPHETS TESTIFY ABOUT HIM THAT 
  EVERYONE WHO BELIEVES IN HIM RECEIVES 
  FORGIVENESS OF SINS THROUGH HIS NAME.
  ( ACTS 10:43 )

      Best of all, He offers us Eternal Life; FOR GOD SO LOVES 
  THE WORLD THAT HE GAVE HIS ONE AND ONLY SON, 
  THAT WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM SHALL NOT PERISH 
  BUT HAVE ETERNAL LIFE.  ( JOHN 3:16 )

      So, know that you are in loving hands, when the
  GOOD SHEPHERD is in charge of your life!  FOR THE LORD 
  YOUR GOD GOES WITH YOU; HE WILL NEVER LEAVE 
  YOU NOR FORSAKE YOU.  ( DEUTERONOMY 31:6 )

      Therefore, have a wonderful day, and MAY THE 
  GRACE OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, AND THE LOVE OF
  GOD, AND THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE HOLY SPIRIT BE 
  WITH YOU.  Amen!                  ( 2 CORINTHIANS 13:14 )

  With My Love & Prayers,
        your servant Allen
  

Right From The Heart; The Most Difficult Job

"Behold, children are a gift from the Lord..." - Psalm 127:3a

Rearing children involves establishing mutual respect and expecting cooperation. The job of parenting is the most difficult job in life. It's the challenge of guiding a child through the demands of growing up and helping that child become all he or she was created to be.

The Bible provides timeless insight. "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it." The way he should go means according to his bent. This means we have to be students of our children--learning to recognize their God-given abilities and interests. We're also to help our children develop their strengths, as well as curb and check their weaknesses.

Once we become students of our children and teach them right from wrong with a lot of prayer, the promise of God can be realized. The challenge is a great one, but the rewards of seeing our children become mature, productive adults makes all the hard work worthwhile.

PHOTO OF THE DAY... !!!

Puss in boots and tights....lol!

[daily mail]

"I HAVE TOLD YOU THESE THINGS, "PEACE I LEAVE WITH YOU;...

Jesus Christ said;
  "PEACE I LEAVE WITH YOU; MY PEACE I GIVE YOU.  I DO
  NOT GIVE TO YOU AS THE WORLD GIVES.  DO NOT LET
  YOUR HEARTS BE TROUBLED AND DO NOT BE AFRAID."
                            ( JOHN 14:27 *NIV )

  Dear Brethren,
      Now with all that is going on in the World today it
  is hard to have any peace of mind.  After all, with wars
  and rumors of wars, terrorists, and violent weather etc
  happening all over the World, it is a bit unsettling to say
  the least!

      So remember that Jesus told us; "YOU WILL HEAR OF WARS
  AND RUMORS OF WARS, BUT SEE TO IT THAT YOU ARE
  NOT ALARMED.  SUCH THINGS MUST HAPPEN, BUT THE
  END IS STILL TO COME.  NATION WILL RISE AGAINST
  NATION, AND KINGDOM AGAINST KINGDOM.  THERE
  WILL BE FAMINES AND EARTHQUAKES IN VARIOUS
  PLACES."  ( MATTHEW 24:6-8 )  So no doubt the Universe is 
  unfolding as it should be.

      Therefore keep your mind focused on Jesus Christ 
  for He said; "I HAVE TOLD YOU THESE THINGS, SO THAT
  IN ME YOU MAY HAVE PEACE.  IN THIS WORLD YOU
  WILL HAVE TROUBLE.  BUT TAKE HEART!  I HAVE
  OVERCOME THE WORLD."  ( JOHN 16:33 )  

      So, why not start each day with the following 
  prayer, and even better yet, why not try to live by it as well.
  Then; LET THE PEACE OF CHRIST RULE IN YOUR HEARTS, 
  SINCE AS MEMBERS OF ONE BODY YOU WERE
  CALLED TO PEACE, AND BE THANKFUL, (COLOSSIANS 3:15)
  and by living this prayer it will help you find true peace and 
  serenity indeed!

        God, grant me the serenity
                To accept the things I cannot change,
                The courage to change the things I can,
                And the wisdom to know the difference.
                          Living one day at a time,
                      Enjoying one moment at a time,
              Accepting hardship as a pathway to peace;
            Taking, as Jesus did, this sinful World as it is,
                            Not as I would have it;
                Trusting that You will make all things right
                            If I surrender to Your will;
              So that I may be reasonably happy in this life
                        and supremely happy with You
                            Forever in the next.  Amen.
                                            Author, Reinhold Niebuhr

      See, don't you feel more peaceful right now?
  I thought so.  Have a great day!

  With My Love & Prayers,
            Pastor Allen