Joshua 1

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.

Joshua 1 NIV

1 After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua son of Nun

2 Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them the Israelite's

3 I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses

4 Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates, all the Hittite country to the Mediterranean Sea in the west

5 No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will never leave you nor forsake you

6 Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them

7 Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you, do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go

8 Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful

9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid, do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go

10 So Joshua ordered the officers of the people

11 Go through the camp and tell the people, Get your provisions ready. Three days from now you will cross the Jordan here to go in and take possession of the land the Lord your God is giving you for your own

12 But to the Reubenite's, the Gadite's and the half tribe of Manasseh, Joshua said, 13 Remember the command that Moses the servant of the Lord gave you after he said, The Lord your God will give you rest by giving you this land

14 Your wives, your children and your livestock may stay in the land that Moses gave you east of the Jordan, but all your fighting men, ready for battle, must cross over ahead of your fellow Israelite's. You are to help them

15 until the Lord gives them rest, as he has done for you, and until they too have taken possession of the land the Lord your God is giving them. After that, you may go back and occupy your own land, which Moses the servant of the Lord gave you east of the Jordan toward the sunrise

16 Then they answered Joshua, Whatever you have commanded us we will do, and wherever you send us we will go

17 Just as we fully obeyed Moses, so we will obey you. Only may the Lord your God be with you as he was with Moses

18 Whoever rebels against your word and does not obey it, whatever you may command them, will be put to death. Only be strong and courageous

Closer 2 Jesus

God Bless =)

Psalm 27 7-14

Psalm 27 7-14 KJV

7 Hear, O Lord, when I cry with my voice. have mercy also upon me, and answer me.

8 When thou said, Seek ye my face, my heart said unto thee, Thy face, Lord, will I seek.

9 Hide not thy face far from me, put not thy servant away in anger. thou hast been my help, leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation.

10 When my father and my mother forsake me, then the Lord will take me up.

11 Teach me thy way, O Lord, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies.

12 Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies. for false witnesses are risen up against me, and such as breathe out cruelty.

Here Daniel writes of a request concerning himself to the Lord God. Daniel asks God to not forget or  leave him. To continue to guide Daniels ways and teach him God's way.

13 I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.

14 Wait on the Lord. be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart. wait, I say, on the Lord.

Also in Isaiah 40:31 does the Holy Bible speak of waiting on the Lord. 

Closer 2 Jesus

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Psalm 27 1-6

NIV 27:3 Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear, though war break out against me, even then I will be confident.

KJV 1 The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life, of whom shall I be afraid?

2 When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell.

3 Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear. though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident.

4 One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in his temple.

5 For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion. in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me, he shall set me up upon a rock.

6 And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me. therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy, I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the Lord.

Do Not Fear ... If the Lord God be for me, who can stand against me ... Give the fear to God. Keep the Praise to God during trials when it seems all are against you. He will turn it to good for you.

Closer 2 Jesus

God Bless =)

Closer 2 Jesus Build Your House On The Rock Luke 6

If you have a solid foundation, and protection like a Rock, and a storm comes, no worries.

Well, Jesus is the Rock! He is the foundation that strengthens us, keeping us ready when the "Storms" come (challenges in life).

Luke 6:47 "Everyone who comes to Me and hears My words and acts on them, I will show you whom he is like:

Luke 6:48 "He is like a man which built an house, and dug deep, and laid the foundation on a rock and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it for it was founded upon a rock."

Luke 6:49 "But the one who has heard and has not acted accordingly, is like a man who built a house on the ground without any foundation and the torrent burst against it and immediately it collapsed, and the ruin of that house was great."

Build Your Foundation with Jesus

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God Bless =)

Special Hymn Closer 2 Jesus

Special Hymn

Many years ago, while watching a little TV on Sunday instead of going to church, I watched a church in Atlanta honoring one of its senior pastors who had been retired many years...... He was 92 at that time and I wondered why the Church even bothered to ask the old gentleman to preach at that age.

After a warm welcome and introduction of this speaker, as the applause quieted down he rose from his high back chair and walked slowly, with great effort and a sliding gait to the podium. Without a note or written paper of any kind, he placed both hands on the pulpit to steady himself and then quietly and slowly he began to speak......

"When I was asked to come here today and talk to you, your pastor asked me to tell you what was the greatest lesson ever learned in my 50 odd years preaching. I thought about it for a few days and boiled it down to just one thing that made the most difference in my life and sustained me through all my trials. The one thing that I could always rely on when tears and heart break and pain and fear and sorrow paralyzed me......the only thing that would comfort was this verse...

"Jesus loves me this I know.

For the Bible tells me so.

Little ones to him belong,

They are weak but he is strong.....

Yes, Jesus loves me...

The Bible tells me so."

When he finished, the church was quiet. You actually could hear his foot steps as he shuffled back to his chair. I don't believe I will ever forget it.

A pastor once stated, "I always noticed that it was the adults who chose the children's hymn 'Jesus Loves Me' (for the children of course) during a hymn sing, and it was the adults who sang the loudest because I could see they knew it the best."

Senior version of "Jesus Loves Me".

Here is a new version just for us who have white hair, or no hair at all. For us over middle age (or even those almost there) and all you others, check out this newest version of "Jesus Loves Me". It is quite good, so read, sing and enjoy:"

"JESUS LOVES ME"

Jesus loves me, this I know,

Though my hair is white as snow.

Though my sight is growing dim,

Still He bids me trust in Him.

(CHORUS)

YES, JESUS LOVES ME..YES, JESUS LOVES ME...

YES, JESUS LOVES ME, THE BIBLE TELLS ME SO.

Though my steps are oh, so slow

With my hand in His I'll go

On through life, let come what may,

He'll be there to lead the way.

(CHORUS)

Though I am no longer young,

I have much which He's begun.

Let me serve Christ with a smile,

Go with others the extra mile.

(CHORUS)

When the nights are dark and long,

In my heart He puts a song.

Telling me in words so clear,

"Have no fear, for I am near."

(CHORUS)

When my work on earth is done,

And life's victories have been won.

He will take me home above,

Then I'll understand His love.

(CHORUS)

I love Jesus, does He know?

Have I ever told Him so?

Jesus loves to hear me say,

That I love Him every day.

He wakens me morning by morning, wakens my ear to listen like one being taught. - Isaiah 50:4

Closer 2 Jesus

God Bless ;)

Stephanie Haile aka Wavecritter 

Be Prepared Keep Looking Up

- Keep Looking Up! - 

Be prepared! 

Do not be ignorant of what is happening and is about to happen in this World. Open the Holy 

Bible and let the LORD JESUS show you the way and the truth.

Just scroll down and read and enjoy the Awesomeness of it all. 

This is the most powerful message I think I have read in a long time.

~He Is God~ 

He is the First and Last,

The Beginning and the End! 

He is the keeper of Creation and the Creator of all!

He is the Architect of the universe and the Manager of all times.

He always was, He always is, and He always will be ...

unmoved, Unchanged, Undefeated, and never Undone! 

He was bruised and brought healing!

He was pierced and eased pain!

He was persecuted and brought freedom!

He was dead and brought life!

He is risen and brings power!

He reigns and brings Peace!

The world can't understand him,

The armies can't defeat Him,

The schools can't explain Him, 

and The leaders can't ignore Him.

Herod couldn't kill Him, 

The Pharisees couldn't confuse Him, 

and The people couldn't hold Him!

Nero couldn't crush Him, 

Hitler couldn't silence Him,

The New Age can't replace Him, 

and "Oprah" can't explain Him away! 

He is light, love, longevity, and Lord.

He is goodness, Kindness, Gentleness, and God.

He is Holy, Righteous, mighty, powerful, and pure. 

His ways are right,

His word is eternal,

His will is unchanging, 

and His mind is on me.

He is my Savior,

He is my guide, and He is my peace!

He is my Joy,

He is my comfort,

He is my Lord, and He rules my life! 

I serve Him because His bond is love,

His burden is light, 

and His goal for me is abundant life. 

I follow Him because He is the wisdom of the wise,

the power of the powerful, the ancient of days, 

the ruler of rulers, the leader of leaders, 

the overseer of the over-comers, and is to come. 

And if that seems impressive to you, try this for size. 

His goal is a relationship with ME!

He will never leave me,

never forsake me,

never mislead me,

never forget me,

never overlook me and

never cancel my appointment 

in His appointment book! 

When I fall, He lifts me up!

When I fail, He forgives!

When I am weak, He is strong!

When I am lost, He is the way!

When I am afraid, He is my courage!

When I stumble, He steadies me!

When I am hurt, He heals me!

When I am broken, He mends me!

When I am blind, He leads me!

When I am hungry, He feeds me!

When I face trials, He is with me!

When I face persecution, He shields me!

When I face problems, He comforts me!

When I face loss, He provides for me!

When I face Death, He carries me Home! 

He is everything for everybody everywhere, 

every time, and every way. 

He is God, He is faithful. 

I am His, and He is mine! 

My Father in heaven 

can whip the evil of this world.

So, if you're wondering why I feel 

so secure, understand this... 

He said it, I believe it and that settles it.

God is in control, I am on His side,

and that means all is well with my soul.

Everyday is a blessing for GOD Is! 

Love the Lord 

and thank Him for all that He has done

I Saw Three Ships

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God Bless =)

Closer 2 Jesus Luke 2

Luke 2:11-14

"For unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you, ye shall find a babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, saying Glory to God in the Highest and on earth peace, good will toward men." 

"That's what Christmas is all about Charlie Brown"

Salvation Prayers

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Merry Christmas

God Bless =)

10 Ten Commandments Closer 2 Jesus

10 Ten Commandments Exodus 20:2-17 and Deuteronomy 5:6-21

1. The First of these is easy to understand. Only the God of Abraham, Issac, Jacob, the God of Heaven's Armies, King of King, Lord of Lord's spoken of and by in the Holy Bible is God.

2. The Second commandment is also easy enough to understand meaning don't make any likeness of anything in heaven, on earth, or water that you worship, bow down to, or serve. The first and second are directed toward the individual about how to view the Lord God.

3. The Third means speak properly. Use your words for blessing. Never use the Name of God as a curse to someone, something, or use his name in conjunction with any foulness listed in Colossians 3:8 "But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips." Spoken to the individual about the individuals speech.

4. The Fourth reminds us to take a break and remember God. God knows the human weakness of becoming tired. Tired people are apt to make mistakes more often and succumb to temptation much more quickly. Chill out and read the Bible for a while, pray, and reflect. Directed toward the head of house, who then instructs his family and all who live or work in his home.

5. The Fifth is the first of the commandments geared directly towards the Lord's instruction on how to interact with other people. The individual's parents are to be honored because doing so teaches how to also honor our Father in Heaven. Also there are a few other inclusions in doing so stated best in Colossians 3:20 “Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well pleasing to the Lord.” In Ephesians this commandment is tied to also making a promise to living long.

6. The Sixth don't take the gift God gave of life. 2 Peter 3:9 states 9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

7. The Seventh is do not commit adultery. A man and woman marry. No other partners of intimacy are taken after this.

8. The Eighth concerns taking without permission anything belonging to another. Fair willing trade is not stealing. Taking without the owners permission is theft. Also dealings of a false nature such as telling a worker they will paid at 2 pm $500 and when 2 pm comes around, the worker is given $200. 

9. The Ninth simply means don't tell lies about others with intent to harm them. “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” John 14:6.

10. The Tenth includes thoughts of severe wanting to the point of getting it in any way despite the consequences. Exodus 20:17 “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor’s.” God puts perspective on the motives of individuals, not just the actions but the thoughts behind them. Covet involves a driven craziness. And in Deuteronomy 5:21, Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's (goods)

house or fields, nor his male or female slaves, nor his ox or ass, or anything that belongs to him, the coveting the neighbors wife gets put first. A lot to chew on.

Luke 2 For Unto You...

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God Bless =) 

The Fruit of the Spirit Galatians 5:22-23

Truth Books

The Fruit of the Spirit Galatians 5:22-23

The traits, characteristics, or gifts of God to an individual are listed as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Everyone has been given all of these, we must use them or lose them so to speak. As people use their muscles, the muscle gets stronger and easier to use in the way it was intended. Likewise, when we use love or self-control, we gain experience in how to do so properly.

"The Donut Man" from the "Donut Repair Club" may have said it best in the song he wrote for the kids to better gain a grasp of the Fruits of the Spirit mentioned in the Holy Bible in Galatians 5:22-23. 

"Oh God is a good farmer

And he wants his fruit to grow

Oh when he looks inside your heart

Will you be able to show that

Love takes care of others

Joy means that God makes me glad

Peace is still and quiet

Patience waits and is not sad

Kindness and Goodness are nice to others

Faithfulness has faith and trust

Gentleness knows how to listen

Self-Control knows how to say no"

Actions indeed again ... God guides us in our actions. He gave us the gifts needed to care for each other, hold our tongues and not speak hurtfully, to wait happily and contented not to be anxious for anything, to listen much more than we speak, to say no, and to believe.

Galatians 5:22-23

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 

23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

“Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” Romans 15:13.

Ten Commandments and Ice Cream

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Parable Without Honor Matthew 13

Parable Without Honor Matthew 13:53-58

It is worth noting before we finish out the last few Parables of Jesus Christ from Matthew 13, the last of these. In your own house, your words may not hold the weight they do elsewhere.

53 When Jesus had finished these parables, he moved on from there. 

54 Coming to his hometown, he began teaching the people in their synagogue, and they were amazed. “Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers?” they asked. 

55 “Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t his mother’s name Mary, and aren’t his brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas? 

56 Aren’t all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?” 

57 And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own town and in his own home.”

58 And he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith.

Fruit of the Spirit

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Closer 2 Jesus Parables Matthew 13

The Parables of the Mustard Seed and the Yeast Matthew 13:31-35

31 He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. 

32 Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches.”

33 He told them still another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into about sixty pounds of flour until it worked all through the dough.”

34 Jesus spoke all these things to the crowd in parables; he did not say anything to them without using a parable. 

35 So was fulfilled what was spoken through the prophet:

“I will open my mouth in parables, I will utter things hidden since the creation of the world.”

The Kingdom of Heaven may start as a whisper but will grow into a strong wind. It is said that all men are Gods creation, all men have the Word in their heart written inside. The whisper is familiar, let it grow and spread like the yeast of the dough.

The Parables of the Hidden Treasure and the Pearl Matthew 13:44-46

44 “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.

45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. 

46 When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.

Parable Without Honor

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Closer 2 Jesus Parable of the Weeds Matthew 13

Parable of the Weeds Matthew 13:24-30, 13:36-43

24 Jesus told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. 

25 But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. 

26 When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared.

27 “The owner’s servants came to him and said, ‘Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?’

28 “‘An enemy did this,’ he replied.

“The servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’

29 “‘No,’ he answered, ‘because while you are pulling the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with them. 

30 Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.’”

The Parable of the Mustard Seed and Yeast is Matthew 13:31-35

36 Then he left the crowd and went into the house. His disciples came to him and said, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field.”

37 He answered, “The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man. 

38 The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the people of the kingdom. The weeds are the people of the evil one, 

39 and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels.

40 “As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. 

41 The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. 

42 They will throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 

43 Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Whoever has ears, let them hear.

There are actually plant seeds that as they grow appear to be wheat but are instead poison to ingest. As the plants mature, the difference shines through in the fruit. The servants were afraid of the mix up but did not have the discernment to choose which was wheat and which was not, only God's angels are able to judge. The Word the Gospel of Jesus is the seed planted into individuals. Those who are rooted as good soil will grow to Christians and spread the Good News of God's love. The difference shines through in the fruit. Fruit is the actions, beliefs, outcomes, heart, and soul of the individual.

Matthew 13 other Parables

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Closer 2 Jesus The Parable of the Sower

The Parable of the Sower Matthew 13

1 That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake. 

2 Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore. 

3 Then he told them many things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. 

4 As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 

5 Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. 

6 But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. 

7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. 

8 Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. 

9 Whoever has ears, let them hear.”

10 The disciples came to him and asked, “Why do you speak to the people in parables?”

11 He replied, “Because the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. 

12 Whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. 

13 This is why I speak to them in parables:

“Though seeing, they do not see;

    though hearing, they do not hear or understand.

14 In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah:

“‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding;

    you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.

15 For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.’

16 But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. 

17 For truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.

18 “Listen then to what the parable of the sower means 

19 When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path. 

20 The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. 

21 But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. 

22 The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful. 

23 But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”

The sower is the individual who communicates the Word of God the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. 

The seed is the Word the Gospel.

The soil types are the ones who hear or read, the kinds of individuals that will be on the receiving end of the Word the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. 

Are you the soil on the Path, Rock, Thorns, or on the Good Soil?

Parable of the Weeds

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Closer 2 Jesus Fishers of Men Matthew Ezekiel

Matthew 13 Matthew 4 Ezekiel 47

18 And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. 

19 And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. 

20 And they straightway left their nets, and followed him. 

21 And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them. 

22 And they immediately left the ship and their father, and followed him.

47 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind 

48 Which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away. 

49 So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just, 

50 And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.

51 Jesus saith unto them, Have ye understood all these things? They say unto him, Yea, Lord. 

52 Then said he unto them, Therefore every scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which brings forth out of his treasure things new and old.

God Bless from FECSF

9 And it shall come to pass, that every thing that lives, which moves, where ever the rivers shall come, shall live: and there shall be a very great multitude of fish, because these waters shall come thither: for they shall be healed; and every thing shall live whither the river comes. 

10 And it shall come to pass, that the fishers shall stand upon it from Engedi even unto Eneglaim; they shall be a place to spread forth nets; their fish shall be according to their kinds, as the fish of the great sea, exceeding many. 

11 But the miry places thereof and the marshes thereof shall not be healed; they shall be given to salt. 


12 And by the river upon the bank thereof, on this side and on that side, shall grow all trees for meat, whose leaf shall not fade, neither shall the fruit thereof be consumed: it shall bring forth new fruit according to his months, because their waters they issued out of the sanctuary: and the fruit thereof shall be for meat, and the leaf thereof for medicine.

Parable of the Sower

Join Us Florida East Coast Surf Fishing

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Closer 2 Jesus Titus 2:1-8

Titus 2:1-8

6 Similarly, encourage the young men to be self-controlled. 

7 In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness 

8 and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us.

1 You, however, must teach what is appropriate to sound doctrine. 

2 Teach the older men to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love and in endurance.

3 Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. 

4 Then they can urge the younger women to love their husbands and children, 

5 to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God.

Fishers of Men Matthew Ezekiel

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Closer 2 Jesus James 4:13-17

James 4:13-17

13 Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” 

14 Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. 

15 Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” 

16 As it is, you boast in your arrogant schemes. All such boasting is evil. 

17 If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.

Titus 2:1-8

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The Brick

THE 

BRICK

A young and successful 

executive was traveling down a neighborhood street, 

going a bit too fast in his new Jaguar.. He was 

watching for kids darting out from between parked 

cars and slowed down when he thought he saw 

something.

As his car passed, no children appeared.

Instead, a brick smashed into the Jag's side door!

He slammed on the brakes and backed the Jag back to

the spot where the brick had been thrown.

The angry

driver then jumped out of the

car, grabbed the nearest kid and pushed him up

against a parked car shouting,

'What was that all about and who are you? Just what

the heck are you doing? That's a new car and that

brick you threw is going to cost a lot of money. Why

did you do it?' The young boy was apologetic.

'Please, mister...please, I'm sorry but I didn't

know what else to do,' He pleaded. 'I threw the

brick because no one else would stop....' With tears

dripping down his face and off his chin, the youth

pointed to a spot just around a parked car.. 'It's my

brother, 'he said 'He rolled off the curb and fell

out of his wheelchair and I can't lift him

up.'

Now sobbing, the boy

asked the stunned executive, 'Would you please help

me get him back into his wheelchair? He's hurt and

he's too heavy for me.'

Moved beyond words,

the driver tried to swallow the rapidly swelling

lump in his throat... He hurriedly lifted the

handicapped boy back into the wheelchair, then took

out a linen handkerchief and dabbed at the fresh

scrapes and cuts. A quick look told him everything

was going to be okay. 'Thank you and may God bless

you,' the grateful child told the stranger. Too

shook up for words, the man simply watched the boy!

push his wheelchair-bound brother down the sidewalk

toward their home..

It was a long, slow

walk back to the Jaguar. The damage was very

noticeable, but the driver never bothered to repair

the dented side door. He kept the dent there to

remind him of this message: 'Don't go through life

so fast that someone has to throw a brick at you to

get your attention!' God whispers in our souls and

speaks to our hearts Sometimes when we don't have

time to listen, He has to throw a brick at us. It's

our choice to listen or

not.

Thought for the

Day:

If God had a

refrigerator, your picture would be on

it.

If He had a wallet,

your photo would be in

it.

He sends you flowers

every spring.

He sends you a sunrise

every morning Face it, friend - He is crazy about

you!

God Bless =)

10 Commandments and Ice Cream

10 Commandments and Ice Cream

Just another way to understand part of the meaning of one of the Ten Commandments. 

Ten Commandments

You shall have no other gods before Me

You shall make no idols

You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain

Keep the Sabbath day holy

Honor your father and mother

You shall not murder

You shall not commit adultery

You shall not steal

You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor

You shall not covet

The last of the list in fact. Not in the least unimportant but often difficult to fully grasp. Wanting or needing things others have is human nature. To covet is much deeper than want. Dictionary.com offers the definition of covet as to desire wrongfully, inordinately, or without due regard for the rights of others. 

Without regard ... let that sink in for a minute. Sometimes when we want too intensely, the whole emotion can turn to this definition of covet. It is a fairly ugly depiction that we might  wish to never emulate. And besides, didn't you really want that ice cream?

Ten Commandments

Stephanie Haile aka Wavecritter God bless =)

Closer 2 Jesus

Turn 2 God

Recent Virginia Church Service Stimulus Sermon

I would love to give the Pastor of this predominantly black church in Virginia three cheers. This guy is obviously a leader. Perhaps we should each decide who our real leader is... It is amazing to see that very little has changed in 4,000 years. 

Good morning, brothers and sisters; it's always a delight to see the pews crowded on Sunday morning, and so eager to get into God's Word. Turn with me in your Bibles, if you will, to the 47th chapter of Genesis. We'll begin our reading at verse 13, and go through verse 27. 

Brother Ray, would you stand and read that great passage for us? ... (reading) .... Thank you for that fine reading, Brother Ray. So we see that economic hard times fell upon Egypt , and the people turned to the government of Pharaoh to deal with this for them. And Pharaoh nationalized the grain harvest, and placed the grain in great storehouses that he had built. So the people brought their money to Pharaoh, like a great tax increase, and gave it all to him willingly in return for grain. And this went on until their money ran out, and they were hungry again.

So when they went to Pharaoh after that, they brought their livestock - their cattle, their horses, their sheep, and their donkey - to barter for grain, and verse 17 says that only took them through the end of that year. But the famine wasn't over, was it? So the next year, the people came before Pharaoh and admitted they had nothing left, except their land and their own lives. "There is nothing left in the sight of my lord but our bodies and our land. Why should we die before your eyes, both we and our land? Buy us and our land for food, and we with our land will be servants to Pharaoh." So they surrendered their homes, their land, and their real estate to Pharaoh's government, and then sold themselves into slavery to him, in return for grain.

What can we learn from this, brothers and sisters?

That turning to the government instead of to God to be our provider in hard times only leads to slavery? Yes... That the only reason government wants to be our provider is to also become our master?

Yes. But look how that passage ends, brothers and sisters! Thus Israel settled in the land of Egypt , in the land of Goshen . And they gained possessions in it, and were fruitful and multiplied greatly." God provided for His people, just as He always has! They didn't end up giving all their possessions to government, no, it says they gained possessions! But I also tell you a great truth today, and an ominous one.

We see the same thing happening today - the government today wants to "share the wealth" once again, to take it from us and redistribute it back to us. It wants to take control of healthcare, just as it has taken control of education, and ration it back to us, and when government rations it, then government decides who gets it, and how much, and what kind. And if we go along with it, and do it willingly, then we will wind up no differently than the people of Egypt did four thousand years ago - as slaves to the government, and as slaves to our leaders.

What Mr. Obama's government is doing now is no different from what Pharaoh's government did then, and it will end the same. And a lot of people like to call Mr. Obama a "Messiah," don't they? Is he a Messiah? A savior? Didn't the Egyptians say, after Pharaoh made them his slaves, "You have saved our lives; may it please my lord, we will be servants to Pharaoh"? Well, I tell you this - I know the Messiah; the Messiah is a friend of mine; and Mr. OBAMA IS NO MESSIAH! No, brothers and sisters, if Mr. Obama is a character from the Bible, then he is Pharaoh. Bow with me in prayer, if you will..

Lord, You alone are worthy to be served, and we rely on You, and You alone. We confess that the government is not our deliverer, and never rightly will be. We read in the eighth chapter of 1 Samuel, when Samuel warned the people of what a ruler would do, where it says "And in that day you will cry out because of your king, whom you have chosen for yourselves, but the LORD will not answer you in that day..." 

And Lord, we acknowledge that day has come. We cry out to you because of the ruler that we have chosen for ourselves as a nation. Lord, we pray for this nation. We pray for revival, and we pray for deliverance from those who would be our masters. Give us hearts to seek You and hands to serve You, and protect Your people from the atrocities of Pharaoh's government. In God We Trust...