(CLICK THE PICTURE) Good morning everyone and rejoice in the Lord always and again I say rejoice. I don’t even want to think about where I would be without the Lord leading my life. The word without just keeps jumping in my spirit so I’m going to share some scripture with that word as the focal point. I hope it helps you as much as it did me.
Today’s Prayer
Father, I come to you this morning on behalf of my brothers and sisters in Christ to ask that you would help us to be aware of Your presence all about us; in the beauties of nature, the smile of a child, the handclasp of a friend, the love of our families. Let us not take a “vacation” from this awareness. Your love surrounds us. Help us to come alive and reflect Your love, that others may see You in us. In the wonderful name of Jesus I pray, Amen.
Let’s eat.
Three With-outs
Without Holiness
Hebrews 12:14-17 –
Work at living in peace with everyone, and work at living a holy life, for those who are not holy will not see the Lord. Look after each other so that none of you fails to receive the grace of God. Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many. Make sure that no one is immoral or godless like Esau, who traded his birthright as the firstborn son for a single meal. You know that afterward, when he wanted his father’s blessing, he was rejected. It was too late for repentance, even though he begged with bitter tears.
No seeing of God without Blood
Hebrews 9:18-22 –
That is why even the first covenant was put into effect with the blood of an animal. For after Moses had read each of God’s commandments to all the people, he took the blood of calves and goats] along with water, and sprinkled both the book of God’s law and all the people, using hyssop branches and scarlet wool. Then he said, “This blood confirms the covenant God has made with you.” And in the same way, he sprinkled blood on the Tabernacle and on everything used for worship. In fact, according to the law of Moses, nearly everything was purified with blood. For without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness.
God can’t justify Without Faith
Hebrews 11:6 –
Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see. Through their faith, the people in days of old earned a good reputation. By faith we understand that the entire universe was formed at God’s command, that what we now see did not come from anything that can be seen. It was by faith that Abel brought a more acceptable offering to God than Cain did. Abel’s offering gave evidence that he was a righteous man and God showed his approval of his gifts. Although Abel is long dead, he still speaks to us by his example of faith. It was by faith that Enoch was taken up to heaven without dying—“he disappeared, because God took him. For before he was taken up, he was known as a person who pleased God. And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.
Quote of the Day
People may excite in themselves a glow of compassion, not by toasting their feet at the fire, and saying: “Lord, teach me compassion,” but by going and seeking an object that requires compassion.
Henry Ward Beecher
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REV. ELDER G E STERRETT
FOUNDER
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James H. Taylor Sr. – Kankakee City News has published my Daily meal message for a decade.