How are you using your stewardship?

Did You Know?

Are Mormons Christian?

Who is knocking at your door today? Do you know how to talk to a cultist?

What are your neighbors reading?

"Out of 100 men, one will read the Bible,

the other 99 will read the Christian."

~ D. L. Moody

The Supremacy of Christ

Is Christ supreme (highest in rank and authority) in your life?

"Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:

For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:

And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.

And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.

For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;

And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven." ~ Colossians 1:15-20

God's Grace is Greater than your guilt

Have you experienced this grace today?

"Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus." ~ Rom 3:24-26




Marvelous grace of our loving Lord,
Grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt!
Yonder on Calvary’s mount outpoured,
There where the blood of the Lamb was spilled.

Refrain
Grace, grace, God’s grace,
Grace that will pardon and cleanse within;
Grace, grace, God’s grace,
Grace that is greater than all our sin.

Sin and despair, like the sea waves cold,
Threaten the soul with infinite loss;
Grace that is greater, yes, grace untold,
Points to the refuge, the mighty cross.

Dark is the stain that we cannot hide.
What can avail to wash it away?
Look! There is flowing a crimson tide,
Brighter than snow you may be today.

Marvelous, infinite, matchless grace,
Freely bestowed on all who believe!
You that are longing to see His face,
Will you this moment His grace receive?

~ Julia H. Johnston

Listen

You Choose

Sin will keep you from this Book,

(or)

This Book will keep you from sin.

~ D. L. Moody

Commands for those "saved by grace through faith" from Ephesians

Ephesians 2:11 Remember that we were formerly gentiles in the flesh
Ephesians 4:25 Speak truth to your neighbor
Ephesians 4:26 Be Angry, Do not sin in your anger, Don't let the sun go down on your anger
Ephesians 4:27 Don't Give the Devil an Opportunity
Ephesians 4:28 Thieves must stop stealing and must start working (changed behavior)
Ephesians 4:29 Do not let unwholesome words out of your mouth.
Ephesians 4:30 Do not grieve the Holy Spirit
Ephesians 4:31 Put away bitterness, wrath and anger
Ephesians 4:32 Become kind to one another
Ephesians 5:1 Become like God
Ephesians 5:2 Walk in love
Ephesians 5:3 Immorality etc. must not be named among you.
Ephesians 5:5 You must know that [sinners] have no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ.
Ephesians 5:6 Don't let anyone deceive you with empty words.
Ephesians 5:7 Don't be partakers with [the deceivers]
Ephesians 5:8 WALK as children of light!
Ephesians 5:11 Don't participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, rather expose them
Ephesians 5:14 [the OT quote is a command to WAKE]
Ephesians 5:15 Watch how you walk
Ephesians 5:17 don't become fools, understand the will of the Lord.
Ephesians 5:18 Don't be drunk... be filled with the Spirit.
Ephesians 5:25 Husbands LOVE your wives
Ephesians 5:33 Each husband must love his own wife! (very intriguing that this is repeated)
Ephesians 6:1 You children must obey your parents
Ephesians 6:2 O.T. quote:"Honor your father and mother"
Ephesians 6:4 Fathers, don't provoke your children [to anger], but raise them in godliness
Ephesians 6:5 obey your masters
Ephesians 6:9 Masters do the same things! (see context)
Ephesians 6:10 Be strong in the strength of the Lord
Ephesians 6:11 Put on the full armor of God
Ephesians 6:13 Take up the full armor of God
Ephesians 6:14 Stand firm
Ephesians 6:17 Receive the helmet of salvation

From Truth is Still Truth blog

How Are You Doing Today?

If you can't say for sure 'I know I'm saved by grace' or you are not obeying the above commands, try reading Ephesians today.

Hell's Best Kept Secret -- Part 4 of 4

Hell's Best Kept Secret -- Part 3 of 4

Hell's Best Kept Secret -- Part 2 of 4

Hell's Best Kept Secret -- Part 1 of 4

Is this your story and song ALL the day long?

Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!
O what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God,
Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood.

Refrain:
This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Saviour all the day long;
This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Saviour all the day long.

Perfect submission, perfect delight,
Visions of rapture now burst on my sight;
Angels descending, bring from above
Echoes of mercy, whispers of love.

Perfect submission, all is at rest,
I in my Saviour am happy and blest;
Watching and waiting, looking above,
Filled with His goodness, lost in His love

~ Fanny Crosby

For the story behind the hymn visit: SermonAudio

Colossians 1:10 ~ Walk Worthy

Spiritual Leadership ~ Oswald Sanders

"Spiritual ends can be achieved only by spiritual men who employ spiritual methods."

Wise Counsel from Pastor Charles Spurgeon

"Keep back Your servant also from presumptuous sins." ~ Psalm 19:13

Such was the prayer of the "man after God’s own heart." Did holy David need to pray thus? How needful, then, must such a prayer be for us babes in Grace! It is as if he said, "Keep me back, or I shall rush headlong over the precipice of sin." Our evil nature, like an ill-tempered horse, is apt to run away. May the Grace of God put the bridle upon it and hold it in, that it rush not into mischief. What might not the best of us do if it were not for the checks which the Lord sets upon us both in Providence and in Grace?

The Psalmist’s prayer is directed against the worst form of sin—that which is done with deliberation and willfulness. Even the holiest need to be "kept back" from the vilest transgressions. It is a solemn thing to find the Apostle Paul warning saints against the most loathsome sins. "Mortify, therefore, your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry." What? Do saints need warning against such sins as these? Yes, they do. The whitest robes, unless their purity be preserved by Divine Grace, will be defiled by the blackest spots.

Experienced Christian, boast not in your experience! You will yet trip if you look away from Him who is able to keep you from falling. You whose love is fervent, whose faith is constant, whose hopes are bright, say not, "We shall never sin," but rather cry, "Lead us not into temptation." There is enough tinder in the heart of the best of men to light a fire that shall burn to the lowest Hell unless God shall quench the sparks as they fall! Who would have dreamed that righteous Lot could be found drunk and committing uncleanness? Hazael said, "Is Your servant a dog, that he should do this thing?" And we are very apt to use the same self-righteous question. May infinite wisdom cure us of the madness of self-confidence!

This Was Your Life

Where will you spend eternity?

In memory of Johnny Hart 1931 - 2007

"The world has just lost a cartooning giant. Johnny Hart was one of the masters. His humor and drawing style influenced my generation of cartoonists but it was how he wove his faith into his work that inspired me most. The Bible says that God knows the plans he has for us. Johnny discovered early in life what God's plan was for him and he fulfilled that plan. Well done, Johnny." ~ Gary Varvel

Are ALL of your energies and resources dedicated and consumed upon godliness?

No Manliness = No Maturity!

No Discipline = No Discipleship!

No Sweat = No Sainthood!

"...Exercise (constant, unhindered, intense, self-sacrificing commitment) thyself rather unto godliness (everything that is in complete accordance with God). For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come. This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation. For therefore we both labour (strenuous toil) and suffer (agonize) reproach, because we trust (faith is the source and reason) in the living God (the giver of willpower and strength), who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe." ~ 1 Tim 4:7-10

Don't Waste Your Life

~ John Piper

What Is Your Response?

"And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.

And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked: and others said, We will hear thee again of this matter.

So Paul departed from among them. Howbeit certain men clave unto him, and believed: among the which was Dionysius the Areopagite, and a woman named Damaris, and others with them." ~ Acts 17:30-34

News Flash!

Your Friday can be Good because of the Lord Jesus Christ

***WARNING - THIS IS VERY GRAPHIC. IF IT DOES NOT DISTURB YOU GREATLY; IF YOU CAN WATCH IT WITHOUT TEARS; IF YOU CAN WATCH WITHOUT HAVING TO TURN YOUR HEAD, THEN YOUR HEART IS VERY CALLOUS AND YOU PROBABLY AREN'T EVEN SAVED.***

"And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead." ~ Acts 17:30-31

"Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures." ~ 1 Cor 15:1-4

Quote from D. L. Moody

"God always uses the man closest to Him"

In Christ Alone

"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." ~ 2 Cor 5:17

Jesus Painting

Devotion according to J.C. Ryle

DEVOTION is neither private nor public prayer; but prayers, whether private or public, are particular parts or instances of devotion. Devotion signifies a life given, or devoted, to God. He, therefore, is the devout man, who lives no longer to his own will, or the way and spirit of the world, but to the sole will of God, who considers God in everything, who serves God in everything, who makes all the parts of his common life parts of piety, by doing everything in the Name of God, and under such rules as are conformable to His glory. We readily acknowledge, that God alone is to be the rule and measure of our prayers; that in them we are to look wholly unto Him, and act wholly for Him; that we are only to pray in such a manner, for such things, and such ends, as are suitable to His glory.