Love Fulfilled Ministry

... he meditates day and night, he is like a tree planted by rivers of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. Psalm 1:3 Last time I wrote about the blessed man who trusts in God, and who has confidence in God, for he is like a tree planted by waters, he will not be fearful nor anxious when the heat and drought comes. *  Today we see another man who is blessed like a tree planted by waters. The first man is blessed, he is firmly planted through trust and confidence, with roots deep and connected to a source of continuous living water, he will prosper.  The second man is also blessed, he delights in the word of God, he meditates on it continuously, he will be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper. With my whole heart I have sought you; oh, let me not wander from your commandments! ...

Blessed is the man who trusts in God, and in God he places confidence. * For he will be like a tree planted by the waters that send out its roots. It is not afraid when the heat comes but its leaves will be green in the year of drought, it is not anxious nor will cease yielding fruit . * Blessed is the man who trusts in God... *  The word trust means to rely on, to be secure in, to be confident in. Webster defines it as assured reliance on the character, ability, strength, or truth of someone or something; one in which confidence is placed; dependence on something future or contingent: hope . * If you are not confident someone will do as they promised then you are not assured that you can rely on them, you are not confident in them nor will you depend upon them in the future, you do not trust them. When we trust in God he proves His character, ability, and strength so we can have confidence in him. Blessed is the man whose confidence is in God... * The Hebrew word c...

blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the one blessing us in all spiritual blessings... predestining us for adoption as his own... highly favoring us in the Beloved, having redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of trespasses... * God put on my heart to meditate on these scriptures, no matter what, I am blessed with adoption, redemption, the forgiveness of sin. No matter what circumstances this life brings. No matter what storm comes our way, if through sickness we are facing our own mortality, no matter what let us be reminded we are adopted, redeemed, forgiven. Lord we pray, help us keep our mind on the that of heaven, and be grateful for the blessings we have in Christ. Though we exist treasure in a fragile jar of clay, pressed from all sides, emptied, thrown about, and cast down... *  We are adopted, redeemed, forgiven. In these three blessings alone I have a lot to be grateful for, no matter what. he predestined us for adoption to the extent of h...

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all inviting near ( paraklēsis ), who calls us near ( parakaleō ) in all our troubles so that we are able to call near ( parakaleō ) those in any trouble through the invitation ( paraklēsis ) which we ourselves are called ( parakaleō ) under God. * We see the Greek words used here that are similar, παράκλησις ( paraklēsis ) and παρακαλέω ( parakaleō ) were  Para is the same for both words, meaning near, beside, alongside. Kalēo expresses the idea of "to call." Klēsis expresses the "act of inviting" or "official summons." So we see the concept that God is a God that invites or summons us near, always. Paul writes in Ephesians that God purposed this in Christ, that we are chosen to come near into his holy presence, without blame, and in love. Christ has made a way for us to come near, to boldly approach His throne of grace to receive mercy in our time of ne...

For our momentary lightness of affliction, is producing in us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison. * I often find it frustrating that things are always falling apart. We say they do not make things the way they used to, but in reality, it's all falling apart, my truck, my home... my body. The scriptures tell us creation itself is moaning to be set free from its bondage to corruption and decay. *  Thank God there will be a time of restoration of all things. *  According to His promise, we should be expectant of a new heaven and a new earth where righteousness is at home. *  For us who are new creations in Christ, we are being made new, and the Spirit " groans inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies ." *  We experience various trials for various reasons, God has a plan for us. We suffer for various reasons; because we live in a fallen world, for the purpose of maturity, so that God is glorified, or beca...

Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body. * On the path to Life in Christ, we can not be passive, we are in a spiritual war, one for our souls. Conquerseries.com writes that"68% of church-going men and over 50% of pastors view porn on a regular basis ." *  Crosswalk.com writes "50 percent of men viewed pornography within one week of attending a Promise Keepers stadium event… 54 percent of pastors said they viewed porn within the past year in a Pastors.com survey…" *  Paul writes for us not to be deceived in this area. " Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality... And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit ...

Make a joyful shout to God, all the earth! Sing out the honor of His name; Make His praise glorious. Say to God, “How awesome are Your works! Through the greatness of Your power ... Come see what God has done He is awesome in His doing toward the sons of men Who keeps our soul among the living, And does not allow our feet to be moved. For You, O God, have tested us; You have refined us as silver is refined. You brought us into the net; You laid affliction on our backs. You have caused men to ride over our heads; We went through fire and through water; But You brought us out into satisfaction. ... Come and hear, all you who fear God, And I will declare what He has done for my soul. I cried to Him with my mouth, And He was praised with my tongue. If I regard iniquity in my heart, The Lord will not hear. But certainly, God has heard me; He has attended to the voice of my prayer. Blessed be God, Who has not turned away...

Hear my cry, O God; Attend to my prayer.  From the end of the earth I will cry to You, When my heart is overwhelmed; Lead me to the rock that is higher than I. * David's heart is overwhelmed, the children of God are, surrounded by their enemies. The rock that is higher, is a strong tower and shelter, David remembers, "For You have been a shelter for me, a strong tower from the enemy." He has been overwhelmed before, he has cried out before, and God has been faithful, he is trustworthy. High ground is a stragetic advantage over the enemy. God led us to this high point, the one higher than we, above our intelligence and power. Does it matter who or what the enemy is? whether an adversary, sickness, suffering, death... or less it doesn't when the heart is overwhelmed. Surrounded by flood waters, overwhelmed, if I go this way or that way I might make it, to high ground, but I cry out to you, the Rock that is higher than I, lead me Lord. Lead Me   ...

He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away. * It is good to think about heaven, our home. "Our citizenship is in heaven, and it is from there that we eagerly await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ," Philippians 3:20 There is hope preserved for us in heaven, the word of truth, the gospel tells us this. Colossians 1:5 One day this hope will be realized, the Lord will will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God, 1 Thessalonians 4:16  When the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels he will give relief to those afflicted. 2 Thessalonians 1:7  To Him be glory for all time, who will rescue us from evil and bring us safely into his heavenly kingdom, 2 Timothy 4:18   Look at the men on the hall of faith, some whose names are only known in heaven, of whom the...