Devot. One More Minute

Hi Folks,

 

I hope you had a good weekend! 

 

What would you do if you found out that you had a day left to live?

 

What would you do in the last minute of your life?  

 

Would you do something for yourself that was temporal, wouldn't last past your lifetime,

or would you do something that would make a difference for the rest of eternity?

 

I've heard the expression, "Only what you do for Christ will last." (Taken from https://www.reference.com/world-view/bible-scripture-states-only-christ-last-ba83ad2a5e8b19e6#)

 

Our life is but a vapor, a mist (James 4:14), it's here and then gone.  How can we make a lasting, eternal difference, with God's help, in 2018?

 

I hope the devot. below will answer some of these questions. Lord bless you and yours this week.

 

Devot. http://www.icr.org/article/one-more-minute (Used by permission.   Taken from http://www.icr.org/)

Devot. All Things New

HI Folks,

 

I hope you had a super week!  

 

This devot. is a reminder that God will make all things new when we get to Heaven and also Scripture states that God will make a new heaven and new earth someday (it's in Scripture, Book of Revelation towards the end of the book, believe me and maybe sometime we will get into that).

 

2 Corinthians 5:17 says that when we have trusted Jesus, as Lord and Saviour, He makes us a brand new creation from the inside out. He gives me  brand new start on life.   Hold onto this reminder as we start the new year.   God is giving us a brand new year, He's giving us a fresh start to walk with Him.  

Lord bless you this week!

Share with a friend

January 1, 2018 All Things New “And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.” (Revelation 21:5)   The coming of a new year is a good time to consider that glorious time to come when Christ will make everything new again. In the present age, all things “shall wax old as doth a garment” (Hebrews 1:11) under the bondage of the universal law of decay and death; indeed “the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now” (Romans 8:22).   “Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness” (2 Peter 3:13). There, in the “new Jerusalem,” we shall each have “a new name” and sing “a new song” (Revelation 21:2; 2:17; 5:9). We shall have new bodies, “fashioned like unto his glorious body” (Philippians 3:21), and a new dwelling place, prepared by Christ Himself among the “many mansions” in His “Father’s house” (John 14:2).   And all the old and dying things will be completely and forever gone. “There shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away” (Revelation 21:4). “And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away” (Isaiah 35:10).   What a “Happy New Year” that will be! In the meantime, we have His “new covenant” and have each been made “a new creature” in Christ (Hebrews 12:24; Galatians 6:15). Since all His words “are true and faithful,” we know His promises are sure. Therefore, already, “old things are passed away; behold all things are become new” through faith in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17). HMM

Devot. The New Year

Hi Folks,

 

I pray you had a very blessed Christmas and New Years.

 

Well, here we are 2018.  A whole new year ahead of us.  Only the Lord knows what is in store, but if we walk with Him in our daily lives, trust Him more, listen to Him, read His Word and seek HIS will, our steps will be directed in the way He wishes us to go.

 

"The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way."   Psalm 37:23

We are not alone, He is with us in 2018.

 

God spoke to Joshua and said, "Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest."  Joshua 1:9

 

Pray the devot. below will be a blessing to your heart this week.

Devot. https://www.intouch.org/read/from-pastors-heart/january-2018 (Used by permission.   Taken from https://www.intouch.org/)

 

Song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oI7JYSw-gOU

Devot. Thanks for the Greatest Gift

HI Folks,

I hope you had a very blessed Christmas!   Below is a devot. reminding us of the Greatest Gift we have received this Christmas-Jesus and the free gift of salvation He freely offers and we have received by faith in Him.

Pray the devot. and song link below bless and encourage your heart.   Merry Christmas!

Song:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YDZBXbN8L7U,

 

Devot. below used by permission and taken from http://www.icr.org/

Share with a friend

December 25, 2017 Thanks for the Greatest Gift “Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.” (2 Corinthians 9:15)   We who have known and sought to follow the Lord for many years have received many, many blessings for which to thank Him. “Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits” (Psalm 68:19), we can pray again and again.   But there is one blessing that is so great that it cannot even be put into words—it is unspeakable! That gift is so great that when we try to comprehend it, the sense of awe and gratitude becomes so overwhelming (or at least should become so overwhelming) that our joy is also unspeakable—indescribable! That gift, of course, is the gift of the Lord Jesus Christ as our Redeemer and Savior, “whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, . . . ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory” (1 Peter 1:8).   It is significant that the Greek word translated “unspeakable” occurs only these two times in the entire New Testament. God’s unspeakable gift to us produces unspeakable joy in us. We who deserve nothing but eternal separation from God in hell, instead will enjoy eternal life with God in heaven, and all because of that amazing and truly inexpressible gift!   To think that the mighty Creator, God the Son, would not only humble Himself to become His own creature, man, but then also suffer the unimaginable agony of the cross and separation from God the Father in order to deliver us from the just penalty of sin! This act speaks of such love and grace that all we can do is whisper softly, “Thank you, Lord, for this unspeakable gift,” and then shout it over and over again in our hearts wherever we go and share its unspeakable joy and blessing with whomever will listen to its message. “The LORD hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad” (Psalm 126:3). Thank you, Lord! HMM     This email was sent to  | Print this article Unsubscribe | Subscribe



Do You Have Room?

   Do you have room in your heart this Christmas for the King of kings, Jesus?  Jesus was God, come in human flesh.  His whole purpose in coming to earth was to someday die and rise again for us, (God's way of paying for our sins), so that we might have the promise of eternal life through accepting what He did for us as or way to get to Heaven?  Have you received Jesus as Savior of your life?  If not, look at this link: https://thejourneyheavenward.blogspot.com/p/are-you-100-sure.html

Reply  Actions 

Ed Russo EPRDIRECT@VERIZON.NETHide
To	Ed Russo EPRDIRECT@VERIZON.NET
Cc
Bcc
Slideshow

 

   "And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)   To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.    And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.    And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn." Luke 2:4-7 

   Song Link- Do You Have Room?  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jR7lo9ycKBA

Devot. Garments for the King

HI Folks,

I pray you are having a very blessed Christmas Day!  The devot. is a reminder that Christ chose to be born into humble surroundings, after being surrounding by the glories of Heaven.  A good reminder of our Saviour's selfless, sacrificial love for us.

I have also included 2 Christmas hymns, ones I don't think you would be familiar with.  Lord bless you and yours this week!  Merry Christmas!

Out of the Ivory Palaces: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=urhhQaEPvEU

(If you need lyrics, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VyMIpGzflY0)

Thou Didn't Leave Thy Throne: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PBXpuLT1ilo

If you need lyrics: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MacsCnVKIwA

Share with a friend

December 24, 2017 Garments for the King “All thy garments smell of myrrh, and aloes, and cassia, out of the ivory palaces, whereby they have made thee glad.” (Psalm 45:8)   One of the most beautiful of the Christmas hymns (though rarely sung at Christmas) is “Out of the Ivory Palaces,” telling how the King of heaven left His heavenly home and laid aside His perfumed, royal clothing to enter “a world of woe.” That this 45th Psalm is symbolic in part is obvious, but that it refers to Christ is also obvious from its use in Hebrews 1:8: “But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom,” quoting Psalm 45:6.   That the eternal King left heaven to come to Earth is not symbolic, however, but very real; nor did He have royal robes in which to be arrayed, for they “wrapped [Him] in swaddling clothes” and laid Him “in a manger” (Luke 2:12).   Then, as He later walked the dusty roads of Judea, we know little of what He wore, but we do know that on one notable occasion, He “laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself. . . . and began to wash the disciples’ feet” (John 13:4-5). A strange garment, and stranger action, for the King of glory!   Yet, stranger still that men whom He had created later “took his garments, and made four parts, to every soldier a part; and also his coat. . . . but cast lots for it” (John 19:23-24), leaving Him naked to die a painful death spiked to a tree. Finally, His little remnant of friends took “the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes” (John 19:40) for His burial.   Now, however, in glory, He once again is arrayed in kingly apparel, “clothed with a garment down to the foot, and . . . with a golden girdle” (Revelation 1:13), and one day, all His redeemed shall see Him—in His beauty—the King in whose law we delight! HMM     This email was sent to | Print this article Unsubscribe | Subscribe

Devot. Do You Hear What I Hear?

Hi Folks,

 

I hope you have had a super week!  

 

The devot. for today is on anticipating Christmas.   The writer of the devot. shares how his family will learn traditional carols together (like I suggested last week) in preparation for Christmas.  

 

I have also included 2 songs:  The First Noel shares the entire Christmas story (so consider sharing  it with family esp. the kids).  I couldn't find a version with all 5 verses, so I have included a lyrics link.  

The second song, Do You Hear What I Hear is the title of the devot., as well as a song:)

 

I pray you have a blessed Christmas Eve weekend anticipating our Savior's birthday!

 

Merry Christmas from my family to yours!

Devot. https://www.intouch.org/read/magazine/faith-works/coming-to-our-senses-week-two  

(Used by permission.  Taken from https://www.intouch.org/)

 

The First Noel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IawyZ3umrTE

 

Lyrics: http://www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/c/christmas_carols/the_first_noel.html

 

Do You Hear What I Hear?: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FhTnDaEmA5k