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2 Corinthians 1: ³ Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;

⁴ Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.

⁵ For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ.

⁶ And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation.

⁷ And our hope of you is stedfast, knowing, that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation.

⁸ For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life:

⁹ But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead:

¹⁰ Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us;

¹¹ Ye also helping together by prayer for us, that for the gift bestowed upon us by the means of many persons thanks may be given by many on our behalf.

¹² For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world,

Do you feel the world pressing in on you at times?  Do not think that you are alone or that God has forsaken you in the midst of this world that has constant pressures from all sides.  He is there to comfort you and to give you the strength to press forward with His testimony to the world.  Stop for a moment, lay aside all the demands on your time for a moment and spend a moment alone with God. He only can bring you peace, no matter how tough the pressures surrounding you become. 

Psalm 46: 10 Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.

EVIL SURROUNDS

Evil surrounds

Evil abounds

Pressing my life throughout each day

Quickening Sounds

Blaring around

Bidding my heart within to sway

Lord, let your light shine in my heart

Command all darkness to depart

Let Your love shine forth through me

That all evil is forced to flee

Evil Surrounds

Evil Abounds

Firm in Your Grace I cannot sway

Quickening Sounds

Blaring Around

Your still voice drives them away

It is Your love that presses on

When my strength is fully gone

Remove from me each selfish thought

On that cross my life You bought

Faith now Surounds

Hope now abounds

Your Righteousness gives way

Glorious Sounds

Praise all Around

Sin’s chains are gone away

Let your love reach through these hands

Feet firm set on this grace in which I stand

Let your glory shine through me

A light a darkened world might see.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nKPvBV4xqVw

I John 4( AMP) ¹⁰ In this is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation (the atoning sacrifice) for our sins.

¹¹ Beloved, if God loved us so [very much], we also ought to love one another.

¹² No man has at any time [yet] seen God. But if we love one another, God abides (lives and remains) in us and His love (that love which is essentially His) is brought to completion (to its full maturity, runs its full course, is perfected) in us!

¹³ By this we come to know (perceive, recognize, and understand) that we abide (live and remain) in Him and He in us: because He has given (imparted) to us of His [Holy] Spirit.

¹⁴ And [besides] we ourselves have seen (have deliberately and steadfastly contemplated) and bear witness that the Father has sent the Son [as the] Savior of the world.

¹⁵ Anyone who confesses (acknowledges, owns) that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides (lives, makes His home) in him and he [abides, lives, makes his home] in God.

¹⁶ And we know (understand, recognize, are conscious of, by observation and by experience) and believe (adhere to and put faith in and rely on) the love God cherishes for us. God is love, and he who dwells and continues in love dwells and continues in God, and God dwells and continues in him.

¹⁷ In this [union and communion with Him] love is brought to completion and attains perfection with us, that we may have confidence for the day of judgment [with assurance and boldness to face Him], because as He is, so are we in this world.

¹⁸ There is no fear in love [dread does not exist], but full-grown (complete, perfect) love ^[g]turns fear out of doors and expels every trace of terror! For fear ^[h]brings with it the thought of punishment, and [so] he who is afraid has not reached the full maturity of love [is not yet grown into love’s complete perfection].

¹⁹ We love Him, because He first loved us.

God’s love toward us has been and is extended to us even when we are in our most unlovable state.  He has not waited for us to make the first step or to clean up our act in order that we might become lovable first.  Instead, He draws us in and that love He demonstrated is such as it begins to change and transform us into a person who can love even those whom we feel have wronged us or extends that love to those whom we would never be able to love were it not for our knowledge of God.  The more we learn of God, the more we are enlightened to the depth of His love toward us, and the more our hearts are transformed into both a Spirit that portrays Him in the world and a person who displays love, joy, and peace.  Our former fears (which stand in the way of our proclaiming His name or demonstrating His love toward others) are dissipated by our understanding more of who He is and our learning to trust and abide in Him.  In this Christian walk, I struggled much of my life with this concept.  I believed that by Grace He had saved me and that, in that sense He had demonstrated a type of love; but, I did not understand the very depth of His love.  Because I did not understand the depth of His love, I lived in a fear of failure toward Him and was constantly waiting for Him to send some lightening bolt down from Heaven to destroy me.  Fear of failure actually resulted in more failures.  It was through many trials that He carried me to the knowledge of the depth of love that He has for me.  When I abide in that love, all fear goes away and I am able to experience His love, His Peace, and His Joy.  That is when I experience His perfect love and become better equipped to demonstrate that kind of unconditional love to others.  When I allow the doubts and fears to return (usually after having spent less time in prayer and Study of His word because I see overwhelmingly the demands of the world upon me) then I become less reflective of that love to others.  It is fully dependent on whether I remain with my gaze fixed upon Him or I allow my eyes to wander.  So simple, look upon His Love to experience peace, joy, hope, and love; or gaze at myself or the world around me and  experience chaos, sorrow, disenchantment, fear, and bitterness.  So why do we ever look in a different direction?  That is a question I have asked myself many times along this journey.  What about you?  So I will wage the battle to fight for that joy by spending time with Him, every morning, every night, and whenever I feel the beginning of fear whispering in my ear. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W5OwLHGv4yA

"Scripture quotations taken from the Amplified^® Bible,
Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation
Used by permission." (www.Lockman.org)

Mark 10:¹⁷ And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?

¹⁸ And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God.

¹⁹ Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother.

²⁰ And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth.

²¹ Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.

²² And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions.

²³ And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!

²⁴ And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God!

²⁵ It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.

²⁶ And they were astonished out of measure, saying among themselves, Who then can be saved?

²⁷ And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.

The young ruler came to Jesus running and bowed at His feet, calling Him Good Master.  Jesus questioned the young man as to why would he call Jesus Good and reminded the young man that only God is good.  This response was of a two-fold nature.  1.  "Do you really understand that I am God, come to earth to pay the price for mankind?"  2.  If only God is good (righteous); then the following questions regarding the young man’s ability to keep the law perfectly are pointless except to prove that young man’s estimation of his own ability to keep the law (both letter and spirit of the law) was false.  When Jesus next questions the young man about his keeping the commandments, the young man is very quick to assure Jesus that he had known and kept the law since his youth.  At least, he believed himself to have kept it and trusted in his own righteousness.  He had not come to Jesus to lay his sin at the feet of the Messiah and to ask for mercy; instead, he came to have his own righteousness confirmed by the Jesus.  Had he understood any of the old testament prophets who had foretold the need for the Messiah to take upon Himself the wrath of God against sin so that mankind might be saved, because no one could keep the law?  The law only proved man’s guilt.  Christ knew that the young man’s own self righteousness would not stand up against the test.   The first two commandents, he had failed.  Deuteronomy 6:" The Lord our God is one Lord:

⁵ And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. and Exodus 20:2 Thou shalt have no other gods before Me. "   When Christ asked him to sell everything and to give it to the poor, the young man went away sad–his possessions were the god that was more important to him than the Lord God.  And so the young man was much like the one referred to another parable of Jesus where he refers to the seed of the Word (Jesus is the Word) is choked out by the cares and desires of this world causing those to hear to cast it aside and walk away.  Mark 4: " ¹⁸ And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word,

¹⁹ And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful."   So, if you have money can you be saved?  In the words of Christ Himself, "with God all things are possible."  Yet, for the rich and the self-righteous it is more difficult; because they trust in their riches and their own "righteousness" to be enough.  Their only hope is to recognize that they are indeed sinners in need of a Savior.  Only then may they lay aside their love for their possessions and fall in love with the one who is their only hope of Salvation–Jesus Christ. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xX-a_ibnHB0

Proverbs 17: ⁹ He who covers and forgives an offense seeks love, but he who repeats or harps on a matter separates even close friends.

James 3: 3 My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.

² For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.

³ Behold, we put bits in the horses’ mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body.

⁴ Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth.

⁵ Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!

⁶ And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.

⁷ For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind:

⁸ But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.

⁹ Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.

¹⁰ Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.

¹¹ Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?

¹² Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.

¹³ Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.

¹⁴ But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.

¹⁵ This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.

¹⁶ For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.

¹⁷ But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.

¹⁸ And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.

While I was studying the Bible this morning, these verses came glaring out; and I wanted to say to God.  Maybe another day, God; because, I haven’t mastered this yet.  How can I tell others; if this is an area where I have so often failed.  Perhaps that is the reason, I must address this before I can move on.  Deep rooted in every sin and therefore also in the sins of the tongue are a combination of a lack of faith and pride.  I remember a sermon recently by Charles Stanley that was called unloading your baggage.  I recommend highly that you listen to it ( http://intouch.org/broadcast/video-archives/content.aspx?topic=Unloading_Your_Baggage_video#.USSubh2siSo ).  He was preaching from Hebrews 12: 1-3 and that to run this race as a Christian we must lay aside our Baggage.  He listed types of baggage and asked if the listener could identify which baggage they were carrying, as though it were only one.  I looked at the list and realized that I was carrying several, including a poor self-image, feelings of rejection, perfectionism, and a fear of failure.  These I have battled since childhood.  Within that list you might wonder where pride fits in (since I said pride and lack of faith are the root of most sin).  In order to concentrate on one’s self image or to feel rejected–then my focus has shifted from God to me which in itself is a form of pride.  When I get burdened by my own inadequacies, I am not focusing on Christ who is my Hope, My Joy, My Savior, My Friend, and My Greatest Love.  If I truly trust Him, then I can easily cast aside all the petty strife and jealousies that want to burden down my heart  and take over my tongue.

Psalm 139: 139 O lord, thou hast searched me, and known me.

² Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off.

³ Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.

⁴ For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O Lord, thou knowest it altogether.

Lord, Bridle my tongue that I might praise You and bring only Glory to Your name.  Let me take my eyes off the path and keep it focused only on You.  Sometimes I get so busy with this life that I forget to just sit with you a while.  It is only there at your feet that I might lay aside the baggage and gaze only upon you. 

Hebrews 12: 12 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

² Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ifE4J2NeFs

Isaiah 61: 61 The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;

² To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;

³ To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified.

⁴ And they shall build the old wastes, they shall raise up the former desolations, and they shall repair the waste cities, the desolations of many generations.

⁵ And strangers shall stand and feed your flocks, and the sons of the alien shall be your plowmen and your vinedressers.

⁶ But ye shall be named the Priests of the Lord: men shall call you the Ministers of our God: ye shall eat the riches of the Gentiles, and in their glory shall ye boast yourselves.

⁷ For your shame ye shall have double; and for confusion they shall rejoice in their portion: therefore in their land they shall possess the double: everlasting joy shall be unto them.

⁸ For I the Lord love judgment, I hate robbery for burnt offering; and I will direct their work in truth, and I will make an everlasting covenant with them.

⁹ And their seed shall be known among the Gentiles, and their offspring among the people: all that see them shall acknowledge them, that they are the seed which the Lord hath blessed.

¹⁰ I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.

¹¹ For as the earth bringeth forth her bud, and as the garden causeth the things that are sown in it to spring forth; so the LordGod will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations.

Genesis 22: ¹⁸ And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice

God’s covenant with Abraham that all the nations of the earth would be blessed came to fruition with Jesus Christ. All of the covenant promises that God made are available to any who would believe in the atoning power of Jesus Christ.  There was a fork in the road that I faced many years ago and my greatest wonder was, "God, I fear this path; because I fear it may not be the best for my children.  His answer was, "I will protect and bless your children, obey me"–I did.  He has more than fulfilled His promise from that day so long ago.  I look upon my children and I marvel in their faith.  Today is the birthday of Alberto and were I to write for the entire day, I could never tell you how wonderful of a man he has become.  He follows God with a passion.  He displays joy and hope through every circumstance.  His wisdom comes from God, as it is far beyond his age.  Though I many times have failed along this journey and did not know at times how best to be a mother; yet, God cared for my children and has blessed them.  Happy Birthday Alberto, I love you

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hDYpbOpwu0c

Below is a link to Alberto’s website: 

http://www.veteransunited.com/lo-profile/alberto-barba/