Tag Archives: sermons

You’re Forgiven, Because He Was Forsaken!

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“…then know this, you and all the people of Israel:

It is by the Name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth,

whom you crucified

but whom God raised from the dead,

that this man stands before you healed.

Jesus is

‘the stone you builders rejected,  

which has become the cornerstone.’

Salvation is found in no one else,

for there is no other Name under Heaven given to mankind

by which we must be saved.”

Acts 4:10-12

“Come now, let us reason together, says the LORD:

though your sins are like scarlet,

they shall be as white as snow;

though they are red like crimson,

they shall become like wool.”

Isaiah 1:18

The past plays inside your head
Failure knocks you down again..
You’re reminded of the wrong that you have said and done…
That devil just won’t let you forget…
In this life…
You know what you’ve been…

But here in His arms
You know what you are!
You’re Forgiven!!

  You don’t have to carry the weight
  Of who you’ve been, ’cause you’re…
Forgiven!
Your mistakes are running through your mind
  You relive your days in the middle of the night…
Struggle with your pain…
Wrestle with your pride…
Sometimes you feel alone and you cry…
But, you don’t have to carry the weight of who you’ve been…

‘Cause you’re forgiven!!

When you don’t fit in…
And you don’t feel like you belong anywhere…
When you don’t measure up to much in this life

Oh, you’re a treasure in the arms of Christ!
‘Cause you’re forgiven!!

“He has delivered us from the domain of darkness

and transferred us to the Kingdom of His Beloved Son,

in whom we have redemption,

the forgiveness of sins.”

Colossians 1:13-14

You’re forgiven because He was forsaken..
You’re accepted, He was condemned
You’re alive and well…
His Spirit is within you!

Because He died and rose again!!

Amazing love, how can it be?
That your King would die for you
Amazing love, you know it’s true
It’s your joy to honor Him!
In all you do
Honor your King!

Jesus , You are our King!!

“The LORD is merciful and gracious,

slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.

He will not always chide,

nor will He keep His anger forever.

He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities.

For as high as the Heavens are above the earth,

so great is His steadfast love toward those who fear Him;

as far as the east is from the west,

so far does He remove our transgressions from us.”

Psalm 103:8-12

Taste And See!! The Lord Is Good!!

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“Taste and see that the Lord is good;    

blessed is the one who takes refuge in Him.”

Psalm 34:8

Sometimes people taste something awful!!

Eeeeew!

Their first reaction, after almost gagging…

Is to offer it to someone else!!

Why???

So that someone else can agree with them that…

“Yes, It’s really, really disgusting!!”

Normal people say…

 “No way, why should I try it???

You just said it’s gross!!

No one in their right mind…

Is actually going to taste it!!

But, think of your Bible as a recipe book…

Chock full of goodness!!

A recipe book for your life…

With awesome instructions for God’s goodness…

Drool at the menu God has created…

The feast He prepares and sets  before you!!

Know the Bible!  Live it!  Share God’s Word!  Talk about it!

So others will want to get a  taste of it, too!!

My Bible lesson in Kids Church on Sunday was…

God Is Good!!

Psalm 78

It’s a whole chapter on God’s goodness to the Israelites…

(verse 4-7)

We will not hide them from their descendants;
    we will tell the next generation
the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord,
    His power, and the wonders He has done...
Then they would put their trust in God
    and would not forget His deeds
    but would keep His commands.”

They were to tell their children, their grandchildren, their great-grandchildren, etc…

About all His mighty works and miracles!!

So they could also trust is their good God!!

They didn’t!

Instead they murmured and whined…

God was NOT pleased!

And they paid the price with His anger!!

Even today…

We taste God’s goodness…

But do we expect people to want to taste it, too…

If we refuse to share it!!

In a way that they will desire…

To taste it for themselves???

My son’s object lesson was…

“Taste and See!”

(Based on a lesson from  http://www.sermons4kids.com, called, The Taste Test)

Props:  cake, cookies, or other sweet treat!

Begin by eating the decadent, delicious treat!

And telling the kids how scrumptious it is!

Go on and on about how it’s the MOST delicious thing you’ve EVER eaten!!

            “Wow!  This is great! 

Do you believe that this tastes wonderful? 

There is only one way to really know for sure how good this dessert is: 

You have to try it. 

I can tell you all about it…

You may even believe me…

But to really understand how good it is…

You have to try it for yourself!

Let’s have a volunteer taste this yummy treat? 

Go ahead, enjoy, eat it up!! 

Is it good???

Is it the best tasting treat you’ve ever had???

I was right, then, huh? 

See, it really is wonderful!!!

            The Bible says to…

“Taste and see that the Lord is good!”

Psalm 34:8  

That doesn’t mean that we’re going to take a great big bite out of God! 

It simply means that we have to know God personally…

Before we can understand just how good He is. 

I can tell you how good God is…

You may even believe me!

But, you’ll never know for sure how good He is until you know Him for yourself!!

            Once you have seen just how good God is…

There’s something else you need to do…

You need to tell others about Him! 

Tell them how good God has been to you…

So that they will want to know Him, too!!

You can’t force them to know God…

But, you can tell them what He’s done for you!

Then give them a chance to choose Him, too!

  God is soooo good!! 

You have to taste and see for yourself!

P.S.  Also check out Kids sermons/object lessons at: http://www.calledtokids.com

“Praise the Lord, for the Lord is good…”

Psalm 135:3 

Now, go and share something…

Everyone will want to taste!!!

God’s Goodness!!

You Carried Me…To The Table!

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“Listen to me, descendants of Jacob,

all you who remain in Israel.

I have cared for you since you were born.

Yes, I carried you before you were born.”

Isaiah 46:3

(Jonathan son of Saul had a son who was lame in both feet.

He was five years old when the news about Saul and Jonathan came from Jezreel.

His nurse picked him up and fled,

but as she hurried to leave,

he fell and became crippled.

His name was Mephibosheth.)”

2 Samuel 4:4

2 Samuel 9
David and Mephibosheth

“David asked, ‘Is there anyone still left of the house of Saul to whom I can show kindness for Jonathan’s sake?’

Now there was a servant of Saul’s household named Ziba. They called him to appear before David, and the king said to him, ‘Are you Ziba?’

‘Your servant,’ he replied.

The king asked, ‘Is there no one still left of the house of Saul to whom I can show God’s kindness?’

Ziba answered the king, ‘There is still a son of Jonathan; he is crippled in both feet.’

‘Where is he?’ the king asked.

Ziba answered, ‘He is at the house of Makir son of Ammiel in Lo Debar.’

 So King David had him brought from Lo Debar, from the house of Makir son of Ammiel.

When Mephibosheth son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, came to David, he bowed down to pay him honor. David said, ‘Mephibosheth!’

 ‘Your servant,’ he replied.

‘Don’t be afraid,’ David said to him, ‘for I will surely show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan. I will restore to you all the land that belonged to your grandfather Saul, and you will always eat at my table.

 Mephibosheth bowed down and said, ‘What is your servant, that you should notice a dead dog like me?’

Then the king summoned Ziba, Saul’s servant, and said to him, ‘I have given your master’s grandson everything that belonged to Saul and his family. You and your sons and your servants are to farm the land for him and bring in the crops, so that your master’s grandson may be provided for. And Mephibosheth, grandson of your master, will always eat at my table.’

(Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.) Then Ziba said to the king, ‘Your servant will do whatever my lord the king commands his servant to do.’

 So Mephibosheth ate at David’s table like one of the king’s sons. Mephibosheth had a young son named Mica, and all the members of Ziba’s household were servants of Mephibosheth.

And Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem, because he always ate at the king’s table, and he was crippled in both feet.”

 

Wounded and forsaken…
I was shattered by the fall…
Broken and forgotten…
Feeling lost and all alone…

Summoned by the King!

Into the Master’s courts!
Lifted by the Savior!
And cradled in His arms!

Carried to the table!
Seated where I don’t belong!
Swept away by His love!

I don’t see my brokenness anymore!
When I’m seated at the table of the Lord!

Fighting thoughts of fear…
Wondering why He called my name…
Am I good enough to share this cup?
This world has left me lame…

Even in my weakness!
The Savior called my name!
In His Holy presence!
I’m healed and unashamed!

You carried me, my God!
You carried me!

I’ve been so busy, I missed the reasons…
I missed Your love, and I nearly missed it all…
Still You’ve loved me, and You’ve healed me…
You’ve given all and it brought me to Your Cross…
I stand only because You’ve given me grace to walk…
Only because…
You carried me!
You carried me through it all!

And I believe!
Yes, I believe!
You’ll carry me all the way home!
‘Cause mercy covers all!

I know the Scripture, I’ve known the songs…
I sang the words from my hollowed heart…
But You’ve spoken softly through the storm…
I’ve heard Your voice, and I’ve felt the calm…
I stand only because, You’ve given me faith to walk…

I know that you love me!
I’ll never doubt it, I can’t live without it!
Your mercy has found me!
I am astounded, I can’t live without it!

The Art Of Thinking Brilliantly by Graham Cooke

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Watch…

And learn to think brilliantly…

As your God wants you to!!!

“For God,

who commanded the light to shine out of darkness,

hath shined in our hearts,

to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God

in the face of Jesus Christ”

2 Corinthians 4:6

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“Trust in the LORD with all thine heart;

and lean not unto thine own understanding.

In all thy ways acknowledge Him,

and He shall direct thy paths.

Be not wise in thine own eyes:

fear the LORD,

and depart from evil”

Proverbs 3:5-7

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For the Lord gives wisdom;

from His mouth come knowledge and understanding

He holds success in store for the upright,

He is a shield to those whose walk is blameless

for He guards the course of the just 

and protects the way of His faithful ones.

Proverbs 2:6-8

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“With Him are wisdom and might;

To Him belong counsel and understanding.”

Job 12:13

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Soar!!!

There’s No God Like Jehovah!!!

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Behold He Comes…

We are the voice in the desert crying…

 

“Prepare ye the way of the Lord!”

 

Declare the Word of the Lord…

 

Righteousness’ being restored…

 

Days of great trials…

 

Famine…

 

Darkness…

 

And sword!

 

Behold He comes riding on the clouds…

 

Shining like the sun at the trumpet call…

 

So lift your voice it’s the Year of Jubilee…

 

And out of Zion’s hill salvation comes!!

 

Dry bones becoming as flesh…

 

Rebuild a temple of praise…

 

Days of the harvest…

 

Fields are white in the world…

 

We are Your laborers in Your vineyard…

 

Declaring the Word of the Lord!!

 

Who was…

 

Who is…

 

Who is to come!!

 

There’s No God Like Jehovah!!


The Story Behind The Days Of Elijah by Robin Mark

To read more, and for Scripture references, go to: 

http://robinmark.com/the-story-behind-days-of-elijah/

“I felt in my spirit that He replied to my prayer by saying that indeed He (God) is very much in control and that the days we were living in were special times when He would require Christians to be filled with integrity and to stand up for Him just like Elijah did…”

 

Step Out Of Your Own Little World!!

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Step Out In Faith!!

Out of your comfort zone…

To the next level…

To the place…

Where you don’t know what you’re doing…

But, you do know God’s holding your hand!

God wants us to see the BIG picture!

It’s easy to ignore…

When it’s population ME!

 There’s a greater purpose…

You could be living right now…

Outside your own little world!

God, what have we been doing?

Father, start breaking my heart…

For what breaks Yours!

Give me open hands…

And open doors…

Put Your light in my eyes…

And let me see…

That my own little world…

Is not about ME!!!

“And then He told them,

‘Go into all the world

and preach the Good News to everyone.'”

Mark 16:15

God’s opening up doors for me to go to the next level…

It’s hard…

But, exciting at the same time…

I don’t feel wise enough…

 Or strong enough…

But it’s not about ME…

Is it?!?!

Changed!! Oh Yeah, That’s What It Takes!

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“And He said: “I tell you the truth, unless you change

and become like little children,

you will never enter the Kingdom of Heaven.”

Matthew 18:3

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Move On…

It’s time for a change!!

 

“Therefore if any man be in Christ,

he is a new creature:

old things are passed away;

behold, all things are become new.”

2 Corinthians 5:17

Have you come up, out of the water…

Raised your hands…

Up to the Father?

Given it all to Him one day…

Felt a new wind kiss your face?

Walked away…

Your eyes wide open…

Finally see where you’re going?

Doesn’t matter where you’ve been…

  You’ve gotten off track…

You’ve made mistakes…

Back slid your way into that place…

Where souls get lost…

Lines get crossed…

And the pain won’t go away…

Hit your knees…

Now where you stand…

There you were…

Now here you are…

Here you are…

Changed!!!!!!

Say a lot of “Hey, I’m sorry”s…”

For the things you’ve done…

Man, that was not you…

Wish that you could take it all back…

  Tell ’em that…

You’ve changed for the better!!!

More smiles…

Less bitter…

Even starting to forgive yourself!

Yes, you are!!

You’re changed!!!

Rejoice!

Thank God!

You’re changed!”

Don’t wait…

We’ve all been there…

To get to here!!!

This is what it takes!

Amen!

“And we all,

who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory,

are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory,

which comes from the Lord,

who is the Spirit.”

 2 Corinthians 3:18

Really…How Much Baggage Are You Carrying?!?

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Let it Go!!

All of It!!

Before Hurricane Charlie…

We had a lot of beautiful, heavy planters on our lanai…

In preparation for the hurricane,

We had to lug all those wonderful planters into our garage…

Where we had no room for anything extra!

After many hurricane preparation drills…

We soon tired of the routine!!

Carry them in…

Carry them back out..

Exhausting…

Our beautiful plants became simply weights we had to move around…

So in life…

Lose the baggage!

The weights…

The stuff…

The issues…

The worries…

The cares…

Don’t drag it around with you…

It’s too heavy!!

Give it all up:

The life you’ve planned for yourself…  

Your dreams…

Your destiny…

Lose control!

If it feels like you’re falling…

That’s what it’s like to believe!

Trust that Jesus can carry it for you…

Let go of your fear…

Get out of your comfort zone!

Then, don’t turn back!

Jesus is holding you!

“Keep thy heart with all diligence;

for out of it are the issues of life.”

Proverbs 4:23


Who God Says You Are…

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In Christ…

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“…fearfully and wonderfully made.”  Psalm 139:14

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“…the apple of His eye.”  Psalm 17:8

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 “…His treasured possession.”  Deuteronomy 7:6

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“…a child of God.” John 1:12

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“…a friend of Jesus.”  John 15:15

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“…justified and redeemed.”  Romans 3:24

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“…no longer a slave to sin.”  Romans 6:6

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“…fellow heir with Christ.”  Romans 8:17

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“…accepted by Christ.”  Romans 15:7

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“…a new creature in Christ.”  2 Corinthians 5:17

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“…redeemed and forgiven by the grace of Christ.”  Ephesians 1:7

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“…set free in Christ.”  Galatians 5:1

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 “…holy and dearly loved.”  Colossians 3:12

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 “…chosen.”  Thessalonians 1:4

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“…a branch of the true vine…”  John 15:1.5

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“…called to be a saint.”  1 Corinthians 1:2

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“…a citizen of Heaven.”  Philippians 3:20

This is your identity in Christ!!

Now…

Align your self-image…

With God’s image of you!

And be fully assured…

That if they don’t line up…

You must be the one in error!!

Because He’s never wrong!

Branch Out!!

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“He that trusteth in his riches shall fall:

but the righteous shall flourish as a branch.”

Proverb 11:28

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Stay Attached To The True Vine!

Bear Fruit!

Accept Pruning…

Be Even More Fruitful!

Remain!!

Be His Friend!

Love!

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John 15

The Vine and the Branches

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 “I Am the true vine, and My Father is the gardener.

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He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit,

while every branch that does bear fruit He prunes

so that it will be even more fruitful.

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You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.

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 Remain in Me, as I also remain in you.

No branch can bear fruit by itself;

it must remain in the vine.

Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in Me.

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I Am the vine;

you are the branches.

If you remain in Me and I in you,

you will bear much fruit;

apart from Me you can do nothing.

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 If you do not remain in me,

you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers;

such branches are picked up,

thrown into the fire and burned.

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If you remain in Me and My words remain in you,

ask whatever you wish,

and it will be done for you.

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This is to my Father’s Glory,

that you bear much fruit,

showing yourselves to be my disciples.

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As the Father has loved Me,

so have I loved you.

Now remain in My love.

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If you keep my commands,

you will remain in My love,

just as I have kept my Father’s commands

and remain in His love.

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I have told you this so that My joy

may be in you

and that your joy may be complete.

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My command is this:

Love each other

as I have loved you.

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Greater love has no one than this:

to lay down one’s life for one’s friends

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You are My friends

if you do what I command

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I no longer call you servants,

because a servant does not know his master’s business.

Instead, I have called you friends,

for everything that I learned from My Father

I have made known to you. 

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You did not choose Me,

but I chose you and appointed you

so that you might go and bear fruit—

fruit that will last—

and so that whatever you ask in My Name the Father will give you.

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This is my command:

Love each other.”

You’re Branches!!!

Remain attached to The Vine!

Flourish

and

Branch Out!

Bear Fruit!

Love

He Wills It!