WE’RE IN ON IT!

Posted on June 6, 2016 by randscallawayffm

Peter, A Breath of Fresh Air

What a satisfying thought to think we, who believe in Jesus Christ, the Messiah, will see Him someday. Because we keep believing and trusting Him, we will get what we’ve been looking for all our lives…total and complete salvation. No more pain from heartaches and disappointments that only this world has to offer. No more selfishness on our part and the part of others causing misunderstandings and pain. No more disabled bodies that wear out. No more tears shed in regret and remorse. We “never saw Him, yet we love Him.” We still don’t see him, yet we trust Him.” Only Jesus, the answer, once and for all, brings peace and restores the joy of our salvation. Total and complete. Today, think about it…and be in on it!

1 Peter 1, The Message
8-9 You never saw him, yet you love him. You still don’t see him, yet you trust him—with laughter and singing. Because you kept on believing, you’ll get what you’re looking forward to: total salvation.

10-12 The prophets who told us this was coming asked a lot of questions about this gift of life God was preparing. The Messiah’s Spirit let them in on some of it—that the Messiah would experience suffering, followed by glory. They clamored to know who and when. All they were told was that they were serving you, you who by orders from heaven have now heard for yourselves—through the Holy Spirit—the Message of those prophecies fulfilled. Do you realize how fortunate you are? Angels would have given anything to be in on this!

Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for your complete salvation. Thank you for the joy your salvation brings to our hearts, minds and souls. Continue to work out your salvation in and through us as we believe and trust in You. Someday we see you face to face! What will I do? I’m not sure, but I am sure I’m glad I’m in on it all!

I can only imagine

I can only imagine what it will be like, when I walk by Your side
I can only imagine, what my eyes will see, when Your Face is before me
I can only imagine I can only imagine.

Surrounded by Your Glory, what will my heart feel
Will I dance for you, Jesus? Or in awe of You, be still
Will I stand in Your presence, or to my knees will I fall
Will I sing Hallelujah will I be able to speak at all
I can only imagine! I can only imagine!

I can only imagine, when that day comes,
When I find myself standing in the Son
I can only imagine, when all I will do,
Is forever, forever worship You
I can only imagine! I can only imagine

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POLISHING TO SEE WHAT’S UNDERNEATH

Posted on June 5, 2016 by randscallawayffm

Peter, A Breath of Fresh Air We are getting ready for the big estate sale doing all kinds of tasks, moving boxes around, rearranging our home, pulling stuff out I have not seen since I was a child …

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POLISHING TO SEE WHAT’S UNDERNEATH

Posted on June 5, 2016 by randscallawayffm

Peter, A Breath of Fresh Air

We are getting ready for the big estate sale doing all kinds of tasks, moving boxes around, rearranging our home, pulling stuff out I have not seen since I was a child and even polishing the silver! I found two silver pitchers, a salad set and other silver and silver plated items. It occurred to me that it would look a lot nicer and get a higher price if I polished the items. So I went to work at rubbing off all the caked on grey to black tarnish that had accumulated over the years of being stored away and not used.

I worked for a couple of hours on a few items and I’m not finished yet! However, the items I have finished look brand new! Underneath all the years of lack of care, their beauty has been restored! Not only does the light bounce off the pitchers in beauty, I can see my reflection in them just like a mirror! Now, these items have much greater value, so much so, I probably will keep them! (OR, let others enjoy their beauty and the care they need to keep shining!)

God is polishing and refining us as His children. As we stray, the tarnish and gunk of the world builds up on our hearts and shows on our faces. We reflect the Light less and become dull.

Our trials either break us or grow our faith. It depends on Whom we turn to and ask for help. Our True Helper, walks with us through the trials and uses those trials to polish off the tarnish so that we keep reflecting our Father in Heaven. Yes, what a might God we serve who walks through the good times and bad with us and loves us still, polishing and refining our souls to reflect His glory!

1 Peter 1, The Message
6-7 I know how great this makes you feel, even though you have to put up with every kind of aggravation in the meantime. Pure gold put in the fire comes out of it proved pure; genuine faith put through this suffering comes out proved genuine. When Jesus wraps this all up, it’s your faith, not your gold, that God will have on display as evidence of his victory.

8-9 You never saw him, yet you love him. You still don’t see him, yet you trust him—with laughter and singing. Because you kept on believing, you’ll get what you’re looking forward to: total salvation.

What do we learn?
–God loves us through it all. God’s Presence is with us always.
–God is working on us, in us and through us, always to display our true faith.
–How much tarnish has been built up that needs polished off? God knows and is working on us…let Him.

polishing silver

Dear Heavenly Father, You place great value on us, tarnish and all. While we were yet sinners, you died for us. Help us to let go of let you do what you must to refine and polish us to bring out Your beauty in us. Underneath it all is one You created and loves you back with her whole heart, mind and soul.
In Jesus Name, Amen

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HE KNOWS MY NAME!

Posted on June 4, 2016 by randscallawayffm

Peter, A Breath of Fresh Air Let’s begin with just how personal God wants to be with us. He sent His Son to this earth, where we live now, to show us how to live better, treat each other bett…

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HE KNOWS MY NAME!

Posted on June 4, 2016 by randscallawayffm

Peter, A Breath of Fresh Air

Let’s begin with just how personal God wants to be with us. He sent His Son to this earth, where we live now, to show us how to live better, treat each other better, love more and show mercy and kindness in the best way possible. He came down to show us how to get along and help each other though the journey that can be hard, messy and downright exhausting.

Then Jesus, God’s own Son, a part of Him laid down His life for us. For you and for me. As every nail was hammered through his flesh, Jesus thought of you. He thought of me. Yes, He knows by name. Before we were formed He knew us. Before our parents who waited expectantly for us, HE knew us first. He knows us now. And He still loves us. He will always love us and want the best for us.

Peter begins his letter with a recap of just how fortunate we are. What hope and joy this gives me this morning as I pray for THIS day for help to be and do all that pleases Him as I wait for THAT day when He comes for His own….by Name.

1 Peter 1, The Message
1-2 I, Peter, am an apostle on assignment by Jesus, the Messiah, writing to exiles scattered to the four winds. Not one is missing, not one forgotten. God the Father has his eye on each of you, and has determined by the work of the Spirit to keep you obedient through the sacrifice of Jesus. May everything good from God be yours!

A New Life
3-5 What a God we have! And how fortunate we are to have him, this Father of our Master Jesus! Because Jesus was raised from the dead, we’ve been given a brand-new life and have everything to live for, including a future in heaven—and the future starts now! God is keeping careful watch over us and the future. The Day is coming when you’ll have it all—life healed and whole.

What do we learn and rejoice about?
–What a Mighty God we have!
–How fortunate for THIS day!
–He knows us inside and out and still gave us a BRAND NEW LIFE!
–God watches over us AND our future.
–Not one is missing from His sight, not one is forgotten!
–His eyes is on you. His eyes are on me. What a thought!
–We have everything to live for!!

joy

Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you! What joy and hope you give us this morning as we read Your Word through Peter’s letters. I love his enthusiasm that comes from You. Thank you for the hope in put in us. Thank you for the sacrifice of Jesus for us. Thank you for knowing my name. Thank you for loving me, even when I mess up. Help me continue to grow and learn as I love you more and more….from the inside out.
In Jesus Name, Amen

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PETER, A BREATH OF FRESH AIR

Posted on June 3, 2016 by randscallawayffm

Peter’s Letters: “You are the Messiah, the Christ” Peter seems to have been a natural leader, commanding the respect of his peers by sheer force of personality. In every listing o…

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PETER, A BREATH OF FRESH AIR

Posted on June 3, 2016 by randscallawayffm

Peter’s Letters: “You are the Messiah, the Christ”

Peter seems to have been a natural leader, commanding the respect of his peers by sheer force of personality. In every listing of Jesus’ disciples, Peter’s name is invariably first.

In the early church, his influence was enormous and acknowledged by all. By virtue of his position, he was easily the most powerful figure in the Christian community. And his energetic preaching, ardent prayer, bold healing, and wise direction confirmed the trust placed in him.

The way Peter handled himself in that position of power is even more impressive than the power itself. He stayed out of the center, didn’t “wield” power, maintained a scrupulous subordination to Jesus. Given his charismatic personality and well-deserved position at the head, he could easily have taken over, using the prominence of his association with Jesus to promote himself. That he didn’t do it, given the frequency with which spiritual leaders do exactly that, is impressive. Peter is a breath of fresh air.

The two letters Peter wrote exhibit the qualities of Jesus that the Holy Spirit shaped in him: a readiness to embrace suffering rather than prestige, a wisdom developed from experience and not imposed from a book, a humility that lacked nothing in vigor or imagination.

From what we know of the early stories of Peter, he had in him all the makings of a bully. That he didn’t become a bully (and religious bullies are the worst kind) but rather the boldly confident and humbly self-effacing servant of Jesus Christ that we discern in these letters, is a compelling witness to what he himself describes as “a brand new life, with everything to live for.”

Who do you say I am

Dear Heavenly Father, We remember Peter, growing up by Jesus side, reckless and impetuous, behaving with spontaneity without thinking things through and now read about him as a maturing faithful, humble servant of Jesus as he relentlessly becomes the rock upon which the church of Jesus Christ is built. May our eyes read and understand these letters and see God’s Truth for our own lives. Yes, we agree, YOU are Messiah, the Christ!. YOU are God and we are not.
In Jesus Name we pray, Amen. I believe.

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THE EPIDEMIC…AND THE PRAYER

Posted on June 2, 2016 by randscallawayffm

James: Handling the Hard Stuff of Life We are all sinners, saved by grace. We are not judges but are all in need of compassion and forgiveness. If we are honest, we all seek to live together whole …

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THE EPIDEMIC…AND THE PRAYER

Posted on June 2, 2016 by randscallawayffm

James: Handling the Hard Stuff of Life

We are all sinners, saved by grace. We are not judges but are all in need of compassion and forgiveness. If we are honest, we all seek to live together whole and healed. We truly desire to move forward and not wallow in our sin state of confusion and chaos. We look for Christ-like people we can trust to confess our sins, not for their forgiveness but to lead us to the forgiveness of Christ. We confess trusting to be lifted from the burden of carrying around the baggage by ourselves. We confess to Christ, with others holding us up, to be free. Only God, through the blood of Jesus Christ, forgives. But we need each other to hear our cry of repentance and help us move forward. This is the work of God’s church. Or should be.

There is an epidemic spreading like a wild fire. We all are surrounded by people we love who walking away from God. With more and more friends and family walking off, following the ways of the world instead of God’s ways, are we growing more complacent because the numbers are so overwhelming? Saying, “Oh, well”, they’ll find their way back eventually. OR are we praying even more passionately for them? Are we doing all we can, lovingly and graciously, to bring them back to the God they once loved…with us? How deep the Father’s love for us…we sing…but how deep is our love for our Heavenly Father?

James closes his letter with a powerful message of repentance. The church needs it. The world needs. We need it. I need it.

James 5, The Message

16-18 Make this your common practice: Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you can live together whole and healed. The prayer of a person living right with God is something powerful to be reckoned with. Elijah, for instance, human just like us, prayed hard that it wouldn’t rain, and it didn’t—not a drop for three and a half years. Then he prayed that it would rain, and it did. The showers came and everything started growing again.

19-20 My dear friends, if you know people who have wandered off from God’s truth, don’t write them off. Go after them. Get them back and you will have rescued precious lives from destruction and prevented an epidemic of wandering away from God.

God still heals

Dear Heavenly Father,
I repent of my own complacency. I repent of my own sins. I confess to seeing small things and worrying about them instead looking to You for answers and guidance. Thank you Jesus for saving our souls. Thank you, Holy Spirit for guiding us. Thank you Heavenly Father for not giving up on us. Don’t let us give up on our loved ones in need of a Savior. We need you every hour. Every hour we need You.
In Jesus Name, Amen

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BELIEVING PRAYER DOES MORE THAN WE CAN IMAGINE!

Posted on June 1, 2016 by randscallawayffm

James: Handling the Hard Stuff of Life I don’t know much but this one thing I know; God hears the prayers of His passionately praying people who believe HE has the answer and right help for t…

Source: BELIEVING PRAYER DOES MORE THAN WE CAN IMAGINE!

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