ALL I WANT…

Posted on April 17, 2014 by randscallawayffm
“Help me abandon my shameful ways; your laws are all I want in life. I long to obey your commandments! Renew my life with your goodness.” Psalm 119:39-40, NLT

“Deflect the harsh words of my critics–but what you say is always good. See how hungry I am for your counsel; preserve my life through your righteous ways!” Psalm 119:39-40 Msg

“Take away the disgrace I dread, for your laws are good. How I long for your precepts! Preserve my life in your righteousness.” Psalm 119:39-49, NIV

No matter which translation or interpretation we read, the bottom line is God’s Word is Truth and it is complete. God’s Word makes us complete and righteous when we obey. But alas, we are human. God’s Word, manifested in His Son, our Deliverer and Redeemer from the debt of sin, provides for our salvation and our freedom! 

God’s Word Became Flesh!
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.” John 1:1-5, NIV

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We are new creatures in Him and because of Him. Jesus left us with His Holy Spirit as our Holy Comforter, our Righteous Guide and the One who helps us discern what is righteous and true. The Holy Spirit brings us back to Life, to Truth, in the person of Jesus Christ, the Word made flesh!

Nothing else compares to knowing and following Jesus, God’s Son, with the help of the Holy Spirit! Nothing. Absolutely nothing. Yes, this is ALL I want, too.

Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for Your Son, Jesus, who came to earth to seek and save lost people and also to teach us to love by serving others. Thank you for the perfect example of what the Word teaches us to follow. You ARE all I want. Cleanse me, make me white as snow. Take away from me all that offends you. 
I pray that You are all my brother wants some day and all that my family and friends want, too. I even pray for my enemies who criticize because of how little they know…bring them to You, Lord. Bless those who curse us. Keep us in alignment with Your will and purpose. Help us to “wash the feet” of those You have given us to serve. Just like Jesus.
In Jesus Name, Amen

 
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OUR BLESSED ASSURANCE!

Posted on April 16, 2014 by randscallawayffm

“Reassure me of your promise, which is for those who honor you.” Psalm 119:38, NLT

The Psalmist is asking God to establish, or make a firm foundation of the Word, from God, in his heart. He wants confirmation and affirmation that this promise of God’s Word will always help him in good times and bad.

Confirm it; make it seem firm and true; let not my mind be vacillating or skeptical in regard to Your truth. This seems to be a prayer against the influence of doubt and skepticism. There are some whose minds are naturally skeptical and unbelieving, and for such people such a prayer is especially appropriate. So, the prayer is, that God would confirm his faith in that “word”… in that revealed truth…which was designed to secure the worship of God.

“Affirm your promises to me–promises made to all who fear you.” Psalm 119:38 Msg

This “fear” is a healthy fear of fully devoted followers of wanting to please God, to honor him in our worship to Him. We come in holy reverence with a desire to be all that would please God or make him smile as we live our lives in worship.

“Therefore, I urge you brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God–this is your spiritual act of worship.” Romans 12:1 NIV

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR US TODAY?

We have the blessed assurance that God, through his Son, Jesus Christ has covered us, paid our debt of sin with His blood shed at the cross. He not only paid our debt in full, but erased all knowledge of our sin when we repent. His resurrection is proof of the forever defeat of the evil one who still tempts us but does not overcome us because of our worship and devotion to our Lord who saves. Jesus literally went to hell and back..for you and I. We are covered with grace, amazing grace, for every day of our lives! A thousand times we fail, but his mercy still remains.

WHY?

Because God loves us. “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God did not send his Son into to world to condemn it, but to save it. There is no judgment awaiting those who trust him.” John 3:16-18, NLT

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BE VERY SURE…

You may imagine a day of judgment where you’re standing outside the gates of Heaven in a really, really long line, and you’re slowly moving forward, one step at a time. As you get closer, you start to sweat and wonder, “Am I going to get in? Am I going to make it? Is God going to use a giant TV screen to show every dumb or evil thing I’ve ever done? Will my every sin be exposed?”

I have good news for you; it’s a promise of Jesus Christ. The Bible says that those who believe in Jesus — his death and Resurrection — will not be judged (John 3:18).

Here’s the real picture: You’re standing in line waiting for the judgment. Jesus sees you and says, “I know you. We’ve been friends for years. You put your trust in me back in 2014 at Easter. Come with me. Get in the express lane. You get the fast track. You get to bypass the judgment.” Is that good news? Oh, yeah! (Excerpt from Rick Warren, “Can I Be Sure I Will Get Into Heaven?”)

Dear Heavenly Father, My prayer is one of simple, but extreme gratitude for Your forgiveness, grace and mercy. There are not enough words to express it, so hear it from my overwhelmed heart. May Your Holy Spirit express to You with words that are beyond me. In the Name of Jesus Christ, Amen!

And I’m singing….

Blessed Assurance, Jesus is mine
Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God,
Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood.

This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior all the day long;
This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior all the day long…

 
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THE YELLOW PAGES

Posted on April 15, 2014 by randscallawayffm

THE YELLOW PAGES.

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THE YELLOW PAGES

Posted on April 15, 2014 by randscallawayffm

“Give me an eagerness for your decrees; do not inflict me with love for money! Turn my eyes from worthless things, and give me life through your word.” Psalm 119:36-37, NLT

“Give me a bent for your words of wisdom, and not for piling up loot. Divert my eyes from toys and trinkets, invigorate me on the pilgrim way.” Psalm 119:35-36, Msg

YES, I love God’s Word to us! I admit it. I anxiously get out of bed each morning, get a cup of coffee to wake up a bit, and then dive into a conversation with God through His Word. Do I worship the Bible? NO, I worship the God who wrote His love letter, his words of wisdom and guidance, His message of hope and deliverance for those who love Him back. Although I love my family with deep passion and want to be with them, I also long for the day when I can talk with my LORD face to face.

This was not always the case for me. Yes, I grew up learning and memorizing short passages of Scripture like a lot of “church kids” did, but my attention in my younger adult years was on striving to be the best teacher possible. I poured over textbooks, burning the midnight oil, to discover new techniques to help kids. I also was finishing up a master’s degree, while being wife and mother of three, while being a teacher!

One night, in the eleventh hour, as I was in bed with two textbooks on my lap studying for a final, the Holy Spirit came to me and spoke loudly to my heart. “What if I studied God’s Word with as much care and determination as I do these textbooks?” Wow! I have goosebumps again, just reliving this moment. Then the Holy Spirit asked, “Don’t you miss talking with Me?” Shudder. Why, yes I do.

Now, let me take you to a hospital room. My mom is in her last days of life as we know it here on earth. She is on a heavy dose of oxygen with the mask pulled over her nose and mouth, making it nearly impossible for her to talk. She asks for paper and pen. We grab a yellow legal pad from the nurses station. She begins to write. Her words of love to us are scrawled. Her words of guidance for me in caring of her business and how to take care of dad are written. Other funny things are written reminding us of her sense of humor. Her passion and devotion for dad are evident as she asked what the date was that day. When I told her, she wrote, “Good, I didn’t want to die on our wedding anniversary date…that would be too much for your dad.”

Dad still carries the “yellow pages” in his Bible. He reads them more often than I probably know. He pours over the words with care while remembering mom. He loves her still with all his heart. Those words of mom give him hope as do the words of his Bible from His Lord…God’s precious words of life for all of us.

Do you get it now? Until we can see Jesus face to face, we pour over His loving words to us and feel His Presence. We are given hope for the journey from here…to There. We are comforted, convicted but not condemned, and transformed by His Word to us. We worship the One who delivers us from sin and then had His people write it in ways we hold in our laps to read each morning.

No trinket or toy, no raise in pay, no job, not even winning a Mustang can compare with having a “bent for His Words of wisdom! It IS invigorating to me! That’s why I am so eager to share it with you, over coffee, each morning…even on the weekends!

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Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for “interrupting” my studies of textbooks to remind me of the Textbook of Life! Thank you for giving me the eagerness to cast aside those textbooks and pour over Your Word that night and every morning since that “moment” in time. Thank you for parents and grandparents who taught me to love you back!
In Jesus Name, Amen

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HAPPY!  Not just a new popular song!

Posted on April 14, 2014 by randscallawayffm

HAPPY!  Not just a new popular song!.

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HAPPY!  Not just a new popular song!

Posted on April 14, 2014 by randscallawayffm

WHAT MAKES US HAPPY?

“Make me walk along the path of your commands, for that is where my happiness is found.” Psalm 119:35, NLT

“Guide me down the road of your commandments; I love traveling this freeway!” Psalm 119:35, Msg

“Direct me in the path of your commands, for there I find delight.” Psalm 119:35, NIV

Direct me, guide me, make me walk is the Psalmist’s prayer. It should be the prayer of all of us as we begin each new day given to us. The Psalmist loves, as I do, knowing which direction to go, what to do when I get there and enjoying the trip in between from point A to point B. It’s a happy, peaceful way to travel in this life, knowing which way to go.

But it is also good not only knowing the Word but to know when to apply the Word. Enjoy the following story…

A Sunday school teacher was discussing the Ten Commandments with her five and six year olds.

After explaining the commandment to “honor thy father and thy mother,” she asked “Is there a commandment that teaches us how to treat our brothers and sisters?”

Without missing a beat one little boy answered, “Thou shall not kill.”

That is a cute story but it reminds me of what it means to be a true disciple: Doing the right thing at the right time, in the right place in the right Spirit. When all of that comes together, happiness (or eternal joy from the Lord) reigns in our hearts. We know when, together with His Holy Spirit, we have hit that “sweet spot” in life.

HOW do we know?

When who we are and what we have been directed and guided to do brings glory to God, refreshes our souls, and helps someone else in their journey, it makes us happy. And I know it brings a smile to God’s face.

When we know, without a doubt, that our full intentions were to please God, we are happy. And God is honored.

When we work with enthusiasm with our hearts full of love for God first then others, we are happy.

When self is laid to rest then God is at His best in us, working through us, and we are happy.

When the trip is as enjoyable as the destination because of knowing and doing God’s will and purpose, then we are happy.

When mistakes or misjudgments are made along the journey because we are human, and God makes “all things good for those who love Him”, we are happy…and at peace.

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Are you happy?

Maybe we should all cry out in sincere prayer this morning for God to take over (Romans 12:1-3) and “make us, guide us and direct us to walk His Word, His commands, in the right Spirit in His perfect timing. Peace.

Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for Your holy direction and guidance. I love You. I love Your Word. You are transforming me with each passing day on this journey that has a final destination. Because of Your blessings to me, use me to be a blessing to someone else today, for that makes me happy and I’m pretty sure that it makes You smile. In Jesus Name, Amen

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ENCOURAGEMENT FOR OUR PASTORS….

Posted on April 13, 2014 by randscallawayffm

STAYING THE COURSE, PRAISING THE LORD!

This passage and message is written to appreciate those who prepare every week to listen, praise, study, read, reflect and listen some more before giving us manna and meat in God’s church all over the world. Pastors, you are on my heart today.

I praise God for all of you. I pray for pastors this morning as I prepare my own heart for corporate worship of our Lord. I know, from experience, watching my husband prepare for Holy Week, that this week is the most challenging physically, spiritually and emotionally. You want God’s specific message for the people He has given You to watch over, to shepherd, AND for those who might come for the first time. (There lies the “pressure” and the passion..for those who might come for the first time!)

Pastors, for those of you “staying the course”, I know God will give You exactly what needs to be said. Just listen, continue to stay the course, avoid distractions that WILL come and praise God in the midst of it all. No matter what you say, God will prepare hearts, your’s and their’s! You can stop and praise Him for what HE will do in the midst of your studies and preparations, because it is His Holy Spirit, who will guide you, give you passion to deliver the message with His power through you, and bring all people face to face with making a choice. So, praise our LORD in the midst of it all. I praise God for you, now.

“Yahweh, teach me lessons for living so I can stay the course. Give me insight so I can do what you tell me–my whole life one long, obedient response.” Psalm 119:33-34, Msg

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Dear Heavenly Father, I lift up our pastors and their congregations to You this morning. I pray and I praise You for the many times I saw You do Your miraculous work through my husband Randy, the then to your people. Yes, we pray what the psalmist asked of you, “Teach me, O LORD, to follow every one of your principles. Give me understanding and I will obey your law; I will put it into practice with all my heart.” (Psalm 119:33-34, NLT) 
In Jesus Name and By the Power of Your Holy Spirit, Amen

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HELP! I NEED SOMEBODY…not just a Beetle’s song!

Posted on April 12, 2014 by randscallawayffm

HELP! I NEED SOMEBODY…not just a Beetle’s song!.

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HELP! I NEED SOMEBODY…not just a Beetle’s song!

Posted on April 12, 2014 by randscallawayffm

“If you will help me, I will run to follow your commands.”

Psalm 119:32, NLT

“I’ll run the course, you lay out for me if you’ll just show me how.” Psalm 119:32 Msg

Help seems to be the “Word” for today. And where does our help come from? You know the answer, friends, so let’s live confidently and boldly, not timid about Who guides our every step! Yes, be encouraged this very Saturday morning with…

“I look up to the mountains–does my help come from there? My help comes from the LORD, who made the heavens and the earth!”

“HE will not let you stumble and fall; the one who watches over you will not sleep. Indeed, he who watches over Israel never tires and never sleeps.”

“The LORD himself watches over you! The LORD stands beside you as your protective shade. The sun will not hurt you by day nor the moon at night.”

“The LORD keeps you from all evil and preserves your life. The LORD keeps watch over you as you come and go, both now and forever.” Psalm 121, NLT

Heave a big sigh of relief and enjoy your day, knowing that God is with us, ALL of us. Not matter what.

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Dear Heavenly Father, THANK YOU for this reminder that as we run the course, YOU are constantly there to cheer us on and totally help us in ways that are unimaginable. 
In Jesus Name, Amen

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CLING TO YAHWEH!

Posted on April 11, 2014 by randscallawayffm

“I grasp and cling to whatever you tell me; Yahweh, don’t let me down.” Psalm 119:31, Msg

It’s not what you do or who you are…it’s what God does in us. The Psalmist knows that well. It’s always been that way. God’s grace is the door to heaven. The following “story” shows us, however, how the world thinks…

A man dies and goes to heaven. St. Peter meets him at the Pearly Gates and says, “Here’s how it works. You need 100 points to make it into heaven. You tell me all the good things you’ve done and I give you a certain number of points for each item, depending on how good it was. When you reach 100 points, you get in.” 

“Okay,” the man says, “I was married to the same woman for 50 years and never cheated on her and loved her deep in my heart.” 

“That’s wonderful,” says St.Peter, “that’s worth two points.” 

“Two points!?” he says. “Well, I attended church all my life and supported its ministry with my tithe and service.” 

“Terrific!” says St.Peter. “That”s certainly worth a point.” 

“One point!?!! Well, I started a soup kitchen in my city and worked in a shelter for homeless veterans.” 

“Fantastic, that”s good for two more points,” he says. 

“Two points!?!! Exasperated, the man cries, “At this rate the only way I’ll get into heaven is by the grace of God.” 

“Bingo! 100 points! Come on in!”

Ah, see…it is by the grace of God, through the shed blood of Jesus Christ, that we are saved from our sin, shortcomings, mistakes all wrapped up in grace. So cling to Yahweh, as the Psalmist desires in Psalm 119:31, Msg:

“I grasp and cling to whatever you tell me; Yahweh, don’t let me down!”

God will not let us down, He lifts us up to where He is, in His thinking, and then gives us the power and strength to make the changes necessary to be all He intended for us to be. 

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HOW DO WE CLING TO YAHWEH?

By letting go of our ourselves, our plans, our control and giving ourselves back to our Creator as an offering. I am reminded of Romans 12, Msg, again, “…Take your everyday, ordinary life–your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life–and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best think you can do for him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it.”

“Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed mature in you.” Romans 12, Msg

Yes, LORD, yes, LORD, Yes, Yes, LORD! Amen! 

I will cling to the old rugged cross…as the hymn says…I will cling to Christ, the Savior of my soul!

So, “I grasp and cling to whatever you tell me; Yahweh…”

This is my prayer for all of us, In Jesus Name, Amen.

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