Sunday School Lessons

Mat. 24:12 And because iniquity shall abound; the love of many shall wax cold.
It feels like this is where we are. After seeing family and even friends suffer greatly and watching the lack of true sympathy or empathy in places that were natural for it to be was devastating. Seeing more curiosity than care in an actionable effort, left me considering how could this be? Friends and relatives, offering a thought or a prayer as sufficient to the troubles or turmoil of someone, feels so very shallow when we can make our physical presence of use to that person. Seeing you face to face is far more valuable. Don't go out of curiosity, or feigned concern. Go out of love. Consider family especially. Often, we want our sisters and brothers in Christ to see our concern. However, when it is our family, many times we do not put forth much effort.
Once I was viciously attacked and a member of my family did not even notice my two blackeyes or the stitches in my face. When the friend that was with my relative asked had they noticed, I was told "you know if you need me, I am here for you", as they continued up the street..... I Jn 3:18 "My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth."
Sending "good thoughts" or "if I can help, let me know is not enough in this time that we are in. Make the sacrifice of love and do the best that is available to be of love and comfort. It may not be convenient; it may not be easy. It may even be a sacrifice, but to show the love of God is so, very necessary. We often hear the message of how Job's friends messed up. Let us remember that they errored when they considered to blame Job for his troubles. Their coming and sitting with him for three days was kindness, it was love, it was care. God let them know, their error and restored them. Just as He does for us, even today.
With so much wickedness all around us, we often do not know how to react. Let God lead us in loving and turning ourselves aside to represent Him, whenever possible. I Jn 4:8 "He that loved not, knoweth not God; for God is Love"
Jn 13:35 By this shall all men know that ye are My disciples, that ye have love one to another.

Sin is a far greater monster than we allow ourself to see. The carnage of our sin is beyond our ability to see. It is indeed a worldwide web of darkness.

James 2:19Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. 20But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?

Let our hearts and minds consider Jesus Christ, whom we believe and are certain is real. We all want to believe that each of us will spend eternity with Him. How? When we only want to be blessed in this life? Our efforts are prayers for this life. We spend time judging God's favor by what we have. We are spending little to no time building a relationship with Him. The "good feeling" is not enough. The "blessings" of the world, is not enough. It is hard to fathom that our loved ones are not in His presence. It is hard to believe that somehow someway they are eternally lost. It is in many ways impossible to comprehend. His life, death and resurrection has established for us a reconciliation with God. It is the only way to salvation (John 14: 16). If we are not committing to Him and obeying Him, we are lost. If our only conclusion of God's love is for to have in this life, we are lost. We must use this life (fight this war) to become one with Him. I Pet. 1:16 As it is written, be ye holy for I am holy. The true is, if we do not commit (love) a holy life, eternal life may very well not be ours. We will not take our sins into His holy kingdom. We must think much, much more about accepting the gift of eternal life, by the life we live now. Lay aside all the things of this world that may make our meeting with Him eternally sad. This is a real warfare and I hope and pray that you will turn your whole and complete attention to eternal life with Him. It is not enough just to believe, change those things that must change. His word is true and holy. He is who He has shown us in His word. Let's be strengthened in the faith of our minds, by changing this life to the life of a true believer. If you love me obey my commandments. If we have a husband, wife, mother, etc. that spent all of their effort with someone else.....we would for sure know that this is not my husband, wife, mother, etc. Are you His? I do not need an answer, but each of us needs this answer for our own eternal life.

A Better Way….
Affirmations are good. It is good to remind ourselves as to who and what we are. It is good to know and see ourselves as valuable, especially in today’s climate of exceptional darkness. However knowing that, “I am powerful”, “I am strong”, “I am beautiful”, as it goes in words without a solid backing to these affirmations may allow us, at times of great distress to lose our belief in them.
I am powerful, alone may at times not be realized, or may allow us to make the grave mistake in believing that we are gods unto ourselves. Something that we would never say out loud. If we believe that we can do it because of ourselves, we have become our own god. Scary to here it like this, but it is essentially what personal affirmations without the foundation of God, makes us the foundation of our source of strength and power. With the wisdom from God’s holy word to guide us, we know without a doubt that we are powerful.
II Corinthians 4:7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God and not of us. Tells us that it is His power that makes us powerful.
I am strong becomes a clear affirmation when we add Philippians 4: 13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthenth me, to the affirmation.
I am beautiful doesn’t need a mirror but spoken from God’s word, our beauty cannot be denied.
Gen 1:31 And God saw everything that He had made, and behold it was VERY good. Ps. 139: 14 I will praise Thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Marvellous are Thy works and my soul knoweth right well!
To honor our God in our affirming words, is a complete and solid affirmation that won’t leave you in times of adversity or distress. Prov. 3:6 In all thy ways acknowledge Him. Finding strength in Him gives you confession of faith and knowledge of Him. Jn 3:27 John answered and said, a man can received nothing except it be given him from heaven. II Pet 3: 18 But grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To Him be glory both now and forever. Amen.
A Better Way….
Affirmations are good. It is good to remind ourselves as to who and what we are. It is good to know and see ourselves as valuable, especially in today’s climate of exceptional darkness. However knowing that, “I am powerful”, “I am strong”, “I am beautiful”, as it goes in words without a solid backing to these affirmations may allow us, at times of great distress to lose our belief in them.
I am powerful, alone may at times not be realized, or may allow us to make the grave mistake in believing that we are gods unto ourselves. Something that we would never say out loud. If we believe that we can do it because of ourselves, we have become our own god. Scary to here it like this, but it is essentially what personal affirmations without the foundation of God, makes us the foundation of our source of strength and power. With the wisdom from God’s holy word to guide us, we know without a doubt that we are powerful.
II Corinthians 4:7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God and not of us. Tells us that it is His power that makes us powerful.
I am strong becomes a clear affirmation when we add Philippians 4: 13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthenth me, to the affirmation.
I am beautiful doesn’t need a mirror but spoken from God’s word, our beauty cannot be denied.
Gen 1:31 And God saw everything that He had made, and behold it was VERY good. Ps. 139: 14 I will praise Thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Marvellous are Thy works and my soul knoweth right well!
To honor our God in our affirming words, is a complete and solid affirmation that won’t leave you in times of adversity or distress. Prov. 3:6 In all thy ways acknowledge Him. Finding strength in Him gives you confession of faith and knowledge of Him. Jn 3:27 John answered and said, a man can received nothing except it be given him from heaven. II Pet 3: 18 But grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To Him be glory both now and forever. Amen.

SEE CLEARLY!
Matt. 16 24 - 26 If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. 25For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. 26For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
We have so much encouragement to recognize God's grace and blessings for this life; but we MUST NOT count this world as our home. This world isn't our "Best Life. We must not allow this pilgrimage to be our destination. "It is APPOINTED unto man once to die and after this the judgement". Let us prepare for our eternal life. This life is temporary, we bury loved ones continually. Eternity is never ending. God will not change His word, it will be has He has said. It is for us to change our minds about the true blessings. It is life in God's holy kingdom for all eternity. "If ye love me keep my commandments", "Keep my commandments and live"! Don't be distracted ( Moses forfeited the pleasures afforded him as being in the kings palace, for eternal life), No matter what the blessings of this life, live it with God and His Word always. This is the meaning of life, it is "The Way; The Truth; and The Life". This life is only a v***r and will be gone........Then there is Jesus, before whom you will stand. Have a good report. A report of love, of faithfulness, of reverence to God of whom we are created for. Don't let this meeting cause you great fear and sorrow (weeping and gnashing of teeth). Fight the GOOD fight of FAITH, lay hold to eternal life. Anything less will be ETERNAL SORROW...... I pray much for our eternal life. I pray that we will meet again, in eternity. "Fight the good fight of faith; lay hold to eternal life.......THE BEST LIFE. God be with us (Emmanuel).

Happy, Happy, Happy Mother's Day!!!

This is a pilgrimage

Ignorance is a cruel and ruthless enemy! "Study to shew thyself approved unto God; a workman that needed not be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

Eternity is so important.
Jesus died to present 🎁 us with eternal life.
"But if the righteous shall scarely be saved I Pet. 4: 18 & 19.....
Can we not be attentive to the word and be assured of our eternal destiny? We cannot.

All I want is Jesus, to save my soul. All I want is Jesus to make me whole. All I want is Jesus, He is my Father's gift. All I want is Jesus, Jesus, Jesus!