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Greetings and thank you for
visiting!
July 2010
"Blessings and Woes"
This month's scripture: "He went down with them and stood on a level place. A
large crowd of his disciples was there and a great number of people from all
over Judea, from Jerusalem, and from the coast of Tyre and Sidon, who had come
to hear him and to be healed of their diseases. Those troubled by evil spirits
were cured, and the people all tried to touch him, because power was coming from
him and healing them all. Looking at his disciples, he said: "Blessed are you
who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are you who hunger now,
for you will be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh.
Blessed are you when men hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and
reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man. Rejoice in that day and
leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how their
fathers treated the prophets. But woe to you who are rich, for you have already
received your comfort. Woe to you who are well fed now, for you will go hungry.
Woe to you who laugh now, for you will mourn and weep. Woe to you when all men
speak well of you, for that is how their fathers treated the false prophets."
Luke 6:17-26, NIV
Sermon:
"Beloved, I extend heartfelt grace and peace to you in the name of our lord,
redeemer, and savior, Jesus Christ. In our current teaching from the Master,
we're reminded that our temporary woes in this world of darkness (which are
always and chiefly the cause of the worthless devil, who we must shun at defeat
at all times), mean nothing in consideration of eternity and the implications of
the blissful life awaiting us (as true disciples of our Lord). Please consider
your current life challenges, and reflect on how better your existence will be
in Heaven, and how-in sincere appreciation for all God has and will deliver to
you-you can more earnestly and obediently live for (and serve) our heavenly
father.
Though everyone faces various adversity and injustice which they shouldn't have
to endure, Christ addresses how to deal with it in Matthew 10:16-23(NIV): "I am
sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shred as snakes and as
innocent as doves. Be on your guard against men; they will hand you over to the
local councils and flog you in their synagogues. On my account you will be
brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles. But
when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that
time you will be given what to say, for it will not be you speaking, but the
Spirit of your Father speaking through you. Brother will betray brother to
death, and a father his child; children will rebel against their parents and
have them put to death. All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands
firm to the end will be saved. When you are persecuted in one place, flee to
another." While dealing with overcoming wiles of the devil in favor of finding
and achieving God's will, let us also be more diligent about recognizing (and
expressing thanks for) the endless and profound blessings He administers to us
(many of which we don't deserve).
Additionally, please remember to consistently increase the quality of your trust
in our heavenly father's steering & overall plan for your life, as illustrated
well in Psalm 37:3-5 (NIV): "Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land
and enjoy safe pasture. Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the
desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do
this:" Also, please resist the urge to feel defeated, as advised in Romans
8:31-39: "If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own
Son, but gave him up for us all-how will he not also, along with him, graciously
give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen?
It is God who justifies. Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died-more
than that, who was raised to life-is at the right hand of God and is also
interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble
or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: "For
your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be
slaughtered." No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him
who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor
demons, neither the present or the future, nor any powers, neither height nor
depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the
love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." God bless you!"
Please
send mail to: P.O. Box 5075, Morton, IL, 61550 USA
(309)
838-3905. andyangel74@yahoo.com
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