DIARY DEVOTIONS BY PASTOR JOE SANTOS
"NO WRONG DIRECTIONS FROM OUR LORD"
BY PASTOR JOE SANTOS
THIS WEEK MY DIARY DEVOTION HAS TO DO WITH A TRIP TO WAL-MART IN DICKSON CITY. I HAPPENED TO BE STANDING AT THE ENTRANCE WAY FOR MY WIFE TO COME IN. WHILE I LOOKED OUT FOR HER A MAN CAME UP TO ME, AND HE HAD A PACKAGE IN HIS HAND. HE BEGAN TO TELL ME HOW THE PRODUCT HE PURCHASED WAS DEFECTIVE, AND ON AND ON HE WENT, GOING OVER EVERY DETAIL. I DID SYMPATHIZE WITH HIM I SAID I WAS SORRY FOR HIS TROUBLE. HE THEN LOOKED AT ME, AND SAID WELL, I WANT YOU TO MAKE IT RIGHT. HOW CAN I DO THAT I REPLIED .HE SAID, WELL GIVE ME BACK THE REFUND. AT THAT POINT I REALIZED HE WAS SPEAKING TO THE WRONG PERSON SO I TOLD HIM I DID NOT WORK HERE. HE WOULD HAVE TO GO TO THE MAN ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE DOOR WHO WORKED FOR WAL-MART. HE LOOKED A LITTLE EMBARRASSED AS HE WENT ON HIS WAY. AS HE WENT I ASKED HIM, IN A JOKING WAY ,IF HE WOULD PUT A WORD IN FOR ME FOR A JOB AT WAL-MART. HE LAUGHED AS HE WENT ON HIS WAY. WELL, WHAT SPIRITUAL LESSON CAN WE OBTAIN FROM THIS ? ONE THING IT IS THIS. WHEN WE ASK IN A WRONG WAY TO OUR LORD WE ARE BARKING UP THE WRONG TREE, JUST AS THIS GENTLEMEN DID, FOR THEIR IS ONLY ONE REASON FOR OUR PRAYER REQUESTS .IT IS NOT TO FULFILL SOME DESIRE WE HAVE, OR WISH. IT IS FOR ONE REASON WHY WE PRAY, AND THAT IS FOR GOD'S WILL TO BE DONE ON EARTH, AS IT IS IN HEAVEN. OUR LORD TAUGHT US THIS. HE WOULD CRY OUT TO HIS FATHER IN THE GARDEN, AS HIS CRUCIFIXION WAS NEAR AT HAND . HE SAID: FATHER TAKE THIS CUP OF SORROW FROM ME BUT NOT MY WILL BUT THINE BE DONE. SO BELOVED I ASK, DOES GOD GIVE US THE DESIRES OF OUR HEARTS ? ABSOLUTELY, BUT THEY WILL ALWAYS BE ACCORDING TO HIS DETERMINATE WILL. GOD IS NOT, AS I WAS ,IN THE WRONG PLACE. NO HE IS ALWAYS WHERE HE SHOULD BE ,AND THAT IS AT HIS THRONE OF GRACE TO DO WHAT IS THE VERY BEST FOR ALL HIS CHILDREN. MANY TIMES WE DO NOT UNDERSTAND THE WHYS, OR WHEREFORES WHY OUR REQUESTS WERE ANSWERED IN THE WAY HE DID THEM, BUT AFTER ALL HIS WAYS ARE HIGHER THEN OURS AS THE HEAVENS ARE FROM THE EARTH. HE KNOWS WHAT IS BEST FOR US AND HE IS WORKING OUT ALL THESE THINGS FOR OUR GOOD. HE IS AN ETERNAL GOD, WE ARE TIME LIMITED CREATURES .SO WHENEVER WE OBTAIN THE ANSWERS TO OUR PRAYERS WE MUST FOCUSED ON THEM 0N THE ETERNAL, NOT IN THIS LIMITED TIME FRAME WE EXPERIENCE ON THIS SIDE OF GLORY. ONE OTHER THING WE MUST TAKE AWAY FROM THIS WAL-MART EXPERIENCE I HAD. IT IS THAT OUR HEAVENLY FATHER IS THERE ALWAYS FOR US. WE DO NOT HAVE TO WORRY THAT OUR PETITIONS ARE BOUNCING OFF THE CEILING. HE IS ALWAYS THERE TO HEAR US, AND TO RESPOND TO OUR REQUESTS. WE IN RESPONSE TO THIS ARE TO TRUST HIM, AND TO NEVER CHALLENGE HIS DETERMINATION AND HIS ANSWERS. FOR HE WILL NEVER LEAVE US OR FORSAKE US. WHAT A PRIVILEGE AND POWER THERE IS IN PRAYER. AMEN?
"CAGED AND FORGOTTEN"
BY PASTOR JOE SANTOS
I HAD THE OCCASION TO VISIT THE GRIFFIN POND ANIMAL SHELTER THIS PAST WEEK. THIS WAS MY FIRST VISIT THERE. WHAT I SAW REALLY TOUCHED A SOFT SPOT IN ME THAT I HAVE FOR ANIMALS. I SAW SO MANY CATS AND DOGS LOCKED UP IN CAGES. AND WHEN I LOOKED AT THEM YOU COULD SEE BY THE EXPRESSION ON THEIR FACES THAT THEY WERE PLEADING WITH ME TO LET THEM GO FREE. I RECALL STANDING BY THE CAGES, AND AT ONE POINT, ONE OF THE DOGS REACHED OUT AND TOUCHED MY ARM. I WISHED I COULD OF ADOPTED THEM ALL, BUT THEN I WOULD DEFINITELY BE IN THE DOG HOUSE WITH BARBARA. THE SADDEST OCCURRENCE WAS WHEN I WAS AT THE DESK WHERE YOU FIRST CAME IN. THERE WAS A GENTLEMAN WHO WAS GIVING UP ON HIS DOG, AND YOU COULD SEE PLAINLY THE FEAR IN HIS DOGS EYES. THIS POOR POUCH WAS SHAKING IN HIS FEAR. AND I WISHED MY WIFE WAS WITH ME BECAUSE EVERY IMPULSE IN ME WANTED TO TAKE THIS DOG HOME IF I COULD. WELL I COULD NOT SO I PROCEEDED HOME. AS I THOUGHT OF ALL THESE PETS IN THEIR CAGES I SEEKED A REASON, A SPIRITUAL ONE, FROM MY LORD AND I RECEIVED ONE. THESE DOGS AND CATS WERE LOCKED IN CAGES. THEY WERE NOT FREE, AND IT BOTHERED THEM IMMENSELY. BUT IN REALITY HUMAN BEINGS ARE LOCKED UP, NOT IN CAGES, BUT BY THEIR SINFUL REBELLION TO GOD. THEY NEED HUMAN BEINGS ARE LOCKED UP, NOT IN CAGES, BUT BY THEIR SINFUL REBELLION TO GOD. THEY NEED A PASS TO GET OUT JUST AS THESE PETS DO IF THEY ARE TO BE RELEASED FROM THEIR CAPTIVITY. THAT PASS IS A PEACE TREATY WHICH IS NEEDED TO ACCOMPLISHED THEIR FREEDOM, AND THAT TREATY IS THE GOSPEL WHICH CONTAINS GOD'S POWER TO EFFECTUALLY FREE ONE FROM THEIR BONDAGE TO SIN, AND THEN MAKE THEM FREE IN CHRIST. WE, AS BELIEVERS, HAVE THAT PEACE TREATY TO GO TO THOSE WHO ARE CAGED IN THEIR SIN, AND AS GOD'S GRACE TOUCHES THEM FREE THEM TO SERVE JESUS CHRIST . I FELT SYMPATHY FOR THESE PETS AND RIGHTFULLY SO, BUT I ASKED MYSELF BEFORE GOD'S THRONE OF GRACE IF I HAD THE SAME SYMPATHY FOR THOSE WHO ARE MADE IN THE IMAGE OF GOD. I SUPPOSE WE ALL, AS BELIEVERS NEED TO ASK THAT QUESTION. ANOTHER SPIRITUAL TRUTH WHICH I RECEIVED CONCERNS THIS DOG THAT WAS BEING GIVEN UP BY THIS MAN WHO SAID HE HAD ENOUGH OF HER, AND WANTED THE POUND TO TAKE HER. THE SITUATION HAD TO DO WITH ADOPTION. HE HAD ADOPTED THIS PET AND WAS IN THE PROCESS OF GIVING HER UP. WELL, WE WHO ARE IN CHRIST, WERE ADOPTED ALSO.WE WHERE ADOPTED THAT IS INTO GOD'S FAMILY WHERE NO ONE ,NO POWER CAN EVER UNADOPTABLE US FROM GOD'S FAMILY. WE ARE SAFE FOR ETERNITY. WE . WE ARE SAFE FOR ETERNITY. WE ARE ALSO FREE AS THESE PETS IN THE CAGES WERE NOT. FREE, NOT TO LIVE OUR LIVES IN OUR WAY BUT FREE TO SERVE OUR MASTER JESUS CHRIST. THERE ARE NO BONDS, NO SHACKLES, THAT CAN HOLD US FAST FOR WE ARE FREE, FREE, TO SERVE, TO OBEY HIM, AND TO PRAISE HIM. WE BELONG TO THE ONE WHO LOVES US WHO LOVES US ETERNALLY. LET US TAKE ONE MORE ILLUSTRATION FROM THESE PETS AND THAT IS AS THEY FOLLOW THEIR MASTER, AS THEY GIVE HIM, OR HER UNCONDITIONAL LOVE THEN WE ARE TO FOLLOW OUR CHIEF, GREAT, AND GOOD SHEPHERD. HIS YOKE IS EASY HE TELLS US . I FOR ONE JUST LOVE HIS YOKE HOW I DO NEED TO LET HIM DIRECT ME, AS HE SPELLS IT OUT IN HIS WORD. I KNOW HE CARES FOR THE SPARROWS AS WELL AS ALL HIS CREATURES AND THOUGH THE CREATION IS GROANING AWAITING THE FULLNESS OF THE REDEMPTION OF GOD'S ELECT THAT DAY WILL COME WE WILL SIT WITH THE LION, THE WOLF, THE POISONOUS SNAKE ,AND NOT BE HARMED BECAUSE THE CURSE WILL BE LIFTED. NO LONGER WILL THERE BE A NEED FOR DOG POUNDS ANY LONGER WILL THEY BE IN CAGES. ALL THIS BELOVED BECAUSE OF HIS GRACE. WHAT A DAY AWAITS US AND ALL OF GOD'S CREATURES.
KEEPING PACE WITH JESUS
BY PASTOR JOE SANTOS
WELL ANOTHER WEEK AND ANOTHER LESSON IN HUMILITY FOR MYSELF. IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A ROUTINE PACEMAKER CHECKUP FOR ME. I HAVE HAD OVER 30 SINCE I HAD ONE PUT INTO MY CHEST. WELL ,AS I SAT THERE WITH ALL THE WIRES CONNECTED TO MY CHEST, AND THE COMPUTER IN THE HANDS OF THE TECHNICIAN DOING HIS THING I NOTICED THAT, UNLIKE THE OTHER TIMES ,THIS TEST SEEMED TO DRAG ON. AT ONE POINT THE TECH NEEDED ADVISE, AND HE RECEIVED IT. I COULD SEE HE WAS VERY INTENT ON WHAT HE WAS FINDING CONCERNING MY PACEMAKER TEST . HE LOOKED AT ME AND ASKED ME IF I HAD ANY PLANS FOR THE WEEK END. I SAID, NO BUT IF NECESSARY I COULD ARRANGE FOR MY FUNERAL. HE JUST SMILED AND WENT ON. AS I THOUGHT ABOUT HIS SILENT RESPONSE THE THOUGHT OCCURRED TO ME HOW WE OFTEN TAKE EVENTS IN OUR LIFE AS NATURAL OCCURRENCES, AND THAT WE HAVE THE ANSWERS TO WHAT IS TRANSPIRING. BUT THE FACT IS GOD SOMETIMES JOLTS US OUT OF OUR COMPLACENCY AND OUR SELF CONFIDENCE TO LEAN UPON HIM. WE ARE TOLD TO HUMBLE OURSELVES BEFORE THE LORD .SO WHEN WE FEEL WE ARE THE MASTERS OF OUR FAITH. THEN AT THAT AT POINT HE WILL BRING US TO OUR KNEES SO WE WILL LOOK UP TO HIM OUR LORD AND SAVIOR. WE DO NOT ALWAYS DENY OURSELVES AS WE SHOULD AND IT IS SELF WHICH WILL BETRAY US SO EASILY. YES, AS WE ARE TOLD IN IST CORINTHIANS ,THAT NOW IN THIS LIFE WE KNOW IN PART, BUT THEN IN GLORY IT WILL BE FACE TO FACE. WE WILL BE KNOWN AS WE TRULY ARE SO WE CAN BE SURE BELOVED ONES THAT PRIDE WILL NOT BE IN THE EQUATION. PRIDE IS WHAT WAS MY PROBLEM IN THAT PACEMAKER CHECKUP. I PRESUMED UPON GOD TO JUST KEEP ON DOING WHAT HE ALWAYS DID. I SHOULD OF BEEN IN PRAYER. FOR ME NOT TO DO SO WAS ANYTHING BUT GODLY HUMILITY. BUT SAYING THIS, I MUST SAY, MY LORD GAVE ME PEACE, A PEACE I COULD NEVER FIND ON THIS SIDE OF GLORY. OH YES AS THE RESULTS OF MY TEST PROVED OUT I WILL NEED A PACEMAKER REPLACEMENT WITHIN THE YEAR SO THE GOOD NEWS IS I WILL NEED TO HUMBLE MYSELF AND LET GOD DO HIS WORK IN ME. IT WILL BE HE ,AND HE ALONE THAT WILL BRING SUCCESS TO MY SURGERY WHEN AND IF IT TRANSPIRES. I CAN LEAN ON HIM, ON HIS LOVE FOR ME. IT IS A LOVE THAT ONLY SEEKS WHAT IS BEST FOR MYSELF, AS IT IS FOR ALL HIS CHILDREN. IT IS A LOVE WE CAN DIGEST IN THE DIFFICULT TIMES, AS WELL AS IN ALL THE TIMES OF OUR LIVES. IT IS SOMETHING WHICH, WILL LEAD US TO PRAY TO HIM KNOWING AS HE TELLS US IN HIS WORD. THE EFFECTUAL FERVENT PRAYER OF A RIGHTEOUS MAN OR WOMAN AVAILS MUCH. YES I, AS ALL OF US ,MUST NEVER TAKE ANYTHING FOR GRANTED AS I DID. BUT WE MUST LEAN AND TRUST HIM TO BRING US THROUGH ALL OF OUR TRIALS. I MEAN AFTER ALL HIS PROMISE IS AS WE GO THROUGH THE TRIBULATIONS HIS HAND IS ON OURS, AND BLESSED BE HIS HANDS FOR THEY BELONG TO OUR MERCIFUL AND PEACE GIVING LORD
WELL THIS WAS MY WEEK FOR BEING HUMBLED. I GUESS IT GOES WITH BEING A SENIOR CITIZEN , OR SOMETHING ELSE. WELL HERE IT IS: IT WAS BAD ENOUGH LAST WEEK WHEN THE NURSE THOUGHT I WAS THE PATIENT THAT NEEDED THE WHEEL CHAIR. I MEAN IT COULD OF JUST BEEN ONE OF MY BAD HAIR DAYS. BUT THIS PAST WEEK I WAS TAKING MY DOG BELLA FOR A WALK. AND AS WE WERE CUTTING THROUGH THE SAINT PATS PARKING LOT SOME TEENAGERS WERE PLAYING A ROUGH GAME OF TOUCH FOOTBALL. WHEN THEY SAW ME COMING TOWARDS THEM THEY STOPPED AND LOOKED AT ME ,AND ASKED ME IF I WOULD LIKE TO PLAY. MY REPLY TO THIS STRANGE OFFER WAS ,OH YOU ASKED ME A HALF CENTURY TOO LATE. THEY CHUCKLED ,AND I GOT OUT OF THERE AS FAST AS OUR 6 LEGS COULD CARRY US. THAT IS FOUR FOR BELLA, AND TWO FOR THESE OLD LEGS. YOU KNOW GOD ALWAYS HAS AN ANSWER .WE CAN, AS BELIEVERS, BE YOUNG, OLD, HANDSOME ,OR NOT. BUT IN HIS EYES WE ARE BEAUTIFUL. I CAN SAY THIS BECAUSE HE, OUR HEAVENLY FATHER, HAS IMPUTED TO OUR ACCOUNT THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF HIS SON JESUS CHRIST. SO BECAUSE OF THIS HE LOOKS AT US, AND SEES HIS BLESSED SON. ALSO WHAT HE IS DOING IS MOLDING US INTO HIS IMAGE ,THE HOLY IMAGE OF CHRIST. OH YES, IT IS A PROCESS, WHICH WILL BE COMPLETE IN HEAVEN ,BUT YET THIS IMAGE IS PRECIOUS IN HIS SIGHT. THIS IS WHY HE TELLS US ,PRECIOUS IN THE SIGHT OF GOD ARE THE DEATHS OF HIS SAINTS. HE KNOWs ,AS JESUS TELLS US IN JOHN 14, THAT HE HAS GONE TO HEAVEN TO PREPARE A PLACE FOR US SO THAT WE WILL BE WITH HIM. BUT REALLY I WASN'T OFFENDED BY THESE NICE YOUNG MEN WHO WERE DOING WHAT I DID MANY MOONS AGO. GOD TELLS ME THOUGH THE OUTER MAN IS PERISHING THE INNER MAN IS BEING RENEWED DAY BY DAY. HOW GOOD TO KNOW THAT GOD IS DOING THIS, SO WHATEVER WE ARE SUFFERING, OR WHATEVER TRIALS OR TRIBULATIONS WE ARE EXPERIENCING, WE CAN GO FORTH AS MORE THEN CONQUERORS. WE CAN HOLE OUR HEADS UP DESPITE WHAT OTHERS MAY THINK OF US. BOY, LET ME TELL YOU IF I COULD OF WENT BACK 50 OR 60 YEARS I WOULD OF GIVEN THOSE YOUNG WHIPPER SNAPPERS A RUN FOR THEIR MONEY. BUT THAT WOULD REEK OF PRIDE SO I TAKE IT BACK. ANYWAY, GOD NEVER SHORT CHANGES ANY OF HIS CHILDREN NO MATTER WHAT. HE IS SO GOOD TO ALL OF US ,AND HAS GIVEN US A BLESSED HOPE WHICH WE WILL ALL EXPERIENCE. IN THE MEANTIME ME AND BELLA WILL BE TAKING OUR WALKS IN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION FROM NOW ON. IT IS ON A PATHWAY OUR LORD SHOWED US TO WALK A NARROW ONE, YES, BUT HE IS THERE, AND THAT MAKES IT WORTH IT. THANKS FOR TAKING THE TIME TO READ MY DIARY DEVOTION. MAY GOD BE PRAISED.
Not A Happy Sight
by Pastor Joe Santos
YOU MAY FEEL SORRY FOR ME OR MAYBE CHUCKLE WHEN I RELATE TO YOU WHAT HAPPENED THIS WEEK. I WAS AT THE MOSES TAYLOR HOSPITAL READY TO TAKE TOM PRICE HOME. HE HAD SIGNED THE DISCHARGE PAPERS ,AND THE ONLY THING NECESSARY WAS FOR SOMEONE TO BRING A WHEEL CHAIR TO TAKE HIM TO MY CAR. AS I SAT WITH TOM IN HIS ROOM I SAW A MAN WHO WAS UTTERLY EXHAUSTED. HE WAS PALE AND LOOKED WEAK. MY HEART WENT OUT TO HIM. WELL, FINALLY THE NURSE'S AID CAME TO GET TOMMY. SHE SAW US SITTING THERE, AND SHE LOOKED AT TOMMY, THEN AT ME, AND ASKED ,OKAY WHICH ONE OF YOU IS THE PATIENT? WELL, LET ME TELL YOU TOMMY LOOKED A LOT BETTER AFTER THAT REMARK. THIS GOT ME TO THINKING ALONG SPIRITUAL LINES. ALL BELIEVERS YOU SEE ARE BEING FORMED INTO AN IMAGE, AND IT IS NOT A SICKLY ONE., RATHER IT IS A HOLY ONE AN IMAGE OF JESUS CHRIST SCRIPTURE TELLS US. WHEN CHRIST DIED FOR HIS ELECT HE TOOK OUR SINS ,AND GAVE US HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS. I SAY, IS THAT NOT A GREAT TRADEOFF? IT IS SUMMED UP IN THIS ONE WORD, AND THAT WORD IS GRACE. IF YOU WERE TO PUT AN ADJECTIVE AHEAD OF IT. IT WOULD BE SOVEREIGN GRACE. YES BELOVED WHEN GOD THE FATHER LOOKS AT ME HE WERE TO PUT AN ADJECTIVE AHEAD OF IT. IT WOULD BE SOVEREIGN GRACE. YES BELOVED WHEN GOD THE FATHER LOOKS AT ME HE DOES NOT SEE A SICKLY OLD CODGER. NO ,.,HE SEES THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF CHRIST IN ME. AND IF YOU ARE A CHILD OF GOD BY HIS SOVEREIGN GRACE YOU ARE A VERY BEAUTIFUL SIGHT IN THE EYES OF THE HEAVENLY FATHER. HE SEES HIS BLESSED SON IN US. SO WHEN WE GO ON IN OUR LIVES HERE ON EARTH WE ARE HIS REFLECTED LIGHT. WHICH SHINES FORTH TO A DARK SINFUL PEOPLE. IT IS HIS LIGHT THAT HAS HIS POWER BEHIND IT. WHAT WE MUST DO TO TURN THIS LIGHT ON IS TO BE FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT. IN GALATIANS THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT IS LOVE. TO BE FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT IS TO GROW MORE INTO THE IMAGE OF CHRIST JESUS.. WE MUST BE EMPTIED OF SELF FIRST AND FOREMOST. THEN WE ARE TO BE THE SALT OF THE EARTH. IN THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW JESUS WARNED US NOT TO LET OUR SALT LOSE ITS POWER. AS WE ABIDE IN THE WORD, AS WE OBEY IT, AS WE SURRENDER TO THE HOLY SPIRIT. WE CAN BE EMPTIED OF ALL THINGS WHICH WILL HAMPER OUR SERVICE FOR OUR LORD. THE WORLD NEEDS TO SEE THAT REFLECTED LIFE OF CHRIST LIVING IN US. THAT IS THE IMAGE OF CHRIST BEING FORMED IN US AND THAT IMAGE IS A HOLY ONE .WE MUST ACKNOWLEDGE OUR SINS AND CONFESS THEM DAILY. WE NEED TO GAZE UPON THE FACE OF JESUS, AS WE READ THE WORD AND SEE HIS BEAUTY IN IT. IT IS A BEAUTY UNMATCHED BY THIS WORLD, ONE HE IS FORMING US INTO. SO
"THE LOBSTER AND THE CHILD"
MY DIARY DEVOTION
"WHAT'S IN NAME"
BY PASTOR JOE SANTOS
WE HAD A VISIT FROM OUR NIECE AND TWO OF HER GIRLFRIENDS THIS WEEK. I NEVER MET THEM BEFORE SO I ASKED THESE TWO GIRLS, WHO HAPPENED TO BE SISTERS, WHAT THEIR FIRST NAMES WHERE. THE OLDER SISTER SAID MY NAME IS NANCY. THE OTHER SISTER SAID HER FIRST NAME WAS BROOKLYN. I WAS IMPRESSED SOME WHAT WITH THAT NAME, BEING I DO NOT BELIEVE IN ALL THE YEARS I HAVE BEEN ON THIS PLANET I HAD EVER MET ANYONE WITH THIS DISTINGUISHED NAME. WELL, NAMES ARE IMPORTANT FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. I REMEMBER THE NAME I WAS RAISED WITH FOR MY CHILD HOOD. A NAME I DID NOT CARE FOR. IT WAS JUNIOR. OH MY I COULDN'T WAIT UNTIL I WAS OLDER SO I COULD GET MY FAMILY TO CALL ME JUST PLAIN JOE. WELL, NAMES ARE IMPORTANT. WE CAN BE PUT INTO CATEGORIES BY OUR NAMES, BUT AS BELIEVERS, WE HAVE A NAME THAT IS ABOVE ANY NAME WE COULD EVER BE NAMED ,AND THAT NAME IS CHRISTIAN. HOW WE SHOULD REJOICE AND BE HUMBLED BY THAT NAME WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN BY THE GRACE OF GOD. WE, WHO ARE IN CHRIST, WHO ARE PART OF HIS BODY. BELONG TO HIM SO WE ARE CHRISTIANS, OR FOLLOWERS OF CHRIST. A NAME FIRST GIVEN TO THE FOLLOWERS OF CHRIST AT ANTIOCH. OH, THE WORLD LOOKS AT US AND THEY SAY HE OR SHE IS A CHRISTIAN. THEY MAY RIDICULE US OR CALL US NARROW MINDED. BUT WE CAN SAY YES I BELONG TO THE NAME OF ALL NAMES MY LORD OF LORDS AND KING OF KINGS. SO I ASK DO WE HONOR THIS NAME BY OUR OBEDIENCE TO WHAT OUR CHIEF, GREAT, AND GOOD SHEPHERD COMMANDS US? WE WHO ARE NAMED CHRISTIANS ARE PART OF HIS SACRED SHEEPFOLD, AND JESUS SAYS MY SHEEP HEARS MY VOICE ,AND THEY FOLLOW ME. YOU SEE BELOVED WHAT EVER THOUGHTS, WHAT EVER ACTIONS WE DO, WE DO FOR, AS THE SCRIPTURE BEARS OUT, FOR HIS NAME'S SAKE. YES , FOR HIS NAMES SAKE. WHAT A PRIVILEGE TO BE CALLED BELIEVERS FOR HIS NAMES SAKE. WHAT REJOICING WE SHOULD HAVE IN SERVING HIM FOR HIS NAME'S SAKE. THE NAME ABOVE ALL NAMES. THE ONE WHO DIED FOR US AND SUFFERED SO MUCH FOR US. YES ,THIS CHILD NAMED BROOKLYN TOOK THE TRACT FROM ME AND SHE READ ABOUT THIS NAME ABOVE ALL NAMES AND WAS QUITE IMPRESSED WITH THIS GOD MAN NAMED JESUS. I HOPE YOU WILL JOIN ME IN PRAYING FOR HER. THAT ALMIGHTY GOD WILL DRAW HER INTO THE ONLY NAME UNDER HEAVEN WHEREBY MAN CAN FIND SALVATION. THAT NAME, AS YOU KNOW ONLY TOO WELL, IS JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD AND SAVIOR. WHAT A NAME INDEED.
MY DIARY DEVOTION
"WHAT'S IN NAME"
BY PASTOR JOE SANTOS
WE HAD A VISIT FROM OUR NIECE AND TWO OF HER GIRLFRIENDS THIS WEEK. I NEVER MET THEM BEFORE SO I ASKED THESE TWO GIRLS, WHO HAPPENED TO BE SISTERS, WHAT THEIR FIRST NAMES WHERE. THE OLDER SISTER SAID MY NAME IS NANCY. THE OTHER SISTER SAID HER FIRST NAME WAS BROOKLYN. I WAS IMPRESSED SOME WHAT WITH THAT NAME, BEING I DO NOT BELIEVE IN ALL THE YEARS I HAVE BEEN ON THIS PLANET I HAD EVER MET ANYONE WITH THIS DISTINGUISHED NAME. WELL, NAMES ARE IMPORTANT FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. I REMEMBER THE NAME I WAS RAISED WITH FOR MY CHILD HOOD. A NAME I DID NOT CARE FOR. IT WAS JUNIOR. OH MY I COULDN'T WAIT UNTIL I WAS OLDER SO I COULD GET MY FAMILY TO CALL ME JUST PLAIN JOE. WELL, NAMES ARE IMPORTANT. WE CAN BE PUT INTO CATEGORIES BY OUR NAMES, BUT AS BELIEVERS, WE HAVE A NAME THAT IS ABOVE ANY NAME WE COULD EVER BE NAMED ,AND THAT NAME IS CHRISTIAN. HOW WE SHOULD REJOICE AND BE HUMBLED BY THAT NAME WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN BY THE GRACE OF GOD. WE, WHO ARE IN CHRIST, WHO ARE PART OF HIS BODY. BELONG TO HIM SO WE ARE CHRISTIANS, OR FOLLOWERS OF CHRIST. A NAME FIRST GIVEN TO THE FOLLOWERS OF CHRIST AT ANTIOCH. OH, THE WORLD LOOKS AT US AND THEY SAY HE OR SHE IS A CHRISTIAN. THEY MAY RIDICULE US OR CALL US NARROW MINDED. BUT WE CAN SAY YES I BELONG TO THE NAME OF ALL NAMES MY LORD OF LORDS AND KING OF KINGS. SO I ASK DO WE HONOR THIS NAME BY OUR OBEDIENCE TO WHAT OUR CHIEF, GREAT, AND GOOD SHEPHERD COMMANDS US? WE WHO ARE NAMED CHRISTIANS ARE PART OF HIS SACRED SHEEPFOLD, AND JESUS SAYS MY SHEEP HEARS MY VOICE ,AND THEY FOLLOW ME. YOU SEE BELOVED WHAT EVER THOUGHTS, WHAT EVER ACTIONS WE DO, WE DO FOR, AS THE SCRIPTURE BEARS OUT, FOR HIS NAME'S SAKE. YES , FOR HIS NAMES SAKE. WHAT A PRIVILEGE TO BE CALLED BELIEVERS FOR HIS NAMES SAKE. WHAT REJOICING WE SHOULD HAVE IN SERVING HIM FOR HIS NAME'S SAKE. THE NAME ABOVE ALL NAMES. THE ONE WHO DIED FOR US AND SUFFERED SO MUCH FOR US. YES ,THIS CHILD NAMED BROOKLYN TOOK THE TRACT FROM ME AND SHE READ ABOUT THIS NAME ABOVE ALL NAMES AND WAS QUITE IMPRESSED WITH THIS GOD MAN NAMED JESUS. I HOPE YOU WILL JOIN ME IN PRAYING FOR HER. THAT ALMIGHTY GOD WILL DRAW HER INTO THE ONLY NAME UNDER HEAVEN WHEREBY MAN CAN FIND SALVATION. THAT NAME, AS YOU KNOW ONLY TOO WELL, IS JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD AND SAVIOR. WHAT A NAME INDEED.
"THE ONLY LOVE WE CAN COUNT ON"
BY PASTOR JOE SANTOS
I HAD A HEART TOUCHING INCIDENT THIS WEEK IT INVOLVED A YOUNG BOY WHO I HAD MET A FEW YEARS AGO AND SAW HIM THIS WEEK. LET ME TELL YOU WHAT IT WAS THAT TOUCHED ME SO DEEPLY. I NOTICED THIS YOUNG FELLOW HAD LOST SOME WEIGHT AND I ASKED HIM ABOUT IT. HE TOLD ME HE WAS HEAVY EARLIER IN HIS LIFE BECAUSE HE HAD AN ANGER ISSUE WHICH HAD NECESSITATED HIM TO BE TREATED WITH MEDICINE. HE SAID HE WAS FEELING BETTER WITH THE MEDS, AND THAT ANGER WAS NO LONGER A PROBLEM FOR HIM. I ASKED HIM WHAT IT WAS THAT MADE HIM ANGRY? HE SAID IT WAS BECAUSE HE WAS ABANDONED BY HIS MOTHER AND FATHER AS A BABY, AND IT HURT HIM TO FEEL UNLOVED BY THOSE WHO SHOULD OF CARED FOR HIM. IT HURT HIM DAILY THAT THEY DID NOT WANT TO TALK WITH HIM EVEN, AND THIS WAS GOING ON FOR 11 YEARS AND COUNTING. HE DIDN'T FEEL THAT ANYONE BUT HIS GRANDPARENTS CARED ABOUT HIM. THEY WERE THE ONLY ONES HE RECEIVED LOVE FROM, BUT BEING OLD THIS YOUNG BOY FELT HE WOULD SOON BE ALONE. I THEN TOLD HIM ABOUT ONE WHO WOULD LOVE HIM ALWAYS .WHO WOULD NEVER FORSAKE HIM, AS HIS PARENTS DID ,AND NEVER EVER LEAVE HIM AS IT WOULD BE TRUE FOR HIS FRIENDS AND HIS GRANDPARENTS. THEY WOULD DIE I TOLD HIM, AS WE ALL WILL. BUT THIS PERSON WILL LOVE YOU FOR ETERNITY. HE WILL BE WITH YOU THROUGH YOUR TRIALS AND YOUR HEARTACHES. HIS LOVE WILL ASSURE YOU ALWAYS . HE ASKED ME WHO THIS ONE WAS WHO WOULD DO ALL THIS FOR HIM. I TOLD HIM HIS NAME IS JESUS CHRIST AND WHEN YOU PUT YOUR TRUST IN HIM HE ADOPTS YOU INTO HIS FAMILY, THE FAMILY OF GOD. HE SAID OH YES I PRAY EVERY NIGHT. I TOLD TO PRAY TO THIS ONE WHO WILL EMBRACE HIM WITH HIS ARMS OF LOVE. YOU KNOW BELOVED IN CHRIST JESUS LOVES US NO MATTER WHAT WE ARE GOING THROUGH. FRIENDS, FAMILY, CAN NOT LOVE US IN THE WAY HE DOES. JESUS DOES NOT GET UP ON THE WRONG SIDE OF THE BED SOME DAYS, AND BECAUSE OF IT, LOVES US LESS. NO WAY. HIS LOVE FOR US IS AN ETERNAL, UNCONDITIONAL, SACRIFICIAL ,LOVE. IF WE REMEMBER THIS WE WILL BE ABLE TO FACE THE ISSUES OF LIFE, NO MATTER WHAT FACE THEY TAKE ON. AS THE HYMN STATES : JESUS LOVE ME THIS I KNOW FOR THE BIBLE TELLS ME SO. LITTLE ONES BELONG TO HIM. THEY ARE WEAK BUT HE IS STRONG. OH HOW STRONG OUR LORD IS. HE HOLD US IN HIS BLESSED HANDS TO PROTECT US, AND TO COMFORT, AND NOURISH US. THIS IS WHY HE SENT THE COMFORTER TO DWELL IN US. AND ONE MORE THING I MIGHT ADD THIS LOVE HE HAS FOR US IS INDWELLED IN US BY THE HOLY SPIRIT. IT IS A LOVE WE CAN GIVE TO OTHERS . THEY MAY NOT DESERVE IT, BUT NEITHER DID WE WHEN HE, JESUS, SHOWERED HIS LOVE UPON US. IT WAS SAD FOR ME TO SEE THIS YOUNG FELLOW WITH THE HURT IN HIS EYES, AS HE RODE AWAY ON HIS BIKE. BUT I HOPE YOU WILL JOIN ME IN PRAYING HE WILL FIND A LOVE WHICH WILL TAKE AWAY THE PAIN OTHERS HAVE DONE TO HIM BY THEIR GODLESS ACTIONS. THAT LOVE IS SUMMED UP IN THIS FROM SCRIPTURE WHERE OUR LORD SAID:" THERE IS NO GREATER LOVE THEN WHEN A MAN GIVES UP HIS LIFE FOR HIS FRIENDS. YOU ARE MY FRIENDS IF YOU DO WHAT I COMMAND". YES INDEED THERE IS NO BETTER FRIEND THEN OUR BLESSED LORD AND SAVIOUR."
"SHE HEARD MY VOICE"
BY PASTOR JOE SANTOS
HOPE YOU DON'T MIND ANOTHER ONE OF MY WALKING MY DOG TRUE STORIES, BUT I DID GET A SPIRITUAL INSIGHT THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE IN THIS DEVOTION. I WAS WALKING MY DOG BELLA WHEN I CAME UPON TWO YOUNG MEN WHO WERE CARRYING THEIR YOUNG DOG. I ASKED THEM IF SHE WAS INJURED? NO, THEY SAID, WE JUST DON'T WANT OUR DOG TO BOTHER YOUR DOG . I REPLIED OH, THAT IS NO PROBLEM BELLA LOVES DOGS, AND BESIDES I HAVE HER SECURED ON THIS LEASH. BOY WAS THAT AN UNDERSTATEMENT BECAUSE AS SOON AS THEY PUT THEIR DOG ON THE SIDEWALK THE PLAY BEGAN. THEY CHASED EACH OTHER IN CIRCLES. THAT IS UNTIL MY DOG BELLA BROKE HER COLLAR AND THESE TWO DOGS RAN OUT INTO THE STREET. WELL, WE HAD QUITE A TIME PERSUADING THEM TO COME TO SAFETY, AND THE ONLY THING WHICH WORKED FOR ME WAS WHEN I CALLED MY DOG'S NAME . WHEN I DID SHE IMMEDIATELY STOPPED HER VENTURE INTO DANGEROUS TERRITORY AND CAME RUNNING RIGHT BACK TO ME. I PUT HER COLLAR BACK ON ,WHICH SHE HAD SLIPPED, AND BACK TO OUR HOME WE WENT. SAFE AND SOUND. WELL ,WHAT I GOT OUT OF THIS TRUE STORY IS WHEN WE ARE IN TROUBLE WE CAN HEAR DIFFERENT VOICES PROMISING US PROTECTION JUST HAS BELLA HEARD FROM THE TWO STRANGERS, BUT THE ONLY ONE WE NEED TO HEAR, AND RESPOND TO IS OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST. HE SAID MY SHEEP HEAR MY VOICE AND THEY FOLLOW ME. SO, WHEN DANGERS TRIALS, SORROWS, COME OUR WAY WE NEED TO HEED HIS VOICE, AND RUN TO HIM FOR HE IS OUR MASTERSOMEWHAT IN THE SAME WAY HAS MY DOG HEARD MY VOICE RESPONDED AND FOUND SAFETY IN THE ARMS OF HER OWNER. WELL, WE HAVE A MORE LOVING, MORE POWERFUL, MORE PROTECTING MASTER. HE IS OUR CHIEF. AND GREAT ,AND GOOD SHEPHERD, BUT WE NEED TO HEED HIS VOICE AND WHERE ELSE BUT IN HIS WORD. HERE IN HIS WORD IS FOUND OUR PROTECTION FOR IT IS HIS WORD . HE WILL RESPOND TO OUR NEEDS, AS WE OBEY HIS COMMANDS. WE LIVE IN A DANGEROUS WORLD. THE WOLVES IN SHEEP CLOTHING'S BECKONED TO US, BUT NOT TO GIVE US SAFETY OR PROTECTION BUT TO DEVOUR US. SO BELOVED LET US IN THIS WORLD OF EVIL , HATRED, AND GODLESS ACTIVITIES SHUT OUT THESE GODLESS VOICES, AND ALWAYS REPLACE IT WITH HIS VOICE BUY TO DO IT QUICKLY. HIS WORD IS TRULY A DOUBLE EDGED SWORD. LET US PUT ON THE ARMOR OF GOD WHICH IS HIS WORD . WE WILL FIND A PEACE OUR LORD PROMISED US WHICH THIS WORLD CAN NEVER GIVE US. YOU KNOW WHEN YOU GET TO THE END OF THAT INCIDENT WITH MY BELLA. IT WAS HE WHO LET HER HEAR MY VOICE AND RESPOND TO IT. TRULY DOGS HAVE AN UNCONDITIONAL LOVE FOR THEIR MASTERS. BUT WE MUST ASK OURSELVES DO I HAVE ONE FOR MY BELOVED LORD JESUS.
MY DIARY DEVOTION
"WHAT WE NEED TO REMEMBER"
BY PASTOR JOE SANTOS
I WAS SPEAKING TO A LADY WHO HAD A REAL CONCERN FOR HER CHURCH, A CHURCH SHE ATTENDED FROM CHILDHOOD. SHE DID NOT UNDERSTAND WHY THE NUMBERS IN HER CHURCH WERE FALLING SO DRASTICALLY. KNOWING THAT I WAS A PASTOR SHE ASKED ME WHY THIS WAS HAPPENING IN HER CHURCH, AS IT WAS IN MANY OF THE CHURCHES IN OUR COMMUNITY. WELL, THE ANSWER CAN BE FOUND IN MANY DIFFERENT WAYS. IT COULD BE A LACK OF HUMILITY, OR OBEDIENCE TO THE WORD OF GOD, OR THAT THERE IS NOT REAL FAITH BEING EVIDENT. I HAVE HEARD THIS RECENTLY THAT IF YOU ARE SINGLE, AND YOU WANT TO FIND A MATE YOU NEED TO GO WHERE THE BIG CHURCHES ARE. BUT MY REPLY ISN'T JESUS ABLE TO MEET OUR NEEDS? DOES HE WANT US TO GO AHEAD IN OUR OWN INTELLECT APART FROM WHAT HIS WORD TELLS US? OH WHAT WOULD JESUS SAY IF HE CAME INTO MY CHURCH OR YOURS. WOULD HE BE SATISFIED WITH THE WAY WE PROCEED WITH SERVING HIM IN OUR LOCAL CONGREGATIONS? I THINK I KNOW WHAT YOUR ANSWER WOULD BE AND THAT IS HE WOULD NOT BE SATISFIED AT ALL. WE WOULD SEE HIS TEARS BECAUSE OF OUR INDIFFERENCE TO OUR GATHERING TOGETHER IN CORPORATE WORSHIP. HE WOULD TELL US MY WORD IS NOT LIVING THE PRIORITY IT NEEDS TO HAVE IN YOUR HEART AND IT EXPRESSES ITSELF IN SELF. HE WOULD ASK DO YOU LOVE ME ENOUGH? HAVE YOU TRULY REMINDED YOURSELF OF THE SUFFERING I HAVE SUFFERED FOR YOU. IT WAS A SACRIFICIAL LOVE. CAN'T YOU EXPRESS THAT SACRIFICIAL LOVE FOR ME BY YOUR OBEDIENCE TO GATHER TOGETHER IN FELLOWSHIPPING TOGETHER TO ENCOURAGE ONE ANOTHER IN PRAYER AND IN THE WORD? ON THIS MEMORIAL DAY LET US REMEMBER THE SACRIFICE OF JESUS CHRIST. IT WAS FOR YOU AND I. WE ARE IN CHRIST. WE DO NOT MANUFACTURE THE THINGS OF THIS WORLDS THINKING TO SERVE HIM IN OUR CHURCHES. NO BELOVED FOR WE ARE SEPARATED PEOPLE, NOT SEPARATED FROM WORSHIPPING HIM IN OUR LOCAL CONGREGATION, BUT REMEMBERING THAT HE IS WITH US IN THESE SERVICES. DO WE THEN GRIEVE OUR BLESSED LORD BY OUR ABSENCE, OR OUR EARTHLY REASONS FOR NOY COMING TO CHURCH, OR DO WE IN OUR DENIAL OF SELF SENSE HIS PRESENCE IN US ALWAYS, AND THEN IN OBEDIENCE TO HIM MEET TOGETHER AND ASK OURSELVES, HOW CAN I SERVE HIM IN THIS CHURCH. I TOLD THOSE WHO CAME LAST WEEK AT OUR EVENING SERVICE. WE ARE NOT BAPTISTS WHO SERVE GOD HERE IN THIS CHURCH BUT RATHER CHRISTIANS, HIS SHEEP, WHO SERVE HIM IN THIS BAPTIST CHURCH. QUITE A DIFFERENCE INDEED. LET US REMEMBER THIS ON THIS MEMORIAL DAY AND KEEP IT IN OUR MEMORY BANKS ALWAYS DEARLY BELOVED OF CHRIST.MY DIARY DEVOTION
BY PASTOR JOE
"ONLY ONE MEDIATOR. ONLY ONE"
DURING OUR MID WEEK PRAYER MEETING THIS PAST WEEK WE WERE TAKING PRAYER REQUESTS. A LADY WHO HAD COME FOR FOOD ASKED IF WE PRAYED FOR THOSE WHO WERE DEAD. OF COURSE WE POLITELY TOLD HER WE DO NOT. THIS TOOK ME BACK TO A FUNERAL I ATTENDED FOR A MAN WHO WAS A CLOSE FRIEND OF MINE IN OUR TEEN AGE YEARS. THE MINSTER IN HIS HOMILY SAID SOMETHING WHICH REALLY STUNNED ME. HE SAID TO THE GRIEVING FRIENDS AND FAMILY THAT IF THEY HAD ANY PRAYER REQUESTS THEY SHOULD DIRECT THEM TO THEIR DEAD FRIEND WHO WAS LYING IN THE COFFIN. HE, THIS MINISTER SAID, THIS MAN WOULD CARRY THEIR REQUESTS TO THE LORD JESUS CHRIST. I BELIEVE THIS WAS THE FIRST AND ONLY TIME I CAME CLOSE TO INTERRUPTING A MINISTER WHO WAS DIRECTING HIS COMMENTS TO AN AUDIENCE. WELL I KEPT MY MOUTH SHUT, BUT I WONDERED HOW ANYONE COULD EVER PUT ANYONE IN THE PLACE OF THE ONE AND ONLY MEDIATOR BETWEEN GOD AND MAN, THAT BEING THE LORD JESUS CHRIST. I HOPE THIS MINISTER CHANGED HIS DOCTRINAL STANCE. GOD KNOWS. WE ARE WARNED AS THE CHILDREN OF GOD TO BE AWARE OF FALSE TEACHERS WHO COME IN SHEEP CLOTHING, BUT INWARDLY THEY ARE WOLVES WHO SEEK ONLY TO DEVOUR THEIR PREY. SO HOW DO WE PROTECT OURSELVES? WELL, LET US LOOK AT SOME WAYS IN SCRIPTURE. FIRST, WE ARE TO PUT ON THE WHOLE ARMOR OF GOD SO THAT WE CAN ESCAPE THE FIERY DARTS OF THE EVIL ONE. THE ARMOR OF GOD IS THE WORD OF GOD. WE ARE TO PUT IT ON, AND TO PUT IT ON IS TO FIRST PUT OFF THE FLESH. THE FLESH, WHICH IN GOD'S EYES IS DEAD, IT WAS CRUCIFIED WITH CHRIST ON THE CROSS. SO THEN WE ARE TOLD TO RECKON OURSELVES DEAD TO SIN, AND ALIVE TO CHRIST. YOU SEE BELOVED THERE IS NO EXCUSE FOR US TO GO THE WAY OF THE WORLD FOR GOD HAS GIVEN US THE HOLY SPIRIT.HE LIVES IN US AND HE ENERGIZES US TO PRACTICE HIS WAYS AS REVEALED IN SCRIPTURE. WHEN WE DO WE WILL SEE CLEARLY THOSE FALSE TEACHERS WHICH GROW MORE POPULAR IN OUR SOCIETY EVERY DAY, AND REVEALED ON OUR TELEVISION SETS. BUT REMEMBER THE HOLY SPIRIT POWER IS ONLY ENERGIZED WHEN WE READ GOD'S WORD, AND OBEY IT AND WHEN WE PRAY ACCORDING TO GOD'S WILL. PRAYING ACCORDING TO GOD'S WILL IS TO PRAY IN NO OTHER NAME THEN THE NAME OF OUR BLESSED LORD. WE NEED NO OTHER NAME. NOT IN MY FRIEND WHO LAID IN HIS COFFIN OR IN ANY FRIEND OR FAMILY OF YOURS. JESUS CHRIST IS THE ALL SUFFICIENT ONE. THE VERY ONE WHO HAS HIS CHILDREN IN THE PALMS OF HIS HANDS. AND OH BY THE WAY. I WILL ASK YOU. IN YOUR MIND'S EYE. TO LOOK AT HIS PALMS FOR YOU WILL SEE THERE THE NAIL PRINTS WHICH HAVE YOUR NAME ENGRAVED THERE . ISAIAH49:16 HE TELLS US BEHOLD, I HAVE GRAVEN THEE UPON THE PALMS OF MY HANDS. THY WALLS ARE CONTINUALLY BEFORE ME . HE IS OUR GREAT, CHIEF AND GOOD SHEPHERD AND YES THE ONLY MEDIATOR BETWEEN US AND GOD THE FATHER.
"MY DIARY DEVOTION
FOR MAY 1, 2011
PRAY WITHOUT CEASING
BY PASTOR JOE SANTOS
"MY DIARY DEVOTION
FOR MAY 1, 2011
PRAY WITHOUT CEASING
BY PASTOR JOE SANTOS
WHILE VISITING MRS. THOMAS THIS WEEK I WAS SPEAKING WITH HER AND PREPARING TO PRAY FOR HER AND HER ROOM MATE. I WAS TOLD BY HER CARE GIVER TO KEEP MY VOICE DOWN. WELL YOU KNOW MRS THOMAS DID NOT TAKE THIS CORRECTIVE ACTION WELL. SHE WAS OFFENDED THAT SOMEONE WOULD TELL HER PASTOR TO CLAM UP SO TO SPEAK. SHE ASKED ME IF I WAS OFFENDED? AND OF COURSE I TOLD HER NO I WAS NOT. YOU SEE BELOVED WHEN WE PRAY IN A HOSPITAL ROOM. OR IN A HOSPICE UNIT. OR WHERE EVER VERBAL PRAYER IS EXPECTED THERE IS NOTHING WHICH CAN CURTAIL.OR DIMINISH IT'S POWER FOR HAS WE PRAY FOR GOD'S WILL TO BE DONE, AS OUR LORD TAUGHT US ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS, NOTHING CAN STOP GOD'S WILL TO BE DONE. SO I WENT ON TO PRAY FOR MRS. THOMAS, THE NURSES, AND HER ROOM MATE. I CONSIDER IT A PRIVILEGE TO PRAY. FOR I KNOW THAT THE HOLY SPIRIT IS CORRECTING OUR PRAYERS, AND BRINGING OUR PETITIONS IN HARMONY WITH THE WILL OF GOD THE FATHER. JESUS TAUGHT US TO PRAY, OUR FATHER WHO ART IN HEAVEN HOLY IS THY NAME, THY WILL BE DONE. NOW, NOTE CAREFULLY, IN HEAVEN AND ON EARTH. WHEN WE PRAY WE BRING TO THIS GOD FORSAKEN WORLD THE POWER OF GOD'S WILL. THIS BELOVED S WHERE OUR TREASURES ARE THEY ARE IN HEAVEN ,AND THEY REST IN JESUS CHRIST. WE ONLY HAVE A SMALL AMOUNT OF PEOPLE WHO COME ON WEDNESDAY'S HOUR OF POWER, AND IT SOMETIMES DISTRESSES ME. BUT I DO NOT HAVE TO GO THAT ROUTE. WE PRAYED FOR MY NEPHEWS LITTLE SON AND GOD HEALED HIM, HEALED HIM IN A WAY THAT MY NEPHEW TOLD ME SENT SHIVERS DOWN THE SPINE OF THE DOCTOR. HE SAID YOU MUST OF BEEN PRAYING FOR THIS SON OF YOURS ,AND YES GOD SAW FIT TO HEAL HIM. NOW MANY TIMES GOD WORKS IN DIFFERENT WAYS WHEN WE PRAY BUT ALWAYS ACCORDING TO HIS WILL AND NOT OURS. WE CAN TRUST HIM BELOVED TO DO WHAT IS BEST FOR OUR FRIENDS ,AND LOVED ONES .ALL WHO WE PRAY FOR. OH YES WE MAY NOT UNDERSTAND HIS WAYS ON HOW HE ANSWERS THEM, BECAUSE AS WE KNOW, HIS WAYS ARE HIGHER THEN OURS THEN THE HEAVENS ARE FROM THE EARTH. SO WE CAN REMAIN CONTENT THAT HE LOVES US, AND ALL THAT HE DOES IS GOOD. SO VERY VERY GOOD. SO WE CAN, IN ALL THINGS, IN ALLTHE CIRCUMSTANCES OF OUR LIFES GIVE HIM THANKS. YES ,THANK YOU LORD FOR YOUR ANSWER TO MY PRAYER AT THE BEDSIDE OF ADA, AND TO DAVE BRIGA AND MINE AS WE PRAYED FOR THE FAMILY OF TOMMY WALL AND FOR HIS FAMILY. WE KNOW YOU NEVER FAIL.
MY DIARY DEVOTION FOR 4/3/2011
"A CHALLENGE FOR OUR CHURCH"
BY PASTOR JOE SANTOS
TOM PRICE WHO HELPS A GREAT DEAL WITH OUR FOOD BANK MENTIONED TO ME THIS PAST WEEK THAT THE FOOD IN OUR FOOD BANK WAS BEGINNING TO GET OUT DATED AND HE ASKED ME IF WE COULD SHARE SOME OF IT WITH THE SAINT ANN'S KITCHEN WHO WAS VERY SHORT IN SUPPLIES FOR THE NEEDY. I DID NOT HESITATE, BUT TOLD HIM TO GO AHEAD AND SHARE IT. NOW I KNOW THE DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE, WHO SUPPLIES US THE FOOD THROUGH THE SALVATION ARMY, HAS A HUNDRED AND ONE RULES ABOUT WHO AND WHEN WE GIVE THE FOOD OUT. BUT AS ALWAYS I HAVE NOT GONE ALONG WITH THEM. I GOT FRUSTRATED MANY YEARS AGO, WHEN I HAD TO THROW OUT BOXES OF OUTDATED FOOD BECAUSE OF THESE NONSENSICAL RULES, AT LEAST AS I DETERMINED THEM TO BE. SO LET US GET THE SPIRITUAL LESSON IN ALL THIS, AND SEE IF YOU AGREE. FIRST, WE ARE TOLD IN GALATIANS 2:10 A SIMPLE COMMAND TO REMEMBER THE POOR. THIS BRINGS ME TO THE NEXT QUESTION I HAVE AND THAT IS, WHY DOES GOD ALLOW SO MANY OF HIS CHILDREN TO BE POOR? HE COULD OF, IF HE WANTED TO, MADE THEM ALL RICH IF HE PLEASED. I MEAN OUR LORD OWNS THE CATTLE ON A THOUSAND HILLS. WELL,, THE ANSWER IS, HE SEES IT TO BE THE BEST FOR THEM. AND ANOTHER REASON, AS I SEE IT IN SCRIPTURE ,IS THAT WE, WHO HAVE PLENTY (SUCH AS OUR FOOD BANK) HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SHOW OUR LOVE FOR OUR LORD JESUS. HOW? WELL YOU GUESSED IT BY OUR GIVING TO MEET THE NEEDS OF OTHERS WHO ARE IN NEED. WHEN WE MINISTER TO THEM WE ARE IN ESSENCE LOVING, NOT ONLY IN WORD BUT IN DEED, IN ACTION, BELOVED. LOVE IS AN ACTION THAT DEMONSTRATES OUR LOVE FOR CHRIST JESUS. IF WE LOVE HIM WE WILL LOVE ALSO THOSE HE LOVES. IT IS NOT A DUTY TO GIVE OUT FOOD FOR THOSE IN NEED, IT IS RATHER A PRIVILEGE TO RELIEVE THE POOR OF GOD'S SHEEPFOLD, AND ALSO TO THOSE OUTSIDE OF HIS SHEEPFOLD. SO IN CONCLUSION. I ASK WILL OUR LOVE FOR JESUS MOTIVATE US TO HELP OTHERS WITH A WILLING HAND AND A LOVING HEART? LET US CLOSE WITH THE WORDS OF OUR BLESSED REDEEMER:" IN AS MUCH AS YOU HAVE DONE IT TO THE LEASE OF MY BRETHREN YOU HAVE DONE IT TO ME". WOW! DOESN'T THAT MOTIVATE YOU TO HELP MOVE OUR FOOD BANK INTO THE HANDS OF THE NEEDY. IF SO. I EXPECT WE WILL SEE FINALLY PEOPLE BEING HELPED WITH THE FOOD GOD HAS PROVIDED US AND NOT TO SIT ROTTING IN OUR FOOD BANK BUT FEEDING THE POOR. LET'S GET ON WITH IT FOR HIS GLORY.
FOLLOWING THE LEADER
"
My Diary Devotion
A Godly Woman
By Pastor Joe Santos
IARY DEVOTION
"MEN SHOULD BE MEN"
BY PASTOR JOE SANTOS
I WAS UP AT THE CMC FOR A MEDICAL TEST ONE COLD MORNING LAST WEEK. THE ELEVATOR DOOR OPENED, AND I MOTIONED TO THE LADY WHO WAS ALSO WAITING TO PRECEDE ME INTO THE ELEVATOR. SHE SEEMED SURPRISED THAT I DID THAT, SO I MENTIONED TO HER THAT LADIES BEFORE GENTLEMEN WAS MY MOTTO. SHE SMILED AND SAID, OH YES THAT WAS IN YOUR DAY, BUT TODAY THE MEN DO NOT, FOR THE MOST PART, PUT LADIES BEFORE THEMSELVES. THAT IS SAD SHE SAID. I THOUGHT ABOUT THAT AS I MADE MY WAY TO THE X RAY DEPARTMENT. MEN ARE NOT WHAT THEY SHOULD BE NOT IN THE 21ST CENTURY, BUT REALLY NOT IN ANY CENTURY. THE ONLY WAY THEY CAN BE CONSIDERED MEN IN THE REAL SENSE IS WHEN THEY OBEY AND HONOR GOD'S COMMAND TO THEM IN REGARD TO THEIR WIVES, AND THEIR CHILDREN. THE MAN IS TO BE THE SPIRITUAL LEADER IN HIS HOME. HE IS TO NURTURE HIS FAMILY IN SPIRITUAL WAYS BY SHOWING THEM THE EXAMPLE OF OBEDIENCE TO THE WORD OF GOD. OH, SOME MEN SAY, IT IS TOO HARD TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE NURTURING SPIRITUALLY OF MY WIFE. I HEARD ONE MAN SAY WIVES ARE NOT LIKE THEY USE TO BE IN THE BIBLE DAYS. I SAY HOGWASH. A WIFE NEEDS PROTECTION AND PROVISION. THIS INVOLVES THE PHYSICAL, AS WELL AS THE SPIRITUAL. LEADERSHIP IS DIFFICULT, BUT GOD DOES NOT LEAVE THE CHRISTIAN MAN WITHOUT THE TOOLS NECESSARY TO BE ALL HE SHOULD BE TO HIS FAMILY. OUR LORD TELLS US IN ISAIAH 41;10. Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand" WE ARE, AS MEN, TO TAKE UP OUR CROSS AND FOLLOW JESUS. DID YOU GET THAT LAST STATEMENT? WE ARE TO FOLLOW JESUS. THIS MEANS THAT IF WE ARE TO LEAD SPIRITUALLY WE MUST KNOW GOD'S WORD. WE MUST STUDY IT, AND SHARE IT WITH OUR FAMILY. WE MUST PRAY FOR OUR WIFE'S AND CHILDREN DAILY. DO WE? DO WE GUIDE THEM SPIRITUALLY WHEN THEY FALTER, AS WE ALL DO. MEN ARE TO BE LEADERS IN THIS RESPECT. THEY ARE TO SPIRITUALLY GUIDE THEIR WIVES. COUNCIL THEM IN THE WORD OF GOD, AND SHOW THEM THE EXAMPLE OF CHRIST'S LOVE AND THIS AS WE ALLOW HIM TO LIVE HIS LIFE IN US. THIS IS THE LOVE THAT WILL REFLECT UPON A WIFE THE GOODNESS OF GOD, AND WILL BE A BLESSING TO HER. YES, AS THAT LADY SAID, MEN ARE NOT WHAT THEY USED TO BE. SADLY SHE IS RIGHT. WE ARE NOT WHAT WE SHOULD BE AND TO BE THAT MAN WE MUST PUT CHRIST FIRST AND FOREMOST AND LIVE LIVES WHICH WILL HONOR HIM, AS WE TAKE UP HIS COMMAND FOR US TO BE LEADERS IN OUR HOMES. WILL WE? IT IS TIME MEN TO GROW UP AND TO BE A MAN. BE EVERYTHING GOD WANTS YOU AND I TO BE. THE BALL IS IN OUR SIDE OF THE COURT AND WE BETTER KEEP IT THERE AND NOT PASS IT OVER TO ANYONE OR ANYTHING ELSE. SO BE A MAN.
"TAKE A LOOK"
BY PASTOR JOE SANTOS
I WANT TO TAKE A PAGE OUT OF MY DEVOTIONAL DIARY . IT GOES BACK TO WHEN I LAST WAS IN THE HOSPITAL LAST SEPTEMBER. I MADE FRIENDS WITH THE GENTLEMEN IN THE NEXT BED. THIS MAN HAD A LARGE FAMILY, AND ONE OF THEM WAS AN OUTGOING 10 YEAR OLD. ONE DAY I WAS ASKING HIM IF HE WENT TO A YOUTH GROUP AND HE SAID HE DID, AND HE LIKED IT A LOT. I ASKED HIM THEN ABOUT WHAT THEY TAUGHT HIM ABOUT JESUS. HE KIND OF CHANGED THE SUBJECT SO I BROUGHT HIM GENTLY BACK ON IT. I AGAIN SAID HIM WHAT HE TAUGHT OF JESUS? HE DROPPED HIS GAZE, AND SAID OH HE DIED ON A CROSS A LONG TIME AGO BUT NO ONE SAW HIM SINCE. I THEN SAID WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE HIM NOW? HE APPEARED SHOCKED AT MY SUGGESTION, BUT HE SAID YES HE WOULD. WELL, WE WERE ON THE 8 TH FLOOR OF THE CMC HOSPITAL AND HE WAS FACING ME. BEHIND HIM WAS A LARGE WINDOW, AND THE SCENE OUTSIDE THAT WINDOW WAS A PANORAMIC VIEW OF THE WEST MOUNTAIN WITH ALL THE BEAUTIFUL FOREST, AND THE CLOUDLESS SKY TOUCHING THE TOP OF THE MOUNTAINS. I ASKED HIM TO TURN AND LOOK OUT THE WINDOW WHICH HE DID, BUT WHEN HE TURNED BACK TO ME HE SEEMED DISAPPOINTED. THERE IS NO JESUS THERE HE SAID TO ME. OH BUT HE SPEAKS TO YOU CLEARLY IN WHAT HE HAS CREATED. DO YOU, I ASKED THIS YOUNGSTER, BELIEVE MAN CREATED THIS SCENE YOU SEE IN FRONT OF YOU? HE KIND OF SHRUGGED HIS SHOULDERS AND GOT BUSY PLAYING A GAME. THE BIBLE CLEARLY STATES THAT THE CREATION SPEAKS VOLUMES TO THE EXISTENCE OF GOD SO THAT UNSAVED MAN IS WITHOUT EXCUSE. I TOLD THIS YOUNG FELLOW I WOULD PRAY FOR HIM AND I DID. BUT I ALSO TAUGHT THAT MAYBE WE TOO OFTEN SHIELD OURSELVES WITHIN THE FOUR WALLS OF OUR CHURCHES, WHEN THE FACT IS GOD IS NOT RESTRICTED, BUT HIS GLORY SHINES FORTH. I GUESS WE NEED TO STOP AND SMELL THE ROSES SO TO SPEAK, AND POINT THEM TO OUR UNSAVED FRIENDS AND FAMILY. IT IS INDEED A SMELL THAT BURNS WITHIN OUR VERY SOULS.
MY DIARY DEVOTION FOR 4/3/2011
"A CHALENGE FOR OUR CHURCH AND YOU'
BY PASTOR JOE SANTOS
TOM PRICE WHO HELPS A GREAT DEAL WITH OUR FOOD BANK MENTIONED TO ME THIS PAST WEEK THAT THE FOOD IN OUR FOOD BANK WAS BEGINNING TO GET OUT DATED AND HE ASKED ME IF WE COULD SHARE SOME OF IT WITH THE SAINT ANN'S KITCHEN WHO WAS VERY SHORT IN SUPPLIES FOR THE NEEDY. I DID NOT HESITATE, BUT TOLD HIM TO GO AHEAD AND SHARE IT. NOW I KNOW THE DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE, WHO SUPPLIES US THE FOOD THROUGH THE SALVATION ARMY, HAS A HUNDRED AND ONE RULES ABOUT WHO AND WHEN WE GIVE THE FOOD OUT. BUT AS ALWAYS I HAVE NOT GONE ALONG WITH THEM. I GOT FRUSTRATED MANY YEARS AGO, WHEN I HAD TO THROW OUT BOXES OF OUTDATED FOOD BECAUSE OF THESE NONSENSICAL RULES, AT LEAST AS I DETERMINED THEM TO BE. SO LET US GET THE SPIRITUAL LESSON IN ALL THIS, AND SEE IF YOU AGREE. FIRST, WE ARE TOLD IN GALATIANS 2:10 A SIMPLE COMMAND TO REMEMBER THE POOR. THIS BRINGS ME TO THE NEXT QUESTION I HAVE AND THAT IS, WHY DOES GOD ALLOW SO MANY OF HIS CHILDREN TO BE POOR? HE COULD OF, IF HE WANTED TO, MADE THEM ALL RICH IF HE PLEASED. I MEAN OUR LORD OWNS THE CATTLE ON A THOUSAND HILLS. WELL,, THE ANSWER IS, HE SEES IT TO BE THE BEST FOR THEM. AND ANOTHER REASON, AS I SEE IT IN SCRIPTURE ,IS THAT WE, WHO HAVE PLENTY (SUCH AS OUR FOOD BANK) HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SHOW OUR LOVE FOR OUR LORD JESUS. HOW? WELL YOU GUESSED IT BY OUR GIVING TO MEET THE NEEDS OF OTHERS WHO ARE IN NEED. WHEN WE MINISTER TO THEM WE ARE IN ESSENCE LOVING, NOT ONLY IN WORD BUT IN DEED, IN ACTION, BELOVED. LOVE IS AN ACTION THAT DEMONSTRATES OUR LOVE FOR CHRIST JESUS. IF WE LOVE HIM WE WILL LOVE ALSO THOSE HE LOVES. IT IS NOT A DUTY TO GIVE OUT FOOD FOR THOSE IN NEED, IT IS RATHER A PRIVILEGE TO RELIEVE THE POOR OF GOD'S SHEEPFOLD, AND ALSO TO THOSE OUTSIDE OF HIS SHEEPFOLD. SO IN CONCLUSION. I ASK WILL OUR LOVE FOR JESUS MOTIVATE US TO HELP OTHERS WITH A WILLING HAND AND A LOVING HEART? LET US CLOSE WITH THE WORDS OF OUR BLESSED REDEEMER:" IN AS MUCH AS YOU HAVE DONE IT TO THE LEASE OF MY BRETHREN YOU HAVE DONE IT TO ME". WOW! DOESN'T THAT MOTIVATE YOU TO HELP MOVE OUR FOOD BANK INTO THE HANDS OF THE NEEDY. IF SO. I EXPECT WE WILL SEE FINALLY PEOPLE BEING HELPED WITH THE FOOD GOD HAS PROVIDED US AND NOT TO SIT ROTTING IN OUR FOOD BANK BUT FEEDING THE POOR. LET'S GET ON WITH IT FOR HIS GLORY.
MY DAILY DEVOTION
"ALONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN"
BY PASTOR JOE SANTOS
IT WAS WEDNESDAY EVENING AND I WAS AT THE CHURCH GETTING READY FOR THE HOUR OF POWER SERVICE AT BETHEL. AS I SAID. I WAS THERE, BUT NO ONE ELSE WAS PRESENT. I LOOKED AROUND AND THOUGHT TO MYSELF, WHY WOULD A CHURCH NEED A PASTOR IF THERE ARE NONE OF HIS FOLLOWERS TO MINISTER TO? JUST THEN THE DOOR OPENED AND IN WALKED LOU AND JONATHAN. SO AGAIN THE WORDS OF MY LORD SPOKE TO ME WHICH WERE, THAT WHEN 2 OR 3 ARE GATHERED IN MY NAME THERE I AM IN THE MIDST OF THEM. AS WE WENT ON IN OUR ACOUSTIC STUDY ON THE LAMB OF GOD. WE CAME TO THE B WHICH STOOD FOR BREAD. JESUS IS THE BREAD OF LIFE. I WAS STILL DISCOURAGED ABOUT THE TIME I STOOD IN THE FELLOWSHIP HALL WITH NONE OF MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN THE LORD THERE, AND MY LORD USED THAT WORD BREAD TO SPEAK TO ME ABOUT THIS. AS I RELATED IT TO LOU AND JONATHAN. HE SPOKE IN JOHN 5 OF HIM BEING THE BREAD OF LIFE. HE SAID THAT ANYONE WHO ATE THIS BREAD WOULD FIND LIFE ETERNAL. WELL, AS THE TEXT WENT ON HIS FOLLOWERS LEFT HIM THINKING WRONGLY THAT JESUS WAS TEACHING THAT ONE WOULD HAVE TO LITERALLY EAT HIS BODY. JESUS TOLD THEM HE BEING THE BREAD SIGNIFIED SPIRIT AND LIFE. BUT THIS DID NOT REGISTER WITH HIS FOLLOWERS. THEY TURNED THEIR BACK ON JESUS, AND NO LONGER WALKED WITH HIM. AS THEY WALKED AWAY JESUS TURNED TO HIS TWELVE DISCIPLES AND ASKED THEM, DO YOU WANT TO GO AS WELL? PETER HAD THE ANSWER TO OUR LORD'S QUESTION, AND I PRAY THAT IT IS OURS AS WELL. HE SAID, LORD TO WHOM CAN WE GO? YOU HAVE THE WORDS OF ETERNAL LIFE. YOU, LORD, ARE THE HOLY ONE OF GOD. OH BELOVED DO WE PUT HIM FIRST. DO WE HONOR HIM, DO WE PRAISE HIM BY COMING TO HIM IN CORPORATE PRAYER, AND IN THE STUDY OF HIS WORD? OR IS THERE SOMETHING WHICH OFFENDS US WHICH KEEPS US FROM DOING WHAT HONORS HIM. LET US NOT BE AS THOSE ISRAELITES WHO OUR LORD SAID COME NEAR TO HIM WITH THEIR WORDS, BUT THEIR HEARTS ARE FAR FROM HIM. WE DARE NOT GO THIS ROUTE AS THE CHURCH AT LAODICEA DID. THIS CONGREGATION WHO WERE NEITHER COLD NOR HOT, AND BECAUSE OF THIS GOD SPEWED THEM OUT OF HIS MOUTH. LET US RATHER WORSHIP HIM IN OUR OBEDIENCE. I TRUST I WILL NEVER BE AT ANOTHER SERVICE WHERE THE ONLY COMPANY I HAVE TO MINISTER TO ARE THE FOUR WALLS OF BETHEL. OH, AND BY THE WAY THANK YOU LOU AND JONATHAN FOR YOUR FAITHFUL WORSHIP AND BEING THERE TO ENCOURAGE ME, BUT MORE SO TO HONOR YOU GOD IN THE VERY WAY WHICH WILL GIVE BETHEL POWER TO SERVE, TO PRAISE, TO HONOR, THE BREAD OF LIFE. WHAT A FEAST OF SPIRITUAL NOURISHMENT THIS IS INDEED. YES BELOVED AS MATT. 16:18 TELLS US BETTER A LITTLE CHURCH ON THE ROCK THAN A BIG CHURCH ON THE SAND.+
"NOT A WALK IN THE PARK"
BY PASTOR JOE SANTOS
I WAS WALKING MY PUPPY DOG AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD THE OTHER DAY. FIRST I NEED TO TELL YOU MY DOG IS ABOUT 8 POUNDS. WHY I NEEDED TO TELL YOU THAT IS BECAUSE AS I WAS WALKING HER A COUPLE OF TEENS COMING FROM SCHOOL THOUGHT SHE WAS NOT MUCH OF A DOG, AND THEY SAID HAS MUCH, WHEN THEY SHOUTED TO ME AND BELLA IN A SARCASTIC TONE THESE WORDS." BOY MISTER YOU SURE HAVE AN AWESOME DOG THERE. AND THEY LAUGHED AND WENT ON THEIR WAY. WELL, WHAT THEY DID NOT KNOW WAS THAT ALTHOUGH BELLA IS A SMALL DOG IN HER MIND'S EYE SHE IS THE TOUGHEST PIT BULL ON THE FACE OF THE EARTH. WELL. NOW HOW CAN I MAKE ANY SPIRITUAL APPLICATIONS TO THIS ONE EVENT IN MY LIFE, AS I TRY TO DO IN THESE WEEKLY MESSAGES. THE APPLICATION IS REAL EASY. THESE YOUNGSTERS FELT THAT MY DOG WAS WEAK BECAUSE THEY LOOKED ONLY ON THE OUTSIDE, AND IT IS TRUE IF YOU LOOK ONLY ON THE OUTSIDE OF ANY INDIVIDUAL OR DOG YOU CAN COME TO THE WRONG CONCLUSION. TAKE A BELIEVER WE MAY BE ELDERLY, OR MAY BE CRIPPLED, OR SICK. BUT NO MATTER WHAT THE OUTSIDE APPEARANCE IS THAT BELIEVER IS INDEED VERY, VERY STRONG. AND WHY, YOU MAY ASK .WELL YOU KNOW THE ANSWER .ALL BELIEVERS ARE INDWELLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT, AND AS THE SCRIPTURE BEARS OUT, ALTHOUGH THE OUTWARD MAN IS PERISHING THE INWARD MAN IS BEING RENEWED DAY BY DAY. IN OTHER WORDS THE CLOSER WE GET TO REACHING GLORY THE STRONGER WE ARE BECOMING, THAT IS SPIRITUALLY SPEAKING OF COURSE. PERHAPS, IF MY DOG COULD OF UNDERSTOOD THE RIDICULE DIRECTED AT HER SHE COULD OF MADE IT CLEAR VERBALLY THAT SHE WAS NO WEAKLING. BUT WE, HAS BELIEVERS, HAVE NO NEED TO DEFEND OURSELVES FOR WE HAVE THE POWER OF GOD LIVING IN US, AND SINCE WE DO WE NEVER HAVE TO FEEL THAT GOD HAS SHORTCHANGED US. WE MAY BE GETTING ON IN YEARS. WE MAY BE DIM OF SIGHT, OR HEARING. BUT IF WE ARE A CHILD OF GOD WE HAVE OUR LORD JESUS LIVING IN US. AND THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO POWER GREATER THEN HIS POWER. WE CAN STAND STRONG IN THE POWER GRANTED TO US BY FAITH. AND WHAT A STRONG COMMODITY INDEED WE HAVE. IT IS ALL WE NEED TO LIVE A LIFE CHARACTERIZED BY SPIRITUAL STRENGTH, AND IF I SEE THOSE BOYS AGAIN I WILL TELL THEM IT IS AN AWESOME POWER INDEED SOMETHING THEY NEED. FOR IT IS GIFT THAT WILL MAKE THEM MORE THEN CONQUERORS. IT IS A GIFT NO ONE CAN OR WILL FIND UNDER THEIR CHRISTMAS TREES FOR THE GIFT IS FREE AND IT GIVEN SOLELY BY GOD'S MAGNIFICENT GRACE
MY DIARY DEVOTIONS
"RIGHT ON DIRECTIONS"
BY PASTOR JOE
PASTOR DOM AND MYSELF WERE GOING TO A CEMETERY THIS PAST THURSDAY TO OFFICIATE AT A CELEBRATION OF LIFE FOR OUR GOOD FRIEND'S DAVE BRIGA'S BROTHER RICHARD. NOW, AS WE MADE OUR WAY TO THIS CEMETERY I THANK GOD THAT DOM WAS DOING THE DRIVING AND NOT ME. HE NEVER WAS AT THAT CEMETERY. AS I WAS NOT. BUT DOM IS VERY GOOD AT FINDING PLACES. UNLIKE ME. IF IT DEPENDED ON ME GETTING THERE WE WOULD STILL BE SEARCHING. YOU SEE I HAVE MUCH OF A SENSE OF DIRECTION UNLESS I HAVE BEEN AT THE PLACE AT LEAST A DOZEN TIMES. NOW WHAT SPIRITUAL CONNECTION CAN BE MADE BY THIS. WELL YES IT IS TRUE THAT ALL THOUGH MY DIRECTION SKILLS ARE SHODDY AT BEST. WHAT IS TRUE IS THAT MY SAVIOUR HAS MY HAND IN HIS. AND HE DIRECTS ME ON THE WAY HE WOULD HAVE ME TRAVEL. WHEN I DO GET OFF THE NARROW PATHWAY HE IS GRACIOUS TO BRING ME BACK SAFELY. AND WITH A NEW DIRECTION FOR MY LIFE. WE HAD OUR SERVICE FOR RICHARD BRIGA'S FAMILY. AND I THOUGHT ABOUT THIS CERTAIN SURE PATHWAY GOD HAS GIVEN TO ALL OF HIS CHILDREN. RICHARD WAS ON THIS PATHWAY. AS ALL BELIEVERS ARE. I ASK. DO WE KNOW THE WAY TO OUR ETERNAL HOME? WELL. IF IT DEPENDED ON US WE WOULD NOT FIND IT. NOR COULD WE. BUT GOD SHOWS US THE WAY. FOR IT IS HIS PATHWAY. AND HE IS THE WAY. OUR WAY, OUR DIRECTION. TO BE ONE ETERNAL DAY AT THAT PLACE WHERE OUR NAMES ARE WRITTEN IN THE HEAVENLIES. HOW GOOD IT IS TO KNOW THAT THOUGH WE MAY LOSE OUR DIRECTION IN THIS LIFE, HE GUIDES US HE GENTLY TAKES US TO BE WITH HIM. THOMAS TOLD HIS LORD, WE DO NOT KNOW THE WAY JESUS. HIS LORD SPOKE RESPONDED WITH THESE WORDS . I AM THE WAY. BOY I AM GLAD I DON'T NEED ANYONE OR ANYTHING AT ALL TO FIND MY HOME IN HEAVEN. I JUST NEED TO WAIT ON HIM. HE WILL TAKE ME THERE. HE WILL DO IT ALSO FOR YOU WHO ARE IN CHRIST. WHILE WE WAIT FOR THAT GLORIOUS DAY WE CAN TAKE GREAT JOY IN KNOWING THERE IS NO POSSIBLE WAY FOR US TO GET LOST FOR WE ARE SECURE IN HIS BLESSED HANDS. BOY WHAT A GPS THIS IS.
MY DIARY DEVOTIONS
2010-12-27
