Let Israel find joy in their creator. Let the people of Zion rejoice over their king. Let them praise his name with dancing. Let them make music to him with tambourines and lyres, Psalm 149:2-3 GW

Those Christians or not who think Christianity is all long faces and somber spirits need to get into God's Word more. It is filled with joy and celebration. I've never seen a people who had so many holidays as the Jewish people.

While there are times to reflect and be serious, joy, not depression should be the natural attitude of God's people. After all, He created us to laugh and appreciate as well as create beauty and with a spirit of hope, celebration and rejoicing.

Look up. Count your blessing and follow God's principle of joy.

Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I say, Rejoice! Phil. 4:4 MKJV

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Posted by Carolyn R Scheidies at 8:55 AM CDT

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So what does this mean, brothers and sisters? When you gather, each person has a psalm, doctrine, revelation, another language, or an interpretation. Everything must be done to help each other grow. 1 Corinthians 14: 26 GW

God doesn't give us gifts, talents and abilities to squander on ourselves, hide away unused or used for evil/selfish purposes. God gives us abilities that we might hone and use them to help and build up one another.

Do I use the abilities God has given! Do I hone them and then use them to build uo others in Christ's love?

Help me have a giving heart, Jesus, with regard to the use of my talents. Help me recognize they come from You and are to be used in Your loving service. Amen.

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Posted by Carolyn R Scheidies at 8:56 AM CDT

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You know that when you were unbelievers, every time you were led to worship false gods you were worshiping gods who couldn't even speak.  1 Corinthians 12:2 GW

In our so-called "tolerant" culture we fear claiming anything as true or false. In fact, the only real "truth" in our culture is that Christians who truly live their faith are not tolerated. Why?

Because we live and die by one truth, Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Him. (John 14:6)

Without truth we have chaos. Not every philosophy can possibly be true unless there is no reality. If there is no reality then nothing matters and we are of all creatures most miserable, wondering in darkness, thinking we're significant when we are nothing more than an evolutionary process.

But if you accept reality, accept knowable truth, then the message of love and forgiveness makes sense and gives a solid basis of hope.

Let go false "gods" and embrace the reality of a being who created and watches over His world with compassion and care.

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Posted by Carolyn R Scheidies at 9:08 AM CDT

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One generation will praise your deeds to the next. Each generation will talk about your mighty acts. Psalm 145:4 GW

How do our children share our values? We must model them and we must talk about them, showing how Godly principles impact our lives.

Do we tell our kids not to steal, but bring home supplies from work? Do we say not to cheat, but laugh at how we "cheat" on taxes. Do we say, "Obey the laws," but speed?

Values are caught as well as taught. Make sure your actions match you mouth. Live your principles, and, most likely, your children will follow.

V.17 The LORD is fair in all his ways and faithful in everything he does.

Are we?

Imitate me as I imitate Christ. 1 Corinthians 11:1 GW

I don't want wicked people to die." declares the Almighty LORD. "I want them to turn from their evil ways and live. Ezekiel 18:23 GW

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Posted by Carolyn R Scheidies at 10:02 AM CDT

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Blessed are the people whose God is the LORD! Psalm 144:15b GW

Do we truly want God to bless us as individuals, families and as a nation? Then we have to do one very important thing--put Christ and His principles first in our hearts, our lives and in all we think, say and do.

It isn't rocket science, but in a culture that discourages those who live a value based life, it isn't always simple. But if we desire God-s blessing, it is of primary importance.

How do we know God and learn His principles? Read/study His book regularly, talk to Jesus, and do life His way.

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Posted by Carolyn R Scheidies at 7:05 AM CDT

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Let me hear about your mercy in the morning, because I trust you. Let me know the way that I should go, because I long for you. Psalm 143:8 GW

We often live any way we please then expect God to save us when we get into trouble. Worse, we blame Him when our lives aren't smooth sailing. How arrogant.

The Psalmist knew how to reach God. He realized God wasn't his personal magician, but the Creator, the God of the universe. In light of who God is, this king of Israel knew his attitude needed to be as one petitioning someone of much higher status and authority.

He longed for more of God, more of His mercy, more of His direction.

If we want to interact with the God of Scripture we need to come in the same way as the Psalmist, humbly, laying our sorry lives and choices before Him, not demanding resolution to our problems, but asking for mercy and help.

V.10 Teach me to do your will, because you are my God. May your good Spirit lead me on level ground.

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Posted by Carolyn R Scheidies at 8:51 AM CDT

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Knowledge makes people arrogant, but love builds them up. 1 Corinthians 8b:

We think we're so smart because of our intelligence or because we know more, are more educated, etc., than someone else. But when we live our lives by knowledge alone, we're only half living.

When we leave out love, we leave out compassion, leave out the caring support of spouse and family. Most of all we leave out Jesus Christ who is truth, who is love and who wants to give us life in abundance.

I'm all for education, intelligence and knowledge, but true knowing comes at the feet of Christ. True knowledge is based on a life-long desire to "know" Him.

V.2-3 Those who think they know something still have a lot to learn. But if they love God, they are known by God. 

V.6 But for us, "There is only one God, the Father. Everything came from him, and we live for him. There is only one Lord, Jesus Christ. Everything came into being through him, and we live because of him."

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Posted by Carolyn R Scheidies at 8:36 AM CDT

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O LORD, set a guard at my mouth. Keep watch over the door of my lips. Psalm 141:3

How often should I be praying this prayer? How often do I open mouth, insert foot? You'd think I'd learn.

Maybe the problem is I 'm not walking as close to Christ or listening to His voice as I should. Maybe I need to start working on that.

Help me, Lord, follow You more today. 

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Posted by Carolyn R Scheidies at 9:26 AM CDT

Updated: Wednesday, 26 March 2008 9:28 AM CDT

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ALL WHO CALL

(c) 2008 Carolyn R Scheidies 

I am glad we have a Savior that hears and answers prayer...

Because He cares, He came

Because of our sin, He died on a cross

Because He loves His creation,

   He rose to offer life and hope

        To all who call on Him.

 I have come so that they might have life , and that they might have it more abundantly. I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. John 10:10b-11 MKJV

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Posted by Carolyn R Scheidies at 8:27 AM CDT

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Kings will mourn, and princes will give up hope. The common people will lose their courage. I will give them what they deserve and judge them as they have judged others. Then they will know that I am the LORD. Ezekiel 7:27

Israel turned their backs on God and He, eventually, had to judge them. We're at this place as well. As a nation and culture we've turned our backs on God, on His Word, on truth. Instead, because we no longer know the truth or even try to know God's Word, we follow feel-good philosophies such as the New Age paganism espoused by Oprah and other celebrities--even some pastors.

We are also receiving the leaders we deserve; those who are Anti-American, anti-individual freedom, anti-life. We're getting exactly what we've asked for by turning away from Christ.

Nevertheless, there is hope if we turn back to Him.

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Posted by Carolyn R Scheidies at 8:56 AM CDT

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AS HE SAID

© 2008 by Carolyn R Scheidies

He is not here, for He has risen, as He said. Matthew 28:6a GW

And he said to them, Do not be frightened. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He is risen, He is not here. Behold the place where they laid Him.  But go tell ... Mark 16:6-7a GW

He is risen

            As He said,

Savior who bled

            And died for U & I,

That we might choose to live each day

            With Him 2 guide

Living forever with Him

            Thru eternity

Because He's alive

            So are U

            So am I!

He is not here, but has risen. Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee, saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified, and the third day rise again?  Luke 24:6-7 GW

And Thomas answered and said to Him, My Lord and my God! Jesus said to him, Thomas, because you have seen Me you have believed. Blessed are they who have not seen and have believed. John 20:28-29 GW

V. 31 But these are written so that you might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you might have life in His name.  GW

Posted by Carolyn R Scheidies at 8:28 AM CDT

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So I encourage you to imitate me. 1 Corinthians 4:16

The apostle Paul wasn't arrogant in saying "imitate me." Instead, he was leaving us an example to follow. We should follow Christ so closely that others who follow us will also be following Christ.

Do I live for Christ closely enough to be confident I'm leading others to and not away from Christ by my words and behavior?

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Posted by Carolyn R Scheidies at 9:01 AM CDT

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As a skilled and experienced builder, I used the gift that God gave me to lay the foundation for that building. However, someone else is building on it. Each person must be careful how he builds on it.  1 Corinthians 3:10

Each of us has gifts and abilities God wants us to use for building His kingdom and to help others grow in Him. But it isn't a competition. We are to invest in the lives of others God's principles not getting upset when others invest as well. No convert is "ours." We all belong to Christ. It is for Him and His kingdom we build. It is a humbling experience and a shared responsibility.

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Posted by Carolyn R Scheidies at 9:58 AM CDT

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Son of man, don't be afraid of them or the things they say. Don't be afraid, even though thorns and thistles are around you and you live among scorpions. Don't let the things they say frighten you. Don't be terrified in their presence, even though they are rebellious people. Speak my words to them whether they listen or not, because they are rebellious.  Ezekiel 2:6-7

God told Ezekiel not to be afraid no matter what happened, that God would take care of him as long as he spoke God's Words.

We fear something as mild as a funny look, a derogatory word. What sort of Christ-followers are we when we're anything but fearless. Faith and fear cannot live together. If we fear we're not living by faith or if we're not living by faith, how can we say w 're following Christ or serving Him?

We need to be Ezekiels doing God's bidding regardless of the cost--fearless in following Him.

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Posted by Carolyn R Scheidies at 8:25 AM CDT

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Jesus said to him, Thomas, because you have seen Me you have believed. Blessed are they who have not seen and have believed.  And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book.  John 20:29-30 MKJV

The Bible doesn't catalog all of the miracles Jesus did. It is simply a representation of them for one reason--that we might believe.

What does it take for us to believe Jesus is who He said He is? Or do we say we believe, but live like we don't. Or do we only take the parts that fit our own concepts, which puts Jesus in a box? We basically make up our own religion and wonder why God doesn't perform to our specifications.

Jesus isn't a performing monkey. He is Creator, Sustainer of the Universe. He asks us to trust and follow Him, accept the gift of life He offered by dying on the cross for our sin and rising again to give new and lasting life.

Anything less than this is false and not from God, including Oprah's foray into New Age theology with no salvation and no cross. It isn't new and it will not fill that God-shaped hole inside the soul.

V. 31 But these are written so that you might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you might have life in His name. 

Jesus Christ is the (only) way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Him. John 14:6

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Posted by Carolyn R Scheidies at 8:34 AM CDT

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