Sheep

Photo by Country Hearts

"My sheep hear My voice,

and I know them,

and they follow Me;

and I give eternal life to them,

and they shall never perish;

and no one shall snatch them out of My hand.

"My Father, who has given them to Me, 

is greater than all;

and no one shall snatch them out of My hand.

I and the Father are one."

John 10: 27-30

Photo by Country Hearts

Have a blessed Lord's Day my friends!

Christa

“My sheep hear my voice, and I know

them, and they follow me; and I give

eternal life to them, and they shall

never perish; and no one shall snatch

them out of the Father’s hand.

John 10:27-28

Oh Lord, Thou hast searched

Me and known me.

Thou dost know when I sit down

and when I rise up;

Thou dost understand my thought

from afar.

Thou dost scrutinize my path and

my lying down, and art intimately

acquainted with all my ways.

Even before there is a word on my

tongue, behold, O Lord, Thou dost

know it all.

Thou hast enclosed me behind

and before, and laid Thy hand upon me.

Such knowledge is too wonderful

for me;

It is too high, I cannot attain to it…

~

Psalm 139

If then you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.

Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.

For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.

Colosians 3:1-4

Today we are snowed in and our church family will not be meeting, so our family will be worshiping the Lord here at home.  Steve has a sermon on "The Sabbath" by Dan Horn that we will be listening to along with singing some hymns.  

I pray your family will have a blessed day in the Lord.

 

Playing Church

At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, "Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?"  And He called a child to Himself and set him before them, and said, "Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you shall not enter the kingdom of heaven.  "Whoever then humbles himself as this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.  "And whoever receives one such child in My name receives Me;...

 ~

Matthew 18:1-5  

~

Christa

Do Not Be Anxious

"For this reason I say to you, do not be anxious for your life, as to what you shall eat, or what you shall drink; nor for your body, as to what you shall put on.  Is not life more than food, and the body than clothing?

Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.  Are you not worth much more than they?

And which of you by being anxious can add a single cubit to his life's span?

And why are you anxious about clothing?  Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory did not clothe himself like one of these.

But if God so arrays the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown in to the furnace, will He not much more do so for you, O men of little faith?

"Do not be anxious then, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'With what shall we clothe ourselves?'

"For all these things the Gentiles eagerly seek; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.

"But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

"Therefore do not be anxious for tomorrow; for tomorrow will car for itself.  Each day has enough trouble of its own.

~

Matthew 6:25-34

~

Have a blessed Lord's Day

~

Christa

Pushing The Rock

Therefore having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character, and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.  For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.

Romans 5:1-6

Pushing The Rock

There was a man who was asleep one night in his cabin when suddenly his room was filled with light and the savior appeared.  The Lord told the man he had work for him to do, and showed him a large rock in front of his cabin.  The Lord explained that the man was to push against the rock with all his might.  The man did, day after day.  For many years he toiled from sun up to sun down, his shoulders set squarely against the cold, massive surface of the unmoving rock pushing with all his might.  Each night the man returned to his cabin sore an worn out, feeling that his whole day had been spent in vain.

~

Seeing that the man was showing signs of discouragement, Satan decided to enter the picture placing thoughts into the man's mind such as, You have been pushing against that rock for a long time and it hasn't budged.  Why kill yourself over this?  Are you ever going to move it?  etc.  Thus, giving the man the impression that the task was impossible and that he was a failure.

~

These thoughts disouraged and disheartened the man even more.  Why kill myself over this, he thought.  I'll just put in my time, giving just the minimum of effort and that will be good enough.  And that he planned to do until one day he decided to make it a matter of prayer and take his troubled thoughts to the Lord.  "Lord" he said, "I have labored long and hard in your service, putting all of my strength to do that which you have asked.  Yet, after all of this time, I have not even budged that rock a half a millimeter.  What is wrong?  Why am I failing?"

~

To this the Lord responded compassionately, "My friend, when long ago i asked you to serve me, I told you that your task was to push against the rock with all of your strength, which you have done.  Never once did I mention to you that I expected you to move it.  Your task was to push.  and now you come to me, your strength spent, thinking that you have failed.  But, is that really so?  Look at yourself.  Your arms are strong, and muscled, your back sinew and brown, your hands are callused from constant pressure, and your legs have become massive and hard.  Through opposition you have grown much and your abilities now surpass that which you used to have.  Yet you haven't moved the rock.  But your calling was to be obedient and to push and to exercise your faith and trust in my wisdom.  This you have done.

I, my friend, will now move the rock.

~

Author unknown 

Sufficiency of Scripture Conference

This week, our family is at the Sufficiency of Scripture Conference in Cincinnati, Ohio.  Instead of buying Christmas gifts for one another, we decided to put our money into this conference.  We're so glad we did.  The teaching is excellent and I wish you all could be here.  Last night ended our day with Paul Washer preaching the gospel.  If you have heard him preach before, you probably understand how the evening ended. 

I thought I would share the memory verse for the conference

And that from a child thou hast known

the holy scriptures, which are able to make

thee wise unto salvation through faith

which is in Christ Jesus.

All scripture is given by inspiration of

God, and is profitable for doctrine, for

reproof, for correction, for instruction in

righteousness:

That the man of God may be perfect,

thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

II Timothy 3:15-17

~ Blessings ~

~ Christa ~

My heart is steadfast, O God; I will sing, I will sing praises, even with my soul.  Awake, harp and Lyre; I will awaken the dawn!  I will give thanks to thee, O Lord, among the peoples; and I will sing praises to Thee among the nations.  For Thy lovingkindness is great above the heavens; and Thy truth reaches to the skies.  Be exalted, O God, above the heavens, and Thy glory above all the earth.  That Thy beloved may be delivered, save with Thy right hand, and answer me!

~

Psalm 108:1-6

~

Have a blessed Lord’s Day

~

The Smith Family

Happy Thanksgiving

O come, let us sing for joy to the Lord; let us shout joyfully to the rock of our salvation.

Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving; let us shout joyfully to Him with Psalms.

For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods, in whose hand are the depths of the earth; the peaks of the mountains are His also.

The sea is His, for it was He who made it; and His hands formed the dry land.

Come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord our Maker.

For He is our God, and we are the people of His pasture, and the sheep of His hand.

“Thine, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, indeed everything that is in the heavens and the earth; Thine is the dominion, O Lord and Thou dost exalt Thyself as head over all.

Both riches and honor come from Thee, and Thou dost rule over all, and in Thy hand is power and might; and it lies in Thy hand to make great, and to strengthen everyone.

1 Chronicles 29:11-12

And in the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness;  for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words;  and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.

Romans 8:26-28

Have a blessed Lord's day

~ Christa ~

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say rejoice!

let your forbearing spirit be known to all men.  The Lord is near.  Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things.

Philippians 4:4-8

Amen!

~ Christa ~

Hi Friends, I know I posted this Psalm before, but I just love it and wanted to share it again.

Enjoy your fellowship with Him every day!

~ Christa ~

Praise the Lord!

Praise the Lord from the Heavens

Praise Him in the Heights!

Praise Him, all His angels

Praise Him, all His hosts!

Praise Him, sun and moon

Praise Him, all stars of light!

Praise Him, highest heavens, and the waters that are above the heavens!

Let them praise the name of the Lord, for He commanded and they were created.

He has also established them forever and ever;

He has made a decree which will not pass away.

Praise the Lord from the earth, sea monsters and all deeps;

fire and hail, snow and clouds;

stormy wind, fulfilling His word;

Mountains and all hills;

fruit trees and all cedars;

Beasts and all cattle;

Creeping things and winged fowl;

Kings of the earth and all peoples;

Princes and all judges of the earth;

Both young men and virgins;

Old men and children.

Let them praise the name of the Lord, for His name alone is exalted;

His glory is above earth and heaven;

And He has lifted up a horn for His people, praise for all His godly ones;

Even for the sons of Israel, a people near to Him.

Praise the Lord!

Psalm 148

As our family travels through some difficult times, we know that these trials are not something that happens out of God's control. In fact, we believe He has ordained these things to happen in our lives for a purpose. I am comforted to know that our Lord causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28
If you are a believer experiencing some hard times, let me encouraged you to meditate on God's word this morning.

Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all men generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

James 1:2-8


Praise the Lord, all nations; laud him, all peoples!
For His lovingkindness is great toward us, and the truth of the Lord is everlasting.

Praise the Lord

Psalm 117



Find comfort in His word this morning!

~ Christa ~

Shout joyfully to the Lord, all the earth.
Serve the Lord with gladness; come before Him with joyful singing.
Know that the Lord Himself is God; it is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; we are His people and the sheep of His pasture.

Enter His gates with thanksgiving, and His courts with praise.
Give thanks to Him; bless His name.
For the Lord is good; His loving kindness is everlasting, and His faithfulness to all generations.

Psalm 100

Have a blessed Lord's Day

~ Christa ~