tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27757725441366874972024-03-14T02:10:50.550-07:00Ozark Country ParsonThoughts from Pastor Darrell Ezell of Ozark View ChapelKarla Cook @ Roads to Everywherehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00902429832411315003noreply@blogger.comBlogger166125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2775772544136687497.post-30148272809009405322020-05-24T18:31:00.002-07:002020-05-24T18:31:18.310-07:00Spiritual Eyesight<br />
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Some years ago while driving I notice that the road signs
were blurring<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>but I didn’t think much
about it at the moment. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I thought it
would pass but it didn’t. I made an appointment with an optometrist and for the
first time in my life, I needed glasses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>When I received my first pair, I was amazed at how much better I could
see. Now every year I have my eyes checked.<o:p></o:p></div>
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As I was reading Psalms 119 again this morning, there were
some verses that jumped out at me that I want to share about seeing.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">v. 18 “Open my eyes
that I may see wondrous things from your law.”<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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Psalm 119 has lots to say about the Word of God. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">For example</b>; Walking
in the word, seeking the Word, keeping the Word, taking heed to the Word,
hiding the Word in the heart, declaring the Word, meditating on the Word, being
revived by the Word and that is just a few things about God’s Word in Psalms
119.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But unless we can see with
spiritual eyes, all of it is just words on a paper. Our pray should always be,
Lord open my eyes that I might see you through your Word.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">v. 37 “Turn away my
eyes from looking at worthless things.”<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Matthew Henry says, “</b><i><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI","sans-serif";">Turn
away my eyes from beholding vanity</span></i><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI","sans-serif";">. The honors, pleasures, and profits of the world
are the vanities, the aspect and prospect of which draw multitudes away from
the paths of religion and godliness. The eye, when fastened on these, infects
the heart with the love of them, and so it is alienated from God and divine
things; and therefore, as we ought to <i>make a covenant with our eyes</i>,
and lay a charge upon them, that they shall not wander after, much less fix
upon, that which is dangerous so we ought to pray that God by his providence
would keep vanity out of our sight and that by his grace he would keep us from
being enamored with the sight of it. “</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">v.123 “My eyes fail
from seeking your salvation and your righteous word. “<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;">What a way to
lose our eye sight. Seeking God’s Word for our salvation. </span><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Though our eyes fail, yet God’s Word does not, and therefore
those that build upon it, though now discouraged, shall in due time see his
salvation.</span><span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;">How well do
you see the Word of God? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is it just
paper with ink on it, or does it reveal things about God to you?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is it time for a visit to your spiritual optometrist?
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You might be surprised what you can see
after your visit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;">The Bible is full of
things to see if we look for them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />Darrell Ezellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14471359843016267299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2775772544136687497.post-29180366991592465602020-05-07T20:06:00.001-07:002020-05-07T20:06:59.549-07:00Giving to God<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Giving to God</span></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-aee7aabe-7fff-edc7-61d5-8b57ff14f5bc" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Malachi 3:10, The scripture says for us to bring all of the tithes into the storehouse. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Giving to God is a great blessing. We can’t out give the Lord. The song says “Count your many blessings, name them one by one.” How many blessings have you counted? It does not take long for us to realize that we can’t count God’s blessing to us. Everyday God blesses us in some way or the other. Even in the bad times!</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">In this chapter God says if you give to me I will bless you in a great way. Here’s how!</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">“I will open (just for you) the windows of heaven. And I will pour out (just for you) such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it.”</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">2 Chron 31:10 says “Since the people began to bring the offerings into the house of the Lord, we have had enough to eat and have plenty left, for the Lord has blessed His people; and what is left in great abundance.”</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">When God opens the windows of heaven, get ready because the blessings are coming! Not maybe, but in reality! It will be more than you can handle. . </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Luke 6:38 tells us that if we give “It will be given to us In good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over and it will be put into us.”</span></div>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">If you give God your tithe, you can expect God’s greatest blessing. </span></div>
Darrell Ezellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14471359843016267299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2775772544136687497.post-72817753648430471752020-05-02T06:32:00.004-07:002020-05-02T06:32:29.618-07:00Using common sense<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #0a0a0a; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Isa 35:8,</span></b><span style="color: #0a0a0a; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> “</span><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">And an
highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called the way of holiness;
the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring
men, though fools, shall not err therein.”</span><span style="color: #0a0a0a; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0a0a0a; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">During a visit to the mental asylum, a visitor asked the director
what the criterion was which defined whether or not a patient should be
institutionalized. "Well," said the director, "we fill up a
bathtub, then we offer a teaspoon, a teacup and a bucket to the patient and ask
him or her to empty the bathtub." "Oh, I understand," said the
visitor. "A normal person would use the bucket because it’s bigger than
the spoon or the teacup." "No." said the Director, "A normal
person would pull the plug. Do you want a bed near the window?"</span></div>
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<span style="color: #0a0a0a; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0a0a0a; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Abraham Lincoln said, “When you have got an elephant by the hind
legs and he is trying to run away it’s best to let him go.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0a0a0a; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Do we use common sense when it come to the Word of God? There
are those out there that just don’t use common sense when it comes to preaching
the Word of God. They try to make the scriptures say what it doesn’t say.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0a0a0a; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">It is a thousand times better to have common sense without education
than to have education without common sense. (Robert Ingersoll)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0a0a0a; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Common sense is genius dressed in its working clothes. (Robert
Waldo Emerson)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0a0a0a; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">All that Jesus taught was common sense. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #0a0a0a; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Common sense: The
ability to think and behave in a reasonable way and to make good decisions.
Sound, prudent judgment based on simple perception of the facts or situations.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">If we use
common sense to apply the Word of God, our lives would not be so confusing. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">James 3:13 </span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Who is wise and understanding<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>among<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in meekness of
wisdom.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Use common
sense when it comes to spiritual things.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />Darrell Ezellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14471359843016267299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2775772544136687497.post-31578070573064845772020-04-28T07:52:00.005-07:002020-04-28T07:52:49.392-07:00Watching your spiritual life<br />
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">I Cor. 16:13-14, <b>“Watch,</b> stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong.
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let all that you do be done with love.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">I think we all will agree that we are living in the last days. Things
are happening fast around us that point to the soon return of the Lord.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #55555a; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Mark 13:32-33, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“But of that day and hour no one knows, not
even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Take heed, watch and
pray; for you do not know when the time is,”<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #55555a; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In Matthew 25 Jesus
tells us about the ten virgins that went out to meet the bridegroom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Bible says that they all slumbered and
slept. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We all know what happens, but at
the very end of the story Jesus said this, “Watch therefore for you know
neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of man is coming.”<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #55555a; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We have got to be vigilant and never be complacent! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You never know what and how the enemy would
plan to spoil the joy, happiness, and peace, to rob you of your eternal reward.</span><span style="display: none; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 8.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hide: all;">Top of Form</span><span style="color: #55555a; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Never let your guard down.<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<b><i>Watch your thought. They become words!<o:p></o:p></i></b></div>
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<b><i>Watch your word. They become actions!</i><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><i>Watch your actions. They become habits!<o:p></o:p></i></b></div>
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<b><i>Watch your habits.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They become character!<o:p></o:p></i></b></div>
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<b><i>Watch your character. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It becomes your destiny! </i></b><o:p></o:p></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Micah 6:8</b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #0a0a0a; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“</span></span></b><span style="background: white; color: #0a0a0a; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord
require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with
your God?</span>”<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />Darrell Ezellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14471359843016267299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2775772544136687497.post-22613072138636165512020-04-24T07:44:00.001-07:002020-04-24T07:44:12.775-07:00Having Access to God<br />
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">In order to
have access to the president of the United States, one would have to be someone
special. Not just anyone can come before him, just to say hi. You have to be someone
of importance to get to talk to him. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t
try it, whatever you do, just don’t try it. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you do there will be men in black suits
that will stop you. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oh! I know that
people get to touch him if he is walking through a crowd shaking hands and a
person <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>might by change get to touch him or
to give a high five, but that isn’t having close access to him. If you call the
White House to talk to him you won’t get through. It’s almost Impossible to
have close access with him. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even people
of power and importance have to have an appointment. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Now his family has access to him whenever and
wherever they want.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They don’t have t</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">o
have a pass or an appointment. </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">They
might have to wait until he is free, but they can talk to him without the
Secret Service saying, “no you can’t see him.” Can you imagen them trying to
stop his wife? </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">I don’t think so!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Well, we
might not have full access to the leader of our nation but as a Christian we do
have access to God the Father who is more powerful that anyone in power on
earth. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">You see, we
who have been forgiven have access to God because we are His family. He is God
our father. We have been adopted into the family. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Romans 8:14-15; “</span></b><span class="text"><b><sup><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. </span></b></span><span class="text"></span><b><sup style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span id="en-AKJV-28132" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">15 </span></span></span></sup></b><span class="text"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye
have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.</span>”</b></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Heb 4:16; “Let us therefore come
boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help
in time of need.”<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<br />Darrell Ezellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14471359843016267299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2775772544136687497.post-78784941860428057112020-04-22T13:16:00.000-07:002020-04-22T13:16:17.348-07:00How Wise Are You?<br />
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">How wise are
you?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What is wisdom? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Webster says wisdom is “T</span><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">he soundness of an action or decision with
regard to the application of experience, knowledge, and good judgment.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">There are those today that
are not using good wisdom when it come to the Coronavirus. Their decision
produces actions that are not good judgment. Thus putting others in danger. </span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">On
the other hand there are those who do not use wisdom when it comes to
Godliness. They don’t take advantage of the knowledge they know about what the Bible
says about being born again nor of their knowledge of what the Bible says about
the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in those who obey Him. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #0a0a0a; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">It doesn’t take reading
Proverbs very much before you are confronted with the subject of wisdom. The
Book is full of this topic. In fact, Proverbs means wise sayings. The Book of
Proverbs is a compilation of wise sayings – mostly from King Solomon, the
wisest man who ever lived. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #0a0a0a; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">There are many wonderful
benefits of wisdom and many hardships come from a lack of wisdom.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Proverbs 4:5-9</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="background: white; color: #0a0a0a; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or turn away from
them. Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch
over you. The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom. Though it cost all you
have, get understanding. Cherish her, and she will exalt you; embrace her, and
she will honor you. She will give you a garland to grace your head and present
you with a glorious crown.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">From the
Message Bible, in the book of James 1:5-6, </span></b><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“</span><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">If you don’t
know what you’re doing, pray to the Father. He loves to help. You’ll get his
help, and won’t be condescended to when you ask for it. Ask boldly,
believingly, without a second thought. People who “worry their prayers” are
like wind-whipped waves. Don’t think you’re going to get anything from the
Master that way, adrift at sea, keeping all your options open.”</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Again from the Message Bible, James 3:13, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“</span></b><b><sup><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></sup></b><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">Do you want to be counted wise, to build a
reputation for wisdom? Here’s what you do: Live well, live wisely, live humbly.
It’s the way you live, not the way you talk, that counts. Mean-spirited
ambition isn’t wisdom.”</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Let’s see what happens when we pray for Godly
Wisdom. I think we will see a big change in our lives. </span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />Darrell Ezellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14471359843016267299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2775772544136687497.post-60230220949197769402020-04-19T14:27:00.000-07:002020-04-19T14:27:27.227-07:00Our Wonderful God<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">St. Augustine said; “
He knows how to be everywhere in His whole being and to be limited by no place.
He knows how to come without departing from the place where He was; He knows
how to go away without leaving the place whither He has come… He is everywhere
in His whole being, contained by no place, bound by no bound, divisible into no
parts, mutable in no respect, filling heaven and earth with His presence of His
power.”<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<br />
Have you ever wondered how God can be everyehere at the same time? How can He be with me here and be with you wherever you are? That's our God! He will never leave us nor forsake us.<br />
<br />
<b>Revelation 1:8 </b>"I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end, says the Lord. Who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty."<br />
<b>Deuteronomy 33:27</b> The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms."<br />
<br />
<b>Bishop Weaver said, </b>"Fix in the mind that there is with God a mode of being entirely different from ours; that all that is, or has been, or will be, is part of His serene and ever present consciousness; that God is to what we call time that which He is to space; that He who inhabits immensity, also and equally inhabits eternity."<br />
<br />
Now I know that is a lot to process but remember the greatest thing about our God is the fact that He loves us and that His grace is always abounding for us.<br />
<br />Darrell Ezellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14471359843016267299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2775772544136687497.post-75888013593207594382020-04-15T10:01:00.001-07:002020-04-15T10:01:23.189-07:00Giving God The Glory<br />
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Psalm 115<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The Coronavirus is running wild in our country and people are
very fearful. But to those who serve God, He is faithful to give help.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Matthew Henry says, “Some think this Psalm was penned upon occasion of some
great distress and trouble that the church of God was in, when the enemies were
in insolent and threatening, in which case the church does not so much pour out
her complaint to God as place her confidence in God, and triumph in doing so;
and with such a holy triumph we ought to sing this psalm.</span>”<o:p></o:p></div>
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This Psalm tells us that God is worthy of glory. He is worthy
of our praise because of His <o:p></o:p></div>
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love and faithfulness. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We don’t have to ask the question, “Where is
our God?” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We know that He is in heaven and
He does whatever He desires.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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The more we read this Psalm, the more it tells us about God’s
love and faithfulness in our life. <o:p></o:p></div>
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The world serves idols that have no life and that are crafted
by man, supported by Satan. <o:p></o:p></div>
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These idols have mouths that cannot speak. They have eyes
that cannot see. They have ears that cannot hear. This chapter tells how useless
these idols are.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have a living God
who cares for us!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Three times this
chapter tells us, “He is our helper (Holy Spirit) and shield (faith)!” <o:p></o:p></div>
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<span class="text"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">It goes on to say, “He remembers
and blesses us!” <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="text"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">No wonder the scripture says, ”Not
unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but to your name give glory.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But we will bless the <span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"></span></span><span class="small-caps"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-variant: small-caps; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">Lord</span></span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"> <span class="text">from now to eternity.</span></span> <span class="text">Hallelujah!</span> <o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">No matter
what, give God the glory!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />Darrell Ezellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14471359843016267299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2775772544136687497.post-26747967240587411612020-04-12T07:37:00.001-07:002020-04-12T07:37:49.097-07:00It's Sunrise<br />
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I am
reporting <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>from just outside the city, on
a hill called Golgotha, “the place of the skull” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>were criminals are being put to death by crucifixion!
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
can see in the distance the three crosses. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can hear the cries of the mourners! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can hear the soldiers as they mocked and
beat the one in the middle!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I just saw
one pierce His side with a spear. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just
at that very moment, I heard a voice cry out, “My God, My God, why have you
forsaken me?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Wait! I can now see one as
He put something</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">on a sponge and offered
it to the one who cried out. </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">I could
tell that the one they called Jesus was in a real battle.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">What I didn’t </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">know at the time, I found out later, that it
was for the souls of all of mankind. </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Then
I heard Him cry out again, “Father into your hands I commit my spirit!” Then He
died! </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The day Jesus died was an awful
day. </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">When He cried out, “It is finished,”
with a loud voice things began to happen. </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Luke described
the day as “Darkness over all the earth, and the sun was darkened.” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Matthew
says, “The earth quaked and the rocks were split,” so much that graves were
opened. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The vail of the temple was torn
open. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The battle for sin was almost
over. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I say almost because <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>it will not be over until Sunrise!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What a night It was.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Matthew Henry wrote, “</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This <i>loud
voice</i> shows that he attacked our spiritual enemies with an undaunted
courage, and in this loud voice he did, as it were, <i>shout for mastery,</i> as
one <i>mighty to save.”<o:p></o:p></i></span></b></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Then
as the crowd began to depart, I saw some people go to the cross that was in the
middle and take the body down, It was the one they called Jesus. I followed
them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They took the body to a tomb and placed
Him inside and rolled a big stone over the opening to seal it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Because
of the earthquake and the darkness, I was afraid for my life because I didn’t
know what was happening! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was so
overcome with fear, I thought I would lay down on the hillside to rest a little
before I could make my way home, but I fell asleep, and the next thing I knew
the sun was coming up.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">As
I started home, I saw a women coming up the trail that lead to the tomb were
Jesus was placed. Then the earth began to shake, and the earth shook again, and
I saw an angel roll the stone away. The guards shook with fear and looked like
they were dead. I knew how they felt. But I didn’t let my fear get the best of
me. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">As
I looked, I could see the tomb was opened. Then I saw two men bright as any
light, setting outside the tomb.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I
made my way closer, I heard one of them say to the ladies, “Do not be afraid,
for I know you seek Jesus who was crucified.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He is not here. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Come see the
place where He laid.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">As
I stood there spell bound, my mind began to come alive. I remembered the scrolls
I had read from the writers of old, that had described the death and resurrection
that I was witnessing! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">The
sunrise had come in more than one way. My spiritual darkness was gone and I
could see clearly that Jesus loved me. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">It was done, it was finished</span>,<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> and <span style="background: white;">Christ had won. He was risen</span>!
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He gives g<span style="background: white;">race and love to all who will accept Him as Lord of their life. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Love has triumphed over death forever</span>.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The Sun (Son) has come up
and He is Lord! Let us walk in His sunlight!</span><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />Darrell Ezellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14471359843016267299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2775772544136687497.post-81435758336006878762020-04-11T07:24:00.004-07:002020-04-11T07:24:33.255-07:00Fear of the resurrection<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #0a0a0a; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Matthew
28:1-6</span></b><span style="color: #0a0a0a; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> “</span><span class="text"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">After
the Sabbath, as the first light of the new week dawned, Mary Magdalene and the
other Mary came to keep vigil at the tomb. Suddenly the earth reeled and rocked
under their feet as God’s angel came down from heaven, came right up to where
they were standing. He rolled back the stone and then sat on it. Shafts of
lightning blazed from him. His garments shimmered snow-white. The guards at the
tomb were scared to death. They were so frightened, they couldn’t move.</span> </span><span class="text"><b><sup><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">5-6 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">The
angel spoke to the women: “There is nothing to fear here. I know you’re looking
for Jesus, the One they nailed to the cross. He is not here. He was raised,
just as he said. Come and look at the place where he was placed.</span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #0a0a0a; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">I found this story :<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #0a0a0a; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">“In a cemetery in Hanover, Germany, is a grave on which were
placed huge slabs of granite and marble cemented together and fastened with
heavy steel clasps. It belongs to a woman who did not believe in the
resurrection of the dead. Yet strangely, she directed in her will that her
grave be made so secure that if there were a resurrection, it could not reach
her. On the marker were inscribed these words: "This burial place must
never be opened." In time, a seed, covered over by the stones, began to
grow. Slowly it pushed its way through the soil and out from beneath them. As
the trunk enlarged, the great slabs were gradually shifted so that the steel
clasps were wrenched from their sockets. A tiny seed had become a tree that had
pushed aside the stones.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0a0a0a; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The dynamic life force contained in that little seed is a faint
reflection of the tremendous power of God’s creative word that someday will
call to life the bodies of all who are in their graves. He will also bring back
every person drowned at sea, cremated, or destroyed in some other way. This is
no problem to the One who made something out of nothing when He spoke the
universe into existence. Unbelief cannot deter the resurrection. But faith in
the risen Christ opens the door to blessings that His resurrection guarantees
-- a glorious new spiritual body and a home in heaven. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0a0a0a; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">In new bodies we will be reunited with saved loved ones to live
with Jesus throughout all eternity.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />Darrell Ezellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14471359843016267299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2775772544136687497.post-67759367588601709842020-04-08T14:38:00.002-07:002020-04-08T14:38:23.230-07:00The Miracle of the Burial of Jesus<br />
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<span style="background: white; color: #0a0a0a; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">We know that at Easter lots of miracles take place. But did
you know that the burial of Jesus was a wonderful miracle?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #55555a; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Normally, victims of
crucifixion were not buried. So how did Jesus escape the normal disposal of a crucified
body? The scripture tells how God did it.</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #0a0a0a; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Now when evening had come, the Jews asked
Pilate that their legs should be broken, and that they might be taken away.
They did not want the bodies to remain on the cross on the Sabbath. It was
Preparation Day, which was a high Sabbath. There came a rich man named Joseph.
He was from Arimathea, a city of the Jews. He was a prominent council member
and had not consented to their decision and deed. He was a good and just man.
Joseph had been waiting for the kingdom of God and became a disciple of Jesus.
He was a disciple in secret, for fear of the Jews. Joseph took courage and went
to Pilate and asked that he might take away the body of Jesus. Pilate marveled
that He was already dead. He summoned a centurion and asked him if Jesus had
been dead for some time. When Pilate found out from the centurion that Jesus
was dead, he granted the body to be given to Joseph. Joseph took the body of
Jesus down. Nicodemus also came bringing about a hundred pounds of myrrh and
aloes. Then they took the body of Jesus, bound it in strips of linen with the
spices as the custom of the Jews is to bury. The body of Jesus was laid in a
new tomb that Joseph had hewn out of the rock where no one had ever lain. So
there they laid Jesus. They rolled a large stone against the door of the tomb
and departed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0a0a0a; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Now there are a few things going here, that were different from
normal crucifixions.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0a0a0a; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">First, the Jews asked Pilate to break the legs of the three men
on the crosses so they would not be able to hold themselves up and they would
suffocate to death. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0a0a0a; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Now, we may be under the assumption that once a person was dead
on the cross, that the family would take the body and bury it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But that’s not what normally happened. The
Romans often broke the prisoner's legs to hasten death and usually would not
allow burial. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0a0a0a; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Usually the body was left to rot on the cross and this was done
as a deterrent to those who entered the city, or </span><span style="color: #0a0a0a; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">many
bodies would be tossed into an area, like a landfill, outside of the city.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0a0a0a; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">So why was it important to them that Jesus and the two robbers’
bodies be removed before this particular Sabbath?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0a0a0a; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">That wasn’t God’s
plan. Jesus himself had said He would be buried and rise on the third day. Under
these circumstances, it would take a miracle for Jesus to be buried, much less
to rise from the grave. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0a0a0a; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The miracle of God
came through a man named Joseph. The Bible says that Joseph was a rich man from
a Jewish city called Arimathea. He was a member of the Sanhedrin Council which
had orchestrated the capture and crucifixion of Jesus. But Joseph didn’t agree
with their plan because he was a disciple of Jesus.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0a0a0a; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The Bible says Joseph
was a good and just man. After Jesus was crucified, he knew that his body would
not be given to the family for burial. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0a0a0a; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Since Joseph was on
the Sanhedrin Council, he was able to meet with Pilate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Based on that verification, Pilate gave
Joseph permission to take the body.</span><span style="display: none; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hide: all;">Top of FormBottom of Form</span><span style="color: #0a0a0a; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: #0a0a0a; font-family: "Open Sans","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The Bible tells us that it was Joseph who took the body down
from the cross. After they carefully removed the body of Jesus from the cross, they
tenderly moved Him to a new tomb that belonged to Joseph. They prepared His
body for burial in the manner of the Jews. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They wrapped him in linen cloth and spices. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Finally, they placed his body in the tomb and
rolled a large stone against the door of the tomb </span><span style="color: #0a0a0a; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0a0a0a; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">It took a </span><span style="background: white; color: #0a0a0a; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">miracle for the for the body of Jesus to be
buried but God is a God of Miracle. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #0a0a0a; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">If you think that was a great miracle, just
wait until Sunday! </span><span style="color: #0a0a0a; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />Darrell Ezellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14471359843016267299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2775772544136687497.post-18653926705025031622020-04-06T13:01:00.001-07:002020-04-06T13:01:14.089-07:00His eyes are upon you<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Luke 22 :61<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered the
words of the Lord."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Judas had sold Jesus
for thirty pieces of silver. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They had
brought Jesus to high Priest’s house. The multitude had gathered and the trial
of Jesus had begun. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Some had make eye
contact with Peter and made accusation against Him saying you are one of the
followers of Christ . But three times Peter denied the Lord. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">While he was speaking
his last denial then the rooster crowed !!!! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Then something
happened <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">“ The Lord turned and Looked at
Peter.” </b>Of all of the people that was there Jesus found Peter and look into
His eyes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Then Peter remembered
the words of the Lord. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">What did he remember?
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Look at v.31 “ The Lord Simon, Simon!
Indeed Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have
prayed for you, that your faith may not fail.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">What did Peter see
when He saw the Lord looking at Him? Love, Compassion and forgiveness! </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Then Peter went out
and wept bitterly.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Psalms 34:15</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “ The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears
are opened to their cry.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Can you ever remember when the Lord looked into
your eyes?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">Civilla Martin
wrote this song in 1905<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Why should I feel discouraged</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> <span style="background: white;">Why should the shadows come</span> <span style="background: white;">Why should my heart feel lonely</span> <span style="background: white;">And long for heaven and home</span> <span style="background: white;">When Jesus is my portion</span> <span style="background: white;">A constant friend is He</span> <span style="background: white;">His eye is on the sparrow</span> <span style="background: white;">And I know
He watches over me.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Let not your heart be troubled; these tender
words I hear;</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> <span style="background: white;">And resting on his goodness I lose
my doubts and fears;</span> <span style="background: white;">For by the path He
leadeth but one step I may see;</span> <span style="background: white;">His eye
is on the sparrow and I know He watches me.</span> <span style="background: white;">His eye is on the sparrow and I know He watches me.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Whenever I am tempted; whenever clouds arise;
When songs give place to sighing; when hope within me dies;</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> <span style="background: white;">I draw the closer to Him; from care He sets me free;</span><br />
<span style="background: white;">His eye is on the sparrow and I know He watches
me.</span> <span style="background: white;">His eye is on the sparrow and I know
He watches me.”</span></span><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />Darrell Ezellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14471359843016267299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2775772544136687497.post-31654818223385786192020-04-04T14:44:00.003-07:002020-04-04T14:44:33.971-07:00What are you worried about<br />
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Looking out
my office window this morning I see the trees that are putting on the new
growth. The birds are singing in the trees. The new day is dawning. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All of God’s nature is rejoicing. The reality
came crashing down, about the troublesome times we are living in. Then
questions<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>begin popping up in my mind. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will not bore you with all of them because
you know what questions there are because you have them to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But the big question is will we make it?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">My mother
used to say to the family when things were not going good, “don’t worry about
it!” She even called us worry warts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Whatever that was I never did know. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But she was trying to tell us not to worry because
she knew that God was in charge. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I then
turned my heart and eyes back to the window and again saw how God is working in
nature. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I thought of these passage of
scripture.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<h3 style="background: white; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 15.0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Matt 6: 25-30 Says stop
worrying. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">“That’s why I’m telling you to stop worrying about
your lifewhat you will eat or what you will drink</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">or about your
body what you will wear. Life is more than food, isn’t it, and the body more
than clothing? </span><sup><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">26 </span></sup><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Look at the birds in the sky.
They don’t plant or harvest or gather food into barns, and yet your heavenly
Father feeds them. You are more valuable than they are, aren’t you? </span><sup><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">27 </span></sup><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Can any of you add a single hour
to the length of your life</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> by
worrying? </span><sup><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">28 </span></sup><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">And why do you worry about
clothes? Consider the lilies in the field and how they grow. They don’t work or
spin yarn, </span><sup><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">29 </span></sup><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">but I tell you that not even
Solomon in all of his splendor was clothed like one of them. </span><sup><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">30 </span></sup><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Now if that is the way God
clothes the grass in the field, which is alive today and thrown into an oven
tomorrow, won’t he clothe you much better—you who have little faith?”</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></h3>
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<a href="https://www.google.com/search?rlz=1C1AVSE_enUS449US453&sxsrf=ALeKk02K7NAvKvHouC_mbw9skw_3MGBpZw:1586006442654&q=Mahalia+Jackson&stick=H4sIAAAAAAAAAONgVuLUz9U3MDQziy9cxMrvm5iRmJOZqOCVmJxdnJ8HAHwYK4sfAAAA&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwinsYC17s7oAhXumq0KHdd-DwEQMTAAegQIEBAF"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: text1;">Mahalia Jackson</span></a><span style="color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: text1;"> sang this song. </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Why should I feel
discouraged? And why should the shadows come? Why should my heart feel lonely
And long for heavenly home. When Jesus is my portion? And my constant friend is
He. You know, his eye is on the little sparrow And I know he cares for you and
me, His eye is on the little sparrow And I know God is watching over you and me.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I sing because my soul
is happy. I sing because I'm free, For His eye, it is on the little sparrow And
I know He's watching over you and me.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />Darrell Ezellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14471359843016267299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2775772544136687497.post-72380123607433166112020-04-03T15:45:00.002-07:002020-04-03T15:45:35.814-07:00Hearing From Heaven<br />
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Genesis 17:3 “ Then Abram fell on his face,
and God talked with him.”<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">When is the last time you heard from heaven? Many
people have running through life without God or His Son. They have not had time
for God. But now the world as knew it <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>has come <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>to a standstill.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is a good time to talk to God and hear
from heaven. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">I think the first time I tried to sing a special
in church I sang this song.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">I JUST HEARD FROM HEAVEN<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">“Once
I wandered out in sin, far from God away,<br />
But the Savior took me in, gave me peace that day.<br />
Al my heart to Him I give, no more sin allowed,<br />
And I've just heard from heaven, and it's all right now.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">CHORUS:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Well,
I've just heard from heaven and there's one thing I know.<br />
My sins are all forgiven, He washed me white as snow.<br />
The load that once I carried, He took away somehow,<br />
And I've just heard from heaven, and it's all right now.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Trials
come to you and me, burdens hard to bear,<br />
But Our heartaches, grief, and pain He will gladly bear.<br />
So just look up and trust in Him, and leave your burdens there,<br />
And you will hear from heaven when you call in prayer.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">When
my load is hard to bear, and my path dim,<br />
No one else seems to care, then I go to Him.<br />
He's my intercessor there, so at His feet I bow,<br />
And I've just heard from heaven, and it's all right now."<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<br />Darrell Ezellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14471359843016267299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2775772544136687497.post-24404330879814523592020-04-02T06:26:00.001-07:002020-04-02T06:26:13.229-07:00Have faith no matter what<br />
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<br /></div>
<div style="background: white;">
<span style="color: #0a0a0a; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Sometimes make belive stories have great truth and I found one
that I think has great truth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white;">
<span style="color: #0a0a0a; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background: white;">
<span style="color: #0a0a0a; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">“Two traveling angels stopped to spend the night in the home of
a wealthy family! The family was rude and refused to let the angels stay in the
mansion’s guest room. Instead the angels were given a small space in the cold
basement. As they made their bed on the hard floor, the older angel saw a hole
in the wall and repaired it. When the younger angel asked why, the older angel
replied, “Things aren’t always what they seem.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: white; box-sizing: inherit; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin: 1rem; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="color: #0a0a0a; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">The next night the pair came to
rest at the house of a very poor, but very hospitable farmer and his wife.
After sharing what little food they had, the couple let the angels sleep in
their bed where they could have a good night’s rest. When the sun came up the
next morning the angels found the farmer and his wife in tears. Their only cow,
whose milk had been their sole income, lay dead in the field.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0a0a0a; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">The younger angel was
infuriated and asked the older angel, “How could you have let this happen? The
first man had everything, yet you helped him,” he accused. “The second family
had little but was willing to share everything, and you let the cow die.”
“Things aren’t always what they seem,” the older angel replied. “When we stayed
in the basement of the mansion, I noticed there was gold stored in that hole in
the wall. Since the owner was so obsessed with greed and unwilling to share his
good fortune, I sealed the wall so he wouldn’t find it.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: white; box-sizing: inherit; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin: 1rem; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="color: #0a0a0a; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">“Then last night as we slept in
the farmers bed, the angel of death came for his wife ....... I gave him the
cow instead ... Things aren’t always what they seem.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: white; box-sizing: inherit; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin: 1rem; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="color: #0a0a0a; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Sometimes we get upset when
things don’t go the way we expect them to go. Always continue to have faith!
Trust that every outcome is always to your advantage in the long run. You might
not know it until sometime later. When things go bad, just always remember:
Things aren’t always what they seem!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />Darrell Ezellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14471359843016267299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2775772544136687497.post-74639100669494638372020-04-01T18:47:00.002-07:002020-04-03T08:19:05.896-07:00Palm Sunday<br />
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<span style="color: #0a0a0a; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Palm
Sunday<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white;">
<span style="color: #0a0a0a; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background: white;">
<span style="color: #0a0a0a; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">This week is the week of the triumphant entry.<span style="background: white;"> This event thus marked the beginning of the Holy
Week, the final week of Lent, according to our Christian calendar.</span> The
significance of Palm Sunday particularly the waving of the palm branches must
never be forgotten. It is to remember the triumphant entry of Christ the King
in Jerusalem.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white;">
<span style="color: #0a0a0a; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background: white;">
<span style="color: #0a0a0a; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Here are some facts about Palm Sunday that I thought was very
interesting.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white;">
<span style="color: #0a0a0a; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background: white;">
<span style="color: #0a0a0a; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">It was a significant event, not only to the people of Jesus'
day, but to Christians throughout history. We celebrate Palm Sunday to remember
that momentous occasion. Palm Sunday therefore was when Jesus was openly
declaring to the people that He was their King and the Messiah that they had
been waiting for. The book of Matthew says that the King coming on the foal of
a donkey was an exact fulfillment of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Zechariah
9:9 "Rejoice greatly, O daughters of Zion! Shout, Daughter of
Jerusalem! See, your King comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle
and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey."<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div style="background: white;">
<span style="color: #0a0a0a; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background: white;">
<span style="color: #0a0a0a; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">We are commemorating the triumphant entry of Jesus Christ into
Jerusalem as the King of Kings. </span></div>
<div style="background: white;">
<span style="color: #0a0a0a; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background: white;">
<span style="color: #0a0a0a; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">During
that time, palm branches were placed in his path as He rode into the city. But
it didn’t last long, because He was arrest on Holy Thursday and his crucifixion
on Good Friday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This event thus marked
the beginning of the Holy Week, the final week of Lent according to our
Christian calendar.<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div style="background: white;">
<span style="color: #0a0a0a; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Why palm branches? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">In contemporary Christianity, the palm branches carried on
Palm Sunday originate in </span><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">the </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triumphal_entry_into_Jerusalem" title="Triumphal entry into Jerusalem"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; text-decoration: none;">triumphal entry of Christ into
Jerusalem</span></a><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">Early </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christians" title="Christians"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; text-decoration: none;">Christians</span></a><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;"> used the palm branch to symbolize the victory of the
faithful over enemies of the soul, as in the </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palm_Sunday" title="Palm Sunday"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; text-decoration: none;">Palm
Sunday</span></a><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;"> festival celebrating the triumphal entry
of </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesus" title="Jesus"><span style="background: white; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; text-decoration: none;">Jesus</span></a><span style="background: white; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;"> into </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerusalem" title="Jerusalem"><span style="background: white; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; text-decoration: none;">Jerusalem</span></a><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">. In western </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_art" title="Christian art"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; text-decoration: none;">Christian
art</span></a><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">, </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_martyrs" title="Christian martyrs"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; text-decoration: none;">martyrs</span></a><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;"> were often shown holding a palm frond as an </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emblem" title="Emblem"><span style="background: white; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; text-decoration: none;">attribute</span></a><span style="background: white; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">,<span style="color: #222222;"> representing the victory of spirit over flesh, and it
was widely believed that a picture of a palm on a tomb meant that a martyr was
buried there <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white;">
<span style="background: white; color: #0a0a0a; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">In ancient Christianity, palm branches
symbolized goodness and victory.</span><span style="background: white; color: #0a0a0a; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"> </span><span style="color: #0a0a0a; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">These palm branches were often
depicted on coins and important buildings. Solomon had palm branches carved
into the walls and the doors of his magnificent temple as a symbol of beauty
and elegance. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">1 Kings 6:29 "On the walls all around the temple, in both the
inner and outer rooms, he carved cherubim, palm trees and open flowers."<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div style="background: white;">
<span style="color: #0a0a0a; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">The last book of the Bible, we read that people from every
nation raise palm branches to honor Jesus. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Revelation
7:9 </b>"<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">After this I looked,
and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every
nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the
Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their
hands."</b> That is what we will be doing in heaven. We will be wearing
white robes and waving palm branches before the Lamb.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white;">
<span style="color: #0a0a0a; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">People from every tribe and language. It was a sign of their
unity in never ending praises to the Lamb for his great love towards us. It is
always a Palm Sunday in heaven.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white;">
<span style="color: #0a0a0a; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Even though many can’t be in church this Sunday we can wave our spiritual
Palm branches in praise to the one who became a </span><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">martyr
for our sins.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">Praise God from whom all blessing flow.</span><span style="color: #0a0a0a; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />Darrell Ezellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14471359843016267299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2775772544136687497.post-58973371193596986442020-03-31T15:34:00.004-07:002020-03-31T15:34:58.989-07:00The midnight cry<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Matt 25: 6</span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “ And at midnight a cry was heard:
Behold, the bridegroom is coming, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>go out
to meet him!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Everyone has
stayed up until midnight because you had company coming for a few days.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Your family had spent time to get everything
ready for guest. The house had been cleaned and food had been prepared.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now you sit in your living room waiting and
waiting and waiting some more. You may even doze off but you are waiting. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s dark and you see car lights.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You wonder if it’s your company. Then after
sometime, car lights turn into your drive way. You let the household know that
they have arrived. They are here! They are here!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>joy with hugging and kissing all around.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Well,
everything I see and read, tells me we are at the midnight hour. The time to
meet the bridegroom <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus will be
soon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Are we
watching for Him? Do we have everything ready? What a great night that will be.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Paul said in I Thess 4: 12-13,</span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “And may the Lord make you increase
and abound in love to one another and to all, just as we do to you, so that He
may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at
the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints.’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<h1 style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">“</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 The Message (MSG)<o:p></o:p></span></h1>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“And then this: We can tell you with complete confidence—we have
the Master’s word on it—that when the Master comes again to get us, those of us
who are still alive will not get a jump on the dead and leave them behind. In
actual fact, they’ll be ahead of us. The Master himself will give the command.
Archangel thunder! God’s trumpet blast! He’ll come down from heaven and the
dead in Christ will rise—they’ll go first. Then the rest of us who are still
alive at the time will be caught up with them into the clouds to meet the
Master. Oh, we’ll be walking on air! And then there will be one huge family
reunion with the Master. So reassure one another with these words.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />Darrell Ezellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14471359843016267299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2775772544136687497.post-44501539879009947252020-03-30T11:32:00.000-07:002020-03-30T11:32:01.556-07:00The Word <br />
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">While
reading in my devotions this morning, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
read these words. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ezekiel 1:3 <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">“The word of the Lord came expressly to
Ezekiel .”<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Then as I
begin reading more I found these words throughout the book, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">“The
word of the Lord came to me saying.“</b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Every place I saw these words God had a message for Ezekiel! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Now I will
not try to talk about the many messages Ezekiel received but let me express a
few words about God’s word.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Maybe it
time that we take down the black book. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You know, the one, it’s called “The Bible.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You
might have to dust it off, but it’s still the same as it was when you laid it
down. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">During this
time of wanting something to do, get alone with God and His word and see if God
might have something <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>expressly for you.
My guess is He will . <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">A message <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>of Love, Grace, Joy, Peace, Comfort <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Forgiveness
. Those are just a few things that God wants to express to you. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">So get alone
with God and His word and see if you can hear the message expressly that God has
just for you.</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #55555a; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #55555a; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I don’t mean just read it. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I mean as you read, listen for God’s voice to
speak. For He will speak, but you have to hear!</span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">So turn off
your electronic devices and spend some time with God and His word today. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Psalm 119:5 “Your word is a lamp to
my feet and a light to my path.” </span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />Darrell Ezellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14471359843016267299noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2775772544136687497.post-82448857953000796172020-03-27T06:50:00.000-07:002020-03-27T06:50:08.595-07:00Alone with Jesus<br />
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Stay home is the word of the day. Don’t go out unless it is
important. Wash your hands,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>stay away
from places where there are ten or more people. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We all know the meaning don’t we.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I have a question that some are asking . What to do with our
time. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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Some have been wondering how to find more time to talk with
Jesus. Why not take this time of being closed in to get alone with Him? <o:p></o:p></div>
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Many times while Jesus was on the earth he would take the disciples
to a quite place to fellowship and just talk to them. I don’t know how many
times that happened, but as we read the New Testament we can find Jesus alone
with them. I do know that every time it happened Jesus had great truths for
them.<o:p></o:p></div>
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So during this time of being closed up in your houses take
time to be alone with Jesus. <o:p></o:p></div>
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One of the last times that Jesus called his disciples
together was in Matthew 26 at the last supper. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here in the quietness before the storm Jesus said
this, “One of you will betray me.” They responded with this statement, “Lord is
it I?” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We know it was Judas. Then in
verse 31 Jesus tell the others, “All of you will be made to stumble because of
me this night.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Why would Jesus take one of his last opportunities <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>to tell them this! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why not a message of comfort or love like He
had done in other times? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The answer to
that question is that He was trying to get them ready for what was to come. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He wanted them to see inside their own hearts.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Stuart Hamblen wrote
the song “Is He Satisfied?<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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“Do you ever search your heart as you watch the day depart? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is there something <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>way down deep you try to hide? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If this day should be the end and eternity
begin, when the book is opened wide, would the Lord be satisfied? <o:p></o:p></div>
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When my Lord shall come again, when He walks and talks with
men, what if every friend He had were just like me? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Would He feel a welcome here or would He go away
in tears? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Am I all that I should be? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is He satisfied with me?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Maybe, just maybe, God let this time of trouble come to let
people have time alone with Him!<o:p></o:p></div>
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Something to think about! <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br />Darrell Ezellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14471359843016267299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2775772544136687497.post-62861002917161770822020-03-26T15:05:00.000-07:002020-03-26T15:05:26.749-07:00God is on His throne<br />
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<span style="background-color: white;">Where do we find help in the time of</span><span style="background-color: white;"> trouble? The world is in trouble right now and the world leaders
are doing everything to help, but they can only do so much. My message today is
that God is on His throne. As you read this think about our God setting on His
throne of power and majesty! Think about the fact that God on His throne is
reaching out His hand of mercy through Jesus Christ to help, if we but call on
Him. We may think what we are facing is out of control but God says “I got
this!”</span></div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Isaiah 6:1-3 “</b><span class="text"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord, high and
exalted<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">, </b>seated on a throne; and the
train of his robe filled the temple. </span></span><span class="text"><b><sup><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">2 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">Above
him were seraphim, each with six wings: with two wings they covered their
faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. </span></span><span class="text"><b><sup><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">3 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">And
they were calling to one another: </span></span><span class="text"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">‘Holy, holy, holy is the </span></span><span class="small-caps"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-variant: small-caps; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">Lord</span></span><span class="text"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"> Almighty;</span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"> <span class="text">the whole earth is full of his glory.”</span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Psalm 93:1-2</span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “</span><span class="text"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The </span></span><span class="small-caps"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; font-variant: small-caps; line-height: 115%;">Lord</span></span><span class="text"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> reigns, he is robed in majesty;</span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> <span class="text"><span style="background: white;">the </span></span><span class="small-caps"><span style="background: white; font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span></span><span class="text"><span style="background: white;"> is robed in majesty and armed
with strength;</span></span></span><span class="indent-1-breaks"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></span><span class="text"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">indeed, the world is established, firm and secure.</span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span class="text"><b><sup><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">2 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Your throne was established long ago; you are from all eternity.”<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Mrs. Frederick Suffield wrote the song God is still on His throne. The
chorus goes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“God is still on the throne, and He will remember
His own; Though trials may press us and burdens distress us, He never will
leave us along; God is still on the throne, He never forsaketh His own; His
promise is true, He will not forget you, God is still on His throne.”<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span class="text"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Heb 4:16 “</span></b></span><b><sup><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">16 </span></sup></b><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Let us then approach <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">God’s
throne of grace</b> with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find
grace to help us in our time of need.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">He is waiting on you!!!! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />Darrell Ezellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14471359843016267299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2775772544136687497.post-67344036238407995712020-03-25T18:36:00.000-07:002020-03-25T18:36:45.848-07:00Turn your Eyes upon Jesus<span style="background-color: #ddddee; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700; text-align: center;">"Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus"</span><br style="background-color: #ddddee; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;" /><br />
<div style="background-color: #ddddee; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">
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<div style="background-color: #ddddee; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; text-align: left;">
A few days ago my grand daughter, Elena call me about this song and I found it such encouragement that I though I would share it. </div>
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<div style="background-color: #ddddee; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">
"Turn your eyes upon Jesus</div>
<div style="background-color: #ddddee; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">
Look full in His wonderful face<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />And the things of earth will grow strangely dim<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />In the light of His glory and grace<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Oh soul, are you weary and troubled?<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />No light in the darkness you see?<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />There's light for a look at the Savior<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />And life more abundant and free<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Through death into life everlasting<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />He passed, and we follow Him there<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />O'er us sin no more hath dominion<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />For more than conquerors we are<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Oh turn your eyes upon Jesus<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Look full in His wonderful face<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />And the things of earth will grow strangely dim<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />In the light of His glory and grace<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />His Word shall not fail you, He promised<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Believe Him and all will be well<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Then go to a world that is dying<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />His perfect salvation to tell<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Oh turn your eyes upon Jesus<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Look full in His wonderful face<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />And the things of earth will grow strangely dim<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />In the light of His glory and grace"<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></div>
Darrell Ezellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14471359843016267299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2775772544136687497.post-68280617232768728162020-03-24T11:06:00.000-07:002020-04-02T11:33:53.538-07:00The Lesson Jesus Taught His Disciples<br />
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<span style="color: #0a0a0a; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In Luke 1:1 <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of the disciples ask Jesus to teach them
how to pray. So Jesus took them to school. He taught them how to praise before
anything else. He taught them how to pray about the will of God in their lives.
He taught them about the forgiveness of their sins. He taught them about
getting bread every day.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0a0a0a; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Every blessing in life in the Christian life depends one way or
another on our ability to pray.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0a0a0a; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">So let’s enroll in the school of prayer with Jesus as our
teacher.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white;">
<span style="color: #0a0a0a; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">“A young boy asked his parents for a baby brother, and seeing a
perfect opportunity to teach their son a valuable lesson on prayer, the parents
said, “Alex, if you pray each morning and evening for one month, you will get a
baby brother.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0a0a0a; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Alex was all in for a couple
weeks. He didn’t miss a prayer time. Each morning and evening he prayed for a
baby brother. About the third week, Alex was tired of praying and stopped, but
he didn’t say anything to his parents.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0a0a0a; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">The month ended, and Alex’s mom
left for a few days. When she came home, she called Alex into her bedroom. Alex
entered the room to see his mom sitting on the bed holding her newborn sons.
The couple had twins.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0a0a0a; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">“Look at your baby brothers,”
mom said. “Aren’t you glad you prayed for one month?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0a0a0a; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Alex thought for a moment and
responded, “Aren’t you glad I stopped after only two weeks?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0a0a0a; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Though 55% of respondents say
they pray daily, a study revealed that prayer is on a downward trend,
especially among younger generations. Prayer, as we know, is powerful and
effective, yet it does not seem like Christians are taking full advantage of
the opportunity to approach the Lord in prayer. What stops us from praying?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />Darrell Ezellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14471359843016267299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2775772544136687497.post-50197029267574259652020-03-23T11:14:00.000-07:002020-03-23T11:14:54.111-07:00How strong is your faith?<br />
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These are days of testing for the world as we know it . The
Coronavirus has stuck fear into the hearts of every <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>person.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There is so much that we don’t know about it. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are so many questions that we don’t have
the answer to. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I have heard questions like. Pastor do you think this is of
Satan? Do you think it is sign of the last days? Pastor why did <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God let this happen?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well I didn’t have the answers for them. But
I do have a question for every Christian . How strong is your faith?<o:p></o:p></div>
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In 2 Timothy Paul calls to remembrance the genuine faith
that Timothy and His Mother and grandmother had. “<o:p></o:p></div>
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Then Paul say’s to Timothy in verse 6 “ Stir up the gifts of
God which is in you.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then in v.7 Pail says
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“ God has not given us a spirit of fear
but of power and love and of sound mind. “<o:p></o:p></div>
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Wake up church we are in a war! It’s time to display our
Shield of Faith that Paul showed us Ephesians 6 : 16 that says we will be able
to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="background: #ffffce; color: black; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background: #ffffce; color: black; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;">Edward Mote, c. 1834</span> wrote:<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<br /></div>
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" My hope is built on nothing less<br />
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness;<br />
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,<br />
But wholly lean on Jesus’ name.<br />
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;<br />
All other ground is sinking sand.</div>
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2. When darkness veils His lovely face,<br />
I rest on His unchanging grace;<br />
In every high and stormy gale<br />
My anchor holds within the veil.<br />
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;<br />
All other ground is sinking sand."</div>
</div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%;">So I ask again, How strong is your faith?</span></div>
Darrell Ezellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14471359843016267299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2775772544136687497.post-32946358097173159712020-03-22T17:41:00.000-07:002020-03-22T17:41:24.213-07:00Why Peter Failed <div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;">Luke 22:54-62</span></div>
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<span class="text Luke-22-54" id="en-KJV-25919" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><b>"</b></span></span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">Then took they him, and led him, and brought him into the high priest's house. And Peter followed afar off. </span></span><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">55 </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">And when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the hall, and were set down together, Peter sat down among them.</span></div>
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<span class="text Luke-22-56" id="en-KJV-25921" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">56 </span>But a certain maid beheld him as he sat by the fire, and earnestly looked upon him, and said, This man was also with him.</span></div>
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<span class="text Luke-22-57" id="en-KJV-25922" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">57 </span>And he denied him, saying, Woman, I know him not. </span><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">58 </span>And after a little while another saw him, and said, Thou art also of them. And Peter said, Man, I am not. <span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">59 </span>And about the space of one hour after another confidently affirmed, saying, Of a truth this fellow also was with him: for he is a Galilaean. <span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">60 </span>And Peter said, Man, I know not what thou sayest. And immediately, while he yet spake, the cock crew.</div>
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<span class="text Luke-22-61" id="en-KJV-25926" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><b><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">61 </span>And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. </b></span><b><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">62 </span>And Peter went out, and wept bitterly.</b></div>
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<b><i>Peters failuars.</i></b></div>
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<b>Jesus warned Peter about His falling!</b></div>
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<b>Matthew 26: 31-35 "</b><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">1 </span>Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad. <span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">32 </span>But after I am risen again, I will go before you into Galilee. <span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">33 </span>Peter answered and said unto him, Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended. <span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">34 </span>Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice." </div>
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<span class="text Matt-26-35" id="en-KJV-24090" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><i><u><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">35 </span>Peter said unto him, Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee. </u></i>Likewise also said all the disciples.</span></div>
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<b>1. Peter failed because of His self-confidence.</b></div>
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Improper self-confidence is the first step to falling. There is a proneness in all of us to become over-confident. </div>
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<span class="text Matt-26-35" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">Satan is active to lead people who think that they are very spiritual, that become overconfident in themselves. </span></div>
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<span class="text Matt-26-35" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">Jesus warned Peter when He told Him <b>"Assuredly, I say to you that this night, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times."</b></span></div>
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<span class="text Matt-26-35" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><b>But Peter's over-confidence says, "Even If I die wirh you, I will not deny you."</b></span></div>
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<span class="text Matt-26-35" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><b><span style="color: red;">Rsv. translates it this way. "Though they all fall because of you, I will never, never, fall away from you,"</span></b></span></div>
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<b>Peter failed because he trusted in his own strenth, being self-confident.</b></div>
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<b>Let's just say this, that self-confidence is good in some cases but not when we are in the war with the Devil.</b></div>
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<b>John 15:5 "I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without me you can do nothing."</b></div>
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<b>Ephesians 6:10-18</b></div>
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<b>v.10 "Be strong in the Lord."</b></div>
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<b>V.11 "Put on the whole amor of God."</b></div>
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<b>v.13 "Stand in the grace of God."</b></div>
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<b>v.14 "Gird up with God's truth, and put on the breastplate of rightousness."</b></div>
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<b>v.15 "Have the preparation of the gospel of peace."</b></div>
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<b>v.16 "Take the shield of faith."</b></div>
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<b>v.17 "Put on the helmet of salvation, it is the word of God!"</b></div>
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<b>v.18 "Praying in the Spirit!"</b></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
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<b>2. Peters fear statements!</b></div>
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<b>Matt. 26:60-70 "Now Peter sat outside in the courtyard. And a servant girl came to him saying, "You also were with Jesus of Galilee.</b><b> But he denied it before them all, saying "I do not know what you are saying."</b></div>
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<b>v. 71 "</b>Another girl saw him and said to those who were there, "This fellow also was with Jesus , but again he denied with an oath, "I do not know Him,"</div>
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<b>v. 73-75 "</b><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">3 </span>And after a while came unto him they that stood by, and said to Peter, Surely thou also art one of them; for thy speech bewrayeth thee.</div>
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<span class="text Matt-26-74" id="en-KJV-24129" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">74 </span>Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew.</span></div>
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<span class="text Matt-26-75" id="en-KJV-24130" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">75 </span>And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly.</span></div>
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Peter came face to face with his weakness and that was his self-confidence. </div>
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I began to think about Pater's failure and I ask why. Why did the Peter and the other disciples fail?</div>
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I could only come up with one answer. "FEAR"</div>
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Fear of death. Fear of suffering and dying on the cross.</div>
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This obsessive fear of a horrible and shamful death drove Peter, not once, not twice but three times.</div>
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Peter was afaid for Jesus but more for himself.</div>
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<b><i>Peters faceing His failuars.</i></b></div>
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<b> v. 75 "Peter remembered the words of Jesus.</b></div>
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<b><span style="color: red;">There is a verse in Luke 22:61 "And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered."</span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #0a0a0a; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 14.4px;">Can you imagine denying that you knew Jesus and then turning to lock eyes with him?</span></div>
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<span style="color: #0a0a0a; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 14.4px;">Peter felt that sting. Peter was no longer prideful and arrogant; his denial had vanished. He was stricken with the grave reality of what just happened. Jesus was right; Peter was wrong. </span></div>
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Peter denied Jesus but he was convicted and had godly sorrow. Even so, I have a feeling Peter hadn't stopped thinking about what he had done. I’m sure part of him didn't even want to look at Jesus after what he had done. Jesus reinstated Peter by asking him three times if he loved him to “make up” for the three times he denied him.</div>
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Peter was hurt because he realized what Jesus was doing. When we betray someone even their forgiveness can hurt. We're embarrassed and guilt-ridden. Jesus didn’t rub it in, though. We don’t see Jesus scolding Peter; he didn’t have to. Peter felt bad enough as it was.</div>
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<span style="color: #0a0a0a; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 14.4px;">Maybe you’ve denied Jesus in word or deed. Maybe at one point in your life you acknowledged that you knew Jesus but have drifted away, living a life of denial. Maybe you loved other people or things more than Jesus. But then you felt convicted and you were sorry that you betrayed your Savior. But will he forgive you after what you've done?</span></div>
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<span style="color: #0a0a0a; font-family: Open Sans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.4px;"><b>Answer:</b> </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0a0a0a; font-family: Open Sans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.4px;">I John 2:1-2 "</span></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:</span></div>
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<span class="text 1John-2-2" id="en-KJV-30553" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">2 </span>And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #0a0a0a; font-family: Open Sans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.4px;"><b>I John 1: 9 " </b></span></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."</span></div>
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<span style="color: #0a0a0a; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 14.4px;"><b><u>Conclusion:</u></b></span></div>
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Peter's happy ending can be your happy ending. Jesus wants to reinstate you. If you're like Peter, having the combination of conviction and godly sorrow, that will lead you to repentance and restoration.</div>
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Peter wasn’t brought to conviction until he locked eyes with Jesus and he recognized that he had sinned against his Lord.</div>
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Peter went on to become a dynamic servant of God. He wasn't perfect, but he was changed. He learned from his experience and he was bold and courageous for the cause of Christ. Peter went from denying Christ to denying self in taking up his cross and following Jesus. And in this happy ending, </div>
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Darrell Ezellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14471359843016267299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2775772544136687497.post-66291920883315317072020-03-21T15:44:00.001-07:002020-03-21T16:04:25.441-07:00Where did God come from?<div style="text-align: center;">
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<b>Shadrack Lockridge wrote this!</b></div>
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Answer: No where!!</div>
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"The reason God came from nowhere is that there was nowhere for Him to come from.</div>
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Coming from nowhere, He stood on nothing. And the reason He stood on nothing is that there was nowhere for Him to Stand!</div>
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And standing on nothing, He reached out where there was nowhere to reach and caught something where there was nothing to catch, and hung something on nothing and told it to stay there.</div>
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And standing on nothing, He took the hammer of His will and struck the anvil of omnipotence and sparks flew therefrom. He caught them on the tips of His fingers and flung them into space and bedecked the heavens with stars.</div>
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And nobody said a word, The reason that nobody said a word is that there was nobody to say anthing. So God sais "That is great." </div>
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God is bigger than any sickness that puts fear into out hearts!! </div>
Darrell Ezellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14471359843016267299noreply@blogger.com0