Good Morning Forever Family!

We have all been at a place where we have tried to do things in our own strength and seen it fail. The wonderful news is that we don't have to. Praise be to God who gives us the empowerment of the Holy Spirit!

It's Time To Give Up
I have to admit that I'm one of those people that thinks the dishwasher is a miracle. —Clarence Thomas

There are two ways to split logs for a fire. One is the “character building” way (as countless fathers have told their sons), which is swinging an ax over your head until your arms fall off, slowly accumulating a small pile. It’s exhausting and back-breaking. The other is by using a motorized log splitter. You can do it four or five times faster and save yourself a lot of effort.

We forget that we have access to an amazing power in Christ through the Holy Spirit. It is miraculous, I daresay… easily the difference between an ax and a log splitter:

“Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.” (John 14:12)

Think about this! This is not the time to try to explain away the clear meaning of His words. Jesus promises us that, through the power of the Holy Spirit, we will be able to do anything and everything that the Father wants to accomplish through us. It’s not up to us to gird our loins and “git ‘er done.” The key is to allow the power of the Spirit to do it through us.

If you are tired of swinging an ax for God, working your hardest for Him (and if you think you’ve already built enough character this way!), it’s time to give up. Quite frankly, He doesn’t need your help anyway. God’s design is a walk of faith, not works. Faith in Jesus opens up a new way of obedience, where we are empowered by His Spirit in us, as we allow Him to work through us.

Lord Jesus, I believe that I have access to amazing power through Your Spirit within me. I’m tired of trying to do this in my own strength for You. I want to be used for Your glory, but I want to do so in Your strength through me alone. Thanks.

Living Like God Intended By Pete Briscoe

Good morning Brothers and Sisters in Christ.
We all need strength and power for our journey. God wants to give us all we need to do all things.

How You Get Power To “Do All Things”

A journey is like marriage. The certain way to be wrong is to think you control it. —John Steinbeck

When I first began a relationship with my wife, I wasn’t dependent on her. But we fell deeper in love, we got married, we made a commitment to become dependent on one another, and over time it became more and more natural to become dependent on one another.

Love is the motive we have not only for getting married, but also becoming dependent on Christ. True love is like that—it draws us together in a way that makes separation and independence seem impossible. Through our love for Christ, we become dependent on Him. As we immerse ourselves in His unconditional love, allowing Him to accept us just the way we are, a new strength to walk with Him is found within:

I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength. (Philippians 4:12-13)

Being dependent on Christ is how we get power to “do all things.” We’re equipped for obedience by being attached to Him, relying on Him for everything. What a relief! It’s not up to us!

Lord Jesus, thank You for being my Source. May Your love become so real that it just naturally overflows, moving me to do “all things” through You who gives me strength. Thank You for empowering me through Your love for my tasks to the glory of Your name. Amen.

Living Like God Intended By Pete Briscoe

Happy Wednesday forever family! Today let us learn the joy of obedience in Christ! Have a blessed day!

The Key To Joyful Obedience
A boy can learn a lot from a dog: obedience, loyalty, and the importance of turning around three times before lying down. —Robert Benchley

Being loved and empowered by God leads us into obedience to whatever He asks of us. We don’t just begrudgingly submit to His commands like He is some far-off tyrant. We don’t have to obey to earn His favor or acceptance, or be fearful or tentative when our efforts fall short. That’s not the way He designed it to work. It’s actually joyful!

And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love. (2 John 1:6)

In our human terms, we don’t normally equate love with obedience. But that’s just how God set it up. Since He loves us so much, we are hardwired to return that love by joyfully obeying Him. We know where true joy is—not in our independent efforts, but in a dependent relationship with Christ. If we have experienced His unconditional love, we will love Him back, and if we love Him, we will naturally follow His lead.

Father, I yearn to walk in obedience, but it gets tough when I look at You as some sort of killjoy. I resist when I feel like I have to perform to earn Your love. Shower me with an experience of Your unconditional true love. May that love empower me to serve in heartfelt joy!

Living Like God Intended By Pete Briscoe

Good morning Church family and Happy Tuesday! May God bless you abundantly today. Let us continue with this short devotional from YouVersion on how important it is to depend on God. 

Skipping The Middle Part

Learning to trust is one of life’s most difficult tasks. —Isaac Watts
Jesus loves the Father and lived His entire earthly life fully dependent on Him—and He calls us to do the same. Our love for God should lead to dependency on God. And that dependency leads naturally to obedience.

Our love for Him → dependency on Him → obedience to Him.

But we tend to skip that second part. We skip the dependency, faith, and trust—trying instead to please God by obeying Him in our own strength rather than by faith.
Acting in our own strength is called independence—and it’s the exact opposite of the moment-by-moment dependence that Jesus modeled while walking this earth. As believers in Christ, we’re called to follow His lead, displaying a dependent faith worked out in obedient action as we trust Him!

James puts it to us this way:
But someone will say, “You have faith, I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. (2:18)

The bottom line is this: Our dependency on Christ is displayed by our deeds.

True faith will display itself!

Dear God, I love You! Break the independent desires of my flesh. Give me the wisdom and faith to depend on You with increasing trust. Then, God, I ask that You would enable me to follow You in joyful obedience into any work that You have prepared for me to do.

Living Like God Intended By Pete Briscoe

Good morning church family!
This weeks we wanted to share with you this little devotional from YouVersion. May God bless your time with your family and friends. We love you and wish you a wonderful day!

If Christ Was Dependent On God, Why Shouldn't We Be?
Let your religion be less of a theory and more of a love affair. —Gilbert K. Chesterton
When my kids were little, they were totally dependent on me for everything; Food, shelter, love, all of it. They could do nothing without my provision. When we think of dependent people, Jesus probably isn’t even on the list. But He was. Big time.

The granddaddy of all the passages that teach that Jesus was dependent on the Father during His time on earth is John 14. It’s a beautiful picture of the dependence of a son on his father… of the Son on the Father, showing the intimacy Jesus and the Father share.
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him… The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work.” (John 14:6,10)

Consider the implications of this mystery. Jesus is the revelation of the Father to us. When we get to know Jesus, we get to know the Father. When we see the work of the Son, we see the Father’s work as well—because Jesus is in the Father and the Father is in Jesus.
That’s not just theology. That’s a dependency on the Father that Jesus modeled over and over, showing us a new way to live.

Dear God, stun me with the reality of Your truth. Touch my soul with the spiritual reality that the Son is in the Father, the Father is in Son, and that through Jesus only, I can come to the Father in the same way. I praise You and thank You for what You have done. I bow in awe and worship. Amen.

Living Like God Intended By Pete Briscoe

Christmas is so much more beautiful when we celebrate and remember why Jesus came. Hallelujah! He has come to save us from sin and restore us to the Father. Here is a little devotional from Alistair Beggs that shares on this. 
THE CHRISTMAS SERVANT

Hello everyone Doug here this morning and I would like to share this small devotional with you concerning the Christmas season from  ,David Jeremiah  Daily Devotional: Slowing Down Christmas -
But the Lord is in His holy temple. Let all the earth hush and be silent before Him. - Habakkuk 2:20, AMP
 Recommended Reading: Psalm 46 - GOD THE REFUGE OF HIS PEOPLE AND CONQUEROR OF THE NATIONS - To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of the sons of Korah.  A Song for Alamoth.
46 God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.2 Therefore we will not fear, Even though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;3 Though its waters roar and be troubled, Though the mountains shake with its swelling. Selah 4 There is a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God, The holy place of the tabernacle of the Most High.5 God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved; God shall help her, just at the break of dawn.6 The nations raged, the kingdoms were moved; He uttered His voice, the earth melted. 7 The Lord of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah 8 Come, behold the works of the Lord, Who has made desolations in the earth.9 He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; He breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two; He burns the chariot in the fire. 10 Be still, and know that I am God ;I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!
 
Lots of terms describe busyness—the rat race, the daily grind, the hamster cage, the treadmill, the vicious cycle. This time of year we call it the Christmas rush. But let’s make time for the Christmas hush—contemplative, meaningful, quiet time when we can ponder the wonderful story of Jesus and write on our hearts every word.
How can we do this amid the shopping, cooking, and entertaining that jumbles our schedule? Christmas is a perfect time to slow down—at least for a night or two. Perhaps for a day or so. The lights, candles, and decorations provide a tender atmosphere. Soft music helps. All our electronic devices—even our phones—have off buttons. The covers of our Bibles still open, and so is the listening ear of our Lord.
In the busyness of the Christmas season, make room for Him in your schedule through prayer and time in His Word. That’s what makes the Christmas season truly meaningful. That’s the Christmas hush.
I want to slow down Christmas and enjoy and feel the bliss in knowing this Son, this baby Jesus was sent for you and for me. - Sandie Heckman

Good morning Forever Family!
Wow! I can’t believe how close we are to Christmas. How are you holding up! Me at present I am doing well, making room for Jesus in every area of my life. It is a challenge, but I am determined to put him first as we approach Christmas Day! This devotional by Pastor Allen Jackson, really strengthened my resolve to continue to seek and put Him first as I go forward. May God give you strength and grace to remember to make room for Jesus in all the hustle and bustle this Christmas season. 

Perpetual Vacancy
Luke 2:6-7 (KJV®)
The days were accomplished that she should be delivered. She brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

Today all we do to find a hotel room is enter a place and date and hit “Check Availability.” Not long ago you needed a map and a telephone book to find lodgings along your route. You’ll have to check an antique store for those! But none of those tools were available to Joseph and Mary. With Mary in the last stage of her pregnancy, they had set out on a long journey. When the birth was imminent, they stopped to find a place to stay. The innkeeper told Joseph that he didn’t have a room for them, but they could sleep with his animals. I’ve often wondered about that man. Did he ever realize that he had sent the Messiah to be born in his barn instead of his very best room? Let’s determine never to make the same mistake. Let’s keep our spiritual eyes open.

THINK ABOUT IT
Let’s never miss out on an opportunity to invite Jesus into our homes because we can’t make room for Him.

PRAYER
Heavenly Father, forgive me for when Jesus has found no room in my overbooked life. Help me realign and reprioritize my life to make ample room for Jesus in every area and aspect. May I always honor Jesus first in my life and allow Him to order the rest. In His name, amen.

Good morning church family!

Many people feel the weight of overwhelming sadness, uncertainty, fear, anxiety and depression. It’s almost become the norm. When Jesus promised his followers a rich and satisfying life, surely this couldn’t be what he intended.  We as believers need to stand on the Truth that is found in God's word. I know this for certainty. A peaceful mind and heart are experienced as a result of recognizing that an all-wise and loving God has a purpose in our life.

"We know that all things work together for the good to those who love God and are called according to His purposes."

I remember that my life before my decision to follow Jesus was full of anxiety, sadness, fear and uncertainty. once I made the decision to trust Him, everything began to changed! In addition,  when our feelings start to get the best of us, we have to constantly remind ourselves of truth. We have to choose faith over feelings. We have to trust that the promises God made are true.  
When we choose faith over feelings, we trust that God has more in store for us. We trust that there is more beyond our current situation and feelings. We trust that God cares for us and truly wants what’s best for us. choose Him today!

let me remind you that when we go opposite to where things were meant to be, we will eventually meet up with the consequences. Because we can ignore reality, however, we can't ignore the consequences of ignoring reality. therefore, peace of mind is resting on His promises, and on the fact that He has a plan for you.