Tag: Thanksgiving

Tools

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painter-1937575_1920Hi Peeps,
Today’s Quote
“By effectively using the tools and talents God has given you, your ideas and work ethic will improve beyond your own capacity, when you walk with God!” 

Resources

God will allocate all of the resources you will need to complete, organize, and share the Word of God to people everywhere.  Just let your light shine by not living in the darkness of sin.  Fight the temptations of old because now you have Jesus helping you out.  If you don’t use Him as your main resource, you are doomed to fail. Your Tests will not break You!

Materials

When you are familiar with all of the materials in the Bible, you will enjoy re-reading the fun stories to see how much you have matured in God.  Practicing your faith is like growing in grace, love, and understanding. Pay close attention to the materials God wants you to use.  Learn from the Tests before you take and experience them yourself.  Recognize your growth in God.

Books

Write books about how God has helped you out over the years and proclaim the Goodness of God to all of your family, friends, and enemies.  It is fun to document your progress, understanding, and service for the kingdom to help inspire others to do better.  We are all tools in the hand of God and it is an honor to be of some good use to The Lord of All. Examine your own faith.
Today’s Question
How can you be an effective tool and resource for God’s Kingdom, being so negative, with your broken tools and lack of work?
Enjoy The Reading
 

Job 5 

5 “Call if you will, but who will answer you?
    To which of the holy ones will you turn?
2 Resentment kills a fool,
    and envy slays the simple.
3 I myself have seen a fool taking root,
    but suddenly his house was cursed.
4 His children are far from safety,
    crushed in court without a defender.
5 The hungry consume his harvest,
    taking it even from among thorns,
    and the thirsty pant after his wealth.
6 For hardship does not spring from the soil,
    nor does trouble sprout from the ground.
7 Yet man is born to trouble
    as surely as sparks fly upward.
8 “But if I were you, I would appeal to God;
    I would lay my cause before him.
9 He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed,
    miracles that cannot be counted.
10 He provides rain for the earth;
    he sends water on the countryside.
11 The lowly he sets on high,
    and those who mourn are lifted to safety.
12 He thwarts the plans of the crafty,
    so that their hands achieve no success.
13 He catches the wise in their craftiness,
    and the schemes of the wily are swept away.
14 Darkness comes upon them in the daytime;
    at noon they grope as in the night.
15 He saves the needy from the sword in their mouth;
    he saves them from the clutches of the powerful.
16 So the poor have hope,
    and injustice shuts its mouth.
17 “Blessed is the one whom God corrects;
    so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty.[a]
18 For he wounds, but he also binds up;
    he injures, but his hands also heal.
19 From six calamities he will rescue you;
    in seven no harm will touch you.
20 In famine he will deliver you from death,
    and in battle from the stroke of the sword.
21 You will be protected from the lash of the tongue,
    and need not fear when destruction comes.
22 You will laugh at destruction and famine,
    and need not fear the wild animals.
23 For you will have a covenant with the stones of the field,
    and the wild animals will be at peace with you.
24 You will know that your tent is secure;
    you will take stock of your property and find nothing missing.
25 You will know that your children will be many,
    and your descendants like the grass of the earth.
26 You will come to the grave in full vigor,
    like sheaves gathered in season.
27 “We have examined this, and it is true.
    So hear it and apply it to yourself.”
 
Love,
 
Jonathan

Cover

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Hi Peeps,
Today’s Quote
“At first, I was going to cover up my wooden cross before entering a meeting and was glad I didn’t, since the dean of the college had two crosses in his office, but more importantly, I didn’t want to displease God.”  ~  Jon Barnes

Up

Don’t cover up who you are in God.  Let your love, light, and lifestyle shine like the sun at high noon on a clear day.  Resist the pressure of being and looking like someone else, quietly hiding in the dark. Stay convicted in a positive way to simply inspire good behavior and habits for yourself and others.

Your

The Blood of Christ covers up all sin and darkness because we walk in the mindset of true repentance and changed behavior to support God’s lifestyle teachings.  Blessed are those who believe and follow after God and His Righteousness.  Don’t give up your walk and wooden cross with following God.  The Blood of Jesus shall cover, protect, and save your soul.

Darkness

Cover up darkness with biblical truth, honest words, excellent work, and thanksgiving, since God can see and hear all things.  Darkness and silence don’t exist with God, but they are reference points for us in our existence.
We would all die if we could physically see God in all of His Glory, Hence we need a petition, buffer, covering from Jesus to wash our sins and keep us clean and connected.
Today’s Question
Is there a test, conspiracy theory, cover up, or fake news that God is trying to expose, purge, and clean up from your life or will you hold onto your mess?
Enjoy The Reading

Job 1 

Prologue

1 There once was a man named Job who lived in the land of Uz. He was blameless—a man of complete integrity. He feared God and stayed away from evil. 2 He had seven sons and three daughters. 3 He owned 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 teams of oxen, and 500 female donkeys. He also had many servants. He was, in fact, the richest person in that entire area.
4 Job’s sons would take turns preparing feasts in their homes, and they would also invite their three sisters to celebrate with them. 5 When these celebrations ended—sometimes after several days—Job would purify his children. He would get up early in the morning and offer a burnt offering for each of them. For Job said to himself, “Perhaps my children have sinned and have cursed God in their hearts.” This was Job’s regular practice.

Job’s First Test

6 One day the members of the heavenly court[a] came to present themselves before the Lord, and the Accuser, Satan,[b] came with them. 7 “Where have you come from?” the Lord asked Satan.
Satan answered the Lord, “I have been patrolling the earth, watching everything that’s going on.”
8 Then the Lord asked Satan, “Have you noticed my servant Job? He is the finest man in all the earth. He is blameless—a man of complete integrity. He fears God and stays away from evil.”
9 Satan replied to the Lord, “Yes, but Job has good reason to fear God. 10 You have always put a wall of protection around him and his home and his property. You have made him prosper in everything he does. Look how rich he is! 11 But reach out and take away everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face!”
12 “All right, you may test him,” the Lord said to Satan. “Do whatever you want with everything he possesses, but don’t harm him physically.” So Satan left the Lord’s presence.
13 One day when Job’s sons and daughters were feasting at the oldest brother’s house, 14 a messenger arrived at Job’s home with this news: “Your oxen were plowing, with the donkeys feeding beside them, 15 when the Sabeans raided us. They stole all the animals and killed all the farmhands. I am the only one who escaped to tell you.”
16 While he was still speaking, another messenger arrived with this news: “The fire of God has fallen from heaven and burned up your sheep and all the shepherds. I am the only one who escaped to tell you.”
17 While he was still speaking, a third messenger arrived with this news: “Three bands of Chaldean raiders have stolen your camels and killed your servants. I am the only one who escaped to tell you.”
18 While he was still speaking, another messenger arrived with this news: “Your sons and daughters were feasting in their oldest brother’s home. 19 Suddenly, a powerful wind swept in from the wilderness and hit the house on all sides. The house collapsed, and all your children are dead. I am the only one who escaped to tell you.”
20 Job stood up and tore his robe in grief. Then he shaved his head and fell to the ground to worship. 21 He said,
“I came naked from my mother’s womb,
    and I will be naked when I leave.
The Lord gave me what I had,
    and the Lord has taken it away.
Praise the name of the Lord!”
22 In all of this, Job did not sin by blaming God.
Love,

Jonathan

Cover
“At first, I was going to cover up my wooden cross before entering a meeting and was glad I didn’t, since the dean of the college had two crosses in his office, but more importantly, I didn’t want to displease God.”  ~  Jon Barnes
Up
Don’t cover up who you are in God.  Let your love, light, and lifestyle shine like the sun at high noon on a clear day.  Resist the pressure of being and looking like someone else, quietly hiding in the dark. Stay convicted in a positive way to simply inspire good behavior and habits for yourself and others.
Your
The Blood of Christ covers up all sin and darkness because we walk in the mindset of true repentance and changed behavior to support God’s lifestyle teachings.  Blessed are those who believe and follow after God and His Righteousness.  Don’t give up your walk and wooden cross with following God.  The Blood of Jesus shall cover, protect, and save your soul.
Darkness
Cover up darkness with biblical truth, honest words, excellent work, and thanksgiving, since God can see and hear all things.  Darkness and silence doesn’t exist with God, but they are reference points for us in our existence.
We would all die if we could physically see God in all of His Glory, Hence we need a petition, buffer, covering from Jesus to wash our sins and keep us clean and connected.
Today’s Question
Is there a test, conspiracy theory, cover up, or fake news that God is trying to expose, purge, and clean up from your life or will you hold onto you MESS?
Enjoy The Reading

Job 1 

Prologue

1 There once was a man named Job who lived in the land of Uz. He was blameless—a man of complete integrity. He feared God and stayed away from evil. 2 He had seven sons and three daughters. 3 He owned 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 teams of oxen, and 500 female donkeys. He also had many servants. He was, in fact, the richest person in that entire area.
4 Job’s sons would take turns preparing feasts in their homes, and they would also invite their three sisters to celebrate with them. 5 When these celebrations ended—sometimes after several days—Job would purify his children. He would get up early in the morning and offer a burnt offering for each of them. For Job said to himself, “Perhaps my children have sinned and have cursed God in their hearts.” This was Job’s regular practice.

Job’s First Test

6 One day the members of the heavenly court[a] came to present themselves before the Lord, and the Accuser, Satan,[b] came with them. 7 “Where have you come from?” the Lord asked Satan.
Satan answered the Lord, “I have been patrolling the earth, watching everything that’s going on.”
8 Then the Lord asked Satan, “Have you noticed my servant Job? He is the finest man in all the earth. He is blameless—a man of complete integrity. He fears God and stays away from evil.”
9 Satan replied to the Lord, “Yes, but Job has good reason to fear God. 10 You have always put a wall of protection around him and his home and his property. You have made him prosper in everything he does. Look how rich he is! 11 But reach out and take away everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face!”
12 “All right, you may test him,” the Lord said to Satan. “Do whatever you want with everything he possesses, but don’t harm him physically.” So Satan left the Lord’s presence.
13 One day when Job’s sons and daughters were feasting at the oldest brother’s house, 14 a messenger arrived at Job’s home with this news: “Your oxen were plowing, with the donkeys feeding beside them, 15 when the Sabeans raided us. They stole all the animals and killed all the farmhands. I am the only one who escaped to tell you.”
16 While he was still speaking, another messenger arrived with this news: “The fire of God has fallen from heaven and burned up your sheep and all the shepherds. I am the only one who escaped to tell you.”
17 While he was still speaking, a third messenger arrived with this news: “Three bands of Chaldean raiders have stolen your camels and killed your servants. I am the only one who escaped to tell you.”
18 While he was still speaking, another messenger arrived with this news: “Your sons and daughters were feasting in their oldest brother’s home. 19 Suddenly, a powerful wind swept in from the wilderness and hit the house on all sides. The house collapsed, and all your children are dead. I am the only one who escaped to tell you.”
20 Job stood up and tore his robe in grief. Then he shaved his head and fell to the ground to worship. 21 He said,
“I came naked from my mother’s womb,
    and I will be naked when I leave.
The Lord gave me what I had,
    and the Lord has taken it away.
Praise the name of the Lord!”
22 In all of this, Job did not sin by blaming God.
Love,
Jonathan

Called

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Hi Peeps,
Today’s Quote
“We are all called to love God with all of our heart, mind, body, spirit, and soul, as we should love each other as we do ourselves, yet how do you love someone when you don’t know or love God?” ~ Jon Barnes

Thanksgiving

I am happy to give thanksgiving to God for his blessings and I encourage my family, friends, and enemies to serve the homeless, vets, needy, widows, orphans, and neighborhoods in a way that would please God. I enjoy finding a way to make a difference, as I work and sow seeds each day into our communities. Good communication goes a long way, especially when talking to God.

Good Actions

Motivating people to work well together, following God’s lifestyle, allows us to appreciate the positive direction the next generation can travel towards, in spite of the negative things that are all around us. Your good actions are always noticed, particularly when you believe no one is watching. You are noticed and will be blessed.

God’s Sees

God can see all of the good actions that we do, just as the bad ones, like the continuous waves of the sea, washing ashore in all directions on our planet. Pick an island, like a person, and you can imagine the air washing onto the shores of your body, which is how God sees all of your sins each day like a baby getting a diaper change, you cannot hide from your Father in Heaven. Let God change your diaper each day.
Today’s Question
Are you still wearing the same diaper?
Enjoy The Reading
Note: (You should all know that I picked the title of this piece one day before I read the reading. God has a good sense of humor!)

Deuteronomy 6

A Call for Wholehearted Commitment

6 “These are the commands, decrees, and regulations that the Lord your God commanded me to teach you. You must obey them in the land you are about to enter and occupy, 2 and you and your children and grandchildren must fear the Lord your God as long as you live. If you obey all his decrees and commands, you will enjoy a long life. 3 Listen closely, Israel, and be careful to obey. Then all will go well with you, and you will have many children in the land flowing with milk and honey, just as the Lord, the God of your ancestors, promised you.
4 “Listen, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord alone.[a] 5 And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength. 6 And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today. 7 Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up. 8 Tie them to your hands and wear them on your forehead as reminders. 9 Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.
10 “The Lord your God will soon bring you into the land he swore to give you when he made a vow to your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. It is a land with large, prosperous cities that you did not build. 11 The houses will be richly stocked with goods you did not produce. You will draw water from cisterns you did not dig, and you will eat from vineyards and olive trees you did not plant. When you have eaten your fill in this land, 12 be careful not to forget the Lord, who rescued you from slavery in the land of Egypt. 13 You must fear the Lord your God and serve him. When you take an oath, you must use only his name.
14 “You must not worship any of the gods of neighboring nations, 15 for the Lordyour God, who lives among you, is a jealous God. His anger will flare up against you, and he will wipe you from the face of the earth. 16 You must not test the Lordyour God as you did when you complained at Massah. 17 You must diligently obey the commands of the Lord your God—all the laws and decrees he has given you.18 Do what is right and good in the Lord’s sight, so all will go well with you. Then you will enter and occupy the good land that the Lord swore to give your ancestors. 19 You will drive out all the enemies living in the land, just as the Lordsaid you would.
20 “In the future your children will ask you, ‘What is the meaning of these laws, decrees, and regulations that the Lord our God has commanded us to obey?’
21 “Then you must tell them, ‘We were Pharaoh’s slaves in Egypt, but the Lordbrought us out of Egypt with his strong hand. 22 The Lord did miraculous signs and wonders before our eyes, dealing terrifying blows against Egypt and Pharaoh and all his people. 23 He brought us out of Egypt so he could give us this land he had sworn to give our ancestors. 24 And the Lord our God commanded us to obey all these decrees and to fear him so he can continue to bless us and preserve our lives, as he has done to this day. 25 For we will be counted as righteous when we obey all the commands the Lord our God has given us.’
Love,
Jonathan

All

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Hi Peeps,
Today’s Quote
“When God walks with you, all of your prayers, worship, praise, service, and offerings are accepted unto Him and are counted as the good works of ThanksGiving and right standing with Him.” ~ Jon Barnes

Praying

Praying is like talking to God with your thoughts, actions, soul, and being throughout the day. Your connection is true and centered on communication with God continually, because you value God’s integrity, as there is so much to learn and do. This allows for you to avoid the devilish traps from the enemy of evil, by mobilizing your winning offense of faith into action, from your personal closet.

Worship

Worship and praise are actions of thanksgiving that further activates fervent, continuous prayer that cycles throughout the day and night, even while you sleep!  Your love and connection to God is all of the time, as you see the hand of God in your life, helping others and doing the good work. Naturally, the light of God is always on in your life and it is an example that God really exists.

Service

Service and offerings of thanksgiving are given to God because you love Him, like a Father, and you would like to show your appreciation with the wonderful relationship you have with your dad! Obeying God’s instructions of wisdom and understanding comes with an inheritance of eternal value of everlasting proportions and portions.  Give God your all and He will Give All to You.
Today’s Question
Are you Giving your all to God or are you hiding your best in your closet?
Enjoy Today’s Reading

Genesis 22

Abraham’s Faith Tested

22 Some time later, God tested Abraham’s faith. “Abraham!” God called.
“Yes,” he replied. “Here I am.”
2 “Take your son, your only son—yes, Isaac, whom you love so much—and go to the land of Moriah. Go and sacrifice him as a burnt offering on one of the mountains, which I will show you.”
3 The next morning Abraham got up early. He saddled his donkey and took two of his servants with him, along with his son, Isaac. Then he chopped wood for a fire for a burnt offering and set out for the place God had told him about. 4 On the third day of their journey, Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance. 5 “Stay here with the donkey,” Abraham told the servants. “The boy and I will travel a little farther. We will worship there, and then we will come right back.”
6 So Abraham placed the wood for the burnt offering on Isaac’s shoulders, while he himself carried the fire and the knife. As the two of them walked on together,7 Isaac turned to Abraham and said, “Father?”
“Yes, my son?” Abraham replied.
“We have the fire and the wood,” the boy said, “but where is the sheep for the burnt offering?”
8 “God will provide a sheep for the burnt offering, my son,” Abraham answered. And they both walked on together.
9 When they arrived at the place where God had told him to go, Abraham built an altar and arranged the wood on it. Then he tied his son, Isaac, and laid him on the altar on top of the wood. 10 And Abraham picked up the knife to kill his son as a sacrifice. 11 At that moment the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven, “Abraham! Abraham!”
“Yes,” Abraham replied. “Here I am!”
12 “Don’t lay a hand on the boy!” the angel said. “Do not hurt him in any way, for now I know that you truly fear God. You have not withheld from me even your son, your only son.”
13 Then Abraham looked up and saw a ram caught by its horns in a thicket. So he took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering in place of his son. 14 Abraham named the place Yahweh-Yireh (which means “the Lord will provide”). To this day, people still use that name as a proverb: “On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided.”
15 Then the angel of the Lord called again to Abraham from heaven. 16 “This is what the Lord says: Because you have obeyed me and have not withheld even your son, your only son, I swear by my own name that 17 I will certainly bless you. I will multiply your descendants[a] beyond number, like the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will conquer the cities of their enemies.18 And through your descendants all the nations of the earth will be blessed—all because you have obeyed me.”
19 Then they returned to the servants and traveled back to Beersheba, where Abraham continued to live.
20 Soon after this, Abraham heard that Milcah, his brother Nahor’s wife, had borne Nahor eight sons. 21 The oldest was named Uz, the next oldest was Buz, followed by Kemuel (the ancestor of the Arameans), 22 Kesed, Hazo, Pildash, Jidlaph, and Bethuel. 23 (Bethuel became the father of Rebekah.) In addition to these eight sons from Milcah, 24 Nahor had four other children from his concubine Reumah. Their names were Tebah, Gaham, Tahash, and Maacah.
Love,
Jonathan

Allow

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Hi Peeps,

Today’s Quote
“It is God, who allows the sun, moon, stars, and earthly provisions to exist and as Look Up into the sun, while swimming, I smile with thanksgiving, amazement, and respect!” ~ Jon Barnes

Look Up

Look up and enjoy the many blessings that God has given to all of us from the beginning of time, in this age. As God spins time forward, He stands still to enjoy the circle of His story, from start to finish. Our life cycle is but a quick sneeze or cough into the air, compared to the amount of time controlled by God in His Hands and care. Nothing happens that God cannot see, hear, smell, touch, feel, imagine, or taste. Look up and enjoy the infinite cloud formations of creativity and wisdom in God’s justice.

Stay Awake

Stay awake to notice the signs, seasons, times, and reasons for the things happening now and to come. God is in control of all things and the day of evil will not be fun. God allows choices to occur so that the grapes grow right. The season for squeezing the juice from the souls of these grapes will be out of sight. God allows us time to look, learn, and life the commandments, you already know, but many are pleased to sin, with words, works, and in deeds to challenge All Mighty God!  Stay awake in the debate, so that you can relate to the battle at hand for everyone.

Too Late

It’s not too late to study, work, and participate, so allow God to teach you a new language.  Each day you will learn new vocabulary to discern and use God’s Grace, Love and Analogies. My ancestors of old often preached and told the stories of fire and brimstone. Lying is the devil’s biggest workshop and if you belong there you ought to stop, his tree of Drama is in your life.  Stop, drop, and think, use the cup that Jesus drinks and flow with living waters before it’s too late. All things happen, because God is our captain and you, His Children, are not a mistake.
Today’s Question
Why does God allow us to Choose?
Enjoy The Reading

Revelation 17

Babylon, the Prostitute on the Beast

17 One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the punishment of the great prostitute, who sits by many waters. 2 With her the kings of the earth committed adultery, and the inhabitants of the earth were intoxicated with the wine of her adulteries.”
3 Then the angel carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness. There I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was covered with blasphemous names and had seven heads and ten horns. 4 The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, and was glittering with gold, precious stones and pearls. She held a golden cup in her hand, filled with abominable things and the filth of her adulteries. 5 The name written on her forehead was a mystery:
babylon the great
the mother of prostitutes
and of the abominations of the earth.
6 I saw that the woman was drunk with the blood of God’s holy people, the blood of those who bore testimony to Jesus.
When I saw her, I was greatly astonished. 7 Then the angel said to me: “Why are you astonished? I will explain to you the mystery of the woman and of the beast she rides, which has the seven heads and ten horns. 8 The beast, which you saw, once was, now is not, and yet will come up out of the Abyss and go to its destruction. The inhabitants of the earth whose names have not been written in the book of life from the creation of the world will be astonished when they see the beast, because it once was, now is not, and yet will come.
9 “This calls for a mind with wisdom. The seven heads are seven hills on which the woman sits. 10 They are also seven kings. Five have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come; but when he does come, he must remain for only a little while.11 The beast who once was, and now is not, is an eighth king. He belongs to the seven and is going to his destruction.
12 “The ten horns you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but who for one hour will receive authority as kings along with the beast. 13 They have one purpose and will give their power and authority to the beast. 14 They will wage war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will triumph over them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings—and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers.”
15 Then the angel said to me, “The waters you saw, where the prostitute sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations and languages. 16 The beast and the ten horns you saw will hate the prostitute. They will bring her to ruin and leave her naked; they will eat her flesh and burn her with fire. 17 For God has put it into their hearts to accomplish his purpose by agreeing to hand over to the beast their royal authority,until God’s words are fulfilled. 18 The woman you saw is the great city that rules over the kings of the earth.”
 
Love,
 
Jonathan

United We Stand

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Hi Peeps,

Today’s Quote

“United we stand in Love, helping each other, communicating without competing for vanity, vain glory and excessive profits, so that you may not lose your soul to greed.” ~ Jon Barnes

United We Must

A conversation is not a competition of the minds, but a melting of God’s will in and through us to help out our brothers and sisters, to find peace, and understand the direction of God. In God, We Trust, is a focus of MUST within the framework of our daily duties and chores. Thanksgiving, Prayer, and Thought, precede our Work, Wisdom, and Worth.

United Funk

When we work with the Pride of God and His Commandments, we are able to conquer the pride of ourselves, which is painted and tainted in all that we do. I see me, I see you, but where is God in the MIX? Don’t mix up the funk so that we can Rock with God together. Let the meaning of your work and words be Honest, Truthful, and to the Point!

United Front

Together, we can all make this the best of times to fight fear, evil, greed, lust, and power of corruption to help navigate our world into the grace of God. People cloud good information and inventions by conversations of competition without good intentions.  We put on a front of colors to hide our hearts of stone.  Let us unite and ask God to turn our hard hearts back into God, Loving Flesh so that we can pray and train the next generation to do better than we are doing right now.

Today’s Question

Are you going to fight this war alone or will you train with God’s army of ONE, the winning Team?

Enjoy the reading

Colossians 1

1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,
2 To God’s holy people in Colossae, the faithful brothers and sisters[a] in Christ:
Grace and peace to you from God our Father.[b]

Thanksgiving and Prayer

3 We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, 4 because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all God’s people— 5 the faith and love that spring from the hope stored up for you in heaven and about which you have already heard in the true message of the gospel 6 that has come to you. In the same way, the gospel is bearing fruit and growing throughout the whole world—just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and truly understood God’s grace. 7 You learned it from Epaphras, our dear fellow servant,[c] who is a faithful minister of Christ on our[d] behalf, 8 and who also told us of your love in the Spirit.
9 For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives,[e]10 so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, 11 being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, 12 and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you[f]to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light. 13 For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

The Supremacy of the Son of God

15 The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. 17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. 19 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.
21 Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of[g] your evil behavior. 22 But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation— 23 if you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.

Paul’s Labor for the Church

24 Now I rejoice in what I am suffering for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church. 25 I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness— 26 the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the Lord’s people. 27 To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

28 He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ. 29 To this end I strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me.

Love,

Jonathan

Act of Communication

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Hi Peeps,
Happy Thanksgiving!
Today’s Quote
“Communicate your problems with your parents and you’ll find solutions quickly, since God fearing parents will have God Given solutions. Communicate your problems to God in prayer, you’ll find your solutions immediately, if you are paying close attention. God is in control.” ~  Jon Barnes

Get To work

The ACT of working is your solution and direction you take, once you’ve communicated your problem.  Fixing your problem becomes an easy step by step process, since you started to step in your direction.  If you do not step, you will not move, work, or solve your problems.  Do the work, the research, prayers, and communication to move into your destiny of ACTS to perform.

Faith in Action

No action means no faith, with no commitment to complete the job.  Complete your education, lessons, reading, research, network, prayer, and communication efforts so that God helps you to reap what you sow.  If you sow nothing, what can you expect from God?  When you put your faith in ACTion, obedience is the catalyst  for future blessings.  Honoring God is an Honest Habit to have, living your faith in Action.

Acts of Art

Communication is an ACTive art form that moves in many directions, flows like water, and requires both parties to actively listen and reproduce the content in question. This exchange of information is like a rich tennis match, with both parties actually engaged in critical thinking, physical movement, and problem solving.  Your Faith is an Art Form of Prayer, Obedience, and Communication with God that promotes your love and respect for Him.  The success of your work is a direct result of your Faith in Action and Communication, productivity, and commitment to complete life’s art work for God.
Today’s Question
Why don’t you communicate with your loved ones more often to discuss how to navigate through God’s Commandments and Biblical Stories in your lives?

Enjoy Today’s Readings.

Acts 9New International Version (NIV)

Saul’s Conversion

9 Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. 3 As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. 4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”
5 “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked.
“I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. 6 “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”
7 The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone. 8 Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus. 9 For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything.
10 In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, “Ananias!”
“Yes, Lord,” he answered.
11 The Lord told him, “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. 12 In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight.”
13 “Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your holy people in Jerusalem. 14 And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.”
15 But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. 16 I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.”
17 Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, 19 and after taking some food, he regained his strength.

Saul in Damascus and Jerusalem

Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus. 20 At once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God. 21 All those who heard him were astonished and asked, “Isn’t he the man who raised havoc in Jerusalem among those who call on this name? And hasn’t he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?” 22 Yet Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Messiah.
23 After many days had gone by, there was a conspiracy among the Jews to kill him, 24 but Saul learned of their plan. Day and night they kept close watch on the city gates in order to kill him. 25 But his followers took him by night and lowered him in a basket through an opening in the wall.
26 When he came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple. 27 But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. He told them how Saul on his journey had seen the Lord and that the Lord had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus. 28 So Saul stayed with them and moved about freely in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord. 29 He talked and debated with the Hellenistic Jews,[a] but they tried to kill him. 30 When the believers learned of this, they took him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus.
31 Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace and was strengthened. Living in the fear of the Lord and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers.

Aeneas and Dorcas

32 As Peter traveled about the country, he went to visit the Lord’s people who lived in Lydda. 33 There he found a man named Aeneas, who was paralyzed and had been bedridden for eight years. 34 “Aeneas,” Peter said to him, “Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and roll up your mat.” Immediately Aeneas got up. 35 All those who lived in Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord.
36 In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (in Greek her name is Dorcas); she was always doing good and helping the poor. 37 About that time she became sick and died, and her body was washed and placed in an upstairs room. 38 Lydda was near Joppa; so when the disciples heard that Peter was in Lydda, they sent two men to him and urged him, “Please come at once!”
39 Peter went with them, and when he arrived he was taken upstairs to the room. All the widows stood around him, crying and showing him the robes and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was still with them.
40 Peter sent them all out of the room; then he got down on his knees and prayed. Turning toward the dead woman, he said, “Tabitha, get up.” She opened her eyes, and seeing Peter she sat up. 41 He took her by the hand and helped her to her feet. Then he called for the believers, especially the widows, and presented her to them alive. 42 This became known all over Joppa, and many people believed in the Lord. 43 Peter stayed in Joppa for some time with a tanner named Simon.
Jonathan