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Showing posts from March, 2013

Ephesians 2- Part 2

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Study and learn. Be changed.  Ephesians 2 Made Alive in Christ 1 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh[a] and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. 4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not
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Easter bunny vs The Cross

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My sister and I (I am on the right).. Here it is....another Easter!  I am so thankful for what the LORD has done.   Yes, life is still difficult at time.  The daily grind that we all have can take a toll,  if we focus on that instead of the eternal perspective.  For me, it is raising one child with medical issues ..and another child with emotional issues from being in a Russian orphanage crib for 12 months without enough food or physical touch.   But, do I have joy?   Yes!  Why?  Because I do believe that God loves me and He has it all under His control.  I trust His hand and His heart.   When I was a child, Easter was all about the stuffed bunny and the candy eggs that I would find.  Now, I am so grateful that I have a greater appreciation and understanding of the Love that took Christ to the cross...and then to the right hand of the Father!     Now, I see it is the cross, His Resurrection and His love that we should celebrate!     Happy Easter! (1 John 3:16  16 This is
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Marriage legacy

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Elaine  and Ray Russell and Rachel The picture above is of my mom and dad when they were first married. Now in 2013, they are celebrating 50 years of marriage this year.  They were not believers at the time when they got married, but God..even then... had them model devotion and commitment to me and my two sisters.  After 23 years of marriage, I want a full, Christ filled marriage for all of my family and friends.  I see the importance of the younger women learning from the older women. Titus 2  says "Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. Then they can train the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the Word of God." Titus 2:3-5 We need to know that certain struggles are normal. We need to know how to persevere throug
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On the mat or helping out...

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I have been thinking about Hebrews 10 22 let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24 An d let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another— and all the more as you see the Day approaching. Sometimes you need your sisters in Christ to help spur you on…to help you not give up.  Sometimes we are the ones that are spiritually strong and can spur each other on.  Other times, we are the ones just on the mat… barely making it.  Any number of life’s troubles can zap us and that’s when we need our Christian sisters most.    It made me think of this story… Here you can read it in three different gospels. Thank God f
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