Faith Filled Thoughts

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DO YOU KNOW HOW THE APOSTLES DIED???

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Connie Ciccone) — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 15:30:00 +0000

Faith Filled Thoughts
March 9th 2010
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DO YOU KNOW HOW THE APOSTLES DIED???

"And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake:
But he that endureth to the end shall be saved." Matthew 10:22

Matthew
Suffered martyrdom in Ethiopia,
killed by a sword wound.

Mark
Died in Alexandria, Egypt, after being dragged by horses
through the streets until he was dead.

Luke
was hanged in Greece as a result
of his tremendous preaching to the lost.

John
Faced martyrdom when he was boiled in huge basin of boiling oil
during a wave of persecution in Rome.
However, he was miraculously delivered from death.
John was then sentenced to the mines on the prison island of Patmos.
He wrote his prophetic Book of Revelation on Patmos.
The apostle John was later freed and returned to serve as Bishop
of Edessa in modern Turkey.
He died as an old man,
the only apostle to die peacefully.

Peter
was crucified upside down on an x-shaped cross.
According to church tradition it was because he told
his tormentors that he felt unworthy to die
in the same way that Jesus Christ had died.

James
The leader of the church in Jerusalem,
was thrown over a hundred feet down from the southeast
pinnacle of the Temple when he refused to deny his faith in Christ.
When they discovered that he survived the fall,
his enemies beat James to death with a fuller's club.
This was the same pinnacle where Satan
had taken Jesus during the Temptation.

James the Great
Son of Zebedee, was a fisherman by trade when Jesus
called him to a life time of ministry.
As a strong leader of the church,
James was ultimately beheaded at Jerusalem.
The Roman officer who guarded James watched amazed
as James defended his faith at his trial.
Later, the officer walked beside James to the place of execution.
Overcome by conviction, he declared his new faith to the judge
and knelt beside James to accept beheading as a Christian.

Bartholomew
also known as Nathaniel - Was a missionary to Asia.
He witnessed for our Lord in present day Turkey.
Bartholomew was martyred for his preaching in Armenia
where he was flayed to death by a whip.

Andrew
Was crucified on an x-shaped cross in Patras, Greece.
After being whipped severely by seven soldiers they tied
his body to the cross with cords to prolong his agony.
His followers reported that, when he was led toward the cross,
Andrew saluted it in these words:
'I have long desired and expected this happy hour.
The cross has been consecrated by the body of Christ hanging on it.'
He continued to preach to his tormentors for two days until he expired.

Thomas
Was stabbed with a spear in India during one
of his missionary trips to establish the church in the sub-continent.

Jude
Was killed with arrows when he refused

to deny his faith in Christ. Matthias –
The apostle chosen to replace the traitor
Judas Iscariot was stoned and then beheaded.

Barnabas
One of the group of seventy disciples,
wrote the Epistle of Barnabas.
He preached throughout Italy and Cyprus
. Barnabas was stoned to death at Salonica.

Paul
Was tortured and then beheaded by
the evil Emperor Nero at Rome in A.D. 67.
Paul endured a lengthy imprisonment which allowed him
to write his many epistles to the churches he had
formed throughout the Roman Empire.
These letters, which taught many of the foundational doctrines of Christianity,
form a large portion of the New Testament.

Perhaps this is a reminder to us that our sufferings here
are indeed minor compared to the intense persecution
and cold cruelty faced by the apostles/disciples
during their times for the sake of their
Faith.

May He Bless You and Keep You Today!

With Great Love
IN HIS SERVICE
Pastor Connie
Please click below to see something Jesus left for your Spirit!:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=60o3UP4Kjwg&feature=related

HURT IN THE BODY OF CHRIST PT 2

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Connie Ciccone) — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 16:52:00 +0000

Faith Filled Thoughts
March 8th 2010
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HURT IN THE BODY OF CHRIST
Pt 2

Spiritually speaking , there are many parts that work together
in order for the body to function properly .
Jesus tells us that we are the branches and he is the vine .

The vine feeds the branches and the branches bear fruit .

If the branches are cut from the vine there can be no fruit .

Without fruit in our lives we are dead to the vine .

As Christians we are members of Gods family .

Every family has to support each other
and love each other to be functional .

If we as Gods family reach out to others then we are being Christ like .

If we are Christ like we can reach out to others with his arms
, his eyes , his voice , his ears , his heart , to comfort ,
to preach and to teach , to assist carry that load ,
to listen to the troubled and lonely ,
to give and to understand those who are not welcome ,
to welcome the stranger and to pray for those who need help .

Because Jesus is alive in us so is the Father and the spirit .

Because we are part of the body of Christ we can love even our enemies ,
we can forgive those who hurt and offend us .

The spirit of God can touch others who we meet .

The love of Jesus wants his love surround you every night and every day .

There is no barrier to his love .

It can transcend and break through the barriers that we put
and other place before us so that we can become happy in every way .

That is God’s plan for us all .

With Jesus in our eyes we can see far beyond the things that we call reality .

We can perceive mystery in a place where the love of God lives deep within our soul .

With faith and trust we come to an understanding of infinity .

Eternity is a place that is not so far beyond belief .

If we believe then we shall see that the love of God goes on forever and ever .

Where there is love that's where Christ will be .

If we are part of the body of Christ then his love has made itself a home in us .

In every country around the world the body of Christ are found to be at prayer together
helping each other and caring for others .

Organizations and ideals have been built on the foundations of Christ's teachings .

As we encounter hurt and disappointment in our lives
we are united with Christ who also suffered .
Jesus is there in the our suffering and despair.

To suffer for Christ 's sake is a precious thing
and if one part of the body suffers usually
it will have an impact on the rest of the body .

So in our suffering we can be united with others .

Together as the body of Christ we are strong
but if we cut ourselves away from the body
then we die to the other parts of the body .

As members of the body of Christ we must support one another
and not fight or do harm to others .

We must support the weak parts of the body
so that the whole body can survive.

The world will reject us as Christians ,
like a foreign or unwelcome influence ,
so we must stand together and be one .
That is where we get our strength .

In this life if we choose to follow Christ ,
we must walk as one in body and mind .

The journey ahead is never an easy road .

The world will not welcome those who are members of the body of Christ .

But if you trust in him and welcome him , he will make a home in you ,

Rejoice and be glad if your home is founded in Jesus Christ .

His love and mercy endures forever .

Even though around the world we are many we are one .

One in our faith and one in the love of our Lord Jesus Christ
who has made a home in us .

As one voice we can praise his name .

WE PRAY AS ONE BODY OF CHRIST

Oh God what can I say about Jesus your only son ?
No words could ever express how I feel .

What can I say about his life ?
No words could express
the mystery that only you can reveal .

Oh God what can I say about what you gave to me .
My words are only those of a mortal man .

Glory Halleluiah .
All praise and glory to you God Almighty .
To you I lift up my hand .

I lift it up in praise,
Much higher than my life ,
I lift up my prayer to you

Higher than the sky .

I lift up your name ,
your name is Mighty .
Praise and Glory to you
I lift up your name God on high

For the blessing you have given me ,
I thank you God .
I raise my hand and my prayer to you in praise .

I raise my voice to you ,

Oh God of mystery,
hear me Lord
Dearest Lord I want to give you praise .

All praise to the Father and the son .

Praise to the spirit .

All Glory and praise to the trinity .

May people of all nations praise the name of Jesus .

As one voice and as members of one body .
AMEN

May He Bless You and Keep You Today!

With Great Love
IN HIS SERVICE
Pastor Connie
Please click below to see something Jesus left for your Spirit!:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jTByEgZ8dgY&feature=related

HOW TO HANDLE HURT IN THE BODY OF CHRIST

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Connie Ciccone) — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 16:21:00 +0000

Faith Filled Thoughts
March 4th 2010
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HOW TO HANDLE HURT IN THE BODY OF CHRIST
PT 1

“bless those who curse you and pray

for those who persecute you.” (Matthew 5:44)

There was a time when a good friend of mine,
said she had been so hurt by the “Body Of Christ.”
I write this for my friend…JN

One sure thing that you will face in life, and yes, in church,
is that sooner or later, someone will offend you.
Many Christians will have occasion to be greatly offended by the words
and/or actions of other Christians.
How we handle these offenses has a profound impact on our spiritual advancement
and the progress of those around us.

All too often Christians become “stuck” in a place of being wounded
and become dysfunctional members of the Body of Christ.

Like it or not, people problems are one of your greatest opportunities
for spiritual advancement.
Relationship failures serve as a catalyst for spiritual growth
as the deep emotions of sorrow, anger, self-pity, bitterness, hatred, rage, vindictiveness, etc.
must be processed in healthy ways for our character to mature.
There is no way to avoid this process of maturation.
It does no good to guilt oneself by declaring,

“As a Christian I should not feel this way.”

All emotions, even negative ones, are God-given gifts
and are a part of what it means to be human.
The mature Christian does not necessarily have less anger
than the immature Christian.
The mature Christian has learned to process their anger in healthy
versus destructive and self-defeating ways.
Wounded people tend to fall into two general categories.
One group continues to replay the offense
and to recycle their negative emotions until
they build into waves of self-pity or crescendos of rage.
This is debilitating and can draw sympathizers deep into
the dysfunction of the wounded party.
The other group refuses to succumb to the nurse and rehearse syndrome and,
in the midst of personal pain, has the courage and fortitude
to seek a positive resolution to the problem.
This is both an emotional and intellectual process
that is a key dynamic to spiritual growth.

The Bible commands us, in many places,
to "love one another."
While most believers are well aware of these words,
acting upon them can be very difficult.
Obedience requires that we work through our negative emotions
to the point where we have gained the capacity to think
of the welfare of the offender regardless of what they have done.
This is a huge step forward. Compassion for the offender and
is one of the surest signs that God’s love has arrived on the scene.
We need to learn how to grow and walk in God’s love even in the worst of circumstances.
Love, in the biblical sense, is far more than an emotional feeling.
Love is a spiritual condition that allows us
to overcome the hatred and wrongs of others.

Jesus was filled with this kind of love when He declared from the cross,
“Father, forgive them.”
He exhorted his followers to demonstrate such love when he taught,
“bless those who curse you and pray for those who persecute you.” (Matthew 5:44)
So Remember…
Love is a commitment towards others, even when it hurts.

May He Bless You and Keep You Today!

With Great Love
IN HIS SERVICE
Pastor Connie
Please click below to see something Jesus left for your Spirit!:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2KsfwvpcQhY&feature=related

The SPARROW at STARBUCKS

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Connie Ciccone) — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 16:54:00 +0000

Faith Filled Thoughts
March 3rd 2010
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Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin?
And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will.
But the very hairs of your head are all numbered Do not fear therefore;
you are of more value than many sparrows.
(Mat 10:29-31)

The SPARROW at STARBUCKS

The song that silenced even the cappuccino machine....

It was chilly in Oxford but warm inside the Starbucks shop.
Early November weather in Oxford which is a college town holds only the slightest hint
of the bitter chill of late December and January,
but it's enough to send the masses crowding indoors to vie for
available space and warmth.

For a musician, it's the most lucrative Starbucks location in the world, I'm told,
and consequently, the tips can be substantial if you play your tunes right.
Apparently, we were striking all the right chords
that day, because our basket was almost overflowing.

It was a fun, low-pressure gig - I was playing keyboard
And was singing backup for my friend who also added rhythm
with an arsenal of percussion instruments.
We mostly did pop songs from the '50s
to the '80s with a few original tunes thrown in.

During our emotional rendition of the classic,
"If You Don't Know Me by Now,"
I noticed a young Blonde lady sitting
in one of the lounge chairs across from me.
She was swaying to the beat and singing along.
After the tune was over, she approached me.
"I apologize for singing along on that song.
Did it bother you?" she asked.

"No," I
replied. "We love it when the audience joins in.
Would you like to sing up front on the next selection?"
To my delight, she accepted my invitation.
"You choose," I said. "What are you in
the mood to sing?" "Well. .... Do you know any
hymns?" Hymns?
This woman didn't know who she was dealing with.
I cut my teeth on hymns all my young days at church.
I gave our guest singer a knowing look.
"Name one."

"Oh, I don't know. There are so many good
ones. You pick one." "Okay," I replied. "How
about
'His Eye is on the Sparrow'?"

My new friend was silent, her eyes averted.
Then she fixed her eyes on mine again and said,
"Yeah. Let's do that one."

She slowly nodded her head, put down her purse,
straightened her jacket and faced the center of the shop.
With my two-bar setup, she began to sing, "Why should I be
discouraged? Why should the shadows come?"

The audience of coffee drinkers was transfixed.
Even the gurgling noises of the

cappuccino machine ceased as the employees stopped
what they were doing to listen.
The song rose to its conclusion.
"I sing because I'm happy; I sing because I'm free.
For His eye is on the Sparrow And I know He watches me."

When the last note was sung, the applause crescendoed
to a deafening roar that would have rivaled a sold-out crowd at Carnegie Hall.
Embarrassed, the woman tried to shout over the din,
"Oh, y'all go back to your coffee!
I didn't come in here to do a concert! I just came in
here to get something' to drink, just like you!"
But the ovation continued..

I embraced my new friend.
"You, my dear, have made my whole year! That was beautiful!"

"Well, it's funny that you picked that particular hymn," she said.
"Why is that?"
"Well . .." she hesitated again, "that was my friend Lillian’s favorite song."
"Really!" I exclaimed.

"Yes," she said, and then grabbed my hands.
By this time, the applause had subsided and it was business as usual..
"She was 87. I took care of her for 8 years. She had no family and was like a mother to me.
“ She died from Alzheimer’s and old age last week."
Before she took her last breathe she said Connie “My Eyes Are On The Sparrow”
I said the first thing that found its way through my stunned silence.
"Are you going to be okay?"

She smiled through tear-filled eyes and squeezed my hands.
"I'm gonna be okay.
I've just got to keep trusting the Lord and singing his songs,
and everything's gonna be just fine."
She picked up her bag, gave me her card, which later I found out
she was a preacher with an internet church site Called Faith It Out!

Was it just a coincidence that we happened to be singing in
that particular coffee shop on that particular November day?
Coincidence that this wonderful lady just happened
to walk into that particular shop?
Coincidence that of all the hymns to choose from,
I just happened to pick the very hymn
that was the favorite of her precious friend,
who had died just the week before?
I refuse to believe it.

God has been arranging encounters in
human history since the beginning of time,
and it's no stretch for me to imagine that he could reach
into a coffee shop in Oxford and turn an ordinary gig into a revival.
It was a great reminder that if we keep trusting him
and singing his songs, everything's gonna be okay.
Because
'His Eye is on the Sparrow'?"

May He Bless You and Keep You Today!

With Great Love
IN HIS SERVICE
Connie
Please click below to see something Jesus left for your Spirit!
:WOW THIS IS AMAZING

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Fi_olWLdXg

Can you explain the Trinity?

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Connie Ciccone) — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 16:03:00 +0000

Faith Filled Thoughts
March 3rd 2010
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Can you explain the Trinity?

There is no God but one. (1Cor. 8:4)

"Trinity" is a term that is not found in the Bible but a word used to describe
what is apparent about God in the Scriptures.
The Bible clearly speaks of
God the Father,
God the Son (Jesus Christ),
and God the Holy Spirit...
and also clearly presents that there is only one God.
If we were to use math, it would not be, 1+1+1=3.
It would be 1x1x1=1. God is a triune God.
Thus the term: "Tri" meaning three,
and "Unity" meaning one,
Tri+Unity = Trinity.
It is a way of acknowledging what the Bible reveals to us about God,
that God is yet three "Persons" who have the same essence of deity.
Some have tried to give human illustrations for the Trinity,
such as H2O being water, ice and steam (all different forms, but all are H2O).
Another illustration is an egg having a shell, egg yolk and egg white,
but this egg illustration shows that there would be
"parts" to God, which isn't the case.

God the Son (Jesus) is fully, completely God.
God the Father is fully, completely God.
And God the Holy Spirit is fully, completely God.
Yet there is only one God.

In our world, with our limited human experience, it's tough to understand the Trinity.
But from the beginning we see God this way in Scripture.
Notice the plural pronouns "us" and "our" in Genesis 1:26 -- Then God said,

"Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule
over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air,
over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground."
Though not a complete list, here is some other Scripture that shows God is one, in Trinity:
• "Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD is one!" (Deut. 6:4)
• "I am the LORD, and there is no other; Besides Me there is no God." (Isa. 45:5)
• There is no God but one. (1Cor. 8:4)

• And after being baptized, Jesus went up immediately from the water;
• and behold, the heavens were opened, and he saw the Spirit of God
• descending as a dove, and coming upon Him, and behold, a voice out of the heavens, saying,

• "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased." (Matt. 3:16-17)
• "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations,
• baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit." (Matt. 28:19)
• Jesus said: "I and the Father are one." (John 10:30)
• "He who has seen Me has seen the Father." (John 14:9)
• "He who beholds Me beholds the One who sent Me." (John 12:45)
• If anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him. (Rom. 8:9)
• "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife;
• for that which has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit." (Matt. 1:20)
• And the angel answered and said to her [Mary],

• "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you;
• and for that reason the holy offspring shall be called the Son of God." (Luke 1:35)

• [Jesus speaking to His disciples]
• "And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper,
• that He may be with you forever; the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive,
• because it does not behold Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you,
• and will be in you." ... "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word;
• and My Father will love him, and We will come to him, and make Our abode with him." (John 14:16-17, 23)

Know that He Is God …..and…….HE IS ABLE
As we wait upon the Lord

May He Bless You and Keep You Today!

With Great Love
IN HIS SERVICE
Pastor Connie
Please click below to see something Jesus left for your Spirit!:
WOW THIS IS AMAZING

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TxifqtpW4H4

Reach Out and Touch Somebody’s Hand Today.

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Connie Ciccone) — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 15:23:00 +0000

Faith Filled Thoughts
March 1st 2010
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Reach Out and Touch Somebody’s Hand Today.

Micah 7:8
"When I fall, I shall arise;
when I sit in darkness,
the Lord shall be a light to me."

This puts a lot of things into perspective....
A blind boy sat on the steps of a building

with a hat by his feet.

He held up a sign which said:

"I am blind,
please help."

There were only a few coins in the hat.

A man was walking by.

He took a few coins from his pocket and dropped them into the hat.
He then took the
sign, turned it around, and wrote some words.
He put the sign back so that everyone who walked by would see
the new words.

Soon the hat began to fill up.
A lot more people were giving money to the blind boy.

That afternoon the man who
had changed the sign came to see how things were.

The boy recognized his footsteps and asked,

"Were you the
one who changed my sign this morning?

What did you write?"

The man said, "I only wrote the truth.

I said what you said but in a different way." I wrote:

"Today is a beautiful day
but I cannot see it."

Both signs told people that the boy was blind.

But the first sign simply said the boy was blind.
The second sign told people that they were so lucky

that they were not blind.

Should we be surprised that the second
sign was more effective?

Moral of the Story: Be thankful for what you have!...
Be creative. Be innovative.
Think differently and positively.
When life gives you a 100 reasons to cry,
show life that you have 1000 reasons to smile.
Face your past without regret.
Handle your present with confidence.
Prepare for the future without fear.
Keep the faith and drop the fear. (FAITH IT OUT)
The most beautiful thing is to see a person smiling…
And even more beautiful, knowing that you are the reason behind it!!!
Catch yourself when you start complaining about what you don’t have.

Remember, where there is life, there is hope.
Enjoy your day with a heart of gratitude

May He Bless You and Keep You Today!

With Great Love
IN HIS SERVICE
Pastor Connie
Please click below to see something Jesus left for your Spirit!:
WOW THIS IS AMAZING

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-7qCG2_aaA

“THE PATIENCE OF JOB!”

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Connie Ciccone) — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 14:59:00 +0000

Faith Filled Thoughts
February 24th 2010
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“THE PATIENCE OF JOB!”

Psalm 37:7
“Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for Him;
do not fret when men succeed in their ways,
when they carry out their wicked schemes.”

I have prayed for patience and God has graciously answered
by sending me trying situations that demand that I wait.
It is at times like these that I question whether
it is a good idea to pray for patience ― it is!
The problem as I see it, is that some of us have the idea
that the answer to our prayer is for God to take away the thorny situations of life.
Beep! It doesn’t work that way.

Job was the most righteous man on earth.
He also was extremely wealthy.
He also was blessed with a large family of seven sons and three daughters.
It must have been in a matter of ten minutes that word came to him
that he had lost his wealth, and that all ten
of his children had been killed by a windstorm.

As I think about the character quality of patience,
I am reminded that Job’s reaction to this horrific news was what defined patience.
In response to this life altering news, he said;
"Naked I came from my mother's womb,
and naked I will depart.
The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away;
may the name of the LORD be praised."
Patience is giving God permission to take as long
as it takes to bring about His perfect will.
It is His will, not our will.
It means that we learn to rest in Him and trust ourselves into His control.
In essence it says,
“Not my will but Thine be done!”
Proverbs 3:5-6;
“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on
your own understanding;
in all your ways acknowledge Him
, and He will make your paths straight.”
Blessings dear hearts.
Draw near to God today,
Trust Him completely and be a Blessing!

May He Bless You and Keep You Today!

With Great Love
IN HIS SERVICE
Connie
Please click below to see something Jesus left for your Spirit!:

WOW THIS IS AMAZING

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_EFS5i39l8

Who is the Holy Spirit?

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Connie Ciccone) — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 17:00:00 +0000

Faith Filled Thoughts
February 23rd 2010
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Faith Filled thoughts released Monday –Friday excluding Holidays

Who is the Holy Spirit?

(Gal.3:14)
“You receive the holy Spirit by faith
just as you receive Jesus as the Lord.”

The Holy Spirit is a person, not a thing

John 14 15“If you love me, obey my commandments.
16And I will ask the Father, and he will give you
another Counselor, who will never leave you.
17 He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth.
As you can see the Holy Spirit is a person.

As you read through the gospels you will see that He lead,
compels, inspires, teaches and stands with us.
He can also be grieved (Ephesians 4:30)

The Holy Spirit is God

Galatians 46 And because you Gentiles have become his children,
God has sent the Spirit of his Son into your hearts,
and now you can call God your dear Father.

When people talk about Jesus coming to live in their hearts,
what they really mean is the Spirit of Jesus or Holy Spirit,
who is that third member of the godhead.
The Holy Spirit is God himself.

What about being filled?

It is a separate experience to salvation

Acts 814 When the apostles back in Jerusalem heard that the people
of Samaria had accepted God’s message, they sent Peter and John there.
15 As soon as they arrived, they prayed
for these new Christians to receive the Holy Spirit.
16 The Holy Spirit had not yet come upon any of them,
for they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
17 Then Peter and John laid their hands upon
these believers, and they received the Holy Spirit.

It is clear from scripture that the born again experience
is the first step in receiving the Holy Spirit
as the Spirit of Christ comes to live in the heart of the believer.
Being filled with the Holy Spirit was something that occurred after salvation
and was an enduring with power and gift (Acts 1:8, 2:4)

It is for all of God’s children

Luke 1111 “You fathers—if your children ask for a fish,
do you give them a snake instead?
12 Or if they ask for an egg, do you give them a scorpion? Of course not!
13 If you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children,
how much more will your heavenly Father give
the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?”

God does not have some special children
who He gifts with the Holy Spirit, while others He does not.
God wants all His children to be filled with the Holy Spirit,
both men and women, young and old (Joel 2:28).
Jesus himself said that all we have to do is ask Him.
However when we ask God, we should ask in faith
and believe His word is for us (Mark 11:22-23, James 1:6-7).

It is the means of empowerment to live the Christian life.

Acts 1 8 But when the Holy Spirit has come upon you,
you will receive power and will tell people
about me everywhere—in Jerusalem,
throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

The Christian life was never meant to be ordinary,
it was meant to be filled with supernatural power.
The Holy Spirit empowers Christians
with an ability not only to tell people the good news about Jesus,
but to demonstrate the power of God in signs and wonders
(Mark 16:15-18, 1 Corinthians 2:1-5).

It is more than a one off experience.
Ephesians 518 Don’t be drunk with wine,
because that will ruin your life.
Instead, let the Holy Spirit fill and control you.

The correct translation of this verse is
“be being filled,” denoting a continual filling.
Receiving the fullness of the Spirit is only the starting point.
As you read on this passage in Ephesians it shows us
how to remain full, by praise, worship and thanksgiving to God.

I Will Ask One More Question?
Do You Have One Foot In The World?
Or Both Feet In The Spirit World?
IT IS A CHOICE!!

May He Bless You and Keep You Today!

With Great Love
IN HIS SERVICE
Connie
Please click below to see something Jesus left for your Spirit!:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?playnext=1&playnext_from=TL&videos=FCg4cj15Gws&v=6sPhpXO9sqc

Honesty Is The Best Policy

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Connie Ciccone) — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 19:06:00 +0000

Faith Filled Thoughts
February 22nd 2010
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Faith Filled thoughts released Monday –Friday excluding Holidays

Honesty Is The Best Policy

Psalm 119:160 - "The very essence of your words is truth;
all your just regulations will stand forever." (NLT)

We've all heard the saying "honesty is the best policy"
but who first said that famous quote?
Well it might not have been said exactly like that
but like in most cases the belief that honesty
is the best policy stems from the Bible.

Sometimes people think of Honesty as telling the truth,
but that's not completely true.
Honesty includes telling the truth but it's more than that.
Being an honest person means being a good person.
The Greek word for honesty is "kalos."
Kalos means that which is good and admirable and becoming.
To be honest means to be fair, right and honorable.

Honesty is a standard that God expects Christians to meet.
There are many verses throughout the Bible that speak on honesty.

In 1 Timothy 2:2 we are told
"live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness."

In 1 Thessalonians we are told that we should live in a way that
"your daily life may win the respect of outsiders
and so that you will not be dependent on anybody."

Even when others are disobedient or when others are in the wrong
we should still remain honest.
Romans 12:17 tells us
"Do not repay anyone evil for evil.
Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody."

The Bible also tells of some benefits of being an honest person.
According to Hebrews 13:5
an honest man will be content with life.

In 1 Timothy 2:2 we are told
that an honest person will have a quiet and peaceful life.

Hebrews 13:18 tells us
that an honest person will have a good conscience.

In Acts 6:3 we are told that the honest
are recommended for positions of responsibility.

The Bible even tells us the dishonest things we shouldn't do.

Leviticus 19:11 says that an honest person does not lie.

Leviticus 6:2 tells that an honest person does not cheat.

Proverbs 6:16 tells us that an honest person doesn't slander.

Romans 16:17-18 says an honest person is not a false teacher.

Malachi 2:13-16 tells us that an honest man is not an adulterer.

Proverbs 17:2 tells us that an honest man is not lazy.

God asks us to have a character which upholds

the highest standards of honesty.
We can display this on a daily basis

by being open and honest with each other.

May He Bless You and Keep You Today!

With Great Love
IN HIS SERVICE
Connie
Please click below to see something Jesus left for your Spirit!:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fpcxxIBUIzo&feature=related

Keep Your Fork

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Connie Ciccone) — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 19:14:00 +0000

Faith Filled Thoughts
February 19th 2010
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Faith Filled thoughts released Monday –Friday excluding Holidays

Keep Your Fork

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 3:12 (Living Bible)
"There is nothing better for a man than to be happy

and to enjoy himself as long as he can.

"Life on this earth is as a vapor, and compared to eternity it is as a moment in a day.
James 4:14 tells us that our life "appears for a while, then it vanishes."
Not only is the span of life that we are given very short, it is also divided into many unpredictable seasons.
Some of them are joyful and some are sad.

Solomon said there are seasons to laugh and seasons to cry.
There are times to love, to hate, to build, to tear down, to have peace, and to be at war.
He lists many other seasons that we will encounter in our lifetime, but he says,
"God makes everything beautiful in His time."

For so long, we have murmured and complained and taken so many things for granted.
We are often dissatisfied, for we see our glass as half-empty instead of half-full.
It is only when we encounter sickness that we begin to appreciate health.
Or when we come face to face with death that we see life as a gift,
and our every breath becomes precious to us.
We give little thought to our vision and mobility until we see a close friend suddenly
lose their eyesight or become paralyzed due to injury.
We never think of the blessing of hearing until our hearing is gone.
Our voice and ability to communicate is considered mundane
until we are unable to speak or sing.
And it is only when a loved one is stricken with a fatal disease
that we come to the realization that we should cherish our loved ones
and thankfully hold on to each moment that we have together and spend it very carefully.

My Hopes that this story given to me by a Faithful reader
will inspire you and teach you how life is funny and precious…

A Woman and a Fork

There was a young woman who had been diagnosed with a terminal illness
and had been given three months to live.
So as she was getting her things 'in order,' she contacted her Pastor
and had him come to her house to discuss certain aspects of her final wishes.

She told him which songs she wanted sung at the service,
what scriptures she would like read,

and what outfit she wanted to be buried in.

Everything was in order and the Pastor was preparing to leave
when the young woman suddenly remembered something very important to her.

'There's one more thing,' she said excitedly.

What's that?' came the Pastor's reply. 'This is very important,'
the young woman continued.
'I want to be buried with a fork in my right hand.'

The Pastor stood looking at the young woman, not knowing quite what to say.

That surprises you, doesn't it?' the young woman asked.

'Well, to be honest, I'm puzzled by the request,'

said the Pastor. The young woman explained.

'My grandmother once told me this story,
and from that time on I have always tried to pass along

its message to those I love
and those who are in need of encouragement.

In all my years of attending socials and dinners,
I always remember that when the dishes

of the main course were being cleared,
someone would inevitably lean over and say,

'Keep your fork.'
It was my favorite part because

I knew that something better was coming...
like velvety chocolate cake or deep-dish apple pie.

Something wonderful, and with substance!'

So, I just want people to see me there in that casket with a fork in my hand
and I want them to wonder

'What's with the fork?'
Then I want you to tell them: '
Keep your fork ..
the best is yet to come.'

The Pastor's eyes welled up with tears of joy

as he hugged the young woman good-bye.
He knew this would be one of the last times

he would see her before her death.
But he also knew that the young woman

had a better grasp of heaven than he did.
She had a better grasp of what heaven

would be like than many people twice her age,
with twice as much experience and knowledge.

She KNEW that something better was coming.

At the funeral people were walking by the young woman's casket
and they saw the cloak she was wearing

and the fork placed in her right hand.
Over and over, the Pastor heard the question,

'What's with the fork?'

And over and over he smiled.

During his message, the Pastor told the people

of the conversation he had with the young woman shortly before she died.
He also told them about the fork

and about what it symbolized to her.
He told the people how he could not stop

thinking about the fork
and told them that they probably

would not be able to stop thinking about it either.

He was right.

So the next time you reach down for your fork let it remind you,
ever so gently, that the best is yet to come.

Friends are a very rare jewel , indeed
. They make you smile

and encourage you to succeed Cherish the time you have ,
and the memories you share ...
being friends with someone is not an opportunity

but a sweet responsibility.

SO SMILE MY FRIEND I LOVE YOU AND REMEMBER…..

Keep Your Fork!!!!

May He Bless You and Keep You Today!

With Great Love
IN HIS SERVICE
Pastor Connie
Please click below to see something Jesus left for your Spirit!:

http://www.tangle.com/view_video?viewkey=9f7e6615852e65464435

He Came To Find You..Are You Lost?

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Connie Ciccone) — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 17:35:00 +0000

Faith Filled Thoughts
February 18th 2010
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Faith Filled thoughts released Monday –Friday excluding Holidays

Jesus Came To Seek The Lost
Is This You?

Scripture: Luke 19:5 Jesus said, "Zacchaeus ...
come down for today I must abide at your house."

Zacchaeus was the chief among the publicans,
meaning that he was over the other publicans
who were tax collectors for the Romans.
The publicans had very bad reputations,
often abusing the tax system through extortion.
Because of his position, Zacchaeus had become very rich,
yet there was something lacking in his life.
One day, he heard that Jesus was going to be passing by,
and because Zacchaeus was little in statue,
he climbed into a tree to get a better glimpse of Jesus.
Can you imagine how Zacchaeus must have felt when Jesus stopped
underneath the tree and spoke directly to him and called him by name?

This story is like many others in the Bible.
It's a story of a man seeking God and at the same time
a story of God seeking that same man.
Zacchaeus was in the tree looking down when Jesus stopped and looked up.
Even though Zacchaeus was probably trying to hide,
Jesus knew exactly where he was physically and also spiritually.
Jesus knew all of his secrets and was aware
that he was caught in a web of deceit and greed.
In His mercy and grace, Jesus told Zacchaeus
that He intended to go to his house and eat that day.
Jesus wanted to fellowship with the chief of the publicans.
He wanted to sit at the table of a thief and for this,
Jesus was criticized. Verse seven says,
"When the people saw it, they murmured, saying,
He has gone to be a guest with a man that is a sinner."

Jesus was always found seeking out those with needs, whether rich or poor.
It was never difficult for Him to minister to the unclean and outcast.
He had no problems reaching out and touching the diseased
and those who were living in moral degradation.
He continually left the religious folks and gave Himself to the prostitutes and the thieves.
He forgot about the laws and it's harshness and allowed
His heart to be tender towards the rejects of society.
Verse ten says,
"For the Son of Man came to seek and to save that which was lost."
He was looking for those who needed help and He continues that search today.
He knows your secrets and where you are lacking.
He knows where you are hiding and He also knows your name.
He knows your desires and He is waiting for you to approach Him.
Like Zacchaeus climbing a tree, when you diligently seek to make contact with Jesus
He will respond and invite Himself to come and abide with you.

May He Bless You and Keep You Today!

With Great Love
IN HIS SERVICE
Connie
Please click below to see something Jesus left for your Spirit!:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVYh63ZF_Vo&feature=related

Hearing The Voice Of God

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Connie Ciccone) — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 18:24:00 +0000

Faith Filled Thoughts
February 17th 2010
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Hearing The Voice Of God

Many times folks have written this question to me. How can I hear the Voice of God.
Below are my Faith Filled Thoughts and studies on the matter.

The opening scripture in Acts 22:14 says, "And he said,
The God of our fathers hath chosen thee, that thou shouldest know his will,
and see that Just One,
and shouldest hear the voice of his mouth."
Religious people may argue,
"That scripture was meant only for the Apostle Paul!"
but we must really ask ourselves: did Paul ever exhalt himself in stature
and rank above any of us?
Rather, we've all been chosen.
We've all been washed in the Blood of the Lamb!
We've all been drawn unto God.
We're all called to hear His voice, not just a select few.
In Revelation 2:15,
Jesus tells the Church of Pergamos that He's displeased that some ascribe to the
Doctrine of the Nicolatians, which He hates.
Nicolas was a man in this era who taught that there needs
to be a spiritual elite who does all your penance,
sacraments, hears God for you, etc.
But recall that Jesus is not seeking for a spiritual elite
but that we all come to Him like little children,
because if our hearts are not like that of a little child,
we cannot enter into the Kingdom of heaven!
In John 10, Jesus said that we are His sheep, and His sheep know His Voice.
But Psalms 95:7 warns us that if we do hear His voice,
we must not harden our hearts like the people of Israel did
in the Wilderness, where they tried and tempted God,
and so that entire generation perished.
It was the next generation - a generation after the heart of God
that entered into the Promised Land.
Daniel 11:32 says, "...
but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do [exploits]."
God wants to work great exploits through our lives!
The world may say one thing. Our circumstances may say another,
and the Devil may indeed try to have his own way,
but when we hear a Word from God, be it through the scriptures or right in our very ear
(possibly a scripture we didn't even know was already in the Bible!)
we can use that Word as judicial punishment against the words of darkness.
Isaiah 54:17 says that no weapon formed against us shall prosper!

So how can we better hear the voice of God?

• Repent of all unconfessed sin, and ask God to heal you of all iniquity, all bents for sin.
Ask the Lord to show you what attitudes and what behavioral patterns
are unrepentant in your life that you need to change,
especially if these are causing you not to hear His voice.
• Be ever so willing to not only seek after His face and to hear His voice, but to be obedient.
• Be willing to receive God's instruction in any way, shape or form
in which the Lord wants to present it.
You may not necessarily like the message - especially if you don't like the messenger!
Change your attitude if you are only willing to hear from God
if He is to speak only a certain way, or answer with such an answer!
• When in prayer, be in an attitude of waiting on God,
not just calling out each item of your To-Do list to Him!
Remember, He is our Shield and Buckler, not our Chef and Butler!
• Love God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength.
Rest in Him. Trust in His grace.
• There is such a thing as drainage.
We are encouraged to be filled with the Spirit on a daily basis.
But there are things in the world that may case that anointing to drain off
until we become as dry as a dead river bed, unable to bring life to anyone!
It can be that magazine under your mattress, that relationship that is not of God,
a particular lifestyle that causes you to sin constantly.
God spoke to the prophets in the Old (and New) Testament
because they were friends with God.
God's voice makes our heart tremble.
God's voice has a particular sweetness
God's voice brings peace
Songs of Solomon 2:14 says, "O my dove, [that art] in the clefts of the rock,
in the secret [places] of the stairs, let me see thy countenance, let me hear thy voice;
for sweet [is] thy voice, and thy countenance [is] comely."
The dove in the Bible speaks of the Holy Spirit. It is the voice of the Holy Spirit.
And Remember!
In John 10, Jesus said that we are His sheep,
and His sheep know His Voice.

May He Bless You and Keep You Today!

With Great Love
IN HIS SERVICE
Pastor Connie
Please click below to see something Jesus left for your Spirit!:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ynXzCoN5I6w&feature=related

From My Heart To Your Heart

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Connie Ciccone) — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 16:11:00 +0000

Faith Filled Thoughts
February 12th 2010
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Happy Valentine’s Day!

From My Heart To Your Heart

"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with
all your soul and with all your mind" (Matthew 22:37).

The word "heart" is mentioned 743 times in the Bible,
and it is used in various contexts.
The references that have the most significance for Christians
involve the heart representing a person's will or desires.
God wants people to love Him with all of their hearts.
When they stray, God wants them to return to Him with all of their hearts.
In the Bible, the heart often represents the will of a person or of an entire nation.
For example, the Israelites believed that they were doing God's will by being circumcised,
but God pointed out that Israel was still
"uncircumcised in heart" (Jeremiah 9:25-26).

God judges motivation by a person's heart.
According to the Bible, a person's heart reveals his true nature and motivation.
In Jeremiah 17:10,
the Bible says that God "search[es] the heart and examine[s] the mind"
and then rewards people for what their conduct deserves.
As Jesus pointed out when observing the widow's offering,
the significance of the action is driven by the heart
(Luke 21:1-4).
Jesus said that the widow gave more to the temple by giving two coins
than those who put much more in the temple treasury
because of what was in her heart (she gave all that she had).
The Bible says that repentance is measured by whether the person returns
to God with "all your heart" (Deuteronomy 30:1-3).
The Bible includes some variance of
"return to me with your whole heart" six times. In Joel 2:13,
the Bible tells God's people to "Rend your heart and not your garments."
Returning to church is not enough.
According to the Bible, God cares more about the repentance in your heart
than in your external actions
According to the Bible, the heart is deceitful,
which means that you should be wary of trusting what your heart tell you.
The Bible says in Jeremiah 17:9
that the "heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure."
The Bible references a specific example of this
in Hosea 10:2, where the Bible talks about Israel's heart being deceitful,
and now the people "must bear their guilt."
God holds people accountable for listening
to the deceitful messages that their hearts tell them
According to the Bible, the motivation of your heart can have eternal ramifications.
In Luke 12:34,
Jesus pointed out that
"where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."
Luke 21:34 warns us to
"be careful" in the end times "or your hearts will be weighed down
with dissipation, drunkenness and the anxieties of life."
God wants your heart focused upon Him:
"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with
all your soul and with all your mind" (Matthew 22:37).

May He Bless You and Keep You Today!

With Great Love
IN HIS SERVICE
Connie
Please click below to see something Jesus left for your Spirit!:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G_A3xOfzP9Y

"It Made A Difference For That One."

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Connie Ciccone) — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 17:07:00 +0000

Faith Filled Thoughts
February 11th 2010
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Romans 15:4
For everything that was written
in the past was written to teach us,
so that through endurance and the
encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.

"It Made A Difference For That One."

Once upon a time, there was a wise man who used to go to the ocean to do his writing.
He had a habit of walking on the beach before he began his work.

One day, as he was walking along the shore,
he looked down the beach and saw a human figure moving like a dancer.
He smiled to himself at the thought of someone
who would dance to the day, and so,
he walked faster to catch up.

As he got closer, he noticed that the figure was that of a young man,
and that what he was doing was not dancing at all.
The young man was reaching down to the shore,
picking up small objects, and throwing them into the ocean.

He came closer still and called out "Good morning!
May I ask what it is that you are doing?"

The young man paused, looked up, and replied
"Throwing starfish into the ocean."

"I must ask, then, why are you throwing starfish into the ocean?"
asked the somewhat startled wise man.

To this, the young man replied,
"The sun is up and the tide is going out.
If I don't throw them in, they'll die."

Upon hearing this, the wise man commented,
"But, young man, do you not realize that there are miles and miles of beach
and there are starfish all along every mile?
You can't possibly make a difference!"

At this, the young man bent down,
picked up yet another starfish, and threw it into the ocean.
As it met the water, he said, "It made a difference for that one."

Let's Help Them Find Their Smile
By Connie Ciccone
Today Lord, as we walk along,
Please guide the words I say.
Oh, lead me to that special one,
That I may help today.

I know there must be lonely souls,
That need a special friend.
Someone who asked in fervent prayer,
For someone you may send.

Give me the perfect words to say,
To tell them of your love.
A greater love they have never known,
You Love From Up above.

Concern for them is in my heart,
I lift them up to you.
Oh, let them feel your precious love,
So they may know you too!

Please help me find the words to say,
To make them feel worthwhile,
Then I know that you and I,
Have Helped Them Find Their Smile
Let's Help Them Find Their Smile

Connie Ciccone © November 2003

So Wear Your God Smile Today, and make the world a better place!

May He Bless You and Keep You Today!

With Great Love
IN HIS SERVICE
Connie
Please click below to see something Jesus left for your Spirit!:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zfrlfaLZtJ8

Love is the energy of life.

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Connie Ciccone) — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 18:40:00 +0000

Faith Filled Thoughts
February 10th 2010
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Love is the energy of life.

He that loveth his brother abideth in the light,
and there is none occasion of stumbling in Him. 1 John 2:10

Loving and being loved are what make our lives worth living.
Many people experience times in their lives when they feel unloved.
During these times it’s easy to dwell on those negative thoughts,
but allowing it to continue leads to unhappiness and depression.

Love is the energy of life.

It is what motivates people to get up each day and keep going.
Love gives life purpose and meaning.
Everywhere you look you see people searching for love…
but they’re looking in the wrong places.
God is love,
and they will never find what they’re looking for until they find Him.

People look for fulfillment in life in different ways.
These ways may seem good at first,
but eventually the unsuccessful search will leave them feeling frustrated,
disappointed and empty.
The only way they can find the true fulfillment they are so desperately seeking is to choose to
walk in love—
to actually put love into action by reaching out and loving others.

As soon as I made a commitment to God,
I began to hear people talk about the importance of loving others.
Since I wanted to live my life according to the Bible,
I wanted to walk in love, but I just couldn’t.
I had the urge…but no power to follow through.
I always made elaborate plans but couldn’t carry them out.

Unfulfilled desire is often frustrating.
I felt very frustrated and wondered what was wrong with me.
I was impatient with people.
I was legalistic, harsh, judgmental, rude, selfish and unforgiving
—and that is only the beginning of the list.
The harder I tried to walk in love, the worse I became.

I began to understand that I could not love others
because I had never received God’s love for me,
and I never first learned to Love Myself.
I knew in my head that the Bible said God loved me,
but I didn’t feel His love in my heart.
I wondered how God could love us as imperfect as we are.

God loves us because He wants to—it pleases Him.
God loves us because it’s His nature to love,
and He will always love us.
He doesn’t always love everything we do, but He does love us.
God’s love is unconditional.
In fact, there’s nothing we can do to ever escape His love.
God’s love is the power that forgives our sins,
heals our emotional wounds, and mends our broken hearts.

Over time I came to realize that I am deeply loved by God simply for who I am,
not because of any work I could do for Him.
I could finally quit trying to earn His love by doing things
I thought would make me more worthy of His love.

Once I began receiving God’s awesome,
unconditional love, I was able to start loving Him in return
and reach out to others more freely in love.
Because God’s never-ending love was in me,
I could give it to others without fear of ever running out.

Everyone in the world wants to be loved and accepted.
And the love of God—that wonderful gift He freely gives us—satisfies that need.
His love flows to us, and then it should flow through us to other people.

Now I see myself as a container full of blessings.
I want to be the type of person who can pour out God’s love
into the lives of the people around me.
I’ve found that I’m always happier when I choose to make others happy.

In the Bible, God calls Christians the salt of the earth
(see Matthew 5:13). He expects us to
“season” the lives of those around us.
All of life is tasteless without love.
Love is the salt, the energy of life, and the reason to get up every morning.

Every day can be exciting if we see ourselves as God’s secret agents,
waiting to sprinkle a little salt on all the lives we encounter.
Now I don’t mean we go around with a salt shaker in our hand , but in our hearts…
We know that because we are deeply loved by God,
we can never run out of love—no matter how much we give away.

May He Bless You and Keep You Today!

With Great Love
IN HIS SERVICE
Connie
Please click below to see something Jesus left for your Spirit!: Unbelievable

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7s2wCVcmYOU&feature=related

He Is There In Our Pain

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Connie Ciccone) — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 16:40:00 +0000

Faith Filled Thoughts
February 9th, 2010
By Connie Ciccone
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Please visit our guestbook and sign it,
if you feel this site has inspired you!

He Is There In Our Pain

Scripture: Matthew 28:20 "... I am with you always,
even unto the end of the world."

Our greatest comfort and our greatest joy is the assurance of these words from Jesus.
Every moment, His followers are promised
His personal and empowering presence.
This promise is our greatest spiritual asset,
and we could ask for no greater treasure.
We could depend on no better security.
We could reach no higher heights or experience no deeper depths
than to know that Jesus is with us.
How awesome is the thought that Jesus will never leave or forsake us.

He will always be there.

Others may leave, but He will remain.
He is with us in our laughter and He is with us in our tears.
He is with us in our triumphs and He is with us in our tragedies.
He is there with us as we experience joy and
He is there in our pain.
And He is always touched with the things that our hearts are caused to endure.

Jesus made this commitment to be with us
to the ends of the world or the end of the age.
It doesn't matter if we are at home or in a distant land,
His presence surrounds us, fills our lonely hearts,
and girds us with strength.
We only need to recognize Him and know that He is there.
It doesn't matter if we are doing menial tasks or are involved
in a major undertaking, He is there to help us in the time of our need.
It doesn't matter if we are in peace or engaged in war,
for His protecting arms surround us.
It doesn't matter if it is Sunday, Monday, or another day of the week,
He is there always and His mighty presence fills every moment.
In His presence there is a peace that passes all understanding.
There is a trust that cannot be described,
an abounding love that fills the heart,
and a grace that is sufficient for the soul.

We do not have to dread the road ahead
or be anxious about the future, for the Lord's presence will lead us
and He will take care of every detail.
Look back and reflect upon Your life today.
When you were at the worst of worst,

He pulled you through.

If today you feel that way LOOK UP,
because the same power that brought you out of the last pit.
Is Holding His Outstretched hands again!
Say Lord Take My Hand You are All That I Need.
Your Breakthrough is coming!
The power of His presence will always make a way where there seems to be no way.
He will go before us and make a way in the wilderness
and cause streams in the desert (Isaiah 43:19).
His presence will even cause us to bloom in the hard places where we are planted.
Isaiah 42:16 says,
"He will make the darkness light before us, and the crooked things straight.
These things He will do for us, and He will not forsake us."
We must hold to the promise that the presence of Jesus
will always be with us,
for this is the greatest asset
that we could ever hope to gain.
So LOOK UP my friend….

May He Bless You and Keep You Today!

With Great Love
IN HIS SERVICE
Connie

Please click below to see something Jesus left for your Spirit!:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-hcwKo1w8o&feature=related

“Peace Be Still”

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Connie Ciccone) — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 21:07:00 +0000

Faith Filled Thoughts
February 4th, 2010
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“Peace Be Still”

Scripture: Philippians 4:7 "And the peace of God,
which passes all understanding,
shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."

As I reflected on this scripture,
I had a mental picture of my understanding traveling down a highway.
It was in turmoil as it faced making decisions and resolving situations.
Then suddenly, I turned my heart and thoughts to God
and acknowledged Him in all of my ways.
When I did this, God began to direct my uncertain path,
and His peace overtook me and passed me up.
His peace then went before me, making the crooked way straight.
Then as my understanding just simply followed God's Spirit of peace,
calmness came to my heart and mind.

One of the most precious items that Jesus left us when He went back to heaven
was His peace (John 14:27).
It wasn't the same kind of peace that the world had to offer.
It was a peace that transcended and defied reason.
His peace is a calm in the midst of the storm, not the absence of the storm.
The peace that He held within Him enable Him
to sleep in the midst of a raging storm and His words of
"Peace be still" were able to overpower the winds and waves.
His peace is not anxious and did not pressure Him into running to Lazarus
when news came that he was sick.
Instead His peace caused Him to wait on the timing of God.
His peace also allowed Him to remain silent in the face of accusations
and mockery, for He held His peace and answered not a word.
His peace was strong enough that it kept Him
from calling the angels to deliver Him when He was on the cross.

God's peace in the lives of others was not the absence of danger itself,
but a knowledge that God was in control and able to deliver.
His peace prevailed in the lion's den for Daniel
and also in the furnace of fire for Shadrach, Meshach, and Obednego.
In prison, His peace allowed Peter to sleep peacefully between two soldiers
when he was facing certain death.
The same peace brought joy to Paul and Silas,
allowing them to sing songs in the prison at the midnight hour.
The world only offers peace when everything is secure
and going great, but God offers a peace that cannot be comprehended.
Are you awakening only to find your life without peace at the start of the day?
His peace prevails in the time of storms,
life threatening or difficult situations, and even death.
If you want to experience this supernatural peace that transcends worldly peace,
keep your mind on Jesus and trust in Him (Isaiah 26:3).
Then, just slow down and allow the peace of God to overtake you and go before you.
“Peace Be Still”

May He Bless You and Keep You Today!

With Great Love
IN HIS SERVICE
Connie

New Below!
Please click below to see something Jesus left for your Spirit!:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5zlZq8pzwCA&feature=PlayList&p=48C6165F086A0AD0&playnext=1&index=21

Come Receive The Free Gift Of Forgiveness

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Connie Ciccone) — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 18:08:00 +0000

Faith Filled Thoughts

February 2nd 2010

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Come Receive The Free Gift Of Forgiveness

Most world religions include teachings on forgiveness.
In recent years, psychologists have produced papers, books, study courses
and one even established an institute (Dr. Robert Enright's International Forgiveness Institute),
recognizing the human need for forgiveness.
"Studies show that people who forgive are happier
and healthier than those who hold resentments," Enright says.

Anyone who has experienced God's forgiveness
and obeyed Jesus' teachings to forgive knows that this is true.
Nothing is more liberating than knowing and believing that Jesus Christ
has paid the price for all sins, past, present and future.
Christians know that forgiveness is a heart and soul healing reality.

The Biblical meaning of forgiveness means to dismiss or set free,
no punishment is inflicted, and the guilty person is dealt with as if he were innocent.
God says is best in Jeremiah 31:34,
"I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more."
It does not say that God cannot remember.
He says, "I will not remember."
Once God forgives,
He never brings it up again.

All through the Bible, forgiveness seems to be conditional
upon the repentance of the one seeking restoration.

Jesus taught:
"Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins against you,
rebuke him; and if he repents,
forgive him. And if he sins against you seven times in a day,
and seven times in a day returns to you, saying,
'I repent,' you shall forgive him." (Luke 17:3, 4)

Jesus also taught that one must first be forgiving in order to receive God's forgiveness.
"For if ye forgive men their trespasses,
your heavenly Father will also forgive you:
But if ye forgive not men their trespasses,
neither will your Father forgive your trespasses."
(Matthew 6:14, 15)

Peter asked Jesus,
"How many times should I forgive my brother? Up to seven times?"
Jesus answered implying that there should be no limit when he answered,
"seventy times seven."
Jesus then taught a parable about how an unforgiving person
was imprisoned and tortured, and concluded with the words,
"So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you,
if ye from your hearts forgive not everyone his brother their trespasses."
(Matthew 18:35)

Not every offender is going to repent and ask for forgiveness.
It is necessary, therefore, to decide to forgive anyway,
releasing the guilty person for the sake of unhindered fellowship with God.
Again, Jesus is the supreme example.
"Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do." (Luke 22:34)

Paul later wrote in 2 Corinthians 2:6-8:
"This punishment which was inflicted by the majority is sufficient for such a man,
so that, on the contrary, you ought rather to forgive and comfort him,
lest perhaps such a one be swallowed up with too much sorrow.
Therefore I urge you to reaffirm your love to him."

Lack of forgiveness among believers can drive the wrongdoer to despair,
and cause hardness of heart among the self-righteous.
God's Word to His people is clear.
"And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted,
forgiving one another,
even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you."
(Ephesians 4:32)

"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins,
and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
(1 John 1:9)

Forgiveness restores the severed connection,
like repairing a bridge, like tuning an instrument with a sour note,
returning unity and balance that was momentarily lost.
It may be a small matter, or a life-altering situation.
The power of forgiveness can bring about healing
like no other medication or treatment can do.
For Christians, forgiveness is not an option,
but a daily occurrence,
required to maintain heart wholeness and mental serenity.

Once God forgives,
He never brings it up again.

May He Bless You and Keep You Today!

With Great Love
IN HIS SERVICE
Connie
Please click below to see new poems Jesus added to our site:
This song is amazing !!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A0QeT4xI2yA

Do You Know What Joy Really Means?

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Connie Ciccone) — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 19:16:00 +0000

Faith Filled Thoughts

February 1st 2010

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Joy

Joy is not the same as happiness.
Happiness can be attained with a newly acquired object,
a car, or clothing or appliance, for example.
A sunny day can make someone happy, or a bouquet of flowers.
Usually happiness is a result of something external.
But joy is internal.
It is not an emotion, but an inner appreciation
and sense of satisfaction due to a spiritual reality.

For every Christian, the number one desire should be to experience joy
even in the face of negative circumstances.
In Hebrews chapter 12, believers who are tempted to become weary or discouraged.
They are urged to recall examples of faith demonstrated
by God's people who preceded them,
taking into consideration all they endured and especially remembering Jesus Christ.

"let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us,
and let us run with endurance the race
that is set before us, looking unto Jesus,
the author and finisher of our faith,
who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross,
despising the shame, and has sat down
at the right hand of the throne of God."

Jesus believed God's promise in
Psalm 16:10:
"For You will not leave my soul in Sheol (the grave),
nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption."

Jesus believed God would raise Him from death,
and ultimately fulfill the remaining future prophecies concerning Him.
He knew that his sacrifice would pave the way for the nations to come to God.
Therefore Jesus could have joy inside.
He did not focus on the immediate circumstances,
he looked to the future, even while suffering an agonizing death on the cross.

Paul brought the Word of God to Thessalonica.
Some people gladly received the Word, but as Acts chapter 17 reveals,
there was a group of legalistic Jews who were hostile.
The resistance intensified to the point that the entire city
was rioting and out of control.
The situation was so tense that Paul and Silas
had to leave in the middle of the night.

Later, Paul sent Timothy to check on the believers
and was joyful to hear Timothy's positive report of their steadfastness.
For what thanks can we render to God for you,
for all the joy with which we rejoice for your sake before our God.
(1 Thessalonians 3:9)
Even in the midst of chaos and opposition,
the believers were joyful.
And you became followers of us and of the Lord,
having received the word in much affliction,
with joy of the Holy Spirit. (1 Thessalonians 1:6)

Rather than external things being the cause of joy,
the Bible shows that spiritual realities produce joy in a believer.
In
Psalm 16:11, the Psalmist writes,
"In Your presence is fullness of joy."

Being aware of God's presence in every situation produces joy.
On the night of Jesus' arrest, at the last meal he shared with His disciples.
Jesus taught them to retain the Word of truth,
and then said His joy would remain in them,
and they would experience fullness of joy (John 15:11).
He also comforted them:
"You now have sorrow; but I will see you again and your heart
will rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you." (John 16:22)

AND YOUR JOY NO ONE WILLTAKE FROM YOU.
DO NOT ALLOW ANYONE TO STEAL YOUR JOY.
YOU HAVE THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
Read John 10:10

May He Bless You and Keep You Today!

With Great Love
IN HIS SERVICE
Connie
Please click below to see new poems Jesus added to our site:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AziyMQOMWP0&feature=related

GRANNY’S HANDS

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Connie Ciccone) — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 17:17:00 +0000

Faith Filled Thoughts
January 29th, 2009
By Connie Ciccone
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GRANNY’S HANDS

Granny, some ninety plus years, sat feebly on the patio bench.
She didn't move, just sat with her head down staring at her hands.

When I sat down beside her she didn't acknowledge my presence
and the longer I sat I wondered if she was OK

Finally, not really wanting to disturb her
but wanting to check on her at the same time,
I asked her if she was OK.
She raised her head and looked at me and smiled.
"Yes, I'm fine, thank you for asking,"
she said in a clear voice strong..

"I didn't mean to disturb you, granny,
but you were just sitting here staring at your hands
and I wanted to make sure you were OK." I explained to her.

"Have you ever looked at your hands," she asked.
"I mean really looked at your hands?"

I slowly opened my hands and stared down at them.
I turned them over, palms up and then palms down.
No, I guess I had never really looked at my hands
as I tried to figure out the point she was making.

Granny smiled and related this story:

"Stop and think for a moment about the hands you have,
how they have served you well throughout your years.
These hands, though wrinkled shriveled and weak have been the tools
I have used all my life to reach out and grab and embrace life."

"They braced and caught my fall when as a toddler
and I crashed upon the floor."

"They put food in my mouth and clothes on my back.
As a child, my mother taught me to fold them in prayer.
They tied my shoes and pulled on my boots.
They held my husband and wiped my tears when he went off to war."

"They have been dirty, scraped and raw, swollen and bent.
They were uneasy and clumsy when I tried to hold my newborn son.
Decorated with my wedding band they showed the world
that I was married and loved someone special."

"They wrote my letters to him and trembled and shook
when I buried my parents and spouse."

"They have held my children and grandchildren,
consoled neighbors,
and shook in fists of anger when I didn't understand."

"They have covered my face, combed my hair,
and washed and cleansed the rest of my body.
They have been sticky and wet, bent and broken, dried and raw.
And to this day when not much of anything else of me works real well
these hands hold me up, lay me down, and again continue to fold in prayer."

These hands are the mark of where
I've been and the ruggedness of life."

"But more importantly it will be these hands that God
will reach out and take when he leads me home.
And with my hands He will lift me to His side
and there I will use these hands to touch the face of Christ."
After that day

I never look at my hands the same again.
But I remember God reached out and took my granny’s hands and led her home.

When my hands are hurt or sore or when I stroke the face of my family,
my husband my friends I think of granny.
I know she has been stroked and caressed
and held by the hands of Almighty God.

I, too, want to touch the face of God and feel His hands upon my face.
So take a good look at your hands today and as I share
This story with you…know that no matter what your facing in life,
No matter how lost you may feel.
I extend my hand to you, in love
Because I know Jesus has caressed your face and heart Today.

May He Bless You and Keep You Today!

With Great Love
IN HIS SERVICE
Pastor Connie
Please click below to see something Jesus left for your Spirit!:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NdQje_gJ0ko

Go To The Rock, Christ Jesus

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Connie Ciccone) — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 19:33:00 +0000

Faith Filled Thoughts
January 27th, 2009
By Connie Ciccone
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Go To The Rock, Christ Jesus

Scripture: Psalms 61:2 "When my heart is overwhelmed:
lead me to the rock that is higher than I."

Have you ever been overwhelmed by circumstances
and could not seem to find your way out?
You feel utterly overcome and upset by either the physical
or emotional forces that are coming against you.
You have no control over what is happening,
and there's seems to be no one to help you.
You feel like a vessel that is being engulfed and submerged
by the waves of the sea.
It's very frightening because you don't know what to do
at that present moment and certainly can't predict the future outcome.

King David was experiencing these same emotions when he wrote this psalm.
He was overcome but knew the answer for his dilemma.
He cried out to God in his overwhelming situation
and asked the Lord to lead him to the Rock that was higher than himself.
David knew that his physical strength was insufficient and
that he couldn't depend upon his own understanding.
He wanted help from the One whose ways were higher
than his own ways and whose thoughts were higher than his own thoughts.
He looked to the past and remembered that God
had always been there as his shelter and strong tower in times of distress.
In every situation, God had protected him from the fierce enemy.

In Psalm 142, David again spoke of his spirit being overwhelmed.
He poured out his complaints to the Lord and showed Him all of his trouble.
David said,
"No one will help me; no one cares a bit what happens to me ...
Lord, you are my only place of refuge."

Life presents us with many challenges and often overwhelming circumstances.
Like David, there will be times in our life
when there will be no one in the natural that we can turn to.
No one will want to listen to our problems or share our grief.
Yet, we can always go to the Rock of our salvation
and find our answers and comfort.
So, when you find yourself overwhelmed with life and its many battles,
remember that someone really does care your.
Then make every effort to find your way to the Rock, Christ Jesus,
and place your confidence in Him. Jesus is your only faithful refuge.

Go To The Rock, Christ Jesus

May He Bless You and Keep You Today!

With Great Love
IN HIS SERVICE
Connie
Please click below to see something Jesus left for your Spirit!:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sR8rlTIU8_Y&feature=related

the Virtue of Patience

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Connie Ciccone) — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 16:50:00 +0000

Faith Filled Thoughts
January 26th 2010
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In Remembrance of my Dear Friend Lillian
On the anniversary of her passing.
If anyone taught me patience she did.
I Love You my Sweet Friend

Virtue of Patience

One can often tell a seasoned mother from a first timer.
The first-time mother will dote over her child,
cooing and smiling at him through the whole grocery store.
But that first-time mother with invariably find herself at her wits end
when little Brian tests her patience for the umpteenth time.

On the other hand, while seasoned mothers sometimes are the ones
who accidentally forget their child at the church after a faculty meeting,
they can laugh about it later.
And seasoned mothers are the ones who know their child inside out,
how they think, how they process information,
even what brand of toothpaste they like best.

But perhaps the most inspiring and desirable virtue of a seasoned mother
is her patience.
She knows that children are not always going to get it right the first time around.
She also knows that children are not adults
and therefore should not be expected to think or act like them.
She is content to watch her child explore and discover,
question and learn.
She is not threatened by acts of rebellion
because she knows who her authority comes from
and how to correct the behavior with love and firmness.

God deals with His children much the same way a seasoned mother handles hers.
He knows their frame,
that they are dust.
(Psalm 103:14)
He also knows their hearts,
that they sometimes are bent on evil.
Yet His mercies are new every morning.
God's incredible patience with His children
is both mysterious and undeserving.

Christians are called to be examples of the love of God,
and a testimony of Jesus Christ.
The Apostle Paul said it well in his letter to the Ephesians:
“Be patient with each other,
making allowance for each other's
faults because of your love.” (Ephesians 4:2, NLT)

Not only are women to be patient with their children,
but also with others she comes in contact with,
knowing that she is just as fallible as the next person.
She is even-tempered and not easily disturbed when things get crazy.
She can remain collected even when little Brian
draws on the living room wall with lipstick or crayon.

Yet the virtue of patience is not limited to only mothers.
It can be alive and working within a woman who leads a Bible study
for new believers, or a woman who teaches a classroom
full of five year olds.
Patience can show up in a woman who has to care
for her aging and ailing parent.
Patience is a gift that God gives to any woman
whose own ability to endure falls short.

The Virtue of Patience is Modeled Best by God

May He Bless You and Keep You Today!

With Great Love
IN HIS SERVICE
Connie
Please click below to see new poems Jesus added to our site:

http://www.faithitout.com/published.php?poem_id=69

Perseverance

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Connie Ciccone) — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 16:54:00 +0000

Faith Filled Thoughts
January 25th 2010
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Perseverance

There are many inspiring true stories of men and women
throughout time who have accomplished fantastic and impressive things.
However, they were not always great athletes, business people or military personnel,
but sometimes very average people,
people who were highly motivated by a cause they deemed greater than their own lives.
With perseverance they were able to achieve astonishing successes,
and sometimes stunning victories against seemingly insurmountable odds.
And perseverance was the key ingredient in every success story.

After more than 10,000 attempts at inventing the incandescent light bulb
before he was successful, Thomas Alva Edison said,
"Many of life's failures are people who did not realize
how close they were to success when they gave up."

Perseverance is steady persistence in a course of action,
a purpose, especially in spite of difficulties or discouragement.
Determination, tenacity and patience also are closely related qualities.

Many examples of this kind of resolve can be found in the Bible.
Genesis gives the account of Noah who built the ark over the course of 120 years,
surrounded by corrupt and contemptuous unbelievers.
Moses led the hardhearted Israelites for 40 years in the wilderness.
The Apostle Paul, however, serves as a superstar example of perseverance.

Paul's ministry, from his unique conversion to his tragic
execution spanned about 30 years.
During that time he took three missionary journeys.
According to Christian History Magazine,
he covered about 14,000 miles, mostly on foot.
In two years and three months, under the ministry of Paul,
all Asia Minor heard the word of the Lord Jesus, according to Acts 19:8-10.
Throughout his travels Paul was constantly dealing with obstacles.
Some scholars say he was stoned to death,
but was revived and continued to preach.

Second Corinthians 11:24-27 describes in vivid detail
the hardships that Paul endured:
"From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one.
Three times I was beaten with rods;
once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked;
a night and a day I have been in the deep;
in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers,
in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles,
in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness,
in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;
in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often,
in hunger and thirst, in fastings often,
in cold and nakedness."

In addition to all of this,
Paul always had in mind a concern for all
of the churches and the people he had won to the Lord.

Throughout church history, men and women have persevered for years
while suffering religious opposition and persecution.
For example, Martin Luther, considered by many the father of the Reformation,
preached, wrote and raised a family over the course of 25 years,
all while coming under the scrutiny of the Church.
In modern times, some might consider Reverend Billy Graham a "hero of the faith,
who persevered for more than 65 years.
Reverand Graham preached Christianity to live audiences
of nearly 215 million people in more than 185 countries
and territories, and hundreds of millions
more through television, video, film and webcasts.

For most people, getting through a day, or a week or a year
is about all the perseverance they can muster.
Working full time jobs, raising children and being involved in church
and/or social clubs or activities fills all of their time.
Perseverance is not limited to maneuvering through crises or disaster,
but enduring the day-after-day faithfulness
to get up and do what is needed, To Faith It Out regardless of obstacles.

Remember we all have Perseverance Through Christ Jesus.
Just Call upon His Holy Name!

May He Bless You and Keep You Today!

With Great Love
IN HIS SERVICE
Connie
Please click below to see something Jesus left your Spirit!:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G0et-zyoKLw&feature=related

So, you’re a Christian…. What does that mean? Part 2

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Connie Ciccone) — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 16:08:00 +0000

Faith Filled Thoughts
January 22nd 2010
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So, you’re a Christian….

What does that mean?
Part 2

Consider I John 2
3. By this we know that we have come to know Him,
if we keep His commandments.
4. The one who says, "I have come to know Him,"
and does not keep His commandments,
is a liar, and the truth is not in him;
5. but whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God
has truly been perfected.
By this we know that we are in Him:
6. the one who says he abides in Him ought himself
to walk in the same manner as He walked.
7. Beloved, I am not writing a new commandment to you,
but an old commandment which you have had from the beginning;
the old commandment is the word which you have heard.

Christianity is a way of life…
The Christian labors toward righteousness.
This causes us to catch a lot of flack nowadays.
A homosexual recently sued a Bible publisher
because the Bible caused him emotional distress!

Repentance, the new birth,
a newness of life (all Biblical descriptions) is an essential element of Christianity.
If Jesus hasn’t changed you… you haven’t changed!

I John 3
3. And everyone who has this hope {fixed}
on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.
4. Everyone who practices sin also
practices lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness.

Jesus asks what was supposed to be a rhetorical question.
In our day it seems to be a debated question.
Luke 6: 46. "Why do you call Me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say?”

I recently had a discussion with a religious leader of our community.
He made the comment,
“I know the Bible teaches that, but I just don’t buy it.”
What is really mind boggling is that an entire congregation knows
what he believes and follows him anyway.
It is almost as if they don’t believe that this value system
won’t infect their children at the deepest levels.
This same leader told another,
“Our relationship with each other is more important than the truth.”
Ultimately what he was saying without meaning to was,
“our relationship with each other is more
important than our relationship with God!”
How many people do you know that claim to be Christians
that (deep down) believe this way but would never say it out loud?

When people begin to pick and choose
what they want from Christianity…
what they have found isn’t a new way of life.

They have followed that old politician,
we know from the garden of Eden…
“you shall not die, for God knows that….”
This serpent has done business with all of us.
“They” replace substance with hype.
“They” replace knowledge with ignorance…
often a desire not to know.

You “vote” by what you choose
as your direction/guide in life!
Do You Ever Consider Your Spirit before Voting??

Jesus said…
"If you continue in My word, {then} you are truly disciples of Mine;
and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free." John 8:31-32

Truth is not all that difficult to find…
but you have to want it to keep it.
Note that Jesus’ focus was whether or not you would “continue.”
Who do we love more, God or man?
That is the choice that all of us must ultimately make.

Ok… so we must believe,
confess and repent (meaning it and living it).
Anything more?

Romans 6

3. Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized
into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death?
4. Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death,
so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father,
so we too might walk in newness of life.
5. For if we have become united with {Him}
in the likeness of His death,
certainly we shall also be {in the likeness} of His resurrection,

Compare Paul’s comment above to Jesus’ great commission
Mark 16
15. And He said to them,
"Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.
16. "He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved;
but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned.

Obviously, according to the Apostle Paul,
this is when and how we crossover from a state of spiritual death
to having the gift of eternal life.
Much of the New Testament is dealing with how to keep this gift of life…
but it is here that we get it.

Peter’s assessment?

Acts 2
37. Now when they heard {this,} they were pierced to the heart,
and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Brethren, what shall we do?"
38. Peter {said} to them,
"Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ
for the forgiveness of your sins;
and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Notice that Peter doesn’t mention faith here… they had faith.
They needed forgiveness.
To receive forgiveness they needed to take the plunge!
Turn away from sin (repentance) and be buried for the forgiveness of sins.

I Peter 3
21. Corresponding to that,
baptism now saves you--not the removal of dirt from the flesh,
but an appeal to God for a good conscience--through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,
22. who is at the right hand of God,
having gone into heaven,
after angels and authorities and powers had been subjected to Him.

The Bible really is consistent on all this.
Man becomes inconsistent.
We may fail… the Bible is the Word of God.
It is trustworthy.
What is a Christian?
Would you rather let your local politicians define Christianity…
or Jesus?

This Answer Should Be Obvious.

May He Bless You and Keep You Today!

With Great Love
IN HIS SERVICE
Connie
Please click below to see something Jesus left your Spirit!:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_MyC6kJzPg&feature=related