So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.
John 14:2 NLT

Have you had a “Jericho” experience?
Be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.

Joshua 1:9 NLT

Imagine this scene for a minute. You’re a captain in Joshua’s army camped a few miles outside the city of Jericho. You’ve seen the thick, double-layered stone walls surrounding the city and armed soldiers guarding every entrance. You’ve heard tales of the fierce Canaanite army and their ability to hold their ground in battle.
In the midst of all of this, an edict comes down from the upper ranks. Israel is planning to take Jericho. Actually, what the message says is that Israel has already taken Jericho, but Jericho just doesn’t know it yet. The battle plan is really no plan at all. You’re supposed to get your troops together and conduct a victory march around the city. Just once—for six days in a row. Then on the seventh day you’re to march seven times around the city. That’s when your soldiers can march in and take possession.
The next day you’re marching around the city, and you can’t help but hear the taunts coming from inside the walls. You know how silly this all looks, but you keep marching just the same. Because you know that God is on your side, and you’ve seen what he can do.
This is why God reminded Joshua time and again to “be strong and courageous.” God has a way of working that tends to fall outside the norm, and he needs people who trust him enough to go the distance, no matter how bizarre the game plan. Courage is important to God because courage is a natural byproduct of trust. And the greater we trust, the braver we become. As long as God leads the battle, we can march in confidence, knowing that we’ve already won. God gave Jericho to Israel on the seventh day, just as he said he would. So,…what wall does he have you marching around?

from Embracing Eternity by Tim LaHaye, Jerry Jenkins and Frank M. Martin,

“Most of us find it very difficult to want “Heaven” at all—except in so far as “Heaven” means meeting again our friends who have died. One reason for this difficulty is that we have not been trained: Our whole education tends to fix our minds on this world. Another reason is that when the real want for Heaven is present in us, we might not recognize it. Most people, if they had really learned to look into their own hearts, would know that they do want, and want acutely, something that cannot be had in this world. There are all sorts of things in this world that offer to give it to you, but they never quite keep their promise.

“How happy are those who fear the Lord—all who follow his ways! You will enjoy the fruit of your labor. How happy you will be! How rich your life!”
Psalm 128:1-2 NLT

Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that there is a God and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.
Hebrews 11:6 NLT

He died for us so that we can live with him forever, whether we are dead or alive at the time of his return.
1 Thessalonians 5:10 NLT

If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world.
C.S. Lewis

from the The Quotable Lewis

“I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the wonderful future he has promised to those he called. I want you to realize what a rich and glorious inheritance he has given to his people.

I pray that you will begin to understand the incredible greatness of his power for us who believe him.”
Ephesians 1:18-19 NLT

“Lord, if you kept a record of our sins, who, O Lord, could ever survive? But you offer forgiveness, that we might learn to fear you.Psalm 130:3-4 NLT

This past Wednesday Donna visited the doctor, she has been seeing for her depression. The doctor couldn’t get over how well she looked, and her disposition. She indicated 2 weeks ago Donna was a low as anyone she has ever seen, and was ecstatic of how well she progressed. The Doctor took her off the medication for her depression, and stated we will see you in six weeks. The power of prayer is powerful, and over the past several weeks we have seen how God has touched our lives, with his healing power.

While at our men’s bible group this morning we have been praying a woman named Lisa, who was given several weeks to live, she coded twice, was on dialysis, and with thousand of people praying she was healed. No sign of any problems, no more dialysis, and confusion by the doctors. Lisa advised the doctor it was her faith in God, and the power of prayer.

Stop telling God how big the storm is & start telling the storm how big our God is!

We say we believe, and have faith, but do we! Let these be a reminder that of how big our God is, and believe there is more going on around us than we know. Open your eyes, hearts, be strong and give God the glory!

 

I am sitting outside this morning enjoying a cup of coffee, and the sounds of nature are enjoyable. A flock of geese fly by, birds chirping, leaves of trees rustle by a cool breeze. Then I hear the laughter of children playing, without a care in the world, how precious. Then there is the lone AC unit running, and sprinklers watering the lawn, yet off in the distant children running playing, laughing. Those sounds are beautiful if we take time to listen. It’s amazing how we take things for granted, sounds, landscape, nature, its all Gods beauty. If you get a moment today take a break, and just listen see what you hear!

It’s been two weeks since I was discharged for having an apparent heart attack. During my short visit my wife was injured by an elevator door closing on her, fracturing her shoulder, and wrist. Since last Wednesday I have been charged, wrecked, and moved if that makes sense. Our life group leader was talking about his mission trip, and He spoke about healing. It was very moving morning, He stated that everyone has the power to heal; you must believe you have the power to heal. So I came home and started reading scriptures versus about healing. These versus that really stuck out to me.

Luke 6:19 states
and the people all tried to touch him, because power was coming from him and healing them all.

Acts 3:16
by faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has given this complete healing to him, as you can all see.

My wife is going through a depression, talking to different people in the mental health field, they placed her on medication, and advised she needs to speak with a therapist. So the more I read, and thought about our life group, I believed in what we discussed. I continued to pray for Donna, and her depression, so later that day I laid hands on her and ask God to heal her. Well she is in the healing process, she is opening up, attended church two weeks in a row, which this series has been a big help, and is a little more active each day. So prayer is powerful, believing is strong, faith is stronger, God is the great physician, the almighty healer.

1 Corinthians 12:28
And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able to help others, those with gifts of administration, and those speaking in different kinds of tongues

This past week started out a little rough, Monday I went to the ER with chest pains, was admitted and treated as I was having a heart attack. Immediately close friends started coming by praying, and the prayers were being prayed all over Wilmington, and Pittsburgh. Every symptom indicated that I was having a heart attack, but each an every test came back negative. Tuesday morning my blood test came back indicating I had some blockage, and with the pending heart cath I was preparing for a stint. Around noon, they wheeled me to the cath lab, and shortly after that the procedure.

After about an hour I was wheeled back to a holding area, and spoke with the doctor who stated “I don’t know what my arteries look like but he would be willing to make a trade”. Next thing I remember I was in my room on 4 hrs bed rest. Around 6:00pm I was being discharged, and advised I need to slow down. So the last several days I have been taking it easy, and reflecting on the past several months. One thing I can tell you if you have faith, and I mean FAITH in God, anything is possible. I believe the event of this past week was God’s work, as he is the great author, and physician. Prayer is powerful, and in each event there are signs, that we must understand.

Psalm 40:10
I do not hide your righteousness in my heart; I speak of your faithfulness and salvation. I do not conceal your love and your truth from the great assembly. 

Donna and I are going through some changes in our life, and as bad as it may feel, it could be worse. Then I think how lucky we are to have friends, a support system from our Church (thank you Lifepoint) and all this is possible because of our faith. Each day I read a scripture from the bible that helps us with our life and faith. Today I prayed for strength, Exodus 15:2 The LORD is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation. He is my God, and I will praise him, my father’s God, and I will exalt him.

Today I pray for my brother and his wife as they ponder there future, as I spoke with him last night. He explained that he and his wife are contemplating separating and may be divorce, my heart breaks for him. As I have experienced this, and recently our younger brother went through over a year ago I have no words of wisdom, or advise except that he needs to pray for strength, wisdom, and understanding. My brother is a Christian, but has never been saved I pray that he seeks God’s salvation